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Anderson to Oregon Would Be Bad News for Pac 10
On April - 16 - 20102 COMMENTS
Recent rumors have Missouri Head Coach Mike Anderson as a leading candidate to become the next coach of the Oregon Ducks. While some may question why Anderson would leave a solid program in one of the nation’s toughest conferences, the Big 12, let me give you something to chew on: he should take that job if offered.
The west coast is ripe with talent but no true dominant program at the moment to take advantage of it. With the resources backing that program plus the pedigree and experience of an Anderson, you have the makings of a potential beast.
If Anderson stays at Missouri, he will never be able to overcome a murderer’s row of programs such as Kansas and Texas consistently. UCLA is influx and trying to reshape an identity damaged by their style of play and Arizona is having a hard time gaining traction with Sean Miller at the helm. California, Arizona State and Washington can’t get it done to earn the respect nationally. The conference is in need of a new flag bearer. With Nike founder Phil Knight serving as a dominant booster in the Duck athletic program, the time is now for Oregon.
While it would be hard for Anderson to leave behind a top ten 2010 recruiting class at Missouri (don’t expect him to pull a Calipari and dissolve his previous school’s recruiting class), he would have the opportunity to make an immediate splash at Oregon. Two of the nation’s top available players are Pacific NW kids, 6-9 Terrence Jones and 6-6 Terrance Ross, and both have Oregon on their short list. In future recruiting classes kids from California, Oregon, Washington and other parts of the west coast would gravitate to Anderson due to his style of play. Regardless of where he has been, Anderson always produces a winning program.
What will it take for Oregon and Anderson to form a partnership? I don’t know but if it does come to pass the rest of the Pac 10 better prepare to battle for second place.