Hi guys, RU fan here. Stopped by to read your thoughts on the hire. Not looking to flame but thought I would address Khalid's comments.
Tom Young's teams were solid, usually in the tourney when it was 32 and 48 teams, Final 4 in 76 the year there were 3 undefeateds, and NIT on down years. When he left he was replaced by Craig LIttlepage, who is a great AD at UVA but a terrible coach. Drove the team into the ground. Replaced by Bob Wenzel who got the team back to tourney/NIT level but couldn't sustain it. After that, disasters:
- Bannon had some success and great recruiting classes but he went crazy. Fired for naked push up contests at practice, transfers ensued, including Dontay Jones and Geoff Billet. Last I heard he was working for a local parks dept.
- Villanova stole Jay Wright out from under us (See article attached) http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/mc-villanova-ncaa-wright-0331-2-20160331-story.html
- Gary Waters was a solid coach but never integrated into the NJ recruiting scene for whatever reason, focusing on the Midwest. He was replaced by Fred Hill JR. to keep him from jumping to Seton Hall.
- Freddie was nuts too. Son of long time HOF RU baseball coach FH Sr., he was a great recruiter, terrible coach. Fired for cause. Star recruiter at the Hall.
- Anyone who watches ESPN knows what happened to Mike Rice. Ugh.
- Eddie Jordan was an RU legend, HOF, star on the undefeated final 4 team in 76. Not a college coach, in my mind took one for the team to stabilize post Rice debacle.
Why will it be different?
When the school decided in the 80's to take the football team from playing Ivy's, Lehigh, etc to big time, $$$ devoted to football and basketball was ignored. Additionally, the schools state funding has been declining steadily and that led them to fund basketball even more on the cheap. New AD Hobbs is a basketball guy, former Seton Hall AD. He is looking to dump $ into improving facilities and getting the basketball program to where it can compete financially. With BIG10 funding on the way, increasing yearly until we receive a full share within 5-6 years he has the money to do so. I think Steve P will have the support, and will be able to show recruits plans for improved facilities. Not expecting miracles but hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel, as long as someone doesn't turn off the light to save money. Which as an RU fan is never a surprise.
Cautiously optimistic. Go Knights.