Coach Joe and the Lady ‘Cats

[Dugan15]

I am catching the end of the Lady ‘Cats game on TV. It looks like we will drop another game, falling to 2-8 in Conference.

That will move Coach Joe’s 10-year conference record to 56-106. Disappointing, right? Particularly after the successive highly touted recruiting classes of many years ago.

What should the expectations be? Goodness knows Coach Stephens got more than ample time with baseball. I am not wishing for any terminations...just thinking that the team has fallen far short of what we might have expected about 7-8 years ago.

Go ‘Cats!

 

[Dugan15]

Then the ‘Cats go on an 18-2 run to tie the game and send it to OT. What do I know? First Year Lindsey Pulliam is awfully good.

 

[mikewebb68]

This was clearly a rebuilding year with everyone gone, and the future indeed looks bright. Joe did inherit a program in total chaos, which does account for a lot of those BIG losses...

 

[IdahoAlum]

This was clearly a rebuilding year with everyone gone, and the future indeed looks bright. Joe did inherit a program in total chaos, which does account for a lot of those BIG losses...

So what you're saying is he's the female version of Bill Carmody.

 

[NJCat]

So what you're saying is he's the female version of Bill Carmody.

Good point!! (Although Joe isn't female)!

 

[IdahoAlum]

Good point!! (Although Joe isn't female)!

No, no he's not....

 

[hdhntr1]

So what you're saying is he's the female version of Bill Carmody.

Except that he can recruit and he is not female

 

[its_the_sauce]

This was clearly a rebuilding year with everyone gone, and the future indeed looks bright. Joe did inherit a program in total chaos, which does account for a lot of those BIG losses...

How long do you give the guy?? He's been here for 10 years. The program has been in chaos since Perrelli left. No reason to have a failing women's program for 20 years.

 

[hdhntr1]

How long do you give the guy?? He's been here for 10 years. The program has been in chaos since Perrelli left. No reason to have a failing women's program for 20 years.

Hasn't he gotten to the dance a couple times?

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

I ran into Coach Joe on Thursday morning flying from ORD to LGA. He was definitely on a recruiting trip as he was wearing NU garb and there was no team with him!

 

[NJCat]

Hasn't he gotten to the dance a couple times?

Once, lost in the first round to Arkansas in 2015. They have also made the NIT 4 times (like Carmody's Men's teams!).

 

[docrugby1]

Coach Joe M was an overachiever at GW. I think his struggles just emphasize how difficult winning at NU is relative to the other B1G programs

 

[willycat]

Once, lost in the first round to Arkansas in 2015. They have also made the NIT 4 times (like Carmody's Men's teams!).

Well that settles it. At least 3 more years.

 

[NJCat]

Well that settles it. At least 3 more years.

My thought exactly.

 

[haywood jahblowme]

It was a big loss for the program when they recently lost Christie Sides. Fantastic coach, recruiter, and the team really responded to her and her style.

 

[DaCat]

Coach Joe M was an overachiever at GW. I think his struggles just emphasize how difficult winning at NU is relative to the other B1G programs

He seems to be able to land some really good recruits, much better than on the men's side until recently. Nia Coffey was drafted #5 overall in last year's WNBA draft. He's the opposite of Carmody, who was a coaching genius but terrible recruiter.

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

Coach Joe M was an overachiever at GW. I think his struggles just emphasize how difficult winning at NU is relative to the other B1G programs

Why is it more difficult to win at women’s basketball than other places - is recruiting harder? Other than a very small number of programs- UConn, maybe Tennessee you aren’t competing against a game day atmosphere that kids have a hard time turning down. Lacrosse seems to be able to find kids that qualify and are top players, shouldn’t basketball, and maybe they do?

 

[clarificationcat]

He seems to be able to land some really good recruits, much better than on the men's side until recently. Nia Coffey was drafted #5 overall in last year's WNBA draft. He's the opposite of Carmody, who was a coaching genius but terrible recruiter.

I certainly don't want to start another debate about Carmody but I would say that he was very good at coaching offense and was not an enthusiastic recruiter. He recruited some very good players but really struggled to recruit a full roster of B1G caliber players. When he had a bad roster, his teams had awful records. When he had John Shurna, Juice Thompson and Drew Crawford, he had success. Those three guys are probably more natural scorers than anyone on the current roster. Ditto for Coble.

 

[willycat]

I certainly don't want to start another debate about Carmody but I would say that he was very good at coaching offense and was not an enthusiastic recruiter. He recruited some very good players but really struggled to recruit a full roster of B1G caliber players. When he had a bad roster, his teams had awful records. When he had John Shurna, Juice Thompson and Drew Crawford, he had success. Those three guys are probably more natural scorers than anyone on the current roster. Ditto for Coble.

Maybe but his defensive coaching consisted of, after a shot was taken, turn and get back and defend. No rebounding in basketball or crying.

 

[mikewebb68]

It was a big loss for the program when they recently lost Christie Sides. Fantastic coach, recruiter, and the team really responded to her and her style.

Yeah, probably why she's in the WNBA now. And her predecessor left to become the head coach at Dayton...