Where Do We Go From Here?

['Cane-man]

Even if TU wins the remaining four home games and manages to win a couple on the road (which is very questionable), they would need to put up an unexpected run in the conference tournament to see any post-season action. Maybe if we finish 7th or 8th Haith can boast that TU finished higher than predicted once again...the year we've ALL been waiting for!

But what about next season? We have a few solid players returning, but it's mainly a group of role players with gaping holes in their games. The one signee from the fall has stellar credentials and we will have Jones, the transfer from Western Michigan. But by the looks of it, we will still lack size. Not an abundance of quickness either.

Haith's revolving-door recruiting strategy has come back to bite him on the ass. The staff will need to hit the jackpot in the spring to land a couple of sorely-needed impact players. I could retire very comfortably if I hit the jackpot in tonight's lotto. I doubt if either will happen.

I think we all wanted Frank Haith to succeed here. He's a good guy whose players represent TU in a positive manner. But he has an also-ran record going into his lame-duck season on his contract. Can we justify giving him a new contract or even an extension?

 

[tupatsfan]

No.

 

[red dirt]

Cannot afford to keep him. His leadership keeps taking our program lower and lower. He is not a good recruiter and that is the only way out of this mess.

 

[tupatsfan]

He will leave if we don’t extend him. Somehow someway he will leave. Ideal situation.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

He will leave if we don’t extend him. Somehow someway he will leave. Ideal situation.

I hope, I hope, I hope he takes another step down and leaves for somebody on the Charlotte level at the end of season..

 

[Gmoney4WW]

We'll finish with 19 wins give or take a game with what could be Haith's best team. Not satisfactory.

 

[hotterthanyourhusbandTU]

Good thread...we’re having similar discussions inside the “Game Thoughts” thread in the Alley.

TU does not plan on Haith being the coach after next year.

To your point, Haith typically leaves right before he gets fired. That would be a fantastic scenario.

Then - We could make a run after our guy...(a fantastic fit currently in Johnson City, TN).

 

[Gmoney4WW]

When do conferences usually make a deal with upcoming TV deals that expire? Do they usually wait till the end like Mar-may of 2020 or does it usually get settled summer/fall of '19?

 

[Original TULSAFAN]

Fire him
No sense losing another 2-3 recruiting classes

But TU is JV
Not really high d1

 

[rusty-c]

He will leave if we don’t extend him. Somehow someway he will leave. Ideal situation.

We can only hope so, and if you believe in prayer you might just ask for a little help to make it so....

 

[tudirk]

I went to drink. Hiring a head coach is really difficult, Getting better won't be easy but is needed.

 

[tupatsfan]

I went to drink. Hiring a head coach is really difficult, Getting better won't be easy but is needed.

We just need the right guy. Haith is clearly not it. CLEARLY.

 

[drboobay]

Fire him
No sense losing another 2-3 recruiting classes

But TU is JV
Not really high d1

Phillips teams were JV.

We do not have a JV team. JV team would not beat KState or OSU or Dayton or USF.

But we are in the bottom third of AAC.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Phillips teams were JV.

We do not have a JV team. JV team would not beat KState or OSU or Dayton or USF.

But we are in the bottom third of AAC.

Original needs to take a pill for his sh*tty fan problem.

 

['Cane-man]

Scoop Haisten addresses this issue in his column now on the Tulsa Whirled's website. There has been no extension completed regarding Haith's contract. Haisten talks out of his ass by asserting that TU should establish a salary cap for head coaches ($1 million for football, $750,000 for basketball). But he is correct in saying that having Haith entering the final year of his current contract without an extension is not good for recruiting efforts.

The other interesting tidbit in Haisten's column is Derrick Gragg mentioning that TU is in the process of hiring a new major gifts director. This would be the fourth such director TU has hired since Gragg became Director of Athletics in 2013. That's disconcerting. Maybe a more effective AD should be a better move.

 

[astonmartin708]

I’ve been trying to tell you guys for years... Haith was making mistakes with the program from day 1. What was initially a small ball of snow rolling down hill has turned into an avalanche of poo.

 

[Original TULSAFAN]

Phillips teams were JV.

We do not have a JV team. JV team would not beat KState or OSU or Dayton or USF.

But we are in the bottom third of AAC.

This team is seriously flawed

 

[Original TULSAFAN]

Scoop Haisten addresses this issue in his column now on the Tulsa Whirled's website. There has been no extension completed regarding Haith's contract. Haisten talks out of his ass by asserting that TU should establish a salary cap for head coaches ($1 million for football, $750,000 for basketball). But he is correct in saying that having Haith entering the final year of his current contract without an extension is not good for recruiting efforts.

The other interesting tidbit in Haisten's column is Derrick Gragg mentioning that TU is in the process of hiring a new major gifts director. This would be the fourth such director TU has hired since Gragg became Director of Athletics in 2013. That's disconcerting. Maybe a more effective AD should be a better move.

Total crap show

 

[TU 1978]

Gragg needs to go. Can’t be trusted with the hiring of new football or basketball coaches.

 

[noble cane]

Gragg needs to go. Can’t be trusted with the hiring of new football or basketball coaches.

But, what would the “people that matter” think?

 

[rusty-c]

He can’t fundraise not retain the person hired to do so, he can’t be trusted to hire coaches, and he can’t seem to handle any form of public relations, Certainly seems that Gragg would be the first arse to hat needs to hit the road. If he’s the captain of the ship then it’s apparent we’ve all been on a similar cruise as the Howell’s, Ginger, Mary Ann , and the Professor. Who’s our Gilligan ???

 

[chito_and_leon]

He can’t fundraise not retain the person hired to do so, he can’t be trusted to hire coaches, and he can’t seem to handle any form of public relations, Certainly seems that Gragg would be the first arse to hat needs to hit the road. If he’s the captain of the ship then it’s apparent we’ve all been on a similar cruise as the Howell’s, Ginger, Mary Ann , and the Professor. Who’s our Gilligan ???

Not to get hung up on the details but it was actually Gilligan’s fault the Minnow sunk. He failed to tie the anchor rope to the anchor. I guess it’s still the skipper’s fault for having a nit wit second in command.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Not to get hung up on the details but it was actually Gilligan’s fault the Minnow sunk. He failed to tie the anchor rope to the anchor. I guess it’s still the skipper’s fault for having a nit wit second in command.

He's the captain and gilligan all rolled into one. Doubt the second in command assistant, AD had much to do with any hiring decisions.

 

[eastcane]

Monty needs a Thurston Howell lll indoor practice facility to sell recruits.

 

[noble cane]

Monty needs a Thurston Howell lll indoor practice facility to sell recruits.

Monty needs another “Art Briles” so he can ride his coat tails...

 

[Lumpuckeroo]

This team is seriously flawed

That statement is of course overstated . What this team has always lacked is a consistent outside shooter who would average 15 to 20 every game . If TU could ever hire an up and comer that could recruit talent they would be gone after two good seasons. Haith might have recruited a serviceable big man in Magnay , but he bolted and Martins disappears in big games ( every time he catches the ball in the lane he brings the ball down and help defense slaps it out of his hands) . A reliable two guard is this team’s Achilles.

 

[Original TULSAFAN]

That statement is of course overstated . What this team has always lacked is a consistent outside shooter who would average 15 to 20 every game . If TU could ever hire an up and comer that could recruit talent they would be gone after two good seasons. Haith might have recruited a serviceable big man in Magnay , but he bolted and Martins disappears in big games ( every time he catches the ball in the lane he brings the ball down and help defense slaps it out of his hands) . A reliable two guard is this team’s Achilles.

Low post is terribly thin and undersized

The backcourt is slow and their outside shooting is inconsistent

And next years team will be worse in a league which will be better

 

[lawpoke87]

We also need an athletic big who can rebound and protect the rim. Rebounding (or lack thereof) is this team’s second biggest issue. Martins lack of improvement from his sophomore season is another concern. Teams have figured out how to defend him and he as well as the team hasn’t adjusted. We all know the double is coming. Why he won’t pass to the open player as the help defender is rotating to him rather than wait until he’s truly in a double team and can’t effectively pass out of it is beyond me.

 

[I.I.]

We can't even get a good local player who is a good shooter with good fundamentals such as Jason Parker or Dante Swanson. Memphis is reeling in their local players for next year. Bottom line is we have to recruit with Cincy, Houston, and Memphis is we want to get those at-large berths.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Teams have figured out how to defend him and he as well as the team hasn’t adjusted. We all know the double is coming. Why he won’t pass to the open player as the help defender is rotating to him rather than wait until he’s truly in a double team and can’t effectively pass out of it is beyond me.

He comes down with it and shimmy fake shakes it when he shouldn't have come down in the first place. And then he, like all our other players, bulls his head down and tries to break through the player(s) for a shot or a pass. At some point he usually gets blocked, partially blocked, or stripped of the ball.

This breaking through thing usually gets attempted by Igbanu in the paint three times out of every four. But it happens in the open court a lot too. Scott is the worst at this in an open court dribble. But others on the team are doing the same thing. And if they seem to break through the players, then they try and pass it when they are only three quarters of the way through. Usually the other players arms alter the pass and it becomes a turnover. And if doesn't immediately get turned over, then it ends up being fumbled on the receiving end. Then guess what, it frequently ends in a turnover. It has to be a flawed method taught and spurred on by the coaches.

Avoiding all that by anticipating what will happen and passing the ball before it becomes a problem is the simple occams razor solution. The coaches must drill this poor solution in their heads so much, that the players think they are going to get pulled if they don't do it.

This bull in a china closet thing ain't working.

 

[Lumpuckeroo]

He comes down with it and shimmy fake shakes it when he shouldn't have come down in the first place. And then he, like all our other players, bulls his head down and tries to break through the player(s) for a shot or a pass. At some point he usually gets blocked, partially blocked, or stripped of the ball.

This breaking through thing usually gets attempted by Igbanu in the paint three times out of every four. But it happens in the open court a lot too. Scott is the worst at this in an open court dribble. But others on the team are doing the same thing. And if they seem to break through the players, then they try and pass it when they are only three quarters of the way through. Usually the other players arms alter the pass and it becomes a turnover. And if doesn't immediately get turned over, then it ends up being fumbled on the receiving end. Then guess what, it frequently ends in a turnover. It has to be a flawed method taught and spurred on by the coaches. Avoiding all that by anticipating what will happen and passing the ball before it becomes a problem is the simple occams razor solution. The coaches must drill this poor solution in their heads so much, that the players think they are going to get pulled if they don't do it.

With all the little mistakes that these players habitually make, the biggest baffling riddle is the lost points at the foul line . The only reason I can come up with is the lack of confidence because free throws are all about balance, elbow, eyes and follow through ...you shoot thousands of free throws in practice you should be a MACHINE .

 

[hotterthanyourhusbandTU]

Igbanu is my favorite player.

However, the reality is that he’s an undersized big in the AAC that lacks explosiveness or rebounding ability.

He has great footwork, but is very methodical.

It’s impressive how effective he is offensively in a one-on-one setting. But, that won’t happen anymore (as long as the other coaches are paying attention).

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Igbanu is my favorite player.

However, the reality is that he’s an undersized big in the AAC that lacks explosiveness or rebounding ability.

He has great footwork, but is very methodical.

It’s impressive how effective he is offensively in a one-on-one setting. But, that won’t happen anymore (as long as the other coaches are paying attention).

Yeah he is too methodical. Other players can guess what he will do 5 or 10 mins in, if they haven't already figured it out through scouting.

 

[I.I.]

Yeah he is too methodical. Other players can guess what he will do 5 or 10 mins in, if they haven't already figured it out through scouting.

Memphis couldn't figure him out , but then again that was Penny and his NBA guys coaching defense.

 

[Weatherdemon]

Memphis couldn't figure him out , but then again that was Penny and his NBA guys coaching defense.

Are their fans ready to fire him or the staff?

 

[hotterthanyourhusbandTU]

Their message board is BY FAR my favorite to read...they definitely “eat their young”.

Most posters blame their losses on Tubby.

However, any poor performances next year could result in major Penny bashing.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Memphis couldn't figure him out , but then again that was Penny and his NBA guys coaching defense.

Jealousy

 

[rusty-c]

Igbanu is my favorite player.

However, the reality is that he’s an undersized big in the AAC that lacks explosiveness or rebounding ability.

He has great footwork, but is very methodical.

It’s impressive how effective he is offensively in a one-on-one setting. But, that won’t happen anymore (as long as the other coaches are paying attention).

Added to that that Jeffries is the only other real threat that is consistent it's pretty damn easy to figure out how to defend us. Other coaches definitely have us figured out and we're going to feel the pain till our guards can make shots and take the pressure off of our not so big bigs.

 

[drboobay]

I think we are near the top of shooting pct in the AAC. Not guard shooting, rebounding.

 

[Tulsa76]

Good thread...we’re having similar discussions inside the “Game Thoughts” thread in the Alley.

TU does not plan on Haith being the coach after next year.

To your point, Haith typically leaves right before he gets fired. That would be a fantastic scenario.

Then - We could make a run after our guy...(a fantastic fit currently in Johnson City, TN).

Steve Forbes would be great!! What’s his contract with ETSU like?