Starting close to home, it looks like NC State has opted to hire former Wolfpack point guard Justin Gainey.
Gainey, 49, played for the Wolfpack from 1996-2000. He was an assistant at Elon, at App State under Jason Capel, at Arizona under Sean Miller, then at Marquette under Steve Wojciechowski, and most recently under Rick Barnes.
Barnes gave him a glowing recommendation this week, saying these things:
- “I hope he gets the job. I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that loves NC State more than Justin Gainey. He’s a North Carolina native. He went to NC State, played four years there, started four years. Helped win an ACC tournament. He has just incredible pride in his university. A terrific basketball coach.”
- “If NC State knew what I knew, they would be begging him to be their next head coach. Because he’s ready not just for NC State, he’s ready to be the head coach of the University of Tennessee or any school in the country. He’s that good. … And one of the finest people I’ve ever been around and a beautiful family.”
- “If you come to our walk-throughs, like today or the other day, he scouted the last game. I don’t say a whole lot because those guys have it. Justin has an incredible feel for the game, really understands players. He works at it. Terrific recruiter. Understands the NIL era today.”
Time will tell, but keep this in mind: Barnes has never been considered a great tournament coach.
He made the Sweet 16 at Clemson in 1997. He made the Elite Eight twice at Texas, and the Final Four once.
He had Kevin Durant at Texas, and couldn’t get out of the Round of 32.
At Tennessee, he’s made the Sweet 16 twice and the Elite Eight three straight years now.
Gainey has been with him for the last four seasons.
Coincidence?
Maybe. Then again, maybe not. Barnes has never had that kind of consistency before.
Meanwhile, over in Chapel Hill, the rumors are surging. Some say Tommy Lloyd is keenly interested; others say that UNC can’t afford him.
Others say that Billy Donovan was in Chapel Hill this week. To some extent, there is a surge in speculation about former Tar Heel Jerry Stackhouse. Currently an assistant with Golden State, Stackhouse has learned from Gregg Popovich, Larry Brown, and Dean Smith. He’s the last-gasp hope for a family hire.
Speaking of coaches, Will Wade was introduced as LSU’s new coach and started to say “the Wol-” before he caught himself.
When he was asked about the anger NC State fans had when he left Raleigh, Wade said “Look, they’re pretty mad for a coach they didn’t think was very good.”
We’ll say it again: for all the excitement State fans had when they pushed A.D. Boo Corrigan to hire Wade last spring, Wade has only gotten past the first game in the NCAA Tournament three times, and only past the first weekend once.
As we’ve said several times over the last couple of years, coaches will emerge who have mastered the new era. So look at who is left standing: Lloyd, Dusty May, Brad Underwood and Danny Hurley.
Right behind them: Kelvin Sampson, Tom Izzo, Jon Scheyer and Rick Pitino.
Since Duke fell to UConn Sunday, and gave up a 19-point lead while doing it, Scheyer has been getting the business from a lot of people, mostly idiots. It’s more useful to listen to what coaches have to say. Here are a few:
Pitino: “For all those people out there trying to criticize Jon Scheyer, he is one helluva coach and one of the class acts in our game. He played the toughest schedule and ended as the #1 overall seed. Championships will be in his future.”
Danny Hurley: “At his age (38), I wouldn’t have been able to handle the Duke job.”
Joe Mazzulla: “[He’s] one of the best coaches in the country… regardless of level…I learn every time I watch one of his teams play, and I know he’s going to have his time to shine.”
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