Brad Stevens is a GREAT coach...

[elnutsmalljaws]

Every single time I see an interview with this guy he amazes me even more with what he says and how he says it. Right after the Pitt game the first thing he said during the interview on court was complementing and consoling the Pitt players for the way that game ended, right after the Florida game he told Billy Donovan that Billy outcoached him and then proceeded to complement and console the Florida players on a great game. Immediately after the VCU game he was complementing them on a great season and how VCU inspired his team. The post game interview has him stating his care and love of his players and how hard it is to talk about the actual game due to his 5 seniors that are leaving and what they mean to him personally. I know coaches routinely congratulate the losing team but I really think this man is genuine in what he says and is not doing it for the "routine". This guy is the absolute HOTTEST coach that has come along in a very long time. Class act thru and thru and any university that could ever get him to leave Butler and head up their basketball program is one lucky university. Never say Never, but I would be shocked if his program EVER came under suspicion for any rules violations. I think he is one of the most honest, classy, straight forward coaches to come along in a VERY long time. Sort of reminds me of a young Coach K and if my 7 year old ever comes home and says Brad Stevens wants him to play basketball at his school, then I will do whatever I can to help him pick that school - NO MATTER THE SCHOOL and yes that includes LOUISVILLE AND INDIANA. That is how much I respect the coaching job and how he carries himself and presents himself.

I guess Billy Donovan after winning the second in a row is about as close of a hot comodity as is Brad Stevens. The major difference between the two of them is Billy the Kid did it with several more future NBA players than Brad, plus at a major school and Billy the Kid was known before winning those championships as a good coach. Brad Stevens was dropped into college basketball by the tooth fairy last year. I never even heard of the man until last year but maybe the hottest coach that 99.99% of the universities in america would take in a heartbeat today. I would bet if you held a gun to the heads of the athletic directors of the top 100 basketball universities and told them to pick Brad Stevens or their current coach, about 90 of them would take Brad Stevens in a heartbeat, a couple would pause for a minute then take Brad Stevens and only a couple would stand pat with the coach that they have.

[Tim_T]

Consider me a Brad Stevens fan. I don't know how he would do as coach somehwere else, but he is a great basketball coach. His players have solid fundamentals and seem to rarely make mistakes. I am not sure how he would do if he had some of these spoiled athletic kids. He would have to get them to buy into the fundamental approach to the game which in this day and age is easier said than done. The guy can flat out coach though!

[Fishin is life]

I agree that some guys are just better coaches at the mid majors....they do a lot better with players that will stay 4 years and give them everything they have everytime down the court...However, if you're Brad Stevens, you have to decide if you want to completely rebuild a gutted Butler team, or go somewhere else and make multimillions....It's easy for all of us to say "be loyal to your school and don't leave for the money", but then again, we've never been put in that situation

[MsgMills]

I say if he does stay, he's the type of calibur coach that Joe p. is who coaches Penn State. Look at all the millions Joe P. has turned down over his 40 plus career at Penn State.

Also, I do feel that if Bobby Knight had not of been fired at Indiana, he'd still be at Indiana coaching his tail off like he normally did. No coach that i know of could take a rather ordinary player and get 110% outta them like Knight could. But this Stevens coach is looking more and more like Bobby Knight everyday...As in his caring attitude for his university, not his antics and total dislike for the media.

[roadrunner]

Brad Stevens loves the kids, loves the game, knows how to coach and to get the most out of his players and earns the respect of the players who in turn gives him everything they can muster.

This is a class program and I have a friend whose daughter is a freshman at Butler and Butler is way over the top on their support of the class program.

Brad is not looking to go anywhere.

[Tim_T]

Louisville plays at Butler next season and I am probably going to go. Hinkle Fieldhouse is pretty well known and they say the atmosphere there is great. My brother-in-law lives in Indy so might drive up and go to the game with him.

[mhall]

I agree with all you fellas. The man is complete and total CLASS in every way shape and form. He is a great teacher, plays well with the refs, is outstanding with the media and his kids. I would love to see him take Pitino's job after he leaves, Rick sings his praises bigtime.

[lroberts]

Louisville plays at Butler next season and I am probably going to go. Hinkle Fieldhouse is pretty well known and they say the atmosphere there is great. My brother-in-law lives in Indy so might drive up and go to the game with him.

You will love Hinkle....if you have never seen it watch "Hoosiers"....its where they play the state finals game. It looks pretty much the same today, with obvious upkeep.

[Tim_T]

I kknew that was where Hoosiers was filmed which is one big reason I want to go up there.