Brey Leaving For Cal?

[phork]

Brey bolting South Bend for Cal?

 

[NDGOLDEN]

I think we need a change anyways

 

[D-BOE34]

He is on a shortlist of names the AD would like to speak with. Nothing says he is leaving or wanting to leave. Guess we will see soon.

 

[notredomer23]

I like Brey, but the program has maximized its potential under him.

 

[texbender]

Would like him to stay. He has done well with ND given the limitations of the type of player ND can go after. Yes, there have been disappointments, but there have been a bunch of surprises and good times along the way too.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

I may be in the minority on this site but I like Brey. He seems like a genuine good guy. At Legends he came around shakin everyones hands after radio show and was actually happy to talk with and interact with people. He has some coaching flaws of course but overall I think maximizes the talent we can get. Hope he stays.

 

[ACamp1900]

I like Brey,but the program has maximized its potential under him.

I would trade 'Brey'for 'NDs current facilities and commitment to basketball...'

 

[NDGOLDEN]

I may be in the minority on this site but I like Brey. He seems like a genuine good guy. At Legends he came around shakin everyones hands after radio show and was actually happy to talk with and interact with people. He has some coaching flaws of course but overall I think maximizes the talent we can get. Hope he stays.

I agree I have no problem that he's a nice guy his son went to university of buffalo and was a TE and he would go to the games once in awhile when he could and the Times he was there I would talk to him for some of the game. He is very personable. He's a great in season coach don't get me wrong but he hasn't been able to get over the hump of getting past the first week in March.

 

[irishfan]

I've posted like a million times that I don't want to see him fired, but I actually wouldn't be that upset if he left on his own. I think a new coach would give the program a bit of a spark. I just think firing him would look horrible--we already have 0 admin commitment and are one of the worst jobs in the ACC, no need to throw 0 job security in there for a future coach as well.

I'd rather see him stay than leave, but as long as he's not fired I'm happy.

 

[FrankMA]

Would like him to stay. He has done well with ND given the limitations of the type of player ND can go after. Yes, there have been disappointments, but there have been a bunch of surprises and good times along the way too.

Yes, too bad he can't have the same facilities and go after the same type of players as the woman's program.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Mike Brey is actually a terrific coach, although i believe that he has improved over the years too. My basketball coach brother used to marvel at how much he got out of the type-of-talent that he had.

To be a good BBall team you have to have two things: error-free point guards who can take the heat [see this year's NCAA], and climax defensive board protectors. We sometimes can recruit the former [although most of these players are BBall-lifers from rough urban neighborhoods], but rarely have enough high-flying in-the-meathouse intimidators to do the latter job. To be a great BBall team, you have to add at least one defensive stopper, one rim protector/shot swatter, and a couple of deadly bombers. We have never gotten the complete mix [the Hansborough team was close.]

Having said that pessimistically, being a great academic school doesn't shut you out from these types of talents. Duke is the obvious case in point. Other schools have been pretty consistent with their quality while retaining some semblance of actually going-to-school. I don't know what Brey would need to wedge in on the Duke-type of player [especially the BIG ones], but he could use some help from somewhere --- so whether that means him going, or him getting a couple of "Alford's" to recruit the tough areas, we do lack in this area.

His coaching is fine. His recruiting is only OK. Thus we have good not great teams.

 

[Irish#1]

I like Brey, but the program has maximized its potential under him.

I think Brey has maximized his potential at ND.

I like Brey and agree with OMM that he's a good coach, but he's always been lagging when it comes to recruiting, especially the last five years. I think he's just hit that proverbial wall.

 

[Irishnuke]

Good. His exit is long overdue. Spare me the "he's a nice guy" BS. He hasn't won shit being a nice guy.

 

[irishfan]

If we don't make the tourney next year, I 'still wouldn't want Brey fired yet, but I would understand if he were. Right now, I don't think its justifiable to fire him. In the four years before this year's tournament, ND was 1 of just 17 schools to make the tournament every year. We were a #2 seed just three years ago and were a top-5 team that whole year.

I get the tournament frustration, but I'd take getting there pretty much every year over being a #10 seed who makes a fluke Sweet 16 run sandwiched by NIT trips. Before this past year, we had essentially been a Top 25 team for four straight years. Again, talk to me about firing Brey if he can't get in the tourney with Grant back next year, but, until then, I think we're in a pretty good place with Brey.

 

[BGIF]

Good. His exit is long overdue. Spare me the "he's a nice guy" BS. He hasn't won shit being a nice guy.

Hard to find a "nicer guy" than Gerry Faust.

 

[Rack Em]

For those of you who want Brey gone, who in the hell do you think would replace him? What quality coach would want to come to South Bend? The administration gives zero shits about basketball (evidenced by the basketball teams still practicing in "The Pit"). No respectable coach will take ND seriously until it takes itself seriously. Factor in graduation rates that actually matter and serious academics...it's not a prime basketball job especially when players only have to be 1 year out before declaring for the NBA. You have to have a few of those types to be really competitive in basketball - ND simply won't allow that.

Brey is about the best we can hope for. Right now, the ND job is one that will catapult someone into a better job. It's not a destination job.

 

[Emcee77]

I've posted like a million times that I don't want to see him fired, but I actually wouldn't be that upset if he left on his own.

I agree, that is just is how I feel about it.

Brey is a damn good coach. Big East coach of the year three times? ap coach of the year in 2011? He gets the most out of his guys and he has won a lot of games. Unless seasons like this become the norm, I can't see firing him.

But I can't help but be excited at the thought that if Brey leaves, there is a chance we could score an up-and-comer who could make us a real threat to make deep tourney runs. I am sure we are all frustrated that Brey hasn't had the postseason success to match his strong work in the regular season. Maybe the next guy will.

 

[gkIrish]

All you Brey guys that are worried about hiring a mid-major coach realize that's exactly what we did when we hired Brey, right?

 

[ACamp1900]

"Coach K will take the job."-- typical 'ND should go 13-0 this year' fan.

 

[BGIF]

"Coach K will take the job."-- typical 'ND should go 13-0 this year' fan.

We should go 13-0 this year.

 

[irish1958]

Hard to find a "nicer guy" than Gerry Faust.

Or one more loyal to ND

 

[returnofthemack]

Mike Brey is actually a terrific coach, although i believe that he has improved over the years too. My basketball coach brother used to marvel at how much he got out of the type-of-talent that he had.

To be a good BBall team you have to have two things: error-free point guards who can take the heat [see this year's NCAA], and climax defensive board protectors. We sometimes can recruit the former [although most of these players are BBall-lifers from rough urban neighborhoods], but rarely have enough high-flying in-the-meathouse intimidators to do the latter job. To be a great BBall team, you have to add at least one defensive stopper, one rim protector/shot swatter, and a couple of deadly bombers. We have never gotten the complete mix [the Hansborough team was close.]

Having said that pessimistically, being a great academic school doesn't shut you out from these types of talents. Duke is the obvious case in point. Other schools have been pretty consistent with their quality while retaining some semblance of actually going-to-school. I don't know what Brey would need to wedge in on the Duke-type of player [especially the BIG ones], but he could use some help from somewhere --- so whether that means him going, or him getting a couple of "Alford's" to recruit the tough areas, we do lack in this area.

His coaching is fine. His recruiting is only OK. Thus we have good not great teams.

His coaching is not fine. He's a wizard in the regular season, but it's not a coincidence that we always get bounced out within the first two rounds of the tournament.

 

[Pachuco]

I actually think Coach Brey would do well to coach somewhere with less stringent requirements for recruits and more athleticism at his fingertips. For top athletes in basketball, the NBA has far greater immediate appeal, and pursuing a degree is less appealing than in an injury-prone sport like football.

It might be time for Brey to leave ND, as many in the fanbase seem beyond restless, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him exceed his level of success elsewhere. I certainly don't wish him ill, with all the filth I've heard spewed about a guy who has been a positive and vocal advocate for ND basketball for as long as I can remember. If he leaves, I wish him well.

 

[Irish#1]

For those of you who want Brey gone, who in the hell do you think would replace him? What quality coach would want to come to South Bend? The administration gives zero shits about basketball (evidenced by the basketball teams still practicing in "The Pit"). No respectable coach will take ND seriously until it takes itself seriously. Factor in graduation rates that actually matter and serious academics...it's not a prime basketball job especially when players only have to be 1 year out before declaring for the NBA. You have to have a few of those types to be really competitive in basketball - ND simply won't allow that.

Brey is about the best we can hope for. Right now, the ND job is one that will catapult someone into a better job. It's not a destination job.

No one knew much about Phelps when he was hired. No one knew who Brad Stevens was before Butler promoted him. Shaka Smart is another recent example. There are plenty of good coaches around.

I understand we are comparing apples and oranges when it comes to football vs. basketball and what a coach gets, but to me, part of the HC's responsibility is to work at getting facilities upgraded. BB may not get the support that FB enjoys, but that's his job to teach them why they need to get facilities upgraded.

 

[RDU Irish]

I've posted like a million times that I don't want to see him fired, but I actually wouldn't be that upset if he left on his own. I think a new coach would give the program a bit of a spark. I just think firing him would look horrible--we already have 0 admin commitment and are one of the worst jobs in the ACC, no need to throw 0 job security in there for a future coach as well.

I'd rather see him stay than leave, but as long as he's not fired I'm happy.

This sums it up pretty well for me.

I do struggle with the whole "support" thing. The reason there are so many good teams out there b/c your facilities needs are so much less for a basketball team. Sure you need a gym to shoot hoops, how is "the Pit" grossly insufficient? Are the hoops not 10' tall?

Gug should be light years better than 99% of the basketball programs weight training facilities. Seems to me there is zero interest in strength training by Brey, conditioning to run 5 guys for 40 minutes sure but that is not what I am talking about.

And isn't it the head coach's job to advocate for the resources to build a better team? After the four year run described above, he should have some political capital to spend. Any other coach probably has a dozen things they want prioritized and ready to rattle off the top of their head when they get in front of administration. Brey's only request is apparetly more garish uniforms.

 

[RDU Irish]

Hoiberg and Ollie have made a name for themselves this year. They aren't coming here but just examples of the depth of young talent out there.

For the record, I don't see Brey leaving and I don't see us pushing him out. We are probably stuck with him for at least 10 more years. Not a bad draw, getting stuck with consistently competitive versus risking a big step backwards trying to take a step forward.

 

[Emcee77]

Hoiberg and Ollie have made a name for themselves this year. They aren't coming here but just examples of the depth of young talent out there.

For the record, I don't see Brey leaving and I don't see us pushing him out. We are probably stuck with him for at least 10 more years. Not a bad draw, getting stuck with consistently competitive versus risking a big step backwards trying to take a step forward.

Right, I agree, it's really not a bad draw. It's easy to get excited about finding the next Kevin Ollie but it's also easy to forget that we could end up with somebody who completely flames out like, say, Matt Doherty at UNC. We have been consistently good under Brey (a bad year like this one here or there notwithstanding) for a very long time, and to me that is more important than tourney success.

But if Brey left, I admit I would be excited about the possibility of finding someone like Kevin Ollie or Brad Stevens who could take us deep into the tourney.

 

[Emcee77]

Apparently he has denied interest, fwiw.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mike Brey says Cal reports are "rumors" and he has no plans to move to Berkeley. Has worked w/Sandy Barbour in past and greatly respects her</p>— Ray Woodson (@RayWoodson680) <a href="https://twitter.com/RayWoodson680/statuses/452889547945152512">April 6, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


On the other hand, just re-reading the tweet, I guess it's not an unequivocal denial if that accurately represents the language Brey used.

 

[RDU Irish]

Right, I agree, it's really not a bad draw. It's easy to get excited about finding the next Kevin Ollie but it's also easy to forget that we could end up with somebody who completely flames out like, say, Matt Doherty at UNC. We have been consistently good under Brey (a bad year like this one here or there notwithstanding) for a very long time, and to me that is more important than tourney success.

But if Brey left, I admit I would be excited about the possibility of finding someone like Kevin Ollie or Brad Stevens who could take us deep into the tourney.

We beat Duke at home in a "bad" year. Competed pretty much every night and just a player or two away from being a tourney level team able to beat anyone.

 

[Irish#1]

Apparently he has denied interest, fwiw.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mike Brey says Cal reports are "rumors" and he has no plans to move to Berkeley. Has worked w/Sandy Barbour in past and greatly respects her</p>— Ray Woodson (@RayWoodson680) <a href="https://twitter.com/RayWoodson680/statuses/452889547945152512">April 6, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


On the other hand, just re-reading the tweet, I guess it's not an unequivocal denial if that accurately represents the language Brey used.

Not at this moment at least.