UC vs. Villinova update

[TeamBoone]

Kennedy helped recruit them, but it's a lot easier to convince someone when you can use the name of a future hall of fame coach instead of using your own.

I was always under the impression that Bob Huggins recruited the majority of his players himself. He was gone on recruiting trips all the time during the offseason.

That said, I'm sure Andy's gotten a lot of recruiting experience under his belt as I don't think Huggins did any of his recruiting in a vacuum.

[Reds4Life]

I was always under the impression that Bob Huggins recruited the majority of his players himself. He was gone on recruiting trips all the time during the offseason.

I'm sure Andy's gotten a lot of recruiting experience under his belt as I don't think Huggins did any of his recruiting in a vacuum.

Huggins scouted a lot of games, things like that. Andy knows what's involved in recruiting kids, he wasn't recruiting for himself, big difference. If Kennedy's hired keeping Corie Blount is going to be key IMO, it will really be a big help to have a 11 year NBA vet to go with you on the trail.

[Newport Red]

Even getting a "big name" coach there may not be the solution. He may stay a few years and then go off to greener pastures like a bigger college gig or the NBA. Plus Zimpher may not want to hire a "big name" so he doesn't have that control over the program that Huggins did.

Conversely, a big name coach won't want to coach in a program under Zimpher's control. The only big name coach that would consider UC is one making his last curtain call.

[Chip R]

One thing to remember about getting a "big name" coach is that Bob Huggins came from Akron and built the UC program to an extremely high level. Akron is about as mid-major as you can get.

[Reds4Life]

One thing to remember about getting a "big name" coach is that Bob Huggins came from Akron and built the UC program to an extremely high level. Akron is about as mid-major as you can get.

Cincinnati wasn't a top 10 all time program when he came here either, and didn't play in the best basketball conference in the country.

[Chip R]

Cincinnati wasn't a top 10 all time program when he came here either, and didn't play in the best basketball conference in the country.

So UC's success was because they didn't play in a strong conference rather than because of Huggins' coaching and recruiting skills?

Anybody is going to have a tough time coaching UC primarily because they are in the Big East. Coach K would have difficulty. Look at Pitino. He's having problems this year. I'm not saying hiring a coach from a mid-major school should happen, all I'm saying is that coach could be the next Bob Huggins or Coach K - who came directly from Army which it would be charitable at best to call a mid major. Ohio St. seems rather happy with Thad Matta who came from Butler after a stopover at Xavier. Both universities are mid major programs and the Big 10 is one of the top 2-3 conferences in the country.

[Reds4Life]

So UC's success was because they didn't play in a strong conference rather than because of Huggins' coaching and recruiting skills?

Anybody is going to have a tough time coaching UC primarily because they are in the Big East. Coach K would have difficulty. Look at Pitino. He's having problems this year. I'm not saying hiring a coach from a mid-major school should happen, all I'm saying is that coach could be the next Bob Huggins or Coach K - who came directly from Army which it would be charitable at best to call a mid major. Ohio St. seems rather happy with Thad Matta who came from Butler after a stopover at Xavier. Both universities are mid major programs and the Big 10 is one of the top 2-3 conferences in the country.

UC went mid-major then because they didn't have a choice, UC was not a national program and had just gone through the Yates years and had zero chance of landing a high profile coach. The current situation isn't even in the same ballpark. The biggest barrier to getting a high profile guy, with no question marks on recruiting, to take this job is going to be Nancy Zimpher. I don't think this program can afford to hire a "could be", we don't need to take that chance anymore, and honestly we don't have to. This program is now at the point where it can hire a sure thing, Bob Huggins did that for us.

Bob Huggins is the reason we are in the Big East (the haters will love me saying that!), UC basketball was nothing when here came here. The fact there hasn't been a Huggins appreciation night this season, or something to honor all he did for this program, is disgusting to me.

Coach K seems to do just fine at Duke, he'd do just fine in the Big East too. Having 14 final fours on your resume doesn't hurt.

[Chip R]

I know UC is in a position where it could get a name coach. Just don't be terribly disappointed if they don't. A name coach could fail just as easy as an unknown coach could.

I do agree that UC has not treated Bob Huggins well. The ascent of the basketball program under his tenure is the main reason they are in the Big East conference right now. Perhaps one of these days when there is a new administration, they can bring him back to receive the thanks he so richly deserves. You know what they say, time heals all wounds.

[Reds4Life]

I know UC is in a position where it could get a name coach. Just don't be terribly disappointed if they don't. A name coach could fail just as easy as an unknown coach could.

I do agree that UC has not treated Bob Huggins well. The ascent of the basketball program under his tenure is the main reason they are in the Big East conference right now. Perhaps one of these days when there is a new administration, they can bring him back to receive the thanks he so richly deserves. You know what they say, time heals all wounds.

Oh I won't be disappointed, I don't expect this administration to do anything that makes much sense. In fact I think they will use one of the Reds old tricks, throw out some big names and maybe even interview one (Prosser, Montgomery, Paul Hewitt has been mentioned) and then hire the cheapest guy available and claim you couldn't afford the others. The current situation has worked out perfectly for Nancy & Co, Kennedy is the fan favorite and he's also the cheapest.

The question is will they put aside the Huggins connection for Kennedy? If they do they should allow Mick Cronin to interview as well, his resume as a UC assistant and recruiter is more impressive than Kennedy's, plus he's a UC grad. Line up all the options and I'm sure the worst one will happen, this program just can't seem to catch a break.

[TeamBoone]

The fact there hasn't been a Huggins appreciation night this season, or something to honor all he did for this program, is disgusting to me.

I'm sure that's not been allowed to happen.

I'm wondering if he's even allowed on campus as the only game he's been seen at so far was downtown in the colliseum (or whatever it's called now).

[Reds4Life]

I'm sure that's not been allowed to happen.

I'm wondering if he's even allowed on campus as the only game he's been seen at so far was downtown in the colliseum (or whatever it's called now).

It will never happen as long as Nancy Zimpher is at UC, and that is very sad. It's part of the reason many UC fans are still bitter and angry, they haven't had the chance to say goodbye in an official way.

I doubt Huggs has been back on campus, if he had that would have been all over TV. Bob did say in several interviews that he's seen every game this year though, he was at the crosstown shootout at the Cintas Center, was in Pittsburg a couple weeks ago for the game, etc. I think he's going to be at Madison Square Garden for the Big East tourney as well, if UC makes the NCAA's I'm sure he'll show up.

[cincinnati chili]

It will never happen as long as Nancy Zimpher is at UC,

I've said this before, but I'll say it again.

I heard from a reliable source that UC trustees UNANIMOUSLY supported Zimpher's call for Huggins' ouster.

In other words... She's not alone in her opinion that Hugs had a net-negative effect on the UC brand. And more direct to your point, she's not the only one you'd have to convince in order to see UC do some sort of salute to Huggins.

[Gainesville Red]

Little off subject, How has James White been? I haven't really kept up since he left Florida.

[Reds4Life]

I've said this before, but I'll say it again.

I heard from a reliable source that UC trustees UNANIMOUSLY supported Zimpher's call for Huggins' ouster.

In other words... She's not alone in her opinion that Hugs had a net-negative effect on the UC brand. And more direct to your point, she's not the only one you'd have to convince in order to see UC do some sort of salute to Huggins.

The BOT doesn't run the day to day operations of the University, Nancy does. If she says it's ok then it will happen, the BOT members are spineless (if they supported the move they've left Zimp twisting in the wind for it) and they wouldn't have a pair big enough to veto a Huggins appreciation night. If the public ever found out about it needless to say it wouldn't be pretty.