Mizzou basketball '13

[StL Dan]

I get the sense he just doesn't either have complete control of his players and/or his guys are so new (being mainly transfers) that, along with him just coming off the uncertainty and penalty of the Miami situation, he is trying to get traction and establish consistency

[JL21]

I haven't followed closely, so I want to ask this to those of you who have.

What are the impressions of Haith after almost three full seasons? I'm talking everything from in-game decisions, recruiting...everything that goes into it.

I don't mind his in-game decisions so much. At times, he seems to be quite good at making choices (though I am probably the last person to ask w/r/t that).

The problem is that he can't get a recruiting class to stick. There was nobody in his first year (through no fault of his own; Anderson left the recruiting cupboard bare). In his second year, three of those guys have already transferred out of the program, including two with some potential (Jankovic and Negus Webster-Chan). It was basically a lost recruiting class. This year's recruiting class has been spotty at best other than Williams. It takes time for recruiting classes and teams to gel with older leadership, and those leadership guys recently have been transfers or Anderson guys.

At this point, he's had one great year, one decent year where they matched reasonable expectations, and then this year where they've matched expectations. And those expectations have been low this year. Barring something crazy, next year's talent level will probably sink even lower unless, by some freak occurrence, Brown and Clarkson decide to stay. Each year, the talent level sinks and he has a long track record of mediocrity at Miami preceding his time at Mizzou. I don't think they should fire him but I also don't have a lot of hope that it's just delaying the inevitable firing after one of the next two seasons.

I'm as pessimistic about Mizzou hoops as I've been at any point in my life other than the last few years of Quin.

[Jocephus]

if haith sings "eye of the tiger" to them he'll really get 'em motivated

ol' quin...

[JL21]

Ha... I'd forgotten about that.

Wasn't there some rock that he was using to motivate them during a tournament run? "We're like this rock. We're one" or something.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

From what I have seen (very little), the program gets worse every year. Eventually at some point it'll probably sink to where Haith will perpetually keep it, and everyone will either call for his head or be content with a perennial NIT hopeful.

Remember when Mizzou announced the hiring and Phins, the Miami fan, rejoiced because Haith was gone. That was pretty telling, and it is pretty much playing out as expected.

[BW23]

I haven't followed closely, so I want to ask this to those of you who have.

What are the impressions of Haith after almost three full seasons? I'm talking everything from in-game decisions, recruiting...everything that goes into it.

I don't mind his in-game decisions so much. At times, he seems to be quite good at making choices (though I am probably the last person to ask w/r/t that).

The problem is that he can't get a recruiting class to stick. There was nobody in his first year (through no fault of his own; Anderson left the recruiting cupboard bare). In his second year, three of those guys have already transferred out of the program, including two with some potential (Jankovic and Negus Webster-Chan). It was basically a lost recruiting class. This year's recruiting class has been spotty at best other than Williams. It takes time for recruiting classes and teams to gel with older leadership, and those leadership guys recently have been transfers or Anderson guys.

At this point, he's had one great year, one decent year where they matched reasonable expectations, and then this year where they've matched expectations. And those expectations have been low this year. Barring something crazy, next year's talent level will probably sink even lower unless, by some freak occurrence, Brown and Clarkson decide to stay. Each year, the talent level sinks and he has a long track record of mediocrity at Miami preceding his time at Mizzou. I don't think they should fire him but I also don't have a lot of hope that it's just delaying the inevitable firing after one of the next two seasons.

I'm as pessimistic about Mizzou hoops as I've been at any point in my life other than the last few years of Quin.

Kinda what I was afraid of. And wasn't recruiting one of his top positives that he brought to the table?

[ThatGuy]

It's also interesting to note that Missouri really wanted Cuonzo Martin before Tennessee hired him. His seat is getting hotter by the day, and if he misses the tournament again I won't be surprised to see him go. He's a great person by all accounts, but missing the tourney every year after Pearl made it in each of his six seasons is not good.

[lukethedrifter]

Cuonzo has an ethics problem that Pearl didn't have.

[ThatGuy]

Cuonzo has an ethics problem that Pearl didn't have.

Namely, having any sense of what "ethics" means.

There's an increasingly vocal portion of the UT fan base clamoring for Pearl's return. He still lives here, so I guess I won't be surprised if it happens.

[JL21]

Kinda what I was afraid of. And wasn't recruiting one of his top positives that he brought to the table?

Allegedly. This year's class (the current freshmen) ranked 17th nationally. The year before: #65. Williams has certainly looked the part and Clark has potential. Both were top 100 guys. The other guys haven't looked that good. They have two more top 100 guys coming in next year. I have no idea what the disconnect is- whether or not he can develop or these guys just need more time.