Nova not playing in the big 5 anymore

[SPK145]

Just another whiny, overpaid, college coach. There are hundreds of them.

 

[radecicco]

But he did get to S16 that’s all that matters. He still had to draw up a play to get his best player the ball in a scoring position.

 

[STLPirate12]

Wow. Willard's never been the best with the press, but I don't think I've seen him blunder a press conference like that since his early days here.

 

[Silkcity Pirate]

Wow. Willard's never been the best with the press, but I don't think I've seen him blunder a press conference like that since his early days here.

He has never been good with the press or with the public. He is a introvert.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

He is who he says he is

 

[NYShoreGuy]

And make no mistake about it if his last name was Chamberlain and he had no tie to pitino he would be coaching division III

 

[HallGuy2323]

Why don't we do an NJ big 5? RU, Princeton, SHU and picks from Monmouth, St Peters, Rider, NJIT, FDU?

We basically already do most years and it’s a waste of time and money.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

 

[NYShoreGuy]

Willard doesnt have Carino as his fixer any more

 

[dehere23]

And make no mistake about it if his last name was Chamberlain and he had no tie to pitino he would be coaching division III

Eh he’s a good coach. I was objectively critical of him here as I am all things Hall or no Hall. He wasn’t PJ - and I used to bristle at those comparisons - but he’s the next best coach we’ve had since I’ve been a fan.

 

[PirateBlue08]

Why don't we do an NJ big 5? RU, Princeton, SHU and picks from Monmouth, St Peters, Rider, NJIT, FDU?

Don't we play those schools enough already? Yawn

 

[dehere23]

We should play Rutgers annually. They are easily the biggest rival from a fan standpoint and the other high major hoops program within the state. The others - only if it makes sense for some reason.

 

[SHUSource]

Willard was getting lit up on Philly sports talk radio this morning for the brief time I was listening. Unlike when he was at Seton Hall, Villanova hoops is covered very well in this market in the traditional outlets, like network affiliate News and in the Inquirer, so when he fudges up, its noticed and he gets called out. And he became very unpopular here this week, which seems to be a trend wherever he goes. Not a likeable guy in the least. And maybe just not a good guy, period.

 

[SHUSource]

A good, even-handed listen here. Jeff Neiburg, who was the Inquirer reporter in Willard’s crosshairs, talks about it with John DiCarlo (@John DiCarlo), who expertly runs Temple’s On3/Rivals board and produces this weekly podcast. This was a bonus episode, following the usual hour-plus installment they produce each week.

Willard catches some heat, but the take on the Big 5 is also fair. Worth a listen if that is of interest to you.

 

[Halldan]

Willard doesnt have Carino as his fixer any more

 

[PirateBlue08]

A good, even-handed listen here. Jeff Neiburg, who was the Inquirer reporter in Willard’s crosshairs, talks about it with John DiCarlo (@John DiCarlo), who expertly runs Temple’s On3/Rivals board and produces this weekly podcast. This was a bonus episode, following the usual hour-plus installment they produce each week.

Willard catches some heat, but the take on the Big 5 is also fair. Worth a listen if that is of interest to you.

Speaking of root canals, yea I'm gonna listen to a podcast about Willard right after I finish watching paint dry.

 

[Piratz]

What an unnecessary situation, jeez. Everyone agrees it made no sense for Villanova to continue the current format. Money > nostalgia. Should’ve just left it at that.

 

[shupat08]

He has never been good with the press or with the public. He is a introvert.

Being introverted doesn't make you act like a jerk on a power trip embarrassing others.

 

[HallGuy2323]

What an unnecessary situation, jeez. Everyone agrees it made no sense for Villanova to continue the current format. Money > nostalgia. Should’ve just left it at that.

My lowly opinion. Play round robin as pure exhibitions and then take the 2 best and make it the first game of the regular season.

 

[hallwins]

A good, even-handed listen here. Jeff Neiburg, who was the Inquirer reporter in Willard’s crosshairs, talks about it with John DiCarlo (@John DiCarlo), who expertly runs Temple’s On3/Rivals board and produces this weekly podcast. This was a bonus episode, following the usual hour-plus installment they produce each week.

Willard catches some heat, but the take on the Big 5 is also fair. Worth a listen if that is of interest to you.

The slant of the article was that nova was destroying the big five. However, the writer says nova had made a proposal to keep the big five together on more favorable economic terms. The proposal got traction, temple and perhaps other schools decided not to sign on and went in a different direction. Importantly, he did not report that part of the story until after Willard challenged him.

Now willard could have taken the high ground an established all of this in a more professional and less condescending manner, but it was also after they got blown out by virginia in a scrimmage, and willard is challenged in press conferences to begin with

But he had a right to be upset about that article.

 

[radecicco]

The Athletic has an excellent article on this. Willard could have handled the situation better (nothing new here) but the Big 5 is an anachronism in the current environment unfortunately. The article asks the legit question: what’s better a Big 5 with a schedule more favorable to Nova or a Big 5 w/o Nova? Several of the schools decided they didn’t want Nova, the biggest brand by far.

 

[shu67]

Don't we play those schools enough already? Yawn

Sure but not always and it would be a great way to attract and keep top high school kids to stay in state? We don't get enough of the great local kids to come to the hall. It should NOT be that way. We play these schools but not in a tournament fashion that would drum up excitement, enthusiam, money etc..

 

[Silkcity Pirate]

Being introverted doesn't make you act like a jerk on a power trip embarrassing others.

I was trying to be polite. HE is a first class jerk for sure . NOT a likeable guy at all .

 

[PirateBlue08]

Sure but not always and it would be a great way to attract and keep top high school kids to stay in state? We don't get enough of the great local kids to come to the hall. It should NOT be that way. We play these schools but not in a tournament fashion that would drum up excitement, enthusiam, money etc..

I doubt that will be a factor in drawing local kids especially now. And if we can’t attract them without playing Rider and NJIT we have bigger problems anyway

 

[NYShoreGuy]

Sure but not always and it would be a great way to attract and keep top high school kids to stay in state? We don't get enough of the great local kids to come to the hall. It should NOT be that way. We play these schools but not in a tournament fashion that would drum up excitement, enthusiam, money etc..

No chance one of the dis arguments against traditional big 5 is that there are hardly any Philly kids on any rosters

 

[HallLine69]

Willard is a horse's *** who apparently feels compelled to behave like one on a regular basis.

PS - I do see the financial and competitive logic for leaving the Big Five. But he handles himself in public appearances and press conferences like a complete horse's ***. He brought success to us for sure, but he is a first class jerk.

 

[Piratz]

The slant of the article was that nova was destroying the big five. However, the writer says nova had made a proposal to keep the big five together on more favorable economic terms. The proposal got traction, temple and perhaps other schools decided not to sign on and went in a different direction. Importantly, he did not report that part of the story until after Willard challenged him.

Now willard could have taken the high ground an established all of this in a more professional and less condescending manner, but it was also after they got blown out by virginia in a scrimmage, and willard is challenged in press conferences to begin with

But he had a right to be upset about that article.

I also took the article as a hit on Nova. And this underpinning that there’s something alluring in 2026 about them playing at like a LaSakle that can’t even sell out for them.

Why Willard went nuts is weird and stupid.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

I also took the article as a hit on Nova. And this underpinning that there’s something alluring in 2026 about them playing at like a LaSakle that can’t even sell out for them.

Why Willard went nuts is weird and stupid.

All the big 5 schools had a coach's vs cancer luncheon all the head coaches attend except one school who sent the gm

 

[PhishingPirate088]

Sure but not always and it would be a great way to attract and keep top high school kids to stay in state? We don't get enough of the great local kids to come to the hall. It should NOT be that way. We play these schools but not in a tournament fashion that would drum up excitement, enthusiam, money etc..

Wow

 

[dehere23]

Sure but not always and it would be a great way to attract and keep top high school kids to stay in state? We don't get enough of the great local kids to come to the hall. It should NOT be that way. We play these schools but not in a tournament fashion that would drum up excitement, enthusiam, money etc..

Appreciate your idealism, but I completely disagree with the premise.

If we want to attract/retain top NJ HS kids (or top portal kids from NJ) to come here, the way to do it is (a) having a highly successful program that not only lives in the NCAA but wins some games there; (b) have a coach we can sell as being able to develop those kids for the next level professionally, especially the NBA, because every top player thinks that's where they are ending up (rightly or wrongly) and (c) get more NIL. We just saw Hines walk out the door for these exact reasons.

Playing those other NJ-based schools in some "Big 5-esque" tourney might be attractive and create enthusiasm for a tiny sliver of the NJ-college hoops obsessed community and those schools fan bases, but let's be real. We can't draw fans sufficient to fill the upper-bowl of the Rock even when we play the best high majors on our schedule, and we refuse to even consider opening the upper-level for most of the Big East opponents. Playing low/mid majors isn't going to do anything, nor is it going to generate significant interest when those schools collective fan bases don't really offer much and we are in a market where professional sports dominates.

As I mentioned, playing Rutgers every year is a no-brainer and should always happen. Especially because it's probably the best home crowd we get annually (and I know I'm in the minority, but in this era of revenue generation, we should open up the upper level of the Rock even if that means it gets packed with a few thousand Rutgers fans). That game typically has the most "juice" on our schedule for casual fans or even some of our more serious fans, who despise everything and anything Rutgers. For many, they are the biggest rival and the whole in-state thing carries weight. We don't need to play the others unless it fills a scheduling need for some reason.

 

[lloyde dobler]

Appreciate your idealism, but I completely disagree with the premise.

If we want to attract/retain top NJ HS kids (or top portal kids from NJ) to come here, the way to do it is (a) having a highly successful program that not only lives in the NCAA but wins some games there; (b) have a coach we can sell as being able to develop those kids for the next level professionally, especially the NBA, because every top player thinks that's where they are ending up (rightly or wrongly) and (c) get more NIL. We just saw Hines walk out the door for these exact reasons.

Playing those other NJ-based schools in some "Big 5-esque" tourney might be attractive and create enthusiasm for a tiny sliver of the NJ-college hoops obsessed community and those schools fan bases, but let's be real. We can't draw fans sufficient to fill the upper-bowl of the Rock even when we play the best high majors on our schedule, and we refuse to even consider opening the upper-level for most of the Big East opponents. Playing low/mid majors isn't going to do anything, nor is it going to generate significant interest when those schools collective fan bases don't really offer much and we are in a market where professional sports dominates.

As I mentioned, playing Rutgers every year is a no-brainer and should always happen. Especially because it's probably the best home crowd we get annually (and I know I'm in the minority, but in this era of revenue generation, we should open up the upper level of the Rock even if that means it gets packed with a few thousand Rutgers fans). That game typically has the most "juice" on our schedule for casual fans or even some of our more serious fans, who despise everything and anything Rutgers. For many, they are the biggest rival and the whole in-state thing carries weight. We don't need to play the others unless it fills a scheduling need for some reason.

You can edit this whole thing to say the Big 5 is/was a uniquely Philadelphia thing and doesn’t work anywhere else.

 

[shu67]

I think if SHU had a top level competitive program the NJ 5 thing would generate lots of media attention, fan enthusiasm, money and NJ/NY recruits. It would benefit all the NJ schools. Yeah I know pie in the sky. But if you always did what you always did you will get what you always got.....nada.

 

[lloyde dobler]

I think if SHU had a top level competitive program the NJ 5 thing would generate lots of media attention, fan enthusiasm, money and NJ/NY recruits. It would benefit all the NJ schools. Yeah I know pie in the sky. But if you always did what you always did you will get what you always got.....nada.

No it wouldn’t. And some of the other schools would have no interest for various reasons. Most notably, several would rather collect guarantee game checks around the country than play more local games.

 

[TommyD82]

No it wouldn’t. And some of the other schools would have no interest for various reasons. Most notably, several would rather collect guarantee game checks around the country than play more local games.

I think this is accurate. NJIT is getting 85k from us and even with virtually no travel costs there are schools that will pay a lot more. RU and Iowa pay almost 5 times more for games that NJIT is getting from us.

 

[TommyD82]

Willard was getting lit up on Philly sports talk radio this morning for the brief time I was listening. Unlike when he was at Seton Hall, Villanova hoops is covered very well in this market in the traditional outlets, like network affiliate News and in the Inquirer, so when he fudges up, its noticed and he gets called out. And he became very unpopular here this week, which seems to be a trend wherever he goes. Not a likeable guy in the least. And maybe just not a good guy, period.

That interview or press conference or whatever it was has to be even worse than his interview at halftime where he joked he was going to fire his staff.

 

[lloyde dobler]

I think this is accurate. NJIT is getting 85k from us and even with virtually no travel costs there are schools that will pay a lot more. RU and Iowa pay almost 5 times more for games that NJIT is getting from us.

No they don’t. The 85,000-100,000 rate is pretty standard but most of the NJ teams play a handful of guarantee games around the country that add up to a huge boost for each school. No way they would ever give that up for a NJ 5-type series.

 

[PirateBlue08]

No they don’t. The 85,000-100,000 rate is pretty standard but most of the NJ teams play a handful of guarantee games around the country that add up to a huge boost for each school. No way they would ever give that up for a NJ 5-type series.

Yea, RU paying someone half a million for a game seems insane

 

[TommyD82]

No they don’t. The 85,000-100,000 rate is pretty standard but most of the NJ teams play a handful of guarantee games around the country that add up to a huge boost for each school. No way they would ever give that up for a NJ 5-type series.

If they get the same $$ from P4 schools as from us not sure what huge boost they would be getting except potential NET. Some football buy games were mid 6 to 7 figures but under expanded conference schedules and CFP that has become less. It seems the standard rate was 85-100k even 6 years ago.

Investigating College Basketball Buy-Games

AthleticDirectorU acquired the signed, non-conference game contracts for 126 Division I schools for a total of 599 non-conference guarantee games that totaled more than $30 million in guarantees.

athleticdirectoru.com

 

[lloyde dobler]

Their huge boost is money for the athletic department. Their leagues don’t have TV deals and their ticket revenue is minuscule. They need $$$$, hence the buy games. They also play a handful of buy games apiece, not just one. Check out the schedules for any of the NJ teams not SHU, Rutgers and to a lesser degree, Princeton (who is just happy to get willing opponents, not about the money in their situation).

 

[TommyD82]

Their huge boost is money for the athletic department. Their leagues don’t have TV deals and their ticket revenue is minuscule. They need $$$$, hence the buy games. They also play a handful of buy games apiece, not just one. Check out the schedules for any of the NJ teams not SHU, Rutgers and to a lesser degree, Princeton (who is just happy to get willing opponents, not about the money in their situation).

I get that. FDU is playing Illinois, Butler Villanova and Nebraska. If they are getting $115,000 to go to Champagne Illinois how much does that cost them in travel? And do they stay out there while they also play Butler? They won't take $85,000 to play us and take the bus to Newark? Is this how far SHU basketball has fallen?