I've posted this before, but sometimes my message gets misinterpreted. I do not think that TK should be fired at this point. I am grateful for the fact that he took a risk, came here, and re-established what had once been a very proud program to at least competitive respectability. Nobody can take that away from him, if that ends up being his only legacy here.

I don't know how good a coach he is. Is he the coach from last season's team? Is he the coach from this season's team? Or have we not yet really seen what he can do?

I am concerned that he wasn't able to get through to what was a very veteran team this season. Don't know how much of that is on him and how much is on the players. I did feel bad for him at times; there were games where he really looked lost on the bench/sideline, or his postgame comments suggested he was as befuddled as we fans were.

In his defense, I don't think he had a bench staff that was very helpful. Not going to re-hash why so many assistants have left. I will say that the staff he originally brought to Toledo was his best, and if they had stayed intact, then even this pessimist thinks we would have had at least one and maybe two MAC championships--that staff was that good. Not sure if he can afford to keep starting over every season, but IMO we could use someone who focuses on defense and someone else who can coach up low post players (if we ever get any).

It's also interesting to note that Juice is his ONLY 4-year recruit thus far, and next season, Boothe is our only senior. In two classes, he will have only coached 2 players for 4 years. Hard to build a program that way. Curious to see how this next class, and the unknown class after that, fare.

I think TK has earned another 2 seasons here at least. Let's see if his teams improve. Oh, the record next year may not be pretty (I'd be giddy if we earn a home game in the first round of the MAC tournament), but if the new faces & some of the returnees show energy, hustle & effort (no swagger, please), that will be an improvement. However, if we have back-to=back losing seasons, particularly in conference play, then I think a coaching change may have to be seriously considered. Gone are the 70s/80s, when coaches and schools stuck it out together, through good times & bad--winning matters more today, whether that's a "good" thing or not.

(03-14-2015 09:46 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  I've posted this before, but sometimes my message gets misinterpreted. I do not think that TK should be fired at this point. I am grateful for the fact that he took a risk, came here, and re-established what had once been a very proud program to at least competitive respectability. Nobody can take that away from him, if that ends up being his only legacy here.

I don't know how good a coach he is. Is he the coach from last season's team? Is he the coach from this season's team? Or have we not yet really seen what he can do?

I am concerned that he wasn't able to get through to what was a very veteran team this season. Don't know how much of that is on him and how much is on the players. I did feel bad for him at times; there were games where he really looked lost on the bench/sideline, or his postgame comments suggested he was as befuddled as we fans were.

In his defense, I don't think he had a bench staff that was very helpful. Not going to re-hash why so many assistants have left. I will say that the staff he originally brought to Toledo was his best, and if they had stayed intact, then even this pessimist thinks we would have had at least one and maybe two MAC championships--that staff was that good. Not sure if he can afford to keep starting over every season, but IMO we could use someone who focuses on defense and someone else who can coach up low post players (if we ever get any).

It's also interesting to note that Juice is his ONLY 4-year recruit thus far, and next season, Boothe is our only senior. In two classes, he will have only coached 2 players for 4 years. Hard to build a program that way. Curious to see how this next class, and the unknown class after that, fare.

I think TK has earned another 2 seasons here at least. Let's see if his teams improve. Oh, the record next year may not be pretty (I'd be giddy if we earn a home game in the first round of the MAC tournament), but if the new faces & some of the returnees show energy, hustle & effort (no swagger, please), that will be an improvement. However, if we have back-to=back losing seasons, particularly in conference play, then I think a coaching change may have to be seriously considered. Gone are the 70s/80s, when coaches and schools stuck it out together, through good times & bad--winning matters more today, whether that's a "good" thing or not.

TK walked into about as bad of a situation as possible and has worked very hard to do the best he could. Now that we are getting to be known for having a good overall program again, with great facilities, good grades, and good fan support hopefully it gets a little easier to attract more good student athletes.

Well written. TK has done a lot in his time here. The transfers etc are a product of where we were not where we are going. We had to bring talent in here to get us going in the right direction. TK mistake this year was never juggling the starting lineup to get energy off the bench.

If there is dead weight on the roster they should be politely encouraged to move on

Coach K was done great job with the program. Happy to be able to complain about a 20 win season. Tells you where the bar has been set for the program. Looking forward to next season for both the Men's and Women's BB programs.

Declining an invite to a lesser tournament sends a negative message IMO !!
Future recruits may take notice of this and take UT out of consideration. Shortchanging the underclassmen by not wanting to play and practice more, can be construed as counterproductive.

I believe the most important change to make is:

Take a page from the Nichols book: consider coachability a bit more when recruiting even if it means somewhat less athletic players. Our recruiting "eyes" should not be bigger than our players (coachability) stomachs!

(03-14-2015 12:00 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  Declining an invite to a lesser tournament sends a negative message IMO !!
Future recruits mat take notice of this and take UT out of consideration. Shortchanging the underclassmen by not wanting to play and practice more, can be construed as counterproductive.

The season ended on a very sour note, why go to one of these no name tourneys. If we can't get up for CMU, how are we going to get fired up to play some no name school, in parts unknown? Best decision UT could have made, I think our 5 starters would only go thru the motions.

Additional costs without a lot of benefits with a new leader on board at UT.
Not a good idea. Made the right decisions with the Women's NiT, making the right decision now. Go R-R-Rockets!!!

(03-14-2015 12:44 PM)FrickerRon Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 12:00 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  Declining an invite to a lesser tournament sends a negative message IMO !!
Future recruits mat take notice of this and take UT out of consideration. Shortchanging the underclassmen by not wanting to play and practice more, can be construed as counterproductive.

The season ended on a very sour note, why go to one of these no name tourneys. If we can't get up for CMU, how are we going to get fired up to play some no name school, in parts unknown? Best decision UT could have made, I think our 5 starters would only go thru the motions.

Agree with FrickerRon and Boca on this.

(03-14-2015 12:44 PM)FrickerRon Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 12:00 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  Declining an invite to a lesser tournament sends a negative message IMO !!
Future recruits mat take notice of this and take UT out of consideration. Shortchanging the underclassmen by not wanting to play and practice more, can be construed as counterproductive.

The season ended on a very sour note, why go to one of these no name tourneys. If we can't get up for CMU, how are we going to get fired up to play some no name school, in parts unknown? Best decision UT could have made, I think our 5 starters would only go thru the motions.

Then play the other 7 players on the roster who may have the desire and fire to get better. I have a hard fathoming the idea that more practice and game experience would be a negative thing. - Especially for this program.

(03-14-2015 01:49 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 12:44 PM)FrickerRon Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 12:00 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  Declining an invite to a lesser tournament sends a negative message IMO !!
Future recruits mat take notice of this and take UT out of consideration. Shortchanging the underclassmen by not wanting to play and practice more, can be construed as counterproductive.

The season ended on a very sour note, why go to one of these no name tourneys. If we can't get up for CMU, how are we going to get fired up to play some no name school, in parts unknown? Best decision UT could have made, I think our 5 starters would only go thru the motions.

Then play the other 7 players on the roster who may have the desire and fire to get better. I have a hard fathoming the idea that more practice and game experience would be a negative thing. - Especially for this program.

Last I looked there was only 6 other players on the roster. Applewhite's
transfer really hurt UT.

(03-14-2015 02:30 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 01:49 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 12:44 PM)FrickerRon Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 12:00 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  Declining an invite to a lesser tournament sends a negative message IMO !!
Future recruits mat take notice of this and take UT out of consideration. Shortchanging the underclassmen by not wanting to play and practice more, can be construed as counterproductive.

The season ended on a very sour note, why go to one of these no name tourneys. If we can't get up for CMU, how are we going to get fired up to play some no name school, in parts unknown? Best decision UT could have made, I think our 5 starters would only go thru the motions.

Then play the other 7 players on the roster who may have the desire and fire to get better. I have a hard fathoming the idea that more practice and game experience would be a negative thing. - Especially for this program.

Last I looked there was only 6 other players on the roster. Applewhite's
transfer really hurt UT.

6 yes, but that's putting some pressure on some guys who are likely
Out of their comfort zone at this level. The Applewhite transfer/non probably did hurt, as did losing Stokes and not being able to bring in that 3rd recruit.

This will provide ever more motivation for Coach K . . . .

I dislike that little runt even more, grrrrrrr

UTfan is right. Nic for the most part had kids who loved the game with passion. Gym rats vs. swagger guys. Most often his teams would eat the lunch of the swagger guys. This will be a critical class of recruits IMO. If TK can develop and coach, this will be his year to prove it. We will be a little short on experience so his motivation and personnel management will be critical. I'm in the camp that his assistant issue is critical to correct. That he needs to establish more control over the team and move some of these non contributors along and make it clear that he will never except the "we overlooked them" attitude from his seniors again. Let's move on and surprise the MAC next year.

I don't think we'll be seeing "the little runt" much more...he is gone I predict.

(03-14-2015 12:00 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  Declining an invite to a lesser tournament sends a negative message IMO !!
Future recruits may take notice of this and take UT out of consideration. Shortchanging the underclassmen by not wanting to play and practice more, can be construed as counterproductive.

I disagree they care much more about the 20 wins than playing in a rink dink post season tournament. Even though I just called them rinky dink I do believe if we win enough to get in one next year (and I think we will) it would be productive to play in one next season as they will be a freshman laden team.

(03-15-2015 04:21 PM)rocket 51 Wrote:  I don't think we'll be seeing "the little runt" much more...he is gone I predict.

i don't know. that squad will be better next year with everyone back and some good recruits. harder to walk away from an improving program than one that seems to have peaked.