Reality Check

“Sources close to the situation told The Star on Monday that Missouri's coaching wish list includes a wide range of candidates, including Alabama-Birmingham's Mike Anderson, Memphis' John Calipari and West Virginia's John Beilein. Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie and Marquette's Tom Crean have also been mentioned.”
- Kansas City Star

I came across this little tid bit on SI.com the other day under an article entitled Truth & Rumors: Feb. 28, 2006 now let’s try to straighten things out here for the Mizzou if we can.

Missouri needs to understand where they are in the pecking order of finding a coach before they can throw out a wish list like this. I mean, seriously guys. It would be like me saying, the candidates to play music for Owen’s next birthday party are the Barenaked Ladies, U2, Kelly Clarkson, and Kanye West . . . not going to happen.

First of all it’s Missouri. Missouri. Do you think of Missouri when you think great basketball programs right now? Do you think of anyone in the Big 12 besides Texas and Oklahoma as decent basketball programs?

Missouri’s records over the past 3 seasons:
2005-06 (4-10, 11-14)
2004-05 (7-9, 16-17)
2003-04 (9-7, 16-14)

Missouri went a combined 20-26 in the past three years, IN THE BIG 12. Big 12, come on Missouri, get your head out of your ass. You can’t bring in the likes of John Calipari, John Beilein and Tom Crean. Do you honestly think that these guys would leave their programs for Missouri?

In basketball, more than most other sports, when you can build a program and win consistently there usually isn’t a reason to move, especially when it is a step down. Memphis to Missouri, step down. WVU to Missouri, step down. Marquette to Missouri, step down. Now look at the other names on the list. Texas A&M to Missouri, maybe a slight step up. Alabama-Birmingham to Missouri, probably a step up. Those are the guys Missouri needs to focus on. Those are the ones that will/might take the job. If you are Missouri’s AD you need to be looking at those assistant coaches at the D-I level that are hot right now, and the head coaches that are at smaller schools that want to make that jump up to a larger D-I program.

It just aggravates me to see programs essentially try to date out of their league. Virginia did that last season with Tubby Smith. Come on Missouri, realize that you are Don Johnson and look for someone like Lisa Rinna to date rather than shooting for Selma Hayek. You are freakin Missouri, remember that.