(05-05-2020 11:37 PM)JMUNation Wrote:  

(05-05-2020 11:50 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(05-05-2020 08:57 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(05-05-2020 08:01 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(05-04-2020 05:59 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  Perhaps it is purple shades, but I am optimistic based on how I see coach MB approaching things thus far. I can't recall another MBB coach we've had that approached things in such a well thought out manner. His early actions remind me a lot of our successful football hires.

I'm sure the first season, if played this year, will have some bumps and adjustments. Lots of new moving pieces that have to mesh with some old ones that may resist change. But, the ingredients for success are there. The talent is there. And assembling these pieces quickly under such adverse conditions is quite remarkable.

I've gone from wait and see to someone who wants to be there for our games. And that has not been true for me outside of our Mason games recently, which also ended in disappointment. It has been a very long time since I've been pumped up for MBB, but this coach and these players could get me there if they meet expectations on the court. I think we have a chance to go dancing and get real tourney wins in the next 2-3 years. That would be huge fun.

I'm still primarily wait and see. This virus has really added additional challenges for Mark. I'm hopeful, but still uncertain. I'm confident we will be much improved with the coaching change, but I'm not sure if Mark will be Brady caliber or the next step up. The last 6 year's he's averaged a 3rd place finish in the Sun Belt. He's flirted with being a top 100 program in likely a more challenging position. I think for the price, we couldn't of done much better. Sadly the vast majority of fans are not going to feel much excitement heading into next year since few students and most fans are not even aware of who the new coach is.

"Best thing since Lefty", while a low bar I'm not there yet. And if I had the choice of Byington over Pitino - without a doubt I would go for someone that would likely average 6,000 fans a game his first year, very possibly a top 50 team (or obviously headed in that direction), enhanced scheduling, and national interest. I understand the baggage, but what Pitino could bring as far as interest and revenues could reset the standard for JMU men's basketball back to where it used to be in one season.

You say for the price we could have done much better. Who are you referring two in the $500k range who would have been better? Some will argue we should have paid $750k or $1m but I’m not sure that type of jump was realistic.

I said for the price we could not of done much better.

I'd preferred they went up to 750k. I think that range is appropriate for where we are, and our potential revenue growth. Certainly there would be more options if we offered 67% more. Lou was overpaid making less much at JMU. Mark is a bargain at what we are paying him.

Do you think $750k would have gotten JMU a better coach then Byington? If yes, who would that coach be?

If we moved from an offer of $450,000 to $750,000 could we have gotten a better a better coach than Byington? Yes, I think that is extremely likely. It's not 100%, but it's common sense. I think it's obvious the quality coaching options would significantly improve at $750k versus $450k. Who at this point would be wasted speculation. That said many of the options that we discussed, and were hoping for, would not of been available at 450k.

You could hire a coach for 200k a year and he could out perform a coach making 3 million a year, but there is certainly a correlation between between pay and results, or VCU would not be wasting their money spending over a million a year on a basketball head coach.