If you have any hopes of Oregon Ducks Basketball rising to national prominence, you better start waiting for four more years.
Ernie Kent, the head coach of the Oregon Ducks Men's Basketball team, has been given a contract extension that will keep him around until 2012.
Before the contract extension, it would have been all too easy to get rid of Kent. It only would have taken a handful of the university's biggest donors to pitch in enough money for a buyout of his contract.
Why didn't this happen?
Sure, the Ducks have made it to the big dance two years in a row. The more successful season was two years ago, when the Ducks made it to the Elite Eight before getting eliminated by the eventual champion, the Florida Gators.
Last year, the Ducks were knocked out in the first round by the Mississippi State Bulldogs after a horrible coaching performance by Kent.
I will give Kent credit for one thing only: He knows how to recruit. He can bring in highly touted recruits such as Malik Hairston, Bryce Taylor, Maarty Leunen, TaJuan Porter, Michael Dunigan, Matthew Humphrey, Garrett Sim, Teondre Williams, and Drew Wiley.
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However, the biggest question with the most obvious answer surrounding Kent, is just how good of a coach he is.
Kent does not know how to coach, period. Hairston was regarded as the best high school basketball recruit in the nation as a senior. He was contemplating entering the draft, and going straight into the NBA.
Instead, he signed an LOI with Oregon, bolstering its recruiting class for that season. But just how much did Hairston progress and improve as a player? If he did, Kent sure didn't have anything to do with it.
Kent sticks to recruiting, while he leaves the biggest responsibility, coaching and teaching the players, to his assistants.
Oregon has had many chances to can Kent, and hire someone better. Not only a better coach, but a better recruiter, too. Former Golden State Warriors Head Coach, and current Stanford Cardinal Head Coach Mike Montgomery was interested in the possible coaching vacancy. We passed him up.
Mark Few, the head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, and great friend of Oregon Athletic Director Pat Killkenny, was passed up as well.
This may be sacrilegious, but even though the Oregon State Basketball team finished dead last in the Pac-10, losing every single conference game, I will give the Beavers more credit in one area: former coach Jay John.
Jay John could out coach Kent any day, but he couldn't recruit half as well. Even though John couldn't bring in great players, he made them so much better after three or four years of coaching them.
This is the reason why in years past, Oregon has either lost to Oregon State in basketball, or beaten them by a very small margin.
Jay John outcoached Ernie Kent in every single game they faced each other.
So Duck Fans, what will it be?
Would you like to stay stagnant and let all this talent that Kent brings in go to waste, or will you finally come to your senses, donate to the Athletic Fund, and send Kent packing?
Until the Ducks can get rid of Kent, all the money that we have spent getting the great players we have, will be wasted.
Until we can actually tap into the full potential of the players, every season will pretty much be the same: no Pac-10 title, a spot in the big dance, with a first-round elimination sure to follow.
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about 1 month ago
While I agree that a four-year extension was a bit much, there is a common denominator to every successful season he's had. Both of his elite-eight appearances only happened because they had a team leader, both being Luke Ridnour and Aaron Brooks. Ridnour and Brooks' court-presence did more for the team than stats can express. While this past season they arguably had the most talent and experience, they had no one to step up and run the show. While some of the blame can be put on Kent for recent failures, I believe most should be put on the shoulders of the players. As they say: "You can't have too many indians and not enough chiefs."
As for not developing Malik Hairston, I'm not sure what to say. There is no doubt in my mind that he had considerable talent, but that doesn't always translate into a superstar career. What I do know for a fact is that he definitely wasn't a leader, and that is something that can't be coached.
Nice article cameron, keep up the good work. Try posting it on other forums for it to get more exposure, thats what I do.
about 1 month ago
Take anything the Oregon athletic department does with a grain of salt. So long as those two crooks run it, decisions like this will be made. Ernie Kent makes money for NIKE; he keeps his job. That's really all it truly comes down to. Sad that a corporation controls a state university's athletic department like it does.
about 1 month ago
Nice Post!
It is hard to fathom that a team with Bryce, Marty and Malik was not more successful. Those three guys are all pros! Granted, the Pac 10 is becoming harder then it has ever been. But still, Kent has done a terrible job coaching/managing the development of some key players… especially Porter!
Perhaps the solution is better assistants. Ernie can recruit with the best of them, and I don’t think you can ever give that up as a program. There are PLENTY of good Xs and Os assistants to be had. Let them teach basketball.
from about 1 month ago
thank you very much for your comment
not everyone agrees with my opinions, i understand that, but you offer constructive criticism, and new insights to point i make
thank you for not being like others on this network who feel like they have nothing better to do than cut others down
about 1 month ago
are you kidding me. Tell me one player that Jay John made better. And dont say David Lucas. He had some coaching at home that was much better than the worst coach in the Pac10 ever gave anyone at Oregon State. Is Ernie a mediocre coach? Yes.Is he a horrible coach like Jay John? No! Its obvious the extension was given because Mark Few told his good friend kilwrestling he was not coming to Oregon anytime in the future. Tht he was retiring a Bulldog.
from about 1 month ago
I've got two words for you. Nick DeWitz.
Nick DeWitz was not a four star recruit. He was a three star, a pretty mediocre player that came out of high school and was lucky to be given a scholarship. I can't exactly remember what year it was that Oregon State beat Oregon twice in basketball, either 2005-6 or 2004-5. In both games that season, DeWitz had career performances against the Ducks, and made us look like the Western Oregon Wolves Basketball team. In my mind, DeWitz should have been drafted or have made it into the NBA as a free agent. It is a letdown to the Oregon State basketball team, who do not have much to get excited about in recent years. Nick DeWitz is one of the hardest workers I have seen. He is always looking to improve, and that is something that every coach should crave.
about 1 month ago
Oregon State has not won at Mac Court since the early 90's. Nick Dewitz only played at Oregon State for two years, he was good when D. Lucas was there but had a very mediocore senor season at best. There was never a sign of improvement with Jay John, most players improved from year 1 to year 2 but never got any better after that. Most of the time they had a crappy senor season. ie.. Marcel Jones
about 1 month ago
wow are you clueless. Nick Dewitz transfered from Iowa. Who at the time was and is a much better hoop program than OSU. He was highly recruited out of Junior college. Yes he went to junior college. No one ever doubted his ability however he was NOT a hard worker and had problems getting along with coaches. He had a horrible senior year. He had a above average Junior year because every team put three guys on David Lucas and Dewitz cleaned up on weakside rebounds. His senior year with no David Lucas he was a very average player.
from about 1 month ago
if you disagree with something i write, you can say it without being rude
that's all i have to say about your commenting style
about 1 month ago
Couldn't be happier to see that Coach Kent will be in Eugene for years to come.
Cougar Lew
about 1 month ago
Considering that the previous coach bolted because he said that it was impossible for the Ducks to do well considering the facilities and the population of Oregon I would say Kent has done a remarkable job. Oregon has been pathetic in basketball except for a small stint in the mid-70's when Kent was a player since they won the initial NCAA championship in 1939. What amazes me is how idiotic commentators don't look at what a coach has to work with considering Facilities and tradition before they make stupid comments. EK has done an amazing job getting the Ducks to 2 Elite eight appearances and 5 NCAA bids in 10 years. How many other Pac 10 coaches have been to two elite eights in 10 years? Howland and Olsen, and that's it.
from about 1 month ago
refer to my previous commnet
about 1 month ago
Cameron
1) stop being so sensitive. I know your a little kid but get over yourself. If your going to write an article with a strong opinion to it, then expect people to disagree. No one is saying anything remotely rude to you. You need tougher skin to be professional at this.
2) You clearly aren't old enough to remember all the terrible, pre-kent, season's. If you knew anything about Duck sports you would appreciate the last ten years. There used to not be a lot to get excited about regarding basketball, now its relevant... a GOOD THING
about 1 month ago
Montgomery USED to coach at Stanford...currently the Cal Bears head coach. And I'm not sure he was ever interested in coaching for us...
about 1 month ago
good article, I agree that Kent wastes his talent. It is true that highly touted recruits dont always pann out but it seems like he has had many more duds than studs then. Even Aaron Brooks looked disapointing until his stellar senior season.
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