Does Paris make it through the season?

[18IsTheMan]

Wondering how long Donati would wait to pull the plug if the season goes as it's looking. We'll probably enter conference play 9-4 whereas last year we were 10-3. Unless there's some kind of magic transformation like we pulled of '96, it's hard to see anything better than last year's record. Based on the moves with the football team, I don't think Donati is messing around. If we start 0-5 in conference play, which is a distinct possibility, would that do it?

I think the cake is baked for Paris at this point. Again, unless this team does a spectacular transformation when the schedule hits conference play, it's impossible to see Paris surviving 4-14, 2-16 and something comparable in conference play this season. It's just matter of when to do it.

If nothing seems to click in the first few conference games, what's the point in waiting?

 

[3USC1801]

I think you are right. Donati will probably move on from him this year if the results are similar to last year. There may be less pressure in basketball but “the brand” can only suffer so much.

 

[Piscis]

I doubt he fires him mid season. Nothing to be gained monetarily and creates turmoil.

Also, be honest, how many people really care a lot about men's basketball at South Carolina? If they are doing well, fans will turn out and be excited but, if they aren't doing well, the vast majority shrug and do something else.

 

[Legal_fowl]

A week ago I would have said yes. Now, I'm not so sure. We looked hapless on offense last night. If we go winless in the SEC through January anything is possible.

 

[Lurker123]

I wouldn't object, but I wonder what the benefit would be? Fire him mid season, and we get a head start on the hiring process? We can do that behind closed doors.

Would it sway recruits to stay, or some recruits to look at us? Probably not until the new guy is signed.

So I would be real ambivalent about it.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I wouldn't object, but I wonder what the benefit would be? Fire him mid season, and we get a head start on the hiring process? We can do that behind closed doors.

Would it sway recruits to stay, or some recruits to look at us? Probably not until the new guy is signed.

So I would be real ambivalent about it.

But football coaches get fired this season all the time. What’s the difference?

 

[Legal_fowl]

But football coaches get fired this season all the time. What’s the difference?

Basketball takes 5 starters. Football takes 22 plus special teams. A really good basketball coach can put together a good team faster and easier than a football coach.

 

[Lurker123]

But football coaches get fired this season all the time. What’s the difference?

I was thinking that exact thing as I typed.

Other than giving the interim coacha shot, does it really do any good?

 

[StickyBandit]

i don’t see him making it after this season. This is so reminiscent of Darrin Horn….

 

[18IsTheMan]

I was thinking that exact thing as I typed.

Other than giving the interim coacha shot, does it really do any good?

Presumably gives you a head start on the coach search, as you noted above. You can openly and freely look as opposed to have be cloak and dagger. I guess it shows decisiveness.

 

[will110]

I'm not sure what the benefit to firing him midseason would be. I would bet he makes it to March and gets canned then..

 

[18IsTheMan]

I'm not sure what the benefit to firing him midseason would be. I would bet he makes it to March and gets canned then..

on the other hand, what's the benefit to letting him finish the season when it becomes readily apparent to all that he's going to be fired?

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

Who is the potential target as LP's replacement?

 

[18IsTheMan]

Who is the potential target as LP's replacement?

My unpopular opinion, again, is Gregg Marshall.

Had Winthrop in the NCAAT in 7 out of 9 years there. They had never gone before he arrived and have been 4x in the 17 years since he left.

Wichita State had been to 1 NCAAT in the 19 years prior to his arrival. He took them to 7 in a row.

Yeah, yeah, I know he's probably not a sweetheart. Not sure why our fans have always been so concerned about that. You think LSU fans have any misgivings about hiring the biggest douchebag in all of college football?

Bottom line is: Marshall can coach basketball and gets to the NCAAT.

It's not like our basketball team is some highly valued brand that would be tarnished by the PR that comes with hiring him. 100% worth the risk in my opinion. We won 2 conference games last season and 4 games two seasons ago. This season is not shaping up much better. What do we really have to lose?

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

My unpopular opinion, again, is Gregg Marshall.

Had Winthrop in the NCAAT in 7 out of 9 years there. They had never gone before he arrived and have been 4x in the 17 years since he left.

Wichita State had been to 1 NCAAT in the 19 years prior to his arrival. He took them to 7 in a row.

Yeah, yeah, I know he's probably not a sweetheart. Not sure why our fans have always been so concerned about that. You think LSU fans have any misgivings about hiring the biggest douchebag in all of college football?

Bottom line is: Marshall can coach basketball and gets to the NCAAT.

It's not like our basketball team is some highly valued brand that would be tarnished by the PR that comes with hiring him. 100% worth the risk in my opinion. We won 2 conference games last season and 4 games two seasons ago. This season is not shaping up much better. What do we really have to lose?

I understand completely. Sweetheart personalities do not equal winning seasons.
Speaking of LSU, look at their WBB Coach. But they don't care because she does produce playoff championship teams.

 

[Piscis]

My unpopular opinion, again, is Gregg Marshall.

Had Winthrop in the NCAAT in 7 out of 9 years there. They had never gone before he arrived and have been 4x in the 17 years since he left.

Wichita State had been to 1 NCAAT in the 19 years prior to his arrival. He took them to 7 in a row.

Yeah, yeah, I know he's probably not a sweetheart. Not sure why our fans have always been so concerned about that. You think LSU fans have any misgivings about hiring the biggest douchebag in all of college football?

Bottom line is: Marshall can coach basketball and gets to the NCAAT.

It's not like our basketball team is some highly valued brand that would be tarnished by the PR that comes with hiring him. 100% worth the risk in my opinion. We won 2 conference games last season and 4 games two seasons ago. This season is not shaping up much better. What do we really have to lose?

Spurrier was/is a monumental a**hole but no one seemed to mind as long as he was winning. Kirby can be pretty prickly too, probably picked that up from Saban, but UGA fans love him. If he had a couple 4 or 5 loss seasons, he might need to develop a more pleasant demeanor. Richt kept his job years longer than he should have by being a "good man".

If Marshall came here and won consistently, no one would care about his personality. They would find it charming.

 

[will110]

on the other hand, what's the benefit to letting him finish the season when it becomes readily apparent to all that he's going to be fired?

Not sure it really matters either way. I have a hard time seeing the value in firing a coach early to "search" for the next guy. I think that just adds more pressure to make a quick hire. Look at Penn State...that coaching search didn't go very well. Meanwhile UK fired Stoops and had their guy in 24 hours.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I understand completely. Sweetheart personalities do not equal winning seasons.
Speaking of LSU, look at their WBB Coach. But they don't care because she does produce playoff championship teams.

Spurrier was/is a monumental a**hole but no one seemed to mind as long as he was winning. Kirby can be pretty prickly too, probably picked that up from Saban, but UGA fans love him. If he had a couple 4 or 5 loss seasons, he might need to develop a more pleasant demeanor. Richt kept his job years longer than he should have by being a "good man".

If Marshall came here and won consistently, no one would care about his personality. They would find it charming.

I only mention Marshall b/c he's an NCAAT machine, he can win with less, he's available, probably attainable, probably would like a shot at redemption and is a SC native.

He's 62, so it would be akin to hiring SOS, but I would argue our basketball program is in about the same condition, probably worse.

There would likely be a week or so of bad press, if even that. I don't think our basketball team would warrant much uproar from the press. Now, if it was Duke or UNC, different story. It would be a huge deal. But we are totally irrelevant as a program. When he got us to the tournament, ESPN loves both a takedown and a redemption story, so they would be all over it.

What is there to lose from hiring him?

 

[Piscis]

Not sure it really matters either way. I have a hard time seeing the value in firing a coach early to "search" for the next guy. I think that just adds more pressure to make a quick hire. Look at Penn State...that coaching search didn't go very well. Meanwhile UK fired Stoops and had their guy in 24 hours.

A competent AD should have a list of candidates for all coaching positions at all times that is updated constantly. They never know when a coach might leave for another job, get sick, die, etc..

 

[will110]

My unpopular opinion, again, is Gregg Marshall.

Had Winthrop in the NCAAT in 7 out of 9 years there. They had never gone before he arrived and have been 4x in the 17 years since he left.

Wichita State had been to 1 NCAAT in the 19 years prior to his arrival. He took them to 7 in a row.

Yeah, yeah, I know he's probably not a sweetheart. Not sure why our fans have always been so concerned about that. You think LSU fans have any misgivings about hiring the biggest douchebag in all of college football?

Bottom line is: Marshall can coach basketball and gets to the NCAAT.

It's not like our basketball team is some highly valued brand that would be tarnished by the PR that comes with hiring him. 100% worth the risk in my opinion. We won 2 conference games last season and 4 games two seasons ago. This season is not shaping up much better. What do we really have to lose?

I don't think Marshall would be a very good hire these days. He left Wichita State in 2020 with a ton of off-court baggage. He's never dealt with NIL or a transfer portal. He's 62.

I wonder if he'd just be another Paul Mainieri, though a slightly younger version with more baggage.

 

[Piscis]

I only mention Marshall b/c he's an NCAAT machine, he can win with less, he's available, probably attainable, probably would like a shot at redemption and is a SC native.

He's 62, so it would be akin to hiring SOS, but I would argue our basketball program is in about the same condition, probably worse.

He is from Greenwood, so he might meet the most important job requirement. He might want to be here.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I don't think Marshall would be a very good hire these days. He left Wichita State in 2020 with a ton of off-court baggage. He's never dealt with NIL or a transfer portal. He's 62.

I wonder if he'd just be another Paul Mainieri, though a slightly younger version with more baggage.

Yeah, I addressed the baggage issue. We are not a relevant enough program to warrant much outrage from the press. And that was 6 years ago now that he left. There was no sexual assault or anything like that. Basically, he was just a jerk to players and assistants.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

He is from Greenwood, so he might meet the most important job requirement. He might want to be here.

He was born here but I don't think he grew up in Greenwood.

 

[will110]

Yeah, I addressed the baggage issue. We are not a relevant enough program to warrant much outrage from the press. And that was 6 years ago now that he left. There was no sexual assault or anything like that. Basically, he was just a jerk to players and assistants.

I'm not saying the baggage is why he shouldn't be hired, I'm saying all of those different pieces together are why he shouldn't be hired. If he were 52 instead of 62, or if he had resigned in 2023 instead of 2020, or if didn't have the baggage, perhaps. But he no longer seems like a great candidate to me.

Punching a player or trying to choke an assistant arises beyond just being a jerk, by the way.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I'm not saying the baggage is why he shouldn't be hired, I'm saying all of those different pieces together are why he shouldn't be hired. If he were 52 instead of 62, or if he had resigned in 2023 instead of 2020, or if didn't have the baggage, perhaps. But he no longer seems like a great candidate to me.

Punching a player or trying to choke an assistant arises beyond just being a jerk, by the way.

Well, it was never proved.

 

[will110]

Well, it was never proved.

Either way there should be better candidates to navigate a college basketball world that is drastically different than the one Marshall left 5 years ago.

 

[gamecock stock]

Well, it was never proved.

I long ago advocated to hire Marshall. And I would be happy if he was hired for next season. But I don't see that happening.

 

[Cockofdawn]

Without reading all the responses, I say YES he does (he shouldnt) but he will be done after this Year's 15-17 campaign..

 

[VidaliaGamecock]

Wondering how long Donati would wait to pull the plug if the season goes as it's looking. We'll probably enter conference play 9-4 whereas last year we were 10-3. Unless there's some kind of magic transformation like we pulled of '96, it's hard to see anything better than last year's record. Based on the moves with the football team, I don't think Donati is messing around. If we start 0-5 in conference play, which is a distinct possibility, would that do it?

I think the cake is baked for Paris at this point. Again, unless this team does a spectacular transformation when the schedule hits conference play, it's impossible to see Paris surviving 4-14, 2-16 and something comparable in conference play this season. It's just matter of when to do it.

If nothing seems to click in the first few conference games, what's the point in waiting?

Hope not, but this is South Carolina...

 

[USCEE82]

Yes, because Beams did.

 

[KingWard]

Does Paris make it through the season?​

Yes. But the season will be comparatively short.

 

[1vagamecock]

Wonder what @Viennacock
Thinks about this. He's a big supporter of his.
Of course it would be best if coach could turn this around as that would be the shortest route to success.

 

[Viennacock]

Wonder what @Viennacock
Thinks about this. He's a big supporter of his.
Of course it would be best if coach could turn this around as that would be the shortest route to success.

I am pulling for him and think he's the right man for the job. Only time will tell.

 

[BeamerBall90]

I definitely don’t think a mid year firing is an option in place at all. Maybe at the end of the season but I doubt it. I think he gets another season based on success 2 years ago. Could all change based on coaches who are available, but don’t see a change coming yet. I’d need to see a big name guy coming to jump ship. If so, do it, just have to wait and see.

 

[Piscis]

I definitely don’t think a mid year firing is an option in place at all. Maybe at the end of the season but I doubt it. I think he gets another season based on success 2 years ago. Could all change based on coaches who are available, but don’t see a change coming yet. I’d need to see a big name guy coming to jump ship. If so, do it, just have to wait and see.

How do you get a big name guy to come if you don't fire Paris? I have a hard time seeing a "big name guy" calling Donati out of the blue and saying he would like to come if Donati would fire Paris.

With the portal and NIL, two years ago might as well be 10 years ago. Another abysmal season and Donati pretty well has to fire Paris, especially if the arena is mostly empty.