121 - 76 in six years with Penders. 83 - 148 in the eight years before Penders got to UH. I'm thinking your standards are too high if you think he sucks. He's turned a terrible program into a pretty good one. Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler aren't walking through that door...
A 61% winning percentage for a coach that plays its home games in one of the richest talent pools in the nation is not exactly something to write home about. Penders is 64. It is not likely that the program will get appreciably better under him from here. Were they terrible before? Yep. This is about continuing to better the program. Everywhere Penders has been, he has proven to be a coach that can only get you so far. Time to pony up some money and go get Gillispie.
But UH can do so much better. Aside from its history and pedigree, its in the middle of one of the best pools of potential talent in the country. Even 2nd and 3rd tier guys can easily surpass some of the transfers that Penders pulls in. Not to mention recruiting locally is how you energize the community. You pull in local high school talent and you'll also attract a larger fanbase and energize the existing one. They may never be phi slamma jamma again but they shouldnt be doormats in CUSA either. If Calipari could turn freaking Memphis into a juggernaut, there's no reason why a larger school with a deeper history with all sorts of high school talent sitting in your backyard cant do the same. Hiring Penders was a good move, I mean the program was in the dumps before him but he's taken houston as far as they'll go. I think its time to find a replacement.
Word. If he could so much as recruit the water boy from Yates it would do wonders for local interest in the program.
its somewhat analagous to the football situation (even though no one is poaching Penders), but its similar to Briles situation. He brought the football team from the dumps, but had plateaued somewhat. Sumlin was the next step (even though we were forced to take that step). Likewise, Penders has reached his limit. He improved the program, but he can't take us too much farther.
U of H is in the toughest Region so we're pretty much srcewed. We play #4 Maryland on Friday. Go Coogs!
Don't be shocked if UH pulls a big upset of Maryland. The Terps have been vulnerable to fast, athletic teams all year, and UH certainly meets that. Both sides in this matchup probably breathed a sigh of relief that their opponent doesn't have dominant interior play. Also, does anyone have photoshopping skills, where they can make a kick-butt "Dead Men Walking" sign, logo, shirt, or something? That's been UH's theme that got them through the Conference Tourney - that the most dangerous man is the one with nothing to lose.
all of this is true, but the downfall of UH is it being a commute school in a poor neighborhood of the 4th largest city in America. Even with the recent success of the football program for example, people still hop right off the band wagon once the team hits a rough patch. The support is limited to luring in fair weather fans. And unfortunately this forms a glass ceiling for UH that will be very tough to break through.
I really wonder if its all Penders fault that he can't recruit Houston area kids and has to take jucos. I've read that the facilities at UH are beyond terrible. If I were a HS basketball prospect coming for a visit, and realized I couldn't even shower in the locker rooms, I'd rather take my chances at another school.
It's partly that and partly that Tom is an East Coast guy. His connections are up north, so he goes where his biggest honey hole is. If Tom tried to recruit around here, he'd be swimming upstream.
lol i do. i just clicked UH UH UH UH UH UH champion UH lol UH plays Maryland on friday at 8:40 CENTRAL on CBS!
He has been here 20 years I am sure he has to have some contacts. Maybe he is doing the best he can. If houston got BCG what will stop him from leaving 2 years later.
