The deal we made with Huse

[mslacat]

In early February I started to see the typical throw the baby out with the bath water comments on Bobcatnation.com in regards to the Bobcat men’s basketball program. These comments changed to the positive, when we defeated the Griz in late February. When the Bobcats, though, lost in the first round of the conference the negative comments, of course came back, some even calling for Huse to be fired.

Let’s make this completely clear right off the bat Huse is not going any where any time soon. He has the full support of Fields, strong support from booster, and most importantly he is on the first year of a three year contract and given the budget concerns at MSU (and the rest of the State for that matter) there is no way short of a Kramer like program melt down he will be let go from his position.

I am not against criticism of a coach by any means if it is constructive and not simply mean spirited drivel. I do, though, take exception to the calling for a coaches job during the season. In a future article I am going to address what I think the hits and misses of Huse’s 4 years here, but that is not what I want to talk amount here today.

What I want to talk about is the deal we made with Huse. While I will mainly be talking about Huse here, the same deal was made with women’s basketball coach Tricia Binford and even football coach Rob Ash.

When we hired Huse we were just coming off a horrendous year in Bobcat athletics. While not limited to just the basketball program, this program was reeling from a couple scandals which was hurting not only the program but the University as well. Academically, the basketball program had a 680 APR, We also had one of the star basketball players accused (later convicted) of murder. To top things off there were other basketball other player rumored to be involved in drugs (later proved false) and even ghosts of past players indiscretions.

In this atmosphere we as Bobcat supports, alumni and fans demanded change, in how we ran our athletic programs. Athletic Director Peter Fields agreed whole heartily. Fields implemented, with our full support, new recruiting guidelines / restrictions on top our already tough entrance requirements for athletes. With the goal, of upgrading, the type of athletes that will represent MSU on the field and in the community.

Now historically both Montana and Montana State have had the toughest academic admissions requirements of all of the Big Sky schools, which has limited the athletes the schools could recruit. There were quite simply prospects out there that other BSC teams could recruit that we could not. With the new restriction, though, Montana State now has the toughest entrance requirements of any Big Sky schools. It also explains why most of our recruiting competition comes from the Service academies and Ivey league type schools.

Here are a few restrictions that I have heard were implemented.

- Transcript Check- Players and transcripts are checked out thoroughly not only for grades but also “character issues”. Any thing that raises questions can be red flagged.

- Restrictions on recruiting players until they have received a passing ACT/SAT. Most schools will recruit a kid with good grades and assume that when he takes the ACT/SAT will get a passing grade.

- Transfer players- For all incoming transfer players, usually JC’s, the coaches have to put together an academic plan that will show/prove that that player can graduate from MSU, with in his remaining eligibility. – Typically a JC player needs another year (5th) to graduate after transferring at most schools.

-All recruited players must graduate. The Administration and coaches have gone to great lengths and cost to help students get their degree after they are done playing- even if they leave on their own.

-The Athletic Department will review the above and if red flags are found by the administration, those players un-recruitable by the coaching staff.

Brad knew coming in that rebuilding Montana State basketball was not going to be a walk in the park, some very tough restrictions were going to be implemented on who he brought in. In return, though, he was promised by the administration, that he would have the time to build the program the right way.

Peter Fields and the rest of the Administration recognized the progress the program was making, and they reward it with a new three year contract last summer.

I bring this up now because I have brought it up before, on my blog and on Bobcatnation. I have detailed in great length the difficulties out lined above and almost to a person the overwhelming sentiment was, this is the route we want to take. We do not want to take short cuts we want to build this program the right way. To which every time I have answered fine, but then we need to give Brad time.

In my opinion, right now MSU does not have the talent level that Weber, Montana, N. Colorado or even Portland State has. Yes we do have some players like Bobby Howard and Eric Rush who are all conference level, but we simply do not have the depth from top to bottom that most of the teams in our league has. The talent level can be laid at Huse’s feet, as long as you recognize the restrictions. The talent level has though improved every year, and looks to make a major step up next year as this years recruiting class though looks to be by far the best class ever for Huse. I am a firm believe in talent, coaching can only get you so far in league, the coaches know each other to well in the end superior talent bring consistency and eventually championships.

That said, though is what Huse has accomplished in his 4 year. Huse just finished with his best regular and conference record to date. He has lifted the Bobcat’s men’s APR from 690 to 985 (as close to perfect as you are going to see) and dug the program out of an APR probation nightmare. He has gradated close to all (if not all) of his athletes. His team and coaches are very involved in many community events and programs. He has also brought accountability to the program and its players. Huse is a taskmaster, not the easiest guy to play for but he does push to get the most out guys.

It seems to me that Brad is fulfilling his part of the bargain so far. Yes I personally do wish that we would have won a few more games here and there, but everyone in this program is working their butts off to make this program into the cream of the Big Sky crop and significant progress has been made. Brad is here for another two years at a minimum and I guess longer. Naysayers get used to. It does nothing but hurt MSU basketball to start calling for his head at this point. I think it is time we remember what our part of this bargain was, and give him the time and support he needs to build this program the right way. We made a deal with Huse. The Administration fulfilled its part. The fans need to fulfill their part of the deal.

[wbtfg]

I vote to make this a sticky so we can remind all of the Miser's and drive by fans what REALLY goes on.

[TrueCat]

[RMD]

Very well said mslacat!!

[bpcats]

Good posting. The thing that sticks out about Huse is that he seem to get the most out of the players that he has, and has them playing consistently smart/tough basketball. I don't know what else he can do as a coach.

I think from top to bottom this has been the best set of coaches that we have had covering the big 3 sports programs.

[gtapp]

1. I don't see a single restriction that makes it measureably more difficult for Huse to recruit.
2. Next year the talent level looks like it will be worse IMO.
3. 4 Years is enough time to show more progress. If you measure porgress as 1 additional win per year then yes by 2019 we should be pretty good.

I have not been one to ask for Huse's head. I believe any coach should get at least 5 years (I used to think 3 but at our level it takes more time) but I was not a fan of his hiring to begin with and I am still not a fan of his today. I don't think he is a great recruiter, I think his players make too many mistakes (even upperclassmen) and his teams are weak offensively. I think great defense is a good thing but at least show some offensive progress as the year goes on!

[mslacat]

1. I don't see a single restriction that makes it measureably more difficult for Huse to recruit.
2. Next year the talent level looks like it will be worse IMO.
3. 4 Years is enough time to show more progress. If you measure porgress as 1 additional win per year then yes by 2019 we should be pretty good.

I have not been one to ask for Huse's head. I believe any coach should get at least 5 years (I used to think 3 but at our level it takes more time) but I was not a fan of his hiring to begin with and I am still not a fan of his today. I don't think he is a great recruiter, I think his players make too many mistakes (even upperclassmen) and his teams are weak offensively. I think great defense is a good thing but at least show some offensive progress as the year goes on!

here are a list of player we were recruiting and were very much in the picture, before the Administrations vetoed them.

Glen Dean - EWU
Anthony Johnson - UM
Damian Lillard - Weber
Ceylon Elgin-Taylor - UM
Devon Beitzel - N. Colo.
Kenny Daniels – Northridge (actually committed to MSU Followed Sprinkle to CSNU that spring. 2 year starter 16 points a game)
Brandon Durham - UC Irvine
Thurman Woods - UM
about 60% of the D-1 elligable JC players,

All of these player with the exception of Woods were D-1 eligible, and some by instate rival Montana. Most if not all had great academic standing. This by no means is a complete list but one I could come up with just off the top of my head.

I have talked to Danny Sprinkle on more than one occation I can tell you the recruyiting restriction put upon him frustrated him to no end. He spent a lot of time trying to convince the admin to let a few kids in (Lilliard and Daniels come to mind). He told me a few years ago that Lilliard had Stucky potential. Sprinkle is known throughout the west coast as an ace recruiter, and he struggled big time.

Lets look at it after 4 years
3rd in league this year
985 APR
Kids graduate
A good fund raiser
Total overhaul of the program and how it is perceived in the community

[wbtfg]

Assuming all of that is correct (which I have no reason to think otherwise) when does that AD start to trust Huse and his staff enough as recruiters and mentors to take the training wheels off?

[longhorn_22]

I was not very happy when we didn't land Lillard and Beitzel. Recruiting has been frustrating to say the least the last few years.

[gtapp]

I know that basketball and football are different animals but don't these same restrictions apply to Ash also? On paper Ash's last 2 recruiting classes look like some of the best we have ever had at MSU.

[gtapp]

1. I don't see a single restriction that makes it measureably more difficult for Huse to recruit.
2. Next year the talent level looks like it will be worse IMO.
3. 4 Years is enough time to show more progress. If you measure porgress as 1 additional win per year then yes by 2019 we should be pretty good.

I have not been one to ask for Huse's head. I believe any coach should get at least 5 years (I used to think 3 but at our level it takes more time) but I was not a fan of his hiring to begin with and I am still not a fan of his today. I don't think he is a great recruiter, I think his players make too many mistakes (even upperclassmen) and his teams are weak offensively. I think great defense is a good thing but at least show some offensive progress as the year goes on!

here are a list of player we were recruiting and were very much in the picture, before the Administrations vetoed them.

Glen Dean - EWU
Anthony Johnson - UM
Damian Lillard - Weber
Ceylon Elgin-Taylor - UM
Devon Beitzel - N. Colo.
Kenny Daniels – Northridge (actually committed to MSU Followed Sprinkle to CSNU that spring. 2 year starter 16 points a game)
Brandon Durham - UC Irvine
Thurman Woods - UMabout 60% of the D-1 elligable JC players,

All of these player with the exception of Woods were D-1 eligible, and some by instate rival Montana. Most if not all had great academic standing. This by no means is a complete list but one I could come up with just off the top of my head.

I have talked to Danny Sprinkle on more than one occation I can tell you the recruyiting restriction put upon him frustrated him to no end. He spent a lot of time trying to convince the admin to let a few kids in (Lilliard and Daniels come to mind). He told me a few years ago that Lilliard had Stucky potential. Sprinkle is known throughout the west coast as an ace recruiter, and he struggled big time.

Lets look at it after 4 years
3rd in league this year
985 APR
Kids graduate
A good fund raiser
Total overhaul of the program and how it is perceived in the community

Are you saying that we would have landed all of these players if it was not for the restrictions? Or is it true that we were unable to land these guys and we are using the restrictions as a possible excuse?

[gtapp]

I guess there is only one way to find out. We wait! If in 3 or 4 years Huse has back to back 20 win seasons and goes to the NCAA tourney then we will have to admit that he had a long term plan and we were just impatient. If he does not improve in the next two or three years then it will be time for a chnge. If the new coach does no better then I will finally have to admit that maybe our recruiting restrictions may in fact be part of the problem.

[longhorn_22]

1. I don't see a single restriction that makes it measureably more difficult for Huse to recruit.
2. Next year the talent level looks like it will be worse IMO.
3. 4 Years is enough time to show more progress. If you measure porgress as 1 additional win per year then yes by 2019 we should be pretty good.

I have not been one to ask for Huse's head. I believe any coach should get at least 5 years (I used to think 3 but at our level it takes more time) but I was not a fan of his hiring to begin with and I am still not a fan of his today. I don't think he is a great recruiter, I think his players make too many mistakes (even upperclassmen) and his teams are weak offensively. I think great defense is a good thing but at least show some offensive progress as the year goes on!

here are a list of player we were recruiting and were very much in the picture, before the Administrations vetoed them.

Glen Dean - EWU
Anthony Johnson - UM
Damian Lillard - Weber
Ceylon Elgin-Taylor - UM
Devon Beitzel - N. Colo.
Kenny Daniels – Northridge (actually committed to MSU Followed Sprinkle to CSNU that spring. 2 year starter 16 points a game)
Brandon Durham - UC Irvine
Thurman Woods - UMabout 60% of the D-1 elligable JC players,

All of these player with the exception of Woods were D-1 eligible, and some by instate rival Montana. Most if not all had great academic standing. This by no means is a complete list but one I could come up with just off the top of my head.

I have talked to Danny Sprinkle on more than one occation I can tell you the recruyiting restriction put upon him frustrated him to no end. He spent a lot of time trying to convince the admin to let a few kids in (Lilliard and Daniels come to mind). He told me a few years ago that Lilliard had Stucky potential. Sprinkle is known throughout the west coast as an ace recruiter, and he struggled big time.

Lets look at it after 4 years
3rd in league this year
985 APR
Kids graduate
A good fund raiser
Total overhaul of the program and how it is perceived in the community

Are you saying that we would have landed all of these players if it was not for the restrictions? Or is it true that we were unable to land these guys and we are using the restrictions as a possible excuse?

He's not saying we would have landed every single one. I don't think we could even offer them a scholarship after Huse was told "no" by the athletic department.

[GrizinWashington]

I can't speak to most of those guys. But I know AJ was an excellent student at YVCC. What was the reason he wouldn't have been acceptable?

Although in general, I think you make some very solid points, Mslacat.

[longhorn_22]

MSU just tries to cover their ass too much. Probably a load of nonsense on half the players they say no to.

[SonomaCat]

MSU just tries to cover their ass too much. Probably a load of nonsense on half the players they say no to.

The APR improvements seem to suggest the changes were necessary and are working. MSU spent way too many years running around completely bare-ass, so swinging the pendulum the other way for a few years was probably necessary.

I do agree that we may be hitting a point of improvement where MSU can ease up on the restrictions a bit and start making low-risk exceptions. But when the problems were chronic (and as we all know, they were indeed chronic), the no-exceptions across-the-board changes were probably the best answer.

[mslacat]

I can't speak to most of those guys. But I know AJ was an excellent student at YVCC. What was the reason he wouldn't have been acceptable?

Although in general, I think you make some very solid points, Mslacat.

I beleive it was a an issue with him being able to transfer and get a degree in his two remaining years of elligablity. I to have heard that he had good grades but if you have ever known someone who has transfered into a college often times you may loses a credit or two when they transfer over. Also even if you transfer into a college as a junior credit wise you may not be a on track to be a junior progress toward a particular degree. Not a lot of Junior college transfers that I can think of have gotten their degree in 4 year ussually it takes at least part of a 5th year. In the end though we most likely did not have a chance with Johnson unless Binford was willing to offer his wife a scholarship.

I know with Kenny Daniels he had attended a couple high schools, and a couple JC's and the Admin. felt his transcripts were just a mess. he graduated from Sheridan College with an associates degree, and pretty good grades. The Griz were recruiting him hard, and had him in for a visit. He really liked Sprinkle and committed to him but in the end we were not even allowed to bring him in for a visit.

I beleive the recruiting standards apply to the very least basketball and Football and possibly the entire program. I have asked about whether the recruiting standards will go back to what they were in the mid 2000's after we make the necessary academic progress, and while I have never been able to get a firm answer I get the feeling that they like the results and they plan on sticking to it for the foreseeable future. That said though I get the feeling that since these are self imposed and that the rules seem to change a little bit each year, that instead of seeing a day when they say nope were done with these rules, I can see a gradual change where they just fade away. Again pure speculation.

[4everacatfan]

In early February I started to see the typical throw the baby out with the bath water comments on Bobcatnation.com in regards to the Bobcat men’s basketball program. These comments changed to the positive, when we defeated the Griz in late February. When the Bobcats, though, lost in the first round of the conference the negative comments, of course came back, some even calling for Huse to be fired.

Let’s make this completely clear right off the bat Huse is not going any where any time soon. He has the full support of Fields, strong support from booster, and most importantly he is on the first year of a three year contract and given the budget concerns at MSU (and the rest of the State for that matter) there is no way short of a Kramer like program melt down he will be let go from his position.

I am not against criticism of a coach by any means if it is constructive and not simply mean spirited drivel. I do, though, take exception to the calling for a coaches job during the season. In a future article I am going to address what I think the hits and misses of Huse’s 4 years here, but that is not what I want to talk amount here today.

What I want to talk about is the deal we made with Huse. While I will mainly be talking about Huse here, the same deal was made with women’s basketball coach Tricia Binford and even football coach Rob Ash.

When we hired Huse we were just coming off a horrendous year in Bobcat athletics. While not limited to just the basketball program, this program was reeling from a couple scandals which was hurting not only the program but the University as well. Academically, the basketball program had a 680 APR, We also had one of the star basketball players accused (later convicted) of murder. To top things off there were other basketball other player rumored to be involved in drugs (later proved false) and even ghosts of past players indiscretions.

In this atmosphere we as Bobcat supports, alumni and fans demanded change, in how we ran our athletic programs. Athletic Director Peter Fields agreed whole heartily. Fields implemented, with our full support, new recruiting guidelines / restrictions on top our already tough entrance requirements for athletes. With the goal, of upgrading, the type of athletes that will represent MSU on the field and in the community.

Now historically both Montana and Montana State have had the toughest academic admissions requirements of all of the Big Sky schools, which has limited the athletes the schools could recruit. There were quite simply prospects out there that other BSC teams could recruit that we could not. With the new restriction, though, Montana State now has the toughest entrance requirements of any Big Sky schools. It also explains why most of our recruiting competition comes from the Service academies and Ivey league type schools.

Here are a few restrictions that I have heard were implemented.

- Transcript Check- Players and transcripts are checked out thoroughly not only for grades but also “character issues”. Any thing that raises questions can be red flagged.

- Restrictions on recruiting players until they have received a passing ACT/SAT. Most schools will recruit a kid with good grades and assume that when he takes the ACT/SAT will get a passing grade.

- Transfer players- For all incoming transfer players, usually JC’s, the coaches have to put together an academic plan that will show/prove that that player can graduate from MSU, with in his remaining eligibility. – Typically a JC player needs another year (5th) to graduate after transferring at most schools.

-All recruited players must graduate. The Administration and coaches have gone to great lengths and cost to help students get their degree after they are done playing- even if they leave on their own.

-The Athletic Department will review the above and if red flags are found by the administration, those players un-recruitable by the coaching staff.

Brad knew coming in that rebuilding Montana State basketball was not going to be a walk in the park, some very tough restrictions were going to be implemented on who he brought in. In return, though, he was promised by the administration, that he would have the time to build the program the right way.

Peter Fields and the rest of the Administration recognized the progress the program was making, and they reward it with a new three year contract last summer.

I bring this up now because I have brought it up before, on my blog and on Bobcatnation. I have detailed in great length the difficulties out lined above and almost to a person the overwhelming sentiment was, this is the route we want to take. We do not want to take short cuts we want to build this program the right way. To which every time I have answered fine, but then we need to give Brad time.

In my opinion, right now MSU does not have the talent level that Weber, Montana, N. Colorado or even Portland State has. Yes we do have some players like Bobby Howard and Eric Rush who are all conference level, but we simply do not have the depth from top to bottom that most of the teams in our league has. The talent level can be laid at Huse’s feet, as long as you recognize the restrictions. The talent level has though improved every year, and looks to make a major step up next year as this years recruiting class though looks to be by far the best class ever for Huse. I am a firm believe in talent, coaching can only get you so far in league, the coaches know each other to well in the end superior talent bring consistency and eventually championships.

That said, though is what Huse has accomplished in his 4 year. Huse just finished with his best regular and conference record to date. He has lifted the Bobcat’s men’s APR from 690 to 985 (as close to perfect as you are going to see) and dug the program out of an APR probation nightmare. He has gradated close to all (if not all) of his athletes. His team and coaches are very involved in many community events and programs. He has also brought accountability to the program and its players. Huse is a taskmaster, not the easiest guy to play for but he does push to get the most out guys.

It seems to me that Brad is fulfilling his part of the bargain so far. Yes I personally do wish that we would have won a few more games here and there, but everyone in this program is working their butts off to make this program into the cream of the Big Sky crop and significant progress has been made. Brad is here for another two years at a minimum and I guess longer. Naysayers get used to. It does nothing but hurt MSU basketball to start calling for his head at this point. I think it is time we remember what our part of this bargain was, and give him the time and support he needs to build this program the right way. We made a deal with Huse. The Administration fulfilled its part. The fans need to fulfill their part of the deal.

Excellent Post

I said that Huse would need 5 years now this class he will have as seniors he will have had them their entire college career I think if they can find a few guys to go with these three we could make a strong run next year.

[bobcats35]

mslacat;
Dream on! The results, or lack of, in this program rest with Brad. He has not done a quality job of recruiting athletes (players) that can compete and win on a consistent basis at this level. And it doesn't appear to look any different in the near future. If you're happy with 50% + or - a game or so that's your choice. Most people are not, and there has not been signs of improvement to date. Yes, he has 2 more years on his contract. But, that does mean things will get better.
And, the same is true for WBB and FB. Fields should have been gone long ago.
If you happen to know any of the QB Club members talk to them about the letter and meeting held with the new Presaident and 2 of the big hitters in that QB organization. It may enlighten you to the real issues in the MSU Athletic Department..

[Hawks86]

I always hate it when someone claims to have inside info. and doesn't enlighten the rest of us with the facts.