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Reputation:90
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 30, 2007
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I don't know, man ... it seems pretty cut-throat to let a guy loose after an over .500 season despite the poor conference record ... they play in the Pac-10 after all, not the Sun Belt or something. Maybe this was this a retirement?
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 19, 2006
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i wasn't even sure Cal had a basketball program.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 17, 2006
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Finally,
I'm so glad to get this guy out. He can't coach and can't recruit. Cal has been bad for years. Even when they went to the tourney, they were so-so.......He is a nice guy but that won't get you wins!
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 27, 2007
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Braun was.......... on the one hand respected in the bay area because of his integrity and because he was a true "student first, athlete second" type coach.
On the other hand, he was a sub-par recruiter and coach. To be competitive in the Pac-10, you need more than a star player coming in about every 2 or 3 years. You need them every single year. Granted, it is very difficult to remain commited to a "student first" atmosphere and at the same time recruit the type of talent they need to stay competitive, but it is possible, and Braun wasn't doing it.
Beyond that, he just wasn't a great floor coach either. His teams lacked cohesiveness and chemistry. It just seemed like they had no focus.
Whoever Cal hires will give a very good indication of whether the scool wants to maintain its student first mentality or whether they choose to win at all costs. It will be interesting to see which choice they make.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 26, 2007
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I watched a bit of their last NIT game and every time they showed Braun he looked like he was just zoning out on the bench. Maybe he knew what was coming...
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 20, 2006
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Braun just doenst get the most out of his players, and every year seemed to be a "we could have done this if everything went right ... " type year. It was time for him to go.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 24, 2006
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How on earth does anyone think this is a bad move? That said, I honestly disagree with a number of posts that questioned his ability to recruit. In my opinion, that was his one and only strong point. He brought in a lot of talented players. The problem is, once they got here, he all but destroyed the teams that they were on. How many times did we see someone like Leon Powe have to create scoring off of taking their man one on one while fighting help side defenders because there's no order or logic to Braun's offense. Having guards pass the ball around the key for twenty seconds and then having someone break their man down will not cut it in the Pac-10. An offense has to fit the players that are on the team, not the other way around. I'll miss the good free throw shooting, and the occasional star, but I'm hoping we can find someone that can keep those things, and also bring something to the table after the season starts.
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Level:Amateur
Since:Mar 26, 2008
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Two consecutive 9th place finishes (really last place if you disregard Oregon State) ought to give the A.D. the right to find another coach. Either that or offer Braun the same salary as a full-time professor if you want to stress how important academics are to the University.
Cal basketball would be the embarrassment of the Pac-10 if it weren't for Oregon State. Not even a Cal fan, I'm sure they can do alot better with a new coach. Look what Herb Sendek and Tony Bennett did for their schools the last 2 years. Why shouldn't Cal at least try to compete?
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Level:Amateur
Since:Feb 26, 2007
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He is a loser, players hate him and he cannot coach worth spit.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 27, 2007
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Blugolden- You are spot on with your take on how Braun's offense works (or doesn't work)
However, I disagree with you on recruiting, and you've almost made my point for me becuase after you talk about all the talent they brought in have you mention Leon Powe. Leon Powe plays for Boston. He's no longer here, and that's my point. Getting 1 or 2 standout recruits every few doesn't cut it in the PAC-10. An occasional Ryan Anderson or Leon Powe can't compete with the recruiting that UCLA or USC or Arizona does year after year.
Let's put it this way. By Brauns own strict standards of who he brings in he was a good recruiter. But by true competitive standards, his recruiting was sub-par. It wasn't terrible, but sub-par.
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