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Memo to Jim: Stay awhile

Abstract:
Dear Jim,

Jim, you're a great coach, and Kent State's men's basketball team is lucky to have you. In fact, Jimbo, we've been lucky to have you since Stan (Heath) left for Arkansas six years ago (that turned out well for coach Stan, didn't it?). We've been lucky to have your east coast bravado since you first won 20 games in a season....

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Jim

posted 3/26/08 @ 9:31 AM EST

PLEASE JIM, STAY... Your wife and kid are from here. Going to Providence is a bad move. You will be a constant at the bottom of the Big East, even with your skills.

I know Kent can't offer much, but you and Laing have a good thing going.

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KSUBasketballFan

posted 3/26/08 @ 9:57 AM EST

Perhaps I may be in the minority, but I would welcome a departure by Big Jimmy. He has helped continue Kent's 20 game win streak, but his teams have a knack for choking when all eyes are on them. I'm not just talking about the big dance, but what happened after they got ranked in the regular season for the first time ever? They take a trip to Bowling Green and dump on all the voters who thought the Flashes were good enough to be ranked. Hey remember 2 years ago when Kent made it to the dance and lost to Pitt. Their performance then reminded me of the one against UNLV, they looked like they were allergic to the spotlight.
We all know Kent is a good team, with potential to be a great team, but the problem is their inconsistency. Besides the win against St. Mary's, Kent has not been able to win a game they were suppose to lose while under Jim's tenure. However there have been many games they have lost that they should have easily won. Not to mention their OT win over Ball State at home. Um Ball State was 6 and 24!!!! and they took Kent to OT? Come on.
The point I am making is that Jim's teams are good and they respect him, but you never know which team is gonna show up. The team that crushed Akron in the MAC tournament or the team that scored 10 pts in a half against UNLV. I think Jim is a great motivator and I appreciate his passion, but what he has proved to lack, is his ability to adjust during a game. He has faith in his players and I admire that, but when Al Fisher turns the ball over like that against UNLV how do you not adjust your game plan? Why does it take till half time to adjust. Every Kent fan who watched that game against UNLV was not suprised by their juvenile performance, disapointed yes, but not suprised.
Overall I like Jim, but really, why should he stay? and if your a fan who wants to see Kent win tournament games why do you want him to stay? So we can win 20 games a season and a MAC tournament here or there? Thats great but has he really ever done more than expected after his first two years? If Kent didn't win 20 games this year and didn't win the MAC with the team he had, even without Al fisher, I think people would be calling for his head. The whole year his expectations were to win the MAC and he did, but what about exceeding them. Exceeding expectations is what legends are made of, something Al Fisher and Q are quite aware of.
By no means do I dislike Jim or think he is anything less than a good coach. I just think for where kent's basketball program wants to go, he is not the right fit. Take him to a school where he can revamp a program and bring the noise again. But Kent is past the needs of a Bob Knight or Bill Cowher, we need a mastermind. Someone who is going to do a bit more analyzing and scheming instead of those bravado foot stomps.

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Gflash68

posted 3/26/08 @ 2:09 PM EST

Originally posted by
KSUBasketballFan
Perhaps I may be in the minority, but I would welcome a departure by Big Jimmy. He has helped continue Kent's 20 game win streak, but his teams have a knack for choking when all eyes are on them. I'm not just talking about the big dance, but what happened after they got ranked in the regular season for the first time ever? They take a trip to Bowling Green and dump on all the voters who thought the Flashes were good enough to be ranked. Hey remember 2 years ago when Kent made it to the dance and lost to Pitt. Their performance then reminded me of the one against UNLV, they looked like they were allergic to the spotlight.
We all know Kent is a good team, with potential to be a great team, but the problem is their inconsistency. Besides the win against St. Mary's, Kent has not been able to win a game they were suppose to lose while under Jim's tenure. However there have been many games they have lost that they should have easily won. Not to mention their OT win over Ball State at home. Um Ball State was 6 and 24!!!! and they took Kent to OT? Come on.
The point I am making is that Jim's teams are good and they respect him, but you never know which team is gonna show up. The team that crushed Akron in the MAC tournament or the team that scored 10 pts in a half against UNLV. I think Jim is a great motivator and I appreciate his passion, but what he has proved to lack, is his ability to adjust during a game. He has faith in his players and I admire that, but when Al Fisher turns the ball over like that against UNLV how do you not adjust your game plan? Why does it take till half time to adjust. Every Kent fan who watched that game against UNLV was not suprised by their juvenile performance, disapointed yes, but not suprised.
Overall I like Jim, but really, why should he stay? and if your a fan who wants to see Kent win tournament games why do you want him to stay? So we can win 20 games a season and a MAC tournament here or there? Thats great but has he really ever done more than expected after his first two years? If Kent didn't win 20 games this year and didn't win the MAC with the team he had, even without Al fisher, I think people would be calling for his head. The whole year his expectations were to win the MAC and he did, but what about exceeding them. Exceeding expectations is what legends are made of, something Al Fisher and Q are quite aware of.
By no means do I dislike Jim or think he is anything less than a good coach. I just think for where kent's basketball program wants to go, he is not the right fit. Take him to a school where he can revamp a program and bring the noise again. But Kent is past the needs of a Bob Knight or Bill Cowher, we need a mastermind. Someone who is going to do a bit more analyzing and scheming instead of those bravado foot stomps.

Hold on here! You do not know what we have. We have what everyone in our Conference would love to have. We are the envy of the MAC. You might even be correct with some of your analysis, however, JC is a young coach that is getting better every year. He is going to solve the rigors of the long season and post season performance. Give me a coach with the fire in his belly, flame from his stare, smoke from the nostrils, and the respect of his players. Oh, we already have him.

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