Slow News Day

Undoubtedly, you noticed that we didn’t post any news yesterday afternoon. That’s because…there isn’t much to tell. This phenomenon is not limited to us – just take a look at this article from the N&O. It seems to be the primary focus of message board traffic this morning, and it tells you…basically nothing. If anything, it should make you feel much better about Chris Wright. Based on his mother’s comments, it seems like he definitely liked the whole NC State package – not just the coaching staff.

The only other new front is the Tubby Smith rumblings. As far rumors go, we can confirm (based on SFN’s own sources) that this is legitimate, and has been since Sunday. It’s still very unclear how deep and/or mutual this interest may be.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

Alums General Media NCS Basketball

116 Responses to Slow News Day

  1. Mr O 04/05/2006 at 9:21 AM #

    5 SEC tournament Titles, 5 SEC regular season titles, 1 National Title and I think I saw that he is the winningest coach the last 3 years.

    I guess we all have different definitions of mediocrity. Tubby ain’t coming, but I wouldn’t consider him mediocre either.

  2. beowolf 04/05/2006 at 9:25 AM #

    Oh, OK Trout.

    Your opinion sucks.

    (Just kidding. Having a hard time concentrating AGAIN today.)

  3. Matt E. 04/05/2006 at 9:25 AM #

    I fully expect this coaching search to be like anything else NC State related…..I’ll get excited with the possibilities only to be completely disappointed by the results.

    You’d think I’d have learned by now.

  4. beowolf 04/05/2006 at 9:29 AM #

    Some dude on PP just said WFNZ in Charlotte said something about a press conference possible at 3:30. Didn’t say where, though.

    I would suppose our guys would know if WE were holding a press conference, so IF it’s news, it’s probably bad.

  5. Washington Wolf 04/05/2006 at 9:31 AM #

    beo: I’m with you, the suspense is killing me.

    If we end up with someone like Haith or Odom, I will be majorly pissed.

  6. Matt E. 04/05/2006 at 9:36 AM #

    beo – I’m going to assume “Barnes gets raise at Texas” press conference.

  7. Alex_01 04/05/2006 at 9:36 AM #

    Beo: did you happen to hear jay bilas on wfnz this morning, my co-worker said he talked unfavorably about the state job

  8. Jim 04/05/2006 at 9:37 AM #

    I don’t think they generally hold press conferences to say no. (?)

  9. Cardiff Giant 04/05/2006 at 9:40 AM #

    Trout, good points.

  10. beowolf 04/05/2006 at 9:42 AM #

    Jim, you don’t remember Roy’s saying-no-to-Dean PC in Lawrence?

    Now the guy’s saying he heard it was going to be at State. I’m thinking it’s someone yanking our chain. You have to admit, that’s pretty easy to do right now.

  11. RAW 04/05/2006 at 9:44 AM #

    No way State hires Odom or Haith. They’ll go after Laranaga first.

    Tubby’s teams being mediocre? Let’s toss out Pitino’s teams and start looking from 2000 on. UK has won the SEC reg. season or tourney every year but two, and one of those they still won the SEC east. I’ll take that mediocrity any day.

  12. SaccoV 04/05/2006 at 9:44 AM #

    It’s funny that so many analysts have conjectured that State should make sure that it brings in a “name” coach for the future, but we haven’t discussed enough of what happens if a “name” coach doesn’t take the job? Barnes, Smith, Calipari, and Wright are all way too iffy for my taste right now. Crean is still a possibility but he might not leave Marquette. Who do we get if all the “name” guys won’t take the money?

  13. Clarksa 04/05/2006 at 9:45 AM #

    I heard Bilas this morning on TST….he wasn’t to complimentary of our program and acted like his $#@% didn’t stink…typical Dookie.

  14. Fish 04/05/2006 at 9:45 AM #

    I think it is likely that our top candidates say no. We should implode if we find out that our offer was not commensurate with the respective coach. At this point, the numbers being thrown out ($1.8M – $2M) should not be the limiting factor. If RB, JC, JW, etc. say no, then I believe it legitimatizes a few things:

    1) Our administration has very little vision and salesmanship.
    2) Fowler and our administration and big donors missed the golden opportunity to get a big name by keeping Sendek on the last five years.
    3) A search for a new AD needs to begin immediately.

  15. beowolf 04/05/2006 at 9:45 AM #

    Strike my last post. If it’s a PC in Austin, it’s to say yes to a big raise. Roy’s PC was because UNC was impolitic in its search.

  16. class of '74 04/05/2006 at 9:52 AM #

    Were Case, Sloan or Valvano “name coaches” before they arrived here? Just give me a winner. Too much of this discussion sounds like someone trolling for a trophy wife.

  17. JTO 04/05/2006 at 9:55 AM #

    Good call C of 74. A little cleavage never hurt though.

  18. RAW 04/05/2006 at 9:56 AM #

    I just think that the ” lunatic fringe ” will burn down Raleigh if Fowler can’t deliver someone they have heard of before.

    Please, Tubby Tubby, Please!

  19. SaccoV 04/05/2006 at 10:03 AM #

    ’74, you’re right, as Alpha Wolf is too, about State never previously hiring a name coach. But this is the time were the name coach should be possible to get. It’s a good program left in a good position for the next helmsman. The administration’s placid position in terms of current coaches should be a blessing to anyone because it’s not like a coach is going to be fired here (volleyball coach is no exception). As for the trophy wife comment, I agree. But that’s what this search is. The best coach is probably NOT the best name in the country, as all four names of Smith, Barnes, Wright, and Calipari have some blemish to their records. I was hoping that State would look at all the prospective coaches carefully before trying to lure a name with cash only. In usual Fowler style, he threw the money bag out first. We will probably pay for this in the long run.

  20. choppack 04/05/2006 at 10:07 AM #

    “5 SEC tournament Titles, 5 SEC regular season titles, 1 National Title and I think I saw that he is the winningest coach the last 3 years.

    I guess we all have different definitions of mediocrity. Tubby ain’t coming, but I wouldn’t consider him mediocre either.”

    That’s all true – but is Kentucky in better or worse shape since he’s arrived. IMHO, the program is gradually sliding backwards. 10 years ago, I would have had a different take.

  21. beowolf 04/05/2006 at 10:07 AM #

    If I may, this coach search is about more than who is going to be coach at NC State next year. It’s also about restoring NC State’s reputation as a significant name in college basketball. We’ve let it go so long that it’s “conventional wisdom” that NC State shouldn’t expect to challenge Duke and UNC. THAT’S why we need a big-name hire, an attention getter, a place-restorer.

    Although I agree that it could be wiser in the long run to hire an up&comer who will be positioned to take over Ks’ spot when he retires. But our last two up&comers weren’t so impressive.

  22. CaptainCraptacular 04/05/2006 at 10:15 AM #

    If it comes down to plan B, and Haith is the primary name on the Radar, give me Nolan Richardson instead. If Nolan says no, then call Haith.

  23. JTO 04/05/2006 at 10:17 AM #

    Any additional details on the press conference??

  24. WTNY 04/05/2006 at 10:19 AM #

    My hope is that the Barnes portion of this is a smokescreen.

    What we don’t want is to have a coach feel like he was option 5, 6 or 7. Option 2 after the “Barnes come home” search isn’t bad but beyond that egos could get bruised.

    So let the Barnes saga play out, let it draw all the attention. Keep Chip, Glen and all of us nosing in the wrong direction while the best candidate is landed.

  25. RAW 04/05/2006 at 10:21 AM #

    I MUST disagree with hiring Nolan. every game he lost would be because the refs and crowd and media coverage were all racists.

    Plus his guys don’t graduate.

    I can’t believe that Haith could get the recruits to come to Raleigh that he could get to come to Miami. Not just the fact that its a great city, but aren’t their academic ” requirements ” a little looser than State’s?

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