Big Day for the Beaked Nose Buckeye!

[vee4xu]

Thad got himself a raise:

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith today announced a raise for basketball coach Thad Matta, who will see an increase from $2.9 million to $3.2 million per year.

Smith told reporters of the plan at a news conference in Columbus. The deal doesn't extend Matta's contract, which currently runs through 2019. It still must be approved by the OSU board of trustees before it becomes official.

In his ninth season with the Buckeyes, Matta has so far won five Big Ten titles, four times advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament and twice reached the Final Four. He is 234-69 at Ohio State, a .772 winning percentage.

Ohio State is 13-4 and 3-2 in Big Ten play after Saturday's loss at Michigan State. The Buckeyes are No. 14 in the latest AP poll and 15th in the coaches poll. They next host Iowa on Tuesday.

[nuts4xu]

Great day for a former Muskie!

Congrats to Thad Matta on his new deal!

[muskieblob]

Congrats! He deserves it, has done a tremendous job for the Bucks. Time heals.

[PMI]

Congrats! He deserves it, has done a tremendous job for the Bucks. Time heals.

Time, and equally great coaches.

[Masterofreality]

Amazing how everyone always hearkens back to how Nick Saban said that he wasn't a candidate for the Alabama football job, but no one ever calls Pinoccio on him saying the exact same thing about Oh-ho-ho State.

Just like Le Quitter. Man, you can go where you want, but don't lie and don't rub the fans nose in the dirt that you left behind.

Oh, and Desert Raccoon. Don't do any more exit press conferences.

[nuts4xu]

Amazing how everyone always hearkens back to how Nick Saban said that he wasn't a candidate for the Alabama football job, but no one ever calls Pinoccio on him saying the exact same thing about Oh-ho-ho State.



I have come to accept that coaches rarely (if ever) will say the right things when flirting with the idea of changing jobs. I don't give a rat's ass what Sean Miller or Thad Matta said during their final days as Xavier coach or their days in their new job.

Both coaches did a great job while at Xavier. They both left the program in better shape than when they arrived, and both gave me great memories as a Xavier fan. I judge them on their body of work, not for the few statements they made as they walked out the door.

Some people choose to rail on these guys like they pissed on Fr Hoff's grave.

Jesus wouldn't do that. He would forgive...and I have too.

[LA Muskie]

I don't mind how Matta did it. Imagine if someone asked you -- in front of your boss -- whether you were interviewing for a job with your competitor. What would you do? It might depend on the situation, but many would feel they have no choice but to lie.

I also had no problem with Miller leaving. I knew he eventually would. I didn't even mind the departing presser. AU is a legendary basketball school. But I would have had a problem with him if he crapped on XU when He got there.

Both coaches are part of our legacy of success. HUGE parts in fact. The Matta teams in particular were some of my favorite TEAMS of all time. I loved they way they played together.

[PMI]

I have come to accept that coaches rarely (if ever) will say the right things when flirting with the idea of changing jobs. I don't give a rat's ass what Sean Miller or Thad Matta said during their final days as Xavier coach or their days in their new job.

Both coaches did a great job while at Xavier. They both left the program in better shape than when they arrived, and both gave me great memories as a Xavier fan. I judge them on their body of work, not for the few statements they made as they walked out the door.

Some people choose to rail on these guys like they pissed on Fr Hoff's grave.

Jesus wouldn't do that. He would forgive...and I have too.

I'm with you on this. I also see a HUGE difference between what each of our past two coaches did in leaving, and what Lebron James did in leaving Cleveland. The Decision was quite simply the most conceded, obnoxious decision I've ever seen somebody make. Thad's comments were really blown out of proportion to me. I guess he shouldn't have used the "plain and simple" line, but he was coaching little kids in the summer when the question was popped. It wasn't exactly the best-kept secret that Thad was looking to move up the national ladder either. It hurt at the time, but things turned out perfectly fine, just like they did after Miller. People blame Miller for flip-flopping in the 24 hours or so between deciding to stay at Xavier, then leaving for Arizona. I believe that it was genuinely a difficult decision for him. He wasn't a Xavier grad or a Cincinnati kid like Mack, but I think he felt a genuine bond with the school and the program and the city. He was given an opportunity that, ultimately, he felt was too good to pass up. Maybe the press conference was a bad idea, but I don't think the intentions were anything but good and respectful. The "Buick/Lexus" comment was made behind closed doors and never should've come out. It was his job at that point to recruit for Arizona. Mack probably says plenty of things to recruits that would offend the sensitive fans of other programs had they been afforded the opportunity to actually hear what he says to recruits. It's part of the game.

Matta and Miller are awesome coaches and are both huge reasons that our program is so outstanding. I love them both, even though I hate Ohio State. I love Chris Mack even more and believe that he will turn out to be the best Xavier coach of the three of them.

[PMI]

I don't mind how Matta did it. Imagine if someone asked you -- in front of your boss -- whether you were interviewing for a job with your competitor. What would you do? It might depend on the situation, but many would feel they have no choice but to lie.

I also had no problem with Miller leaving. I knew he eventually would. I didn't even mind the departing presser. AU is a legendary basketball school. But I would have had a problem with him if he crapped on XU when He got there.

Both coaches are part of our legacy of success. HUGE parts in fact. The Matta teams in particular were some of my favorite TEAMS of all time. I loved they way they played together.

How did Miller crap on our legacy? Are you serious? By comments he made in private to a recruit who shouldn't have repeated them? By saying he thought he could win a national championship at Arizona (even though if you actually listen he said it was possible at Xavier too?) He's an Arizona employee at that point. I guess he could go up there and just say, "I got more money here and that's that," but, believe it or not, you're supposed to throw some compliments to the big-time program that just hired you in your introductory press conference. Nobody had any problem when Matta did it here, after leaving his alma mater, which is the same school you and half the other X fans suck off every chance you get.

[LA Muskie]

How did Miller crap on our legacy? Are you serious? By comments he made in private to a recruit who shouldn't have repeated them? By saying he thought he could win a national championship at Arizona (even though if you actually listen he said it was possible at Xavier too?) He's an Arizona employee at that point. I guess he could go up there and just say, "I got more money here and that's that," but, believe it or not, you're supposed to throw some compliments to the big-time program that just hired you in your introductory press conference. Nobody had any problem when Matta did it here, after leaving his alma mater, which is the same school you and half the other X fans suck off every chance you get.

Read my post. I said "would have" and "if"'. I don't know what he said. I have no problem with the NC comment at all. I would be disappointed if the rumors of negative recruiting are true. I don't care who his employer is -- that would have been unnecessary and very poor form for someone who supposedly left on good terms and was given a nice send-off by Xavier. But again that's "if" he in fact did so.

And regardless, it still wouldn't completely take away from everything he did here. I still like him. In fact I usually root for his teams.

[LA Muskie]

Nobody had any problem when Matta did it here, after leaving his alma mater, which is the same school you and half the other X fans suck off every chance you get.
Do you just say stuff and hope it's true? I don't even like OSU. I do, however, think Matta is one of the best coaches in the game.

[PMI]

Do you just say stuff and hope it's true? I don't even like OSU. I do, however, think Matta is one of the best coaches in the game.

Excuse me? I am referring to BUTLER. That is where Matta graduated from and coached before Xavier, not OSU. Reading comprehension: it's a skill, not a given.

[PMI]

Read my post. I said "would have" and "if"'. I don't know what he said. I have no problem with the NC comment at all. I would be disappointed if the rumors of negative recruiting are true. I don't care who his employer is -- that would have been unnecessary and very poor form for someone who supposedly left on good terms and was given a nice send-off by Xavier. But again that's "if" he in fact did so.

And regardless, it still wouldn't completely take away from everything he did here. I still like him. In fact I usually root for his teams.

The Buick comment can be seen as negative recruiting, I guess, but you're kidding yourself if you don't think EVERY high level D1 coach would've done anything within the boundaries of the rules to get a kid they wanted, especially with a shorter window like that.

[LA Muskie]

Excuse me? I am referring to BUTLER. That is where Matta graduated from and coached before Xavier, not OSU. Reading comprehension: it's a skill, not a given.

My bad for misreading your stream if consciousness post. Jackoff.

Regardless I'm not aware of any negative recruiting by Matta against Butler. Maybe you can enlighten us.

If you were referring to throwing a few bones to your new employer, that can rather easily be done without crapping on your former employer.

[LA Muskie]

The Buick comment can be seen as negative recruiting, I guess, but you're kidding yourself if you don't think EVERY high level D1 coach would've done anything within the boundaries of the rules to get a kid they wanted, especially with a shorter window like that.

I very much doubt it needed to be done. Those kids (as is the case with most) were more interested in playing for Miller than playing at X. He may have had to sell them on Tucson. But even that probably wasn't too hard given the history. And the co-eds.

[PMI]

My bad for misreading your stream if consciousness post. Jackoff.

Regardless I'm not aware of any negative recruiting by Matta against Butler. Maybe you can enlighten us.

If you were referring to throwing a few bones to your new employer, that can rather easily be done without crapping on your former employer.

Sream of consciousness? I couldn't have been more clear if I had gone back and edited it. My goodness, man! Let's try this again. Here is my quote: "you're supposed to throw some compliments to the big-time program that just hired you in your introductory press conference. Nobody had any problem when Matta did it here, after leaving his alma mater, which is the same school you and half the other X fans suck off every chance you get."

Matta complimented Xavier after leaving his alma mater, which people like YOU would argue is as good a program as Xavier. Get it? Ah, who cares...


I very much doubt it needed to be done. Those kids (as is the case with most) were more interested in playing for Miller than playing at X. He may have had to sell them on Tucson. But even that probably wasn't too hard given the history. And the co-eds.

Well that is totally your opinion, which you have no possible way of proving, but may well be true. Either way, it's not like he shat on Xavier. He called Arizona an upgrade, which I'm sure he believes, as do most people, whether we like it or not. All I'm saying is that I really don't see that as too big a deal. If that makes me a jackoff then so be it.

[LA Muskie]

Sream of consciousness? I couldn't have been more clear if I had gone back and edited it. My goodness, man! Let's try this again. Here is my quote: "you're supposed to throw some compliments to the big-time program that just hired you in your introductory press conference. Nobody had any problem when Matta did it here, after leaving his alma mater, which is the same school you and half the other X fans suck off every chance you get."

Matta complimented Xavier after leaving his alma mater, which people like YOU would argue is as good a program as Xavier. Get it? Ah, who cares...



Well that is totally your opinion, which you have no possible way of proving, but may well be true. Either way, it's not like he shat on Xavier. He called Arizona an upgrade, which I'm sure he believes, as do most people, whether we like it or not. All I'm saying is that I really don't see that as too big a deal. If that makes me a jackoff then so be it.

Ignoring all the rhetoric for a moment, for the most part we actually agree. Which you would see I'd you went back and re-read my posts.

[PMI]

I don't need to re-read anything. It was not hard for me to see that the only thing we differed on, really, was the Lexus/Buick comments, or the "negative recruiting." The comment about Matta's presser at Xavier was a comparison to Miller's at Arizona, and that was BEFORE you clarified what you meant by Miller "crapping on our program when he got there."

[xu95]

Amazing how everyone always hearkens back to how Nick Saban said that he wasn't a candidate for the Alabama football job, but no one ever calls Pinoccio on him saying the exact same thing about Oh-ho-ho State.



Not to rain on your "I hate everything BCS", but Nick Saban did turn down Alabama. Alabama than went and offered Rich Rodriguez (thank God he turned them down). They then went back to Saban with a blank check.

[smileyy]

I have come to accept that coaches rarely (if ever) will say the right things when flirting with the idea of changing jobs.

There is no right thing to say. Not even saying nothing. So I can't really fault anything anyone does when changing jobs in a high-profile manner like college sports.

And, congratulations to Thad Matta. Elite programs produce eilte coaches.

[Masterofreality]

Not to rain on your "I hate everything BCS", but Nick Saban did turn down Alabama. Alabama than went and offered Rich Rodriguez (thank God he turned them down). They then went back to Saban with a blank check.

Not the case. They were replaying Saban's "I'm not going to Alabama" comments right around the National Champ game. It hasn't died. My only point is that Little Xavier apparently doesn't rate the same level of pub after it got lied to by Beaky as the big boys do. Of course, in Saban's case the big boy was about the biggest boy....the NFL.

Anyway, there are enough "haters of everything BCS" in the world, besides me.

[vee4xu]

Not surprising to me, this thread has evolved into the whole Thad-leaving-like-he-did-let's-throw-in-Miller-leaving conversation. Instead, I would ask is Matta worth $3.2 million? Is he an elite NCAA DI head coach? For comparison, look at what Bill Self, Billy Donovan, Coach K and Rick Pitino have accomplished in their careers. Now, Matta has won 5 Big 10 titles in 9 years and taken his team to two Final Fours. But, hasn't the current coach of Thad's alma mater done as much? Don't say it is an easier conference that Butler's in because two trips to the Final Four is two trips to the Final Four, conference notwithstanding. Brad Stevens probably makes about a mil per year, but Thad makes 3.2 times that. Again, I ask, is Thad worth it, or is he overpaid for what he's accomplished versus his peers? OSU has so much money they can throw around salaries like it's play money, but that belies the fact of whether or not Thad is and deserves to be paid like an elite DI head coach.

[nuts4xu]

.....Thad makes 3.2 times that. Again, I ask, is Thad worth it, or is he overpaid for what he's accomplished versus his peers? OSU has so much money they can throw around salaries like it's play money, but that belies the fact of whether or not Thad is and deserves to be paid like an elite DI head coach.

As of March of 2012, the following coaches made the following salaries:
- Coach K made $4.7 million
- Coach Self made $3.6 million
- Coach Donovan made $3.6 million
- Coach Pitino made $4.8 million

Thad Matta will not even jump a spot in the rankings, even with his raise. He has been very successful in a short time at OSU. I don't see how he is not worth the dollars he is paid, even with his new raise. Dude just rakes in titles.

[DC Muskie]

OSU and Thad think he deserves the raise. Who cares how much Butler pays Butler? Or how much Florida pays Donovan?

[paulxu]

Who cares how much Butler pays Butler?

Stevens?

[DC Muskie]

It's early. I have a ton of stuff to do this morning and my usual wasteful time here is distracted because it! Stupid work.

[vee4xu]

OSU and Thad think he deserves the raise. Who cares how much Butler pays Butler? Or how much Florida pays Donovan?

I agree. OSU throws money around like kids toss toilet paper in their neighbor's tree. But the question posed: Is Thad Matta an elite coach worthy of the dough? I say not if you look at nuts' summary and compare records. Hey, God bless the guy for making $3.2 million. I can care less if he made $13.2 million. I just think he's a good coach who's overpayed.

[DC Muskie]

Just because OSU has a ton of money doesn't mean they simply throw it around. Heck Jim Tressel spent a lot of years not being paid highly as his contemparies.

OSU basketball is a luxury. They spent numerous years dealing with mediorce coaches who dabbled in unethical practices. They now have a coach who has never won fewer than 26 games a year, wins them titles and took them to the Final Four.

I certainly don't think he is overpaid. OSU has the means, and the willingness to pay Matta what they and he believe he is worth. If Duke made OSU type money I'm sure they would pay Coach K even more.

Matta makes less than Izzo and more than Rick Barnes. That sounds fine to me.

If OSU had made him the highest paid coach then I could see your argument about worthiness and OSU tossing money around. OSU has almost a 19,000 seat arena they fill before spring football begins. Paying a coach like Matta to ensure people still show up is totally worth it for them.

These arguments always fascinate me. It's like people complaining about baseball contracts. Who cares that the Nationals paid Jayson Werth $128 million. There is no cap and it's not your money. So vee, since you think Matta is just fortunate to get OSU blind and reckless money tossing, what do you think Matta should be paid?

[vee4xu]

I agree DC that these kinds of conversations require context and need to be viewed relative to several different situations. Just fun banter in cold weather. You make several good points about the OSU basketball program and the issues around it. Matta runs a clean program and doesn't always take the Calipari route to recruiting. If the school sees value in that kind of stability and can arguably pay up to retain it then I can see the merit in it. What do I think Matta should make? I'd opt for something like $1.75 million per year plus incentives. Then if he were to win a national championship I'd restructure the deal.

[GoMuskies]

Louisville is apparently signing Charlie Strong up to an extention that will pay him $3.7 million/year. If Strong is worth $3.7 million, it seems to me that Thad is worth $3.2 million.

The money is absolutely silly these days.

[PMI]

I would say you're worth whatever someone is willing to pay for you, and OSU has a lot of money.

[DC Muskie]

I'm worth about 1.7 million.

[muskiefan82]

I'm worth about 1.7 million.

So the reward for information leading to your arrest has gone up?

[smileyy]

I would say you're worth whatever someone is willing to pay for you, and OSU has a lot of money.

This. And what they're willing to pay you usually has a lot to do with how much money you make for them.

I mean, the B1G 10 Network has to show something during the winter.

[paulxu]

I mean, the B1G 10 Network has to show something during the winter.

They could use some better programming in the fall too.

[vee4xu]

No doubt. By definition market value is the price agreed to by a willing seller and a willing buyer in an arm's length transaction. In OSU's case I'd say the Matta situation fits this definition to a tee. Though if I may, seems like a nose length transaction may be more appropriate.
:-)