Bringing Back Porter

This probably deserves its own thread at this point, but after tonight's games the NBA will be shutting-down UFN as protection against COVID-19 and the president has banned travelers from Europe.

Also, a buddy who's in Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament, complained to me that the MGM Grand Buffet has been shut-down, and he's heard that at least 6 more have shut down as well.  

As I recall there's an In-and-Out across I-15 from the T-Mobile Arena, so I think everyone should be okay...

DoubleDipper wrote:As I recall there's an In-and-Out across I-15 from the T-Mobile Arena, so I think everyone should be okay...

Yup, as long as you don't mind a long wait.

DoubleDipper wrote:Also, a buddy who's in Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament, complained to me that the MGM Grand Buffet has been shut-down, and he's heard that at least 6 more have shut down as well.  

The same friend who was complaining about the buffets closing was attending Pac-12 games today at T-Mobile Arena, and now tells me he received a text telling him that fans will not be allowed to enter the arena for the rest of the tournament...

Glad the WCC tourney finished before we got this far. Hope no one who attended becomes ill.

I also enjoyed the buffet breakfast every day I was there, and the Pilot pre-game functions.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28893285/ncaa-tournaments-canceled-coronavirus

Now we definitely don't have enough money to buy Porter out.

A lot of my time just got freed up, with no March Madness.

Woodless 2.0 wrote:https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28893285/ncaa-tournaments-canceled-coronavirus

Now we definitely don't have enough money to buy Porter out.

Imagine what this does to the Zags budget.

Geezaldinho wrote:

Woodless 2.0 wrote:https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28893285/ncaa-tournaments-canceled-coronavirus

Now we definitely don't have enough money to buy Porter out.

Imagine what this does to the Zags budget.

Cut back on caviar on the private jet?

Some discussion of various impacts:
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28893468/what-know-know-ncaa-tournament-cancellations

More seriously, the WCC would of had 3 representatives to the NCAA tournament, so that's a pretty big hit to the conference.

Might be a good hit on ViacomCBS, as they've already committed to paying the NCAA, and now have no ad revenue opportunities to sell.

Did Coach Meek's contract have an incentive for making the tournament?  He should still get it, if so.

wrv wrote:I doubt that Porter's post season meeting with Leykam has been cancelled because of the pandemic. Interesting that there has been no immediate word of anything, change or otherwise.

It it’s anything at UP like it is here, I would say that close to 100% of AD Scott’s day has been dealing with how best to proceed given this outbreak. I would very much think that any “meeting” would have been delayed because of this.

Dean Murdoch wrote:It it’s anything at UP like it is here, I would say that close to 100% of AD Scott’s day has been dealing with how best to proceed given this outbreak. I would very much think that any “meeting” would have been delayed because of this.

You are correct...all on-campus efforts by staff and faculty have been aimed at establishing and implementing procedures to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

If there is to be a meeting between the coaching staff and the AD, I doubt it will happen this week...

up7587 wrote:A lot of my time just got freed up, with no March Madness.

You're not alone...I'm feeling adrift without my basketball fix...just glad I have a paddle.

Roller derby hasn’t cancelled yet...


And sports center is doing what if brackets.

Talk about navel contemplating.

Virtual sports? So some kids should just play EA Sports, ESPN can broadcast it, and we can make brackets, and watch it.

up7587 wrote:

Cut back on caviar on the private jet?

The Gonzaga AD expressed his concern for  the safety of student athletes and fans during the global pandemic that has already killed 4700+ people by expressing dismay that both the men’s and women’s teams lost a chance to host in $pokane.
So unfair to the um... players.
He and Mark few want the tourney postponed, not cancelled.

I can’t remember which poster in here was at Providence when Pitino was there. But it sure looks like he might be back in college hoops sometime soon.... and these aren’t exactly high major schools in the mix here.

@CBB_Central wrote: Iona, UIC, and Grand Canyon all have opened in the last 24 hours. Rick Pitino has been mentioned at two of them. All three are good mid-major jobs. It’s officially coaching search SZN!

[quote="Dean Murdoch"]I can’t remember which poster in here was at Providence when Pitino was there. But it sure looks like he might be back in college hoops sometime soon.... and these aren’t exactly high major schools in the mix here.

You rang?

Slick Rick is probably interested in getting back in US coaching. If these schools are really interested in Pitino, UP should show an interest. Pitino is 67 and the chances that he would eventually be lured away by an NBA or NCAA top program would be slim. Pitino arrived at Providence and took a team that was 11-20 and went 17-14 his first year and brought Providence to the Final Four his second and final year.

If UP ever got Pitino he would have UP competitive immediately. Pitino picked up a lot of baggage at Louisville and the question would be if the UP administration rolls the dice. UP would get instant publicity but I don't think UP will try.

UP would play a highly entertaining and exciting style under Pitino

JimmAlacki wrote:
If UP ever got Pitino he would have UP competitive immediately. Pitino picked up a lot of baggage at Louisville and the question would be if the UP administration rolls the dice. UP would get instant publicity but I don't think UP will try.

UP would play a highly entertaining and exciting style under Pitino

This is EXACTLY the type of bold proven strategy that has all the potential to accelerate a rapid turn around.  

But yeah, that's not happening.

If we didn't just live the week we just did, I would be very concerned that the Pilots didn't announce a change and a search.  So fingers crossed for some action next week.

If the school administration is trying to cobble together money to get this done, last week's financial gyrations certainly weren't helpful.

Just getting a coach who has an actual record of winning  would be a big step. Mike Meek showed this year what someone with actuall winning experience at any level can do.

You don’t need to get Pitino with all his baggage, and I doubt the university is willing to risk the kind of money a program like his would require.  Pitino isn’t coaching now for good reasons. Portland is a Catholic school, so I’m all for forgiveness and redemption, but I’m not sure it’s UP’s job to blow up its budget to  give it to him.

lomiton wrote:If the school administration is trying to cobble together money to get this done, last week's financial gyrations certainly weren't helpful.

Are all the students leaving campus getting partial refunds on dorm fees and meal plans?

up7587 wrote:

lomiton wrote:If the school administration is trying to cobble together money to get this done, last week's financial gyrations certainly weren't helpful.

Are all the students leaving campus getting partial refunds on dorm fees and meal plans?

Yes!

This web site rates Coach Porter as "not in danger yet".

https://www.coachesdatabase.com/hot-seat-report/

lomiton wrote:If the school administration is trying to cobble together money to get this done, last week's financial gyrations certainly weren't helpful.

Bingo!

It is rumored that a number of boosters interested in a coaching change are having a change-of-heart as they watch their portfolios plummet and their businesses suddenly attract fewer customers.

A somewhat awkward conversation after a chance meeting with one of the assistants this morning revealed they too have no idea what is going on, but would certainly like to know soon so they can move on with their lives.