First year was average but he seemed to get the program stabilized. Second year started out great (ranked first at one point) and then we started going sideways but likely would’ve been around a four seed in tourney before it was cancelled. Last year things fell off the track after Covid pauses but still were one game away from tourney. Off season was a disaster. This year….
Why isn’t this working for Mack?
- Thread starter Knucklehank1
- Start date
IMO there’s something toxic about working in U of L athletics esp. for someone new. Too many inexplicable flameouts by people with no prior history of that. It’s not just a Mack or basketball problem…
Unlike Satt, it seemed like Mack was a great fit. I think we did not realize his snarkiness, which can be off putting. His player development has definitely been suspect - not sure why?? I think in his haste to want to win perhaps he tried to short circuit things by pursuing too many transfers. And the decision to overhaul the staff was another short-sighted blunder
Changing to this new offensive system was a mistake. In past years Mack lost some head scratchers but they never looked this bad.
Trying something different in this case, a system Mack knows nothing about, was a grave error on his part.
Trying something different in this case, a system Mack knows nothing about, was a grave error on his part.
I’m not sure on a good day what this offense is supposed to be, but I’m not sure we have right personnel to run it.
That's also part of the bigger problem for sure. Also why run to a new system in which your two best returning players, Sam and Withers, can't thrive in?
Both those guys lack the skillet, good handles and good outside shooting, to thrive in a 4 out 1 in run and gun system.
Mack would have been much better off sticking to a system that he knew. Recruit solid 3-4 years players supplemented by an occasional transfer. He used the portal to acquire a new team - a bunch of one year players without the talent of a “one and done” athlete. The results speak for themselves. And being a complete ass to anyone that questions him just magnifies the problem.
Mack’s coaching ability was never scrutinized to the level of a coach who was going to succeed 2 hall of famers. Had we done so we would have realize it was going to be totally different than Pitino’s and less exciting than what we were accustomed. We looked at the overall record and the 1 FF and deemed him as the only heir apparent. Closer scrutiny would have shown he was womens JV coach that was able to land an assistant’s position, leave for another asst job only to come back to his alma mater as an asst again. This time he stayed long enough for the HC to leave and was handed the job. He has only produced less than a handful of NBA talent…
PS - I remember thinking when we hired Mack. I thought it odd that not one of his players wanted to transfer and play for him here…
PS - I remember thinking when we hired Mack. I thought it odd that not one of his players wanted to transfer and play for him here…
Last edited:
we need taller guards. too easy for 6-5 guys to shoot over our 6-1 defenders.
these guards are rarely available in the transfer portal. going to have to recruit them.
these guards are rarely available in the transfer portal. going to have to recruit them.
“PS - I remember thinking when we hired Mack. I thought it odd that not one of his players wanted to transfer and play for him here…”
At the time the one time transfer rule wasn’t in place and Xavier hired his top assistant so the players were quite familiar with the new head coach.
At the time the one time transfer rule wasn’t in place and Xavier hired his top assistant so the players were quite familiar with the new head coach.
Again, it may be personnel problems but the pack line defense has failed as well.
It's supposed to keep the opponent out of the paint and make them beat you from the outside. Yet opponents have been carving up this defense like a turkey on Thanksgiving and getting to the rim at will.
But to add insult to injury the team hasn't been guarding the 3 point line either. That corner three is open every single game and most teams have cashed in on it repeatedly.
It's supposed to keep the opponent out of the paint and make them beat you from the outside. Yet opponents have been carving up this defense like a turkey on Thanksgiving and getting to the rim at will.
But to add insult to injury the team hasn't been guarding the 3 point line either. That corner three is open every single game and most teams have cashed in on it repeatedly.
I suspect with the comments about Crosses behavior in practice coupled with Malik’s post game comments that Mack has lost a good portion of the team. I think he has built the island of misfit toys. Taking all of these transfers at once. They left their respective schools for a reason and I think what we have is a bunch of me players.
I too remember when Mack arrived, I also remember the pool of coaches (Because of the situation) was limited. Sadly that hasn’t changed.
I too remember when Mack arrived, I also remember the pool of coaches (Because of the situation) was limited. Sadly that hasn’t changed.
What I’m saying if a guy recruited me and he was a such a great coach, I would follow him.
I personally thin his only big mnistake was catering to this fanbase.. He should have stuck with what he was comfortable doing what he had at Xavier worked. And it would have here but impatience from a rabid fanase derails things.
By flame-out, I mean a person who had success previously in his career coming here and failing. I certainly believe that Mack and Satterfield see themselves in that situation, and most of their more senior assistants probably do as well.
I used to quip about UK being a football coaching graveyard, but you have to characterize our entire athletics program that way now. The only successful coaches we have were here before the new regime took over. I can't give you a solid explanation, but it's not a coincidence. And it's probably the biggest reason I'm not looking forward to new coaching hires anytime soon...
The tendency is to look for someone to blame whenever there is a disaster; interpreting a “no comment” from one player raises more questions than answers.
This observation is NOT a defense of Chris Mack, its just an effort to assign responsibility where it belongs. Mack did not miss a single 3, he did not commit a single turnover, in fact he was not on the floor a single second.
The game was most competitive, and only 1 point separated them in the 2nd half, before ND hit three 3s in a row, at the same time Withers and Malik missed consecutive 3s; Williams shot failed to even draw iron, both were ill advised decisions, and neither came from the bench.
No team in America beats ND when they are hitting 15 of their 23 of their 3 pointers. Interestingly, UL hit 10 of 21 of their 3s, but those 5 more for the Irish represented the difference in winning and losing. That 15 point advantage from distance had nothing to do with Mack, as he was not on the floor playing defense.
This observation is NOT a defense of Chris Mack, its just an effort to assign responsibility where it belongs. Mack did not miss a single 3, he did not commit a single turnover, in fact he was not on the floor a single second.
The game was most competitive, and only 1 point separated them in the 2nd half, before ND hit three 3s in a row, at the same time Withers and Malik missed consecutive 3s; Williams shot failed to even draw iron, both were ill advised decisions, and neither came from the bench.
No team in America beats ND when they are hitting 15 of their 23 of their 3 pointers. Interestingly, UL hit 10 of 21 of their 3s, but those 5 more for the Irish represented the difference in winning and losing. That 15 point advantage from distance had nothing to do with Mack, as he was not on the floor playing defense.
When the same issues keep coming up game after game, then the coach has got to hold some blame. When you have the best facilities in the world and you can’t make the ncaa tourney two years in a row, you have to accept some blame.
First the entire athletic department isn’t a mess. The 2 main sports are the mess. It boils down to winning which isn’t happening.
Fans like coaches that win. Fans like asshole coaches as long as they win. Fans like nice coaches as long as they win.
Mack is failing on the court because he is recruiting players that aren’t good enough. Then on top of that they aren’t playing at or above their ability. Yesterday was a prime example basic defensive switches completely botched. Watch Malik defend the post he wants no part of contact. That has nothing to do with the administration. These basic 101 basketball principles and his players are failing.
On the court you see no discipline and off the court his players are going to parties and bars when Covid is running wild. Kids will be kids but it is undisciplined behavior.
Fans like coaches that win. Fans like asshole coaches as long as they win. Fans like nice coaches as long as they win.
Mack is failing on the court because he is recruiting players that aren’t good enough. Then on top of that they aren’t playing at or above their ability. Yesterday was a prime example basic defensive switches completely botched. Watch Malik defend the post he wants no part of contact. That has nothing to do with the administration. These basic 101 basketball principles and his players are failing.
On the court you see no discipline and off the court his players are going to parties and bars when Covid is running wild. Kids will be kids but it is undisciplined behavior.
Hiring a new HC is a common practice in this industry. UofL bball fan has just been lucky in this area for decades, a lifetime for some fans.
Some hires just don't work out. Following a legend is challenging under the best circumstances. If we're being honest we were going to be concerned no matter who followed RP prior to all the problems surfacing. Some will claim TJ would have nailed it, maybe he would have. But before tripping into RP, it was going to be Larry Eustachy.
Hopefully the next AD will have an extensive search when it's time for it and make a good decision, and the program can move forward into a positive direction.
Some hires just don't work out. Following a legend is challenging under the best circumstances. If we're being honest we were going to be concerned no matter who followed RP prior to all the problems surfacing. Some will claim TJ would have nailed it, maybe he would have. But before tripping into RP, it was going to be Larry Eustachy.
Hopefully the next AD will have an extensive search when it's time for it and make a good decision, and the program can move forward into a positive direction.
Echoing what I said in the other thread,I have heard this from someone close to the Program. Not a big donor guy,but someone who has a closer look at things inside the program. As he said it "A bad collection of players"
He doesn’t recruit high level talent the new offense is hot garbage and Mack’s defense is hot garbage and continually gives up wide open threes. They should just play zone defense the rest of the season and throw the offensive playbook in the garbage.
I am sticking with bball and football were in 2 very different situations when each arrived. And also have been very consistent the 22 and 23 seasons we should nice steps forward if CSS is our guy. We will soon find out.
I mean absolutely it's mixed emotions we just have so little experience for this on it. It's never personal, this is an elite job that comes with a ton of pressure. And he followed a HOF coach and the overall situation was unique in a bad way.
Nobody wanted him to fail because that means Louisville fails, but when it becomes obvious as it apparently has, action needs to be taken swiftly. That’s why I don’t necessarily agree with saying you got to give coaches so many years. If he’s a good coach, he can make things happen quick. Let’s hope the next guy or girl can!
If you think about working for your employer and you got reprimanded for some reason and they tell you tomorrow you’re suspended until July and we’re keeping a quarter of your salary you would check out start looking for another job and not care anymore. Couple that with being extorted for cash. But it’s all his fault he has no one to blame but his self.
