Next Marquette Coach?

[tornado]

A couple names I have seen include Rick Majerus, Brian Gregory...and Washington State's Tony Bennett (see 2nd link)

But last evening, ESPN's Pat Forde, on ESPNews, said Marquette should go after
BRUCE WEBER !

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=415#s=415&f=2850&t=2297005

Here a guy in the Milwaukee press really slams Tom Crean and calls him
"...a better politician/salesman/self-promoter than a basketball coach.
Had Marquette really approached something close to its glory years with Crean,
or had Crean just made it seem that way with smoke, mirrors and a perpetual tan?"

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=734545

Lastly, the rumor is that Indiana offered in excess of $2 million per year for at least 6 years.

[beanocookschins]

Scott Drew of Baylor maybe? Tim Jankovich?

The columnist in the Milwaukee paper also said this about Crean:

"And give Crean this: His teams always played hard, so hard that his real influences are football coaches."

And this:

"It took a lot of salesmanship to get Marquette back to that point. It also took coaching. Whatever Crean really was, Marquette can be the better because of it."

Nine years is a long time to be at one place. I think Jim Molinari found that out. Crean got out at the right time it seems. That's why I don't think Jim Les will be at Bradley forever. It's just tough to be at a job for that long in this profession. I would never getting a better job against someone.

Indiana is a better job--overall--than Marquette. Good for Crean and Good for Indiana.

[tornado]

I think Crean has been good for MU that's why I thought the article was a little unwarranted.

By the way, some people on the Illinois boards are already taking the Weber to Marquette rumors seriously
and already discussing who they'd have to come in to replace Bruce.

Chris Lowery's name seems to be coming up the most.

[pfunk880]

Michael Hunt is not the most liked sports columnist in Milwaukee, so take that article with a grain of salt.

[houstontxbrave]

The best hire they could make is Tony Bennett. I believe that is who they will target and eventually hire.

[BradleyBrave]

I'm not trying to be 'over the top' or anything, but I am kind of surprised that Jim Les' name hasn't been mentioned as a darkhorse candidate. I don't think he would be considered a serious candidate, but he did get mentioned for the NC State job and recently the Cal job. Les has proven to be a solid recruiter at a private, basketball-first school already, has graduated all of his players (sans POB), and Milwaukee is significantly closer to his family in Chicago than Peoria. Again, I don't think he would be a serious candidate, but I am surprised he hasn't been mentioned.

[lefty]

I'm not trying to be 'over the top' or anything, but I am kind of surprised that Jim Les' name hasn't been mentioned as a darkhorse candidate. I don't think he would be considered a serious candidate, but he did get mentioned for the NC State job and recently the Cal job. Les has proven to be a solid recruiter at a private, basketball-first school already, has graduated all of his players (sans POB), and Milwaukee is significantly closer to his family in Chicago than Peoria. Again, I don't think he would be a serious candidate, but I am surprised he hasn't been mentioned.

you said he was just mentioned....I think that's all you can expect right now.....they had a nice 10-14 game run a couple of years ago....when we get to the tourney a couple of times in a row and are in the top 2 of conference a few times...then you will see some people taking a serious look

[BradleyBrave]

you said he was just mentioned....I think that's all you can expect right now.....they had a nice 10-14 game run a couple of years ago....when we get to the tourney a couple of times in a row and are in the top 2 of conference a few times...then you will see some people taking a serious look

I was speaking about Marquette specifically. I haven't seen his name associated with the job.

[Scouter]

The best hire they could make is Tony Bennett. I believe that is who they will target and eventually hire.

That would certainly be a good hire but a weird set of circumstances. Bennett turns down IU, Crean goes from Marquette to IU, then Bennett fills the void at Marquette.

[BradleyBrave]

That would certainly be a good hire but a weird set of circumstances. Bennett turns down IU, Crean goes from Marquette to IU, then Bennett fills the void at Marquette.

Bennett has very strong Wisconsin ties though, and he wouldn't have to completely rebuild the way he would have at Indiana.

[Scouter]

Bennett has very strong Wisconsin ties though, and he wouldn't have to completely rebuild the way he would have at Indiana.

Excellent point. But I'm not sure he'd go to a school that's a "natural" rival with the Badgers. Milwaukee would definitely be an upgrade from Pullman in terms of recruiting location, though.

Edit: I wasn't dismissing the possibility of him going there in my original post. Just pointing out the odd circumstance.

[houstontxbrave]

The Wisconsin ties are a huge factor. I lived in Wisconsin for awhile and the ties that individuals have to successful Wisconsin products is more loyal then I think anywhere else in the country.

Yes there is the natural rival with UW but there is also the fact that the "Bennetts" are a natural name recognition when it comes to Wisconsin basketball. The rivalry with UW would only add to the intensity of the situation if Bennett were to become head coach at Marquette.

I just do not think there is a better candidate for that job in college basketball. I really think he is a much better hire then Majerus.

[lefty]

I was speaking about Marquette specifically. I haven't seen his name associated with the job.

I see...well it's early yet so you never know

[Scouter]

I just do not think there is a better candidate for that job in college basketball. I really think he is a much better hire then Majerus.

Bennett is certainly a better long-term hire.