MILLER TO INDIANA?

[broadripple]

John Feinstein just mentioned Bennett and Keno Davis as who he thought would be the type of possible replacement for Sampson.

[xuhuh!]

i haven't heard any names that compare to "our coach" but that's Indiana's problem. Next topic.

[xavierj]

If they do fire Sampson I just can't see it being anyone other then Alford. The guy is a god at Indiana, is from Indiana and he has already won over 20 games this year at New Mexico. The only reason he probably did not get the job last time around was that he was already at a Big 10 school. He has left to get that obstacle out of the way. Indiana fans would go nuts over that guy. He was afterall a big reason they won their last National Championship. If Sampson does get the gate I put him at 3-5 odds to get the job. There were reports that some guy parked his truck outside the AD's office today that had a banner on it that said hire Alford.

[Mr. Neutral]

I've heard on multiple occasions that if you meet Alford, you'll be less than impressed with him (arrogant, abrasive, etc.)

His Iowa coaching record leaves something to be desired. In 6 of his 8 years there, he only won between 14-19 games. He went to the NCAA three times, going 1-3. In 2 of his 8 years, Iowa went to neither the NIT nor NCAA. He only won more than 9 conference games once.

Alford's a lot less of a god in Indiana than he was 10 years ago. He also mishandled the Pierre Pierce mess.

As one Iowa blogger put it, "I'll help pay part of his salary if IU will hire him!!".

[xavierj]

I've heard on multiple occasions that if you meet Alford, you'll be less than impressed with him (arrogant, abrasive, etc.)

His Iowa coaching record leaves something to be desired. In 6 of his 8 years there, he only won between 14-19 games. He went to the NCAA three times, going 1-3. In 2 of his 8 years, Iowa went to neither the NIT nor NCAA. He only won more than 9 conference games once.

Alford's a lot less of a god in Indiana than he was 10 years ago. He also mishandled the Pierre Pierce mess.

As one Iowa blogger put it, "I'll help pay part of his salary if IU will hire him!!".

You can probably say that 90% of college coaches are arrogant and abrasive. As for his Iowa record that is about Standard. Off the top of my head Iowa has not exactly been a regular NCAA championship contender the last 30 years. But I could be wrong.

[xavierj]

Iowa has been to 22 NCAA tourney's since 1940, Xavier has been to 17 in 25 years. Iowa has not won the big 10 since 79 and has 2 Big 10 tournament championships both under Alford. So it is safe to say that Alford had decent success at Iowa compared to what they were used to. Steve has always won, has never won big, but he can definately win at IU. Getting guys to IU would probably be a little easier then getting guys to Iowa. I am willing to bet that Alford will be the next coach at IU whenever that may happen.

[jaxalum]

I appreciate all of the responses but this one reeked of niavety and I bekieve is the overall feeling of many X fans.
QUOTE: XUBREW

i wasn't upset with thad, and i won't be upset with miller. i refuse to let myself become upset about this. it's never as bad as fans make it out to be if the university knows what its doing, and xavier does. did we digress as a program when skip left?? did we digress as a program when thad left?? how many times do we have to successfully go through a coaching change before people stop getting so worked up about it?? what's even more encouraging is xavier's ability to recognize ability along with (if not moreso) than credentials. skip was just a head coach for one year before coming to xavier. gillen had never been a head coach. thad had just been a head coach for one year. miller had never been a head coach. whoever we get next will almost assuredly be more proven as a coach than anyone xavier has ever hired. those four coaches that i mentioned turned out to be great, but they had no credentials coming in. the chances of us getting another good coach are almost guaranteed.

i'm not worried.

A coaches resume can be stellar in every sense of the word, his work experience, perfect for where X "is"/headed....A successful recruiter who has graduated players....What you don't realize BREW is that THE ODDS WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH UP WIH YOU, AND A BAD HIRE WILL BE MADE. IT'S A STATISTCAL CERTAINTY. Why do you think athletic admins. open up the coffers when a coach has a "relatively" successfull season. A "bad hire" can destroy a programs reputation that took 25 years to build in a single swipe, and regress said program back years with a single mistake. Anyone who has a problem discussing this issue at this time of the year obviously fails to grasp the importance of what could happen, and the rather considerable damage that is possible.

I would think that Matta would be a/the top cand. although he seems pretty comfortable in Columbus, resources galore. Bobby Knight...pipe dream..anyone who even brings his name up again as a viable candidate needs to put down the pipe. Mark Few? Whats kept him in Spokane for so long when he's had the the pick of several high elite BCS jobs. Anthony Grant? I am a certified pessimist and unfortunately, it all keeps coming back to one Sean Miller. Chris Mack is not Sean Miller........

IRONY; The unexpected opposite. An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity.................i.e If Xavier once again gets back into the glove smelling business and wins the A-10, and then advances to the Sweet 16...and possibly beyond.

The obvious irony would be losing our coach......

I am a proud Republican and would like to bring out of my lexicon....preemption. Bobo, strike first with Miller before the IU hilljack nation has a chance.

[Mr. Neutral]

j, I don't quite get your love affair with Alford. Yes, he was a hero when he played at IU, and started off well at Macalester and SW Missouri State, but his time at Iowa was decidedly mediocre.

I think IU fans will demand someone better than the guy who won 1 NCAA game in 8 years at a fellow B10 school, and didn't distinguish himself with his handling of Iowa's problem kids.

Right now, IU needs to hire a squeaky-clean winner, which Alford ain't.

[xavierj]

OK Gary who do you think they will go after? Alford did take Missouri St. to the sweet 16. I don't love Alford myself but he is a logical choice for IU. Kind of like Miller would be at Pitt. But logical is not always the way people go. Alford probably made a mistake taking the Iowa job because it really is not that great of a job. You can ask Lickliter now because the guy just committed career suicide. But Alford is 21-6 this year at New Mexico St. and will most likely go to the NCAA tourney. My only point is that you can bet if Indiana fires Sampson he stands a very good chance to get the job if he wants it. Regardless what you think if him he is still a hometown Indiana guy who was the PG the last time they won it all and he has about a 60% winning % as a coach. Anyone that does not think he will be at the top of the list is not thinking clearly.

[Mr. Neutral]

We disagree, clearly. And I have enough Indy/Indiana friends to know that Steve's nowhere near the BMOC he once was.

Plus, as I said, IU needs to hire exactly the right guy, both in terms of W's and complete lack of off-the-court issues. I don't think Alford's that guy.

This would be the perfect move for Mark Few to make.