Larry Brown to coach SMU

[DrRad]

As they used to say on Laugh In verrrry interesting, and strange
The Link

 

[Horns11]

It's basically a ploy by Brown and the suits at SMU to get butts in the renovated Moody Arena seats, and create a young, up-and-coming staff so he can bolt when SMU joins the Big East.

Jankovich is a good guy, and I think his relationship with Bill Self is what got him the coach-in-waiting job. Everyone except Phil Jackson worships Brown the coach, so it's hard to turn Self's request via Larry Brown down... even considering SMU hasn't been to the tourney in 20 years.

I also think there's something about Rod Strickland that will motivate guys to play well at SMU. He played for nine NBA teams, and he understands how to orchestrate recruiting efforts. Calipari even stated that Rod was a big factor in the freshman class they pulled at UK last year, so he obviously can't hurt.

Brown gets to live in Highland Park for a year and all of the benefits/none of the problems that coaching SMU has to offer.

 

[blonthang]

These good old boy hiring decisons are getting real old.

Who the HELL does Jankovich think he is that he can demand that if/when Brown steps down, Jankovich becomes head coach?

Of course he can demand; the decision makers can and SHOULD have told him to stuff it.

This sucks. Remember Sutton at OSU and his boy? Naming him as his replacement. That worked out well.

And Knight at Tceh. That also worked out well, with the old man demanding that his son follow him. The kid's doing a bit better at Lamar, but he sucked at Tceh.

Texas was little better, with our "head coach in wating" ---- sounds like a concubine. And IMHO was a significant cause of the 5-8 debacle a couple of years ago. Why would any assistant coach who's been around for a while, and maybe thinking HE's a good candidate for promotion actively support a brand, new, spiffy "head coach in waiting" that's going to get the job over him?

I hope SMU falls flat on their Peruna asses because of this. This MADNESS needs to stop.

Hire a HEAD coach and let him pick his assistants ---- BUT, no conditions on what happens after he/she leaves.

It's none of his/her business after he/she's gone.

Okay, I feel better now.

 

[elface]

Well, at least in the Tech, OSU and Texas examples, the head coaches had a lot of success and power.

SMU's basketball program has been a flop for years, so I don't see a problem with them trying a risky combination. Jankovich is a good coach and if he has success at SMU after Brown leaves, then I am sure he will go elsewhere.

 

[DrRad]

I grew up in Dallas (a long time ago) and remember (barely, I was just a kid) the last time SMU basketball was relevant, i.e.

1956 • Led by center Jim Krebs, SMU advances to the 1956 Final Four in Evanston, IL. SMU, the 1956 Southwest Conference champions for the second consecutive season, would finish 26–4 overall in 1955–56.

The Mustangs, led by Jim Krebs and All-Southwest Conference selections Bobby Mills and Larry Showalter, fell 86-68 to top-ranked San Francisco, which was led by Bill Russell. The Dons would go on to win their second straight national title. SMU then faced No. 13 Temple in the third-place game, falling 90-81 as Hal Lear scored a then-Final Four record 48 points. Jim Krebs totaled 53 points and 20 rebounds in the two games for the Mustangs.

 

[coolhorn]

Considering how many coaches out there said thanks but no thanks to SMU in the last several weeks, Larry Brown and his posse may be the best they could do.

 

[Denmark]

They had a couple of good teams in the 80's IIRC.
Some tall blonde center that I want to say started with a K?
b

 

[Horns11]

Jon Koncak, who was part of the payola schemes that SMU had going in the 80s. He was never a reliable scorer, but his shot-blocking was incredible in the SWC. I think he had one game against us with 8-9 blocks.

He's mostly remembered for making more money (in a season) than Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson when the Hawks gave the biggest contract ever to a backup player.