Mike Fitz Column: It should be tourney or bust for Collins

[7th Cir. Cat]

We’re talking comparatively between available choices. As in why would someone take the NU job over USC for example, if the assumption is that NU is so challenging that it is a career killer. Collins wasn’t going to go from Duke to Appalachian State. He would be at another P6 program if not at NU. The NU job has no significant advantages in pay, media, or prestige when compared against its peers. So my point is that taking the NU job, based on what you are arguing, would have been *solely* for the challenge of it, since it has no other major benefits when compared to a peer job, outside of location I suppose. A job so challenging that it has a chance of derailing your entire career. That’s just not what rational people do, even those that enjoy challenges. Therefore the conclusion is that either Collins was delusional and wrong about the depth of the challenge that NU presented, or the challenges of the program are overblown and the reason for Collins’ struggles are that he’s not very good at coaching.

You make good points, but there is one key factor that you’re leaving out: Collins is from Chicago! Why would someone take NU over USC with everything else being equal? they wouldn’t. But everything was not equal, Collins is from here, his dad was the coach of the Bulls, it was a chance for him to come home (and make millions) AND climb the Everest of college basketball.

my original point is that the NU job offers a draw for the right candidate AND at the same time its a very very difficult place to win consistently

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Ok - replace climbing Everest with choosing a career like being a Navy Seal or an astronaut. Some people want to do REALLY hard things. If you are smart enough to become an astronaut, then you could likely have career options that would be lucrative that are less hazardous and will pay you the same or more money. For some people the challenge is part of the draw

Do those astronauts and Navy Seals sit for 13 years as one of several assistants to the other astronauts and Navy Seals?

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

Do those astronauts and Navy Seals sit for 13 years as one of several assistants to the other astronauts and Navy Seals?

Depends. I actually know a Navy SEAL and they do come from other “hard” and selective professions (CIA, Air Force PJs etc). My point was that really driven, smart, and talented people sometimes WANT to take a job that is insanely difficult. And these people had other options but chose a more difficult path.

 

[CatManTrue]

This is a fair piece. Last year I thought this would be the make or break season.

But given how close this team is, I’m now in favor of another season assuming most of the team returns.

There have been coaching mistakes in the close games, player mistakes, but crucially some terrible officiating calls.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

This is a fair piece. Last year I thought this would be the make or break season.

But given how close this team is, I’m now in favor of another season assuming most of the team returns.

There have been coaching mistakes in the close games, player mistakes, but crucially some terrible officiating calls.

You've heard the phrase "Hope springs eternal" right?