I think the lack of comments shows what kind of hire this is - one that won't get people talking. While he sounds like a great assistant, and worthy of getting a head coach job somewhere, Memphis needed a big splash if they want to stay at the level they have been at the last 5 years.
I think it is a hire that will work out well for Memphis, but it is not what they wanted to do, they wanted to take all their Money and prestige and hire a big name coach away from a power conference school, after several attempts and rebuffs, they finally settled on their top assistant.
He looks to have the makings of a great recruiter, and may convince one or two of their incoming class to stay on board, although they already lost Cousins to UK.
Sure there will be some growing pains and the roster may be a bit thin for them next year, but they should bounce back nicely in 2-3 years. Need to get our act together in these next two years.
Hoop Fan wrote:maybe not much sizzle, but look for this guy to take good players out of our backyard. Young, smart, aggressive. Not every hire is about name value.
I agree with Hoop Fan on this. Probably the smartest thing they could do when they couldn't get the big name they wanted.
the Pastner hire makes me laugh at Cougar high for keeping Penders around.
“When I first committed to SMU, I thought it would take a couple of years of building. But with these players coming in, we should make a run. We have a lot of heavy hitters. It could get real ugly for a lot of teams we play.”- Jalen Jones
jkflamebo wrote:not a great hire IMO. memphis wont be as strong as they've been the past few years. they will lose a conference game this year
they had to try to get a name, but its not like anybody they could get would be close to Calipari anyway. Bruce Pearl? Please, i would rather have Pastner. They have to groom their own Calipari reincarnated now. Actually, i could see Pastner being a Billy Donavan type of guy in his Providence days...young coach, all the credentials, will get it done.
Dont underestimate Pastner. He has impressed people everywhere he's played/coached. He's young, but people who've met him know that he knows what he's doing.
I just read an article from the Sporting News that Pastner is trying to hire Xavier Henry's dad as the next Director of Basketball Operations. I think the article was a couple of days old, so if this has been discussed I'm sorry.
I could even live with that-but you never know. I think he would be quite imposing on recruiting trips and would be welcomed by most local coaches and players.
