Those are the rules. We don’t have to like them, but basketball coaches are defined by postseason accomplishments.

It is why Bourne fired Brady. Specifically mentioning not enough post season success and 1 NCAA bid in 8 years was simply not enough.

Byington didn’t get lucky this year. He produced the best team in the Sun Belt when it mattered most at tourney time. And he didn’t get unlucky his previous 10 years.
Statistical variation and metrics are all blah, blah, blah only for the losing teams to point to.
The winners that make the big dance like the system just fine.

However, we’re not in that much of a position of strength that we could pluck someone with a history of making the NCAAT because they’ll be aiming higher than us.

One reason why we got Byington was because he didn’t make the NCAAT, if he did, I’m sure his stock would’ve been higher and he’d would’ve looked well past us.

At this point we need someone who has a proven history that can get us a Top-4 seed. Someone who regularly makes the tournament is frankly out of league when we can’t pay a coach $1 million plus, in a one-bid SBC that isn’t much to write home about.

Mike Young was extremely successful at Wofford, Tech pays him over $2 million annually. Pat Kelsey and DeVries just got P6 jobs after multiple NCAATs. That’s good and all to want that but candidates with that on their CVs are looking past little old James Madison unless something changes.

(03-29-2024 09:35 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Those are the rules. We don’t have to like them, but basketball coaches are defined by postseason accomplishments.

It is why Bourne fired Brady. Specifically mentioning not enough post season success and 1 NCAA bid in 8 years was simply not enough.

Byington didn’t get lucky this year. He produced the best team in the Sun Belt when it mattered most at tourney time. And he didn’t get unlucky his previous 10 years.
Statistical variation and metrics are all blah, blah, blah only for the losing teams to point to.
The winners that make the big dance like the system just fine.

As much as you are correct, I think there is a middle ground, had Coach Brady had several near misses or Conference Championship losses, or qualified for the Semi-Finals most years, I think he would have hung around longer, you have to make the Championship game to win it! Winning several games a year in the conference tournament goes a long way, even if you don't win the tournament every year. Lots of first and second round exits, regardless of regular season record will get you axed. Sun Belt is a one bid league and it will take a lot to change that on a regular basis. Its hard to expect a team to win the tournament ever year, but it is not unreasonable to expect your team to be in the semi-finals/finals almost ever year. Upsets occur and lower ranked teams have crazy good games, but MOST years you should be in the Semifinals and or Finals at JMU. Once you get there you have a good shot to win and advance to the NCAA.

Sorry kids, I'm afraid JMU's athletics success is outpacing our alumni support. The school can't afford to drastically accelerate both football and MBB coaching salaries, we may have to rely on finding an off-radar up-and-comer that we can build incentives into the contract that grow as proven success grows.

The alternative, is to find a former P5 that doesn't need the money but wants back in, like a Pitino Jr. so to speak, that we can rent for a few years. Many forget, that's how we got Lefty.

Rumors starting to spread on Twitter that Spradlin will be the hire.

(03-29-2024 10:55 AM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Rumors starting to spread on Twitter that Spradlin will be the hire.

Out of the names mentioned I think he would be best pick. I also think it means some other names we brought up are either going somewhere else or have higher aspirations so are staying put for now.

Getting a guy that has taken a team to 2 NCAA tournaments with far less resources than what we have... And some knuckleheads are still going to complain on here. Spradlin would be a great pickup if these rumors are true.

(03-29-2024 10:55 AM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Rumors starting to spread on Twitter that Spradlin will be the hire.

He checks a lot of good boxes. 3/4 years played in OVC Champ game winning 2. No first round OVC exits in last 4 years. 4 straight 20 wins seasons. 8 years as a head coach. 37 years old. 2 straight regular season OVC Titles. A victory in the NIT. Actually a little better resume then when our last coach was hired. I think this could go well if it's true.

Nice, national media picking it up now. Many very complimentary of the hire.

Is 4 days a personal best for Jeff Bourne? Is that good enough for the forum?

(03-29-2024 11:09 AM)lexduke398 Wrote:  

(03-29-2024 10:55 AM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Rumors starting to spread on Twitter that Spradlin will be the hire.

He checks a lot of good boxes. 3/4 years played in OVC Champ game winning 2. No first round OVC exits in last 4 years. 4 straight 20 wins seasons. 8 years as a head coach. 37 years old. 2 straight regular season OVC Titles. A victory in the NIT. Actually a little better resume then when our last coach was hired. I think this could go well if it's true.

Good stuff.
It will be interesting though to see who other mid-majors hire. There are some bigger fish out there if the money is right.

Time to get working on the transfer portal STAT. Tick tock. Let’s go.

(03-29-2024 11:31 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Is 4 days a personal best for Jeff Bourne? Is that good enough for the forum?

ha! nice one

listening to his nccaa presser - he scheduled 3 Big10 games last year...

(03-29-2024 12:08 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  

(03-29-2024 11:31 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Is 4 days a personal best for Jeff Bourne? Is that good enough for the forum?

ha! nice one

listening to his nccaa presser - he scheduled 3 Big10 games last year...

And Alabama. Will be interesting to see if he can get those types of teams to play JMU. So this past year 5 of 9 losses were to power 5 teams.

Doubt he would be able to get those games for JMU next year but it would be nice to get two.

(03-29-2024 08:19 AM)jmu007 Wrote:  They're gonna blow it.

Wrong!

Thanks for playing.

(03-29-2024 04:50 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(03-29-2024 08:19 AM)jmu007 Wrote:  They're gonna blow it.

Wrong!

Thanks for playing.

Haha the reverse psychology worked.

(03-29-2024 09:40 AM)MarginalDuke Wrote:  However, we’re not in that much of a position of strength that we could pluck someone with a history of making the NCAAT because they’ll be aiming higher than us.

At this point we need someone who has a proven history that can get us a Top-4 seed. Someone who regularly makes the tournament is frankly out of league when we can’t pay a coach $1 million plus, in a one-bid SBC that isn’t much to write home about.

Well, how does a new HC who boasts 2 NCAAT and one NIT appearance in the last 4 years do ya?

IMO, JMU and JB hit a home run with this hire.

JB is on a serious heater ..have his team pick the new Prez too

On the subject of JB...man what a going out retirement...he surely earned his money this year.

At least the coaching positions are all filled unless we have a surprise.

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