Durhams Coaching discussion

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 9:18 am

Why don't we start a poll as to the worst newspaper in the state? I mean, then we could actually start to look like the eFizz site and start arguing over pointless topics

Once upon a time in this vast state, the Billings Gazette had a sports editor (Norm Cash?) that realized the majority of his circulation came from small towns, hence he ensured there was actually better coverage of small town sports than the two (at that time) "big" Billings high schools. Trying to find coverage of any college program in Montana is a joke unless you check out the Mazzzolian, and their coverage of the Fizzlies leaves a lot to be desired

SenorWeezer · Post by **SenorWeezer** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 11:08 pm

Yet another durham-piss-down-your-leg end of the season run! The 'Cats had the conference all but won and again couldn't finish. Nobody wants the fizz to lose more than me, but if I were a betting man...I wouldn't put money on the 'Cats Tuesday night.

The time has come for a change...and the answer is just down the road at MSU-B. Winning would be imminent.

twentythreeOh4 · Post by **twentythreeOh4** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 12:53 am

CLUB 126 wrote: Gonzaga started some were!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gonzaga started with an old coach named Dan Fitzgerald. It was Fitzgerald that recruited a guy named John Stockton and hired a graduate assitant named Mark Few. It was Fitzgerald's long tenure that molded the Gonzaga program into what it is today.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 10:23 am

SenorWeezer wrote:The time has come for a change...and the answer is just down the road at MSU-B. Winning would be imminent.

Are you kidding? MSU-B can't win a game on the road to save their lives, and the only way we would win home games with him as our coach would be if he brought his home-cookin' refs over to the Big Sky from Billings.

SenorWeezer · Post by **SenorWeezer** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:00 am

I'm not sure what color the sky is in your world, but it is seriously tainted. Carse came into a program that was 5-21 the previous year and has a 185-89 record in 10 years (ave 19-9) at MSU-B. He wins everywhere he goes with a career 249-123 record. This year's team is ranked 8th in the West Region and has beaten every team ranked ahead of them at least once! MOST IMPORTANTLY...this team is a blast to watch and usually leads the nation, or is among the top, in scoring and 3 point shooting...plus, they can shoot over 50% from the free throw line...VERY much UNLIKE Durham's teams...any of them!

In response to your "home cookin' refs" comment, it appears that the officials used in these games are also used by most of the AA and A programs in this area and to suggest they would "fix" a game at this level is to accuse each of them of being crooked and cheats. Also, Durham's 'Cats were something like 3-12 on the road...Hell, I could coach the 'Cats to a 3-12 record!

He recruits Montana kids, is an excellent motivator and coach, and more importantly...he is a great person.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:09 am

I don't know the man, I'm just relating what I have heard about him. Don't take it personally, sheesh!!!

If he ever did end up coaching a Division I program, though, he would have to start teaching his teams to play some defense. Personally - and I am not ever going to be mistaken for a Durham apologist - I would take Mick over Carse every day of the week.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:42 am

...all of us that have ever been forced to coach knows and accepts all zebras are crooked

They're the easiest for the mob to buy, are starting to have books written about them, have forced the NCAA to get after great coaches that have had the audacity to question the integrity of zebras come tournament time...and I'll mention Mick so this post is relevant to the thread

gtfcat84 · Post by **gtfcat84** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:26 am

From this morning's GF Tribune:

"Our goal ... was to play Portland State again," said Durham, whose team fell 88-82 to the Vikings in overtime on Feb. 24 in Bozeman. "We want to have another shot at 'em, and it so happens that Montana is standing in our way."

Almost sounds like Mick is looking past the G**z; somewhat out of character...

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:44 am

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/

Since I know in my heart how many of ya'll get homesick this time of year, thought I'd just post the entire comical as there's two sports articles of interest to all of us. Can't help but wonder about the timing of the Morrison article, but...I also understand there's much more to what caused Adam to go to Washington and wind up at Gonzaga anyway...

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 10:35 am

gtfcat84 wrote:From this morning's GF Tribune:

"Our goal ... was to play Portland State again," said Durham, whose team fell 88-82 to the Vikings in overtime on Feb. 24 in Bozeman. "We want to have another shot at 'em, and it so happens that Montana is standing in our way."

Almost sounds like Mick is looking past the G**z; somewhat out of character...

I actually like this quote better than almost any other Mick quote of the season. At least it shows his desire to get to the championship game and beat PSU if it so happens to be PSU (go Weber!). It could have been "Well it's always tough to win on the road in the Big Sky, and we have never beaten the Grizzlies 3 times in one season (which is true by the way), so it's going to be tough." I prefer him to look past someone than to have a "losing" attitude many have accused him of having.

PS - SenorWeezer, are you a Weezer fan? I'm a huge Weezer fan (old Weezer).

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 1:34 pm

I also was pleasantly surprised to see some of those words coming out of Mick's mouth. I agree that it shows a desire to take another shot at beating Portland State, and for the first time I can remember, it shows Mick expressing a desire to make it into the NCAA tourney.

I guarantee you this, though: there is no possible way in hell Mick is overlooking tonight's game against the griz. Mick bleeds blue and gold all the way through, and nothing makes him happier than beating the grizzlies. I remember a couple years ago after our football team beat the griz in Missoula, and me and a buddy were listening to the Cats basketball team beat Washington on the way back home. In the post-game interview, I had to laugh because Mick was more excited talking about the football team's victory over the griz than the fact that he had just beaten a Pac-10 team on their home floor!

SenorWeezer · Post by **SenorWeezer** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 2:50 pm

BozoCat, with all due respect...your earlier comment about taking Mick Durham over Craig Carse (current MSUB head coach) any day is exactly why our basketball program is in the "luckily mediocre" state it is in today! We need new blood and excitement injected into this program, just look at what the addition of a good football coach has done for our football program!

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:14 pm

SenorWeezer wrote:BozoCat, with all due respect...your earlier comment about taking Mick Durham over Craig Carse (current MSUB head coach) any day is exactly why our basketball program is in the "luckily mediocre" state it is in today! We need new blood and excitement injected into this program, just look at what the addition of a good football coach has done for our football program!

With all due respect right back atcha... if you had been on this board long enough to post more than 6 times, you would know that I have been on the front lines of the "Get rid of Durham" Train for at least the last few years. I just don't personally feel that Coach Carse would be the man for the job.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:22 pm

BozoneCat wrote:
SenorWeezer wrote:BozoCat, with all due respect...your earlier comment about taking Mick Durham over Craig Carse (current MSUB head coach) any day is exactly why our basketball program is in the "luckily mediocre" state it is in today! We need new blood and excitement injected into this program, just look at what the addition of a good football coach has done for our football program!
With all due respect right back atcha... if you had been on this board long enough to post more than 6 times, you would know that I have been on the front lines of the "Get rid of Durham" Train for at least the last few years. I just don't personally feel that Coach Carse would be the man for the job.

Ok if not Carse, any one in line.

Maybe Jerry Olson

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:34 pm

mslacat wrote:Ok if not Carse, any one in line. Maybe Jerry Olson

I'm not ready to offer any suggestions because I don't honestly have any information to do so. As far as Carse is concerned, I just have not heard good things about him from people I trust in Billings.

For the record, Mick isn't going anywhere this year, so this conversation is all moot. For the purpose of conversation, though, I would like to see us hire someone young and hungry, who could bring a youthful exuberence to a program that is seriously lacking in that department.

94VegasCat · Post by **94VegasCat** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 7:48 pm

I think that right now is the pefect time for a change! Do it now! Let's just get it done and be on with our lives. I thought Mick needed to go 10 years ago and I feel the same way now.

When we really needed a bucket last night, we went inside. The rest of the time, they were huckin' em up from downtown Seattle. What was the final stat 5-25 from three point range. That is sh!t. Move the ball and get some points. At least wait until you have some rebounders that are going to be there when you miss.

Geezus if you hit 20% outside and 60% inside, that to me is pretty simple math. MSU is supposed to be a good school Mick. Lead by learning some basic math and let's be successful.

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 7:52 pm

Did anybody see Mick on the local news a few days ago? I think all of are harping is getting to him. I can't remember the quote, but it was obvious that he is aware of all the complaints he has been getting on this board about his coaching style and comments. His next comments actually sounded like a rah rah coach and we are ready for battle. What a change

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:02 pm

my two cents are that we need a new head coach. ultimately, winning and losing come down to the head coach. mick gets talent and can even get them playing well, but they lack the "killer instinct" or "winner's mentality" when it really counts. come on, being in position to win the Big Sky outright and then going 1-6 to finish up the season. that's coaching. the last time we had a team with a true killer instinct was '96 and i don't think that quality was b/c of the coach, that was a special group of players.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:14 pm

Coach should resign. His players stopped listening to him years ago. Jackin' up 25-30 3's every game is not good BB. It doesn't take a BB genius to figure that out.

MSUcantouchus · Post by **MSUcantouchus** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 8:50 pm

I posted this on another thread but I wanted to say it again.

I am willing to take a chance on a new coach. What are we clinging to? Moderate regular season success and flops late in the year? Maybe a new coach would bring more tournament success and maybe not but that is a chance I am willing to take because we are not having any now.