Should ND Just End the MBB Program?

Xray93 said:

As a lifelong fan of ND basketball it pains me to write this thread but its time to address the elephant in the room. I'd say the program is a joke but we are far past that its officially a tragedy. There is only 1 reason why the ACC hasnt kicked us out yet and its because of our football team. We have a head coach that most of this country only knows exists because he is constantly trying to fistfight officials. 6 of his 8 best players from last year quit on Shrews and will be in the transfer portal on April 7th. We have a NIL budget that is lower than many mid major programs combined with admissions that makes it basically impossible to ever transfer into this program unless you have already graduated or are coming from an ivy league school. The cherry on top? We have an adminstration that is ok with this because they are content to wait out Shrews contract instead of opening up the checkbook and either paying for him to have a team or kicking him to the curb. What's the point? If the University is alright with this than just end the program. They clearly dont care. They dont seem to want to make any changes. I cant blame these kids for leaving and I feel sorry they are the only ones with the stones to make the right decision while this ND adminstration sits on their hands and refuses to do anything to make this program competitive and wastes the careers of these players like Burton who truly wanted nothing more than to make ND a winning program again. This ND admin's gross negligence has failed them and they have failed us. I cant in good faith continue to support this program and try to get people excited about it again until changes are made and if they refuse to make changes they might as well just end the program because right now we are operating like a lower tier ivy league school that will be lucky to even sniff a NIT tournament within the next 10 years letalone an NCAA tournament.

thomasna said:

IU alums would have ended the IU football 20 years ago. I know that they are happy they didn't. You never know when fortunes are going to change but they will to varying degrees.

twalsh said:

If we took that attitude we would have abolished football at several times in our long history. Notably during the Faust and Willingam eras in rather recent history. Your understandable frustration aside, that's just not how it works.

IrishFan4Life1987 said:

Bevaqua knows Shrews is toast, but doesn't want to fire him and pay the money to get rid of the staff and then have to pay up for a new staff. They'll wait and see if he can somehow do something next season. If not, they'll get rid of him then with a lower fee. I honestly think they don't care what happens within men's bball and know it's a lost cause, hence the reason to not put more money into the NIL of the team.

IrishFan4Life1987 said:

Bevaqua knows Shrews is toast, but doesn't want to fire him and pay the money to get rid of the staff and then have to pay up for a new staff. They'll wait and see if he can somehow do something next season. If not, they'll get rid of him then with a lower fee. I honestly think they don't care what happens within men's bball and know it's a lost cause, hence the reason to not put more money into the NIL of the team.

Xray93 said:

Willingham had a .583% win percentage. Shrewsberry has a .423% and most of that is inflated by crappy nonconference opponents.

twalsh said:

In 3 seasons Willingham lost seven games by 30 or more points. Even Faust didn't do that. Willingham was a disaster on the field, and in recruiting.

Xray93 said:

IU actually opened up the checkbook and decided to take football seriously. ND needs to show they are willing to do the same for basketball which we have seen absoltely zero signs theyd care about ND bball being even remotely competitive letalone competiting for championships.

Xray93 said:

As a lifelong fan of ND basketball it pains me to write this thread but its time to address the elephant in the room. I'd say the program is a joke but we are far past that its officially a tragedy. There is only 1 reason why the ACC hasnt kicked us out yet and its because of our football team. We have a head coach that most of this country only knows exists because he is constantly trying to fistfight officials. 6 of his 8 best players from last year quit on Shrews and will be in the transfer portal on April 7th. We have a NIL budget that is lower than many mid major programs combined with admissions that makes it basically impossible to ever transfer into this program unless you have already graduated or are coming from an ivy league school. The cherry on top? We have an adminstration that is ok with this because they are content to wait out Shrews contract instead of opening up the checkbook and either paying for him to have a team or kicking him to the curb. What's the point? If the University is alright with this than just end the program. They clearly dont care. They dont seem to want to make any changes. I cant blame these kids for leaving and I feel sorry they are the only ones with the stones to make the right decision while this ND adminstration sits on their hands and refuses to do anything to make this program competitive and wastes the careers of these players like Burton who truly wanted nothing more than to make ND a winning program again. This ND admin's gross negligence has failed them and they have failed us. I cant in good faith continue to support this program and try to get people excited about it again until changes are made and if they refuse to make changes they might as well just end the program because right now we are operating like a lower tier ivy league school that will be lucky to even sniff a NIT tournament within the next 10 years letalone an NCAA tournament.

PortND said:

Would they have done it without Cignetti? You need a HC who shows worth the support and as long as Shrews is the HC what's the point? The HC has to lead it and show committed to winning and the University and play a good fundamentally sound program and the dollars will follow.

thomasna said:

IU alums would have ended the IU football 20 years ago. I know that they are happy they didn't. You never know when fortunes are going to change but they will to varying degrees.

Mike Singer said:

Congrats xray, you made it to the On3 megaboard! https://www.on3.com/megaboard/

Xray93 said:

As a lifelong fan of ND basketball it pains me to write this thread but its time to address the elephant in the room. I'd say the program is a joke but we are far past that its officially a tragedy. There is only 1 reason why the ACC hasnt kicked us out yet and its because of our football team. We have a head coach that most of this country only knows exists because he is constantly trying to fistfight officials. 6 of his 8 best players from last year quit on Shrews and will be in the transfer portal on April 7th. We have a NIL budget that is lower than many mid major programs combined with admissions that makes it basically impossible to ever transfer into this program unless you have already graduated or are coming from an ivy league school. The cherry on top? We have an adminstration that is ok with this because they are content to wait out Shrews contract instead of opening up the checkbook and either paying for him to have a team or kicking him to the curb. What's the point? If the University is alright with this than just end the program. They clearly dont care. They dont seem to want to make any changes. I cant blame these kids for leaving and I feel sorry they are the only ones with the stones to make the right decision while this ND adminstration sits on their hands and refuses to do anything to make this program competitive and wastes the careers of these players like Burton who truly wanted nothing more than to make ND a winning program again. This ND admin's gross negligence has failed them and they have failed us. I cant in good faith continue to support this program and try to get people excited about it again until changes are made and if they refuse to make changes they might as well just end the program because right now we are operating like a lower tier ivy league school that will be lucky to even sniff a NIT tournament within the next 10 years letalone an NCAA tournament.

Rich Starkey said:

I think they should end the baseball program. If they’re not going to be on TV then what’s the use? They abolished the troughs in the stadium and then they started selling beer. Its hard to make sense of anything anymore.

twalsh said:

If we took that attitude we would have abolished football at several times in our long history. Notably during the Faust and Willingam eras in rather recent history. Your understandable frustration aside, that's just not how it works.

IrishFan4Life1987 said:

Bevaqua knows Shrews is toast, but doesn't want to fire him and pay the money to get rid of the staff and then have to pay up for a new staff. They'll wait and see if he can somehow do something next season. If not, they'll get rid of him then with a lower fee. I honestly think they don't care what happens within men's bball and know it's a lost cause, hence the reason to not put more money into the NIL of the team.