Topic: UK-Herd Basketball

[cincyherdfan]

?In the hands of the AD? is pretty broad way.
Yes, the final schedule does get his approval and the AD mat set forth some guidelines such as ?need to have a $$$ game or two? or ?need to have ?X? amount of home games? etc?.
But at least 90% of the games on the schedule are done by the coaching staffs. Not only here but across the country.

[herdorbust2]

?In the hands of the AD? is pretty broad way.
Yes, the final schedule does get his approval and the AD mat set forth some guidelines such as ?need to have a $$$ game or two? or ?need to have ?X? amount of home games? etc?.
But at least 90% of the games on the schedule are done by the coaching staffs. Not only here but across the country.

Mark Cline has been doing it for years.

[cincyherdfan]

Exactly Bust!!👍

[Always THE HERD]

Mark Cline has been doing it for years.

Maybe we need another set of eyes looking at future opponents. Some of the past schedules are pathetic (out of conference).

[marshallmark]

Maybe we need another set of eyes looking at future opponents. Some of the past schedules are pathetic (out of conference).

Taking away the obligatory schedule fillers that no one can really control (any D2 team; the exempt 'tournament' teams... at least the home ones), what teams do you object to? 

The MAC schools are routinely solid, and we play a lot of them.  We've had home/homes with Northern Iowa, Duquesne, Robert Morris, UNCG, College of Charleston.  Money games to Florida, Maryland, Indiana, etc.  Plus the regional rivals like Morehead and EKU.

Its not easy scheduling at a mid-major, and the days of getting ACC schools (like Wake) to a home/home are long gone. 

[Herdalum83]

I hope we never play WV. I'm tired of losing to them in football and basketball.

I hope we don't ever play them in anything. Not because I'm afraid to lose to them but because it's a pain in the ass to listen to their fans and even if we win we won't get much credit for it from their fans or the national media. I mean basketball would mean a little more most years, but beating them in football is no different than beating Purdue other than I don't have to listen to Purdue fans talking smack all off season before the game is even played.

[coalherd]

not sure your point.  I certainly don't think MU is the Huntington school and I typically see a greater percentage of fans and supporters from Charleston, Teays Valley or out of area folks on the west lot than Huntingtonians. 

We should still decline any unfair series.  All neutral or rotating through neutral site and both campuses.

Don't disagree with the last sentence, Bison.  Just trying to say that MU needs to develop, maybe cater to, somewhat, other potential areas of support for the University, its athletics, etc., away from the local Tri-State, like the Kanawha Valley, far Southern and Southeastern WV, etc.  Playing a game in Charleston, WVU or another quality opponent, is one way to do that, IMO.  However, there is a SEGMENT, maybe a big one, in Huntington who get bent way out of shape whenever such an idea is mentioned.  Some of the "blue noses" of the Old Huntington crowd really consider it a slap in the face to suggest that they would have to drive to Charleston to watch the HERD.  MU has tried it before, not just games with WVU.  Herd has played Cincinnati there, and I believe another Major foe.  Believe it would be a good PR move for the HERD to schedule a quality foe, say VA Tech, if not WVU, or Cincy, maybe Dayton, to suggest a few in the renovated and expanded Charleston Civic Center/Coliseum.  Again, just as an attempt to grow/build a larger fan base.

[coalherd]

Mark Cline has been doing it for years.

One reason for that, bust, could very well be Cline's rather long history in the college game.  A lot of scheduling can be as a result of personal relationships between Head Coaches, Coaching staffs, etc., etc.  Danny had NO real College coaching experience to speak of prior to getting the HERD job.  Does he have any of his former High School players at Socastee (sp.) who are now D1 College coaches somewhere?  So where are his personal relationships with other D1 Coaches which he can use to perhaps schedule some OOC games for the HERD??

[Thundering In MD]

This is totally in the hands of the AD

Last time I checked NCAA non-conference scheduling was done by the HC or his delegate.  Did Danny delegate the task to Spears?

[beau42m]

We should decline, the wvu fans in Charleston enjoyed the neutral game as did the Charleston community, it was cancelled due to a fat drunk's preference.


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Good one 2X Bison. What was a supposed leader of the state's flagship university's men's basketball program doing driving alone in Pittsburgh drunk over the legal limit three times with a bunch of empties in the vehicle? I thought one of the news outlets here stated that it was in a state owned vehicle.  Maybe he was looking for some horizontal enjoyment? What an absolute fall from grace, and the biggest fraud perpetrated on WVU sports fans ever.

[Herdmeister]

Not exactly true.  Spears as the new guy, had pressure to keep Dan with all of the connections to Justice, his sister in the BOG and his brother.  Spears may make the schedule but you can bet your life Dan is the one telling him who to schedule.

I was only referring to a game with a P5. The schedule has been set for weeks, both OOC and SBC,  except for the decision from Spears on a money game.


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[herdorbust2]

I was only referring to a game with a P5. The schedule has been set for weeks, both OOC and SBC,  except for the decision from Spears on a money game.


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The real question is Danny lobbying Spears against a money game? Danny didn't want any last year. Why would Spears not want a money games that brings in money unless he is getting pressured not to do it?

[chris88]

The schedule is awful IMO. You don't play OOC vs same teams for perpetuity unless it's a rival game. 3-4 of same MAC schools a year is silly.  To say we can't do any better is ludicrous. We were ranked around 340ish out of 387 teams in schedule strength.  You'd have to really try to do worse.

If the goal is to be a top 100 program than the first thing you need to do is have a top 100 schedule..or as close as possible.  Recruiting and winning all follows that commitment to being a top 100 program. I just don't buy the "teams refuse to play us" line.  Maybe they don't want to play because our SOS is so bad it does them zero good to beat us.  Have a top 100 schedule and maybe people will realize there is value in playing/beating us OR it won't tank their SOS if they lose to us. Of course Mark's hands are tied when the HC says, in effect, no P5s, only teams that will play 1-1 in Hton, only regional teams etc or whatever the criteria is or isn't. The weak schedule to build confidence excuse we heard last year sure didn't work out too well in tourney. Not playing P5s or better non P5's is unacceptable to me. I don't care if we have to play half the OOC on road without return games because you have to earn respect. In basketball specifically I believe your schedule reflects what your own coaching staff thinks or your own program and what its aspirations are. Despite HC talking about how great a place Marshall is and how his goal is to win Natl Title, in both scheduling and recruiting, it sure looks like he doesn't think much of his own program.

[herdorbust2]

The schedule is awful IMO. You don't play OOC vs same teams for perpetuity unless it's a rival game. 3-4 of same MAC schools a year is silly.  To say we can't do any better is ludicrous. We were ranked around 340ish out of 387 teams in schedule strength.  You'd have to really try to do worse.

If the goal is to be a top 100 program than the first thing you need to do is have a top 100 schedule..or as close as possible.  Recruiting and winning all follows that commitment to being a top 100 program. I just don't buy the "teams refuse to play us" line.  Maybe they don't want to play because our SOS is so bad it does them zero good to beat us.  Have a top 100 schedule and maybe people will realize there is value in playing/beating us OR it won't tank their SOS if they lose to us. Of course Mark's hands are tied when the HC says, in effect, no P5s, only teams that will play 1-1 in Hton, only regional teams etc or whatever the criteria is or isn't. The weak schedule to build confidence excuse we heard last year sure didn't work out too well in tourney. Not playing P5s or better non P5's is unacceptable to me. I don't care if we have to play half the OOC on road without return games because you have to earn respect. In basketball specifically I believe your schedule reflects what your own coaching staff thinks or your own program and what its aspirations are. Despite HC talking about how great a place Marshall is and how his goal is to win Natl Title, in both scheduling and recruiting, it sure looks like he doesn't think much of his own program.

And we will sink a little lower since we are in the SB and just blend in. Great opportunity to dominate moving down but we will just be happy to compete and blend in. This is what happens when you get comfortable. If a coach is at a mid major 10 years then he most likely hasn't been very successful. Imo 3-4 years you should be trying to find the next good coach to keep it going.

[Flat Tire 2]

Taking away the obligatory schedule fillers that no one can really control (any D2 team; the exempt 'tournament' teams... at least the home ones), what teams do you object to? 

The MAC schools are routinely solid, and we play a lot of them.  We've had home/homes with Northern Iowa, Duquesne, Robert Morris, UNCG, College of Charleston.  Money games to Florida, Maryland, Indiana, etc.  Plus the regional rivals like Morehead and EKU.

Its not easy scheduling at a mid-major, and the days of getting ACC schools (like Wake) to a home/home are long gone.

It is not hard to go on the road and schedule games against power or good teams. With MU's  unimpressive reputation and level of play, they have to bit the bullet and play the road games to build a reputation of being worthy.

[GoHerd35]

And we will sink a little lower since we are in the SB and just blend in. Great opportunity to dominate moving down but we will just be happy to compete and blend in. This is what happens when you get comfortable. If a coach is at a mid major 10 years then he most likely hasn't been very successful. Imo 3-4 years you should be trying to find the next good coach to keep it going.

That's not true.

Huggins, Mark Few, John Chaney, Don Haskins, Tarkanian, Crum, Majerus, Coach Cal . . . all are/were at mid majors for a decade (most for 20+ years).

I'd gander to say most of the mid major coaches are a flash in the pan when there team gets hot in the NCAA tournament and then fizzle out at the major level.

[herdorbust2]

That's not true.

Huggins, Mark Few, John Chaney, Don Haskins, Tarkanian, Crum, Majerus, Coach Cal . . . all are/were at mid majors for a decade (most for 20+ years).

I'd gander to say most of the mid major coaches are a flash in the pan when there team gets hot in the NCAA tournament and then fizzle out at the major level.

But those coaches were and are at places that can pay what P5 programs can. You don't think Cal, Mark Few, Tarkanian isn't or wasn't getting great pay? At a Marshall you should have to look for a new coach every 3-5 years because they are either ultra successful and move on or they aren't getting it done. Because we are never going to pay 1-2-3 million a year. And Dan and Doc both are and we're  to comfortable without any pressure and stagnation sets in. Urgency is needed badly in basketball and the recruiting or lack thereof proves there isn't any. In Huff I see a guy that is non stop recruiting an getting 4-5 star transfers because his eyes are set on a bigger job. And that is what you should have at a Marshall to be successful. The key is you must keep making good hires.

[Flat Tire 2]

That's not true.

Huggins, Mark Few, John Chaney, Don Haskins, Tarkanian, Crum, Majerus, Coach Cal . . . all are/were at mid majors for a decade (most for 20+ years).

I'd gander to say most of the mid major coaches are a flash in the pan when there team gets hot in the NCAA tournament and then fizzle out at the major level.

Crum spent his entire career Louisville and took them to the Final Four his first year, I wouldn't call UL a mid major. Huggins spent nine years at a mid major or lower, but I wouldn't say Cincinnati, KSU and wvu (where he coached for nearly 25 years) are mid majors. If wvu and UL are "mid majors" what would you call MU; "low major"? Tarkanian took UNLV to the Final Four three times and I wouldn't classify as UNLV a mid major during those years. Same goes for Gonzaga, they are a major program with seven trips to at least the Sweet Sixteen or higher. JMO

[marshallmark]

Crum spent his entire career Louisville and took them to the Final Four his first year, I wouldn't call UL a mid major. Huggins spent nine years at a mid major or lower, but I wouldn't say Cincinnati, KSU and wvu (where he coached for nearly 25 years) are mid majors. If wvu and UL are "mid majors" what would you call MU; "low major"? Tarkanian took UNLV to the Final Four three times and I wouldn't classify as UNLV a mid major during those years. Same goes for Gonzaga, they are a major program with seven trips to at least the Sweet Sixteen or higher. JMO

Gonzaga, Wichita St., etc. put a ton of $ into their basketball programs. 

[gochneaur645]

The real question is Danny lobbying Spears against a money game? Danny didn't want any last year. Why would Spears not want a money games that brings in money unless he is getting pressured not to do it?

Yeah, I hope we get an answer to that question.

Why would we even consider not taking the chance to play UK or somebody similar? Winning those types of games are our only path to an at-large berth unless we go like 31-3 or better.

[svherd]

Yeah, I hope we get an answer to that question.

Why would we even consider not taking the chance to play UK or somebody similar? Winning those types of games are our only path to an at-large berth unless we go like 31-3 or better.

Not to mention this current roster would likely relish the chance to play in that type of environment. Any competitive athlete would.

[HerdFan2026]

Taking away the obligatory schedule fillers that no one can really control (any D2 team; the exempt 'tournament' teams... at least the home ones), what teams do you object to? 

The MAC schools are routinely solid, and we play a lot of them.  We've had home/homes with Northern Iowa, Duquesne, Robert Morris, UNCG, College of Charleston.  Money games to Florida, Maryland, Indiana, etc.  Plus the regional rivals like Morehead and EKU.

Its not easy scheduling at a mid-major, and the days of getting ACC schools (like Wake) to a home/home are long gone.

Specifically from last year, Queens, Tennessee Tech, Chicago State, Robert Morris (don?t care if they?re regional, they haven?t been good since the early 2010s, they?ve had just 2 .500 or better seasons since 2015-16), and Coppin State. I?d prefer to not play a d2 school but it?s not horrible either. We didn?t play any in season tourney last year, so that part isn?t applicable here. Obviously the schedule isn?t the end of the world, but it definitely cost us an NIT bid last year.

[beau42m]

I don't have much of an opinion on Herd men's basketball any longer. Other than the need for a new arena. Maybe some Power Five games can be scheduled for the Herd. At least Danny D'Antoni is one of us. And Mr. Brad Smith. Elsewhere down there, it seems like Marshall University is a career carousel opportunity in parts of the Athletic Department.

[gochneaur645]

I don't have much of an opinion on Herd men's basketball any longer. Other than the need for a new arena. Maybe some Power Five games can be scheduled for the Herd. At least Danny D'Antoni is one of us. And Mr. Brad Smith. Elsewhere down there, it seems like Marshall University is a career carousel opportunity in parts of the Athletic Department.

We built our football program in the 80's and early 90's with successive hires of Parrish, Chaump, and Donnan, none of whom had any ties to Marshall or WV. And we continued on with more success after each one left for other jobs.

Our only top-level national championship coach was born in England.

Brad Smith was a great hire because he led one of the most successful software companies in the world. It's great that he's from here, but it's extremely rare to have somebody on that level who is.

The point is that hiring only from within is a loser mentality. Yeah, some good people come and go. But then you just find some more good ones.

[herdorbust2]

We built our football program in the 80's and early 90's with successive hires of Parrish, Chaump, and Donnan, none of whom had any ties to Marshall or WV. And we continued on with more success after each one left for other jobs.

Our only top-level national championship coach was born in England.

Brad Smith was a great hire because he led one of the most successful software companies in the world. It's great that he's from here, but it's extremely rare to have somebody on that level who is.

The point is that hiring only from within is a loser mentality. Yeah, some good people come and go. But then you just find some more good ones.

Well said!!!