Kim Anderson would have succeeded at MU with the current
Posted on: February 10, 2024 at 16:31:14 CT
zounami MU
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environment of unrestricted bribes ("NIL") and free agency (the portal).
Why? Because of how much MU's oldest & richest donors desperately wanted KA to succeed. They would have bought him an NBA roster if that's what it took. I have no doubt about that.
And by the way, that's how Kim won a D-2 national title. It wasn't coaching, UCM simply out-talented the D-2 competition with a bunch of D-1 transfers.
But that strategy was no longer possible at Mizzou because D-1 recruiting was far more competitive and, more importantly, dependent on a coach's swagger and salesmanship (which Kim sorely lacked). Plus, transfers had to sit out for a year.
Now, recruiting is mostly just a bidding war. Having a skilled recruiter (like Drink for example) absolutely helps, but it's no match for a *significantly* higher bid.
Gates, in year 2, is on pace to be worse than Kim Anderson. However, he'll have the benefit of "NIL" and I have no doubt that DRF will move mountains to prop up Gates (her hire) with as much bribe money as possible. And I hate to say it, but it's the pragmatic thing to do. Another $3-4M in "NIL" for basketball is a lot cheaper than the revenue that would be lost with another KA-like season with dismal attendance, followed by a massive 8-figure buyout.
If only Kim Anderson had that luxury at the time.