by uofdfan83 » Sat Apr 02, 2016 12:07 am
First of all, if Waters were interested and available, you've gotta interview him. He is a helluva coach and a good recruiter who always scares me when I see him on the visitor's bench. Having said that, I cannot believe CSU would let him go to a league rival. But if he applies, go after him, even at the risk of pissing off another Horizon League institution.
As to JJ: I absolutely love JJ. After Thunder, my favorite Titan EVER. A winner and a leader from Day One -- how many guys can step in as a starting freshman PG and lead the way he did. But here's the thing: he's got ONE year of college coaching, 2 years of high school coaching, and some baggage from the way he left Mt Clemens. I don't care about the baggage, but some people will. He played professionally forever. Good for him. He earned it all. As a result, his coaching career started late. He has to learn all the nuances of what is allowed by the NCAA, etc. I don't know how you even give a lead assistant job to a guy with just one year of coaching. But I want him on the staff. Move him up in the ranks. Most of the current team will stay if he does. He is a motivator, a recruiter, a winner, and with some help from Bacari, led this team to greatness back in the late 90s. His son is just a bonus. I want him as an assistant, no matter who we hire.
Bacari. Is he a gamble. Yes. But I would take the gamble because we might hit the jackpot. He has all the charisma, the suits, the smile, the quick wit, the charm. I admit, I like that. I think we need it. It will bring fans, it will bring media attention. And it will bring players, and it will engage the student body to support the team. His fight and enthusiasm will engage us all to work together on this thing, and it will be FUN to be a part of the Program again.
The big criticism I have heard about BA going back to when he was an assistant here at U-D is that he isn't an X and O guy. They said his "scout" work on opponents was always the weakest of the assistants back when -- that Mondro was much better at it than Bacari. Two things: 1) I would hope that he's picked up a thing or two in these years with Beilien. Beilien is a true X and O genius. 2) With Bacari and JJ, you've got your recruiting covered. He can afford to go out and get an older coach who is striclty an X and O mastermind. Roll out a general philosophy and find someone who can implement the detailed Xs and Os of that program philosophy. JJ and Bacari would be on the same page from the get-go. Find someone else who would be able to help put that philosophy into action.
Some people think BA is just a con man, a good talker. Let me bring up another example. Most people around the country never knew Dickie V before he became an announcer. They think it must be an act he puts on for TV, that no one could really be like that. I know that's the real Dickie V because that's who I saw in the Memorial Building every day. He's not putting on an act -- he's just being himself.
Bacari was not the most talented player. But he used every once of talent he had for the team. He would claw, grab, and fight for every inch of court. He left nothing on the court. He gave his all. He played for the TEAM. He wanted to win with every ounce of his body. He was a leader on and off the court. In his 2 seasons, we went to the NCAA tourney twice and won 2 NCAA games, beating St Johns and UCLA. We stomped Butler in the League Championship Game his senior year with Walter Craft at center. If Bacari can impart his will and passion for winning onto the team, the Xs and Os won't even matter.
So what I am saying is: Vitale's "act" on TV is no act. Bacari's enthusiasm and passion and personality are no act either. He played that way. He is that way in real life. If selected, will he be the right choice? I don't know. But I would gamble, because mediocrity sucks. Go for the home run when you can. Bacari would breathe life into the Program.
Tom Buysse
Classes of 1983 & 87