You can't fault Richard's efforts or his ability to get on so many elite recruits' final lists, but this ongoing process highlights the importance and the difficulty of getting the fish into the boat. It also makes a person appreciate the job Tubby did to close the deals on out-of-state four-star recruits Sampson and Joseph.
What I think you're seeing is a gifted recruiter doing a great job of selling himself, the program and the situation, but it's hard for a sought-after athlete to take the leap of faith that this thing is just about to take off, especially when they have their pick of more sure-thing programs. It's been too long since our program has made any real noise, and the longer that goes on, the bigger leap of faith it becomes.
It'll be crucial for Pitino to demonstrate his coaching prowess this season and get this team to achieve. That's what Clem had to do. I think of what Brenda Oldfield (Frese) did her first and only year here, taking a roster that had underachieved and making it hum. It didn't take long and she had created an amazing amount of buzz. That's what you hope for when you hire a coach. It'll be tougher for Pitino, though, considering the talent just lost to graduation. I don't expect that kind of turnaround, just because Littlejohn was a complete dumpster fire, and how could Oldfield NOT improve on that. But if Richard can get this squad looking like they know what they're doing, he'll have that as a real selling point, which is more than just words from a salesman.
