For those of you that want to give Floyd

[Tucson_Miner]

one more season ... what would you consider successful for next season? Top 10 finish in conference? Conference Championship? NCAA tourney? Top 3 finish?

Just trying to understand your limits and expectations.

 

[PURPLEFIRE]

No more offseason crap with players
Minimum of 23 wins 1-3 finish
At minimum final four finish in conference tournament
At least one win in post season play
One potential impact recruit for 17'

 

[jamasterj]

Yeah, so you can jump all over that person that's willing to be patient. This question has been asked over and over, it's getting old and it's been answered by both the "fire Floyd" camp and his defenders...so we've heard every explanation. So let's put the bat away already and give the dead horse a breather huh.

 

[kickballpro]

I just think there is a foundation of a team here. I am not a fan of the job he's done. However, I remember Gary Nord had a 5 year plan. He was going to recruit a certain type of player, he was going to redshirt 100% of the time, and he realized that it was going to take time. He had everything set up to where he had built solid ground. But he was never given the opportunity to get that one more season to see the plan to its fullness. Price sweeps in and he inherits a group of mature athletes on the verge of success and Price got to reap the rewards of Nord's work. I've always wondered if Nord had that one more year, what could have been? We may have had a long run of success.

I think Floyd is in a similar situation. He has a foundation. I like what's coming back and excited for what may be coming in. A new coach will have Winn, Moore, Artis, and Harris back. Plus you have 3 freshman big men who haven't been through an offseason in Romine, Thomas, and Jones. You've got a smart young Guard in Touchet as well as McSwiggan. And if Willms is back......I have been one of his biggest critics, but I want to see what happens with this group.

 

[PURPLEFIRE]

Thank you!

 

[Lucaminer1]

I just think there is a foundation of a team here. I am not a fan of the job he's done. However, I remember Gary Nord had a 5 year plan. He was going to recruit a certain type of player, he was going to redshirt 100% of the time, and he realized that it was going to take time. He had everything set up to where he had built solid ground. But he was never given the opportunity to get that one more season to see the plan to its fullness. Price sweeps in and he inherits a group of mature athletes on the verge of success and Price got to reap the rewards of Nord's work. I've always wondered if Nord had that one more year, what could have been? We may have had a long run of success.

I think Floyd is in a similar situation. He has a foundation. I like what's coming back and excited for what may be coming in. A new coach will have Winn, Moore, Artis, and Harris back. Plus you have 3 freshman big men who haven't been through an offseason in Romine, Thomas, and Jones. You've got a smart young Guard in Touchet as well as McSwiggan. And if Willms is back......I have been one of his biggest critics, but I want to see what happens with this group.

That's a good post. I have one thought with regards to the Nord comparison. Nord had a plan and stuck to it. Floyd seems to have no plan at all when it comes to recruiting and building a foundation. He seems to never recruit to a need and as has been well documented here and elsewhere, the revolving door of players means little to no stability. Ultimately none of us here will determine whether he is retained or not, but it provides great message board discussion!

 

[kickballpro]

@Lucaminer1 and I could also very easily see us signing 2 or 3 in the late period and dumping guys on the current roster and being in the exact same boat next year.

 

[miner1liner]

Are Lucaminer and Lucaminer1 two different beings? Maybe it always had a (1)
on the tail end I didn't notice.

 

[utep2step]

I think everyone over 21 who attends a home game gets one complimentary beer at the DHC and Floyd pays the tab.

I know this horse is ready to go to the glue factory, but after sleeping on it for a few days, I say no more hiring retreads for major revenue programs at UTEP. No more Price's, no more Floyd's! I will tolerate the BG's, and the Barbee's and live with the fact that coaches like them desire to move on to bigger ponds (and maybe someday, UTEP will be a bigger pond) and for more cash. It's stone cold reality.

 

[Imaminer]

That's a good post. I have one thought with regards to the Nord comparison. Nord had a plan and stuck to it. Floyd seems to have no plan at all when it comes to recruiting and building a foundation. He seems to never recruit to a need and as has been well documented here and elsewhere, the revolving door of players means little to no stability. Ultimately none of us here will determine whether he is retained or not, but it provides great message board discussion!

Your supposition that you and other "experts" know or understand what is "needed" is at the very least arrogant but does make for interesting chats on this board. Tim Floyd is a proven successful coach at many levels both collegiate and professional. UTEP has a storied history in basketball, but even in Haskin's glory years he had to recruit "project" players or guys who had been overlooked by bigger schools. Floyd has set out to recruit the type of player he believes is needed to raise UTEP to a consistent level of being competitive but various issues have side-tracked that goal. The loss of Hunter, Wilms, McSwiggen, etc. this year is the latest example. Blaming Floyd is stupid and doesn't advance the discussion. Fantasies of bringing in a "miracle" coach who will turn things around in a year is delusional. I loved BG but he went all out for a quick fix and used the results to land a bigger job at A&M. Same with Doc and Tony, the program was worse off after they jumped ship than it had been before they took over. Floyd will get things straightened out and flame-throwing calls for his dismissal don't help with recruiting or with players currently on campus. Fans should support their team - especially in difficult times.

 

[Lucaminer]

Your supposition that you and other "experts" know or understand what is "needed" is at the very least arrogant but does make for interesting chats on this board. Tim Floyd is a proven successful coach at many levels both collegiate and professional. UTEP has a storied history in basketball, but even in Haskin's glory years he had to recruit "project" players or guys who had been overlooked by bigger schools. Floyd has set out to recruit the type of player he believes is needed to raise UTEP to a consistent level of being competitive but various issues have side-tracked that goal. The loss of Hunter, Wilms, McSwiggen, etc. this year is the latest example. Blaming Floyd is stupid and doesn't advance the discussion. Fantasies of bringing in a "miracle" coach who will turn things around in a year is delusional. I loved BG but he went all out for a quick fix and used the results to land a bigger job at A&M. Same with Doc and Tony, the program was worse off after they jumped ship than it had been before they took over. Floyd will get things straightened out and flame-throwing calls for his dismissal don't help with recruiting or with players currently on campus. Fans should support their team - especially in difficult times.

Hey at least this time you are not calling people names. Its a start. To your point, this is a message board. We all have opinions and even you can't argue things have not gone as we all thought they would. Floyd would agree with that as well. I think most on here do support the team. Your blind optimism may be as harmful as the flame throwing you accuse others of. Only time will tell.

 

[MineroFanatico]

Imaminer, it really doesn't take an "expert" to see what is most lacking on this team, and what positions the Miners are in dire need of.

 

[UTEPy79]

Imaminer: Floyd was successful at the pro game? Apparently, you missed the Bulls era.
I certainly can agree - you're not an expert.

 

[jdubb66]

Are Lucaminer and Lucaminer1 two different beings? Maybe it always had a (1)
on the tail end I didn't notice.

It's like back in the 70s they had Mr. Wrestling and Mr. Wrestling #2. They often tag-teamed together but not necessarily.

 

[utep2step]

Another thread going off the rails. Sad what this bball season has become.

 

[Miners Fight]

I think everyone over 21 who attends a home game gets one complimentary beer at the DHC and Floyd pays the tab.

I know this horse is ready to go to the glue factory, but after sleeping on it for a few days, I say no more hiring retreads for major revenue programs at UTEP. No more Price's, no more Floyd's! I will tolerate the BG's, and the Barbee's and live with the fact that coaches like them desire to move on to bigger ponds (and maybe someday, UTEP will be a bigger pond) and for more cash. It's stone cold reality.

LOL. watching the Kentucky game against Kansas, I saw a few shots of Barbee on the bench. If he was such a hot commodity, why is he still riding the pine in Lexington? Shouldn't he have moved on to another head coaching position by now? Or does he just suck??

 

[Tucson_Miner]

Not sure how the program was in worse shape when BG, DS, TB left. BG left Sadler an NCAA team, Barbee left Floyd an NCAA team. If anything Barbee was the one left with nothing and he still got us to the tourney in fewer years than CTF. I would have to agree with Purplefire's list if CTF is given one more year. Unfortunately, we are going to have defections at the end of the season. How do I know? The fact is that we have no available scholarships for next season and we are again scrambling to sign a big man in the late period. My guess would be Romine (or Thomas) will not be back and Touchet/Flaggert (I hope both). Don't forget last year we didn't have a starting point guard until the last possible second (Artis) then Caldwell lost his schollie.

I would much rather talk about Lucaminer vs. Lucaminer1 vs Lucaminer 2 and post horse photos than about the horrible mess our men's basketball team is in.

 

[jdubb66]

I'll make 1 point. People talk about CTF having had 6 years to develop a championship team. He was hired late spring of 2010 after signing day if I remember. He was able to retain Bohannon but lost every other recruit that year. He changed his style of play to suit the players we already had in McCaulley, Culpepper etc. In reality he's had 5 years to build. Okay, still not great but lets keep that in mind. He's had 5 years, not 6.

 

[Voice of the Mosquito]

True it is 5 years and if we can him at the end of this year, we will likely lose his recruits and a few young players now on the roster, like Winn or Jones. McSwiggen can transfer out anywhere and play right away. Morris, Vint and Caldwell will be gone. With a few defections with our roster as is now, we are looking at a rebuild year next year as well. I just don't see a light at the end of this tunnel. I am unhappy with Floyds progress, but the other options don't look very appealing either. If Floyd stays or goes we a looking at about the same success rate for next year.

 

[UTEPy79]

With Floyd at the helm next year - it'll be like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

[Imaminer]

Imaminer: Floyd was successful at the pro game? Apparently, you missed the Bulls era.
I certainly can agree - you're not an expert.

Floyd's experience with the Bulls was a result of an owner who dumped most of the high salaried stars, the retirement of Michael Jordan, and terrible trades made by the GM. None of those things were result of Floyd's decisions or in his control.

 

[UTEPy79]

The question still stands: where and when was Tim Floyd successful at the pro game? Blaming Jerry's Reinsdorf & Krause for the Bulls' failure on the court doesn't make your observation of Floyd's NBA coaching career accurate; Floyd's combined W-L record in the NBA was 90-231. Successful?

 

[kickballpro]

I'll make 1 point. People talk about CTF having had 6 years to develop a championship team. He was hired late spring of 2010 after signing day if I remember. He was able to retain Bohannon but lost every other recruit that year. He changed his style of play to suit the players we already had in McCaulley, Culpepper etc. In reality he's had 5 years to build. Okay, still not great but lets keep that in mind. He's had 5 years, not 6.

Actually was hired 2 weeks prior to signing day and signed 5. Bohannon, Desmond Lee, Michael Perez, Michael Haynes, and Julian Washburn. Washburn sat out a year.

 

[Lucaminer]

Actually was hired 2 weeks prior to signing day and signed 5. Bohannon, Desmond Lee, Michael Perez, Michael Haynes, and Julian Washburn. Washburn sat out a year.

Not that it matters but I think Bohannon had already signed while Barbee was here(during the early period). Rashanti Harris was also signed late by Floyd though.