vs UNI - 2/15/22 7 pm - ESPN+

[DoubleDeuce]

It’s not uncommon for a move like this to light a fire under the players so I’ll bet we see a win here.
Not sure what that means long term.

On another note it is telling that Muller suddenly decided to step down immediately. Was it because he truly didn’t want to be a distraction, or did the players decided they’d rather move on without him?

Wow, what a dick comment.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

I think Cali is asking a legit question, what changed from this morning? It’s quite easy to envision a scenario where the players, in the moment said sure keep coaching, but then had time to process it and thought, huh maybe we can win in STL if we change things up. I’m not saying it happened but it seems plausible. Open to other theories

What's it matter? He's gone... let's look forward and not kick a guy in the way out.

 

[cpacmel]

Illinois State +3

Over / under 146

 

[ISUBU]

Perhaps letting his assistant coaches have a chance to audition for their next job. Give them a chance to show their stuff...for this job or another.

Redbird alum Steve Fisher took advantage of his late season opportunity a generation ago.

 

[Bird Friend]

I think Cali is asking a legit question, what changed from this morning? It’s quite easy to envision a scenario where the players, in the moment said sure keep coaching, but then had time to process it and thought, huh maybe we can win in STL if we change things up. I’m not saying it happened but it seems plausible. Open to other theories

So the theory that Dan is telling the truth doesn’t resonate with you. Skeptical conspiracy theories are the only ones you accept, I guess. You guys just hate him, don’t you?

 

[Redbird Alum 2004]

This team has talent and a lot of people on here couldn't understand the rotations being used. Maybe Jones will do a better of managing that. This is a time for both the players and the assistants to show their stuff for the new coach or new teams. It will be interesting to see how the guys play with everything that has happened the last two days. Either way let's go birds!!!

 

[MadBird]

So the theory that Dan is telling the truth doesn’t resonate with you. Skeptical conspiracy theories are the only ones you accept, I guess. You guys just hate him, don’t you?

Probably hate Dan, but also just want to stir it up, take the opposite side no matter what it is. If Dan had initially said he was gonna step aside immediately, they'd have questioned that, asking why he was walking away from the team, why he didn't want to earn his salary instead of sitting on the sidelines and taking the dough. There's a Marx Brothers skit/song about "whatever it is, I'm against it". That's what we've got here.

I don't know what they have to say
It makes no difference anyway
Whatever it is, I'm against it!
No matter what it is
Or who commenced it
I'm against it!

Your proposition may be good
But let's have one thing understood
Whatever it is, I'm against it!
And even when you've changed it
Or condensed it I'm against it!

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Wow, what a dick comment.

Wow. Really? I’m just asking a question. Why the sudden change of heart.

 

[gobirds85]

Perhaps letting his assistant coaches have a chance to audition for their next job. Give them a chance to show their stuff...for this job or another.

Redbird alum Steve Fisher took advantage of his late season opportunity a generation ago.

Yea, I believe things worked out fairly well for him.

 

[SgtHulka]

Probably hate Dan, but also just want to stir it up, take the opposite side no matter what it is. If Dan had initially said he was gonna step aside immediately, they'd have questioned that, asking why he was walking away from the team, why he didn't want to earn his salary instead of sitting on the sidelines and taking the dough. There's a Marx Brothers skit/song about "whatever it is, I'm against it". That's what we've got here.

I don't know what they have to say
It makes no difference anyway
Whatever it is, I'm against it!
No matter what it is
Or who commenced it
I'm against it!

Your proposition may be good
But let's have one thing understood
Whatever it is, I'm against it!
And even when you've changed it
Or condensed it I'm against it!

Old habits are hard to break

On the reversal of his decision, he spent yesterday in front of microphones and cameras and probably realized the circus he was queuing himself up.for and thought better. Cant say i blame him. With the uniqueness of the situation, eventually national news would start following the three ring circus. The idea that the players decided to let him go after further thought is quite silly

 

[CaliRdBrd]

So the theory that Dan is telling the truth doesn’t resonate with you. Skeptical conspiracy theories are the only ones you accept, I guess. You guys just hate him, don’t you?

Jesus. Calm down.
I don’t hate him at all. I think if you go back far enough, I was one of the first to mention his name as a potential hire. He was one of my all time favorite players, still is.
I’m simply curious what changed from him coaching out the string to suddenly saying I’m done.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Perhaps letting his assistant coaches have a chance to audition for their next job. Give them a chance to show their stuff...for this job or another.

Redbird alum Steve Fisher took advantage of his late season opportunity a generation ago.

Makes sense. Thanks for not jumping down my throat for asking.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Wow. Really? I’m just asking a question. Why the sudden change of heart.

I read it as a shot at a parting coach phrased in the form of a question...probably an over-reaction on my part. I owe you a beer. I'm just ready to get on with ISU basketball and their coaching search.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

I read it as a shot at a parting coach phrased in the form of a question...probably an over-reaction on my part. I owe you a beer. I'm just ready to get on with ISU basketball and their coaching search.

I read it as a shot at a parting coach phrased in the form of a question...probably an over-reaction on my part. I owe you a beer. I'm just ready to get on with ISU basketball and their coaching search.

All good. I’ll get the second round

 

[Adunk33]

Old habits are hard to break

On the reversal of his decision, he spent yesterday in front of microphones and cameras and probably realized the circus he was queuing himself up.for and thought better. Cant say i blame him. With the uniqueness of the situation, eventually national news would start following the three ring circus. The idea that the players decided to let him go after further thought is quite silly

I think this has a lot to do with it. Muller was going to have to face the media at some point and with the timing of the announcement being on a Sunday, Muller's biggest media day of the week is Monday with the MVC Coaches Teleconference as well as the Coach's Show. A couple things could have happened, the most likely being that he he was exhausted with having to answer the same questions all day and knew his players would have to endure that as well after tonight's game. However, after a couple players address the media tonight, Muller not being on the sidelines questions should stop. Another possibility is that they had a shoot around or something that lead Muller to believe he's lost them. Unlikely, but possible. I know they had a formal practice during the Show last night.

One thing that I find interesting that no one has brought up is the lack of player reaction. In today's world of social media and instant gratification, posting something first and fast is by far more important than thinking through a situation. It's been very quiet. Kudos to the players for not posting anything knee-jerk and hopefully focusing in for tonight's game.

A cynic could say that the silence indicates the team doesn't have a "true leader" to step up and be the voice for the team or that they really didn't like Muller, anyway, hence the silence. Maybe, we aren't in the locker room to know. I think tonight will be telling of what to expect the rest of the year. It doesn't help that they're playing against a very good UNI team coming off a drubbing at Loyola. The Panthers will be ready to play.

I know Jones won't be the HC next year, but tonight will be an interesting watch to see what he does differently with the same players and overall scheme. I'm sure the differences will be small since at tip, he will have known he's calling the game for all of 26 hours. Even tonight, it'll be excited to see small changes.

 

[SgtHulka]

I think this has a lot to do with it. Muller was going to have to face the media at some point and with the timing of the announcement being on a Sunday, Muller's biggest media day of the week is Monday with the MVC Coaches Teleconference as well as the Coach's Show. A couple things could have happened, the most likely being that he he was exhausted with having to answer the same questions all day and knew his players would have to endure that as well after tonight's game. However, after a couple players address the media tonight, Muller not being on the sidelines questions should stop. Another possibility is that they had a shoot around or something that lead Muller to believe he's lost them. Unlikely, but possible. I know they had a formal practice during the Show last night.

One thing that I find interesting that no one has brought up is the lack of player reaction. In today's world of social media and instant gratification, posting something first and fast is by far more important than thinking through a situation. It's been very quiet. Kudos to the players for not posting anything knee-jerk and hopefully focusing in for tonight's game.

A cynic could say that the silence indicates the team doesn't have a "true leader" to step up and be the voice for the team or that they really didn't like Muller, anyway, hence the silence. Maybe, we aren't in the locker room to know. I think tonight will be telling of what to expect the rest of the year. It doesn't help that they're playing against a very good UNI team coming off a drubbing at Loyola. The Panthers will be ready to play.

I know Jones won't be the HC next year, but tonight will be an interesting watch to see what he does differently with the same players and overall scheme. I'm sure the differences will be small since at tip, he will have known he's calling the game for all of 26 hours. Even tonight, it'll be excited to see small changes.

 

[Redbird60451]

Illinois State +3

Over / under 146

Vegas seems to have a pulse on most games.

They are saying ISU at home vs a much better UNI team, it's only a one possession game. ISU hasn't had that total in regulation since they blew out Evansville. UNI since early January at Mo State. So either they are predicting this game will game will go into OT (so probably another crushing loss for us at home), or there will be no defense played, which is unlike a Ben Jacobson coached team. Something stinks here, I think this game will be worth watching and we might be pleasantly surprised at a different rotation and how they play together. Maybe some new play calls.

I think I take ISU tonight with lots of scoring (cause if you pay to watch defense you are wasting your money). But if you look at my betting record over the last 2 weeks, you might be able to retire a rich he/she at the end of the night if you do the opposite of what I do

 

[DaveBird10]

This is the thing, if anyone thinks that the players all of a sudden changed there minds and didn't want him to coach and that its the same ole the players hate Dan. I can tell you from being at the Coaches Show last night that I firmly believe that he's stepping down now for the players and its probably best. At the show last night, more people showed up then they have in a 3-4yrs. When the show was over Dan took off his headset and everyone at Joe's Station House stood up and gave him a standing ovation. That same circus with people coming to Redbird Arena, national media, MVC tournament would have continued the last 3 weeks. Dan has consistently said since day 1 the program is about the players not about him.
He knows good and well the focus and the applause would have been all about him. Just maybe, just maybe tonight that by stepping down we can get away from him and let the players just focus on basketball. Let them have fun, play free and relaxed from this point forward. The way that basketball should be played.

 

[fdbird83]

UNI was horrible Sunday at Loyola. I don't think tonight is the best night to play them. I still feel the birds will play hard tonight.

 

[stielowp]

I think the players will play pretty loose tonight. A little less pressure on them to try to save their coach's job. I thought they looked extremely tight against INSU and the 2nd half of the SIU game. I think we will hit a bunch of 3's tonight but also probably have more TO's.

I would take the OVER if I were a betting man.