(03-28-2024 10:21 AM)Dukester Wrote:  You guys think Mark would still be with us if we got knocked out in the Semi's of the SBT?

I think he'd still be at JMU. I think punching your ticket to the dance is probably a checkbox for most schools looking to hire from the rising talent pool. Otherwise, it's "He couldn't beat Arkansas State, how's he going to beat the SEC?"

(03-28-2024 01:07 PM)Dukes94 Wrote:  

(03-28-2024 10:21 AM)Dukester Wrote:  You guys think Mark would still be with us if we got knocked out in the Semi's of the SBT?

I think he'd still be at JMU. I think punching your ticket to the dance is probably a checkbox for most schools looking to hire from the rising talent pool. Otherwise, it's "He couldn't beat Arkansas State, how's he going to beat the SEC?"

It is an interesting question and I am thinking he would probably be here because he doesn't get offered a good enough job to leave.

That said I really don't think getting to the tournament is the right way to look at whether a coach will be successful at P6 level as what is needed to get in tourney and be successful is very different at that level.

(03-28-2024 01:33 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(03-28-2024 01:07 PM)Dukes94 Wrote:  

(03-28-2024 10:21 AM)Dukester Wrote:  You guys think Mark would still be with us if we got knocked out in the Semi's of the SBT?

I think he'd still be at JMU. I think punching your ticket to the dance is probably a checkbox for most schools looking to hire from the rising talent pool. Otherwise, it's "He couldn't beat Arkansas State, how's he going to beat the SEC?"

It is an interesting question and I am thinking he would probably be here because he doesn't get offered a good enough job to leave.

That said I really don't think getting to the tournament is the right way to look at whether a coach will be successful at P6 level as what is needed to get in tourney and be successful is very different at that level.

Maybe not, but it makes for an easier sell to the fans.

Mark Byington punched his ticket out of JMU a month ago. So no, a loss in the SBC tournament would not have prevented him leaving. He would be making less money than he is now, but he would still be gone.

My highlight, all of them. He made JMU mens basketball matter again. Take your blinders off for a second. We all love JMU more than a lot of folks that call themselves fans, proof is in the fact that we post/read this message board. Consider an actual casual JMU fan. I guarantee you they checked an MBB score, rooted for MBB, subscribed to ESPN+ and watched a game, maybe even attended a game or two because of this man that otherwise, they would not have. Thank you Coach!

One thing that bothers me about Cignetti and Byington is that neither thanked JMU or JMU nation in a video. To me, I think that would be gracious send off. Instead it’s just silence and “bye bye”.

(03-28-2024 12:50 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(03-28-2024 11:35 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(03-28-2024 10:21 AM)Dukester Wrote:  You guys think Mark would still be with us if we got knocked out in the Semi's of the SBT?

No.

You think he would of gotten offers even though he's never been to the NCAA tournament or NIT in a decade of coaching? I could see that as a tough sell for other fanbases.

This might not really be much of a hypothetical question. Byington and Kearns had similar profiles going into the SBC tourney. Kearns may have had the better resume and an NCAA appearance already, plus his team beat us twice this year.

If he is at a P4 next year, By likely would have been also if the outcomes were flipped. If not, then the season, SBC tourney, and the win over Wisconsin - really raised By's stock.

I guess Kearn's moves on.

The NCAA tourney bid and the subsequent first round win over Wisconsin opened up the doors for Byington. Good for him to finally put a notch in his belt.

If he had lost in the Sun Belt tourney and continued an 11 year streak with zero NCAA appearances, he would not have been offered a P6 job. Those schools don’t pay millions to mid-major coaches who don’t have a postseason resume.

I did not shed a tear when By left...we had capped out with By.. nobody will notice in Nashville.

Move on

Coach Byington did one of the most amazing turnarounds of a program anyone ever seen. After the program bottomed out, what he and his staff did during covid nonetheless and continuing thru this season was unbelievable.

Great job and best of luck at Vanderbilt

(03-28-2024 07:25 PM)Xeonon Wrote:  One thing that bothers me about Cignetti and Byington is that neither thanked JMU or JMU nation in a video. To me, I think that would be gracious send off. Instead it’s just silence and “bye bye”.

Houston did.

(03-30-2024 04:43 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  I did not shed a tear when By left...we had capped out with By.. nobody will notice in Nashville.

Move on

why the ambivalence toward Mark? he led us out of some dark times.....

(04-01-2024 09:51 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  

(03-30-2024 04:43 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  I did not shed a tear when By left...we had capped out with By.. nobody will notice in Nashville.

Move on

why the ambivalence toward Mark? he led us out of some dark times.....

If that's capping out, I'll freaking take that.
Do folks remember the Dillard era? Or the Keener era? Or how about the Rowe era?
Byington absolutely deserves all the credit in the world. Never had a losing season.
And did it all through Covid and a year without fans in a brand new arena.
He did one hell of a good job.
I am very appreciative of what he did.
I could care less what he does at Vandy, but I do like him and wish him well.
While he's a good coach, I do think there are even better coaches out there. It's possible that Spradlin is better. Only time will tell.

Nothing but love, respect and thankfulness for what Mark did for us. He deserves the P5 money. And frankly, he'd have been foolish to not leave while our program and his credentials were at their peak. Maximizing his stock for life changing money.

sure, Mark left for the money, but I think another big reason he left is the SBC is a 1 bid league. we went 31-3 and we were not even on the bubble. that is tough as a coach.

another AD to do - we need to move football and hoops to the acc - yes, I said it, the acc. Cignetti and By have said the same. the SEC and Big10 will be poaching the ACC and we need to be ready to backfill.

we are the top G5 in ACC territory - lets act like it.

a move to the ACC would be rocket fuel for the athletic program and the school in general.