For the Mack haters

[REDFISTFURY3]

rbozich:

Chris Mack took over a devastated program two years ago – compete for an Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship. A first

That will be the opportunity for Louisville when it travels to Charlottesville, Virginia, to face its familiar ACC nemesis, defending national champion Virginia, next Saturday.

But on Sunday, it was a chance to say goodbye to a group of seniors who stayed through the hard times – the scandals, the coaching changes, the meltdown against Virginia, the crushing comeback of Duke, last season’s late-season struggles – to emerge on the other side in position to play for an ACC championship.

 

[Morgantown Card]

Man, that loss to the Fighting Josh Pastners is making me have the heartburn and that diabeetus. To have that game back.

 

[GOCARDS6]

Most reasonable fans are not mack "haters" we just want to win the "gimmie" games and not develop patterns like the last 2 years where we went flat in march. I don't think we should fire him, but I also think it's fair to criticize him after a couple of bad games in a row. plus its not like he ready the message boards and takes it to heart haha

 

[REDFISTFURY3]

Most reasonable fans are not mack "haters" we just want to win the "gimmie" games and not develop patterns like the last 2 years where we went flat in march. I don't think we should fire him, but I also think it's fair to criticize him after a couple of bad games in a row. plus its not like he ready the message boards and takes it to heart haha

Well it's obvious whom the unreasonable fans are !
Considering he's only been the coach for two seasons and something that hasn't been done is possibly about too happen this Saturday hopefully.

Chris Mack took over a devastated program two years ago – compete for an Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship. A first

 

[Cue Card]

I had no idea we had fans who hated our coach. He hasn't been here long enough to garner those feelings. Got to give the guy a fair shake before judging his work. I think so far he's done a pretty good job considering. Not sure what more people are looking for.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

Most reasonable fans are not mack "haters" we just want to win the "gimmie" games and not develop patterns like the last 2 years where we went flat in march. I don't think we should fire him, but I also think it's fair to criticize him after a couple of bad games in a row. plus its not like he ready the message boards and takes it to heart haha

Skeptical but supportive is where I’m at right now.

He’s kept the program together and got the fans engaged after a very dark time. Has made us a player on the recruiting trail again. He was the right hire for this time.

Sometimes a coach may not win big, but keeping structure with recruiting, development, and consistent success can be important in a program that’s hit a period of unfortunate transition. Mack has shown he competent enough to lead our program and keep us relevant.

Now is he a future hall of famer like Rick and Denny? I don’t know, but for now he’s our guy and 2-3 years down the road we’ll know more. I’m not sold on his coaching, but heck Jim Boeheim has been at Syracuse for 40 years with one title, but he’s still an all time great.

 

[zipp]

Regardless of how we got where we did, which I'm always glad to debate... This program wasn't in the disastrous state some Mack fans wanna claim. Hell, a coach with no experience at all was probably one game away from taking the same team to the NCAA tourney.

It was only a disaster if that's the way you wanna preface your argument(s)...

 

[Cue Card]

Regardless of how we got where we did, which I'm always glad to debate... This program wasn't in the disastrous state some Mack fans wanna claim. Hell, a coach with no experience at all was probably one game away from taking the same team to the NCAA tourney.

It was only a disaster if that's the way you wanna preface your argument(s)...

Not exactly the same team. I don't recall Williamson or Johnson playing for Padgett.

 

[REDFISTFURY3]

Guess losing to Michigan with DM wasn't a disaster. should have seen the dam cracking then.

 

[gocards1987]

Not exactly the same team. I don't recall Williamson or Johnson playing for Padgett.

I also don't recall two guys who are playing professionally in Spalding and Adel and a 4 year starting PG in Snider playing for Mack. Mack took a lot less talented team to further than Padgett did.

 

[achilles992000]

winning a title is really hard. keep in mind that Calipari has only 1 championship and that was because once in a lifetime talent of Anthony Davis. he has had 35-40 first round picks. Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, Jamal Murray, Karl Anthony Towns, John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Derrik Rose etc.

Mack has a good chance of getting us to Final 4 once he gets recruits who learn his defense. but keep expectations low.we're going to have good and bad years.

 

[shadow force]

My outlook has always been to give Mack at least 3 or 4 seasons to prove what he can or can't do here. And, depending on what the NCAA punishment is or isn't, he might need more time. IF UofL gets hit with a post season ban or two then Mack obviously would deserve more time as the fault is not on him there.

But so far he has done a good job IMO. Look, this season has been crazy with all sorts of top teams falling down and losing to teams they maybe shouldn't have. But we have been ranked all season long. We are currently sitting at #10 in the country and vying for winning or a share of the ACC Crown.

And yes things could always be much worse. Look at IU. They haven't been to the NCAAT since 2016, their coach is in his 3rd season there, and they haven't had to deal with everything UofL has either.

 

[zipp]

I also don't recall two guys who are playing professionally in Spalding and Adel and a 4 year starting PG in Snider playing for Mack. Mack took a lot less talented team to further than Padgett did.

Keep track of the argument... This ain't about Padgett. If you wanna claim that Padgett inherited a good team, that's a pretty good indication this program was NOT the disaster that some posters wanna portray.

And I seriously doubt you wanna argue Mack has taken it DOWN from there.

It's a very good job in reality, and it has been a good job for a long time. And with pay to match. No wonder Mack jumped at the opportunity...

 

[Cardinal Cash]

Keep track of the argument... This ain't about Padgett. If you wanna claim that Padgett inherited a good team, that's a pretty good indication this program was NOT the disaster that some posters wanna portray.

And I seriously doubt you wanna argue Mack has taken it DOWN from there.

It's a very good job in reality, and it has been a good job for a long time. And with pay to match. No wonder Mack jumped at the opportunity...

After Padgett’s season, we lost all of those players (Q, Spalding, Adel), and didn’t bring in a single recruit because it was too late in the game. Mack inherited a team last year with significantly less talent than Padgett’s.

We had to rely on the GT market last year, and have our best remaining players return plus stellar recruiting class to have a squad talented enough to compete for the ACC title. Which as the OP pointed out, was not done by either of Mack’s predecessors.

Gotta give credit where it’s due. DJ, Fresh, and Williamson are valuable to this team and the players that were already here when Mack got here have all shown improvement (Nwora, McMahon, Sutton, Williams).

 

[LeFors4Ever]

Regardless of how we got where we did, which I'm always glad to debate... This program wasn't in the disastrous state some Mack fans wanna claim. Hell, a coach with no experience at all was probably one game away from taking the same team to the NCAA tourney.

It was only a disaster if that's the way you wanna preface your argument(s)...

It wasn’t in a bad state, but it could’ve gone south pretty quick. We had a decent roster of players, nothing great, but better than 90% of the country if you go by star rating.

Say we got a Tom Crean or Shaka Smart type coach, it could’ve gotten bad. Quick.

I think right now, he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing, ranked high and competing for a good seed in the tournament.

But I do see why some have critiqued him. We were a national title favorite to start the year, Vegas and the media both said so. We’ve been very good, but with the expectations and the ACC being WAY DOWN, it’s caused some fans to be a bit antsy.

That’s what you get at Louisville when you’re paid $4 million. If you’re a preseason title favorite and reach #1 in the polls, if you underperform there’s going to be criticism.

 

[zipp]

After Padgett’s season, we lost all of those players (Q, Spalding, Adel), and didn’t bring in a single recruit because it was too late in the game. Mack inherited a team last year with significantly less talent than Padgett’s.

We had to rely on the GT market last year, and have our best remaining players return plus stellar recruiting class to have a squad talented enough to compete for the ACC title. Which as the OP pointed out, was not done by either of Mack’s predecessors.

Gotta give credit where it’s due. DJ, Fresh, and Williamson are valuable to this team and the players that were already here when Mack got here have all shown improvement (Nwora, McMahon, Sutton, Williams).

Sayin' it don't make it so. The top five guys on last year's team by minutes played included three 4-star kids, a pretty good PG, and maybe the best all-around player on the team in Sutton. And you had a 5-star kid on the bench.

That's a decline most coaches would sign up for anytime. You can't rationalize that this program took a big step down in talent or potential, and I can say that without trying to hammer Mack. It's simply the truth.

But I'll play the hypothetical anyway... If this program was in such bad shape, Mack taking us to the NCAA his first two years would ordain him as a GREAT coach. And almost no one is trying to argue that so far...

 

[gocards1987]

Keep track of the argument... This ain't about Padgett. If you wanna claim that Padgett inherited a good team, that's a pretty good indication this program was NOT the disaster that some posters wanna portray.

And I seriously doubt you wanna argue Mack has taken it DOWN from there.

It's a very good job in reality, and it has been a good job for a long time. And with pay to match. No wonder Mack jumped at the opportunity...

Padgett inherited a team that was better than an NIT team. The next year Mack inherited a less talented team cause the best players off the previous team left.

Mack didnt start with a total disaster rebuild but acting like he took over a perfectly healthy program is a lie. He inherited some good players but had holes at some positions because of the changing coaches and lack of recruiting that came from it

 

[nccardfan]

Padgett inherited a team that was better than an NIT team. The next year Mack inherited a less talented team cause the best players off the previous team left.

Mack didnt start with a total disaster rebuild but acting like he took over a perfectly healthy program is a lie. He inherited some good players but had holes at some positions because of the changing coaches and lack of recruiting that came from it

That is a wrong assumption.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

Padgett inherited a team that was better than an NIT team. The next year Mack inherited a less talented team cause the best players off the previous team left.

Mack didnt start with a total disaster rebuild but acting like he took over a perfectly healthy program is a lie. He inherited some good players but had holes at some positions because of the changing coaches and lack of recruiting that came from it

Padgett inherited a team that lost its coach right before practice started and some assistants. A team that lost a player because of the scandal.

The team that already had to miss the tournament in 2016 due to a ban and they didn’t even know what the sanctions would be by the end of that season.

The fact that we were close to making the tournament is amazing in itself for that year, because the wheels could’ve fallen off. Look at Evansville this year, lost their coach and go from average mid-major to historically bad and winless in conference.

Mack had a full summer to work with his roster and they knew he’d be there for the year. David was just handed a crisis and had to coach a team he’d never dreamed to be taking over. Far different situation.

 

[Mike'sMarbles]

I hate to see Padgett getting brought up. My only thought on Padgett is to say Thank You to him for taking on an impossible situation, for the program.

 

[zipp]

Without addressing individual posters...

"Holes at some positions" is a different situation than "devastated", which is the word used by the OP.

And if Padgett did an "amazing" job, why wasn't he given the permanent job?

Maybe the OP should be challenged for the dire state he alleges the program was in. None of these observations are consistent with his POV...

 

[Louis III]

My outlook has always been to give Mack at least 3 or 4 seasons to prove what he can or can't do here. And, depending on what the NCAA punishment is or isn't, he might need more time. IF UofL gets hit with a post season ban or two then Mack obviously would deserve more time as the fault is not on him there.

But so far he has done a good job IMO. Look, this season has been crazy with all sorts of top teams falling down and losing to teams they maybe shouldn't have. But we have been ranked all season long. We are currently sitting at #10 in the country and vying for winning or a share of the ACC Crown.

And yes things could always be much worse. Look at IU. They haven't been to the NCAAT since 2016, their coach is in his 3rd season there, and they haven't had to deal with everything UofL has either.

To that point, take a gander of the preseason top 25 rankings. We haven't been out of the top 15 all year.
1 Michigan State (60) 1,619 32-7
2 Kentucky (2) 1,497 30-7
3 Kansas (3) 1,457 26-10
4 Duke 1,399 32-6
5 Louisville 1,386 20-14
6 Florida 1,313 20-16
7 Maryland 1,134 23-11
8 Gonzaga 1,096 33-4
9 North Carolina 1,060 29-7
10 Villanova 1,048 26-10

 

[gocards1987]

Padgett inherited a team that lost its coach right before practice started and some assistants. A team that lost a player because of the scandal.

The team that already had to miss the tournament in 2016 due to a ban and they didn’t even know what the sanctions would be by the end of that season.

The fact that we were close to making the tournament is amazing in itself for that year, because the wheels could’ve fallen off. Look at Evansville this year, lost their coach and go from average mid-major to historically bad and winless in conference.

Mack had a full summer to work with his roster and they knew he’d be there for the year. David was just handed a crisis and had to coach a team he’d never dreamed to be taking over. Far different situation.

I'm not saying Padgett didn't go through a lot and I think he did a good job for the situation he was thrown into. I hold no ill will toward Padgett and I'd love to have him back as an assistant. That team went through a lot.

Mack handed a team with all the issues Padgett had just one season removed and less talented. Mack did a good job with the roster he inherited. Most predicted us to be a NIT team and we made the tourney and weren't even a bubble team.

 

[REDFISTFURY3]

Without addressing individual posters...

"Holes at some positions" is a different situation than "devastated", which is the word used by the OP.

And if Padgett did an "amazing" job, why wasn't he given the permanent job?

Maybe the OP should be challenged for the dire state he alleges the program was in. None of these observations are consistent with his POV...

Devasted was stated by a neutral observer RBozich .Maybe you should ask a sports writer that knows and sees more than the avg fan knows. However I do agree with him .Mack had alot of things to go against and still will once the ncaa noa comes down.

Everybody knows your motive you just want Mack to fail so you can attempt to validate your personal flawed thoughts about Vince. Its rather funny considering Mack was on the radar of the great TJ.Wonder if you been so critical of Mack if Tj had still been here and hired him. Something tells me no. And had Vince not been able to hire Mack I'm sure you would ve been up in arms about that. You should be happy we got him considering the state this program was left in any coach with sense was going too make the current AD open up his wallet.

 

[CardsvsCats2019]

Seems many here claim Mack’s a great coach because questioning his coaching goes against their self proclaimed super fan status. They’re real fans bah gawd and anyone that has concerns about Mack isn’t!

I don’t know what these people are overcompensating for in their real lives, but it’s weird as hell.

 

[REDFISTFURY3]

Padgett inherited a team that lost its coach right before practice started and some assistants. A team that lost a player because of the scandal.

The team that already had to miss the tournament in 2016 due to a ban and they didn’t even know what the sanctions would be by the end of that season.

The fact that we were close to making the tournament is amazing in itself for that year, because the wheels could’ve fallen off. Look at Evansville this year, lost their coach and go from average mid-major to historically bad and winless in conference.

Mack had a full summer to work with his roster and they knew he’d be there for the year. David was just handed a crisis and had to coach a team he’d never dreamed to be taking over. Far different situation.

Padgett knew every one of those players for years . He was an asst you do understand that . I 'm sure.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

Padgett knew every one of those players for years . He was an asst you do understand that . I 'm sure.

I’m sure the training staff did too.

Losing the head coach right before the season starts and David having never been a head coach ever doesn’t mean “oh he was here, smooth transition”. Didn’t we lose 2 assistants as well? It’s one thing to know the players, but being he CEO in charge of a top program in the nation when you haven’t even managed a gas station level program was an almost impossible spot.

A first time head coach having to takeover a team right before practice. Do you know how much time/effort from the other coaches goes into planning a season from April/May through the time practice begins?

 

[zipp]

Devasted was stated by a neutral observer RBozich .Maybe you should ask a sports writer that knows and sees more than the avg fan knows. However I do agree with him .Mack had alot of things to go against and still will once the ncaa noa comes down.

Everybody knows your motive you just want Mack to fail so you can attempt to validate your personal flawed thoughts about Vince. Its rather funny considering Mack was on the radar of the great TJ.Wonder if you been so critical of Mack if Tj had still been here and hired him. Something tells me no. And had Vince not been able to hire Mack I'm sure you would ve been up in arms about that. You should be happy we got him considering the state this program was left in any coach with sense was going too make the current AD open up his wallet.

It's possible that I value what Bozich thinks less than what you think. In this instance, you're both on the same dead end road. And that's obviously not just my opinion, although I'm glad to be the guy carrying the banner...

 

[Falls City Beer]

Is the ACC “down” this year or is there just greater parity? I guess we’ll see at tournament time.

 

[nccardfan]

Is the ACC “down” this year or is there just greater parity? I guess we’ll see at tournament time.

There’s no doubt the standard bearers, Duke and UNC are down. Both with talented players not performing to the same level as players in the past. UNC has also been hit hard by injuries. FSU has upped its game this year and not surprisingly Virginia is down from last couple of years because of all the talent they lost. Other teams like Clemson can be very good but won’t get a chance in the big dance unless they win the ACCT.

 

[CardX]

My support for Coach Mack is somewhere around 90%. I had the pleasure of attending yesterday's practice, and my support has since increased. He runs a very low pressure, controlled practice. No screaming, no cursing, no intense instruction. He does, I noticed, run the show 100%. The assistants mainly observe, giving advice only when Mack asks them. During individual/position drills, the assistants do more. The practice began with a shoot around, then a brief film session, then when the team returned to the floor, they ran some offensive sets and plays. Each unit (1-3) ran each play about three times. A position drill/workout then broke out, but that lasted maybe ten minutes, if that. Then it was time for defensive schemes. Really interesting stuff. There was zero % of live game action. Just instruction and walk throughs.

Maybe I knew this and forgot, but Mack has a tattoo of Shaq dunking logo above his ankle. At first I thought it was dolphins, and I was like "whoa there." But, no. It's the Shaq logo, or a variation of it.

Not so hot hot take: Williamson is going to be so good. I like Nickleberry's and Withers' game, as well. They'll be contributors next season.

 

[REDFISTFURY3]

My support for Coach Mack is somewhere around 90%. I had the pleasure of attending yesterday's practice, and my support has since increased. He runs a very low pressure, controlled practice. No screaming, no cursing, no intense instruction. He does, I noticed, run the show 100%. The assistants mainly observe, giving advice only when Mack asks them. During individual/position drills, the assistants do more. The practice began with a shoot around, then a brief film session, then when the team returned to the floor, they ran some offensive sets and plays. Each unit (1-3) ran each play about three times. A position drill/workout then broke out, but that lasted maybe ten minutes, if that. Then it was time for defensive schemes. Really interesting stuff. There was zero % of live game action. Just instruction and walk throughs.

Maybe I knew this and forgot, but Mack has a tattoo of Shaq dunking logo above his ankle. At first I thought it was dolphins, and I was like "whoa there." But, no. It's the Shaq logo, or a variation of it.

Not so hot hot take: Williamson is going to be so good. I like Nickleberry's and Withers' game, as well. They'll be contributors next season.

Something alot of fans should go do and see how he conducts business up close for themselves . He has those open practice sessions . Also the close ones were they go live only former players and certain individuals are allowed in those.

 

[zipp]

I like Mack's style as a coach. But that will have little to do with my evaluation of him as a coach. That's 99% based on results alone...

 

[nccardfan]

My support for Coach Mack is somewhere around 90%. I had the pleasure of attending yesterday's practice, and my support has since increased. He runs a very low pressure, controlled practice. No screaming, no cursing, no intense instruction. He does, I noticed, run the show 100%. The assistants mainly observe, giving advice only when Mack asks them. During individual/position drills, the assistants do more. The practice began with a shoot around, then a brief film session, then when the team returned to the floor, they ran some offensive sets and plays. Each unit (1-3) ran each play about three times. A position drill/workout then broke out, but that lasted maybe ten minutes, if that. Then it was time for defensive schemes. Really interesting stuff. There was zero % of live game action. Just instruction and walk throughs.

Maybe I knew this and forgot, but Mack has a tattoo of Shaq dunking logo above his ankle. At first I thought it was dolphins, and I was like "whoa there." But, no. It's the Shaq logo, or a variation of it.

Not so hot hot take: Williamson is going to be so good. I like Nickleberry's and Withers' game, as well. They'll be contributors next season.

Maybe it’s how you said it but I think it’s odd for you or any fan to put their support at this point in the season at less than 100%. Does your support change from game to game depending on if we win or lose? Sounds like you’re trying to cover your bases. Try going all in until the season is over. Or you might get Zipp to plot you out a graph of your support percentage?

 

[REDFISTFURY3]

I truly would like to know whom the non Mack supporters really expected to be the next coach? My thing is when Denny was replaced with Rick, i was on board 100 percent not because of who Rick was . Because i'm a true Cards fan. When Padgett was interim i was in 100 percent even though i knew he had no chance in hell of being the HC. Why because i want my University of Louisville to be sucessful. This fanbase claims to be so great however it's always divided about something internal.

Sorry their are no more Dennys, Ricks, K's,Williams ,Boeheims and Wrights ,Selfs or Cals. Schools are now going to have too hope the Macks, Smarts and Millers etc are successful because that's all we have now. And we are ahead of some of these schools who will be replacing their legends.

 

[CardsvsCats2019]

Because i'm a true Cards fan.

There we go.

 

[zipp]

I don't care whether you're a fan or don logo wear. People easily change their stripes.

Support is earned. You either prove it yourself, or the people who hired you have proven what they could do before you got here.

We don't have either of those advantages yet with Mack...

 

[Sawyer]

I truly would like to know whom the non Mack supporters really expected to be the next coach? My thing is when Denny was replaced with Rick, i was on board 100 percent not because of who Rick was . Because i'm a true Cards fan. When Padgett was interim i was in 100 percent even though i knew he had no chance in hell of being the HC. Why because i want my University of Louisville to be sucessful. This fanbase claims to be so great however it's always divided about something internal.

Sorry their are no more Dennys, Ricks, K's,Williams ,Boeheims and Wrights ,Selfs or Cals. Schools are now going to have too hope the Macks, Smarts and Millers etc are successful because that's all we have now. And we are ahead of some of these schools who will be replacing their legends.

I don't care whether you're a fan or don logo wear. People easily change their stripes.

Support is earned. You either prove it yourself, or the people who hired you have proven what they could do before you got here.

We don't have either of those advantages yet with Mack...

I know this may be a shock to you but I will 100% support all UL coaches when they come on board. Their performance and behavior may diminish that support down the road but I am always going to be a fan first and hope nothing but the best for them and UL.

 

[gocds]

Well I gotta say that I was behind David Padgett 100% but then his team lost to uahkay by 29 points and it wasn’t that close. I’m still appreciative of the job he did but he didn’t deserve the full time gig. Hey I also was a 100% supporter of “dick” Pitino but he continued to have scandals one right after another and that wore me down. In addition to all of the hyperbole and BS “dick’s” ego was too much to bear and I think a whole bunch of UofL fans feel exactly the same way. Now with Mack I think we have to give him a chance and support him until he doesn’t deserve it. A loss here and/or there doesn’t mean he’s deserving of a loss of “our” support because we are going to lose games from time to time and we are not going to always win the conference title or even a national title. I’m thinking that some of us have expectations that are just simply unrealistic. My support will continue until we have embarrassing scandals OR horrible losing seasons that simply shouldn’t happen. Kinda like a football coach going 2-10 with a staff that didn’t even support the coach other than his kinfolks of course. But that’s where I stand and nothing any of you say will change that. And like Walter Cronkite used to ssy, “that’s the way it is today”, or something like that.

GO CARDS - BEAT EVERYBODY!!! God Bless America!!!

 

[LeFors4Ever]

Is the ACC “down” this year or is there just greater parity? I guess we’ll see at tournament time.

It’s down. The top 3 have dominated so much because there’s just a clear separation, and UVA once healthy was in there as a top team.

Duke, FSU, Virginia, and Louisville are the only sure things. NC State has been decent. Usually the ACC has 6-7 lock tournament teams and 2-3 more on the bubble.

The bottom of the conference has been awful. Notre Dame, Miami, Clemson, BC, Wake, Syracuse, Pitt, Va Tech, Ga Tech, and UNC have just been below average to awful. Some have had good games, but those teams have just stunk it up.