First, congrats to the Beavers who finished 6th in the PAC but won the conference tournament to advance to the Big Dance, where they have now punched their ticket to the Sweet 16...
Second, congrats to the PAC that has yet to lose a game in the tournament and may advance some other teams to the Sweet 16 that would make it a very successful year for the conference...
Especially, since the PAC really hasn't garnered a lot of national respect this year....
I believe the preseason media picked the Beavers to finish last in the conference and most preseason publications had them near the very bottom of the PAC and their coach, Wayne Tinkle, on the hot seat...
He was on the hot seat because in his seven seasons at OSU his record was only 112-108 (51%) and 52-76 (41%) in conference and he had only gone to one Big Dance during this time in Corvallis...
He's also only had three finishes in the top half of the PAC, with his best coming when his 2018-19 team finished tied for 4th in the PAC, and this year the Beavers conference record was only 10-10 good enough for a 6th place finish...
Now, contrast that with Bobby Hurley, who in six seasons at ASU is 103-80 (56%) and 50-55 (48%) and has gone to the Dance twice, even once with an 8th place team, and who probably would have had a third Dance appearance last season if not for the pandemic...
He placed second in the PAC in 2018-19 and tied for third last year before finishing 9th in the PAC this season...
So, what is the lesson or lessons to be learned from this comparison, if any..??
Is it that BH did a remarkable job during this pandemic season, especially when you throw in the injuries and other issues that took players out of games..??
Or, is the pandemic and injuries just unjustified excuse making since other teams had to deal with the pandemic and injuries, too..??
We also know that the Devils lacked some true big men while the Beavers do not and that probably had something to do with the way both teams played this season, right..??
Also, does the PAC tournament success, thus far, mean that Bobby did a better job considering the competition he faced in the conference all season long..??
As an aside, will that make it easier for BH to persuade a quality assistant to join his program and make it easier to recruit some quality recruits, esp some true big men, that fit his style of play, with an emphasis now on hard working, team first players..??
And, lastly, given what happened this season, will Bobby be on the proverbial hot seat next year if he stays at ASU..??
Bobby's contract is good for two more years at ASU or until the end of the 2023 season...
Thoughts..??
Go Devils!!!
Second, congrats to the PAC that has yet to lose a game in the tournament and may advance some other teams to the Sweet 16 that would make it a very successful year for the conference...
Especially, since the PAC really hasn't garnered a lot of national respect this year....
I believe the preseason media picked the Beavers to finish last in the conference and most preseason publications had them near the very bottom of the PAC and their coach, Wayne Tinkle, on the hot seat...
He was on the hot seat because in his seven seasons at OSU his record was only 112-108 (51%) and 52-76 (41%) in conference and he had only gone to one Big Dance during this time in Corvallis...
He's also only had three finishes in the top half of the PAC, with his best coming when his 2018-19 team finished tied for 4th in the PAC, and this year the Beavers conference record was only 10-10 good enough for a 6th place finish...
Now, contrast that with Bobby Hurley, who in six seasons at ASU is 103-80 (56%) and 50-55 (48%) and has gone to the Dance twice, even once with an 8th place team, and who probably would have had a third Dance appearance last season if not for the pandemic...
He placed second in the PAC in 2018-19 and tied for third last year before finishing 9th in the PAC this season...
So, what is the lesson or lessons to be learned from this comparison, if any..??
Is it that BH did a remarkable job during this pandemic season, especially when you throw in the injuries and other issues that took players out of games..??
Or, is the pandemic and injuries just unjustified excuse making since other teams had to deal with the pandemic and injuries, too..??
We also know that the Devils lacked some true big men while the Beavers do not and that probably had something to do with the way both teams played this season, right..??
Also, does the PAC tournament success, thus far, mean that Bobby did a better job considering the competition he faced in the conference all season long..??
As an aside, will that make it easier for BH to persuade a quality assistant to join his program and make it easier to recruit some quality recruits, esp some true big men, that fit his style of play, with an emphasis now on hard working, team first players..??
And, lastly, given what happened this season, will Bobby be on the proverbial hot seat next year if he stays at ASU..??
Bobby's contract is good for two more years at ASU or until the end of the 2023 season...
Thoughts..??
Go Devils!!!
