I was watching a bit of Texas Southern - Southern University on ESPNU. The HC at Texas Southern is Mike Davis, former HC at Indiana University and UAB. Texas Southern plays in the SWAC, which is rated 33rd of 33 D1 conferences. Their budget for mens basketball is in the $950,000 range.
I find it hard to believe that Texas Southern is a more attractive job to a coach like Mike Davis, than coaching at YSU, in the HL. There are currently ZERO teams in the SWAC with winning records. Texas Southern is 2-0/5-10, tied for 1st and has the most win of any team in the conference.
Jayson Gee, a former assistant at YSU, plus assistant at OU, Charleston, St. Bonaventure and CSU(2006-13) is in his first year as HC at Longwood, which plays in the SoCon. They moved to D1 in 07. Gee was also the HC at D2 Charleston for 7 years, had an overall record of 160-53, won 20+ games in each of last 6 seasons, and advanced to NCAA Tournament 4 times. Not sure if he would have any interest in YSU, but kind of sad if Longwood is deemed a better job than YSU and coaching in the HL. SoCon is 25th of 33 D1 Conferences.
The HL is currently 14th of 33 conferences.
Money is an issue at YSU for men's basketball, but hearing that gets old. There is an easy solution. Get rid of 2 of the non D1 home games, and play 2 more "money games". Yes, the result will likely be 2 losses. But, YSU could net $150,000 or so, get an opportunity to play against a big name opponent, and quite possibly even have the game televised by ESPN, or more likely ESPNU, BIG Ten Network, SEC Network, PAC 12 Network, ACC Network, FOX Sports 1, CBS Sports.
The $150,000 figure is based on the article back in December in the Vindicator that said YSU got paid $85,000 by Texas A&M. I did a low estimate of $75,000 each for 2 more "money games".
Actually, I say scrap ALL of the non D1 home games, and play 4 "money games". Football plays 3 OOC games in an 11 game season, and 4 in a 12 game season. So, they are playing 33% or 25% of their OOC games in "money games", and then play in the top FCS Conference in the country.
Basketball played 15 OOC games. Playing 3 "money games" is 20% of the OOC schedule. Playing 4 would be 27%. The crowds for the non D1 games are about 500 people, if that. They do not help the team prepare for the HL season in any way. The wins do not count as far as the RPI, and essentially they are just games to pad the stats and the win column. $85,000 X 4 = $340,000 ..... $75,000 X 4 = $300,000 . That money could go a long way toward increasing the pay of the HC and at very least the top assistant. The games could be used as tools for recruiting. And, there is no shortage of schools in the Top 5-6 conferences looking to play a team like YSU.
Also, if not going to try and have the best program possible, then why even have men's basketball? The excuse of the 63 scholarships for football is one I do not buy. It comes down to having a QUALITY men's basketball program not being a high priority at YSU. Mediocre is fine. Again, I understand the money constraints, but there are ways to deal with that issue, and the simplest is 3 or 4 "money games" per year. And if the HC wants to still schedule a non D1 home game, then go for it. Although, teams are allowed 2 exhibition games or 2 closed scrimmages, or 1 of each. And, I do not care what other schools do. I used to try that with my parents, and it never worked. I would get if Kelli jumped off the roof, would you jump off the roof?" or my all time favorite "I'm not Joe's mom/dad, and I don't care what Joe's mom/dad let's him do". And, there were several others.
Pretty sure all of you heard these when growing up, may well hear them now from spouses and/or bosses or even your parents. And, if any of you are parents, teach, coach or are even aunt's/uncle's, you likely have or do use these lines.
