HopFan16 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 11, 2019 3:10 pm
Wheels wrote: ↑Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:11 pm
I am interested in getting the boards' thoughts on a conversation that many Maryland fans on a different site had over Petro's future at Hopkins. There's some broad agreement that had he not gotten to the quarterfinals last season that he wouldn't have been back this year. Again, that's a total outside the Hopkins bubble take on the program. If the wheels fall off this year...like a 1-4, miss the B1G tournament kind of season, do you all think he's back next season? Of course, that's worst case scenario. Just curious as to what you all think. I could see the Hopkins administration making the move to get Nads, but, again, I'm a total outsider to the JHU culture.
I don't know any more than you do but he wasn't going anywhere had we lost to Georgetown in the 1st round. He'd still have been back. I believe his contract expires after next season so, if this year goes the way it's currently going and 2020 isn't better, then maybe there are conversations. He has built up a lot of goodwill and rightfully so. I don't think they'd ever push him out unless things got really bad. Some would argue that they already are. But we're less than a year removed from a Big Ten championship, which may have earned some more leeway. The team has won 50% of the conference titles, despite the lack of success in the NCAA tournament...a miracle 2015 run notwithstanding.
That's just my feeling. He's far more likely to go on his own terms.
I also have zero insider insight, but I'd tend to agree that unless things go south this year in a really drastic way, going into 2020 on the hot seat is more likely than the administration making a move at the end of the season. Don't necessarily share 16's view that Petro's invulnerable though. Nor would it necessarily be publicly obvious in the event of a departure whose terms it was on.
I don't doubt there are some folks with pull who'd rather kick the tires on Nadelen at this point. No idea whether Nadelen's interested, or at what price.
Wheels, I'd be curious to read that conversation if it isn't on a private board, do you mind sharing a link?
Wheels wrote: ↑Mon Mar 11, 2019 7:21 am
What's happened to your midfield is a function of recruiting, and two things look clear to me. One, the rule changes around recruiting have really hurt JHU. Two, Petro's recruiting philosophy needs updating. Teams like Maryland, Notre Dame, and Ohio St started recruiting size and athleticism over stick skills. When you look at the rosters of those teams, not only does the size of their players stand out but also the bios of their players. Check out the other sports that so many players on those rosters played. You'll see few soccer player and dozens of football and hockey players. Coaches in those programs have figured out that they can develop players' stick skills once they get on campus. Looking at your incoming recruits for the next two years doesn't lead me to believe that Petro has adapted to realities of the game at this point in time.
Looking at the on-field product I get what you're saying. That said, if you look at our guys' bios it's about the same -- mostly football and hockey backgrounds for a second sport. Coulter, who for whatever reason has never played in 3.5 years, we literally pulled from a D1 hockey roster. I know Foley played soccer but I'm not aware of many others. If you're talking about guys like Sam Hubbard where they're potential two-sport recruits, then sure, it seems like it's been a while since Hopkins has been in play for that type of kid. But I'm not convinced there's been a conscious philosophy of going after smaller finesse players -- or to the extent there has, it's compensating for the previous cycle when we went completely the other direction. Like others have said, after 2013 the standard line was Hopkins was all big dudes who couldn't shoot or pass.
I suspect a big part of this is ER -- you commit to kids at 14, you're going to have a lot more surprises in terms of who gets taller/thicker and who doesn't. Then there's Petro's temperament not really being suited to the philosophy of putting your best athletes out there and letting them learn on the job; the pool of players available to see the field is going to be further restricted to the ones he trusts not to do stupid stuff. This has its pluses and minuses as an approach.