How refreshing a head coach we all like.

Play hard, play smart, have a strategy and know how to adjust. Until this year, I wasn't seeing it, and while niceness and salesmanship count for recruiting and alumni relations, I would give him a C- overall. He seems to have learned and evolved and this team now looks well coached but just lacking some talent and physicality in spots, especially down low. We're very close to breakout if we can build on this year. And Madsen's an A in my book, thus far.

A plus is a bit much, but I am a hard grader LOL

I have liked his hire from day one, nice to see him getting a good act together

Oakbear said:

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A plus is a bit much, but I am a hard grader LOL

I have liked his hire from day one, nice to see him getting a good act together

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Yeah, Madsen is definitely a passing grade so far, not a D like Wyking or F like Fox, but A+++? This is not Stanford. That leaves no room for, say a winning record? Then a winning record in conference? Then an invite to the NCAA Tornament? What grade would you give a coach that came in and recruited two McDonald's Americans and got us a #4 bid? Or a coach that gets us to the Sweet 16? Or a Final Four? Or even an NCAA Championship?

At this point I give him a C, maybe a C+ but he does seem to be improving and I hope to see B and hopefully even A grades from him in the future.

Agreed, B minus until we see the good side of a .500 record. There's already grade inflation at Cal in the classroom, no need to bring it on the court.

You are what your record is. The caveat being certain circumstances like covid or serious NIL deficiency or first year turnover beyond your control. MM record is ok but nothing special so far. He brought me from don't really follow anymore to curious enough to check in from time to time.

B for doing better than should be the case with limited talent that is not ACC competitive. Recruiting is an issue, but I give MM the benefit of the doubt there with a so-so NIL budget and trying to erase the stench left after 4 years of Wyking Jones and Mark Fox

TonyTiger said:

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How refreshing a head coach we all like.

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Yikes. So they beat three patsies and have a close loss to a power conference team and he is considered that good? Madsen is currently 30-39 overall and 15-25 in conference, placing 15th last year in the ACC. There are a lot of games left to play and it remains to be seen if they can surpass his high water mark of 14 wins this season. Personally I'm still not convinced he's any good - was expecting this year to be a key indicator, so watching with interest.

(Of course, this being Cal, doesn't really matter because he's signed through 2029-2030. Madsen's the coach no matter what for years to come - way to go Knowlton!)

Three passing grades on the first cupcake homework assignments and then gets 70% on the first exam. That does not sound like an A+++ unless the rest of the class didn't show, which does a lot like our previous coaches. Let's go old school and wait a bit for grades to come out, but I have a feeling B/B- will be closer to the truth come Jan/Feb as lots of smart kids are coming back to class in a few weeks.

Calfan92 said:

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Three passing grades on the first cupcake homework assignments and then gets 70% on the first exam. That does not sound like an A+++ unless the rest of the class didn't show, which does a lot like our previous coaches. Let's go old school and wait a bit for grades to come out, but I have a feeling B/B- will be closer to the truth come Jan/Feb as lots of smart kids are coming back to class in a few weeks.

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if he manages to upset either Duke or NC when they are in town, then maybe the grade gets much better as long as the rest of the season is also good

Oakbear said:

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Calfan92 said:

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Three passing grades on the first cupcake homework assignments and then gets 70% on the first exam. That does not sound like an A+++ unless the rest of the class didn't show, which does a lot like our previous coaches. Let's go old school and wait a bit for grades to come out, but I have a feeling B/B- will be closer to the truth come Jan/Feb as lots of smart kids are coming back to class in a few weeks.

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if he manages to upset either Duke or NC when they are in town, then maybe the grade gets much better as long as the rest of the season is also good

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OK, maybe the bar isn't beating the Carolina teams, we have about as much chance of that as me winning Powerball. But any ACC team that lies outside the top 25 is fair game for a win… I'm going to measure Madsen on the lower and mid-tier ACC opponents. I do wish we hadn't signed him to 2030, that was like giving him 20 college class credits before even one semester's grade was submitted.

Ever heard of the AP business?

Harky4 said:

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B for doing better than should be the case with limited talent that is not ACC competitive. Recruiting is an issue, but I give MM the benefit of the doubt there with a so-so NIL budget and trying to erase the stench left after 4 years of Wyking Jones and Mark Fox

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2 years of Wyking Jones, then 4 years of Mark Fox culminating in a 3 win season, worst record in Cal history and worst record in the NCAA, with the lowest scoring team in all of college basketball.