IF Mack Gets Fired

[shadow force]

Should UofL look for an interim coach that pretty much knows its a temporary gig while we get through the NCAA sanctions?

Or should the program try immediately for their biggest target?

Some say that we would have a much better shot at getting who we want after the NCAA mess is behind us while others say UofL and the money could bring in a good coach immediately no matter what.

 

[Mike'sMarbles]

I don't think we should try to hire a new coach until we know our punishment, have a new President and new AD. The new AD should pick the new coach.

I don't see a lot of upside to firing Mack and replacing him with an interim coach. I'm not sure I understand the goal or what it can realistically accomplish. An interim coach isn't going to get us into NCAA Tournaments. Recruiting is already hard, that would make it impossible. I think we'd spend the next 5+ years in the basement of the ACC if we went the interim route.

 

[Knucklehank1]

Should UofL look for an interim coach that pretty much knows its a temporary gig while we get through the NCAA sanctions?

Or should the program try immediately for their biggest target?

Some say that we would have a much better shot at getting who we want after the NCAA mess is behind us while others say UofL and the money could bring in a good coach immediately no matter what.

I’m on record saying that Scotty D would be the perfect bridge coach

 

[BPGhost]

I’m on record saying that Scotty D would be the perfect bridge coach

I’m on record as saying nothing should be done until after the ncaa hands down whatever bullshit they decide to saddle UofL with. Then the very next day, we bring back Jurich and Pitino.

The rest of the sporting world considers UofL outlaws - might as well lean into it and benefit at the same time.

 

[Jtiger94]

I would go for top target because of recruiting. They can start recruiting the younger HS kids that won't be affected by tourney ban. Have to get in with top kids early.

 

[EKYCard643]

Louisville is NEVER going to bring in top high school talent regardless who the coach is as long we're an Adidas school.

Louisville needs a coach who can convince the best 2-4 year kids, and the transfers to come to Louisville. We ain't getting elite Freshman while being Adidas.

 

[CardsFirst]

I’m on record as saying nothing should be done until after the ncaa hands down whatever bullshit they decide to saddle UofL with. Then the very next day, we bring back Jurich and Pitino.

The rest of the sporting world considers UofL outlaws - might as well lean into it and benefit at the same time.

I know it won’t happen, but I love the last paragraph!

 

[CardsFirst]

I would go for top target because of recruiting. They can start recruiting the younger HS kids that won't be affected by tourney ban. Have to get in with top kids early.

Yeah they’ll be about as successful as Mack and the fans will ask for his head. We need to hang with Mack through this crap. Then make a move if still needed.

 

[ShortCreek]

Louisville is NEVER going to bring in top high school talent regardless who the coach is as long we're an Adidas school.

Louisville needs a coach who can convince the best 2-4 year kids, and the transfers to come to Louisville. We ain't getting elite Freshman while being Adidas.

Can’t argue with this too much but Kansas does ok as an adidas school???

 

[Morgantown Card]

Yeah they’ll be about as successful as Mack and the fans will ask for his head. We need to hang with Mack through this crap. Then make a move if still needed.

Completely agree. I don't know how where Mack is on the "good to great' spectrum but regardless of that answer I can't imagine things getting any better by firing him. He's managed to recruit well, ranking-wise, even with the cloud over the program. This year's team is a bunch of dude, gotta let that cake bake but any talk of firing CHris Mack is just fan nonsense.

 

[2330859]

Agree as well; terminating Mack during a period of NCAA sanctions would be foolish. As Crawford noted, “Mack did not loose his ability to coach D1 college basketball while driving south on I-75 from Xavier”.

I am not sure we can identify a better candidate that we could realistically attract here right now under these conditions.

 

[BPGhost]

Agree as well; terminating Mack during a period of NCAA sanctions would be foolish. As Crawford noted, “Mack did not loose his ability to coach D1 college basketball while driving south on I-75 from Xavier”.

I am not sure we can identify a better candidate that we could realistically attract here right now under these conditions.

And yet, he’s had better talent (both inherited and recruited) than he ever had a Xavier with less success to show for it.

Why is that?

Stage too big? ACC too difficult?

 

[nccardfan]

Can’t argue with this too much but Kansas does ok as an adidas school???

Yeah, I don’t think by switching over to Nike we would automatically be on the same level with UK recruiting wise..

 

[Birdie King]

Louisville is NEVER going to bring in top high school talent regardless who the coach is as long we're an Adidas school.

Louisville needs a coach who can convince the best 2-4 year kids, and the transfers to come to Louisville. We ain't getting elite Freshman while being Adidas.

While Adidas has put us in some of the ugliest uniforms ever seen in the free world I would burn my season tix and never attend another game if we ever became a Nike school - a scum organization who promotes a scum like Kapernek

 

[2330859]

Ghost ….. your question is valid, but there is no way anyone can compare what Mack did during his tenure at Xavier against the situation he inherited here. The last 2 years of Covid, along with the NCAA cloud over this program are unprecedented.

I am not making excuses for Mack, but anyone who wants to question the performance of a coach, or team over these last 2 years, is doing so without proper context.

 

[KozmasAgain]

I think he was doing better when running the same style he was at Xavier. However our fans thought it was boring and wanted a faster tempo to the game. Basically he got sucked into changing his style because of whinnying fans.

 

[shadow force]

Yeah his original style was better than this.

 

[ShortCreek]

Ghost ….. your question is valid, but there is no way anyone can compare what Mack did during his tenure at Xavier against the situation he inherited here. The last 2 years of Covid, along with the NCAA cloud over this program are unprecedented.

I am not making excuses for Mack, but anyone who wants to question the performance of a coach, or team over these last 2 years, is doing so without proper context.

Covid isn’t exclusive to Louisville, KY. Spare me the excuses. Everyone is dealing with Covid. We don’t have good talent. Mack has to go. This isn’t working.

 

[2330859]

Creek: Once again, you and others looking for explanations for this dismal performance are misdirected when hanging on to “lack of talent” as the reason for team results.

Not to get into semantics here by trying to define talent, but is it lack of talent when career shooters fail to hit anywhere close to their projected percentages? Locke and Cross were both sufficiently talented enough to contribute at UF and Miami respectively before transferring to UL, and I have seen periods this season where both along with Faulkner, Ellis and West have demonstrated that high level talent that explains the number of P5 conference schools who were in line trying to acquire their services.

Granted, I have seen very little of the same talent displayed this season, that we witnessed last season from Davis, or Withers and even JJ …….. but then talent and execution are not always parallel.

Williamson has been an enigma his entire career here, and frankly aside from the injuries I think Malik Williams falls into the same category. I cannot explain why they have disappointed at so many intervals, but it is not because they lack talent.

I remain confused by the very limited minutes and opportunities afforded to Curry, and to a lesser degree for Wheeler, as I believe they are extremely talented with huge upside, just lack game experience.

All of this brings me to the real culprit; specifically coaching. Mack has simply failed in his ability to develop the returning kids from last season, and equally failed in the implementation of this “fast offense” that was designed to get into the half court offense quickly for open 3s. He has been unable to find the combinations that utilize the significant resources on this roster.

Locke and Cross we’re both prolific 40% 3 point shooters prior to their arrival here, but clearly that has vanished since arriving here. If you and others want to assign explanation for these horrible performances, look at the dismal shooting percentages and unforced turnovers that result in the numerous extended periods where there is no scoring.

 

[Knucklehank1]

Creek: Once again, you and others looking for explanations for this dismal performance are misdirected when hanging on to “lack of talent” as the reason for team results.

Not to get into semantics here by trying to define talent, but is it lack of talent when career shooters fail to hit anywhere close to their projected percentages? Locke and Cross were both sufficiently talented enough to contribute at UF and Miami respectively before transferring to UL, and I have seen periods this season where both along with Faulkner, Ellis and West have demonstrated that high level talent that explains the number of P5 conference schools who were in line trying to acquire their services.

Granted, I have seen very little of the same talent displayed this season, that we witnessed last season from Davis, or Withers and even JJ …….. but then talent and execution are not always parallel.

Williamson has been an enigma his entire career here, and frankly aside from the injuries I think Malik Williams falls into the same category. I cannot explain why they have disappointed at so many intervals, but it is not because they lack talent.

I remain confused by the very limited minutes and opportunities afforded to Curry, and to a lesser degree for Wheeler, as I believe they are extremely talented with huge upside, just lack game experience.

All of this brings me to the real culprit; specifically coaching. Mack has simply failed in his ability to develop the returning kids from last season, and equally failed in the implementation of this “fast offense” that was designed to get into the half court offense quickly for open 3s. He has been unable to find the combinations that utilize the significant resources on this roster.

Locke and Cross we’re both prolific 40% 3 point shooters prior to their arrival here, but clearly that has vanished since arriving here. If you and others want to assign explanation for these horrible performances, look at the dismal shooting percentages and unforced turnovers that result in the numerous extended periods where there is no scoring.

When the other teams consistently have more talented (ie: future NBA/professional players) guys, then you have a problem. There isn’t one guy on our team that will ever be on a NBA roster. Not one. At the major college bball level that inherently means you lack top talent. We have a collection of role players.

 

[earsky]

We have a collection of role players.

A collection of role players that either won't accept their role or are not sure what their role is.

 

[Morgantown Card]

I'm not happy either but there's no way you fire the coach of the most visible athletic program when you don't have a president or an AD. Mack would have to openly smoke crack at press conferences to get fired.

 

[earsky]

I'm not happy either but there's no way you fire the coach of the most visible athletic program when you don't have a president or an AD. Mack would have to openly smoke crack at press conferences to get fired.

Yeah I agree. It's not happening right now. It may depend on how the rest of the season plays out though.
Can he connect with players that he recruited?
Can he implement changes to right the ship?
I watched the post game press conference and I felt kinda bad for the guy. However,he's the Captain of the ship and these are his sailors.

 

[Mayoman]

A collection of role players that either won't accept their role or are not sure what their role is.

Or both. Chemistry is just not there for this collection of players...not even going to call them a team. Defense is more about effort and intelligence....this group evidently lacks both...and teams like NC St have their way with them. Just all around poor, poor, poor and embarrassing. Card fans have a duty to be pissed about where CCM has led this program too.

 

[achilles992000]

ACC has figured out how to beat Mack's defense.
there is a man always open now for layup or 3 point shot.

 

[WildCard]

Agree as well; terminating Mack during a period of NCAA sanctions would be foolish. As Crawford noted, “Mack did not loose his ability to coach D1 college basketball while driving south on I-75 from Xavier”.

I am not sure we can identify a better candidate that we could realistically attract here right now under these conditions.

I'm not a Mack critic or supporter but I think he is about as good as we can do right now. There are just so many issues in what we call college athletics right now.

Peace

 

[earsky]

Or both

Yes,and that means we can probably spread the blame around.

 

[nccardfan]

ACC has figured out how to beat Mack's defense.
there is a man always open now for layup or 3 point shot.

All ACC teams have seen and played against a better pack line defense - Virginia…

 

[2330859]

NBA is not the litmus test for quality college basketball players. Look at Russ as an example, or Chane Behanan or Luke Hancock …… there are a lot of successful college programs that fail to fill NBA rosters.

My argument about this roster’s talent, is not to suggest any of these kids will ever play in the NBA. I still believe there are several on our roster who have the potential to contribute at a high level of college bb right now. What I cannot explain is the difficulty these kids are having with any consistency.

 

[Morgantown Card]

NBA is not the litmus test for quality college basketball players. Look at Russ as an example, or Chane Behanan or Luke Hancock …… there are a lot of successful college programs that fail to fill NBA rosters.

My argument about this roster’s talent, is not to suggest any of these kids will ever play in the NBA. I still believe there are several on our roster who have the potential to contribute at a high level of college bb right now. What I cannot explain is the difficulty these kids are having with any consistency.

Agree, this team has the talent to be in the NCAA tournament, there's no doubt about that. Here's hoping Mack figures it out and they go on a run.

 

[nccardfan]

NBA is not the litmus test for quality college basketball players. Look at Russ as an example, or Chane Behanan or Luke Hancock …… there are a lot of successful college programs that fail to fill NBA rosters.

My argument about this roster’s talent, is not to suggest any of these kids will ever play in the NBA. I still believe there are several on our roster who have the potential to contribute at a high level of college bb right now. What I cannot explain is the difficulty these kids are having with any consistency.

I think consistency is directed related to confidence level and again, yes some of that falls on the individual but I think it’s more of the coaching staff’s responsibility to make these kids believe in themselves. These kids/players see when Mack throws his hands up in frustration or shakes his head when someone makes a bone headed play. Mack may not even realize he’s putting out negative vibes but the players are aware of it and they think it factors into their playing time.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Comparing guys coached by HOF Rick to guys coached by Mack. Eh, these are not comparative experiences. Elite programs have elite players. Guys like Rick are one in a million, a dying breed as well. The legends of our era are retiring or not leaving their current spots, or trying the NBA.

You got to have some NBA talent to win. Rick may have had great college players but don't forget he helped get some guys to the pros. Cisco, Dieng, Terry, Mitchell, Trez, D Lee, Earl Clark, Gaines, T Will, Spalding, this is a lot of guys spending some or a lot of time on NBA rosters. Yeah some flamed out but this is a decent count of guys so let's not pretend he was taking nothing but low end guys and playing for F4s.

Sullivan (I know, not liked) has floated the idea of a potential mutual negotiation between Mack and Louisville if things don't turn around. This is something to keep an eye on. You never know how somebody feels about their situation. We've seen Tubby exit UK for Minny and Shaka leave TX for Marquette. It's hard to know how a person is wired, and what they value in life.

I personally believe Cards need to fill the prez, AD roles first. Get the NCAA punishment clarified. Then decide next steps. A coach search would go a lot better for UofL if the candidates know who the AD is and know what punishment from NCAA they are walking into.

Fans have been through a ton, they can hang in there and let the cake bake. It's not going to be like this forever.

 

[ShortCreek]

Creek: Once again, you and others looking for explanations for this dismal performance are misdirected when hanging on to “lack of talent” as the reason for team results.

Not to get into semantics here by trying to define talent, but is it lack of talent when career shooters fail to hit anywhere close to their projected percentages? Locke and Cross were both sufficiently talented enough to contribute at UF and Miami respectively before transferring to UL, and I have seen periods this season where both along with Faulkner, Ellis and West have demonstrated that high level talent that explains the number of P5 conference schools who were in line trying to acquire their services.

Granted, I have seen very little of the same talent displayed this season, that we witnessed last season from Davis, or Withers and even JJ …….. but then talent and execution are not always parallel.

Williamson has been an enigma his entire career here, and frankly aside from the injuries I think Malik Williams falls into the same category. I cannot explain why they have disappointed at so many intervals, but it is not because they lack talent.

I remain confused by the very limited minutes and opportunities afforded to Curry, and to a lesser degree for Wheeler, as I believe they are extremely talented with huge upside, just lack game experience.

All of this brings me to the real culprit; specifically coaching. Mack has simply failed in his ability to develop the returning kids from last season, and equally failed in the implementation of this “fast offense” that was designed to get into the half court offense quickly for open 3s. He has been unable to find the combinations that utilize the significant resources on this roster.

Locke and Cross we’re both prolific 40% 3 point shooters prior to their arrival here, but clearly that has vanished since arriving here. If you and others want to assign explanation for these horrible performances, look at the dismal shooting percentages and unforced turnovers that result in the numerous extended periods where there is no scoring.

Name one player we have who would be in the top seven rotation at UK, Baylor, Gonzaga, Duke, etc. We don’t have one. Hell, Indiana stinks and their talent level is much better than ours. As Knuckle stated, we have zero NBA talent.

To win a Power 5 conference and say advance to at least the Sweet 16 of the tourney you must have some NBA talent. You want to point to the transfers, yes they had other suitors but was the teams I mentioned above interested in any kid we landed? Hell no, and that’s the problem.

 

[2330859]

Creek: to answer your question candidly, given the entire body of work ……. No one on this roster would be starting for UK. IU is another story entirely.

I think you and others misunderstood my qualification of talent, as my intent is about “the potential”, as having demonstrated previously, and even at times this season on an inconsistent basis.

There have been several games where Malik Williams performed at a level where he would contribute most anywhere, regrettably for reasons no one can explain, he has regressed at times to the point where he could quite effectively lose his minutes to Curry.

There have been 2 separate 2nd half performances by Ellis that were as high level D1 as any in the country, but again the inconsistency has been most disturbing. Davis, Faulkner, Williamson, Locke and Cross have had their moments as well, but to your point, their overall performance would be hard to place in any lineup.

I maintain there is significant talent on this roster, but it has not been evident this season, particularly anywhere close to the consistency that we had expected.

 

[ShortCreek]

IMO you can’t pick out one good half of one or two games as a indication of a guy’s talent. Hell, plenty of squirrels get a nut occasionally. Our talent level is Sun Belt or Atlantic Sun Conference low.

I can’t remember who all gave me crap when I stated my thoughts on this team after the Kentucky State exhibition but I think you were one of them.

I’m not John Wooden, but believe me I’ve seen as much or more basketball as anyone on this board. I am usually pretty accurate about teams, players, and player talent.

 

[sdslba228]

I am still in shock at how bad we are I really thought we had a decent team going into this year I guess Mac over his head should never have fired both of his assistants and basically brought in a whole new team of transfers

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

They were an average team stitched together.

The players and HC both mailed it in, folded. It's all speculation but...

I believe the audio recording tap on Dino was the death blow to Mack, this team, and his career here. I really didn't know how that event would impact the program at the time, now I think I know. It ruined early season chances for the team to develop, put them behind. But I think it did even more than just that.


The AD didn't want him suspended, the Prez did it, shortly after the AD resigns. Mack then has no boss. He has nobody in his corner. This is damn near Petrino 2.0 + TJ all over again. It really is.

Players probably lost respect for Mack when he recorded Dino. I know Dino's behavior was criminal and very wrong. But for college aged kids they still might see Mack as some kind of snitch or untrustworthy. Half the team didn't know Dino but some of the guys did.

While Mack is gone Peagues comes in. They lose to Furman. But they show a pulse in Bahamas I know it was weak teams there but they still showed some heart and effort.

Mack returns they immediately get blown out by Sparty and it's just been blah ever since. Players just haven't shown they like him, or like playing for him, or like playing at all. There is no real joy, something, many things seem missing. I just think there's a legit disconnect between him and this team, a very unique thing, but for UofL fan we are used to the bizarre by now.

On top of all that, the team just isn't that good. So they are unable to handle the bottom feeders anymore. Everything is a challenge for this roster. They may not even want to play anymore, just rather do something else.

No clue what happens moving forward, other than several losses. When the season is over it will be interesting. Will Louisville have a Prez, an AD, and an NCAA ruling? Will Mack's agent find him some other job this summer? Can Mack just tune out the noise and return as a dead man walking?

We need a NETFLIX series. I'm sure I've left many angles out of my novel.