[Jim Vanderhoof]

You bring some good points Minnesota. I think the biggest disconnect with Smith was recruiting and style of play not actual coaching. You can’t tell me there isn’t any local players the last couple years that aren’t better than Little and Erickson. Smith just recruits talent but some don’t fit his system. The most successful past coaches had a system and recruited players to fill roles in that system. That’s why the turnovers are so high.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I wouldn’t be to concerned with losing players. Mike gives you a secondary ball handler and Dawes has some starter qualities. Wahlin and Azur are good bench players. The rest should hit the portal. Rebuild with new young talent and start the development.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Seems strange to not wait for the season to end. He has been a lame duck since last year. BYU has set a blueprint. Jensen and Bryant are equivalent to Young. Miller has NBA experience and connections. Boosters will step up with a coach that can recruit. No honor code to keep non LDS talent to stay more than 1 year.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Yes NBA ties matter in recruiting Miami. Coach K had them Smith doesn’t. No point guard and lack of athleticism has been the Achilles heal of Smith. His recruiting and playing style doesn’t fit a P4 conference. Smith should have listened to the past players 4 years ago. If it’s true he rejected Millers offer to help coach he deserves to be fired. How can you refuse help from one of the greatest point guards of all time when that position has been a bust in his tenure?

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I listened to the Tony Jones interview (he follows the NBA). He knows the local market and Bryant was his first pick. He raved about Bryant’s credibility in the NBA and his development skills would make him the best recruiter. He is next in line for an NBA head coaching job (according to Jones) so would have little interest in the Utah job.

Jenson and Miller together would be the ultimate coaching staff.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I hear you Miami. I’ve followed Ute bb since the old Einer Neilson fieldhouse( pre Huntsman). We need to get the best local talent and find players to fit a system. We can’t get the big stars so have to settle for secondary talent. Jensen would be best at local recruiting because of his local ties and he is LDS which helps with the locals. Miller would be my second pick. Bryant would be my #1 but he isn’t leaving the NBA.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I agree with everything AZUTE. One other point Jensen is LDS. Lots of the top Utah recruits are LDS. The Josh Grant interview was spot on. I’ve followed Utah basketball since the Hunstman center was opened. Local talent has always been a backbone of the program. Hard to believe we can’t find a point guard or any other position with all the in state talent. I think Jensen could recruit local talent.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Novel thought utesfan. Players that actually know how to play as a team. Miller and Jensen were two of the best team players. We may never get the best players but we can play smart team BB. Turnovers and poor foul shooting are team stats that reflect bad coaching.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Smith thought his success pre Utah would transfer to a higher level of competition Minnesota. The talent and athleticism is hard to overcome if you can’t match it. The Josh Grant interview showed Smith’s lack of respect for past players.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I couldn’t agree more Rick. The same 4 I would keep. The turnovers and lack of free throw success is on coaching. Smith never defined roles and never settled in to a rotation. Josh Grant interview backed these thoughts.

Watched Smith play a couple games for St Johns. He looked like a true point guard under Pittino. Coaching matters.

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