Recruiting Football Talk VIII

#124,401
#124,401
TrippieRedd said:
Posted this in the basketball forum, but I know some yuns don’t go over there.

Who would y’all like to see if RB were to hang it up after this season or whenever he decides to..

I said the Drake coach.
- Won 4 national championships at the D2 level. - - First season at Drake, 18-2.
- Overall record of 410-93


If KC can make the jump and sign a top 5 class, I’d say he could as well. Give him the resources and see what he can do.
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I know the default answer will be to reclaim Bruce Pearl. Honestly, I’m not for or against it, but I wouldn’t hate it either.


That said, I asked ChatGPT for potential coaching candidates under 45 years old who run a balanced offense and defense—since that has historically been the best predictor of NCAA Tournament success. Here are three names that stood out:

Bucky would be one to check out IMO


Amir Abdur-Rahim (USF)​


  • Age: 43
  • Current Job: Head Coach, University of South Florida (2023–present)
  • Previous Experience:
    • Head Coach, Kennesaw State (2019–2023)
    • Assistant at Georgia, Texas A&M, Murray State
  • Why Consider Him?
    Abdur-Rahim orchestrated a remarkable turnaround at Kennesaw State, taking them from a 1-win team in his first season to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023. His teams emphasize strong defensive fundamentals while maintaining an efficient, well-spaced offense. At USF, he’s continuing to build a disciplined and competitive program.

Danny Sprinkle (Utah State)​


  • Age: 47 (slightly over 45, but close)
  • Current Job: Head Coach, Utah State (2023–present)
  • Previous Experience:
    • Head Coach, Montana State (2019–2023)
    • Assistant at Cal State Fullerton, Montana State
  • Why Consider Him?
    Sprinkle transformed Montana State into a consistent Big Sky contender, winning back-to-back conference titles and securing NCAA Tournament bids. He’s known for player development, solid defensive principles, and a well-structured offensive scheme that adapts to his personnel. His first year at Utah State has already shown promise, proving he can compete at a higher level.

Bucky McMillan (Samford)​


  • Age: 40
  • Current Job: Head Coach, Samford (2020–present)
  • Previous Experience:
    • Highly successful high school coach at Mountain Brook (Alabama)
  • Why Consider Him?
    McMillan is a rising star with a unique, fast-paced system that blends relentless defensive pressure with an up-tempo offense. His “Bucky Ball” philosophy has turned Samford into a SoCon contender, and his ability to recruit and develop talent makes him an intriguing candidate. His lack of experience at the high-major level is a question mark, but his coaching style is innovative and could translate well with the right resources.
 
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#124,404
#124,404
DD4ME said:
I know the default answer will be to reclaim Bruce Pearl. Honestly, I’m not for or against it, but I wouldn’t hate it either.


That said, I asked ChatGPT for potential coaching candidates under 45 years old who run a balanced offense and defense—since that has historically been the best predictor of NCAA Tournament success. Here are three names that stood out:

Bucky would be one to check out IMO


Amir Abdur-Rahim (USF)​


  • Age: 43
  • Current Job: Head Coach, University of South Florida (2023–present)
  • Previous Experience:
    • Head Coach, Kennesaw State (2019–2023)
    • Assistant at Georgia, Texas A&M, Murray State
  • Why Consider Him?
    Abdur-Rahim orchestrated a remarkable turnaround at Kennesaw State, taking them from a 1-win team in his first season to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023. His teams emphasize strong defensive fundamentals while maintaining an efficient, well-spaced offense. At USF, he’s continuing to build a disciplined and competitive program.

Danny Sprinkle (Utah State)​


  • Age: 47 (slightly over 45, but close)
  • Current Job: Head Coach, Utah State (2023–present)
  • Previous Experience:
    • Head Coach, Montana State (2019–2023)
    • Assistant at Cal State Fullerton, Montana State
  • Why Consider Him?
    Sprinkle transformed Montana State into a consistent Big Sky contender, winning back-to-back conference titles and securing NCAA Tournament bids. He’s known for player development, solid defensive principles, and a well-structured offensive scheme that adapts to his personnel. His first year at Utah State has already shown promise, proving he can compete at a higher level.

Bucky McMillan (Samford)​


  • Age: 40
  • Current Job: Head Coach, Samford (2020–present)
  • Previous Experience:
    • Highly successful high school coach at Mountain Brook (Alabama)
  • Why Consider Him?
    McMillan is a rising star with a unique, fast-paced system that blends relentless defensive pressure with an up-tempo offense. His “Bucky Ball” philosophy has turned Samford into a SoCon contender, and his ability to recruit and develop talent makes him an intriguing candidate. His lack of experience at the high-major level is a question mark, but his coaching style is innovative and could translate well with the right resources.
Click to expand...
I believe the USF coach passed away before the season started.😳😳
 
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#124,406
#124,406
@TrippieRedd chatgpt comparison

When evaluating potential head basketball coaches for the University of Tennessee, two notable candidates are Bucky McMillan, currently at Samford University, and Darian DeVries, who recently took over at West Virginia University after a successful tenure at Drake University. Here's a comparison of their respective pros and cons:

Bucky McMillan

Pros:

Innovative Coaching Style: McMillan is known for his "Bucky Ball" philosophy, which emphasizes a fast-paced offense and relentless defensive pressure. This approach has revitalized Samford's program and could bring a fresh dynamic to Tennessee.

Proven Success at Multiple Levels: Before transitioning to college coaching, McMillan achieved significant success at the high school level, winning multiple state championships. His ability to develop talent and implement effective systems has translated well to the collegiate level.

Youthful Energy: At 40 years old, McMillan brings a youthful perspective, which can resonate with recruits and foster long-term program growth.


Cons:

Limited Experience at Higher Levels: McMillan's coaching experience is primarily at the high school and mid-major college levels. Transitioning to a high-profile program like Tennessee would be a significant step up, and it's uncertain how his methods would fare against top-tier competition.

Recruiting Challenges: While he has shown recruiting prowess at Samford, attracting top talent to compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) presents a new set of challenges.


Darian DeVries

Pros:

Consistent Success at the Collegiate Level: During his tenure at Drake University, DeVries compiled a 150–55 record over six seasons, leading the team to multiple 20-plus win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances. His teams have been competitive in the Missouri Valley Conference, showcasing his ability to build and sustain success.

Experience in High-Pressure Situations: DeVries has navigated the pressures of conference tournaments and NCAA Tournament play, providing him with valuable experience that would be beneficial at Tennessee.

Strong Recruiting Background: His long tenure as an assistant at Creighton University before taking the helm at Drake has equipped him with extensive recruiting experience, particularly in identifying and developing under-the-radar talent.


Cons:

Recent Commitment to West Virginia: Having just accepted the head coaching position at West Virginia University in March 2024, DeVries may be less inclined to consider another move so soon, and his commitment to building that program could pose a challenge in recruiting him to Tennessee.

Adaptation to SEC Competition: While successful in the Missouri Valley Conference, the SEC presents a higher level of competition. It remains to be seen how his coaching style and strategies would translate to this elevated stage.


Conclusion

Both McMillan and DeVries offer unique strengths that could benefit the University of Tennessee's basketball program. McMillan's innovative approach and youthful energy present an exciting possibility, though his limited experience at the highest levels of college basketball is a consideration. DeVries brings a proven track record of success and extensive recruiting experience, but his recent commitment to West Virginia and the challenge of adapting to SEC competition are factors to weigh. The decision would hinge on whether Tennessee prioritizes innovative potential or established collegiate success in its next head coach.
 
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#124,411
#124,411
MoCo_Vol said:
There's not just 1 solution though.

The obvious option is you knock down the 3s, we don't shoot the 3 well as a team. Chaz is the only player that shoots over 35% as a team we shoot just under 35% so this is the obvious option but also the one Kentucky (playing percentages) is hoping we settle for and we did and it didn't payoff

The other option is you space the floor and setup 1 on 1 drives in isolation, we don't have the personnel to do this at a high level. Dubar took advantage once, as did Igor and even ZZ a few times had success. Chaz, Gainey and Mashack really should have been able to do this more they often got the best isolations to try it and simply didn't.

Another option is you increase off ball cutting. Space the floor but pass & cut and do it hard every time. We simply don't and haven't really ran this so hard to just start doing it.

Also you can just space out and then feed your big, this was one Barnes even pointed out in post game that he wishes we had done more of if nothing else you want to give the bigs paint touches because if Kentucky tries to double a good pass out of the post creates an opportunity for a late closeout by Kentucky to try and contest and that's when you can drive off pump fakes or even try to get fouls called.
Click to expand...

Spacing the floor only works if there is a credible threat from offensive spacing; the threat of shooting effectively behind the arch. Otherwise, there is no incentive for the defense to spread out in kind.

Ball cutting might work on a play or two from a breakdown somewhere defensively but will fail as a sustained strategy from a lack of free space in the middle of the court.
 
#124,414
#124,414
Orange. said:

Click to expand...

Thank you. But many here will dismiss the idea of chips in footballs and letting common sense reign.

Nope, "refs give the game character" as they spit over all the refs, who are and always will be human and suck at judging inches at a million miles an hour from 20 feet away. Good refs will never ever exist. It's not that complicated.

Yet we finally have some of the technology to begin to phase them out. Hopefully good sense will prevail.
 
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#124,415
#124,415
PlanetVolunteer said:
No there are ways to spread the court.

It's not impossible to make adjustments to how you attack a defense.

Do you really think every single coach just throws their hands up, doesn't make a single adjustment, and let's his team jack up 45 3's when they aren't hitting them?

It's been a problem in several games. Like Michigan in the tournament. We couldn't adjust and just kept shooting and missing.

Shooting 45 threes is NOT normal yall. That is a very rare occurrence in college basketball.
Click to expand...

In yesteryear? Possibly. The era of dominate big men is over. If you can't shoot openly behind the arch at a credible clip, you are just screwed in this era of basketball.

If you had a Shaq, Duncan, Eddy, etc. you could possibly pound the rock and still get some production either from their sheer will (normally at the free throw line) or from the defense super collapsing into a triple team which opens up cutting lanes elsewhere. I obviously don't have to point out that Barnes does not have that luxury with this team.
 
#124,416
#124,416
Devo182 said:
Thank you. But many here will dismiss the idea of chips in footballs and letting common sense reign.

Nope, "refs give the game character" as they spit over all the refs, who are and always will be human and suck at judging inches at a million miles an hour from 20 feet away. Good refs will never ever exist. It's not that complicated.

Yet we finally have some of the technology to begin to phase them out.
Click to expand...
Where are you seeing anyone say refs give the game character? I don't know a single person who supports football refs lol
 
#124,419
#124,419
rockytop25 said:


Deboer took the most talented team in the country and went 9-4 and is somehow still considered a top 5 coach
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His UW run will carry a lot of weight until there's a few years of underwhelming UA seasons.

People will also say Saban was meh in Y1 too...though he had nowhere near the same talent Deboer's been handed, let's be real.

Tbf though it still was Y1 for him and he runs a different system than Saban. He just needs to get his type of guys in there, then we can really begin to see it all come to fruition...as they go 5-7 😅🤣
 
#124,422
#124,422
jave36 said:
Where are you seeing anyone say refs give the game character? I don't know a single person who supports football refs lol
Click to expand...
I've read it before because I remember laughing thinking "I'm sure the million dollar coach that's going to be on the hot seat now is really enjoying the added "character to the game caused by that missed call" 😅

But, more broadly, there is a lot of resistance to other, non-human, solutions. Many think you simply need to throw more money and more hours at college refs and they'll suddenly become...what? awful NFL refs?? 🤣🤣🤣


The whole notion that any human being has the sensory ability to accurately referree high-level sporting events is complete myth. At least not anywhere near the level that will be considered acceptable by coaches, players, fans. And now we finally have an "out"...and some still resort to "jUsT MakE ThE ReFs FuLL-tImE".
 
#124,425
#124,425
Screenshot_20250129_181629.jpg

The Google says this is likely a myth, since the tortoise is likely from a different area of The Islands.

Nonetheless, the tortoise was aged at 176 years old when passed. That's so wild to me. The tortoise lived 30 years before the civil war and lived long enough to be see Facebook. Steve Irwin considered her family and their "grandmother". I used to want to be re-incarnated as a cat that could nap all day, but giant tortoise would be freakin cool too.
 
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