I do think you’re underselling him on what he’s done at Portland. It’s basically the St Peters of the WCC. You get no help from fans or the athletic department, so to turn a steaming pile of garbage into something respectable says a lot. Certainly says more than anything we have to show for.
I do think you’re underselling him on what he’s done at Portland. It’s basically the St Peters of the WCC. You get no help from fans or the athletic department, so to turn a steaming pile of garbage into something respectable says a lot. Certainly says more than anything we have to show for.
I don't mean to diminish Shantay's accomplishments, but I would want to see him take that program further (a WCC championship is probably out of reach for any team not named Gonzaga, but a tourney appearance maybe) before concluding he should be a frontrunner. Hiring him today feels like we would be underselling ourselves. Campinelli took James Madison to 5 tourneys before taking the Cal job, Braun took Eastern Michigan to 3 tourneys and beat a typically talented Duke team in one of those before he was hired. Mike Montgomery was Mike Montgomery and had been to a final four. And Cuonzo had taken a Tennessee team to the Sweet 16. He may be on his way, but sans Wyking, his resume is simply not comparable to what we are accustomed . . . yet.
I think the way the WCC is setup he's going to need to make consistent NIT runs. Gonzaga is Gonzaga and the only team well equipped to take them down consistently is St.Mary's. UP will not beat St.Mary's on a basis consistent enough to get towards the tournament. So to judge his advancements he needs to being Portland into a consistent NIT program. We don't have room to play hardball so we may have to dig for him whether we like it or not.
Portland did quite well last year beating the teams they were supposed to beat...if Fox had done that, the Bears have 3-4 more P12 wins, plus the UCSD disaster.
As for Portland, I absolutely acknowledge that the WCC is a legitimately challenging conference, but at the end of the day, 5 of UP's 7 conference wins came v. UOP, LMU and Pepperdine, all of whom were awful. Like the Bears, they had 1 quality win, at USF...
Would like to see more, and based on your analysis, I figure we can expect to...he's got a decent nucleus coming back, and Robertson could be in WCC POY conversation.
Point taken, there’s always the desire to see more from Legans myself included. I like what I’ve seen from him at EWU and Portland so far and would see limited issues at least initially if he were to take over here. He could’ve beat USF twice but they lost on the final possession in a game they had in the bag. The stepping stones are there for him and he can definitely take care of business unlike Fox.
I recommend searching up Moses Wood, Chris Austin, and Kristian Sjolund, each of which provide their own niche and flavor. I’d love to have any of them on this Cal team especially Wood. I’m a big energy and buy in guy and Legans clearly has it he just has to continually harness it.
Respectfully, I don’t think I am…but when Legans gets Portland to the Tournament, let alone the Sweet 16, I’ll maybe quit underselling him.
Getting a middling mid-major like Portland to .500 in conference is nice, but hardly an elite coaching job. And Holloway had crucial P5 AC/recruiting experience prior to St P…is Shantay a dynamic recruiter that’s going to attract 4* talent to Cal? Doubtful. Can he accurately sell an institution he himself bailed on? He’s not a graduate, so does he really see the value of a Cal education? He didn’t as a SR.
I actually have some pretty fond memories of that era...Lamps, Shipp, Wethers, etc...had some real exciting wins, with Tamir going for 39 in the Oregon win being a highlight. Haas could get to rocking...
I do think you’re underselling him on what he’s done at Portland. It’s basically the St Peters of the WCC. You get no help from fans or the athletic department, so to turn a steaming pile of garbage into something respectable says a lot. Certainly says more than anything we have to show for.
I don't mean to diminish Shantay's accomplishments, but I would want to see him take that program further (a WCC championship is probably out of reach for any team not named Gonzaga, but a tourney appearance maybe) before concluding he should be a frontrunner. Hiring him today feels like we would be underselling ourselves. Campinelli took James Madison to 5 tourneys before taking the Cal job, Braun took Eastern Michigan to 3 tourneys and beat a typically talented Duke team in one of those before he was hired. Mike Montgomery was Mike Montgomery and had been to a final four. And Cuonzo had taken a Tennessee team to the Sweet 16. He may be on his way, but sans Wyking, his resume is simply not comparable to what we are accustomed . . . yet.
I think the way the WCC is setup he's going to need to make consistent NIT runs. Gonzaga is Gonzaga and the only team well equipped to take them down consistently is St.Mary's. UP will not beat St.Mary's on a basis consistent enough to get towards the tournament. So to judge his advancements he needs to being Portland into a consistent NIT program. We don't have room to play hardball so we may have to dig for him whether we like it or not.
Portland did quite well last year beating the teams they were supposed to beat...if Fox had done that, the Bears have 3-4 more P12 wins, plus the UCSD disaster.
As for Portland, I absolutely acknowledge that the WCC is a legitimately challenging conference, but at the end of the day, 5 of UP's 7 conference wins came v. UOP, LMU and Pepperdine, all of whom were awful. Like the Bears, they had 1 quality win, at USF...
Would like to see more, and based on your analysis, I figure we can expect to...he's got a decent nucleus coming back, and Robertson could be in WCC POY conversation.
Point taken, there’s always the desire to see more from Legans myself included. I like what I’ve seen from him at EWU and Portland so far and would see limited issues at least initially if he were to take over here. He could’ve beat USF twice but they lost on the final possession in a game they had in the bag. The stepping stones are there for him and he can definitely take care of business unlike Fox.
I recommend searching up Moses Wood, Chris Austin, and Kristian Sjolund, each of which provide their own niche and flavor. I’d love to have any of them on this Cal team especially Wood. I’m a big energy and buy in guy and Legans clearly has it he just has to continually harness it.
What makes you think any of them could get admitted?
I mean these kids aren’t dumb lol. Portland isn’t a bottom feeder of an academic school so I’d take my chances on admissions letting them in.
I mean we passed him over twice already. The third time will not be the charm.
Respectfully, I don’t think I am…but when Legans gets Portland to the Tournament, let alone the Sweet 16, I’ll maybe quit underselling him.
Getting a middling mid-major like Portland to .500 in conference is nice, but hardly an elite coaching job. And Holloway had crucial P5 AC/recruiting experience prior to St P…is Shantay a dynamic recruiter that’s going to attract 4* talent to Cal? Doubtful. Can he accurately sell an institution he himself bailed on? He’s not a graduate, so does he really see the value of a Cal education? He didn’t as a SR.
Important questions
[technically an alumnus only has to have attended a school - graduation is not necessary]
TIL…fixed it!
Tho were Legans a graduate it’s a different conversation. Instead, tho a potential team captain as SR PG, he quit in August. That matters.
Oh - I agree. Also that era of Cal teams I have the least connection to - I don't care much for the Shipp/Vanderlaan/Legans/ etc. teams.
I actually have some pretty fond memories of that era...Lamps, Shipp, Wethers, etc...had some real exciting wins, with Tamir going for 39 in the Oregon win being a highlight. Haas could get to rocking...