NEWS: Jerrod Calhoun to UC

[GoBearcats31]

Haven't watched yet myself, but a short-ish video from Field of 68 with a reaction to the Calhoun hire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFKRgMiR6mg

[BearKatz]

That may be best for everyone. Wish him well.

Mixed emotions about this one. I was hoping James would finish his career at UC.

But James has to do what's best for him. Wish him all the best!

[leo from jersey]

That may be best for everyone. Wish him well.

100% in agreement --you could see it in his freshman year - he was for himself and not the team.

[Gmann]

Jizzle is going with Wes.

I think that's good for Jizzle and Wes. I wish them both the best of luck.

[London 'Cat]

Jizzle is going with Wes.

That may be best for everyone. Wish him well.

[Rufus]

I like the sound of that if true. Seems like UC is his "dream job " if there is such a thing. However it may mean that if CJC has any amount of success while here it would be extremely difficult for someone else to lure him away.

[Corporateballa]

Any word on Jizzle coming back?

Jizzle is going with Wes.

[GoBearcats31]

Has anyone heard yet of when CJC will be introduced to bearcat nation as the new coach?

Seems like a potential press conference on Wednesday, so look for a formal announcement today?

Lenny Stokes hopped on the end of the last night's BCJ Bearcat Bounce Podcast. Sounds like he's been good friends with Calhoun for a while and is excited. Seems like Calhoun has already been talking to alums (former players), has been interested in the position for a while (maybe since November...).

[Rufus]

Has anyone heard yet of when CJC will be introduced to bearcat nation as the new coach?

[leo from jersey]

I think Roy Williams was a great coach. It was great to see him at the games and talking to WM. I think it is greater seeing Huggs at the games and talking to his old pupil.

CJC may not work out, but it is good to hope in a return to bearcat history and tradition and not just talk on an introduction speech.

Go Cats

[leo from jersey]

But Kansas was a 4 seed, and BYU also made the tourney. I'll take that next season. Maybe some of our "deep pockets" can dig a little deeper?

I think it was Chad B. who said that a few doors which have ben closed for twenty years may start opening up with this hire. It would be nice, but it may take a year I believe. Give them some wins and communication with our new coach (Maybe some with an old coach too).

[sedz]

Thiam improved dramatically over the second half. Plus, he's 7'2".

He had a 5.8 BPM in February and March. So yes, he improved over the season. 3.1 last year, 5.0 this year. I think 7 or so is a reasonable expectation for next year if he continues to improve. I don't think that's worth half of our budget. He would have to be first team all conference to earn that.

[swilsonsp4]

But Kansas was a 4 seed, and BYU also made the tourney. I'll take that next season. Maybe some of our "deep pockets" can dig a little deeper?

BYU's problem wasn't Dybantsa; it was losing Richie Saunders. The Cougars nosedived after he went down. KU, though, was a different animal. Peterson was unreliable (or, rather, unavailable) for much of the season. There were times when he seemed disinterested. He stood around a lot on offense when his teammates didn't get him the ball. Great physical abilities, but he didn't seem to fit in with four other guys on the court.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Totally agree. I'd like to keep Thiam but not at that price. There are only a handful of programs in the country that can afford to take that chance. Just ask Kansas (Peterson) and BYU (Dybantsa) how paying 1 guy that much of your budget worked out for a deep run in the tourney.

I am hoping that Calhoun is a much better judge of how to assemble a TEAM than Miller who largely seemed to just want to grab talented pieces and throw them together. That obviously did not work.

But Kansas was a 4 seed, and BYU also made the tourney. I'll take that next season. Maybe some of our "deep pockets" can dig a little deeper?

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

I would not want to spend nearly half of our NIL budget on Thiam.

We need to get 25 BPM minimum from the starting 5. With an 8 mil budget that's $320k per BPM. A player would have to give us 11 BPM to be worth $3.5 mil. Thiam recorded 5 BPM this year. I think 7 is reasonable to assume for next year. I'd pay him 2.5 mil tops.

Thiam improved dramatically over the second half. Plus, he's 7'2".