Antigua out at USF

[bac2therac]

fired in the midst of a 6-7 season, his third after going 23-55. The program is being investigated for academic fraud.

This is probably THE worst job of all Power 5 plus the next 3 of AAC/BigEast/MWC. I do not care what kinds of money and facilities they through at the program. Its a graveyard and unlike Rutgers it does not have potential. They almost had it going with Stan Heath who bolted after making an unlikely NCAA tournament appearance after a surprising Big East season,

 

[MADHAT1]

Murry Bartow USF's interim HC has a lifetime HC record of 327-238 at UAB (103-83) and East Tennessee State (224-169)
His father was Gene Bartow who succeeded John Wooden at UCLA
Wouldn't be surprised if he stayed on until USF finds out what the NCAA has planned for them. if the investigation drags on past this season
But I read that UCLA's David Grace would take the job in a heartbeat.

 

[Russ Wood]

Actually the USF job has a lot of potential. Lots of talent in within a four hour drive of their campus for a coach who knows how to build a program AND will recruit the state of Florida. They only have two kids on their roster who went to HS in Florida. Seth Greenberg had success there and parlayed that into getting the Virginia Tech job.

Also, Heath didn't bolt, he was fired after back to back 12 win seasons. Largely due to poor recruiting. I know of two kids, currently at a D2 school, who were invited on unofficial visits and nobody on the staff had ever seen them play.

 

[bac2therac]

they were wrong to fire Heath, who did they think they would get better. I just think its a bad job, no history, the conference is okay but falling in stock. Central Florida to me is the program with the most potential. Now they have fraud issues to deal with which will likely doom the program a few more years. Why would you go there if you are talent, plenty of other Florida schools to go with or even better leave the state

 

[mikefla]

I had a little time and took a look at how many players FROM Fla even play for Fla teams

6-7 USF . 2 Fla kids .......0 starters ..starters ..PA, ND, MI, KS, NYC
11-3 UF ...5 Fla kids... ....1 starter.....other 4 ...VA, ARK, CAL, Nigeria
11-2 Miami 3 Fla kids.... .1 starter,,, top 2 players are from NY and NJ
14-1 FSU 5 Fla kids.......2 starters...other 3.... MASS, ONT, LVegas

FSU, MIAMI, UF and USF seem to attract players from all over USA

 

[Russ Wood]

they were wrong to fire Heath, who did they think they would get better. I just think its a bad job, no history, the conference is okay but falling in stock. Central Florida to me is the program with the most potential. Now they have fraud issues to deal with which will likely doom the program a few more years. Why would you go there if you are talent, plenty of other Florida schools to go with or even better leave the state

I like Coach Heath personally but he caught lighting in a bottle with a couple of transfers and got into the NCAA Tournament.

One could make the case that Heath had the program headed in the right direction but then his Associate HC (and best recruiter) left, another assistant and an Ops guy were thrown under a bus after a 12 win season. The new hires were bad, recruiting suffered. The NCAA show up to interview Heath, an assistant and a player (who later transferred) about his recruitment.

The team looked bad the next season (another 12 win season) and at times it appeared players were not running the plays Heath called.

Massielo accepted the job but had falsified his resume so USF went to plan B...Dave Rice...who passed on the job. Then onto plan C...Antigua.

Coaches I have been told that would listen to USF are Andy Kennedy and Richard Pitino. I heard both names three years ago.
Coaches I think would be good at USF include Matt Driscoll, Linc Darner, Nate Oats, King Rice, FSU assistant Stan Jones and interim HC Murry Bartow.

I think UCF and USF both have potential as basketball programs. UCF made a bad hire, was put on probation by the NCAA but recruited well. They then made a very good hire and are turning things around.

USF made a bad hire and now must fix it. Their challenge is to avoid over valuing the job. They need an energetic grinder who has proven he can build a program and win. He may already be on the current staff.