Hello gentlemen,
Where do I start? How 'bout if I take these queries and replies in a categorical fashion.
I wonder if you could address the problems that PK encountered by coming to a program that had been coached by a beloved coach and his son for a zillion years. Was there not huge inherent resentment against PK when he, a complete outsider, was hired?
Grizzlie, I don't live in Chicago so I didn't have my finger on the pulse of the local scene and the feelings of those more closely enmeshed within the DePaul scene. However, I can pretty confidently say that this was not an overwhelming factor in the long run. Once PK recruited Q Richardson, Bobby Simmons, and Lance Williams (all top 20 talent at the time) any lingering resentment was quickly supplanted by unbridled optimism. Except for the more perspicacious fans who could see the micro-fissures beyond the beautiful facade, fans were all aglow after we made the NCAA tournament in 2000. After that, PK was his own undoing through a combination of underachievement and off-court player trouble. It was only at this time that the Pro-Meyer fan base resurrected. These old school fans cried foul, lamenting that the father and son Meyer business was taken over by an unethical administration. The contrast probably didn't serve PK well but he did bring it upon himself.
I believe your point about losing some control of the immates is probably true--as I read a couple good articles on that in the past and talked to a couple people with some knowledge on the subject. My impression is that PK is not recruiting kids to UM that would be considered "immates", though. While there may be one guy who has caused alittle trouble this year (with other students, not the law), I am not aware that any of his recruits are not good kids. In fact, I am told that many of his recruits are good kids. Thus, he is not going to have those same problems at UM.
Good point Griz. A primary reason PK got himself into trouble was that he dipped heavily into the Chicago Public Schools which have a very bad reputation for uncoachable kids and street agent proliferation. This would not be a satisfactory explanation for PK's failure as Q had some of the best intangibles I've ever seen in a player but you could tell he had to pretty much create all the good will and positive play by himself. However, it will probably benefit PK that he will have kids with a better foundation with which to begin.
I find it almost impossible to believe that a coach could have the success PK had, at 3 schools, if he was only a very good recruiter and not at least a pretty good coach. I think college basketball is way too competitive for that. Thus, while he may be a very good recruiter and only a good coach, he can't be much less than a good coach.
Griz, I'll tell you a little story I withheld on my last post that may help illustrate my disagreement with you on this point. In the early 90's when I watched DePaul basketball, I was extremely down on Joey Meyer. I didn't feel he was the worst coach in basketball but I was not happy with his team's night-in night-out effort, offensive execution, and overall confidence. It often seemed we were an unstructured bunch of individuals who didn't take care of the little details on the court. Anyways, one day we were playing Florida State, coached by PK at the time. FSU was a talented team, carrying on its roster such prep star legends and/or NBA luminaries like Sam Cassell, Bob Sura, and Douglas Edwards (a top 5 prep star) and a couple other very good players I can't recall right now. Needless to say I was very worried. What amazed me about 1/3 into the game was how well we were executing. We were doing things I'd rarely seen us do (connecting on alley oop dunks, outrebounding the opposition, outhustling them). It was at this time that it hit me, perhaps FSU has an even more inept coach than we do (In fairness to PK, although they underachieved that regular season I believe they reached the elite 8 that year).
I never gave that game much thought until afterwards when he was hired at DePaul. Recalling that game I did some additional research and saw that FSU appeared to want to part ties with him as well. Combining that with PK's cryptic quote, "I think we took FSU as far as we could go and DePaul offers something more (or something to that effect)" left me with the impression we were hiring a charlatan. (As an aside, that quote always stuck in my craw and confirmed a trend I suspected. PK enrages the masses then tries to stay one step ahead of the lynch mob. I'm sure his quotes upon his Montana hire will sound eerily familar). It only took me a couple of years to confirm my fears. I quickly began to realize that DePaul would always play a notch or two below their talent-level on paper. So as a long-winded rebuttal to your statement Grizzlie, I believe a coach can win if he assembles enough talent but it's like visiting a brothel. You'll score often enough but you won't feel clean about it.
As for caring about players, I have talked to PK about his overall philosophy on kids and how he views them in the world of college basketball, and I can't tell you how impressed I was. I know how he helped a number of his kids at prior schools through very difficult off the court problems, and how much effort he put into it. I have also seen, firsthand, how he was dealt with some situations at UM, and one in particular. Your statement about him not caring enough about the kids (or however you said it) is absolutely not true--at least at UM. In fact, he cares more about the kids, or at least some of the ones with problems, than any college coach I've ever been around (and I've been around my fair share).
For everyone's sake Grizzlie I hope you're right. See the below post for an elaborated statement.
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 29
Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 8:12 am Post subject: a humble offer
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Brent,
One of the concerns I frequently hear is that PK is never on the job during the off-season. - That he is not willing to help with fund-raising, that he unfairly turns the summer program over to a player (Kevin Chriswell), that the assistants are given no sense of direction in terms of scheduling, that he spends a good part of the summer at his high school camp somewhere in the Northeast, etc.
Did you see that sort of casual approach to the program at DePaul?
William, Interesting observation; that's kind of ironic as that would have been the one area I would have expected him to excel. He's a slick salesman and seems to be in his element when he's promoting, selling, and schmoozing. However, he has shown an ever-progressive burnout factor and, as I stated before, there was plenty of rumor and innuendo concerning his lack of committment and attention to detail at DePaul. Strong statement coming up here guys- if PK displays a cavalier and lazy attitude toward maintaining your program, run don't walk toward the nearest petition sheet ousting the guy. Recruiting and promoting are really his only strengths and your only hope for his success. If he forsakes this responsibility all hope is lost and you should not only jump off the bandwagon but do your best to get a stick in the spokes. As much disdain as I have for PK I sure hope those allegations aren't true. They speak to my previously voiced anger at kids and coaches being shortchanged and deceived by a self-serving agenda. Griz, as much as I don't like PK, for yours', the coaches', and the players' collective sake, I'm prayin' your version is the closer to reality.
It will be interesting to see how much of a team player PK becomes within the athletic department given the loss of his friend, Wayne Hogan, the Athletic Director. A new AD could give PK a whole new view of life.
That could very be a very interesting development. If you get a straight arrow AD I don't think they will coexist.
I noticed that one of our posters said that PK didn't have trouble with the team. I beg to differ. I have talked to academic department sources who say in exasperation that they have more trouble with mens' basketball than all of the rest of the teams combined.
To be specific, haven't Mansell, Booker, and Chavez all missed significant playing time due to academic or "can't get my act together" types of problems. If you were to apply that percentage to the football team it would be a front page disaster. To say nothing of this week's DUI by one assistant. The things I hear from very good sources about the moral character of another assistant lead me to think that the ship lacks a compass, rudder, and captain.
That would more accurately reflect the collective perception of the DePaul fan. Once again, I hope Griz' perspective is closer to the truth but I cannot stress strongly enough, if you see the internal decay then don't be passive in expressing your displeasure. Become proactive and hold PK accountable. It'll save you heartache down the road.
Our team did seem to come together after a horrendous mid-season slump. I only wonder who made the coaching changes?
I followed you guys at the end of the season and had the very same musings.
I thought it was interesting that when PK showed up, he didn't bring any of his former assistants or even grad assistants with him. Does that suggest that nobody who had ever worked with him believed in him enought to follow him? Whatever happened to his assistants at DePaul?
Couldn't answer that one too well; I'd need someone more on the inside. I do know that one of his assistants was another slick hustler not-so-affably nicknamed "Pimp Daddy" by the fans because of his flashy clothes, less-than-stellar ethics, and ability to recruit the moral cesspool that is otherwise known as the Chicago Public League. Something tells me he wouldn't be able to work his magic quite so well at Montana. As for the others I couldn't quite tell you.
Thanks for the insight, Brent. Those who say that things are rosey here are seeing things that I don't.
You're very welcome. As I said earlier, I'm happy to give you guys as much insight as I can provided you have the interest. I certainly don't want you guys taking my opinion as gospel but I'd like to raise your awareness of potential problems so if they occur you can take swift and responsive action. Don't make the same mistakes as FSU and DePaul, if the program begins to crumble (not in win-loss record but in terms of moral character and discipline) only a complete PK-ectomy will cure your problem.
Take care guys and good luck in the upcoming seasons. Do you have a baseball team? Is it followed very closely?
Brent
