OT: Bobcats Hire St John's Assistant Mike Dunlap

[aceboon]

Surprising hire, I didn't even know he was on the radar for a head coaching gig. Wasn't he pretty much the X's and O's and gameplanning guy for St John? Lavin is going to need to find someone to fill that role because the rest of that staff is pretty much recruiters.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8070083/sources-charlotte-bobcats-pick-mike-dunlap-coach

 

[61cygni]

Don't know much about this guy, I guess they struck out on some of their top choices. Tough job to go into.

 

[JaYnYcE]

A college assistant gets an NBA Head Coaching gig? Has this ever happened before?

 

[tykurez]

Poor Kemba ...

 

[caw]

...and people say Kevin Ollie would be a stretch to coach UConn.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

he is an extremely well respected x's and o's guy in nba circles. having said that, it is still a stretch.

 

[sparky]

so I guess tic tac toe is his game. Jordan never ceases to amaze me.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I think Dunlap will be a good pro coach. Low ego, quiet, great X's and O's guy. Perfect for the League.

Lavin is looking at a train wreck next year, because he is terrible as a gameplanner and there aren't any other internal candidates to take Dunlap's role.

 

[MCNPA]

Dunlap extremely respected guy X's and O's wise. Only problem is he can't fix Charlotte's dearth of talent. Some big moves need to be made. Trading down might be the first one.

SJU certainly does not look like a "train wreck" entering next season. SJU has a loaded roster and will replace Dunlap with an external candidate. As far as candidates go, latest rumor is Jimmy Boylen, former AHC under Izzo, 11 year NBA assistant, former Utah Utes head coach. Just a rumor at this point, but his name is being tossed about quite a bit. Excellent resume' to replace Dunlap if this is the case. Another name I've heard a bit is Paul Biancardi.

As far as Lavin's coaching, I will say that almost all head coaches rely on superior game planners or tacticians. The smartest coaches hire guys to augment their skills. If Calhoun didn't feel he needed help with coaching, he wouldn't hire a guy like Blaney, he'd hire a big time recruiter. Same goes for Pitino hiring Willard. Lute Olsen had Dunlap as his assistant. It's just smart to do so.

 

[aceboon]

lol @ loaded roster, then again you're the same guy who came on here and declared 11-12 St Johns better than the previous year, tourney version after a blowout exhibition win over CW Post, so at least your consistent.

 

[rw005]

Wizards vs Bobcats in the battle of the crap

 

[MCNPA]

lol @ loaded roster, then again you're the same guy who came on here and declared 11-12 St Johns better than the previous year, tourney version after a blowout exhibition win over CW Post, so at least your consistent.

Yeah, I was unclear last year about the roster being better at that point. I thought they looked like they'd be a more offensively gifted group of players. At that point I was looking at the guys we had and it was still expected that Jakarr Sampson and Norvel Pelle would probably be eligible for Big East play which never happened. We ended up losing too many players to be competitive which was not what I was envisioning at the time nor losing Nurideen and Stith. It certainly was premature.

This year we actually do have a much more full roster front to back with depth at most spots. SJU only loses Harkless and brings in 6 or 7 players. Good players at several spots on the floor. Last year we played the entire season with six guys. Big difference. I think we'll fare a lot better in the league this year. Finally the depth to compete and sufficiently talented if still young.

 

[Waquoit]

SJU only loses Harkless and brings in 6 or 7 players.

Still plenty of time for the Johnnies to lose a few more guys before meaningful play starts.