re: Vandy Basketball Schedule/Results | 19-14 (11-8)

Well, baseball practices started this weekend

Thanks Old Sarge, we needed that one in the worst way!

Well, baseball games start this weekend.

That was a great game. Loved Hendo poaching a snack before halftime

Epic play at the end of the half.

Biggest win of the year.

Awful loss. Inexcusable. Stallings has got to go. I'm done.

As I said elsewhere, I don't think THAT game was an indicator of Stallings inability to motivate. There are plenty of other examples (ie Mississippi State this year), but that (and the UT game) are tournament games. If a player isn't self-motivated for those games, the coach likely can do very little to get them pumped up and ready to play mentally.

Now, while I don't think the Witchita State game in particular suggests anything bad about Stallings, it IS part of a much larger pattern of not living up to expectations. Were the expectations maybe a bit high this year? Were some players not stepping up (or being credited with a foul for breathing on the opposition)? Could Stallings have adjusted better? All 3 questions are likely yeses (Is that even the right way to make "yes" plural? IDK. IDC.).

Basically, I think Stallings deserves slightly less hate and blame for this season than he is receiving. However, as a larger pattern of failing to succeed with a high level of talent, he deserves to go. I had said we needed to fire him during 2012. Of course, Vandy wouldn't fire a coach coming off an SEC tournament victory. Then you had the issues with defections and dismissals, but the way Stallings handled only having 7 scholarship players was impressive enough that I cooled the desire to see him leave. Those teams actually showed grit, determination, and fire. Even last year, and at rare points this year, we have seen guys (and not just WBIV) grab games by the horns. Of course, those instances have been less than consistent and usually one-man efforts. Stallings struggles mightily to get higher caliber players to play at their best for whatever reason.

Thanks for the last 17 years. You're the only Vandy basketball coach I can remember, but sometimes it's time for a change. I hope this goes like the Andy Reid situation in Philadelphia, minus Vandy getting a Chip Kelly equivalent who starts great and is canned by year 3. I like Kevin and want to see him succeed, but it's time for Vandy to try and succeed with a new coach.