Official Utah basketball coach candidates thread.

[LA Ute]

Maybe given 3 seasons....

Ge whiz, thanks a lot. Now I'm going to go look through the cupboards for some Pepcid....

[Surfah]

Even thus downgraded, stronger than the WCC. Utah can win 18 games in the PAC12 and be seeded higher in the Dance than a 25-win BYU team in the WCC. Of course, winning 18 games seems a long ways away right now for the Utes....

The downgraded Pac-12 will still be stronger than the WCC. Anyone will concede that.

But as to your second point I am going to call BS. Unless those 18 wins come over ranked opponents there is no way in hell that happens. For reference, get back to me after comparing the records and seeds of Gonzaga and Saint Mary's last year versus Cal and Washington.

[LA Ute]

The downgraded Pac-12 will still be stronger than the WCC. Anyone will concede that.

But as to your second point I am going to call BS. Unless those 18 wins come over ranked opponents there is no way in hell that happens. For reference, get back to me after comparing the records and seeds of Gonzaga and Saint Mary's last year versus Cal and Washington.

Granted, it all depends on RPI and similar factors. But it is not unlikely. Take some time and do some research. Anyway, my point is the PAC12, even with Utah and Colorado, will be a much stronger conference than the WCC and will have more teams in the Dance year after year. And Utah won't be awful for long. And to call the PAC12 "downgraded" is still great smack. That's all it is, however.

[Surfah]

Granted, it all depends on RPI and similar factors. But it is not unlikely. Take some time and do some research. Anyway, my point is the PAC12, even with Utah and Colorado, will be a much stronger conference than the WCC and will have more teams in the Dance year after year. And Utah won't be awful for long. And to call the PAC12 "downgraded" is still great smack. That's all it is, however.

I'll maintain that it is very unlikely. I'd go so far as to say that most years an 18 win Utah team isn't even going dancing without dominating conference play, winning the conference tournament, or having some big wins. Of course this will probably happen more frequently with the tournament field expansion. Take some time and do research? That's an SU argument.

I already conceded that the Pac-12 will be much stronger than the WCC. It's your other point that I am contending.

[LA Ute]

I'll maintain that it is very unlikely. I'd go so far as to say that most years an 18 win Utah team isn't even going dancing without dominating conference play, winning the conference tournament, or having some big wins. Of course this will probably happen more frequently with the tournament field expansion. Take some time and do research? That's an SU argument.

I already conceded that the Pac-12 will be much stronger than the WCC. It's your other point that I am contending.

Maybe we can agree on this: The PAC12 will give its member schools a strong conference schedule for purposes of NCAA seeding. That's what I was saying. It is is not going to be like the Big East, ACC or the Big 10 (most years), but it's better than the MWC, WAC, and WCC.

[myboynoah]

Maybe we can agree on this: The PAC12 will give its member schools a strong conference schedule for purposes of NCAA seeding. That's what I was saying. It is is not going to be like the Big East, ACC or the Big 10 (most years), but it's better than the MWC, WAC, and WCC.

This discussion about relative conference strength is hereby suspended until Utah can actually establish a winning record against the MWC, WAC, and/or WCC.

[LA Ute]

This discussion about relative conference strength is hereby suspended until Utah can actually establish a winning record against the MWC, WAC, and/or WCC.

myboynoah, myboynoah, myboynoah: You simply must become a better student of my work here.

[ERCougar]

Maybe we can agree on this: The PAC12 will give its member schools a strong conference schedule for purposes of NCAA seeding. That's what I was saying. It is is not going to be like the Big East, ACC or the Big 10 (most years), but it's better than the MWC, WAC, and WCC.

Funny...Sagarin would disagree with you on that.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/bkc1011.htm

And now that everyone is going to conference schedules, that's not likely to change.

It will be interesting to see what happens once the MWC loses one of its powers. Of course, it's also cutting loose some deadwood...

[LA Ute]

Funny...Sagarin would disagree with you on that.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/bkc1011.htm

And now that everyone is going to conference schedules, that's not likely to change.:

It will be interesting to see what happens once the MWC loses one of its powers. Of course, it's also cutting loose some deadwood...

You're probably right and I was hasty in saying that. The MWC is a pretty good hoops conference. Without BYU and Utah it will have two fewer historically strong programs, though. (Yes, I know Utah is down right now.) Regardless of conference strength I still like being able to go see the Utes play a short drive from my house.

[MartyFunkhouser]

TopUte has thrown his name out as a candidate for the job on utefans, Reggie Theus. I would be absolutely thrilled with that hire. I've seen what a coach that can recruit, knows how to balance his incoming players, and surrounds himself with good assistants can do in this market. Reggie Theus isn't my first choice, but if he is hired, I will be thrilled.

[Goatnapper'96]

TopUte has thrown his name out as a candidate for the job on utefans, Reggie Theus. I would be absolutely thrilled with that hire. I've seen what a coach that can recruit, knows how to balance his incoming players, and surrounds himself with good assistants can do in this market. Reggie Theus isn't my first choice, but if he is hired, I will be thrilled.

Does Utah require its head coach to be a college graduate? I thought I read where UNLV won't hire Theus until he earns his Bachelor.

I thought that Theus had a lot of talent at NMSU but that there were not well coached. I think that model is something one can get away with at a lower level but I doubt Theus is going to recruit talent to SLC that is going to overwhelm the Pac-10.

Where has Gillespie gone? I read his name earlier in this thread. I thought he took some time off to deal with some alcohol issues but is he coaching again? Isn't this the second year since he was removed from Kentucky?

I think he would be a great hire for a place like Utah where it isn't so high pressure but still is a place that has historically done well.

[DrumNFeather]

TopUte has thrown his name out as a candidate for the job on utefans, Reggie Theus. I would be absolutely thrilled with that hire. I've seen what a coach that can recruit, knows how to balance his incoming players, and surrounds himself with good assistants can do in this market. Reggie Theus isn't my first choice, but if he is hired, I will be thrilled.

I have to agree here. He certainly is a name that makes a splash...and that is what the Utes desperately need to do. Now, the NBA may come calling for Theus again, but as we've said before, if that happens, it means we've got a winning program to cheer for again.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Does Utah require its head coach to be a college graduate? I thought I read where UNLV won't hire Theus until he earns his Bachelor.

I thought that Theus had a lot of talent at NMSU but that there were not well coached. I think that model is something one can get away with at a lower level but I doubt Theus is going to recruit talent to SLC that is going to overwhelm the Pac-10.

Where has Gillespie gone? I read his name earlier in this thread. I thought he took some time off to deal with some alcohol issues but is he coaching again? Isn't this the second year since he was removed from Kentucky?

I think he would be a great hire for a place like Utah where it isn't so high pressure but still is a place that has historically done well.

I still like Gillespie as an option better than Theus, but Theus is a legit option for the Utes right now. He is a coach that will make the Utes competitive in the Pac-12 and can get us enough talent to consistently get to the dance. We aren't going to dominate the Pac-12 with any coach that we hire.

[Goatnapper'96]

I still like Gillespie as an option better than Theus, but Theus is a legit option for the Utes right now. He is a coach that will make the Utes competitive in the Pac-12 and can get us enough talent to consistently get to the dance. We aren't going to dominate the Pac-12 with any coach that we hire.

I just read a bit on Gillespie, he is a Texas/Southern Midwestern guy. Theus is a western guy. Either way, good luck.

[scottie]

TopUte has thrown his name out as a candidate for the job on utefans, Reggie Theus. I would be absolutely thrilled with that hire. I've seen what a coach that can recruit, knows how to balance his incoming players, and surrounds himself with good assistants can do in this market. Reggie Theus isn't my first choice, but if he is hired, I will be thrilled.

What do you know about Theus' recruiting in his 2 years at NMS?