Brad Stevens leaving Butler for Celtics

[Demon22]

Wouldn't be so sure he fails miserably in Boston.

They're in much better shape post-Pierce/Garnett than people are giving them credit for.

[NJRedman]

Butler isn't pre-stevens anymore. They now are in a major conference with the money to pay for a good coach. Those things aren't changing.

[DumpsterFireA10]

Crazy....

I would say the odds that the BE expands to 12 soon just jumped.

Why? I can't figure your logic here.

Just him trying to find a glimmer of hope for Saint Louis.

Chances of expansion just went even closer to zero actually. Big East doesn't get what it saw originally from 1 A-10 school; why bring in another?

[yorost]

I think people need to calm down and stop trying tie a coaching change to expansion.

[marq]

I think people need to calm down and stop trying tie a coaching change to expansion.

This is an interesting case though because Stevens was Butler and vice versa. I think there is a legit reason to think much of the appeal of Butler being added to the Big East was because of Stevens.

[yorost]

He had the most success of their recent coaches, but they were a solid program building a name for themselves prior to Stevens being hired. If their success had been only built on Stevens they would have been a difficult add.

[HoosierPal]

Here are the records for the recent Bulldog coaches


Collier, 11 seasons 1989 - 2000, overall record 196-132, 3 NCAA tourney appearances, 3 NIT
Matta, 1 season, 24-8, 2000-2001, 1 NCAA
Lickliter, 6 seasons, 131-61, 2 NCAA and 2 NIT
Stevens, 6 seasons, 166-49, 5 NCAA, 1 CBI

Colier/Matta/Lickliter were coaching while Butler was in the MCC and then the Horizon
Stevens was Horizon and then A-10.

So while the program has been solid since around 1990, Stevens has been the highlight.

Here are open questions,
Without Stevens, do the Bulldogs get to two Final Fours?
Without Stevens, do the Bulldogs get to the A-10?
Without Stevens, do the Bulldogs get to the Big East?

[I have been following the Bulldogs since the days of Billy Shepherd in the late 1960's.]

[yorost]

All three of your questions are past and done with. Those things are still with Butler for their benefit despite his departure.

[BEwannabe]

Here are open questions,
Without Stevens, do the Bulldogs get to two Final Fours?
Without Stevens, do the Bulldogs get to the A-10?
Without Stevens, do the Bulldogs get to the Big East?

[I have been following the Bulldogs since the days of Billy Shepherd in the late 1960's.]

No. No & No. Butler caught lightning in a bottle and Stevens played a large part. Certainly not what Butler, NBE & FS1 needed 2 days into the deal.

[DudeAnon]

Here are open questions,
Without Stevens, do the Bulldogs get to two Final Fours?
Without Stevens, do the Bulldogs get to the A-10?
Without Stevens, do the Bulldogs get to the Big East?

[I have been following the Bulldogs since the days of Billy Shepherd in the late 1960's.]

No. No & No. Butler caught lightning in a bottle and Stevens played a large part. Certainly not what Butler, NBE & FS1 needed 2 days into the deal.

Fortunately, Fox Contract is guaranteed so the schools could all decide to field rosters with walk-ons and still be making more money than any other basketball conference.