There is certainly plenty of room for speculation as to his eventual return to Syracuse. There are a lot of factors at play and things change over time. However, Mike has young kids and wants stability for them, his parents are older and on the west coast, he spent decades in one place and likes it that way, and calls Seattle home...from his youth.
UW is in the big leagues and can afford to pay him well if he's successful. And Seattle is a destination. Syracuse is a great place in many ways but it has a sparse economy and is under snow 6 months of the year. Upstate New York has wonderful lakes and mountains, but Seattle is currently far more dynamic and is in a beautiful setting itself.
I don't think Hopkins feels he left SU on great terms, with many fans openly questioning him as a viable choice for head coach and changes in administration making him feel like his position wasn't as certain as once thought. Boeheim and he are close friends and he knew Boeheim wanted to coach 5 years or more longer. Why stay when a great option presented itself?
Even if he wants to go back to Syracuse, it will be at least 5 years and the administration that was close to him is already gone, with other changes in administration probable by the time Boeheim leaves. I think somewhere closer to LA is a bigger risk for hiring him away but think there's an even chance that UW could be home for Hopkins until he retires. I think he should have success recruiting to UW and that's one key to building a program.
In order for anyone to care, he has to be successful. He's off to a good start and I think he can build a great program at UW, but it's still just his first year. I'm hoping his success makes a good and enduring story...no matter how his career plays out.
I hope he gives up the battle of hair loss and ditches the hair sooner rather than later
I dealt with that battle a few years back. The difference between a balding guy that keeps his hair super short and a balding guy trying to keep the hair grown out is mind blowing.
There is certainly plenty of room for speculation as to his eventual return to Syracuse. There are a lot of factors at play and things change over time. However, Mike has young kids and wants stability for them, his parents are older and on the west coast, he spent decades in one place and likes it that way, and calls Seattle home...from his youth.
UW is in the big leagues and can afford to pay him well if he's successful. And Seattle is a destination. Syracuse is a great place in many ways but it has a sparse economy and is under snow 6 months of the year. Upstate New York has wonderful lakes and mountains, but Seattle is currently far more dynamic and is in a beautiful setting itself.
I don't think Hopkins feels he left SU on great terms, with many fans openly questioning him as a viable choice for head coach and changes in administration making him feel like his position wasn't as certain as once thought. Boeheim and he are close friends and he knew Boeheim wanted to coach 5 years or more longer. Why stay when a great option presented itself?
Even if he wants to go back to Syracuse, it will be at least 5 years and the administration that was close to him is already gone, with other changes in administration probable by the time Boeheim leaves. I think somewhere closer to LA is a bigger risk for hiring him away but think there's an even chance that UW could be home for Hopkins until he retires. I think he should have success recruiting to UW and that's one key to building a program.
In order for anyone to care, he has to be successful. He's off to a good start and I think he can build a great program at UW, but it's still just his first year. I'm hoping his success makes a good and enduring story...no matter how his career plays out.
This guy is a Syracuse basketball half brain. Edit: This is not an insult. Half brain is a term of endearment on this site.
I think he’s right that USC and UCLA are just as big of threats as Syracuse.
At this point, who cares? Let’s enjoy winning and being able to have genuine optimism for the future of the program.
I hope he gives up the battle of hair loss and ditches the hair sooner rather than later
I dealt with that battle a few years back. The difference between a balding guy that keeps his hair super short and a balding guy trying to keep the hair grown out is mind blowing.
Nothing worse than a horse shoe. You gotta go bald and accessorize. Get a gold chain and a nice watch and you can be a cool bald guy.
I know jack and shit about college basketball so forgive my ignorance, but do our Syracuse visitors have any insight as to if Hop has NBA aspirations?
None at all that I know of. He was a coach with the Olympic team a couple of times and knows a lot of the players, but think he's a college coach at heart. His intensity and passion seem geared for college kids so I think the NBA is a distant option.
Tend to agree with Shenexon. Hop likes the college game. He enjoys coaching and recruiting college players. All those recruiting relationships he's cultivated over 20 years would instantly go out the window. Additionally, the 2-3 zone doesn't translate well to the NBA game. He may eventually get offers. But I'd be shocked if he made the jump.
As a side note, Boeheim had offers from NBA teams in the late 80's, early 90's (NJ Nets and someone else)....but never made the jump.
Comments
UW is in the big leagues and can afford to pay him well if he's successful. And Seattle is a destination. Syracuse is a great place in many ways but it has a sparse economy and is under snow 6 months of the year. Upstate New York has wonderful lakes and mountains, but Seattle is currently far more dynamic and is in a beautiful setting itself.
I don't think Hopkins feels he left SU on great terms, with many fans openly questioning him as a viable choice for head coach and changes in administration making him feel like his position wasn't as certain as once thought. Boeheim and he are close friends and he knew Boeheim wanted to coach 5 years or more longer. Why stay when a great option presented itself?
Even if he wants to go back to Syracuse, it will be at least 5 years and the administration that was close to him is already gone, with other changes in administration probable by the time Boeheim leaves. I think somewhere closer to LA is a bigger risk for hiring him away but think there's an even chance that UW could be home for Hopkins until he retires. I think he should have success recruiting to UW and that's one key to building a program.
In order for anyone to care, he has to be successful. He's off to a good start and I think he can build a great program at UW, but it's still just his first year. I'm hoping his success makes a good and enduring story...no matter how his career plays out.
I think he’s right that USC and UCLA are just as big of threats as Syracuse.
At this point, who cares? Let’s enjoy winning and being able to have genuine optimism for the future of the program.
As a side note, Boeheim had offers from NBA teams in the late 80's, early 90's (NJ Nets and someone else)....but never made the jump.