Is Little Ricky a worse coach that Big Lick?

[OnceAhawk]

Little Ricky (aka Richard Pitino), in his 3rd year at Minny, is 0-9 in the B1G. Not sure who Minny will beat other than Rutgers (they play them twice yet).

Lets compare Little RIck to Big Lick (aka, Todd Lickliter) in their first 3 years at their respective B1G schools:

B1G record.....Little Rick.........Big Lick.....
Year 1....................8-10..................6-12
Year 2....................6-12................. 5-13
Year 3.....................0-9...................4-14


As you can see, both coaches got worse from year to year.

Will Little Ricky have the same year 3 fate as Big Lick, where he gets fired? Keep in mind the last time Minny had 3 or fewer wins in the B1G the coach was fired (Dan Monson, in 2006-2007, was fired mid season and the Goofs finished B1G play at 3-13).

And, final question: Who is a better coach? Lick or Rick? Or is it a tie?

 

[Suterman]

Little Dick has done reasonably well in the non conference section of the season. He has a bad team this year, that is for sure. They don't have an AD do they? So I'm not sure they can fire him even if they want to.

 

[DanL53]

At this moment Minnesota supposedly has a top twenty recruiting class in 2016. According to 247Sports. That may be enough to give the little Gopher another year.

 

[hefelhawkeye30]

I don't know, but the good(?) news for Little Rick is that they at least still have half of the B1G season left to fail at a Lickliter year 3 level

 

[hawkeye54545]

It's like asking who is better at seeing, Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder.

 

[0418hawkguy1001]

Didn't he just get extended through 2021? I thought I saw that on Twitter last night.

 

[Herky T Hawk]

Is he a better coach? Probably not, although he may turn out to be a better recruiter just by using his last name. But, the Big Ten has been a much more difficult conference over the past few years than it was during Lick's tenure. 3 Final Four teams(Wisconsin x 2, MSU) in the last two years versus two MSU appearances during Lick's 3 years. Plus there are 4 or 5 current Big Ten teams that could make the Final Four this year.

It does make me think about how interesting it would have been if we had hired Fran in 2007 instead of Lick. Where would we be if he had a three year head start during a "down" era in the Big Ten along with only having to do a remodel of the program rather than a complete rebuild?

 

[HawkLogic]

LIckliter only recruited players he could see after a short drive on I-80 or on family trip back to Indiana.
Maybe Slow ball + terrible recruiting is better recipe than faster ball and some decent recruits.

Lickliter is a lot worse than Pittino

 

[LuteHawk]

Big Lick had no personality or people skills. During the
games he buried his head in his hands. He was a slow
offense guy who killed the morale of his players. Big Lick
will never coach again in Division I College Basketball.
Even his wife says that he is no fun to be around.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

lick was bad. Monumentally, historically bad.
pitino ain't good. But I don't think he's reached the lick level of failure. Yet.

 

[d_i]

It's like asking who is better at seeing, Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder.

Ray Charles. Stevie Wonder isn't blind.

 

[TombItMayConcern]

Ray Charles. Stevie Wonder isn't blind.

Watched a little of the Minnesota game last night and there were a lot of empty seats. Attendance appears to be going down in gopher land just as it did at Iowa under Lick.

 

[SotaHawk87]

Gopher fans up here are delusional. The media is catching on but the fans that I know are ALLLL in on this next recruiting class (which in my opinion is overrated). One of my buddies thinks the new Hurt recruit is gonna be an Aaron white due to his HS stats.. Only problem is Hurt is 6'6 and White is 6'8. Thats a big difference in the B10.

 

[thewop]

At this moment Minnesota supposedly has a top twenty recruiting class in 2016. According to 247Sports. That may be enough to give the little Gopher another year.

yea, his recruiting skills appear to be above Lick's. If it's his name that's gotten him this far with 'cruits though, it may only take him so far.

 

[icu81222]

just having been the seed of Papa Pitino makes Junior more qualified than Lick. In fact, I'd say from about age 18, little Ricky was more qualified than Lick. Obviously, that's not saying much but it is what it is....

 

[hooper56]

I think Lickliter knew how to coach but did not know how to run a program. The man was actually afraid to meet with his own players. I have decided that the guy must have had a mental illness of some sort that gave him great anxiety or paranoia.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

I can't believe Lil Rick is recruiting this well. He hasn't proven anything at the D1 level yet. He hasn't proven he's a good in game coach or developer of talent. Maybe he's recruiting like his father. Amir Coffey looks like he will be special no matter where he plays.

 

[Ronman]

I can't believe Lil Rick is recruiting this well. He hasn't proven anything at the D1 level yet. He hasn't proven he's a good in game coach or developer of talent. Maybe he's recruiting like his father. Amir Coffey looks like he will be special no matter where he plays.

Maybe Ricky has taken a page out of his daddy's book and is employing (ahem) escorts to entertain the possible recruits.

 

[papahawk21]

Gopher fans up here are delusional. The media is catching on but the fans that I know are ALLLL in on this next recruiting class (which in my opinion is overrated). One of my buddies thinks the new Hurt recruit is gonna be an Aaron white due to his HS stats.. Only problem is Hurt is 6'6 and White is 6'8. Thats a big difference in the B10.

I live in MN too. Most seasons, for all Minnesota Sports, are used to sell hope for the next season.

Generally, it's hard for many Minn., fans to accept that Iowa and Wisconsin occasionally win championships, or compete for them.

 

[Herky T Hawk]

For the people touting the recruiting class, I'm not getting it. Using ESPN's ratings it is one good 4 star and two 3 stars. (#7 SF, #32 PF, and #36 PF) Our incoming class that many here are worried about consists of two 4 stars, one 3 star, and an unrated player. (#10 PF, #23 PG, #40 PF, and a C)

I know that is using ESPN's ratings which aren't always that great. Looking at Rivals ratings, Minny has one 4 star and two 3 stars while we have one 4 star and three 3 stars.

It is also fairly similar in the sense that only 1 of Minny's kids is from out of state. Just like our class.

 

[srams21]

I watched parts of a couple of their games and I just can't see how they will improve much next year. King is their best offensive player and he is a senior. The only young player that stood out to me was Jordan Murphy, an undersized four (6'6). He reminds me a bit of Aaron Fuller actually. I do think Amir Coffey will be really good, but he will have to have a huge impact as a freshman if Pitino wants to make huge improvements next year.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Shhh! I don't want Little Pit going anywhere.

 

[grosie#2]

Lick had a problem with players transferring. One reason he got fired was the rumor that some of his best players were considering leaving. I think Lick is far worse than Rick just by how bad the scores Iowa was loosing by. Also who plays his son when he would be lucky to play on an average HS basketball team.

 

[SDHN2013]

I understand some of the hate, I do but still. One can only wonder what this duo could have accomplished if they were just given a chance.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I understand some of the hate, I do but still. One can only wonder what this duo could have accomplished if they were just given a chance.

Could probably win most church leagues and even some other YMCA leagues.

 

[KuwaitHawk]

Would have lost to the UConn team - the UConn women's team.