Arizona gets an A- for hiring Sean Miller, Memphis a D for promoting Josh Pastner and Kentucky a B for snaring John Calipari, according to a report card handed out by Jon Wilner of College Sports Hotline.
While Miller isn't the sexy hire that was promised by Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood, it was a solid choice. Wilner writes: "One of the top young coaches in the game, Miller has his work cut out: Not only must he orchestrate a massive talent upgrade, he must match wits with a superb lineup of Pac-10 coaches. There's also the matter of his future: Is he committed to Tucson for five years or more, or will he bolt to the Big East/ACC the first chance he gets?"
Pastner is the shakiest of the hires. "A huge risk for Memphis given that Pastner’s 31, has never been a head coach, is following Calipari and is losing many of the Tigers' best players and best recruits. He’ll work hard, but that's only the start: He has to hire a veteran to help with the X's and Os, then pray to the basketball gods," Wilner writes.
As for Calipari, here's what Wilner wrote: "Why only a 'B'? Because of Calipari's baggage. If the NCAA doesn't visit Lexington during his tenure, this is a terrific hire. (I expect a visit.)"
The Sean Miller hire deserves a grade of A, not just A-. Besides his talent as a coach, look at what Miller has done as a recruiter during his first week as Head Wildcat--two four star recruits, a center and a versatile forward, with the promise of much more to come to help make the Cats competitive next season and a genuine contender on the national scale by Season 3. Given the unfortunate state of affairs due to Lute Olson's long days' journey into night, Sean Miller is exactly the right answer.
Posted by: Hank Plog | April 16, 2009 at 11:31 AM