Ga Tech to hire Josh Pastner
- Thread starter Willcampbell
- Start date
I am not a fan of Pastner. I just don't think the guy can coach. He was in a bad conference with really good talent on his team and they never made any noise. To me GT could have done better but we will see how it goes.
I agree. This seems like an odd hire. Then again, Bruce Weber failed to do much at Illinois but has done okay at Kansas State, so you never know. But I still don't trust Pastner as a coach.
Your not in the little leagues any more Pastner, you better be ready for the big dogs, because the ACC isn't for the weak.
Some people go to bat for hm because they thing he did Memphis good while he was there, others think in a weak conference he underachieved. I'm in the latter. Think he's about to find out the hard way what happens when face real teams 2-3 times a week.
Some people go to bat for hm because they thing he did Memphis good while he was there, others think in a weak conference he underachieved. I'm in the latter. Think he's about to find out the hard way what happens when face real teams 2-3 times a week.
It doesn't seem like a great hire -- but, realistically, who were they going to get? My guess is that there aren't a ton of even B list coaches who would line up to take over a Ga Tech squad that doesn't have a great roster, hasn't made the tourney in 6 or 7 years, hasn't really been nationally relevant in a dozen years, and sits at the bottom of the league that has grown increasingly difficult to succeed in with the addition of the Big East schools and the rise of UVA. Even getting to the middle of the ACC is not that easy -- b/c it requires surpassing teams like Miami, Pitt, NC State, and FSU -- which are all relatively strong programs in their own right. Just look what happened to Wake -- which beat IU, UCLA, LSU, and Arkansas in the non-conference, and then badly stumbled to a 2-16 ACC record. IMO, only truly exceptional coaches (e.g., Tony Bennett, Buzz Williams) even have a shot to elevate a lower tier ACC program into the top half. The league is just too hard now. Even the afterthought programs (e.g., NC State, FSU) recruit 5* and 4* kids.
I doubt Pastner succeeds. But my guess is his competition for the job included a list of other candidates who I think would similarly fail in that position. Brian Gregory was no coaching savant; but he did make a couple NCAA tourneys at Dayton and was considered a pretty solid coach before the took the job. The fact that he didn't even come close to succeeding should tell everyone something. Personally, I think this Tech job is worse than the Memphis job that Pastner is leaving -- and the only reason Pastner is taking it is that he probably knows that he was slated to be on the hot seat next season.
I doubt Pastner succeeds. But my guess is his competition for the job included a list of other candidates who I think would similarly fail in that position. Brian Gregory was no coaching savant; but he did make a couple NCAA tourneys at Dayton and was considered a pretty solid coach before the took the job. The fact that he didn't even come close to succeeding should tell everyone something. Personally, I think this Tech job is worse than the Memphis job that Pastner is leaving -- and the only reason Pastner is taking it is that he probably knows that he was slated to be on the hot seat next season.
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Pastner will be a good coach one day. It's a learning process, and he's been gifted a few opportunities very early after graduating college because of Lute. Not sure he survives Tech, but I think he will turn the corner soon.