Comments on: ITH Super Happy Fun Time Coaching Search: Rick Barnes

By: tacojohn

tacojohn — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:24:28 +0000

The post did:

“If the first couple of priorities fall through for the “blue ribbon” search committee, perhaps Barnes could get a look.”

By: tacojohn

tacojohn — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:24:28 +0000

The post did:

“If the first couple of priorities fall through for the “blue ribbon” search committee, perhaps Barnes could get a look.”

By: JamesHardy

JamesHardy — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:01:58 +0000

Nothing personal…but this is a relief. Just not a big fan of Barnes. He might be a great guy which I'm sure he is, but not someone I envision driving the Hoosier Hummer H3 around B-town.

By: JamesHardy

JamesHardy — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:58:08 +0000

I read somewhere (can't remember exactly where…but it was a legit media outlet) that his buyout was in the $500K range.

By: easy

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:03:41 +0000

Thanks for the info.

By: TexasHoosier

TexasHoosier — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:28:07 +0000

Barnes is one of the best coaches in the country in my opinion. I just graduated from IU but grew up and now live back in Austin. We were close family friends to the Barnes' growing up and I know he is not leaving Texas. My dad (IU grad) saw him the other night out walking his dog and stopped to talk to him about the upcoming Big12 tourney and NCAA tourney. He then mentioned that IU was probably going to be calling his way about the new opening. Barnes said that IU already had come calling and he proceeded to go into a long explanation of why he has the best coaching job in the country. There is very little pressure on the basketball team here because clearly it is football country. Last year when Kentucky came to him about their coaching position, he got a nice offer from them which Barnes then turned to put the pressure back on UT. As a result, this year, every road game except A&M and Baylor were privately chartered on a plane. He's in total control of AD and the coaching position in Austin for a long while.

By: Matt_J

Matt_J — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:29:34 +0000

I'll just add what I know of the Barnes situation.

I live in Durham, NC, and I hear all the time how badly NC State covets Rick Barnes. Now, last go 'round, NC State might have talked to Barnes...I'm not sure. They talked to everyone in the country about their coaching vacancy. I heard then that the timing wasn't right for Barnes, but that he would not have an issue coming back to the Carolinas to coach at what is sometimes termed a "basketball school". So, even though everything is nice and happy in Austin, there is a chance that Barnes can be lured away, so even though he's expensive, he might like the idea of being a big coach at a big school. Both of his big time gigs have been at "football schools" in Clemson and now Texas, so I wouldn't doubt that he'd love a chance to be the head guy at a basketball school like IU. Perhaps, also, he would prefer to buy a shirt that wasn't orange.

This is all conjecture based on what I know of the NC State situation. In fact, NC State fans already want to get him to come and replace the mess they have now. Granted, NC State might be a little easier to lure him away from Texas than Indiana would since he was born in North Carolina.

By: Matt_J

Matt_J — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:22:30 +0000

Tony's probably still in Charlotte. I don't know WSU's travel schedule, but I'm sure that they didn't get on the plane last night to fly back. It'd be a couple of days before they head off to Wazzu.

By: Matt_J

Matt_J — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:20:41 +0000

Also, Jay Wright's not in Philly. He's probably having a walk through right now with Villanova in Detroit.

By: easy

easy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:00:40 +0000

Then I'd assume they doubled that, since they double the rest. Still better than Miller's buyout!