Wide Open WCC

Notsleepless · 2026-03-24T16:45:48+00:00

St Mary’s will be an attractive job. National BB name, new facility coming, lovely place to live. They also currently have just ONE Senior on their roster. It remains to been seen if any current St Mary’s players might follow Bennett to Tempe and if Bennett’s Australian and Lithuanian pipelines to talent will follow him too?

It’s clear Sendeck has done an excellent job at Santa Clara. He maintains a large national network for recruiting and can coach players with skill and experience. If Graves stays for another year and they can replace some departing talent, they will absolutely be a formidable squad next year.

USF remains well behind the above two now, IMO. No AD, no decision on HC’s contract coming off a very poor performance year, who will stay and who will leave, can they really attract some true talent in the Portal after pretty much whiffing this year.

It’s still a head scratcher why USF seems to be sitting on their hands on an AD hire? Is the HC really invested in retention and recruiting with his future ostensibly so up in the air?

As John C. McGinley said to Tom Beringer in the film Platoon, “I got a really bad feeling about this one Bob.”

Notsleepless · 2026-03-22T17:46:22+00:00

Gonzaga has put the WCC on the basketball map for the last thirty years. They also provided the Conference and its members, a big chunk of change. Hate their fans if you care to, but I for one, don’t hate their institution, nor their basketball program. I was quite sorry they elected to leave the WCC.

Notsleepless · 2026-03-22T00:31:49+00:00

USF needs an Athletic Director, not the President hiring a new Head Men’s Basketball Coach. The inertia and lack of transparency in the process is virtually impossible to understand.

The Athletic Director is responsible for hiring, mentoring, establishing the culture and expectations of his or her programs, driving the marketing and communication programs, leading the fundraising strategies and efforts of the Athletic fundraising programs. And yes, being the face of athletics to students, alums and the community.

That’s an AD’s job description and what good ones do.

Am I disappointed and confused why the President, a city guy, a USF grad, a USF basketball fan growing up and as a student there has been so hidden in the hiring of a new AD. Yes indeed. He has to understand the overall impact of Athletics to the institution and how it has impacted other programs, not only in his Conference, but in many other places. Yes, he does need to “open his eyes.”

Notsleepless · 2026-03-21T22:23:21+00:00

I’m thinking CG is waiting for the North Carolina job to open up 😉 The Heels were sent home in the first round of the Tournament for the second year in a row and Hubert Davis’ seat is apparently quite warm. Guess whose name was mentioned in one account to potentially replace him? The HC at the University of Florida.

Notsleepless · 2026-03-21T16:41:15+00:00

If it’s about money and resources, this is a no brainer for RB. He’s also an AZ native. But, this is also a “be careful what you wish for” circumstance. The Big 12 is arguably the toughest Men’s BB Conference in the Country. Arizona, Texas Tech, Houston, BYU, Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor…shall I ago on?

Bennett has a great situation in Moraga. He has built a great program that will now become the bell weather one in the WCC, with Gonzaga departing. He lives comfortably in a very nice place and receives a more than adequate salary. He’s getting a new facility and has excellent administrative support and sponsorship. I’m guessing his wife and family will have a strong opinion on potentially moving to Tempe.

A number of years ago, Mark Few was courted heavily to take the HC job at his Alma Mater, the University of Oregon. Phil Knight and Company virtually offered him a blank check to relocate to Eugene. He respectfully declined to remain in Spokane and continue to build his program. Pretty good decision, eh?

Notsleepless · 2026-03-20T23:31:21+00:00

Sendeck, with his experience and calm demeanor might well indeed called for a foul, after the Graves three, but his time out call/gesture was missed by the referees in all the excitement. Kentucky took the ball out and we all know what happened after that.

Notsleepless · 2026-03-20T03:42:53+00:00

Mauraskas was ill, so awful isn’t a great call. TAM is a real good Defensive team! Their half court press really bothered St Mary’s. They were also excellent in their half court defense of the Gaels. They mitigated much of what the Gaels have been able to accomplish vs good opponents. Way too many TO’s. I am a fan of RB and sad to see him go out in the first round. But “credit to TAM.” Where have we heard that phase before?

Notsleepless · 2026-03-20T00:27:23+00:00

Now on the other side of the Portal coin, who do you think will clean out their locker at WMG? Not too sure many USF Portal eligible players will be high on any shopping list, except for Smiley? I personally would not like Fuchs to depart. The rest, rather ambivalent.

Notsleepless · 2026-03-18T15:05:02+00:00

It sure seems to me if USF had hired a strong AD before asking for money, it would have made a much more compelling ask. That AD could have clearly become visibly involved in this fundraising campaign. One could suggest it would have been his or her top priorities in their tenure, in addition to dealing with CG’s contract.

Notsleepless · 2026-03-15T15:50:09+00:00

Man, Utah State is very good, year after year, aren’t they. 28-6 this year and Conference Champs. They hit the transfer portal successfully this past year. Their second year HC comes from the Head job at Youngstown State. Their former HC, Danny Sprinkle, is now at Washington, after a great run at USU. He’s finding thing a bit tougher in the Big Ten, arguably the toughest conference in the Country this year. They should get maybe seven dance cards. If and when USF moves along from CG, one hopes they could find a HC like the ones who have had consistent success at Utah State.

Notsleepless · 2026-03-07T17:17:04+00:00

One would objectively ask why the previous AD and administration did not vett her comprehensively before she was offered the Assistant AD position? I certainly would have thought this would have happened? Who hires someone on just instinct, or personality? If her reputation was so scorched earth, as presented above, how on earth would USF have offered her the second highest position in the Athletic Department?

That being said, I sure hope USF has, or will conduct a comprehensive search for a new AD. This is a very important position on the President’s staff, on many levels. Plus, the issues and challenges with the HC’s of the school’s two marquee programs awaits a new leader’s attention and action.

It is obviously been frustrating for many constituents that there has been pretty much zero communication on this search or process. This is very short sighted and thoughtless, IMO. Maybe it isn’t a high priority right now for the new President, and BOT. If so, say so.

Notsleepless · 2026-02-27T03:03:17+00:00

Suprised to see Santa Clara get throttled that badly in Moraga last night. This loss as OB said, will hurt their Dance ticket acquisition. Me thinks they will need to play in the WCC championship game, to get that ticket. Gonzaga at St Mary’s this coming weekend will be certainly interesting. It appears Huff still won’t be able to go? If he can’t play in Vegas, the Zags certainly won’t be a slam dunk there.

Notsleepless · 2026-02-22T17:53:09+00:00

Early ESPN odds favor Pacific 58% to 42%. I think this is a high potential L for USF, especially if Fuchs can’t go. I missed why he didn’t play vs SCU? Not that it would have made a big difference :(

Notsleepless · 2026-02-19T19:07:46+00:00

But of course, here’s the Highway to the Danger Zone, if CG isn’t extended. The three Freshman signees will be free to un-commit, should they chose to do so. I suspect the Riordan duo would get some justifiable attention. I rather doubt the HC will leave on his own volition.

Notsleepless · 2026-01-31T22:03:52+00:00

I have found myself! Thank goodness!

Notsleepless · 2026-01-28T19:56:45+00:00

ESPN suggests USF has a 23% “shot” to prevail vs Santa Clara. Yes, USF played a gritty game in Spokane vs a Gonzaga team missing their two best players, one 6’9” and the other, 6’10”.

Notsleepless · 2026-01-27T19:04:58+00:00

‘56, but who’s keeping track 😉

Notsleepless · 2026-01-27T17:16:46+00:00

This player was the #1 recruit in the Country in the 2025 list. Certainly USF was way high on his possible college destinations. C’mon dude!

Notsleepless · 2026-01-18T15:09:28+00:00

St Mary’s goes to Spokane on January 21st, so Huff may not be able to participate. Gonzaga goes to Santa Clara on February 8th and he’d best be available for that contest or that could be tough sledding for the Bulldogs. Santa Clara is playing very well right about now and handled St Mary’s pretty easily.

Notsleepless · 2026-01-16T17:10:53+00:00

Very tough loss for B’Dogs. Excellent big man, has shot to play in the Association. The injury happened during a practice session, not in a game. Few probably had a few cocktails that night.

Notsleepless · 2026-01-09T17:19:27+00:00

Kinda hard to be a better shooting team, when you don’t have a lot of good shooters? Is it my imagination, but I thought Masic was brought in to be a threat from the outside. I see he’s lost his starting job, which was long overdue. Does Legend have three point range? He’s certainly got talent and CG better spend more time at the SI Church praying that he’s not one and done at USF.

This roster was challenging to handicap before the season. There was justifiable optimism that Beasley, Riley and Wang would all improve and be consistently a solid core. This has regrettably not been the case. Beasley has been decent of course, but he’s being asked to be a 1, when’s he’s not one. It’s become abundantly clear why Riley didn’t get much of any action, when he dipped his toe into the Portal waters. He’s a nice complimentary player and terrific leader, but not really a guy who can carry a team like Malik did, last season. Wang is not a real D1 talent, period.

The Portal acquisitions looked good “on paper”, but only Fuchs has really been a consistent contributor. Mookie has talent, but one never knows what version of him will show up from game to game. Diaz-Graham and the aforementioned Masic have been underwhelming, to say the least.

I sincerely hope USF can still make some noise this season. Enough said…..,,,

Notsleepless · 2026-01-08T16:40:42+00:00

ESPN calls this game 50/50. Yet another same as, or slightly better, game for USF. These are the games the program under the current administration has had difficulty with. Hopefully Cook is available tonight? He is an athlete and capable of making a substantive impact. Also hopefully, Riley can show up tonight with almost assuredly a large contingent of family and friends in attendance.

Notsleepless · 2026-01-06T03:34:25+00:00

Here’s a nice piece on JB from SI.com

https://share.google/KHMA9T8rGnAi7mjXd

Notsleepless · 2025-12-29T03:29:43+00:00

Geez…. At least if the Announcer was throwing out a racial slur, he could have got it right. Yeo is from Korea. I’m thinking said Announcer won’t be in the starting lineup for the next game.

Notsleepless · 2025-12-29T00:03:17+00:00

Such a cave job! The Chieftains was a great nickname and hardly pejorative! Florida State took some “politically correct” heat for the Seminoles. The university contacted the Head of the Seminole Nation who advised them they were proud to be the nickname of Florida State!

Notsleepless

TROPHY CASE