Quote:
Originally Posted by Dialer  The Box and One wasn't smart, but it got a turnover the first possession. They were in it 3 possessions before Packer realized it.
Self just won the Nat'l Title and he's being called a bad coach. My words were too strong for your comment because you just pointed out the Box & 1 mistake, but Hoosier Daddy comments are ridiculous. |
As I have said before, there is a difference between a great coach/teacher of the game and a great recruiter. He recruits great players and he is a good salesman, no question about it. I have no hatred towards Self. I think he's a lot less egregious and revolting than many others. I lament that the game has changed and it's about recruiting and not teaching as much as it used to be. Self is not a great teacher. He is a product of the new era in college basketball. You don't have to be a teacher any more, you have to be a salesman to get the best talent.
Winning the national title is a great accomplishment, but it does not make you a great coach IMO. Players do win games and titles more than coaches nowadays. No disrespect to Villanova, which is a fine institution, but does anyone really think Rollie Massimino is a great coach or teacher of the game of basketball? If you do, seek professional help immediately. I'm sure when every shot Villanova threw in during the 2nd half (which was about every one) was all Rollie's coaching in the 85 game against G Town.
Lute Olson is another example. He is not a great coach. If you remember them for their triumphs, you have to remember their losses as well. Lute's bad losses and obvious mistakes in game management over the years far outweigh his one national title.
There are some coaches that won it all that are geniuses (i.e. Hank Iba, Pete Newell, Bob Knight, Al McGuire, Fred Taylor, and I guess you would have to count Wooden (even though he had the best talent that Sam Gilbert could buy) and some others. Then, there are some overrated guys like Olson, Massimino, Roy Williams and others.
There are plenty of better coaches that never won it that I would rate well ahead of some of these guys who are true pioneers and overlooked legends like Clair Bee and Joe Lapchick.
You can't just judge a coach on national titles or final scores. You have to look at how a team plays.
You can disagree with my comments, but they are not ridiculous.