This question makes no sense.

You ever think Loyola was damn lucky to have PM and not the other way around?

And while I’m fine going down memory lane, in “modern” college basketball Loyola has been a wasteland for over 30 years.

But, I’m sure everyone on this board has forgotten more basketball than PM will ever know!

I think both were lucky to have had each other. Not many schools would’ve been as patient with PM as Loyola was. Especially spanning two different AD’s. And Loyola reaped the rewards when PM finally found his stride.

The PM era is over. To be frank, some of his statements the last few weeks have rubbed some the wrong way. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional on his part, and we’ll all get over it eventually.

Time to move on.

JCT - you hit the nail on the head. Thank you!

JCT,

Do you think the administration recruited Custer and Krut and Ingram and Williamson and Townes and DEVELOPED those players when we were playing in front of 1500 fans!

Call me crazy, but the way you come across, you think the school had something to do with this success. Other than Watson - huge by the way - this program was PM’s build all the way.
I remain extremely skeptical about Valentine in this role, but am hoping I am off base.

As for Men’s Volleyball, I think we also won the club frisbee co-Ed Rogers Park college championship the last 10 straight years.

Rambling is correct--He was a good coach--Totally DISLOYAL however. He may do well in Norman BUT I doubt it . Too much competition plus U of O is a FOOTBALL school -one of the best. Little if ANY positive HOOPS history

JCT..loved your post...you are a hammer on a nail when you say a lot of people had a hand in the recent success.....I have said all along (I think) that I worry more about losing Steve Watson than PM...I think he has done a great job of creating a competitive infrastructure , not only for bball but our other LU sports. Cannot wait to get back to a game in person and root on the Ramblers and Drew Valentine....what a great story, youngest coach in DI ...

I agree with JCT that there was a harmonic convergence for the program in the last 10 years - lots of people helped. PM will get credit because he was the head coach and he should get credit for it. You talk about firing him early in his tenure, but the truth of the matter was we didn't really have many or any better options. There is no way we get a coach as qualified as Drew Valentine without Porter's success.

PM was a big part of it, but there were many things that fell into place. Lots of sliding doors. Just think about how lucky we were - the move to the MVC, the right AD, the Sister Jean story, Isiah Thomas getting fired at FIU (which lead to Milton Doyle going to Kansas), Clayton Custer's transfer, Krutwig's development, Jim Crews replacing Rick Majerus, etc.

As my dad use to say, it's amazing how much hard work makes you lucky. PM was the architect of the program. He recruited the players, made the game plan, lead the team. We owe him more than what he was paid. He did something that had not been done in 50 years. Unfortunately for us, the Loyola job is not a destination job. Very few jobs are. Just take the L down to Lincoln Park and you'll be reminded about how no one cares about a program that was relevant in the 70s, 80s and 90s. DePaul went to the NCAA 14 times over a 16 year period. Now, they are the third best program in Chicago with little hope of leaving the basement of the Big East.

I am sure that Steve Watson disagrees with you about Loyalty. PM helped him build the infrastructure to make this program attractive. By staying a few more years, the program has the momentum and feeling of stability and success.

To coin a phrase, 'tis better to have won and lost than to have never won at all.

I think PM was and is a very good basketball coach...however when you think of the BIG boulders that had to be pushed....getting Gentile Arena (although I miss ALumni Gym immensely, talk about memories. Fr. Loftus smoking a cig in the dark , the hissing radiators,) but had to go in the modern area of college basketball. THe new practice facility, increased budgets, move to the MVC......I am sure that I do not know all the figures and alumni behind the scenes that made all of these things happen.....(and thanks to the people I dont know) and dont forget the LU community responded by filling the gym and creating a great atmosphere....and even little things like our athletic department website which is 10 times as good as Northwesterns.......Lots of Hands....and man it has been fun........and then of course there is Ramblermania!!!!!!! always stirring the pot.

Out of curiosity, why are you skeptical of Valentine? Age? He is an unknown product as a head coach yes, but he has been the main recruiter the past few years (per B. Schwieger, Knight, Johnson’s comments in media), he kept together a highly rated recruiting class when normally with coaching changes they recommit, he has been the head of the defense the past few years when they have been dominating nationally metrics wise, he spent years learning under Porter and got a year under Izzo. Think Loyola is pretty lucky to get someone of that caliber resume; is there another coach that you would like to have seen?

Think Valentine gets the benefit of the doubt for 4 years at least, have to have a full recruiting cycle to see what a coach can do. Hell, it took Porter longer than that to field a winner. This is a good problem to have as a Rambler fan, it’s nice to expect to win.