37 Comments

This is such a mess. At this point, bring back cuonzo! We need some excitement back into this program and he’s a decent recruiter. The pool of candidates is drastically shrinking.

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So, opportunity cost is a proven, young, dynamic HC that could have been a great fit for the long haul. Instead, we have to roll the dice on some with HC experience.

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Mar 27, 2023
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So you like the hire?

I am not sure what to think, but only because I have invested little time into MBB.

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Ryan Odom to USF...he's an East Coast guy.

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at this point, who would even want to coach at Cal? Someone's gonna get the gig but I srsly hope they have the mental stamina. Whoever comes to Berkeley does so fully aware of all the drama that's unfolding. Hell, I'm exhausted just checking this site for updates. Ok, so I'm not qualified to coach basketball. I'll settle for AD instead! I certainly know more than the guy w/ "know" in his name, + I wouldn't turn a blind eye to coaching abuses. What a shtshow!

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salvation would come with a Big 10 invite, only path to resurrection

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Actually, getting rid of Knowlton is the only path to resurrection.

Even that incompetent boob could screw up the B1G invite.

Make no mistake, Cal's BIGGEST problem is it's current Athletic Director.

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Actuallyt, his is what I have been broadcasting for quite a while. I'm the one who first called him an incompetent empty suit. So to me, you are preaching to the choir. Shoot the bastard!!!

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I nominate Dave Durden

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I'm hoping this means AAR is the guy! This makes sense with Shareef on the advising committee and JB reaching out to JK...fingers crossed!

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Fire Knowlton. Look at the record. Move on. This is really sad the program has fallen to last place! We are at the bottom!

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This Department will continue to underachieve until an AD with vision and competence is in place. Knowlton is not that person.

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Houston we may have a problem.....

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"Houston we may have a problem "

... No worry, Knowlton and the Cal Athletic Dept are on it.!!

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Don't worry, we can rebuild the oxygen supply to the program with a variety of parts on hand....

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His name is Jim Knowlton.

If the donors didn't neuter him and take the decision out the Colonel's hands, what are we even doing here?

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It's becoming clear there is a compounding problem with our major donors, who seem to be at each others' throats between Pasternack/AAR. To which I ask: Where was this fever pitch level of interest, oversight and concern the past two coaching cycles?

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Last cycle the donors pushed for Tommy Lloyd. Knowlton went it alone to hire Fox which was met with lukewarm feelings from the donors who went into wait and see mode before they would throw money at the program. And is why the team has had little to no financial support from donors.

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I was not aware of that!

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Agreed, P. Why did it take 3-29 to get people excited.

Maybe the NIL changed things...it certainly made the big $ guys even more valuable.

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Ultimately we need those sides to get along, but there seems to be a lot of butt hurt from the Pasternack camp. I get the disappointment, I just wish their was this level of angst for letting a much better candidate, Gates, get passed on repeatedly. It’s an old boy’s club at the end of the day.

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I'm actually a little surprised JP didn't get the gig. Knowlton (and Kliavkoff, as you gotta think there was at least a conversation) apparently prioritized increasing diversity in the hire...what's going to happen if Pasternack, AAR and Stan Johnson are all passed over...

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Had he not held onto Fox for a fourth year, JK wouldn’t have had to worry about it. But Fox received such a longer leash than Wyking did, the optics are just hard to ignore and they are now pressed to make a correction. I still think AAR is the best candidate regardless of whether he is black, blue, red or white, or whether he is tight with the old blues network. Turn the page.

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part of it could be that he wont let them take it out of his hands as one last hoorah on his way out....

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Then the program is likely dead, which is sad.

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Knowlton we have a problem

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If AAR, I'm stoked. Sounded like the donors were duking it out between the two this week, and he still hasn't signed that KSU extension. I don't even want to think about alternatives or my head will explode.

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AAR is the only candidate that gives the appearance the program is headed in the right direction.

Everyone else is anywhere from an average hire to a bust. Pasternack not getting the offer is troubling, as he was rumored to be the top choice of some major donors.

It also seriously calls into question the rumor that donors were making a financial commitment to the program, which is really the only chance for a turnaround.

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Good

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"...athletic director Jim Knowlton has found a better option for the job, and a hire is close to being made."

Assumes competence not in evidence.

(If it's Rahim I'm down with it. If it's that FAU guy I'm extremely down with it, but it won't be.)

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agree, I can't see the name Knowlton and the word "better" in such proximity on the printed page. If it's Miles, then absolutely not better for anyone.

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JK gonna rawdog us with incompetence for all eternity

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Not a big surprise Jaylen Brown wouldn’t endorse Pasternak for the job. He doesn’t have an ounce of credibility after going out of his way to align with Kyrie Irving.

Rahim may be the guy. Hitting on recruits in his first couple cycles will make or break it for him. Catch momentum and he can build something. If he can’t do that quickly then Cal looks like “same old situation” to recruits and we’re still in a rut.

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Jaylen endorsing Abdur-Rahim does not mean he wouldn’t endorse Pasternack. He has ties to Abdur-Rahim as Jaylen played ball with some family members. So it’s simple relations that he would be willing to endorse Abdur-Rahim.

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