WBB: Aston out at Texas
- Thread starter mred
- Start date
Not really a surprise to me. Texas wants to go back to the Conrad days not realizing how tough that is to do with more competition and better athletes across the country.
Hard to believe that a WBB program with the resources that Texas has would let a contract simply expire like that, especially for a team that was going to make the NCAAs this season, had plenty of recent success and for a program that has won a national championship.
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It seems amongst the faithful supporters that her record against Baylor hurt her worse than anything. That and the fact that she couldn't win a conference championships. On various Horn boards fans are calling for hiring a big name coach that would have the capability of winning a title and at least splitting games with BU. I'm not sure who that would be unless they could pull Jeff in from Louisville. He's got a pretty good deal going there and wasn't willing to budge for the Tennessee job. So unless there are some bug bucks offered I doubt he would even consider it. I suspect the AZ coach will be one of the top candidates considered.
Also not surprised, you can't have top rated recruits each year and really not get any better. The team always seemed to under achieve with the talent they had.
It was more than just record - she had three McDonald's All Americans in her 2017 class that transferred before their junior season. Her 2017-2018 team had 10 McDonald's All Americans and started the season ranked # 2, they lost in the Sweet 16. Their star recruit in 2018 left the program because she felt unsafe with the medical staff.
Their national championship was in 1986, so 34 years ago isn't something that recruits today can relate to in a what have you done lately world.
Initial thoughts are Kelly Graves at Oregon or Vic Schaefer at Mississippi State. Oregon loses three All Americans, however Mississippi State is loaded heading into 20-21.
Bunch of injuries too...makes you wonder if her conditioning program was causing issues. It's going to be hard for them to find anyone up to the Baylor challenge.
Don't see it. Both are top programs. Why would a coach leave them for a move to a weak Big 12 dominated by a Final Four team every year? Would take a yuge amount of money assuming they could be "bought".
FTW, Oregon has the #2 class for 2020 per Prospects Nation.
It's also remarkably difficult to do with Jody Conradt still on staff in the Texas AD.
Texas Tech is the same way -- Marsha Sharp is an Associate AD there.
Don't think for a second that new coaches in both those places aren't looking over their shoulder.
I'm not saying it will happen, but those were two names thrown out by a writer with the Austin American-Stateman.
They tried the splash hire with Gail G. and it failed, so next they tried the hire with connections to Jody Conradt and it didn't work out so well, so who knows what is next. Del Conte hired Raegan Pebley at TCU as his only WBB hire as an AD.
Jeff Walz from Louisville had got deep KY roots but I am guessing that Del Conte will make a run for him despite those KY ties. And it may be time for Brenda Frese to make a change so there may be interest on both ends there.
Walz and Brenda both have top 10 teams next year, and to be honest the cupboard is a bit bare at Texas, don't see either of them leaving for that mess.
Maybe the Horns can make a big time hire in WBB like they did in MBB.
I certainly don't see the Texas job as a step up from Maryland. Brenda has tons of talent around her to recruit from. Tons.
Possible Final Four team this year and freshman POY in the Big 10. Nope, she's not going anywhere.
This story paints a different picture which suggests the timing may be right for her:
Starting forward Shakira Austin is transferring from Maryland, leaving the Terrapins with just one returning starter next season. Austin, a 6-foot-5 sophomore who most often played as a true center, is the second Terp to enter the transfer portal this week after fellow sophomore center Olivia Owens announced her decision Wednesday.
Austin’s departure is a significant blow to Maryland, which ended its shortened season with a Big Ten tournament championship this month. The sophomore from Virginia gave the Terps a significant height advantage against most Big Ten teams and averaged 12 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, second on the team in both categories. Owens, who played behind Austin, redshirted this year after a bout of mononucleosis in the fall.
Just as meaningful is that the departures leave Maryland with only eight roster players for the 2020-21 season — just as it finally looked as if the Terps had rebounded from a rash of transfers in 2017 that left the roster undermanned.
Sophomore guard Taylor Mikesell will be the lone full-time returning starter, although freshman point guard Ashley Owusu started 16 games, most of which were nonconference contests at the start of the season. Junior point guard Channise Lewis, who missed the entire year after she tore the lateral meniscus in her left knee during the preseason, will be the team’s only senior.
Texas has tried the splash hire as has been mentioned. Any time you have a top notch program, it’s difficult to get anyone that can follow in those footsteps. Not impossible, but difficult. Look at what happened when the Vampire originally retired from KSU.
