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Post by jimshackelford on Mar 7, 2020 15:58:52 GMT -6
I have always believed that it was Spencer and the MVC Commissioner that we’re responsible for UE not getting an At Larger or NIT Bid when we lost on the last second shot to NIU. We had the # 1 scorer, rebounder, and shot blockers in the Country.
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Post by aceschamps6571 on Mar 7, 2020 17:23:26 GMT -6
I have always believed that it was Spencer and the MVC Commissioner that we’re responsible for UE not getting an At Larger or NIT Bid when we lost on the last second shot to NIU. We had the # 1 scorer, rebounder, and shot blockers in the Country. Giddy was the national rebounding leader that season and DJ was the MVC scoring leader, but not the national leader. He was 23rd in the country. Wichita State, and I am not a fan, was far more deserving of an at large that season, and they were one of the last to get in, having to go to Dayton for a First 4 play in game. The Aces had to win the automatic bid to get in, and came close. When every conference in the country tries to get as many teams in as possible, and a bid would have been huge for his school, you're saying you believe the conference leader and our own AD worked to keep UE out? The Aces were not even considered as a "bubble" team. As for the NIT, I remember checking through that ensuing week at the various bracketologists, and Evansville started that week as 7 and 8 seeds in the various brackets, meaning one of the last 4-8 teams. As several regular season champions lost in their conference tournaments, and I don't remember the exact total but seems like there were around 13, they got automatic NIT bids and knocked teams like UE out. Valpo in the Horizon League was one of those champions who dropped into the NIT.
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Post by E-Villan on Mar 7, 2020 18:52:33 GMT -6
I have always believed that it was Spencer and the MVC Commissioner that we’re responsible for UE not getting an At Larger or NIT Bid when we lost on the last second shot to NIU. We had the # 1 scorer, rebounder, and shot blockers in the Country. Unless Spencer was solely responsible for the non-con schedule that year, he had nothing to do with it. Elgin? Considering the conference gets shares for each NCAA game a member plays in, why would he try to keep one from participating? There are two reasons for no "N" bid that year, which was a real shame. 1. Marty's pathetically weak scheduling, the only decent possible win was a mediocre Arkansas team, which of course beat us. 2. Marty stubornness to alter his gameplan, which Jacobson could read like a large printed book. Only after the large, first half deficit, did he make any adjustments. Maybe a minute earlier.........
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Post by ibleedpurple on Mar 9, 2020 19:10:06 GMT -6
I have always believed that it was Spencer and the MVC Commissioner that we’re responsible for UE not getting an At Larger or NIT Bid when we lost on the last second shot to NIU. We had the # 1 scorer, rebounder, and shot blockers in the Country. Unless Spencer was solely responsible for the non-con schedule that year, he had nothing to do with it. Elgin? Considering the conference gets shares for each NCAA game a member plays in, why would he try to keep one from participating? There are two reasons for no "N" bid that year, which was a real shame. 1. Marty's pathetically weak scheduling, the only decent possible win was a mediocre Arkansas team, which of course beat us. 2. Marty stubornness to alter his gameplan, which Jacobson could read like a large printed book. Only after the large, first half deficit, did he make any adjustments. Maybe a minute earlier......... I agree with this but one additional point needs to be made. Marty worked for the AD. The AD allowed Simmons to schedule all the cupcakes in the non conference portion to pad his career win total, pure and simple. His thinking was more like I want to go 22-8 vs 19-11 as an example which proved to be the downfall in missing out on the NIT which should have been a lock starting that season barring any injuries. This is on Simmons but also on the AD. The year after this Simmons should have been let go and this again was the AD but the former Prez may have blocked it for whatever his reasons, all speculation but....
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Post by evilleman on Mar 11, 2020 8:19:38 GMT -6
Not a big Spencer fan. Gotta say though that new baseball field is sharp as hell.
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Post by E-Villan on Mar 11, 2020 9:25:31 GMT -6
Not a big Spencer fan. Gotta say though that new baseball field is sharp as hell. It is indeed. That is where I am conflicted on Spencer. The production of the basketball teams this season certainly warrants a hard examination of his ability. Much more than an edited video of him throwing a soccer fan out of a game. With that said. we have made some significant improvements in the last few years of our facilities, and found more money for current coaches and budgets. Is Spencer doing those things? I have no idea. I know Lance felt like he was responsible for bringing the money in as Assistant AD. He may have. I have met Lance, and there is no nicer guy, or bigger UE fan in town than him. His position being eliminated is another reason to examine the current staff. You simply find money for a guy like Lance. Which brings up another point I have seen posted, what about Lance as AD? On the surface, I love it. Again, this guy bleeds purple, and is certainly capable of pressing flesh, kissing babies and gravitating boosters and fans. My concern though would be is he tough enough. There are coaches that need to be removed immediately, and others that need to have expectations clearly laid out for them. Not sure he is the guy for that. That's why I liked him and Spencer working together, they are pretty much opposite personalities.
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Post by stennisrm72 on Mar 11, 2020 9:56:58 GMT -6
Not a big Spencer fan. Gotta say though that new baseball field is sharp as hell. It is indeed. That is where I am conflicted on Spencer. The production of the basketball teams this season certainly warrants a hard examination of his ability. Much more than an edited video of him throwing a soccer fan out of a game. With that said. we have made some significant improvements in the last few years of our facilities, and found more money for current coaches and budgets. Is Spencer doing those things? I have no idea. I know Lance felt like he was responsible for bringing the money in as Assistant AD. He may have. I have met Lance, and there is no nicer guy, or bigger UE fan in town than him. His position being eliminated is another reason to examine the current staff. You simply find money for a guy like Lance. Which brings up another point I have seen posted, what about Lance as AD? On the surface, I love it. Again, this guy bleeds purple, and is certainly capable of pressing flesh, kissing babies and gravitating boosters and fans. My concern though would be is he tough enough. There are coaches that need to be removed immediately, and others that need to have expectations clearly laid out for them. Not sure he is the guy for that. That's why I liked him and Spencer working together, they are pretty much opposite personalities. The proposition for Lance as AD is an interesting one. I agree with your on his known love for the Aces. My concern is does he have the knowledge/experience to run a multi-million dollar athletic department? I don't think so. Love him as an advocate for the program and fundraiser. Love him as the PxP guy. I'd love to see him back in both those capacities. I agree, you find the money somewhere.
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Post by acepurple84 on Mar 11, 2020 9:57:21 GMT -6
I see that UE opened up the new Stadium with a win over IU. That is promising.
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Post by db1972 on Mar 11, 2020 18:39:42 GMT -6
@everybody all aboard the Lance train, I must disagree. I have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with him on multiple occasions, and I do not want him anywhere near our athletic department. He struck me as a very slimy individual who was not to be trusted. (That's based on a specific personal experience I have had with him, maybe I just got him on a bad day but...) I have also heard reports that he was fantastic at schmoozing with the boosters but terrible at actually doing anything useful in an office setting.
Setting my personal ill-givings aside, it would not be the end of the world if he were to return in some sort of fan-engagement role since everybody else seems to really like him. But I think he would be about 10x worse than Spencer at actually running the ship (which is saying something since I'm on the fire Spencer train)
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Post by ncace on Mar 11, 2020 20:31:13 GMT -6
Lance was in the right role as asst. AD, IMHO. I don’t see him as a fit for a D1 AD job at UE or elsewhere, but HE IS A GOOD PERSON, and I wish he had been retained on staff. At the same time, Spencer is not the right guy to be AD. WE DON’t have to settle. There are a number of qualified people who have the right combo of organizational skills and personality.
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Post by E-Villan on Mar 11, 2020 21:54:18 GMT -6
I brought up in another thread that Butler began the ascent when Barry Collier returned as AD. What do you guys think about Jim Crews in that role? He is certainly still respected in the Evansville community, and knows the importance of the program, with a deep respect for the history of it.
Too old? Enjoying retirement?
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Post by acepurple84 on Mar 12, 2020 5:22:28 GMT -6
I brought up in another thread that Butler began the ascent when Barry Collier returned as AD. What do you guys think about Jim Crews in that role? He is certainly still respected in the Evansville community, and knows the importance of the program, with a deep respect for the history of it. Too old? Enjoying retirement? I like, but you are probably right. He is enjoying retirement.
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Post by ad1770 on Mar 12, 2020 7:40:44 GMT -6
I brought up in another thread that Butler began the ascent when Barry Collier returned as AD. What do you guys think about Jim Crews in that role? He is certainly still respected in the Evansville community, and knows the importance of the program, with a deep respect for the history of it. Too old? Enjoying retirement? I believe Crews would be perfect in the role. He could do it for a few years, get things going the right way, and then pass the role on to another. Would be perfect.
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Post by Tom Servo on Mar 12, 2020 8:13:39 GMT -6
I like the Crews idea. I think he understands what a coach needs from an AD to be successful (remember he loved Byers and as soon as Byers retired it seemed Crews wasn't the same).
Only thing with Crews though - the first thing he would do is re-hire Simmons as the coach if they let him or someone similar. He would never, ever have hired someone like McCarty as the coach (he would have said he's all style and no substance - which is pretty much what he was). What would be perfect is if he would be able to find a young version of himself.
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Post by stennisrm72 on Mar 12, 2020 8:26:13 GMT -6
I like the Crews idea. I think he understands what a coach needs from an AD to be successful (remember he loved Byers and as soon as Byers retired it seemed Crews wasn't the same).
Only thing with Crews though - the first thing he would do is re-hire Simmons as the coach if they let him or someone similar. He would never, ever have hired someone like McCarty as the coach (he would have said he's all style and no substance - which is pretty much what he was). What would be perfect is if he would be able to find a young version of himself. I kinda like the idea also. The full circle on your last comment comes to Calbert and Marcus Wilson. Unfortunately I don't think he'd (Crews) be interested.
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