A Sea Of Red

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasket ... ry/9350555

UNCW is looking for a coach. I just don't see Wright State as a step up from UNCW. This would appear to be a logical step up for Marshall!

Or perhaps THIS:
http://northcarolinastate.scout.com/2/515672.html

CBS just reported Sendek to Arizona State. Has Marshall proved himself worthy of NC State and life in the ACC??

Don't see Marshall considering UNCW. Not much of a step up if at all.

NC State is intriquing because they could pay the big bucks, but who wants to step into that job. Unless you win the acc year after year the fans hate you. Sendek is a good coach.

I would say the CAA is a BIG jump from the Big South.

CAA is an upper mid major. Big South is a low major. Huge step up to go there.

As a conference CAA is a much better conference than the Big South and now with GMU going to the final 4, they are gonna get more national TV coverage and be perceived as a viable conference. UNCW and Winthrop are on par with one another in terms of talent IMO but I think going to the CAA and for potentially more money would be attractive. Plus if you can win the CAA a couple of times straight, you will get a major job. Look at Wainwright at UNCW. He got the Richmond job and now he is at DePaul. Blaine Taylor at ODU is always on short lists for jobs at the next level and I would imagine Laranaga will be getting some calls now although many in the business have long known how good of a coach he is since he was at UVA and Bowling Green. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the off season with some of these coaching jobs.

I'm really curious to see who gets in the hot seat in Raleigh.

Remember, the Big South has improved. Not really a low major anymore. CAA is better overall, definitely, but Winthrop has the same talent level of UNCW and I'm not sure they could pay much more. From what I know, don't think he would consider it.

Interesting to see if his name surfaces with the NC State job.

Get REAL, Realist. The Big South, save Winthrop, is about as low as you can go.

UNCW, a step up form the big south...much more IMHO. as far as sendek, im glad he left in my years in raleigh, all he did was win, has taken the pack to five straight NCAA tournaments, they are always in the hunt in the ACC tournament. the pack fans expect national championships, but when K and Roy are down the street, it's tough. who would they want??? you have to have an elite coach in that position, and one esp. with tough skin...im telling you the pack fans are nuts! calipari, and rick barnes are the early names, but that's not happening. two of the biggest donors at state were sendek supporters and begged him to stay, but from what i hear they are going to open up the bank to get their guy. state fans are still hanging on to that last title with jimmy V. i wish herb the best, he runs a clean program and was just a good guy.

I've heard both GMU's coach and Marshall.

"as low as you can go"

According to the RPI there are 12 other conferences lower than the Big South. That may have been relatively true 4 years ago but not so anymore. I don't understand why you guys trash your own conference even in spite of facts to the contrary.

Anyways, doubtful Marshall will go to UNCW even if he's offered.

NCstate and their money I'm sure he probably would, but I doubt he has the name recognition that they are looking for.

Barnes? Gimme a break.

I seriously doubt UNCW would entice Marshall out of Rock Hill. It is a step up ... just not a big enough one to move his away from his comfortable situation at WU.

Just to stir the puddin'
Funny how one Big South coach with supposedly stellar credentials has never been mentioned for any other job. Over 3 of the last four seasons he has finished first our second in the conference. Wonder why he isn't mentioned. Oh that's right he wants to stay where he is............

He interviewed for the tennessee job, and for a few others at other mid-majors (though those seemed more for positioning to get a raise at WU)

dont count Buzz out for this one either (NC State)

A Tarheel in Raleigh? What do you think, smoothie?

I'd turn on Buzz. As a Carolina fan, I would not agree with it. As a Coastal fan, I wouldn't like it. But as a Tar Heel fan, I would hate it.

buzz will not be the coach at state. he is not on the list right now. state is sinking it's teeth and all its money to make a run at rick barnes. he grew up a state fan, and is from carolina. i do not think that will happen, but you have to at least gauge interest. as much as barnes has"locked" up the borders as sly says, im sure he will give this good thought.

I used to be a HUGE State fan--until Sendek and that snooze you offense. I'd love Barnes at State--and he meets the #1 qualification--a complete hatred for the Tarholes!

What about former Wolfpack player Derek Wittenberg from Fordham. He did well at Wagner and has shown some improvement in the Fordham program the last couple of years.

I'm telling you guys, he has a much better chance to win a National Championship at UT than NC State. I've personally talked to him about returning home ot NC a couple of times over the years when openings have come. His response is that while he still loves going back and visiting a couple of times a year, he's EXTREMELY comfortable where he is at. If you've ever been to Austin you would understand. He certainly wouldn't want to go to a mess like NC State if we were heading home when he is built a major program where he is at.

Super Jon,

Where can I get the "religion kills" graphic.

you make it sound like raleigh is not a good place to live, which it is. and if enough money is thrown at him, and he wants a challenge of beting out roy and K for triangle supremacy, it is a great fit. he is a carolina boy, who grew up a state fan, and he once said state would be his dream job. and BTW, it is the ACC, and from what i remember is better than the big 12. what carolina born coach would not want that opportunity??? and one more question...how many national championships has barnes won???? i think state fans would be happy to win an ACC title every 4-5 years and have consistent NCAA appearances if they could get to the elite 8 more instead of the sweet 16 or the second round of the big dance.

Raleigh is a very livable city. Its not Austin quality of life but it isn't far behind.

NC State cannot win a bidding war with UT. So money is not an issue.

I grew up in Ohio and loved it. But after spending time in Texas I have no interest in moving back there no matter how cool I thought Ohio State was as a kid. Its called growing up with new life experiences.

Bottom line, he has a better position to succeed at Texas than NC State. I know Carolinians have a hard time swallowing that pill but it is the facts of life.

The only way Barnes would even talk to State about that mess of a program is in order to get his annual contract extension at UT sweetened a little more. Again, there is ZERO chance of him heading to Raleigh.
Perhaps someday if an opening came up at UNC or Duke he might have a tougher time turning it down. But not at State.

I don't see Barnes leaving Texas. Actually, I don't envy anyone taking the NCstate job. Put it this way, my g/f attended undergrad and grad at NCSU and she knows nothing, cares really nothing, about basketball, and she even "hated" sendek. I kept trying to point out that he was a good coach that has taken them to repeated NCAA births, but whatever. NC State fans just like to complain, they'd win a national championship and still find something to get mad about.

I think it's going to be tough for them to find someone of "name" quality that wants to step into that fray. Plus, everyone knows they are at a disadvantage recruiting wise to UNC and Duke, just a fact of life. That is what worries me about it coming down to someone at the level of Marshall.