Confirmed: Paul Mills to Wichita State

[Old Titan]

Just now, Keenan Henderson said:

Just throwing this idea out: would the fact that ORU is having a mountaintop experience the last few years keep some coaches away from the head position because all they can do is go down from here?  Meaning that they most likely would not be able to take the Eagles to 30 wins or a Sweet 16 finish, like Mills did.

Just throwing it back atcha:  "No."

[eagle88]

Troy Abmas text me tonight and asked me what I thought about Mills going to Wichita. I told him my thoughts and asked him if he thought Springman would be the next coach and what Max thought . He said  Springman recruited him and loves him. I asked Troy if Max might play for ORU for 1 more year. He said that is up to Max and he didn’t know. I told Troy if I had my way Max would play for ORU until he was 40 while earning multiple doctorates where he would have more degrees than a cheap thermometer 

[GoldenEagleFan]

1 hour ago, Bogus Smith said:

Sam's a great guy but he was brought in to exchange videos with teams.  He hasn't been an assistant coach for us for the entire six year reign.

Pretty sure he has been an assistant from day 1 when Coach Mills got hired. Not sure who you’re confusing him with. 

[Old Titan]

2 minutes ago, eagle88 said:

He said Max recruited him and loves him. 

A little clarification, please, becuase this might be important:  he said Springman recruited Max, and that Max loves him?

[Bogus Smith]

4 minutes ago, GoldenEagleFan said:

Pretty sure he has been an assistant from day 1 when Coach Mills got hired. Not sure who you’re confusing him with. 

You're right.  He was the video coordinator at Baylor, but when he came with Paul to ORU, he was hired as an assistant coach.  I believe he took over for an assistant that didn't stay.

[eagle88]

Yes OT Troy told me a couple years ago that Springman recruited Max and I had forgotten that until tonight. I think this is very important on many levels. Springman went down to recruit a kid on Max’s team and he saw Max play and saw a diamond in the rough. So reading between the lines when Max said he stayed at ORU because of the love and chance the coaches gave him I think perhaps he is mostly referring to Springman. Is this your thought OT?

[Old Titan]

1 minute ago, eagle88 said:

Yes OT Troy told me a couple years ago that Springman recruited Max and I had forgotten that until tonight. I think this is very important on many levels. Springman went down to recruit a kid on Max’s team and he saw Max play and saw a diamond in the rough. So reading between the lines when Max said he stayed at ORU because of the love and chance the coaches gave him I think perhaps he is mostly referring to Springman. Is this your thought OT?

Oh, I have no idea - I've heard the same story (as Mills tells it) that Springman is the one who spotted Max playing on a minor court during a travel-ball tournament and insisted Mills come look at him. 

But whether or not a bond developed between Max and Springman over the next four years that supercedes possibly playing for a bigger-name school in a bigger conference is anybody's guess.

(...but Max's.)

[jmg1984]

3 hours ago, theeagleman5 said:

Players were committed but Mills wasnt....plain and simple....all that BS about making ORU the next Gonzaga. I will remember him for 74-51... thanks, pal....

Truth!!!

[Old Titan]

Possibilities I am now hopeful for in 2023-24:

• Scheduling no more than two non-D1 opponents at home.
• Scheduling no fewer than two P5 opponents anywhere.
• Holiday tournament play.  Preferably somewhere nice.
• A two-guard line-up.  Heck, maybe even a 1-guard line-up.
• A 2-guard over 6'4" tall.  Might settle for anyone over 6 feet.
• At least occasional screening away from the ball.
• At least occasional post-up play.
• At least occasional timeouts before a double-digit opponent run.
• At least occasional full-court pressure defense.
• At least occasional light-hearted humor.
• More than 3 questions asked/answered in post-game radio interviews.
• At least 90% attendance by head coach in post-game radio interviews.
• At least 75% attendance by head coach at the weekly coach's show.
• Fewer sugar-coated, obscure, misleading metrics.
• More plain-spoken, relevant, insightful observations.
• Embracing the annual post-season trip to Sioux Falls as the well-run event it actually is.
• Neckties.

[ORUTerry]

You had me up until “neckties”….

[ORUalum11]

9 hours ago, TrueBlue82 said:

I don’t read too much into that.  He’s naturally going to be closer to the AD, so specifically naming him makes sense. If he really had an issue with the President, he could have not mentioned him at all.  

I’d leave the school if I had to interact with Billy Wilson on a regular basis. I think not mentioning his name is intentional. 

[Eaglefan 21]

7 hours ago, jmg1984 said:

I hope so!! You think Mills left because of the "Dakota Conference"?

Lol, no I think he left because of the couple of extra zeros on the end of his contract

[ORUIllini]

Quite the range of emotions the last week or so. Started with the anticipation of Selection Sunday, then the excitement at the potentiality of beating Duke in route to another Sweet Sixteen run, followed by the dejection of sensing the game was essentially over by the first media timeout.

After moving on from the loss was excited again about next year and the future of the program with the thoughts of certain players staying, newcomers coming in, Coach Mills maybe sticking around for years like Mark Few at Gonzaga and building something truly special, and the beautiful new Mike Carter Center opening up...…. to the mild shock of learning that Mills was gone!

For me personally I could go either way on Mills, at times I found him hard to take, but can't dispute what he's done for the ORU program the last six years. This is just the nature of the business and I hope he has success at WSU and beyond!

I don't know much about Springmann other than I always remember he was the guy to get Kevin Durant at Texas, so if he can recruit, that's gonna help. If that's the direction ORU goes I'm good with it. Seems to make more sense to maintain some continuity while the program is on the upswing, versus bringing in someone completely new.

I'm ready for another range of emotions these next few days as decisions are made by administrators, coaches, and players. Will be interesting to see who stays and leaves as well as if minds are changed that had already decided on ORU. I'll probably keep an eye on the Shockers next year because I'll be familiar with their roster and staff.....

[ORUSwagger]

9 hours ago, eagle88 said:

As long as Mills is fine with the $10 million or thereabouts and doesn’t wilt if he gets fired and never gets a P5 head coaching job then he is set for life or should be. Best case scenario he proves us wrong and exceeds expectations. Worst case he makes a good salary as an assistant somewhere if his ego allows

I was saying the same to myself yesterday.

If things don’t pan out at WSU, the other options to try the HC would be Missouri St, UMKC, Western Illinois, and Northern Iowa.

[ORUSwagger]

2 hours ago, ORUTerry said:

You had me up until “neckties”….

[ORUSwagger]

2 hours ago, ORUalum11 said:

I’d leave the school if I had to interact with Billy Wilson on a regular basis. I think not mentioning his name is intentional. 

[ORUSwagger]

8 hours ago, Old Titan said:

Possibilities I am now hopeful for in 2023-24:

• Scheduling no more than two non-D1 opponents at home.
• Scheduling no fewer than two P5 opponents anywhere.
• Holiday tournament play.  Preferably somewhere nice.
• A two-guard line-up.  Heck, maybe even a 1-guard line-up.
• A 2-guard over 6'4" tall.  Might settle for anyone over 6 feet.
• At least occasional screening away from the ball.
• At least occasional post-up play.
• At least occasional timeouts before a double-digit opponent run.
• At least occasional full-court pressure defense.
• At least occasional light-hearted humor.
• More than 3 questions asked/answered in post-game radio interviews.
• At least 90% attendance by head coach in post-game radio interviews.
• At least 75% attendance by head coach at the weekly coach's show.
• Fewer sugar-coated, obscure, misleading metrics.
• More plain-spoken, relevant, insightful observations.
• Embracing the annual post-season trip to Sioux Falls as the well-run event it actually is.
• Neckties.

I like this list. I 2nd and wow what a scouting report on Mills. WSU is more of this type of stuff. 

[ORUSwagger]

9 hours ago, Bogus Smith said:

You're right.  He was the video coordinator at Baylor, but when he came with Paul to ORU, he was hired as an assistant coach.  I believe he took over for an assistant that didn't stay.