Still Confident in McCall?

[PreecherJenkins]

Since it is pretty fruitless to debate if McCall will be released from his duties soon let us ask the question a different way:

[Worcester_To_Amherst]

The Mason game earlier this year pretty much sealed my opinion that MM is not the coach I want leading the program.

I don't think he's been TERRIBLE this year, mainly because there have been a lot of circumstances (3 COVID pauses, only 3 non-con games) that have gone against the team. The guys seem to come out and play hard every game.

But these last 2 games have just reinforced that he is nothing special when it comes to the D1 basketball ranks and I don't see him getting much better.

Bamford is in a tough place though. He isn't going to fire MM after this season and even if he did we would likely lose most of the players off a roster that I think we all agree is a really good A10 roster.

In an ideal world I'd like to see MM leave on his own and give TB a go as head coach next year. I'm not sure TB has the intangibles to be the head coach you want running your program (professionalism, saying the right things, etc) but I think it's worth the risk since he's the one who put most of the roster together and I believe he has the player's respect.

For me, next year is make or break for MM. If the majority of the roster stays in tact (including Tre) then they need to be a bubble team next year at worse with a top 4 finish in the league.

If most of the roster leaves, including Tre, then I'd say it's time to start fresh with a new coach.

[Juice Stand]

I voted no, I am not confident in McCall. That comes with a disclaimer though, as I'm not confident in him right now, but as a young coach, I am hopeful that he will improve. I haven't given up on him yet as there have been glimmers that he can coach when backed up against a wall with a shorter rotation.

I'm not sure TB has the intangibles to be the head coach you want running your program (professionalism, saying the right things, etc) but I think it's worth the risk since he's the one who put most of the roster together and I believe he has the player's respect.

I'm not going to knock Tony for the way he dresses, or what he says, because that's his personality. That's who he is. And go around the NCAA, look at some really successful coaches, and find me guys that always handle themselves with the utmost professionalism and say the right things. Cal was a fiery bastard when he got here and that worked out ok. Chris Beard recently had a temper tantrum, kicking and screaming on the floor, and look what he's done at Texas A&M. If Tony does take over at some point, and he wants to wear his glitter suit and get a little fired up, I'm 100% ok with that as long as he runs a clean program and wins games.

[DanaDingle3]

Bamford is in a tough place though. He isn't going to fire MM after this season and even if he did we would likely lose most of the players off a roster that I think we all agree is a really good A10 roster.

If Bamford fired McCall and promoted Bergeron, that wouldn't happen.

In an ideal world I'd like to see MM leave on his own and give TB a go as head coach next year. I'm not sure TB has the intangibles to be the head coach you want running your program (professionalism, saying the right things, etc) but I think it's worth the risk since he's the one who put most of the roster together and I believe he has the player's respect.

That's the problem with this athletics administration right now -- too much focus on image, politics and posturing. We need some killers in the right spots, and there's one on the hoops bench right now.

[Upstate10]

I'm not confident in McCall at all but I understand that there's a 95% chance he's back next year given the circumstances. We have to be a top 4 or 5 team in the A10 and push for a tourney bid, though.

[uz2b-len]

I don't think there's basis from this season to reach a conclusion. Last season things were really looking up in the second half. If we can get back to that level, I'll have confidence in him.

[Kelz626]

Bamford is in a tough place though. He isn't going to fire MM after this season and even if he did we would likely lose most of the players off a roster that I think we all agree is a really good A10 roster.

If Bamford fired McCall and promoted Bergeron, that wouldn't happen.

In an ideal world I'd like to see MM leave on his own and give TB a go as head coach next year. I'm not sure TB has the intangibles to be the head coach you want running your program (professionalism, saying the right things, etc) but I think it's worth the risk since he's the one who put most of the roster together and I believe he has the player's respect.

That's the problem with this athletics administration right now -- too much focus on image, politics and posturing. We need some killers in the right spots, and there's one on the hoops bench right now.

Absolutely true, this athletic administration cares more about Instagram posts, YouTube videos and being “right” more than they care about winning or making the necessary moves to win

[Quann]

I wish there was a third choice on this. I'm right in between. Hopefully next year getting back to a normal schedule, we'll finally see him grow as coach.

[m626t]

I wish there was a third choice on this. I'm right in between. Hopefully next year getting back to a normal schedule, we'll finally see him grow as coach.

^
what he said

[InnervisionsUMASS]

I'm less concerned about our confidence in McCall than I am the players.... if they have tuned him out: Game Over.

[PreecherJenkins]

so here is a question I have for everyone:

Assuming McCall gets his 5th year is it a guarantee that Tony is back? Some desperate Power 5 school could bring him in and know the package deal with Tre.

[Sheck]

^
Yeah, that's a good point. I don't think it's a safe assumption that Bergeron is even back with us next season. But if he is then making an in-season change next year should be on the table if the team gets off to a poor start.

[PreecherJenkins]

^
Yeah, that's a good point. I don't think it's a safe assumption that Bergeron is even back with us next season. But if he is then making an in-season change next year should be on the table if the team gets off to a poor start.

I really hate an in season change. If we’re thinking to do it then do it now.

[Not Trigger]

Did anyone else see SLU's first couple of games after their long covid break? They lost at home to Dayton and on the road to Lasalle and looked as bad as we've looked the last couple of games. This whole year has been a total cluster fuck. We've played less games than any team in our conference, lost our two most important players for a few of those games. Any evaluation of the coach's ability has to be tempered by these realities.

[Worcester_To_Amherst]

I voted no, I am not confident in McCall. That comes with a disclaimer though, as I'm not confident in him right now, but as a young coach, I am hopeful that he will improve. I haven't given up on him yet as there have been glimmers that he can coach when backed up against a wall with a shorter rotation.

I'm not sure TB has the intangibles to be the head coach you want running your program (professionalism, saying the right things, etc) but I think it's worth the risk since he's the one who put most of the roster together and I believe he has the player's respect.

I'm not going to knock Tony for the way he dresses, or what he says, because that's his personality. That's who he is. And go around the NCAA, look at some really successful coaches, and find me guys that always handle themselves with the utmost professionalism and say the right things. Cal was a fiery bastard when he got here and that worked out ok. Chris Beard recently had a temper tantrum, kicking and screaming on the floor, and look what he's done at Texas A&M. If Tony does take over at some point, and he wants to wear his glitter suit and get a little fired up, I'm 100% ok with that as long as he runs a clean program and wins games.

Not knocking him, I’d take him as coach. But it’s a fact that presentability/polish/whatever you want to call it is a factor in these things. I like TB but I have a feeling that the reason he hasn’t gotten a D1 coaching job before UMass has to do with not being willing to kiss ass or “play the game” like people often need to do.

It’s clearly important to Bamford with McCall and Bell getting hired for seemingly being able to say the right things rather than previous successes.