I'm sorry, I just don't get this anymore. Trust me, I'm not a die hard Pitino fan, but it comes down to a few simple things for me:
1. Do you like the potential of next year's roster? If not, then fine, be gone with him. For those of you who seem to think that our current roster will all stick around with a coaching change, you're probably wrong.
2. Do you like our chances with local recruits (next two classes) better with RP or an unknown? If you don't think it matters, be gone RP.
3. Do you believe that last season was an aberration?
My answers:
1. Yes. While not necessarily a Sweet 16 team, I think they can compete for top 4 in conference and a berth in the tourney. Like many of you, I think if they don't show signs of growth and togetherness next season then it's probably time to reconsider.
2. RP. The scales of "it's cool to stay home in MN" have tipped a bit under RP, and I think that he's done a good job. Before Oturu's commitment, he felt like a stretch to be here, Bill Self was recruiting him. Yet we got him. Will we get Hurt, or Suggs? I'd give us a decent chance of landing one with RP, and no chance with a new coach.
3. No, I do not. IF they had stayed fully healthy, I'd like them as a 5 seed or better in this year's tourney. After Curry, I put them on a 7-9 seed. After Lynch, it was completely lost. This is on BK, GD, DF, and ultimately Pitino. However, our front court will be much deeper next season, and we won't have to witness the precipitous drop off as we have each of the past three seasons.
I'd also like to address the comparison of coaching records vs. REAL hope. While RP has the worst overall record, he did land the school it's all time highest win total last season. Again, see my answer to number three to address what could have been this season. ALSO, never at any point in time did I feel the Gophers could make a run in the tourney under Tubby, or Monson. Each of the past two seasons, I thought we had a legitimate chance of advancing, versus anybody. F**K an NCAA win if it comes versus a depleted, overrated, half A**ed UCLA team. F**K an NCAA berth if it comes with a 45% chance of beating your first round opponent. I want REAL NCAA berths. Last year WOULD have been one if Springs hadn't gotten injured two games prior to the tourney. This year WOULD have been one, and then we all know what happened.
I don't know if next year would qualify as a REAL berth, but at least there's a chance.
Who knows, maybe a different coach could do well with next year's roster, and convince them all to stay. But it would have been RP who paved the way on the recruiting trail.