Maybe he’s just coming back to wish Steve Watson happy birthday...

For me, if Porter takes this job, I wouldn't feel so bad that he left, as I would feel bad about what he left for.

What's so weird about this potential move to me is that St. John's doesn't check any of the boxes that I would think Porter would be looking for:

1) It's not in the Midwest - where his recruiting ties are;
2) It's not a skyrocketing move to a school with amazing tradition that Loyola lacks;
3) It's not a place where he can come right in and win (they've got serious rebuilding to do);
4) It's not a place that values loyalty or giving coaches time (fired alum and nobody makes it but 3 or 4 years there);


I just don't understand.... You would assume you'd go to a new gig because it's "better." Saint John's has nothing that Porter preaches about. There's no "culture," there's no "loyalty," they aren't "Winners" (they have been consistently terrible for years). Itcan't be that great of money -- it's not like he's going to a school in a state like Texas or Florida where there is no personal state income tax.

If he declines it.... I'm still on the Porter train -- no hard feelings. But if he takes it, I'll be very shocked and disappointed.

Leaving Loyola for Kentucky, Duke, UCLA, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Notre Dame or Kansas, gives the message that you're taking your dream job.

Leaving Loyola for Saint John's gives the message that you wanted out of Rogers Park.... And that's what hurts the most.

Third, Manny Diaz part 2? If Porter leaves, does Mullins comeback?

What's so weird about this potential move to me is that St. John's doesn't check any of the boxes that I would think Porter would be looking for:

1) It's not in the Midwest - where his recruiting ties are;
2) It's not a skyrocketing move to a school with amazing tradition that Loyola lacks;
3) It's not a place where he can come right in and win (they've got serious rebuilding to do);
4) It's not a place that values loyalty or giving coaches time (fired alum and nobody makes it but 3 or 4 years there);

Everyone needs a reality check.

First, talking to other schools does not make him not a bad person, a traitor, Bruce Pearl, etc. This is the way the college basketball industrial complex works. If you want Loyola to be big-time, this is the risk you take. If P5 schools aren't looking at your coach, or other schools aren't taking your assistants, then your program is not very good. The players know this. It would hurt, but it would not be fatal because Porter has shown that Loyola is a stepping stone for assistants and head coaches.

I appreciate the sobriety.

Porter would be a fool not to at least entertain 2-3 million dollar high major offers (not the least because not doing so would wreck his leverage at Loyola). That doesn't make him a bad person. The timing is not great but would it have ever been?

Edit: Also according to wikipedia St. John's has the 6th most number of wins in div 1 history and they play games in Madison Square Garden. It's a shitty gig for a lot of other reasons but let's not pretend they don't have a history.