Gator Women BB vs Ole Miss, Thurs 7 pm

[crapgame44]

Originally Posted by apkgator

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I don't even think deeper into the tourney is necessary for the season to be a success. I would look at the season as a whole and not worry so much if they get a tough NCAA draw.....but I would think making the NCAA next year is a must

Totally agree as it will be a referendum on her recruiting so far. There MUST be a vector swing up as planned.

[apkgator]

Originally Posted by tommyuf21

Dumping this coach and losing Williams in the process will mean a restart and another 4-6 year rebuilding job.

There are times when you have to stick with someone and see it through, even if its taking "longer" than you expect.

Some of you would be treating this job like an elite program going through coaches every 3-4 years and seeing miserable results.

You may be absolutely right, although I think 4-6 years is way overstated as a rebuilding window in hoops. The right person can do it much faster.
You are also right, this isn't a great job right now. But the mens job wasn't great either when BD took over. Again, the right person for the job.

While your argument is taking a step back when changes coaches is corect, ultimately it has to be done if things are not progressing. Otherwise no coach would ever be fired.
I think the critics are saying 6 years is a reasonable time frame...I certainly think so.
This year is going to be what it is going to be...mediocre in most respects. Next year is the key.

[gatorbogey]

would be interesting to know what goals foley has set for the team w/ butler or what butler has set for the team (each year) - what are the realistic goals to make??

anyone w/ insider insight?

[crapgame44]

Originally Posted by gatorbogey

would be interesting to know what goals foley has set for the team w/ butler or what butler has set for the team (each year) - what are the realistic goals to make??

anyone w/ insider insight?

Lets just put it this way.....it begins next season.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by apkgator

You may be absolutely right, although I think 4-6 years is way overstated as a rebuilding window in hoops. The right person can do it much faster.
You are also right, this isn't a great job right now. But the mens job wasn't great either when BD took over. Again, the right person for the job.

While your argument is taking a step back when changes coaches is corect, ultimately it has to be done if things are not progressing. Otherwise no coach would ever be fired.
I think the critics are saying 6 years is a reasonable time frame...I certainly think so.
This year is going to be what it is going to be...mediocre in most respects. Next year is the key.

The men's program was only a couple of years removed from a final four. Kruger just dropped the ball on recruiting for a couple fo years, but it was not the dumpster fire that Peck left.

I agree that you have to fire coaches, but Peck deserved her send off in spades. She made an absolute mess of this program and it had nothing to fall back on when Butler was brought in.

[apkgator]

Originally Posted by tommyuf21

The men's program was only a couple of years removed from a final four. Kruger just dropped the ball on recruiting for a couple fo years, but it was not the dumpster fire that Peck left.

I agree that you have to fire coaches, but Peck deserved her send off in spades. She made an absolute mess of this program and it had nothing to fall back on when Butler was brought in.

Kruger left the program short on talent, so did Peck. Not sure there is much difference other than the splash of success Lon had earlier in his run.
Regardless, most of us are arguing that 6 years is ample time to get the program where it needs to be. We are 4 1/2 years in....so make or break time is approaching. The question is, how much success will be required in year 6?

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by apkgator

Kruger left the program short on talent, so did Peck. Not sure there is much difference other than the splash of success Lon had earlier in his run.
Regardless, most of us are arguing that 6 years is ample time to get the program where it needs to be. We are 4 1/2 years in....so make or break time is approaching. The question is, how much success will be required in year 6?

They'll need to be a league contender and have to get through the first weekend of the NCAA tourney. The talent and experience should be there to accomplish that.

As far as National Titles go, I don't think that should be part of the expectations here for quite a few more years. I'm not sure that this program will ever have the fan support and recruiting to ever reach that level, regardless of the caliber of the coach.

[gatorbogey]

you look at the history of gator women hoops....and it SCREAMS of mediocrity ....or worse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida...9;s_basketball

i think amanda showed early she can coach peck's players effectively. but recruiting early was lacking. we can all agree on that. hence a dip in record/performance. lately recruiting is improving - as evidenced by the last 2 classes and this next class...can we all agree on that - even the most ardent detractors?! reasonable people can agree. right?

given the record - the hard facts, i think it's rather unreasonable to think gator women's hoops can become a major player over night. sure some can do it. those coaches, however, don't exactly grow on trees.

what are the reasonable expectations for this program? given our past, present, and expected future? i'm sure for foley he wants: SEC titles and NCAA titles. is that a 5 to 10 year horizon for those? i think once you are able to compete for the SEC title, just like in football, etc - you are a contender for the nat'l title.

[ufgator4ever]

Unless there's a petrino situation, not sure how butler keeps her job if they miss the tourney.

[oragator1]

Originally Posted by ufgator4ever

Unless there's a petrino situation, not sure how butler keeps her job if they miss the tourney.

I would be shocked if she didn't get next year at least, too much talent in the last 2 recruiting classes to start over again.

[EastTNG8TR]

Butler isn't going anywhere nor should she. She just got a contract extension through 2017. Foley actually follows what is going on closely like a few fans do. The Ole Miss loss is the only bad loss of the year. We do need to get it back with an upset somewhere for NCAA resume, but Butler is back even with an NIT appearance. We lost two players for the season early on, and our best player and only strong post presence is hampered. This team is what it is, a roster with a lot of youth, no elite players to carry them, and little depth due to a rash of injuries. We started 5 guards. I am not saying we shouldn't have still won this one, but losses like this are sadly not uncommon with youth.

[crapgame44]

Originally Posted by oragator1

I would be shocked if she didn't get next year at least, too much talent in the last 2 recruiting classes to start over again.

Its a no brainer she getting at least next year and most likely beyond.

[oragator1]

Originally Posted by crapgame44

Its a no brainer she getting at least next year and most likely beyond.

Yeah I hope she has many years, I am in her corner.
By the way, your pic is Viktorija Dimaite correct? Do you have a connection to her? Kind of a random pic to use otherwise

[crapgame44]

Originally Posted by oragator1

Yeah I hope she has many years, I am in her corner.
By the way, your pic is Viktorija Dimaite correct? Do you have a connection to her? Kind of a random pic to use otherwise

No. Just started following her in HS, am Lithuanian also, and think she is probably the most beautiful girl thats ever played UF basketball! I''m really rooting for her especially with the frustration of her injuries the last 2 years. I also think she is representative of the talent "explosion" we will see next season. And she's that post/center that is multi-dimensional that we've lacked for a real longtime. Pray she stays healthy.

[apkgator]

Originally Posted by tommyuf21

They'll need to be a league contender and have to get through the first weekend of the NCAA tourney. The talent and experience should be there to accomplish that.

As far as National Titles go, I don't think that should be part of the expectations here for quite a few more years. I'm not sure that this program will ever have the fan support and recruiting to ever reach that level, regardless of the caliber of the coach.

I'm not sure any coach of any program should have National Titles be part of the expectations. Maybe be a contender on a regular basis, but I think Mary Wise, Tim Walton, and Rhonda Faehn all prove that you can be a great coach without that final piece.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by apkgator

I'm not sure any coach of any program should have National Titles be part of the expectations. Maybe be a contender on a regular basis, but I think Mary Wise, Tim Walton, and Rhonda Faehn all prove that you can be a great coach without that final piece.

I believe that there is a mentality among many of our fans that expect National Championships in this sport because of the success of our Football and Men's Basketball programs. After all, if Billy could turn it around so quickly, why can't someone else. First of all, that is a slap at Billy. He isn't some run of the mill coach. He is already the greatest athletic coach in the history of this University.

I don't believe they truly understand how difficult it is to build a dominant SEC program in this sport. By pointing to other Florida schools, they conveniently neglect to bring up the difficult competition that is faced in this league. Even the worst programs are better competition than these other schools face.