DrMike is not saying the kid doesn’t deserve a second chance. Nothing is stopping him from getting an education and improving himself. But building a team around felons and kids with disciplinary issues such as Sac is doing in their football program is not what many of us want to support.

This is silly. We are not a big time sports program. We are not building anything in men’s basketball. It’s an average program that is struggling in a lower conference. Once we move to the mountain west Coach Les will get exposed. We will be lucky to have a winning season as the competition gets better. You think we are building something? What is it? Because all I see is a bunch of people who have grown very comfortable in their positions. We can do better. If you want the student body to get behind men’s basketball we have to be better. There are a ton of kids who want to support davis sports but the AD has to expect more. Coach Les has been here since 2012. It’s time for new blood.

if you think being a below .500 coach is somehow “successful” we disagree on the meaning of success. The program needs a jolt of energy.

I agree with Gabe when it comes to needing to shake things up (whether that is coaching, recruiters, facility work) before going to the MW, but I do not think Sac State's strategy is a promise by any means of long term success. Its just too much betting in my opinion. Our basketball program has felt really stale as of late. That game on ESPN was so fun, but it seems like we have been pretty "mid" since that march madness run in 2017. Good kids, nice coaches, but I really think our current position a year out from joining the MW is worrying. A coach with a less than .500 winning percentage, mediocre season (yes 2 years ago we were a game from march madness, I understand that as an outlier), facilities needing to get renovations started, and not much of a team identity. Other than joining the new conference, I feel like football and basketball feel like they are totally different in the energy around them. We have had star players that have kept some energy, but in general everyone I have talked to is like "I loved Pepper..." not "I am loving Davis basketball"

I am used to loyalty to those that have stuck with us. I am not used to constant turnover. If someone new has success here, they will more likely leave ala Sac State. Look, if we can become a Duke or Bama (of old) sure, let’s do it. But if we become a Umass or a Kent State then no.

I understand this perspective but also I think its a different convo when someone is loyal but also has a lifetime losing record and has not brought us back to march madness since 2017. Its no personal attack, but I don't see how the program will be rejuvenated without some movement? This is the longest tenured d1 basketball staff (including all assistants) if I am correct.

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Lots of words to unpack there.

[The players are good. Other teams have good players too, ...]

Our good players are 6'2" and 6"4". Their good players are 6'2", 6'5", 6'8" and 6'10".

[Athletically there are more limits. Could another coach take the same players and turn them into a national powerhouse. No, because the players aren't THAT good.]

Who's our ace recruiter? Les recruits and plays guards.

[The best recruiter in the world couldn't convince a lot of the best players to come to Davis because they don't want to be in a place like Davis.]

False. I'm told Bobby Steinberg was terrific. Football gets recruits, so does Jen Gross. We don't need 'a lot', we need 2-3 key recruits. We're not Bako, we have a GREAT campus and town. Try recruiting at UOP or Eastern Washington. Key signings from bright SA who want a UC degree and a post career like Payne or Parenteau. Look at the success of UCSD.

[A different coach might help them get a slightly closer look at it, but not significantly. I would say if Les were doing a horrible job or mistreating the players that would be one thing.]

Momentum helps. You only need 2-3 key recruits, and role players. Start winning, getting 4-6,000 in the house, momentum builds. Football and women's basketball don't have the same turnover.

If either Sac coach succeeds, they bounce.

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This is exactly the response I would expect in defense of the current coaches. "Its not their fault"...please. Yes, it is. It's been over 10 years. It is past time to get some new blood in the mens basketball program. There is nothing being done today that displays an earning of more years of mediocrity. The student body is not vested in the program. We are moving up in competition. It's time to get some some new blood. Our university deserves winning not a participation trophy. Look I get it, change is tough, but sitting back and being comfortable should not be an option for such a great school.

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don’t be afraid of change.

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None of that has anything to do with winning. That is the problem. I remember when we had the Grad, we had Murder Burger, we had a more lively downtown. All that is coming back. Winning basketball means not rewarding coaches who are below average.

I care about winning. I care about academic rankings. I care about being elite. UC Davis is one of the best universities in the nation. We should act like it.

Athletics never made our university “elite” or for that matter any other one. It’s totally supplementary. If by your metric Sac State is now “elite” then you should reassess your methodology.

This goes for any school in the UC system. No matter how anyone feels, athletics is never going to be a #1 priority in the UC system.

This doesn't make me any less of a fan, and it doesn't make me want the Athletics Department to work less hard to improve. There must be a winning standard in place.

In this context, I'm not sure replacing Jim Les immediately is the highest probability move for increased wins and program improvement.

I would love to see us add a ‘ GM’ to help with recruiting/transfers. I think Les outcoaches just about anyone in the BWC, and when we have talent and depth, we’re at the top of the conference. Remember, we were 3-4 away from a NCAA berth in 2024 with 2 really good players, and a solid supporting cast.

The whole point of athletics especially at the D1 level is to win. If we win we get more exposure to the university itself. Look at Gonzaga, Duke, etc. I'm surprised anyone would be ok with being below average in anything. Look, if you didn't want to compete at the D1 level, we should have stayed D2, but we are not D2, we are D1. We have to start winning so the athletic program can start generating money to pay for travel and other operating expenses in the future. This is the business of D1 sports.

Coach Les I'm sure is a great human being, but what has he won? Nothing. The team is not getting better it is getting worse. The student body is not interested enough to invest their time and money into watching this team. Fine keep him and this staff on for another year. Keep him for the next decade, guess what? UCD is going to win anything and apathy will continue to fester.

I give it a year, because I think SACST is going to have a really good year in football and basketball. And once those seats start selling out because people enjoy winning programs, you will see UCD have to make a move just to stay relevant.

It it ok to have high expectations of our coaches. It is ok to say "The results for the past 10 years were fine, but we expect better." If next year Coach Les somehow puts together a winning team that wins the conference ok...he bought some time. But if he finishes with another losing record or lower than 3rd in conference you have to replace him.

Great idea!

Unneeded and costly. Hire a top assistant who can recruit.

Height (length) is an important metric in basketball. Ham once developed a raw thin former soccer player who never played a year of HS hoops. The player was 6'10" and had modest success.



He has had one system for three decades. He has shown an inability to incorporate most big men into his system. My compadres say the MW will expose this flaw even more.

Steinburg coached here and I'm told he was a fabulous recruiter. We've had other coaches who were top recruiters.

[Football gets recruits, good recruits, and they win. However, they also play against basically minor league college football teams. Basketball doesn't play in a minor league classification-...]

Football plays in a tough FCS division which sends guys to The Show every year. Hoops plays a mid major schedule.

It stands, football and women's basketball recruit well, and have minimal player turnover.

Rocko has a marketing team that dropped the ball in our football playoff run. Three or four professionals couldn't give away 1,000 free playoff tickets. They should have given away 4,000.

I'm not calling for his head, but he's obviously not a guru with a roughly. 500 career record. Something needs to change.

seems like a similar cost ( unless you’re advocating replacing a current assistant) and they can concentrate on everything off the court.

Sac's football roster includes a GM and and Assistant GM. I've never seen so many coaches and support staff on a roster. They list 30 under the heading of Coaching Staff and 9 more under Football Support Staff.

Basketball is showing 6 Coaches and 6 Support Staff.

https://hornetsports.com/sports/football/roster

https://hornetsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Sac is breaking the mold, should cause Title IX problems.

Totally agree with this. He has won with talent & depth. Give him the resources he needs (and that other programs have).

Coach Mike Bibby on mission and plan

Watch this video. There is an excitement to the program. He is getting calls from NBA players about coaching their sons. He is looking to build something. If has been sent over 200 recruit videos in his first year....look out.

The one key thing I have not seen is a local reporter asking UCD coach Les his opinion on SACST which is wild. We are going to be forced to change, because the status quo is not going to work anymore.

This is a HIGH SCHOOL coach. He is a vanity hire. Can he lead and build a D1 program? Getting a few NBA players sons and transfers to come to your school is one thing......coaching a D1 basketball team and building a program is another.

Don't hold your breath if you are waiting for Davis to enact short-sighted publicity stunts like this....Davis moves deliberately with a long-term view.

Its important to note: athletics programs that operate like Sac don't give a crap about academics. So, maybe think about the brand you want to slap on your alma mater.

A well known Bay Area QB’s kid played football at my son’s high school. When we did not start, he transferred to another high school. Apples do not always land at the base of the tree.
If I am correct, Shaq’s kid average less that 7 ppg more than I did last year.

instead of being defensive ask yourself why is there no excitement at UV Davis men’s basketball?

what does that have to do with UC Davis putting out a winning basketball program? Why are we defending mediocre?