DooleyBull06

Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Whitesell run defense for Oats? So while hiring him would bring a sense of continuity, his hiring would still leave us in the dark about style and pace of play offensively. I agree with @enrique14150 that it’s doesnt matter what style as long as we win. TTU is defensive oriented, Auburn plays no defense, Virginia is the slowest paced team in the country and Michigan State plays in the boring Big 10. There’s several ways to skin the aforementioned cat.

One can dream right lol.

It’s all a crap shoot. Look at Belichek assistants. I know that’s football but his guys have never panned out. Relating it back to college it’s even trickier bc of some many things outside of just Xs and Os. I also think that’s why Alnutt is taking time. We as a program are hanging on the edge of continuing a great run or falling back into mid major mediocrity. He wants a coach who can keep this train on the tracks. Who knows who he will get and if he will have to settle. But I think what you target is someone who checks off as many boxes as possible. Can recruit, reasonable price, can keep this team together, coaching style, experience level and so on. All boxes that need to be checked. And I’m missing many more. Either way whoever is hired we all won’t like it. We all will nitpick but if this person wins this thread won’t be relevant until we do it all over again in 4-5 years lol.

Then this is why you don’t hire a first timer. IDK just because a guy coaches under someone doesn’t mean he will operate like that person. Furthermore when Battle was under Spoon he was very young and probably like a 4th assistant. By this logic the best candidate is Fife because Michigan State is in the final 4. But is he the next Izzo? But I agree with you, ppl automatically link Battle with Reggie. That’s unfair to Battle and more of a reason why he shouldn’t coach here until he’s head coached elsewhere.

One question...why do I keep reading “Turner’s offense?” Last I checked he’s an assistant and never been a head coach. Therefore he is assisting in implementing someone else’s offense. Yes the staffs he’s been on have been run by coaches whose offensive style and pace are awful but they are in no way Turner’s offense. We have no idea what kind of offense he will run as a first time coach. Are we that jaded by Reggie that we automatically associate Battle with him and think Battle will operate as Reggie did?

Wonder if our players were talked to by Nate before he walked out the door. Buzz despite this being rumored for months still took time to talk to his former players.

If they don’t get invited to the NBA draft combine then the possibility of them getting drafted is slim. But if they get an invite things are much more promising. As said already the NBA draft is only two rounds. And you can’t forget foreign players.

It usually doesn’t end well when former players return to their Alam Mater to coach. Chris Mullin comes to mind. His time may be short. Patrick Ewing the jury is still out. A part of me wouldn’t mind Turner. When he was an assist here we had good guard play. No shocker there. The common thing that all the rumored candidates have is roots in Buffalo. I wonder if Alnutt thinks that might get a hire to stay a long time.

I repeat I’m done with the Gonzaga of the East comparison. I’m also done with blue collar shirts. Those two things specifically were Nate Oats motivators. Nate Oats talking and selling points. Nate Oats branding. He’s no longer here. Time for a new coach and new motivational mindset and pitch to the public. New branding. That has nothing to do with being done with the top 25. The top 25 is not a Nate Oats thing. That’s an any and every coach thing. That’s all I’m saying. Not saying that I’m done aspiring to win games get to the big dance and go deep. Edit: By new branding I don’t mean a new logo or anything. Just mean new pitch to the public to support this team.

here we go

The cubboard was left in pretty good shape at Alabama provided Oats can keep some players from transferring (Kira Lewis). And the school is dumping massive amounts of resources in support of Oats. Oats also brought in Hawkins immediately. So Nate is setup for more immediate success than Hurley. It’s all on him now. If he fails it would be because he failed as a coach. No excuses for him. Also you guys gotta remember that when it comes to recruiting Oats is no longer in the kiddie pool. Meaning he isn’t looking projects and late bloomers. He is now recruiting top 100 kids. Again...more is expected of him. No time for him to bring in kids who will need massive developmental time. Hence him going after 5 star recruit Watford.

I’m done with the whole Gonzaga of the East. The person who was going to lead us to becoming that is now in Alabama where Alabama will become the Kentucky of the South. Lets just be Buffalo. I think with Hurley and Oats we’ve established an identity. That above all else is what we need to preserve and grow. The culture of UB being able to win the MAC, get to the big dance and win tournament games. Thus we need a coach who can continue us on that path. And yes the next coach if he wins will leave us again. But hey if we win then it will be worth it. And if we become a school that wins and churns out the next hot shot coach then I’m all for it because it means we are winning. Eventually with sustained winning maybe we will retain a coach, move up in conference affiliation and all our wildest dreams will come true. I’m done and over Oats and Hodgson. It’s time to move on.

I’m pretty sure Alnutt was prepared for the inevitable. We knew Oats was leaving at some point. This is a very important decision, one you don’t rush. Put yourself in his shoes...if you make the wrong hire you get fired. So would you want to risk that on a first timer or someone with experience? Or perhaps he is after someone who is still coaching. I understand we are all impatient but we have to be patient. So far we’ve only lost one commitment (Allen). Hawkins we knew was following Oats.

I understand completely. It is shady for a guy who is in limbo. While liking a tweet isn’t a breach of contract it is definitely shady to us frustrated fans. It’s almost as if he is trying to play both sides. But in defense of Hodgson he did get to know Hawkins during the recruiting process so he just feels happy for the kid and liked his tweet. The bigger thing is that Hodgson hasn’t tweeted in 6 days and his handle and picture remain UB related. For whatever that’s worth.

He picked Oats.

When sources leak info you have to consider who benefits from the leak. If sources are saying Hawkins is going to Bama bc Hodgson hasn’t been hired at UB consider who benefits from that leak. Hodgson. It could be true it could also be his camp trying to inflate his worth. Also as far as Tunney...he endorsed Hodgson, ok so if Hodgson is hired does that mean we are gonna see a big donation for perhaps a new facility as a result? As far as recruiting Nate sure doesn’t seem like he needs Hodgson. He is slated to meet with 5 star recruit Trendon Watford. So really is Hodgson that big time of a recruiter that he can hold UB hostage? Furthermore if Oats is already recruiting a 6’8 power forward in Watford will Hawkins get much run in his freshman year as he could if he came here? Or is Hawkins just blinded by the big lights? Lots of moving parts. We just need a coach then a plan to move forward. There are over 450 transfers out there...I’m sure whoever comes in as coach can replace whoever we lose player wise as a result of their hiring.

I’m sure we will have plenty of scholarship room in 2020. https://247sports.com/player/emory-lanier-46081334/

Thank you. That was a long time ago. And who says he failed? He took them to a NCAA tournament and won an opening round game before losing to eventual national champs. Backed it up going to 3 rounds deep into an NIT. He’s highly regarded currently as an assistant and recruiter on a good SEC team. We can do a lot worse than him.

We will have a coach by the end of the weekend.

Dude I’m not comparing anything. I’m just putting a tweet out about the contract details and letting all of you make your own assessments. I just stated that the numbers are huge. Didn’t make any further remarks or comparisons to his contract with us.

If Lanier is a good recruiter as this tweet suggest look at the talent Tennessee had. Look at the players and how they have grown and developed there. Hodgson as coach won’t be blazing the recruiting trail he will have to hire someone to do that on his behalf...who will that be? Another first timer? What brand is that person gonna sell recruits? Lots of questions with Hodgson as coach. I support whoever takes over. I kinda want someone who has coached before. And if that person has coaching experience and is currently known as a good recruiter then that’s the best of both worlds.

Read the thread if you guys can...look at these numbers! And the buyouts. Insane.

I would like this hire. Has prior coaching experience. Not an old geezer. From Buffalo. Ok so what he played at Bona. Family lineage. And he’s been an assistant for Rick Barnes. Yes with hiring an external candidate that would be a complete rebuild but I’m ok with that. Those recruits or current players that wanna leave be gone. Theres no certainty that they would stay if Hodgson gets the job. Plus it seems Hogdson has one foot out the door already. And he has no coaching experience. So think about that if you’re Alnutt. You wanna put it on the line with a first timer?

I’m gonna take the high road and just be thankful for Nate Oats and the level of success he helped us reach. If anything it opened our eyes that it could be done at UB. Even though it was short lived and even though I thought we had at least one more year it was a great ride. Hopefully we land back on our feet again. I know we can. We can win the MAC again and we can win tournament games. My imidiate reaction was sadness. That grew to disappointment at the way it all unfolded but it is what it is...let’s get ourselves a coach. Build and hopefully kick Alabama’s ass like we did ASU if we ever play them.

A bit of sunshine dare I say. Now let’s get a coach.