[Cactus Jack]

Mike Woodson is considering stepping down. It goes to show that good pro coaches don't always translate to college. I thought he'd do better, but I also think IU is a bit behind the times. 

I'd mentioned my thoughts on Chris Beard eventually leaving Oxford in the UK/Ole Miss final score thread. 

Would the Hoosiers take that walk of shame for a Bobby Knight disciple?

Aside from the domestic violence allegations (which were dismissed after the alleged victim went public with her desire not to assist with prosecution), he would check almost all of the boxes on what they look for in a coach.

[Cactus Jack]

Final from Oxford.

A few thoughts:

- This game might have been a watershed moment for Chris Beard's resurgence. Let's face it, he came into Oxford in damage control mode, marred in scandal as he was on the precipice of turning Texas into a national power. The national narrative won't be that Kentucky was down two scholarship guards that were replaced in large part by a pair of freshmen while another scholarship player was playing at less than 75%. It's going to be that Ole Miss put up the most they've ever scored against Kentucky in a dominant win. It's one thing for them to beat an Alabama team (that's decidedly better than UK right now), but it's another to embarrass a blue blood like the Cats while they're having a good year. Those wins, and this game in particular, probably serve as a spring board for Beard to get to a program that carries more weight than Ole Miss who'll hire him (baggage and all). 

In their program's history, Ole Miss has eight NCAA Tournament appearances and one Sweet 16. Historically, they appear in the NCAA Tournament as often as Kentucky wins a national championship. Let that sink in. They play in an arena that's been open less than 10 years, but still seats less than 10,000. They have an alumni base with money and a decent recruiting base in the Deep South, Memphis, and Dallas areas, but that's about it. Maybe Beard wants to see it through, but I think it's more likely that he keeps a low profile and is at a new job where he can really do some long term damage within the next two years, max.

If you are in the administration at a school like Minnesota, Cincinnati, Miami, or Florida State, how seriously do you look at Beard? If you are a fan, would you complain if your school looked at hiring him? If you are Beard, what are you looking for in your next move? With enough success at the collegiate level, how far fetched is it to think that one day an NBA team like Sacramento or Brooklyn says screw the optics and gives him a shot?

An article in the Indy Star planting seeds a day before Woodson's situation went public:

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/co...257589007/