Some off-the-cuff thoughts on the five-plus years under Gottfried:
First, for proper context, I don't think it should be forgotten where the NC State coaching search was at when Gottfried took the job and (what I think was) a pretty remarkable open to his NC State career. If I remember the stat correctly, he is one of what I want to say was three ACC coaches to open his tenure with four straight NCAA Tournaments. Regardless, it was certainly the best collective four-year start for an NC State coach in a long, long time.
Although there were two Sweet 16s mixed into those first four years, they were always on the bubble, which I thought showed a lack of progress. It seemed like they were in the same or similar spot in year four as year one or two, but had to rely on transfers to get there. I think everybody wondered about how sustainable that model of building a team was.
After his first four years — however he did it and whatever your thoughts are on it — I don't think there was any arguing that he elevated the program to a place where back-to-back years without sniffing (or even coming close to) the Tournament was unacceptable. In the last two years, his overall winning percentage (.500) slipped below what his ACC winning percentage was in his first four years (.557).
These last two years were an obvious and giant step backwards, but I do think (to borrow a phrase from the football team) he helped raise the bar for NC State basketball if you look at the start of his tenure and the end. He did some good, especially in recruiting, in terms showing how good the Pack can do in that avenue, and he should be commended for that and leaving the program in what I think is a better place than he found it. But given the last two years, it was time — and the inevitable decision needed to happen at this juncture.
What say you?
First, for proper context, I don't think it should be forgotten where the NC State coaching search was at when Gottfried took the job and (what I think was) a pretty remarkable open to his NC State career. If I remember the stat correctly, he is one of what I want to say was three ACC coaches to open his tenure with four straight NCAA Tournaments. Regardless, it was certainly the best collective four-year start for an NC State coach in a long, long time.
Although there were two Sweet 16s mixed into those first four years, they were always on the bubble, which I thought showed a lack of progress. It seemed like they were in the same or similar spot in year four as year one or two, but had to rely on transfers to get there. I think everybody wondered about how sustainable that model of building a team was.
After his first four years — however he did it and whatever your thoughts are on it — I don't think there was any arguing that he elevated the program to a place where back-to-back years without sniffing (or even coming close to) the Tournament was unacceptable. In the last two years, his overall winning percentage (.500) slipped below what his ACC winning percentage was in his first four years (.557).
These last two years were an obvious and giant step backwards, but I do think (to borrow a phrase from the football team) he helped raise the bar for NC State basketball if you look at the start of his tenure and the end. He did some good, especially in recruiting, in terms showing how good the Pack can do in that avenue, and he should be commended for that and leaving the program in what I think is a better place than he found it. But given the last two years, it was time — and the inevitable decision needed to happen at this juncture.
What say you?
