Gene Bartow had a great winning percentage at UCLA after succeeding John Wooden, but getting to "only" one Final Four in three seasons, with no championships, wasn't viewed as success in Westwood.

Heading to UAB and starting things from scratch, his teams made the NCAA tournament several times, including Sweet Sixteen appearances and an Elite Eight. Despite lesser objective success in Birmingham, he has an arena named for him.

Hopefully Coach Rhodes will opt to build his legacy at Rice, rather than attempt to fill his mentor's shoes in Richmond. It might be the better career move for him, too.

Rhoades seems to be the favorite on their message board. Hopefully that feeling is not shared by the VCU AD.

Sounds like we'll know soon:

"Just talked with VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin here in Indy. He will NOT hire a search firm and starts interviewing guys today."


https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/status/5...5345915904

(04-03-2015 10:30 AM)owl95 Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 10:20 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 10:09 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The excitement factor cannot be overstated as it translates to fan support and revenues. This year we had a dramatic increase in average home attendance, and next year the athletic department is very confident they'll see a 100% bump in season tickets, up to the 1,500+ level (which would be the most in at least a couple decades). While most of us have every confidence in Dr. K's and Bobby Tudor's ability to hire a quality replacement, should Coach Rhoades leave now it would be a major, major blow to the program, aside from the reality that we'd likely lose several of our prized recruits.

Completely agree. We need to be all in with keeping Rhoades here to demonstrate our commitment to excel at the D1 level, rise above our current position in C-USA, and show everyone we will fight for the good of the program.

But what can we really do if VCU offers Rhoades a job at or better than Shaka's old salary?

Nothing. Nor should we do anything. Rhoades is a promising young coach, but if VCU is foolhardy enough to give a coach who has one year of head coaching experience $1.8 million or above next year, then I will not feel bad at all if we let him go. That's top 30 - 40 coaching money right there.

If they are looking for someone from Shaka's coaching tree, Mike Jones at Radford was also on the staff for the 2011 run, and now has back-to-back 22 win seasons on his resume in three years at Radford, Will Wade, now at Chattanooga, also had a 22 win season this year and was Southern Conference coach of the year. So while a great coach, Rhoades is certainly not the only strong candidate even among former VCU assistants.

(04-03-2015 12:26 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  Rhoades is a promising young coach, but if VCU is foolhardy enough to give a coach who has one year of head coaching experience $1.8 million or above next year, then I will not feel bad at all if we let him go. That's top 30 - 40 coaching money right there.

What was Shaka paid when he took the VCU job in 2009? Until then, he had only been an assistant coach (at Cal-Pa, Dayton, Akron, Clemson & Florida).

(04-03-2015 07:36 AM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  

(04-02-2015 10:20 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  What's to worry? We still have JK, and confidence has been expressed by many that he will always find great coaches. If Rhoades leaves, expect him to find somebody as good or better.

While I agree in general, I'm not sure it's that simple. Don't forget that we have a verbal from a Rivals Top 100 player for 2016 (who would most certainly be at risk) as well as a strong class coming in this year. There is also a ton to be said for some level of program continuity.

Sure to be a few tense days on the horizon.

From my perspective, counting on JK to hire a good or better replacement won't be adequate to pacify a fan base that will feel betrayal similar to what happened when Toad left. Speaking as someone who has been a loyal basketball season ticket holder since the Scott Thompson years, I sat through and stomached the program getting weaker and weaker over the years. My bitterness reached its peak when, after finally building a strong contender, all our Freshmen "stars" bailed out after one season. At that point I not only lost interest in Rice basketball, but college basketball in general. The energy and excitement Rhoades brought back to the program has restored a lot of excitement - both for me and the fans I sit with. Seeing him bail now would be a major setback to fan enthusiasm and loyalty. I don't think I'm alone among Rice fans when I say Men's basketball comes in 3rd interest-wise behind football and/or baseball. Now that basketball has finally started to build some momentum, it would be a major blow to lose Rhoades and have to start all over again. Even if we do hire a good replacement, this may be the last straw for fans like me who are tired of following a sport where players and coaches come for a year and bail out. So, I am really paying attention to this situation and hoping Rhoades stays. If he does go - I think we're back to the drawing board basketball-wise, and all the fan interest that has grown in the past few months will see a major dropoff.

(04-03-2015 01:00 AM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

Quote:Rhoades isn't as much of an energy guy as Shaka but he'd be the best basketball hire that athletic director Ed McLaughlin could make.

Not as much of an energy guy? That makes me a little frightened of Smart.

(04-03-2015 10:48 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 10:09 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  should Coach Rhoades leave now it would be a major, major blow to the program, aside from the reality that we'd likely lose several of our prized recruits.

I agree that it would be a major blow, but I'm more worried about replacing his coaching ability than the recruits.

But I'd like to clarify facts around the recruits. Please tell me where I am off on the following

1. The ASU transfer is enrolled and has already sat out a year. It seems highly unlikely his next game will be anywhere else but Rice

2. The 2015 commits have signed LOI's. they can't play anywhere else without Rice's release. And it is unlikely they can simply switch to VCU even if Rice granted releases, unless Shaka curiously left a bunch of schollies lying around unclaimed (can someone smarter than I make an estimate of how much roster discretion the new VCU coach will have?)

3. The 2016 commit is just a commit. I was feeling good about him given our showing in conference play. Losing Rhoades would create severe risk here. but again, not clear that VCU has a spot for him if Rhoades goes there.

Thanks for this analysis. I'd worried that back-to-back transition periods would be devastating. I still think it will make things difficult if VCU were to hire Rhoades away, but that doesn't sound quite so bad.

(04-02-2015 10:23 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(04-02-2015 10:20 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  What's to worry? We still have JK, and confidence has been expressed by many that he will always find great coaches. If Rhoades leaves, expect him to find somebody as good or better.

I actually expect nothing else. But I think we'll have to settle for as good, because for what we need in that position, I can't imagine better.

+1

I'd also add that I really like Rhoades' coaching staff and I could see several guys on that staff being head coaches down the road. Reminds me a bit of Scott Thompson's first few staffs.

(04-03-2015 03:39 PM)Minnewaska Owl Wrote:  From my perspective, counting on JK to hire a good or better replacement won't be adequate to pacify a fan base that will feel betrayal similar to what happened when Toad left.

I absolutely hope that will not happen. Whatever happens, I will always feel his character is far greater than Todd Graham's. I would be hugely disappointed if he doesn't stay here at least 3-4 years, but I'm not going to say anything bad about his reputation just if he leaves for a better offer.

(04-03-2015 03:39 PM)Minnewaska Owl Wrote:  Even if we do hire a good replacement, this may be the last straw for fans like me who are tired of following a sport where players and coaches come for a year and bail out. So, I am really paying attention to this situation and hoping Rhoades stays. If he does go - I think we're back to the drawing board basketball-wise, and all the fan interest that has grown in the past few months will see a major dropoff.

That's a big concern, and I hope that Rice works hard to make sure it doesn't happen.

POTENTIALLY big positive news.

Just released article from USA Today does not list Coach Rhoades as a primary candidate. Nothing definitive here obviously, but hopefully a positive piece of news.

http://www.pressconnects.com/story/sport.../25254251/

"Three potential replacements for Smart — who departed for Texas on Thursday — all coached under Smart at the Richmond, Va., university. The candidates include current VCU assistant Jeremy Ballard ​and two former assistants, Will Wade (currently the head coach at Chattanooga) and Jamion Christian (currently the head coach at Mount St. Mary's)."

(04-03-2015 04:27 PM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  http://www.pressconnects.com/story/sport.../25254251/

"Three potential replacements for Smart — who departed for Texas on Thursday — all coached under Smart at the Richmond, Va., university. The candidates include current VCU assistant Jeremy Ballard ​and two former assistants, Will Wade (currently the head coach at Chattanooga) and Jamion Christian (currently the head coach at Mount St. Mary's)."

Ballard has been a VCU assistant only two years, after five as an assistant coach at Tulsa.

Jamion Christian jumped to become head coach at his alma mater three years ago, after just one year at VCU under Smart.

247sports says the Rams' top target is Wade, who was at VCU for four years before moving to UT-Chattanooga two years ago.

(04-03-2015 04:14 PM)I45owl Wrote:  [quote='Minnewaska Owl' pid='11952231' dateline='1428093589']
From my perspective, counting on JK to hire a good or better replacement won't be adequate to pacify a fan base that will feel betrayal similar to what happened when Toad left.

I absolutely hope that will not happen. Whatever happens, I will always feel his character is far greater than Todd Graham's. I would be hugely disappointed if he doesn't stay here at least 3-4 years, but I'm not going to say anything bad about his reputation just if he leaves for a better offer.

Totally agree. In fact, "betrayal" was the wrong word to use. I think disappointment is more accurate. I really like Rhoades - and think the players do too. Seeing him stay and develop something special here over the next few years would be great.

Look for Wade to take the job. I think there was a reason he didn't take the Charlotte position.

Still, Rhodes would be a good hire by VCU also... Their fans love him, and I wanted ODU to hire him during the last search for head coach. Ultimately, the Jeff Jones hire worked out for both Rice and ODU!

The VCU fans really like Rhoades but there are other guys who have a lot of support too (including Wade and Bobby Hurley). I thought this comment on Rhoades was interesting after someone asked why Rhoades wasn't mentioned in the USA Today story.

Quote:I want Rhoades. Why do many reports not even mention that Ed even reached out to him?

A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend who happens to be friends w Rhoades and had talked w him recently. It came up because I mentioned about if Shaka left. The next two years is it too soon for Rhoades to return. mike is real happy out there and wants to build it, the school is basically giving him all he wants. I am guessing he has made it clear he is not making a change right now. I wish he was. Therefore, I think it comes down to Wade and Ballard and wouldn't be shocked if they do look at Hurley and a couple others. I haven't been on here, but now just want to say please stay positive and right now is the most important time to show your support to the team. We all loved out coach, but it is VCU Basketball that has our hearts. We bleed black and gold not Shaka.

I'm very impressed with the fan base on the VCU site. They're extremely loyal, pretty intelligent and level-headed about this too. It's such a refreshing change from reading say some of the other fan sites here in Texas.

FBO ...

If everything in that reader comment is true that is a whole lot of awesomeness on several fronts.

(04-04-2015 09:39 AM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  FBO ...

If everything in that reader comment is true that is a whole lot of awesomeness on several fronts.

Agreed, that is incredibly awesome on a number of levels.

FYI- Word from Indy this morning is that Hurley is out. Word also is that there will be an update from Greg Burton, a Richmond radio guy who is in Indy. Burton is scheduled to be on live from Indy at 1 pm ( you can listen from here- http://espn950am.com/ ) or follow him on Twitter at ‏@hardlyworkin950. Lots of hints coming from Indy this morning. VCU fans expect a decision this weekend.

I'm presuming both Dr. K and Coach Rhoades are in Indy for the weekend festivities. (Note-- Dr. K was at the FBS Championship Game between Oregon and Ohio State.)