So, his staff, including Jonas Hayes, is currently out of a job. I don't expect Jonas to be unemployed for long. It's just a question of whether he wants to come back to Athens and whether White wants him. Jonas respects White. Those in the know think White was a good hire and will be successful at UGA.

I had mentioned wanting him to press more. It was pointed out to me that only 1 coach has been successful in the SEC pressing a lot - Nolan Richardson. It probably doesn't work to press all the time at major college level. That being said, I would like to see us do it more.

By the way, if UF wins their 1st round game, it will be the Al Pinkins-led Gators against the Jonas Hayes-led Xavier squad. That will be interesting.... They could both be on our staff next season.

I hope that happens.

To be perfectly honest, I bet it's hard to get these premium players to come to your school if you press a lot. They don't all want to play defense, especially full court all the time. I'm certain it would hurt recruiting.

Of the SEC's six teams in the tourney, only Alabama is horrible on the defensive end (#228). That's why they're so radically inconsistent, beating Gonzaga and Baylor while losing to Georgia, Missouri and Vandy.

Defensive Efficiency Rankings of SEC Teams in dance:
#5 LSU
#7 Tenn
#8 Aub
#28 Arky
#33 Ky
(UGA finished #348 under Crean)

Those teams above recruit very well and win. If having to play defense turns a recruit off, you do not want him. Florida finished #81 in DE & 112 in OE. No doubt White will have to improve on those numbers to be successful here.

My hometown Blazers play a very aggressive defense (#10 in steals) and press a good bit. They finished #34 in DE & #20 in OE and Kennedy is certainly not having an issue drawing players.

I'm confident Mike White will get it done here but it won't be by discounting the importance of defense like Crean.

You have to play on both ends of the court to be successful. I don't think anyone would argue that. And I don't think anyone thinks White will discount the value of defense.

Dawg44 said:

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To be perfectly honest, I bet it's hard to get these premium players to come to your school if you press a lot. They don't all want to play defense, especially full court all the time. I'm certain it would hurt recruiting.

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Many of the premier players will not go to a school who wants to press all the time. Spend time talking to them. They will tell you this. They want to fly up and down the court shooting threes or driving to the basket. Watch the NCAA tournament starting tomorrow. Watch the teams having the most fun and what they do on the court. You can learn a lot more doing that than posting negative posts on a message board. But you are still my favorite poster. FYI - I'm a retired high school basketball coach. I do know a little bit about kids and basketball.

All I've done is post the truth starting last spring through the summer, fall, on through the worst season in SEC history. While you and several others on here thought we would be better and defended the clown we just fired. Who the hell wouldn't post negative through a 6-26 (1-17) season.

I'm very positive on the Mike White hire and however he does I definitely won't be blaming Crean four years from now.

So, UF won last night. They will play Xavier in the next round of the NIT. Pinkins v. Hayes!! Should be interesting, to say the least.

I think they play Sunday at 1:00?