Big East Commissioner Does Not Think Much of Rutgers' Basketball Performance

Mike Tranghese may be the outgoing Big East Commissioner, but that only seems to have liberated him. When asked asked about Rutgers basketball, he did not speak vaguely of how a team is trying to get better and that he believes a coach can get the job done, as he has done in the past. Instead, he was a little less warm and fuzzy on the subject of Scarlet Knight hoops.

"If you don't win, you're going to make changes. Our coaches are being paid a significant amount of money. This is a hard league to coach in, but I don't see any administration staying with any coach for a long period of time when they are winning zero, one, two three or four games."

Turning to the subject of head coach Fred Hill.

Tranghese was more blunt when asked whether Hill needed more time to get things done.

"You know, I did last year," Tranghese said. "I like him and you know, Freddy turned his roster over this year. He probably has one of the three or four best freshman in our league playing -- and a lot of people don't know about him, Mike Rosario -- and he's got a good recruiting class.

"But the problem is as you turn over and turn over, like Norm Roberts has that same issue at St. John's and Freddy's got it at Rutgers and now Jerry (Wainwright) has it at DePaul, fans don't care anymore. We live in this age of instant gratification. They want wins. And I think if Freddy were here, Freddy would tell you. I've talked to Freddy a couple of times during the year -- he understands that next year he's going to have to win more games."

It would seem like a toss-up as to whether Hill would get that fourth year. In his three years at Rutgers he has gone 31-56. This season, the Scarlet Knights have only won a single game in the Big East. The previous two seasons, Rutgers has only won a total of six Big East games.

The blame on former coach Gary Waters only carries so far. Rutgers has recruited well, but they are simply not well-coached or have shown improvement.

The chances are that Hill will get one more season. Rutgers just made their hire of a new Athletic Director. While it would be a heck of a way to make a splash and a change, it does not seem likely. In addition to being new on the job, Tim Pernetti, has to deal with the economics of the situation. The Rutgers Athletic Department has budget concerns and Hill had his contract extended after last season. It seems unlikely right now that Rutgers could afford to pay off Hill for a few years and go out and hire someone else.