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Worst Case Scenario - Next Year

L

LongTimeFirsTime

Jan 8, 2019
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Well my fellow spidernation friends, it seems John Hardt has put our worst case scenario into motion for next year, not to mention the near future.

1) Retain and endorse Coach Mooney. Inmates running the asylum. Who did the players lobby for the next coach when Tarrant stepped down? Good cop/friend Bill Dooley. Mooney is not a good coach, that is no longer debatable.
2) Though players half A$$edly lobbied for Mooney, I am getting intel that the situation is indeed toxic and top players have feelers out to certain P6 programs and P6 programs are reciprocating. Players are tired of losing, and losing in anonymity while others are playing in the bright lights. Lose Lose situation
3) Our own "T Boone Pickens" is really screwing us over here.

4) Long term - I was very curious to see Hardt's coaching search and options. Based on this insane decision to keep Mooney, I have confidence. Confidence that Hardt will royally screw up that hire.

Get ready, it's going to get rocky.

Peace
 
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I see the worst case scenerio as CM being retained. Having a very talented team. Coaching them terribly, losing early season games to bad teams at home, have no chance to get auto bid, but because of sheer talent, win 17-18 games and get another year. Anyone with any bball sense knows he cant coach. I guess Hardt isnt much of a bball guy.
 
Father has both the worst case and most likely scenario pegged!

As to Long Timers comments - - - two ways to read that intel on feelers out. One is that the feelers were out in the event Mooney got fired and the players are in fact Mooney supporters and would have looked at leaving if their guy left. Or - - their support of Mooney was fake and they are looking to leave even if (or because) he is staying. I'd actually guess the former. If its the latter and anyone of the Top 5-6 (maybe top 7-8) guys leaves, Mooney should be fired immediately as it will show how toxic the whole thing really is with last years player exodus continuing and the lack of belief in him from within his own team!

But it surely is one fine sh_t show right now!
 
If players leave NOW after all the feces they raised publicly about the billboard, I will lose all respect for them.

And there will be some mighty embarrassed Truthers around here...
 
Philly, I think it's likely the former as well. Hardt had to at least have gotten a sense of the likelihood of transfers. That's the bare minimum due diligence; to talk to the key players.

In fact, it's the only justification I can come up with, since he's denying it's the contract. He felt like players would leave if Mooney was gone, and he likes these players a lot.

Then again...."Right now I don't think losing bothers us enough as a team. I think some of us are just kinda content with that. And I think that's our main problem right now; we're not really too competitive." You can't put that statement back in the box.
 
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The worst case scenario is clearly the loss of a key transfer in the next few months. The team MUST keep ALL of Sherod, Gilyard, Golden and Cayo. I don't know that Francis could even transfer again but him too. If they lose any of those 5, then next season doesn't even have any potential AND we're still wasting another year with Mooney.
 
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Players have publicly backed Mooney and said they are sick and tired of losing, and that last part is shared by the overwhelming majority of the fan base. Only time will tell if any of the players leave because Mooney has been retained. Stated in a different thread had also heard the rumor that some players may leave if Mooney stays.
 
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I don't know if anyone is leaving. Hardt and Mooney had better well know. Of course, Mooney said we are all coming back right after the season concluded last year and then got blindsided. So, he has already shown not to be a good barometer of these things.

All I know is Hardt is going to look like a gigantic buffoon if any key player transfers. That was basically his argument for Keeping Mooney.
 
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I believe anyone who has redshirted (e.g., GG) will definitely look at their options at some point. Just like Fore, who wouldn't want to be part of a team going to the tournament rather than at the helm of a maybe-NIT team? Until a program is built here where players expect to win and there's a good probability to get to the dance, I say redshirt no one, and certainly don't waste scholarships on guys who are major development projects, and that includes walk-ons. At least for a while. Go out like Chris Mack did and find really good players from all around the country, but unfortunately right now we don't have coaches who can put together a TEAM like that in 1 season.
 
97spiderfan said:
I don't know if anyone is leaving. Hardt and Mooney had better well know. Of course, Mooney said we are all coming back right after the season concluded last year and then got blindsided. So, he has already shown not to be a good barometer of these things.

All I know is Hardt is going to look like a gigantic buffoon if any key player transfers. That was basically his argument for Keeping Mooney.
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going to look like? I think he's there.
 
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With our FB program, think HC keeping his job was based on bringing in some new coaches. Think there will be any changes to Mooney's staff in offseason? Might be only way they have a chance of getting to .500 or better next season.
 
ChoppinBroccoli said:
Philly, I think it's likely the former as well. Hardt had to at least have gotten a sense of the likelihood of transfers. That's the bare minimum due diligence; to talk to the key players.

In fact, it's the only justification I can come up with, since he's denying it's the contract. He felt like players would leave if Mooney was gone, and he likes these players a lot.

Then again...."Right now I don't think losing bothers us enough as a team. I think some of us are just kinda content with that. And I think that's our main problem right now; we're not really too competitive." You can't put that statement back in the box.
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I can’t agree more. Hardt may have been blackmailed by the players union, so to speak. Only rational explanation for the illogical decision is the threat of transfers.
 
Football practice is at Robins Stadium, 4 PM.

I'm wondering if he'll show at any of the Football Alumni Weekend events. He'd probably get more questions about basketball.
 
ChoppinBroccoli said:
Football practice is at Robins Stadium, 4 PM.

I'm wondering if he'll show at any of the Football Alumni Weekend events. He'd probably get more questions about basketball.
Click to expand...
Hardt is a pretty self confident arrogant dude. He won’t shy away from the press.
 
I just don't see how this is not a 2 year deal in bringing Mooney back. We only won 13 games this year.

VCU - who had what was ranked the 2nd toughest OOC schedule finished with 25 wins, and just got into the NCAA tourney.

So does Hardt and company realistically think there will be a 10 win improvement with not only a supposedly tougher OOC schedule, but what should also be a tougher A10 as well with so many guys returning.

How many teams in history have gone from bottom of their conference to NCAA bid the following year? I see UR improving, maybe getting 18-19 wins, and then that shows progress and we continue with Mooney and the next year becomes the NCAA or bust year.
 
MidloTrader said:
With our FB program, think HC keeping his job was based on bringing in some new coaches. Think there will be any changes to Mooney's staff in offseason? Might be only way they have a chance of getting to .500 or better next season.
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I don't think that matters unless he actually lets a different set of staff influence him to do things differently. Yes, we should have better depth next year, but same coaching system & philosophy will be self defeating. The fundamentals in Mooney's system are just awful, and the statistical rankings of D1 teams validate that.
 
SpiderK said:
Hardt is a pretty self confident arrogant dude. He won’t shy away from the press.
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Thought his Q & A was soft. Didn't learn anything of substance. His justification was based upon potential...i.e not much different than "hope". That doesn't cut it. History speaks much louder than unknown future & potential. Still have no faith in accountability angle. He doesn't impress me. Just another outsider who came in to fill a position and pushing decisions down the road.

Am more impressed with many of the posters on this site who are graduates of UR (or related types) and those of us who have been with this program for many many years.
 
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SpiderTrap said:
I just don't see how this is not a 2 year deal in bringing Mooney back. We only won 13 games this year.

VCU - who had what was ranked the 2nd toughest OOC schedule finished with 25 wins, and just got into the NCAA tourney.

So does Hardt and company realistically think there will be a 10 win improvement with not only a supposedly tougher OOC schedule, but what should also be a tougher A10 as well with so many guys returning.

How many teams in history have gone from bottom of their conference to NCAA bid the following year? I see UR improving, maybe getting 18-19 wins, and then that shows progress and we continue with Mooney and the next year becomes the NCAA or bust year.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. You also forgot to mention that Golden and Sherod will both have their Richmond degree next spring and will be free agents to play their senior year somewhere else. The argument will be that we could not possibly make a coaching change next year, when the likeliness of redshirt seniors would be exponentially higher.
 
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What he really needs to do (but absolutely will not) is bring in an experienced (and by this I mean a guy who maybe was highly succesful as an assistant, got a head job and didn't quite cut it and is better off as an assistant kinda guy) and defensive minded assistant coach and turn the defense over to him. With that CM has to empower that Coach to say (and back up) that players who cant or won't play defense the way he wants, won't play. We are bad defensively because no one is in any way held accountable for their poor defense. The coaches aren't holding the players responsible. The coaches themselves are not being held accountable as we learned today. And as the quote above indicates, the players aren't holding themselves or other players accountable either. Thats one hell of a culture!

The players get a bit of a pass because they are products of that culture and not the creators. The coaches (and AD) not so much. It is their job to create a culture.

GG, for example, needs to be told he needs to learn how to play tough and physical and do it without fouling and then be held to it and not simply be told not to foul and then have it be acceptable to play matador defense in the lane all game long. There is no excuse for our defense. Period. You don't have to be the best athletes on the floor to play good defense. And I refuse to believe that we have managed to collect a group of players (GG, Nate, Nick, JG, Francis, Jake, Andre) who are ALL pretty skilled and pretty good offensive players and are all unable to be passable defenders. Just like offense, its not just athleticism that makes you able to be a good defender. Our guys are competant, skilled basketball players. That the group is among the very worst defensive teams in the country is squarely on the coach and needs to be fixed!!!!
 
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MolivaManiac said:
Completely agree. You also forgot to mention that Golden and Sherod will both have their Richmond degree next spring and will be free agents to play their senior year somewhere else. The argument will be that we could not possibly make a coaching change next year, when the likeliness of redshirt seniors would be exponentially higher.
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Excellent point
 
PhillySpider said:
What he really needs to do (but absolutely will not) is bring in an experienced (and by this I mean a guy who maybe was highly succesful as an assistant, got a head job and didn't quite cut it and is better off as an assistant kinda guy) and defensive minded assistant coach and turn the defense over to him. With that CM has to empower that Coach to say (and back up) that players who cant or won't play defense the way he wants, won't play. We are bad defensively because no one is in any way held accountable for their poor defense. The coaches aren't holding the players responsible. The coaches themselves are not being held accountable as we learned today. And as the quote above indicates, the players aren't holding themselves or other players accountable either. Thats one hell of a culture!

The players get a bit of a pass because they are products of that culture and not the creators. The coaches (and AD) not so much. It is their job to create a culture.

GG, for example, needs to be told he needs to learn how to play tough and physical and do it without fouling and then be held to it and not simply be told not to foul and then have it be acceptable to play matador defense in the lane all game long. There is no excuse for our defense. Period. You don't have to be the best athletes on the floor to play good defense. And I refuse to believe that we have managed to collect a group of players (GG, Nate, Nick, JG, Francis, Jake, Andre) who are ALL pretty skilled and pretty good offensive players and are all unable to be passable defenders. Just like offense, its not just athleticism that makes you able to be a good defender. Our guys are competant, skilled basketball players. That the group is among the very worst defensive teams in the country is squarely on the coach and needs to be fixed!!!!
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In a non bizarro world, Mooney would have gone out and got himself a great defensively minded assistant coach and another assistant coach with great recruiting connections. Instead, he kept loyal to Larry, Moe, and Curley, 3 yes men who don't challenge his fragile ego.
 
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MidloTrader said:
With our FB program, think HC keeping his job was based on bringing in some new coaches. Think there will be any changes to Mooney's staff in offseason? Might be only way they have a chance of getting to .500 or better next season.
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This will be a significant barometer of how tenuous CMs hold on the job is. Despite doing his best to look like a dingbat, I’m going to choose to believe that hardt isn’t an idiot. He has to have seen major deficiencies in the team’s performance that are not explainable by youth (FT shooting?).

If we don’t see coaching changes of some sort then I think JH’s judgment is way worse than I already think it is.
 
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UR80sfan said:
Worst case scenario is a large meteor collides with the earth doing tremendous damage, but not enough to kill us instantly. Instead it takes days to kill us while we suffer extreme pain from radiation poisoning while reading upsetting news on our basketball board.
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Hogwash!!! The EMP alone would take down the server farm hosting Spidernation.

I did enjoy your post.
 
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UR80sfan said:
Worst case scenario is a large meteor collides with the earth doing tremendous damage, but not enough to kill us instantly. Instead it takes days to kill us while we suffer extreme pain from radiation poisoning while reading upsetting news on our basketball board.
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Is that really worse than watching another 30 games coached by Mooney?
 
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Muscle coach needs up to read this to learn about quick and training
51ILdvEbonL._SX335_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
 
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I could be wrong but I'm not concerned with transfers this year.
I worry more about this time next year, unless we have some solid success and everyone believes we have a shot as seniors.
 
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SpiderTrap said:
I just don't see how this is not a 2 year deal in bringing Mooney back. We only won 13 games this year.

VCU - who had what was ranked the 2nd toughest OOC schedule finished with 25 wins, and just got into the NCAA tourney.

So does Hardt and company realistically think there will be a 10 win improvement with not only a supposedly tougher OOC schedule, but what should also be a tougher A10 as well with so many guys returning.

How many teams in history have gone from bottom of their conference to NCAA bid the following year? I see UR improving, maybe getting 18-19 wins, and then that shows progress and we continue with Mooney and the next year becomes the NCAA or bust year.
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I researched this last night and found that eight times, current A10 teams at some point in their histories have come off back-to-back losing seasons and made the NCAAs in the third year. That's candidly more than I would have expected but still very rare. No team in our current league has ever done it more than once. We did it in 1998 with Beilein.

If you want to feel sick about something, consider that it has taken us 65 games in the past two years to win 25. It took VCU 32 games this year to win the same amount.

https://richmond.forums.rivals.com/threads/at-least-hardts-now-on-the-record.11514/#post-273565
 
spiderman said:
unless we have some solid success and everyone believes we have a shot as seniors.
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If we don’t have solid success next year then everyone should expect major changes from the coaching staff on down.
 
Eight Legger said:
I researched this last night and found that eight times, current A10 teams at some point in their histories have come off back-to-back losing seasons and made the NCAAs in the third year. That's candidly more than I would have expected but still very rare. No team in our current league has ever done it more than once. We did it in 1998 with Beilein.

If you want to feel sick about something, consider that it has taken us 65 games in the past two years to win 25. It took VCU 32 games this year to win the same amount.

https://richmond.forums.rivals.com/threads/at-least-hardts-now-on-the-record.11514/#post-273565
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The A-10 is so bad from top to bottom that huge swings by teams are very possible. Our 2nd and 3rd best teams were just destroyed in the NIT by relative nobodies. Davidson only has two decent players and they just graduated one of them.
 
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I wish Hardt hadn't mentioned anything about our current players. You don't make a collegiate coaching decision based upon the players you have at that particular snapshot moment of time. You make it because you believe the current coach is not doing a sufficient job and someone else can do it better. The players are irrelevant. And I don't mean that in a derogatory way, just in a factual way.

Anytime you hire a coach, you expect that person to be there more than four years. But you know the players won't be. Every AD who has ever fired a collegiate coach in any sport could used Hardt's excuse: "There's a lot of talent here, I don't want to risk losing it."

But that's a total cop-out and can-kicking exercise. Just look at Duquesne two years ago. They had Isaiah Mike and Mike Lewis – two of the best freshmen in the A-10 – but went 3-15. They fired their coach and hired Dambrot. Both guys left within a year. All but three players from the 2016-17 team were gone this year. Duquesne went 10-8 in the A-10 because Dambrot is a solid coach who brought in solid players and coached them up.

If we had fired Mooney and Golden and Gilyard had decided to leave, sure it would have sucked, but if we hired right, we'd end up being a better team than we have been the past two years.
 
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