From a trusted source
- Thread starter etowncoug
- Start date
I don't think this is a good outcome, but it has become necessary (as highlighted by yesterday's pitiful performance.) Something happened to this team down the stretch and a change was necessary. I fear the next coach will become persona non grata soon enough when the program continues to struggle.
The bar is so low right now, there is literally no where to go but up. I mean, technically yes, they could lose all their games, but certainly we've suffered enough as Coug fans, right?
Objectively, the kids quit and/ or didn't believe in what Kent was doing. When it worked, it worked and when it didn't it didn't and EK wouldn't have answers for them. You have to win the hearts and minds of these kids in order to get them to put out 110% for you all the time. Coaching isn't rocket science. Obviously I don't know all the details of what was going on, but as far as benefit to the players and fans, this is nothing but a good thing.
Now the budget on the other hand...
I dunno Yaki, I certainly wouldn't mind having Elleby, Cannon, and Kunc for two years to build around. Chance Moore is an interesting piece as well.
The problem for any coach is going to be filling out a roster of 13 players. Hopefully we can keep Ryan Murphy committed. Nigel Johns too.
We want some to stay and probably others to leave. The speed they fired hopefully suggest there is a target they want to bring in. At least I hope that's the case. Ethridge took a lot of time. Would like the right fit in asap to hopefully keep the good talent on the roster in the fold.
Those six are a start - if the new coach emphasizes defense and an offense that places a premium on the passing game. Of course, a big guy inside would help that. So many ifs.
Last year we got Ahmed Ali after Kent St fired their coach. He signed early and got a release from his LOI. I would think Murphy would have some suitors should he decide to look around, but maybe his injury keeps him heading to Pullman.
The problem with this era of transferring is the guys we want to keep will have options elsewhere. Teams will need wings so Elleby, Cannon, Kunc and Moore will have options. Plus they all have a redshirt year.
We are looking at a worst case scenario where Robinson, Ali, Wade, Pollard, and Skaggs are our only returning players with Hensen as the only recruit. Would make for a long season.
The quick decision also might be a case of Chun wanting to go after specific coaches before other schools hire them. I enjoy this time of year and watching some of these schools in their conference tournaments. There are some very interesting and successful coaches getting their teams into post season play at the mid-major level. And many of them are making no more than $300K. Whether they'd be interested in a tough job like WSU is another matter.
Glad Cougar
Firing Kent doesn't help with facilities which was why I was a proponent of bringing Kent back earlier in the year to push things out another year. You just can't continue to circle the drain though.
The new coach will be given exactly what Ethridge was given. Time and patience given the challenge and hopefully at some point soon we get the BOB and even sooner we get charters to help out.
Was thinking the same. Our pool is always shallow but it's now probably a puddle. I do think Chun has targets and has gone to "back channels" to gauge interest. Then again he may have simply felt we had no choice.
I'm not sure how Moore's redshirt would work out and it's been raised that he hasn't been on the bench the last few games so maybe he will leave. He was using half of his redshirt this season and if he left couldn't play for a year after he enrolled somewhere else.
As Yaki said, those 6 would be a solid start. We currently have 5 to-be seniors on the roster and 1 to give this spring. That's all another reason you pull the trigger now. Whoever the next coach is needs to learn from the past 2 coaches mistakes and build a staff that can recruit. I could see Seltzer and McRoy potentially retained depending on the hire.
No the problem is that Ernie s recruits will ask to get out of their signings. Also there will be at least 3-4 transfers. So for better or worse,expect a 4-5 win season next year and probably 5-8 victories in year two. The fantasy that they will have a solid core of 6 good players is laughable. it cost WSU 4.2 mil and EK walks away with some good cash. I really do not see this as positive outcome.If they hire an ugly ball coach they might as well put basketball on the same level as baseball. A bold move but we will see how it really pans out.The lack of good facilities and cash will hamstring the search for a new coach.
I don't think 5-6 spots opening up in the next month or so is much of a stretch. Question is which players/recruits stay.
I would think most of the players will wait and see who is named before asking to transfer out. Quite frankly, anybody who wants to leave a team that has only finished above 10th place once in the past 5 years is welcome to seek greener pastures. That would allow a new coach to get his own players a lot faster....and with 5 scholarships available after next year's seniors graduate, it really will be a whole new team. I'm happy with the news, I wish EK well and thank him for his efforts, but now at least there will be some hope for the future. Heck, we might even get more than 2,000 fans back into Beasley.
Glad Cougar
Glad Cougar
Depends how quick Chun can get a new coach. Hopefully he learns from last year with Daugherty and does a better job of managing the gap.
The players will look around but most of the young players have a redshirt and could wait a year and potentially improve their destination. Elleby seems like the key. It seems like he is also close enough with Kunc and Cannon.
Will be interesting to watch unfold.
The players will look around but most of the young players have a redshirt and could wait a year and potentially improve their destination. Elleby seems like the key. It seems like he is also close enough with Kunc and Cannon.
Will be interesting to watch unfold.
I could see an assistant on the staff . I hope Chun was proactive like Moos was with his Leach that mid season the program could have gone two ways, up or down. If Arizona and the games following was a precursor for what was transpiring the rest of the season plus and next season he keeps Kent, if it goes the opposite way then he has someone already in mind . It is my hope he knows what it takes to win in Pullman and has that person ready to go .
Good luck finding about 6-8 D1 players at this stage of the game.When they win about 5 games next year,we will see how many fans participate in the festivities. it is going to be a long rebuilding process which will take about 3-4 years. Have patience my friend.The good ones like Cannon, Elleby ,Kunc are already being recruited I think that John,Murphy and possible Henson will ask to opt out.
If it only takes 3-4 years, that would be an improvement on the EK regime. After 5 years, there had been no progress.
Glad Cougar
Glad Cougar
They can leave. Just like the 13 other players that Kent recruited who left. I’d like them to stay, but if they can get in a program where they can win that’s fine. This program is so bad that a new coach won’t win anything for at least 3 years.
Unfortunately, I always thought Ernie lost every team that he coached in the 5 years he was in Pullman. It just never seemed that he could get them to do the things they needed to do in the long run....and the team never really had an identity. A lot of that is on the difficulty in recruiting you aptly write about...but a coach still needs to connect with his team. EK just didn't do that.
Glad Cougar
The Cougs finished ELEVENTH in the conference again....and got destroyed by the 12th place team who was actually improving at the end of the year.
Is there REALLY that much risk of players leaving? There's 10 upside spots and 1 downside in the conference.
Take those odds. All day long.
The new coach will get a chance to talk to all the players and signings before they leave. Plus immediate playing time is important.
Hope it works out that way but 3 left the women's program before Ethridge was even close to being hired.
Odds are a couple leave every year regardless of the coach.
Are we already forgetting that the five years of Ernie was a revolving door of players?
I believe many of the players are happy tonight. They are likrly eager to know who the upgrade is.
interesting bringing up Mcroy as a possible holdover? that's a name that has rarely come up but seems like having him as recruiting coordinator did increase our recruitment?
The part is that this group of new players had potential If you think that they will stay is sheer folly Especially if Chun hires an ugly ball coach They came to play an upbeat style. They came for the coaching staff and not because of the facilities and social life in Pullman Chun will take it in the shorts if he thinks they will listen to him and his "charm". The coaches will be gone and so will they.Think again Observer you are in for a shock . I hear that Gonzaga is now after Elleby. That would be sweet for all you zag haters. Cannon has a lot of choices as probably does Murphy. Moore is certainly not a given. Right now recruiters will be calling John and the remains will be chickenfeed If you guys think that a quality coach will come forward you better cover your behinds very carefully The facilities are crap with no charter flights and baseball having a new clubhouse while basketball has a basically a high school small time gym as a practice facility. Yes Pitino or even Lloyd will jump at the chance to come to Pullman you guys are in for a big shock .
The basketball world is a small world. i have said this since i heard about Chun s temper tantrum These are my opinions and the staff at the other board are little imbeciles who are everybody s butt boys. What they say and think is irrelevant. I am banned from brand x and do not go over there .If squatty Chun think that he can work miracles then he now has a go at it.He has been too free with WSU s money and it will catch up to him.The internet rumors about Elleby will grow and it is just a matter of where he will end up. The Young talent are gone and Chun hobnobbing with them at basketball functions do not mean squat.
El... sometimes tearing off the band aid while it looks ugly it has to be done . There is a leadership problem ... and not saying that is all on Kent cause guys have to accept a leadership responsibility but if a team can’t get up for a game in the tourney even as talented as they may be their loss could be a net gain.
If Chun kept Kent I could see that after the five game stretch . But when they didn’t show up their last three games they don’t have the love for the game, for their team and themselves to be successful . Hard to cosch pride . Mailing it in was discraceful and I don’t put that on Kent, I put that on the players .
Okay, I hesitant to say this, but I think most will agree. I would hate to see Elleby leave, but I saw little or no development from him this year in terms if his bad habits. Is that on him or the coach? Again, I really dont know. I think kids are all different . Kent probably had a lot to do with Franks, but not ad much to do with Hawkinson
I do remember that one thing Flynn complained about last year was lack of player development
I do remember that one thing Flynn complained about last year was lack of player development
