Just a thought as we continue to enjoy this amazing run as well as some of us banter back and forth about Pastner's part in it...
Should we run the table, which appears very possible at this point, and make at least a Sweet Sixteen in the tourney, we will soon be discussing and experiencing a frenzy around our coach as he gets bombarded by coaching opportunities this off-season.
In addition to great basketball, what we are potentially witnessing is Josh's coming out party. Should the Tigers finish as suggested above there will be no doubt amongst the rest of the country that NOT ONLY is Josh one of the best recruiters in the country, but he also can manage a team and coach em up. That package would be in HIGH DEMAND. Higher than Stevens at Butler, higher than Shaka's at VCU.
Just pointing out that in a few months we all may be desperately checking this board hoping for confirmation Josh is not going anywhere. I don't think he will, but just wanted to throw that out there as some still question Josh's ability. We need not take for granted what we have here...an up-and-comer with a ton of promise who may be experiencing his breakout year. Go Josh!
Never say never....learned the hard way.
I think Josh is smart enough to know that he's got a good thing going at Memphis. There just aren't that many schools out there with the fan support, financial support, and recruiting base that he's got right here--some, but not many.
And even if this season pans out as hoped for, I think most of those schools--I'm talking about places like Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, UNC, Duke, etc.--still would take a bit more of a wait and see approach. That may well be his future, but not right away.
Of course Arizona could be the wild card. And there's always Texas.
But running off to the likes of UTK or Fayetteville or LSU is imho out of the question for Josh.
Though it will be fun to see fans of some of those schools think that Josh is now ready to move on up to the big time in Knoxville, lol.
As far as getting unwarranted crap from fans, he knows he'll get that anywhere.
Here's hoping anyway.
I doubt Josh would walk away from what he is building here, though there will be suitors. Heck, UK might even come a calling!
We are locked and loaded for bear next season. I may be wrong but I believe Coach Pastner has certain virtues that would cause him to hesitate leaving here for anywhere except Arizona, Texas or perhaps a few other schools..unless of course he just gets tired of all the miserables and their unrealistic expectations. We love you Coach Pastner! Keep up the great work!
Stop worrying about Josh. I thought we learned our lesson with Calipari. No one coach is greater than the program. We've lost Vanatta and Bartow and Kirk and Finch and Calipari, and the program is alive and well. And if Pastner leaves, somebody else good will show up. It will be a lot easier to hire the next coach than it was following Calipari.
I love Pastner, and I hope he stays forever. And he might. But I'm not going to spend one second worrying about whether he stays or leaves.
Memphis is a top 20 program & just about even with half of those in terms of resources & support. So, IMO, it would take a top 10 program to get JP's attention & probably only 1-2 of those will be looking over the next 5 yrs. Also top 10 programs will want someone to continue a legacy, like Coach K's. Got to believe Duke & such schools will look to one of their own first. Arizona is the only school I see JP considering seriously & they seem OK with their coach for now. Also if JP makes a 4-5 yr run deep in the tournament, he may just begin to see this program as his legacy, making folks forget about Calipari (or at least seeing him in the cheating light he is underneath it all) & making this program where he wants to stay.
(02-17-2013 09:46 AM)TripleA Wrote: [ -> ]Stop worrying about Josh. I thought we learned our lesson with Calipari. No one coach is greater than the program. We've lost Vanatta and Bartow and Kirk and Finch and Calipari, and the program is alive and well. And if Pastner leaves, somebody else good will show up. It will be a lot easier to hire the next coach than it was following Calipari.
I love Pastner, and I hope he stays forever. And he might. But I'm not going to spend one second worrying about whether he stays or leaves.
Well said. Nothing lasts forever. Except herpes - not speaking from experience, mind you.
(02-17-2013 09:52 AM)JacobSmiley Wrote: [ -> ] (02-17-2013 09:46 AM)TripleA Wrote: [ -> ]Stop worrying about Josh. I thought we learned our lesson with Calipari. No one coach is greater than the program. We've lost Vanatta and Bartow and Kirk and Finch and Calipari, and the program is alive and well. And if Pastner leaves, somebody else good will show up. It will be a lot easier to hire the next coach than it was following Calipari.
I love Pastner, and I hope he stays forever. And he might. But I'm not going to spend one second worrying about whether he stays or leaves.
Well said. Nothing lasts forever. Except herpes - not speaking from experience, mind you.
Fruitcakes do....The gift that keeps on giving.
Recruiting is 80% of what goes into a college basketball coach these days. If he can do the other 20% well, than Pastner will be gold because there may just be one better recruiter than Pastner out there, and we all know who I'm talking about.
If we make the sweet 16 or further, look for HUGE offers from other schools.
I say we hire Mighty Mouse as head coach. I think he does most of the coaching anyway.
If he makes it to a sweet 16 look for his salary to jump to 2.5 mil. We have just as much money as anyone else. 2009 proved that
Josh isn't in any way an ordinary basketball coach. The AZ and TX logic would be the conventional wisdom for a normal coach, but not for Pastner.
Pastner will do what's best for his family. I have no idea what that will be, but that is the way to keep him or lure him away.
If you try to retain him like any other coach, he's as good as gone already.
"Just pointing out that in a few months we all may be desperately checking this board hoping for confirmation Josh is not going anywhere"
You might, but anyone over 20 won't.
(02-17-2013 10:15 AM)dimetime Wrote: [ -> ] (02-17-2013 09:52 AM)JacobSmiley Wrote: [ -> ] (02-17-2013 09:46 AM)TripleA Wrote: [ -> ]Stop worrying about Josh. I thought we learned our lesson with Calipari. No one coach is greater than the program. We've lost Vanatta and Bartow and Kirk and Finch and Calipari, and the program is alive and well. And if Pastner leaves, somebody else good will show up. It will be a lot easier to hire the next coach than it was following Calipari.
I love Pastner, and I hope he stays forever. And he might. But I'm not going to spend one second worrying about whether he stays or leaves.
Well said. Nothing lasts forever. Except herpes - not speaking from experience, mind you.
Fruitcakes do....The gift that keeps on giving.
Or posting; we have our share.
Don't be surprised if Josh is offered the Arizona St. job at end of season (unless Az. St. really turns it around); don't know if he would take the hated rival of his Wildcats but it would be home to his family.
(02-17-2013 09:46 AM)TripleA Wrote: [ -> ]Stop worrying about Josh. I thought we learned our lesson with Calipari. No one coach is greater than the program. We've lost Vanatta and Bartow and Kirk and Finch and Calipari, and the program is alive and well. And if Pastner leaves, somebody else good will show up. It will be a lot easier to hire the next coach than it was following Calipari.
I love Pastner, and I hope he stays forever. And he might. But I'm not going to spend one second worrying about whether he stays or leaves.
are you sure? They said that no one wanted to be the one who followed Calipari. At the rate Pastner is going, wouldn't that happen again if Josh left?
(02-17-2013 09:46 AM)TripleA Wrote: [ -> ]Stop worrying about Josh. I thought we learned our lesson with Calipari. No one coach is greater than the program. We've lost Vanatta and Bartow and Kirk and Finch and Calipari, and the program is alive and well. And if Pastner leaves, somebody else good will show up. It will be a lot easier to hire the next coach than it was following Calipari.
I love Pastner, and I hope he stays forever. And he might. But I'm not going to spend one second worrying about whether he stays or leaves.
As usual well said.
(02-17-2013 09:24 AM)missjtiger Wrote: [ -> ]Never say never....learned the hard way.
Amen sista! I love Josh but the reality is that he will more than likely entertain offers and will possibly leave one day. My belief (opinion) is when and if that occurs he will do it with much more class than his predecessor!
Hmmm....after this weekend we may have to worry about UK stealing our coach and recruiting class....again....
(02-17-2013 11:45 AM)tigers1125 Wrote: [ -> ]Don't be surprised if Josh is offered the Arizona St. job at end of season (unless Az. St. really turns it around); don't know if he would take the hated rival of his Wildcats but it would be home to his family.