Ernie Kent and Michigan job, seems like awfully bad timing?

[Russ Smith]

Apparently Ernie is not much of a believer in avoiding distractions.

Said Kent: "I have an agent, and he's been contacted by some people. All I'm going to say is that I want to be at Oregon as
long as they want me there. But if they don't want me there anymore, and Michigan wants to talk, Oregon owes me the opportunity to listen."

Kent said he never would pursue a vacant job. But if they want to talk, he's all ears. Also, Kent said he prefers to wait "until we've
finished our own tournament run," before talking more about his future.

now yes he said he'd wait until their run is over but the fact that he's talking about this in public is pretty bad. he's gone one important senior on that club, Aaron Brooks, and with Malik Hairston saying he's staying put, that means they could be really good again next year. Last thing they need is yet another controversy around Kent. Last year it was his stupid extra marital affair that nearly got him canned, now he's talking about other jobs when his team is in the Sweet 16?

And given their new AD is friends with Mark Few it's probably not the smartest thing to do calling their bluff? There are 9 Pac 10 schools hoping Oregon takes the bait and extends Ernie's contract to keep him at Oregon.

 

[Dback Jon]

That is horrid timing

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Please EK, stay at Oregon.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

I dont think Oregon really wants him there that badly, but after his run this year it would be pretty difficult to fire him. Despite what Kent has or has not done with anyone or someone, Oregon has a difficult decision in front of them.

 

[AZBALLER]

I've heard that Kruger is one of the frontrunners for the Michigan job...Also, I heard he'd love to wait for the Arizona job, but I think UA could do better...

 

[Dback Jon]

Of course, Kruger could stay at UNLV - I am sure they could raise the cash.

 

[AZBALLER]

But over the course of his career Kruger hasn't shown that he likes to stay at 1 spot...And his other options seem to be better jobs...

 

[Dback Jon]

But over the course of his career Kruger hasn't shown that he likes to stay at 1 spot...And his other options seem to be better jobs...

True - I remember the blur of his time coaching the ILLINI

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Im sure Kruger would love to wait for the UA job, but I dont think he would be one of the top candidates, let alone top 10. I think the UNLV job is a good one, but Michigan is Michigan.

 

[Russ Smith]

Im sure Kruger would love to wait for the UA job, but I dont think he would be one of the top candidates, let alone top 10. I think the UNLV job is a good one, but Michigan is Michigan.

The interesting thing with Michigan is all the recruiting angles. Kent has 2 players on his current roster, Malik Hairston and TaJuan Porter, from Detroit so I suspect that might be why his name comes up. He played at Oregon so I'm guesing it's one of his assistants that had the Michigan ties. Although the Hairston recruitment story is pretty well known, his dad was telling everyone that he was going to pick between UCLA, Michigan and Kansas, and then Nike flew him out to Oregon in a private jet, and he signed on the spot. So unless he has Nike helping him at Michigan that probably won't be a factor.

Alex Legion is Michigan's top recruit, and he's already said he'll stay even with amaker out, they have another guard, Corperryale Harris that was pretty heavily recruited(UCLA wanted both Legion and Harris) and I don't know yet if he's spoken about the coaching change. Of course any new coach would have to let them out of an LOI and both are local kids so they will probably stay.

Amaker sort of did to Michigan what Lavin did to UCLA so they need to find the right guy to right that ship.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I've heard a rumor mass circulated that Kruger is going to take either the Michigan or Colorado job at the end of the tournament run and the Rebs are going to hire Reggie Theus to replace him.

Take that at face value, but the person who told me this also told me right after Charlie Spoonhaur retired that the job was Lon Kruger's to lose.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Kruger's gone, he's going to lose five of his top seven players next year and be praying for an NIT bid. If he was smart he'd strike while the iron was hot whether that means a raise in Vegas or a jump to a real conference. And considering I thought ASU could do better than Lon Kruger, then take one guess what I think about him at Arizona.

 

[Mulli]

OT-Bill Frieder said he could have Michigan in the tournament in two years if he went back there, because he recruits so well in Flynt.

Interesting.

 

[AZBALLER]

And considering I thought ASU could do better than Lon Kruger, then take one guess what I think about him at Arizona.

I concur...I know ua would want better than Kruger...but...

 

[AZBALLER]

OT-Bill Frieder said he could have Michigan in the tournament in two years if he went back there, because he recruits so well in Flynt.

Interesting.

I agree with Frieder, he could do very well at Michigan or any other school, but it might cost the program(s) a few scholies...because of the new graduation requirements

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I concur...I know ua would want better than Kruger...but...

What...does this...even mean?

 

[AZBALLER]

What...does this...even mean?

...

 

[Southpaw]

Michigan does not seem to be a good job. Football giant first and foremost. 20 wins and lose your job.

 

[Russ Smith]

Michigan does not seem to be a good job. Football giant first and foremost. 20 wins and lose your job.

I don't think they recovered from the Ed Martin paying the Fab 5 scandal. Since then they just don't seem to be the same. Either that entire run including post Fab 5 was fueled by pay for play, or it left a bad mark on the program they can't erase.

That and Tommy Amaker sucks as a coach.

 

[Southpaw]

I don't think they recovered from the Ed Martin paying the Fab 5 scandal. Since then they just don't seem to be the same. Either that entire run including post Fab 5 was fueled by pay for play, or it left a bad mark on the program they can't erase.

That and Tommy Amaker sucks as a coach.

Fab 5 was their run for glory and the best team money could buy. I seriously don't think Michigan can recruit well in the Big 10/Midwest.

 

[Mulli]

Anyone remember the former AD for Michigan who said Michigan was going to become the Duke of the Midwest and stop recruiting inner-city kids?

Oopsy, so much for Flint.

 

[AZBALLER]

I don't see why Michigan couldn't be an elite basketball program again...They just need to make sure they have the right coach, and then let him do his thing.

 

[kgh10]

Michigan had better teams than the Fab 5, including the one that won a national title in 1989...before the arrival of the Fab 5. After that, the team wasn't the same, in a bad way. Ellerbie nor Amaker had enough strength to rise above that and both of them are gone. Basically, what Michigan needs is a rare breed of man. A man who is 1) a great "X's and O's" type of guy, 2) A great recruiter, and most importantly 3) a man who will raise funds for his own program and take initiative to enhance the facilities.

A quote from Mgoblog perfectly sums up the facilities issues at Michigan:

"The AD at Michigan doesn't operate like the AD at other schools. They won't take on debt and they are self-funding (including 70% out-of-state scholarships at 30k per year -- you can make the argument that the AD helps support the university, not vice versa). When local columnists opine that Michigan must shell out for the program they neglect to mention where this money is going to come from.

Take the baseball program, which brings in almost no revenue. Rich Maloney showed up, looked at a decrepit and uncompetitive situation, and immediately started raising capital for a new stadium. At this very moment a multi-million dollar replacement of Fisher stadium is underway because Rich Maloney went out and found the money for it."

Michigan first and foremost needs a coach who will do that. Then, the recruits will want to come, and hopefully if the guy isn't an amazing x's and o's guy, at least they'll have significant amount of talent to move forward from the sorry state in which they are currently in.

 

[kgh10]

Oh yeah, if you're asking me who that guy is...I couldn't begin to tell you haha.

 

[Southpaw]

Oh yeah, if you're asking me who that guy is...I couldn't begin to tell you haha.

Somebody who can do better than 43-53 in the Big 10.