I understand Gerry’s position of being from Missouri as it pertains to Texas taking basketball seriously. That’s a legitimate position.
That said, there are multiple reasons why Texas will take basketball very seriously with the right hire. It needs to be someone who energizes everyone - the admin, the fans and the money, as Beard was doing.
The admin needs and wants men’s basketball to be top ten like every other sport besides women’s soccer. It’s a money sport. It’s high visibility and impacts the school’s brand.
The money guys want to back a winner. They spared nothing for Beard. They’re not going to let a couple million dollars be the gap that prevents title contention. Know-nothings will now point to the Toppin “recruitment” as evidence otherwise. I’m too bored with that canard to do anything but be dismissive.
The fans were coming when Beard was at Texas. They show up for WBB. They’ll show up for a men’s program that isn’t boring generally and just putrid, at times, to watch.
Again, I don’t think the ceiling is $4.5M if there is a “right guy” that Del Conte hones in on.
CDC will vet a candidate with a couple of the guys if he thinks they have a real insight to offer. Sarkisian doesn’t really ever seek non-peer or mentor counsel when it comes to staff.
We can all think what we want about Ivey’s NBA coaching prospects, but he’s made it known he’d be very interested in the Texas coaching job. I do agree with everyone who says he fails to check key hiring boxes for CDC.