Griz Nation just clamored for the removal of a football coach, who had a winning record, but many thought his teams were not improving, and that his recruiting was potentially to one dimensional (offense - specifically WR). Boosters pressured AD Kent Haslam into making a change and bringing back a Griz coaching legend. 12 months prior to his removal, Kent Haslam started to evaluate Stitt. Is there a precedence for basketball to do the same?
I see parallels here. This team does not seem to be improving year to year, despite what most of consider some of the best recruits we've ever had here. I would argue that although the recruits are great looking, the majority of them are the same type of player. Poor shooters, that can play some good defense, but can't hit a free throw when it is needed. We do not seem to be recruiting Brian Qvale, LarryK, Derrick Pope type players. Sure the game has changed but even when we had Marty Breunig this was a much better team, with a much better offense. Look at how NBA teams are starting to play Ball with the Lakers because of his poor shooting.
It would seem to me that free throw shooting, and poor field goal shooting are items that can be coached, yet we have not seen much improvement. I wonder how much the loss of some assistants during the off season has also hurt this team. If Stitt didn't get a free pass, then neither should DeCuire, and perhaps it is time to start evaluating his performance as coach, and yes that will not be a popular idea. When we had Tinkle, his teams were not great in the beginning, but as he coached, they got better - IMO we are seeing the opposite with DeCuire's teams, and this is not a good trend.
With Tinkle's struggles at OSU, will he become available in a year or two? And if he is, would he come back to Montana?
IMO this team needs to quickly improve, and shooting is where it begins. I'd make them all shoot 300 Free Throws every day for example (the number I'm just throwing out there). The fact is whatever, and however this team is practicing needs to change. The game plans need to change. And we need to recruit better overall players, not just athletic guards/small forward types.
And one more thing.....I'd like to see DeCuire and the Grizzlies succeed, but why is his performance not being scrutinized more? The answer lies with one group of people - the boosters. The boosters don't support basketball as much as football, so their interest level is down, and hence their financial influence doesn't have as much as impact. Change may or not be needed if regard to coaches like DeCuire, and Stitt - but one thing that needs to change is boosters determining the future of our teams.
I see parallels here. This team does not seem to be improving year to year, despite what most of consider some of the best recruits we've ever had here. I would argue that although the recruits are great looking, the majority of them are the same type of player. Poor shooters, that can play some good defense, but can't hit a free throw when it is needed. We do not seem to be recruiting Brian Qvale, LarryK, Derrick Pope type players. Sure the game has changed but even when we had Marty Breunig this was a much better team, with a much better offense. Look at how NBA teams are starting to play Ball with the Lakers because of his poor shooting.
It would seem to me that free throw shooting, and poor field goal shooting are items that can be coached, yet we have not seen much improvement. I wonder how much the loss of some assistants during the off season has also hurt this team. If Stitt didn't get a free pass, then neither should DeCuire, and perhaps it is time to start evaluating his performance as coach, and yes that will not be a popular idea. When we had Tinkle, his teams were not great in the beginning, but as he coached, they got better - IMO we are seeing the opposite with DeCuire's teams, and this is not a good trend.
With Tinkle's struggles at OSU, will he become available in a year or two? And if he is, would he come back to Montana?
IMO this team needs to quickly improve, and shooting is where it begins. I'd make them all shoot 300 Free Throws every day for example (the number I'm just throwing out there). The fact is whatever, and however this team is practicing needs to change. The game plans need to change. And we need to recruit better overall players, not just athletic guards/small forward types.
And one more thing.....I'd like to see DeCuire and the Grizzlies succeed, but why is his performance not being scrutinized more? The answer lies with one group of people - the boosters. The boosters don't support basketball as much as football, so their interest level is down, and hence their financial influence doesn't have as much as impact. Change may or not be needed if regard to coaches like DeCuire, and Stitt - but one thing that needs to change is boosters determining the future of our teams.