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The "early" names being mentioned on twitter . . .

Mark Downey, absolutely.

Larry Davis, UC interim coach for Cincinnati this year, solid job, got the Bearcats to the Dance.

Greg Gard, Wisconsin asst

Geno Ford, recently fired at Bradley. Knows the MAC turf well and was a solid winner at Kent

Joe Pasternack, asst at Arizona. Supposedly took the Miami job a few years ago and then changed his mind a few hours later.

Others mentioned- Greg Paulus and Jeff Boals (I cannot begin to describe what an ABYSMAL step back that would be for either), Dane Fife (Sparty, but was mediocre at IPFW although it was a startup program), Ron Everhart who is easily the oldest guy on this list maybe by 30 years (not far off) and Rob Moxley (NC State asst, have to work in a Kingston connection).

One of the more intriguing names is Michael Huger from Miami and Coach Larranaga.

#1, 2 and 3 Boals. Recruiter, floor coach, the whole shebang. This is the pick. Many OU fans are regretting the decision to pass on him last year for "Better Call" Saul Phillips.

Pasternack has the resume and the disposition but he seems to jump around a lot and the last Arizona/Sean Miller assistant to join the MAC (James Whitford of Ball State) hasn't done very well.

I'd take Ford. It would be somewhat similar to when Christian came back after the TCU experiment.

Wisconsin is the hot team so Gard is intriguing (as is Lamont Paris), but Bo Ryan's assistants haven't done well on their own as coaches. Same goes for Izzo with Fife.

If Downey can keep the structure and staff in place he'd definitely be worth a look, but given what happened you'd have to think it would be more than a little awkward.

I don't know anything about up and coming college basketball coaches. Leave that up to you all to speculate.

Downey sounds like an easy choice - but is he stained in this process?

I met Geno Ford several years back while he coached at Muskingum College between his two Kent State stints. I had a good impression of him - confident, not too cocky. He has Ohio recruiting ties.

Thats all I can offer....

Oh and did I say already I'm a little upset about these turn of events....

#Pissed

I have a BIG issue with Boals and anyone from the OSU staff. Who have they made better?
1. Craft- defensive "specialist" who couldn't shoot coming out of HS and actually got worse as college went on despite shooting guru Chris Jent on staff.
2. DeShaun Thomas- came in as the unanimous #1 HS player and was drafted #58 or thereabout due to being played out of position and NOT developing.
3. Shannon Scott- came in much the same as Craft, never developed a jump shot.
4. Sam Thompson- Super freak athlete, didn't have a jumper four years ago and doesn't have one on the way to the Rookie combine.
5. Evan Turner- Became the #2 pick, granted, but was played out of position and can't get his own shot. Considered a bust bc his offensive game was NOT developed.

I could go on and on . . . Yes, they win but the B1G is also one of the most notoriously poorly officiated conferences and OSU is very much taken care of by Delaney and his crews in ALL sports.

As for Coach Downey, the incident(s) in question do NOT refect negatively upon any of the assistants or support staff. Obviously, a severe lapse in judgement was made and Coach Jans is dealing with the consequences of those decsions. I would be a HUGE fan of Coach Downey, Coach Ragland, Coach Barker and Anthony Stacey!

I'm lukewarm, at best, on any assistants from big schools. I don't think they fully get the world that is the MAC and similar conferences. Unless, they've had experience at this level prior to making it to the big boys, I prefer to look at people who have been at the Witchita's, the Gonzagas, the VCUs, of the world.

And I don't know a hill of beans about either of those OSU assistants, but I wouldn't take anybody from that program at all. It's a mediocre hoops program that has the budget of a small nation. I don't see the appeal one bit.

Mike Rhodes, VCU would be a guy of interest if he's not interested in re-locating to Austin.

Bacari Alexander.....

Generally I'd say "too soon" for a thread like this but the coaching search is in fact on. So I guess I'll put in my $.02.

The first two on the list were the first two I thought of. If we hire either Downey or Davis as our new head coach I'll absolutely be happy. Disappointed that he have to hire another coach, but happy with the hire.

I would hate to get someone off the Thad Matta coaching tree. I mean what success has he had and what success have they had?

Globetrotter wrote:I would hate to get someone off the Thad Matta coaching tree. I mean what success has he had and what success have they had?

And his former assistants have sucked as head coaches.

Look for mid-major head coaches that are poorly paid, mid-major assistants on the rise and people with connections to programs that have succeeded with less money, less fanfare and less support than the big programs. We need someone who is resourceful and motivated. You won't find that very often at the big programs.

Let's get this thing moving and maintain as much of the momentum to push this program forward.

I'd like to take a look at Mike Young of Wofford and Former Falcon Michael Huger.

It's too bad Curt Miller just got hired by the WNBA...

I think as long as assitant coach Matk Downey wasn't there that night he should be the top candidate. He has head coaching experience plus a good baseline with the current team.

falcfan wrote:

Globetrotter wrote:I would hate to get someone off the Thad Matta coaching tree. I mean what success has he had and what success have they had?

And his former assistants have sucked as head coaches.

Archie and Sean Miller have been pretty good....

I'd call Oliver Purnell. Noted program builder. Old Dominion, Dayton, did a nice job at Clemson. DePaul is DePaul.

Next year's team will be a tough sell for a new coach.