Mark Few's Coaching Abilities

by viva_morrison on Mar 16, 2010 9:38 AM PDT Comment 5 comments

I was just listening to the BS Report, and Bill Simmons did a mega-March Madness podcast. One of his guests was a Vegas insider, Chad Millman. They were discussing the Vegas trend in the NFL of steering away from coaches that can influence games in negative ways, like Norv Turner. This is starting to leak into NCAA basketball come tournament time, and they began to discuss coaches that fit into this category.

Almost immediately when I heard this theory, I unfortunately thought of Mark Few. Sure enough, he was the second name mentioned (after Coach K). It really makes sense. He is a great recruiter, but as an in-game coach, he doesn't make the best adjustments to help the team win. His substitution patterns are also very questionable. I love Few, and am always nervous after every season whether he will jump ship to a bigger program. But would another coach give the Gonzaga a better chance of succeeding in the NCAA tournament?

This post does not reflect the views of the blog authors or SB Nation.

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Sure. Let's lure Calipari

Who wants to coach in Spokane, besides Few? I think we have the best that we can get.

Speaking of substitutions, when there is need to pull a starter and the coach looks down the bench for a replacement, the faces he sees are the result of his, and his staff’s, recruiting efforts. If those guys on the bench are green and have not stepped up to a Div I level of play, then he has to throw them in anyway, as there is no choice at this point.

The coach can show his team how to beat the 3/2 zone, but if they fail to do so he cannot run out onto the floor and make that high-low pass for them.

This small, mid-major school already has the best coach available.

A Second Look

by Tom117 on Mar 16, 2010 10:08 AM PDT reply actions

Didn't we just do this?

If the Zags lose it’s Few’s fault. If the Zags win it’s because he has great players!

Right?

NOT

Every game will have a winner and loser. Seems to me, we tend to come out on top from time to time — or have your forgotten so soon?

If for no other reason, I hope the Zags win every close game for the next 10 years just so we can avoid this subject for the foreseeable future.

mjc

by quidveritas on Mar 16, 2010 1:55 PM PDT reply actions

Few is a great coach

other guys could do this job better, but whatever this program is so ridiculous for the town size and location.

We won’t get another big name. I’d like to see what Rice or Giacoletti could do with the reigns, but as long as we make the NCAA every year it’s all good.

Welcome to the Sound Pound...

by SoundPound on Mar 17, 2010 2:18 PM PDT reply actions

Thank the Lord you have Few as a coach

I’ve heard this same BS for years, “Few is not a big game coach”, “Few is hurting the team”.

Few has consistently got the most from his squads for the past 11 years. Do you honestly think if you dropped him in Kentucky in June of 09 the Wildcats would be in a different position than they are now? Yes I am comparing him to favorably to Calipari.

Zags fans seem to forget exactly where we are and what we have to work with. Spokane, my home, is not a garden spot for recruiting McDonalds All Americans. We are a small school that’s had to depend on local recruiting, finding great international talent, and some fine JUCO pick-ups. Somehow Few and his coaching staff form these groups into consistently fine teams that compete with anyone at a national level. We started Sean Mallon for three years for heavens sake.

You don’t think tournament wins are big games. You don’t think every WCC road game isn’t a big win, games at Memphis, Illinois, MSG. Look at the name of the site you are posting on. It’s named for over-achievers who accomplish the unexpected. Is Roy Williams any less of a coach because NC didn’t make the tourney? When do mid-majors make it to the Final Four? George Mason…..heard anything about them in the last couple of years. How did Davidson do without Stephan Curry? Don’t think many Butler fans are saying Brad Stevens isn’t a great coach because their consistently great, nationally-ranked squads have yet to make it to the final four.

Be thankful you have Few and be thankful he is happy here in Spokane. Wonder if Dan Monson down in Long Beach State would like his old job back?

by agedude on Mar 20, 2010 2:18 PM PDT reply actions

Great recruiter, iffy in game coach

I look at some of the plays drawn up out of timeouts and I find myself thinking “was there anything even on there” and I realize that sometimes plays just dont work the way you draw them up. But to answer your question I think that it would be a toss up if Few left for Oregon. It would certainly be fun to see Gonzaga caliber talent being coached by a great in game coach. Again, just an opinion.

Chris LaRocco

by PittsburghZag21 on Mar 20, 2010 7:40 PM PDT reply actions