Assistant Coaches

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We should have just retained Conroy. We would probably have a starting center still.
 

I haven't been following this all that closely, but was there anyone writing about this hire with a source other than the dude who broke the story? Was the "it's a done deal" just internet buzz based on the initial unverified claim?
 

UMwolverine said:
I haven't been following this all that closely, but was there anyone writing about this hire with a source other than the dude who broke the story? Was the "it's a done deal" just internet buzz based on the initial unverified claim?
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Well, 3 hours ago the Star Tribune said their sources have mentioned its not McNeilly.

To answer your question though, when he was first mentioned as part of the potential staff, I think it was ryan james or someone on twitter said McNeilly is not a guarantee to come, but people just ran with it so I'm not surprised.

Technically its not over yet, but pretty much is.
 


I'd still take Coach Molinari, but apparently he's already been hired by BC.
 










JoshuaT81 said:
We should have just retained Conroy. We would probably have a starting center still.
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I think it was mentioned long ago but apparently we aren’t allowed two old white guy coaches. Not sure who had the insider scoop on it or who can take credit for it.
 






TheBarnyard said:
I think he would be a great fit. I don’t know what people expect. I think he looks like an excellent hire.
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Yeah he's learned from Mooney at Richmond is a great tactician and smart coach. Guy has ties to the DMV area too it seems. I like the hire and don't know what people want? What makes Conroy better than this guy? His nephew? No need to take shortcuts. Get the guys who grind and work together.
 

manderson1984 said:
Yeah he's learned from Mooney at Richmond is a great tactician and smart coach. Guy has ties to the DMV area too it seems. I like the hire and don't know what people want? What makes Conroy better than this guy? His nephew? No need to take shortcuts. Get the guys who grind and work together.
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Honestly, most are being idiots about the assistant hires. This guy comes from a high-level mid-major conference from a program that has performed well over the years and the offense that Richmond plays would be fun to watch. If he is responsible for the offense then we are in good shape. People love the Thorson hire but aren't fans of these other guys who have just as much if not more college coaching experience. No matter who they hired this board will question it even though none of us know much bout assistants or their coaching responsibilities anyway
 

Jenkins is about the same age as Ben. Wasn't as good of a college player as Ben - he barely played at the Air Force Academy. Of course, the Air Force Academy has produced at least one great coach - Gregg Popovich. He played a lot more than Jenkins there.
 

GopherPlaya said:
Honestly, most are being idiots about the assistant hires. This guy comes from a high-level mid-major conference from a program that has performed well over the years and the offense that Richmond plays would be fun to watch. If he is responsible for the offense then we are in good shape. People love the Thorson hire but aren't fans of these other guys who have just as much if not more college coaching experience. No matter who they hired this board will question it even though none of us know much bout assistants or their coaching responsibilities anyway
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Great points! Thanks for adding and I agree 100%. Provincialism at its finest here.
 

GopherPlaya said:
Honestly, most are being idiots about the assistant hires. This guy comes from a high-level mid-major conference from a program that has performed well over the years and the offense that Richmond plays would be fun to watch. If he is responsible for the offense then we are in good shape. People love the Thorson hire but aren't fans of these other guys who have just as much if not more college coaching experience. No matter who they hired this board will question it even though none of us know much bout assistants or their coaching responsibilities anyway
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I think people are really only disappointed that there is no "package deal" with this hire. It looks like a good hire to me, but a lot of people were pretty excited about the instant infusion of talent from the two Canadians.
 

Gold Vision said:
I think people are really only disappointed that there is no "package deal" with this hire. It looks like a good hire to me, but a lot of people were pretty excited about the instant infusion of talent from the two Canadians.
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I can definitely understand that. I was excited about that aspect as well but this isn't a lame consolation hire. Richmond has been one of the best schools running the Princeton offense which most teams are stealing elements of their stuff at the college and pro level. Beilein ran a lot of the same stuff at Michigan for sure similar stuff same with Porter Moser. We will finally have spacing and ball movement
 

GopherPlaya said:
Honestly, most are being idiots about the assistant hires. This guy comes from a high-level mid-major conference from a program that has performed well over the years and the offense that Richmond plays would be fun to watch. If he is responsible for the offense then we are in good shape. People love the Thorson hire but aren't fans of these other guys who have just as much if not more college coaching experience. No matter who they hired this board will question it even though none of us know much bout assistants or their coaching responsibilities anyway
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I think with this last one it's more that people are comparing him to McNeilly, and relative to McNeilly this appears to be a step down, thus the disappointment. I get why people feel that way. I really don't have any sense on these assistants so it's neither here nor there for me since I have so little information to go on, but I get why people would be disappointed with the Jenkins prospect when compared to McNeilly resume and the crew he was going to supposedly bring in.
 

Gopher Teeth said:
I think with this last one it's more that people are comparing him to McNeilly, and relative to McNeilly this appears to be a step down, thus the disappointment. I get why people feel that way. I really don't have any sense on these assistants so it's neither here nor there for me since I have so little information to go on, but I get why people would be disappointed with the Jenkins prospect when compared to McNeilly resume and the crew he was going to supposedly bring in.
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I get it but I don't see whats different in either resume other than being with Buzz. We don't know what responsibilities either carried out
 

GopherPlaya said:
I get it but I don't see whats different in either resume other than being with Buzz. We don't know what responsibilities either carried out
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When you have little information, then that little becomes magnified, maybe out of proportion, maybe not. Being Buzz's main guy, is significant, and I would say stints at A&M, Marquette and Virginia Tech hold more sway than Richmond and Princeton.
 


Gopher Teeth said:
When you have little information, then that little becomes magnified, maybe out of proportion, maybe not. Being Buzz's main guy, is significant, and I would say stints at A&M, Marquette and Virginia Tech hold more sway than Richmond and Princeton.
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Agreed, McNeilly would have been a better get. but this is a good consolation prize considering we aren't getting anyone from a blue blood like BJ hyped during his presser.
 

Gold Vision said:
I think people are really only disappointed that there is no "package deal" with this hire. It looks like a good hire to me, but a lot of people were pretty excited about the instant infusion of talent from the two Canadians.
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Yep, I have never seen this level of obsessing over college basketball assistant coaches. I honestly don't think I could name a single assistant coach at any other Big Ten school right now.

If it was just McNeilly I don't think people would care this much but the package deal involving the two players is 100% driving the obsession with getting him. Heck, the only reason most gave a crap about Conroy was because he was tied to Liam.
 

cjbfbp said:
Jenkins is about the same age as Ben. Wasn't as good of a college player as Ben - he barely played at the Air Force Academy. Of course, the Air Force Academy has produced at least one great coach - Gregg Popovich. He played a lot more than Jenkins there.
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And your point is? Ability as a player and ability as a coach don't go hand in hand. Lots of great coaches were not great players.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Yep, I have never seen this level of obsessing over college basketball assistant coaches. I honestly don't think I could name a single assistant coach at any other Big Ten school right now.

If it was just McNeilly I don't think people would care this much but the package deal involving the two players is 100% driving the obsession with getting him. Heck, the only reason most gave a crap about Conroy was because he was tied to Liam.
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It's because Ben Johnson was:

A) Just an assistant for 15 years
B) Never worked at any impressive school
C) Perhaps the most important one, he was never promoted by anyone to be associate head coach. For those who say that tittle doesn't matter. Ask our newest assistant if it was different being an associate head coach at richmond than being an assistant.

So yes, we want Ben to be surrounding by the best because his resume was not one for a B1G team. He should have started at a mid major or a cleveland state.

edit: his former boss at Xavier told Coyle, he'd have to take a leap of faith that Ben is ready
 

His resume is alright, but I am not overly impressed by the hire. He has coached at Princeton and Richmond for his entire 10 year coaching career. I would rather have someone who has coached or recruited the midwest or Canada like McNeilly. A coach from a high-major, national program would have been good as well.
 

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