Mike Anderson's Curious Hiring Has Ended Predictably

Former Razorbacks coach met same fate in New York as Arkansas not for being bad guy.

(David Butler II / USA TODAY Sports)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The news Friday that former Arkansas coach Mike Anderson was fired after four seasons at St. John's wasn't surprising.

The rumor had been out there for days.

Anderson, who was 68-56 over four seasons with the Red Storm, never got to the NCAA Tournament, which made it easy to send a coach packing that really never had the personality to sell a program in New York City.

That's why it was a strange hire in the first place after Razorbacks athletic director Hunter Yurachek cut him loose here.

In college basketball these days you better have some pop and sizzle to get the attention. Anderson never brought that and had no ties to the New York area, which is almsot a requirement to have any type of success there.

His replacement? It's expected to be Rick Pitino, who has some pop and sizzle to go along with some baggage from the past he'll carry around forever.

Considering Pitino has coached just about everywhere else (including Kentucky and Louisville ... imagine that combination) it makes about as much sense as anything else.

Anderson previously spent eight seasons at Arkansas, five at Missouri and four at UAB and has a career 437-256 record as a head coach.

HOGS FEED:

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LATE SHOT BY NICK SMITH HELPS HOGS AVOID SEC TOURNEY DISASTER

PITTMAN BEGINS SPRING PRACTICE AS TRUE HEAD COACH FOR FIRST TIME

HOW LONG CAN ARKANSAS USE THE FRANK BROYLES ERA TO BOOST ITS SUCCESS IMAGE?

DO THESE RAZORBACKS STARS WANT TO BE LEGENDS OR QUICKLY FORGOTTEN?

TAUREAN CARTER MAY BE LIMITED, BUT HE WILL BE ON FIELD THIS SPRING

PITTMAN SPEAKS FOR FIRST TIME AS SPRING PRACTICE LOOMS

IF ESPN DOESN'T PAY, SEC WILL MAKE SURE ARKANSAS DOES

PITTMAN MAY LAUD PROPOSED SCHEDULE WHILE SABAN WHINES

LOOKING AT RAZORBACKS' ROSTER AHEAD OF SPRING PRACTICE STARTING THIS WEEK

NO LEGIT TEAM IS GETTING WORKED UP ABOUT WINNING SEC TOURNAMENT

NICK SMITH SAYS HOGS NEED TO BE BACK IN GYM IMMEDIATELY FOXING PROBLEMS

REGULAR SEASON MERCIFULLY ENDS FOR RAZORBACKS, MUSSELMAN

SEC BASKETBALL STANDINGS

FAYETTEVILLE WEATHER UPDATE

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