TekDevil
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What does everyone think will happen with Rob Evans? Do you think he will stay or go? If he could not do it with Ike this year he will never get it done.
Should Rob Evans Go???
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I think he should go, but he won't go because ASU cannot eat his contract. Gene Smith is praying for at least the NIT so he can somewhat justify keeping him. It's too bad really. Everyone says they want a clean program and Evans has done that very well. But, obviously, wins are far more important in this day and age.
Lefty
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This is a tough call. ASU was picked to come in last place this year and they will finish with a winning record. I know most Sun Devil fans are fed up with Evans but what if ASU beats the UofA Saturday, does that save his job? If ASU makes the NIT and wins a game or two, I doubt he would be fired. Also, I don't know if Diogu is going to leave after this year but if Evans is fired, I bet he bolts.
AJ's right.
ASU cannot to fire Evans at this point in time. He could lose to U of A by 100 points and he'll be back next year.
ASU cannot to fire Evans at this point in time. He could lose to U of A by 100 points and he'll be back next year.
Lefty
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Ike speaks about Evans and ASU fans might not like it.
Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 2, 2005 12:00 AM
Ike Diogu sent a message Tuesday, and it was enough to make the ground shake at Arizona State University:
I may come back next year . . . unless you bow to the masses and fire my coach. Then you can have a nice time watching me in the NBA.
It was a stunning power move to unveil so late in the game, and who said players never get better under the tutelage of Rob Evans?
"Coach Evans is an awesome person, and it goes far beyond basketball," Diogu said.
Now that we've all been dunked on, let's stop the Evans bashing right now. If any player has reason to be frustrated by this scourge of a program, it would be Diogu. He's the one that gave up the big-name schools and the big-time arenas for Lost Cause U, a career choice that has yielded a steady diet of double teams and ugly losses.
If anyone has the right to complain, it's this guy. After all, his final choice came down to ASU and Illinois, meaning Diogu could be chasing history with the unbeaten Illini right about now.
Instead, he may actually come back for a senior season without regret, just to save Evans' hide. That tells you something about both, doesn't it?
"I'm a guy that's all about accepting challenges," Diogu said. "I don't feel like I run away from anything. I accept those types of things as a challenge. I would never just take the easy way out."
It sounded like something his coach would say.
Those frustrated with Evans' act have reason to gripe. His failure to upgrade recruiting with Diogu on campus seems unpardonable. But if you've ever attended a game at Wells Fargo Arena then you know the other side of the story.
The arena is dark and stagnant and the seats are uncomfortable. Outside, there is nothing festive happening. Inside, the pep band goes through the motions, the student body spews a little venom and everyone goes home unhappy. It is the only game in town where you can pay $5 a ticket and still feel ripped off. No kid looking for his break would dare spend a minute in that environment.
"Kids are looking for exposure," Evans said.
Which means much of this is on the administration, too. They are trying to sell the product on the product alone, and that rarely works these days, especially in a notoriously fickle, saturated market like ours. For proof, check out the 7,000 people that bothered to show up when No. 10 Washington rolled into town earlier this year, back when ASU had a season.
Whether it's Evans or someone else in charge next season, ASU sorely needs to develop an outdoor food court complete with nightly bands performing under the stars. If the goal is attracting more fans and blue-chip recruits, they need to enhance the vibe inside and out.
Nonetheless, Diogu's ultimatum will have a positive effect. It comes at a perfect time, near the end of another collapsing season, before a potential loss to bitter and better rivals. It comes after the NCAA released its first academic progress rates, and once again, ASU hoops was near the bottom of the Pac-10.
The immediate and inaccurate perception: Evans can't win and his kids aren't going to class?
"It labels you, but I'm not offended by it," Evans said.
No, nothing could bother Evans on this day. In his darkest hour, the beleaguered coach with one foot out the door has found a powerful new ally. Now if Diogu can only convince ASU to get working on that beer garden, there may be a future here.
Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 2, 2005 12:00 AM
Ike Diogu sent a message Tuesday, and it was enough to make the ground shake at Arizona State University:
I may come back next year . . . unless you bow to the masses and fire my coach. Then you can have a nice time watching me in the NBA.
It was a stunning power move to unveil so late in the game, and who said players never get better under the tutelage of Rob Evans?
"Coach Evans is an awesome person, and it goes far beyond basketball," Diogu said.
Now that we've all been dunked on, let's stop the Evans bashing right now. If any player has reason to be frustrated by this scourge of a program, it would be Diogu. He's the one that gave up the big-name schools and the big-time arenas for Lost Cause U, a career choice that has yielded a steady diet of double teams and ugly losses.
If anyone has the right to complain, it's this guy. After all, his final choice came down to ASU and Illinois, meaning Diogu could be chasing history with the unbeaten Illini right about now.
Instead, he may actually come back for a senior season without regret, just to save Evans' hide. That tells you something about both, doesn't it?
"I'm a guy that's all about accepting challenges," Diogu said. "I don't feel like I run away from anything. I accept those types of things as a challenge. I would never just take the easy way out."
It sounded like something his coach would say.
Those frustrated with Evans' act have reason to gripe. His failure to upgrade recruiting with Diogu on campus seems unpardonable. But if you've ever attended a game at Wells Fargo Arena then you know the other side of the story.
The arena is dark and stagnant and the seats are uncomfortable. Outside, there is nothing festive happening. Inside, the pep band goes through the motions, the student body spews a little venom and everyone goes home unhappy. It is the only game in town where you can pay $5 a ticket and still feel ripped off. No kid looking for his break would dare spend a minute in that environment.
"Kids are looking for exposure," Evans said.
Which means much of this is on the administration, too. They are trying to sell the product on the product alone, and that rarely works these days, especially in a notoriously fickle, saturated market like ours. For proof, check out the 7,000 people that bothered to show up when No. 10 Washington rolled into town earlier this year, back when ASU had a season.
Whether it's Evans or someone else in charge next season, ASU sorely needs to develop an outdoor food court complete with nightly bands performing under the stars. If the goal is attracting more fans and blue-chip recruits, they need to enhance the vibe inside and out.
Nonetheless, Diogu's ultimatum will have a positive effect. It comes at a perfect time, near the end of another collapsing season, before a potential loss to bitter and better rivals. It comes after the NCAA released its first academic progress rates, and once again, ASU hoops was near the bottom of the Pac-10.
The immediate and inaccurate perception: Evans can't win and his kids aren't going to class?
"It labels you, but I'm not offended by it," Evans said.
No, nothing could bother Evans on this day. In his darkest hour, the beleaguered coach with one foot out the door has found a powerful new ally. Now if Diogu can only convince ASU to get working on that beer garden, there may be a future here.
TekDevil
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Good point's Zona90!
I just want to say that you made some good points Zona90, but we are left with that old adage, what came first the chicken or the egg. What I mean is does the team have to play better before the fans start coming and the administration starts putting money into the Arena? I understand that Evans does not deserve all the blame but when you sign up to be the head coach I think you go in with an understanding that all the praise and blame will lie squarely on your shoulders. I personally think Ike will be wasting his time if he comes back. If Rob Evans could not build a decent squad around Ike in 3 years he sure as heck is not going to do it in one. Believe me I hope that my words come back to bite me in the butt, but I really doubt that they will.
I just want to say that you made some good points Zona90, but we are left with that old adage, what came first the chicken or the egg. What I mean is does the team have to play better before the fans start coming and the administration starts putting money into the Arena? I understand that Evans does not deserve all the blame but when you sign up to be the head coach I think you go in with an understanding that all the praise and blame will lie squarely on your shoulders. I personally think Ike will be wasting his time if he comes back. If Rob Evans could not build a decent squad around Ike in 3 years he sure as heck is not going to do it in one. Believe me I hope that my words come back to bite me in the butt, but I really doubt that they will.
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