If Bill Self wasn't already in Holder's pocket then why did we fire Sean? It sets a dangerous precedent and puts unnecessary pressure on the next head coach. This may be horrible. For him and for OSU I hope the next coach is phenomenal.

It's really hard to tell your fan base "We want the Ferarri" and then have to drive the Volvo home. Holder hasn't met a PR situation he couldn't screw up yet.

Regardless of what was going on with Sean 'off the court', it has been well documented the Holder-Sutton FAMILY relationship was non-existent, Strike #1. The bending of Holder's ear from supporters of OSU, alums, including people that have not, nor ever will, forgive Eddie for his embarrassing exit. The shadow of Eddie Sutton, Strike #2. The team this season was average at best. This bunch of Pokes were the least talented they've had in several seasons. Eddie's coaching genius, and admit it, he had it, was able to get much more out of a marginal team. Sean didn't have that ability, but the Poke nation still expected it, Lofty Expectations, Strike #3, Sean's out as head coach.

Bill Self would never leave Kansas for OSU, alum or not. It would be the equivalent of Bob Stoops taking the Iowa job if it were available. He's perfect for KU. He fits right in with the wonderful Kansas fans and residents. He has that laid back, friendly sincere like for people. A perfect fit, and he knows that KU won't ever run him off.

I hate to say I was right, but... I was right. But this isn't a disaster. It's not even an out yet, to keep with the baseball theme.

This is more of a strike one. Holder didn't swing at it (didn't offer money), but it's still a strike. Someone has to convince OSU people that at this very moment in time OSU is NOT a desitination coaching job for the better part of the nation's coaching elite. That's not to say it won't be. It's just not right now.

I said it before, so I'll say it again. OSU would be better served to hire someone who's been successful at a "lesser" school and/or in a "lesser" conference than OSU and the Big 12, respectively.

I have to give OSU fan credit for shooting for the moon, though. All I wish is that they'd have been a little more realistic as a whole on the prospect of Self than they were, as gauged by their comments on this website. The incessant rants about it being a done deal and how great it will be began to get a little old.

OSU has the pull to make a nice hire. Given time, that nice hire can make OSU the destination location many OSU fans seem to think it already is. The only problem is, will the administration allow ample time for this to happen?

Holder (& Pickens): make a value hire, save your millions for incentives based on performance, and GROW the program. You have to walk before you can run.

You're. Not. Kansas. Yet.

Sean Sutton got fired because he did not win enough games. Period. There is no way Self would go from Kansas to OSU. If a high school basketball player had to choose from OSU or Kansas, which one would he pick? Answer: Kansas.

If what we read is true, looks like Holder should be fired for gross negligence and incompetence. His heart is broken, boo hoo, and he hasn't given a second thought to who to contact for the position or how to go about it. More crap out of the mouth of Mike Holder.

Holder didn't talk money or contract details with Self???? What the heck did he think he could do, just ask him if wants to come back to OSU. I.m sure Self was professional in his response but he had to be thinking to himself - what kind of baffoon is this guy? I've got the best job in college basketball right now and this guy comes in here totally unprepared to make me an offer and he expects me to just say OK??? OSU is in deep trouble with Holder.

I wonder how Pickens made all his money if he hires guys like Holder to help him run his companies.

First, everybody gets this record Sean had very skewed. The problem wasn't the overall record. It was the fact it digressed so horribly from the first season to the next. Had he finished 17-16 the 1st year and then pulled out 20+ wins the 2nd, things probably would have been different. Second, his record wasn't the only reason he got fired. Look at the off court issues, the lack of discipline and chemistry, bad judgement in recruits, and whether people know it or not, the circus mess that was the coaching staff. These were the bigger factors in his departure.

Even though Self is no longer an option, OSU can absolutely still hit a triple (ugh, sorry for continuing the over-used baseball analogies). If they can land either Jamie Dixon from Pitt, Calipari from Memphis, or Bruce Pearl from Tennessee (all of which are showing interest) they will make a significant upgrade. My vote is for Dixon.

What about you Pick? Who do you think fits best of any of the candidates in the search?

Arthur, first I happen to know for a FACT that at least 3 of the 5 OUGENO's reasons are absolutely true. Second, yes, all coaches have behavior problems...but with nearly every one of your recruited players? All in two seasons? Count the discipline issues. Mario Boggan, David Monds, Gary Flowers, Roderick Flemings, Marcus Dove, Terrel Harris, Obi Muenelo, Byron Eaton (the weight). All of these players had off-court issues that stemmed because Sean could not control his players. That's the simple truth no matter how you want to spin it.

Yes he lost 2/3 of his scoring. But guess what. That's college basketball! Self is about to lose AT LEAST 6 of his best players! Do you think KU is going to settle for a 17 win season? Great coaches coach great. They utilize what they have and make it work. Sean had 2 McDonald's All-Americans, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the year, and 2 other 4 star recruits with experience on the team. How is finishing with 17 wins acceptable under those conditions?

Mike,

List some sources. Two different players told me this. I listened to the Sean Sutton show religiously. You are doing nothing more than spewing hateful, angry rumors that are no more founded than me saying you are an OU fan because you are bashing an OSU alum. You say you know "for a fact" but yet don't cite any reason you know these things. I actually have mutual friends with the players.

Also, WE ARE NOT KANSAS!!!!!!!! Kansas is in the argument for a top-5 school and we're barely in the argument for a top-10. There is a HUGE recruiting edge at these schools
FACT: OSU has had only three McDonald's all Americans. KU has had more than 24. KU will do well because they have a gigantic talent edge. Even with a great recruiting coach it will still be that way because KU has much more of a winning history than we do.

Kansas I'm sure will be ok with a 22 win season next season and a first round loss. Nobody likes a rebuilding year. We had a knee jerk reaction to a rebuilding year that we didn't expect.

Also, if you really don't think that the things our kids got in trouble for aren't things that nearly all college athletes do, you need to take off the rose colored glasses. The world isn't that neat and clean. Most underage athletes try to get into bars. Many underage athletes smoke weed. Eaton also lost about 40 pounds because of Sean's influence.

Lastly, even if you see a 17 win record as deplorable two years is seen as ridiculously short. Nobody likes rebuilding, but firing a coach after two years is something only schools like Kentucky do. We don't even come close to that kind of school. We all want to see OSU back in the national spotlight, but it would have been better to give Sean at least on more year. There would have been no excuses. He should have gotten us at least to the second round of the tournament. If Holder would have given him one more year, there wouldn't be this controversy and we wouldn't have lost the Sutton's.

Woah there Arthur, take it easy. First off, I am an OSU fan. This is neither hateful nor rumor laced. My sources are just as close as yours are including former players and current coaches. That is why I know for a fact that reasons 1, 2, and 5 of OUGENOS are true.

2nd, you are right. OSU is not Kansas. But that type of mentality is why OSU will stay below Kansas. We need to step up the standard. And don't tell me that we can't recruit like Kansas. Three years ago we had the #1 recruiting class in the nation so that is definitely not an excuse.

3rd, I agree that college athletes do those things all over the nation. But not entire teams in different instances all in the same calendar year! Obi, Terrel, and Dove all got in trouble for alcohol related reasons in THE SAME SUMMER! At what point does a coach put everyone on lock down? By the way, Eaton weighed 195 lbs when he came to OSU. While at OSU is when he ballooned up to 235. So don't say that we need to give credit to Sean for having him drop 40 lbs that he should have never put on in the first place had he had the right discipline. By the way, he is still at least 10 lbs over weight.

Finally, on Sean getting another year. We'll never know if he would have brought them back to the NCAA tourney. Maybe so, maybe no. But in the end, Holder made the tough choice based on all the things that had happened during Sean's tenure. The guy could not handle being a head coach in a power conference. He was pale white, sweating profusely, and nearly fainting in every game. Try to see this objectively, Arthur. If his name wasn't Sutton, would you have such a beef?

I love the university, more so than any coach, and that's where I'm coming from.

Listen, people, this is getting nutty fast.

Will somebody please answer this question with a definitive, factual answer:

Why was Sean Sutton fired?

Chris, I don't understand two things:

Why was Sean fired?

Why wouldn't you talk money with Self?