1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
I just posted this in another thread (the reaction to Lickliter hire thread), so apologize for double-posting this, but I wanted to make sureyou guys see it and get your thoughts.
Initially I was concerned. Probably moreso than I should've been until I heard McCaffery speak at the press conference, so I fully admit that I prematurely reacted yesterday to the news of the hire. Today, I have quickly warmed up to it, much like I did with the Lickliter hire. Yes, I was worried initially about the Lickliter hire and then I warmed up to that hire as well in the next day or so, but I like to consider myself a little wiser this time around, and here are the differences I see between Lickliter and McCaffery:
1. McCaffery's teams will run and press, unlike Lick's teams. I.E. More interesting to watch
2. McCaffery will reach out and establish AAU connections and whatever else he can (minus the dirty part of the AAU business) to get recruits
3. McCaffery will play whatever defense etc. is called for by the situation instead of sticking to a principle no matter what (i.e. - We are a man-to-man team. PERIOD. None of that with this coach.)
4. McCaffery relates to his players (having the team over for the NBA draft, for example) and be there for his players
5. McCaffery says he won't bench a player because they make a mistake, and will let them play and learn
6. McCaffery will show fire and intensity on the sidelines
7. McCaffery has spent time (as an assistant) in the Big East, so is familiar with life in a high-major conference, and knows what it means to compete in that type of league
Am I missing anything? I don't think we can say ANY of that for Lickliter, can we? McCaffery seems to be the anti-Lickliter in every sense of the word, and I have to admit that I am liking him very much at this point.
It's VERY easy to say this now, with Lickliter bombing out and getting fired, and before McCaffery has coached a single game for us yet, but at present, I am liking this hire better than the Lickliter hire, and I feel like there are legit reasons to feel that way.
Will it pan out? I hope so, and time will tell, but the list above are the things already that I like better about McCaffery as compared to Lickliter.
Initially I was concerned. Probably moreso than I should've been until I heard McCaffery speak at the press conference, so I fully admit that I prematurely reacted yesterday to the news of the hire. Today, I have quickly warmed up to it, much like I did with the Lickliter hire. Yes, I was worried initially about the Lickliter hire and then I warmed up to that hire as well in the next day or so, but I like to consider myself a little wiser this time around, and here are the differences I see between Lickliter and McCaffery:
1. McCaffery's teams will run and press, unlike Lick's teams. I.E. More interesting to watch
2. McCaffery will reach out and establish AAU connections and whatever else he can (minus the dirty part of the AAU business) to get recruits
3. McCaffery will play whatever defense etc. is called for by the situation instead of sticking to a principle no matter what (i.e. - We are a man-to-man team. PERIOD. None of that with this coach.)
4. McCaffery relates to his players (having the team over for the NBA draft, for example) and be there for his players
5. McCaffery says he won't bench a player because they make a mistake, and will let them play and learn
6. McCaffery will show fire and intensity on the sidelines
7. McCaffery has spent time (as an assistant) in the Big East, so is familiar with life in a high-major conference, and knows what it means to compete in that type of league
Am I missing anything? I don't think we can say ANY of that for Lickliter, can we? McCaffery seems to be the anti-Lickliter in every sense of the word, and I have to admit that I am liking him very much at this point.
It's VERY easy to say this now, with Lickliter bombing out and getting fired, and before McCaffery has coached a single game for us yet, but at present, I am liking this hire better than the Lickliter hire, and I feel like there are legit reasons to feel that way.
Will it pan out? I hope so, and time will tell, but the list above are the things already that I like better about McCaffery as compared to Lickliter.
