Peery Watch, Round 2

[Pounder]

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2019/03/26/is-byu-basketball-coach/

The BYU coach is retiring (I should put quotes around that, but there's compound issues, so it's harder to question this decision).

Let it be known that the author of the article has tweeted the following:

"It is no coincidence that this Rose retirement announcement comes the day after UVU's (Utah Valley) season ended. UVU coach Mark Pope is the obvious front-runner for the job, if he wants it. Other possible candidates: Portland State coach Barret Peery, L.A. Lakers asst. coach Mark Madsen."

So I wouldn't get excited about this opening, but since it appears the schools in Utah and Peery have a relationship, the question might really become what happens with the Utah Valley job.

 

[bigskyconf]

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2019/03/26/is-byu-basketball-coach/

The BYU coach is retiring (I should put quotes around that, but there's compound issues, so it's harder to question this decision).

Let it be known that the author of the article has tweeted the following:

"It is no coincidence that this Rose retirement announcement comes the day after UVU's (Utah Valley) season ended. UVU coach Mark Pope is the obvious front-runner for the job, if he wants it. Other possible candidates: Portland State coach Barret Peery, L.A. Lakers asst. coach Mark Madsen."

So I wouldn't get excited about this opening, but since it appears the schools in Utah and Peery have a relationship, the question might really become what happens with the Utah Valley job.

I know PSU is not the best of positions out there, but I have to think it is better than UVU given the flux (once again) around the WAC, with Chicago State on life support and Bakersfield leaving for the Big West in 2020, although they are getting Dixie State in 2020. I had heard that BYU may try to pry Rahe from Weber.

 

[Pounder]

NET Rankings at the end of this season

40 New Mexico State
90 Utah Valley
96 Grand Canyon
124 Montana
165 Cal Baptist
168 UT Rio Grande Valley
169 Northern Colorado
182 Weber State
186 Seattle U
218 Cal State Bakersfield
225 UM Kansas City
245 Eastern Washington
246 Montana State
261 Southern Utah
268 Portland State
272 Sacramento State
286 Northern Arizona
307 Idaho State
((327 U Portland- had to do that))
338 Idaho
353 Chicago State

Conference Average Attendance (2017-2018, last released numbers)
WAC 2,944
Big Sky 2,233

2017-2018 Attendance by school
Grand Canyon 6,973
Weber State 6,778
New Mexico State 5,293
Montana 4,040
Utah Valley 3,413
Montana State 3,078
Cal State Bakersfield 2,795
Southern Utah 2,394
Cal Baptist (in D-2 at the time) 2,290
((Portland 2,195... generally because they'll pack for Gonzaga and BYU)
Idaho 1,787
Eastern Washington 1,628
Idaho State 1,617
Northern Colorado 1,439
Seattle U 1,384
UM Kansas City 1,210
UT Rio Grande Valley 845
Northern Arizona 662
Sacramento State 610
Portland State 606
Chicago State 449

Chicago State is a problem overall; that school might close. Missouri-Kansas City is currently dreaming of a more geographically suitable conference... the burning question being why they jumped to the WAC in the first place. Yet, Dixie State joined, and there's a couple other directions (especially a Texas partner for UTRGV) that the WAC can try. Meanwhile... you can look at where NMSU gets seeded virtually every year vs where the Big Sky school gets seeded and understand that there's a problem.

 

[Grant H]

How impressed are those schools going to be with Peery at this point?

The results this season were mediocre in what looks like a down year for the Big Sky as a perennially bottom tier league. The recruits he brought in were mostly JC transfers that didn’t have a big impact on a conference level and now have only one year of eligibility remaining to improve. With this group the press just doesn’t seem to have a big impact against most opponents.

After the non-conference season last year I thought Peery was a brilliant hire, but this year, with the opening of the new arena and a chance to bring in his own players, was a disappointment I’m my eyes. Next year should lend a lot of insight as to whether Peery can consistently keep this team near the top of the big sky or not.

 

[Pounder]

How impressed are those schools going to be with Peery at this point?

Probably not. Peery might get hired on rep alone... and might not.

The media (which matters not much) is making a really big beef during the tournament about one-and-done players. The media has a point. I'm not sure someone like Dana Altman is going to change his M.O. because they have a point. In that environment, I understood hiring a coach who can find JC guys.

Failing to get anywhere with what Peery has leads to one of two probable sources of blame:

1) the JC route isn't working in terms of building a team over time

2) the resources at Portland State aren't there to recruit sufficiently

(Of course, (3) is a mixture of the above and probably closer to the truth)

 

[bigskyconf]

How impressed are those schools going to be with Peery at this point?

Probably not. Peery might get hired on rep alone... and might not.

The media (which matters not much) is making a really big beef during the tournament about one-and-done players. The media has a point. I'm not sure someone like Dana Altman is going to change his M.O. because they have a point. In that environment, I understood hiring a coach who can find JC guys.

Failing to get anywhere with what Peery has leads to one of two probable sources of blame:

1) the JC route isn't working in terms of building a team over time

2) the resources at Portland State aren't there to recruit sufficiently

(Of course, (3) is a mixture of the above and probably closer to the truth)

It is a pretty small sample size with Peery and PSU so far. The first year he had all the seniors that Geving recruited. I haven't seen enough to form an opinion on if what he is doing is working or not.

 

[Pounder]

Mark Pope got hired at BYU.

Mark Madsen got hired at UVU.

End of main subject... for the moment, anyway. Kind of doubt the Lakers will want to replace Madsen with Peery.

 

[bigskyconf]

Mark Pope got hired at BYU.

Mark Madsen got hired at UVU.

End of main subject... for the moment, anyway. Kind of doubt the Lakers will want to replace Madsen with Peery.

With the Lakers, anything is possible. LeBron is running the show over there, might as well make him the head coach, president and GM (as well as player).