Not sure that's fair. You mentioned Hobbs looking into a Tom Izzo assistant who's never led a program let alone post 20-win seasons at two spots.
After "established" guys, he's a great choice but I understand why people have reservations because of his temperament. He would need to work on that.
Rhode Island's having good season when you consider their injuries.
I also understand people will see what they want in a candidate, and the Hurley name divides a lot people in New Jersey. A first time HC over Hurley, however, would be foolish and unnecessary.
Want to land Amaker, Sendek, Lonergan or Greenberg first? I'm fine with it.
But you won't see a coach who's as good a fit from the non-P5 conferences. Mark Schmidt does a great job at St. Bonaventure but I'd worry about him being an outsider and not as good of a recruiter.
And if you remember, I gave reasons why he wouldn't be a slam dunk hire and making RU a winner, the shape it is now and how bad it has been, probably would be to much for a first time HC .
I posted his name in light of how Hobbs went the assistant route instead of a up and coming mid major HC when he hired Ash.
The difference, I know, is the shape RU MBB is and how RU FB is.
One needs an upgrade in how the program is run by the HC and the other a total rebuild.
Needless to say, the total rebuild shouldn't be trusted to a HC that doesn't have HCing experience. Also shouldn't be trusted to a HC that really hasn't shown much after taking over a fairly good program that had a terrible year that was the reason he was hired.
3 years before having a good season then regressed the next isn't a ringing endorsement for anyone that has to do what it takes to fix the RU MBB program.
In a pinch that person might be hired or an assistant like I mentioned . Either way I would support them or if one of the were hired or whoever Hobbs brings in for the job.
I wouldn't look for reasons, like I'm doing now, why they would fail, but would look for the reasons why they would succeed.