Official 2010-11 College Basketball Thread

[MrBug708]

If he ends up at Missouri, I wonder how long they can keep him?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

We'll only know if this rumor is true if it happens. Rumored that Josh Kroenke has given Alden the extra money to offer Brad Stevens a 7 year, $21M contract once the season is over. Not terribly surprising given that Josh was the one that gave the extra money to extend the offer to Painter up to $2.3M. Always nice to have a former player with a large amount of money in these situations.

[Young Drachma]

Incompatible Browser | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=192664810769084&id=181842358517996)

Just because they've inquired doesn't mean he's accepted. I mean, damn. Can't the dude get home and breathe first? He'll be leaving a lot of money on the table to just wait. But if he's the real deal, it seems to me that waiting might be in his best interest.

I think with his wife being pregnant with their first kid and the fact that they bought a house in Richmond will factor into this. Plus, VCU is talking $1m total compensation. If Mizzou is only talking $1.3 to $1.7m, coupled with a fan base who are going to be split at best on his arrival...I dunno.

I can see take the money and run, but he's not a 50-year old dude who won't get another crack at it. He's not even 35 yet. Just seems hasty to just go for the sake of going. Stock hot or not. Just hire IMG like Stevens did, hit the speaking circuit and maybe get a few endorsements here and there and just wait for a better opportunity to open up.

I guess we'll see what it looks like sooner than later.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Incompatible Browser | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=192664810769084&id=181842358517996)

Just because they've inquired doesn't mean he's accepted. I mean, damn. Can't the dude get home and breathe first? He'll be leaving a lot of money on the table to just wait. But if he's the real deal, it seems to me that waiting might be in his best interest.

I think with his wife being pregnant with their first kid and the fact that they bought a house in Richmond will factor into this. Plus, VCU is talking $1m total compensation. If Mizzou is only talking $1.3 to $1.7m, coupled with a fan base who are going to be split at best on his arrival...I dunno.

I can see take the money and run, but he's not a 50-year old dude who won't get another crack at it. He's not even 35 yet. Just seems hasty to just go for the sake of going. Stock hot or not. Just hire IMG like Stevens did, hit the speaking circuit and maybe get a few endorsements here and there and just wait for a better opportunity to open up.

I guess we'll see what it looks like sooner than later.

1. He's going to get a chance to breathe. He'll be attending his grandfather's funeral. (insert your Mizzou funeral jokes here)

2. He's not going to get a better chance to jump than right now. There are two very good BCS opportunities available right now (Mizzou and NC State). He can play these two schools against each other. The guaranteed money is likely to be $1.7M at a minimum.

3. Mizzou has the added incentive that they already have a veteran core of players in place for next year that have played in a system very similar to what he runs. He could hit the ground running with the players available.

4. Not sure where you get the information that the fan base is split. Most fans are very excited about the prospect of having Smart just because the transition between coaches would be minimal due to system.

[MrBug708]

He'd be smart to wait to see what Calipari does, which is a pretty big wildcard here. He won't make a move til later in the year and Kentucky will likely look at both of these coaches if that does happen.

Pretty sure that Stevens rumor is just that.

[panerd]

We'll only know if this rumor is true if it happens. Rumored that Josh Kroenke has given Alden the extra money to offer Brad Stevens a 7 year, $21M contract once the season is over. Not terribly surprising given that Josh was the one that gave the extra money to extend the offer to Painter up to $2.3M. Always nice to have a former player with a large amount of money in these situations.

Do you mean Stan Kroenke? Josh is only like 20 something isn't he?

[Radii]

He'd be smart to wait to see what Calipari does, which is a pretty big wildcard here. He won't make a move til later in the year and Kentucky will likely look at both of these coaches if that does happen


Are there Calipari to the NBA rumors going around or something? I haven't heard anything about him but I haven't been looking either...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Are there Calipari to the NBA rumors going around or something? I haven't heard anything about him but I haven't been looking either...

It's kind of an annual event I think. Knicks & Heat mostly I think. Here's some UK linkage that covers it a little bit.

Calipari To The NBA: Let The Rumors Begin (http://www.nationofblue.com/calipari-nba-let-rumors-begin-6427/)

[sterlingice]

It's kind of an annual event I think. Knicks & Heat mostly I think. Here's some UK linkage that covers it a little bit.

Calipari To The NBA: Let The Rumors Begin (http://www.nationofblue.com/calipari-nba-let-rumors-begin-6427/)

Yeah, but then he'd be under a salary cap when he was signing players :p

SI

[Young Drachma]

VCU AD says he hasn't heard from anyone.

Athletic director Norwood Teague said in a text message Sunday that neither North Carolina State nor Missouri, both looking for head coaches, have contacted him about talking to Smart.

Run was historic; will it cost VCU Shaka? - NCAA - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/wires/04/03/2060.ap.bkc.vcu.wrapup.2nd.ld.writethru.0900/)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Do you mean Stan Kroenke? Josh is only like 20 something isn't he?

No, I'm talking about Josh Kroenke. He's the current president of a club called the Denver Nuggets.

[Radii]

It's kind of an annual event I think. Knicks & Heat mostly I think. Here's some UK linkage that covers it a little bit.

Calipari To The NBA: Let The Rumors Begin (http://www.nationofblue.com/calipari-nba-let-rumors-begin-6427/)


My assumption is that he needs a couple more years to build up some good violations before he goes to the NBA, so it would really surprise me if anything happened this year. It'd be hilarious though.

[sterlingice]

The violations or the bolting to the NBA?

SI

[Young Drachma]

Do you mean Stan Kroenke? Josh is only like 20 something isn't he?

He's 30. And yeah, his dad gave him the keys to the family franchises (http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15248123). Dad bought the Rams and in order to do so, he had to divest his ownership in the Nuggets and Avs to follow NFL rules.

[Radii]

The violations or the bolting to the NBA?

Hah! Bolting to the NBA. Whenever reports start coming out about Kentucky/Calipari recruiting violations it will be anything but a surprise.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Looks like Mizzou may have a hire. Board of Curators meeting scheduled during the NCAA championship game tomorrow night. Only reason they'd be meeting would be to approve a contract offer. Word passing around is that it's a 'current head coach'. Sounds like MU passed on Smart and NC State is pursuing him hard.

[jbergey22]

Probably the coach of the winner of the National Championship game gets to be the next coach for Missouri.

[JPhillips]

Probably the coach of the winner of the National Championship game gets to be the next coach for Missouri.

I wish there was a like button.

[Swaggs]

Sounds like MU passed on Smart and NC State is pursuing him hard.

Or Smart passed on MU.

[Swaggs]

Sounds like Tubby passed on Mizzou, too.

Report: Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith declined to pursue Missouri job - TwinCities.com (http://www.twincities.com/ci_17763991?nclick_check=1)

[MJ4H]

Sports by Brooks:

Multiple sources confirmed to me Sunday evening that University of Miami basketball coach Frank Haith is in negotiations with the University of Missouri to become its next basketball coach.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

It's kind of an annual event I think. Knicks & Heat mostly I think. Here's some UK linkage that covers it a little bit.

Calipari To The NBA: Let The Rumors Begin (http://www.nationofblue.com/calipari-nba-let-rumors-begin-6427/)
no shit. i was just talking about this. cal's like the vigilante ceo that comes in raises prices, fires everybody and the stock doubles in a year. then cashes his options and slides out the back door as the company goes belly up.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Sports by Brooks:

Multiple sources confirmed to me Sunday evening that University of Miami basketball coach Frank Haith is in negotiations with the University of Missouri to become its next basketball coach.

If Brooks had got a single thing right since the Anderson fiasco started, someone might listen. He's already admitted he thinks he's receiving misdirection indirectly on most of his information. Kind of hard to take a guy seriously who doesn't even believe his own leaks.

[Radii]

If Brooks had got a single thing right since the Anderson fiasco started, someone might listen. He's already admitted he thinks he's receiving misdirection indirectly on most of his information. Kind of hard to take a guy seriously who doesn't even believe his own leaks.

dear god the irony is killing me :D

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

dear god the irony is killing me :D

I can tell you one thing. If it IS true, Alden likely made his last hire as the AD of Missouri. He'll be gone quickly. Likely as soon as the university hires their next president.

Edit: Here's a local article. There's going to be a hailstorm from alumni to try to get this stopped by the Board of Curators vote if this holds up through the morning. Goodness me.

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/apr/03/haith-agrees-principle-take-missouri-job/?tigerextra

[jbergey22]

I can tell you one thing. If it IS true, Alden likely made his last hire as the AD of Missouri. He'll be gone quickly. Likely as soon as the university hires their next president.

Well he is going to have to hire someone. It doesnt appear there is as much interest in the Mizzou job as some people may think.

Is he suppose to hold out on hopes that Rick Patino jumps ship from Louisville and decides he wants a new challenge at Missouri?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Well he is going to have to hire someone. It doesnt appear there is as much interest in the Mizzou job as some people may think.

Is he suppose to hold out on hopes that Rick Patino jumps ship from Louisville and decides he wants a new challenge at Missouri?

Missouri has facilities that rival most any program. If you have to hire a coach who has only one .500 record in conference in seven seasons and has never had less than 11 losses in a season, it's obvious that the program isn't the problem. It's the AD. There were rumors that Painter had reservations about the Mizzou program due to previous dealings by the AD that were passed amongst the coaching circles. You've got to wonder if this hire goes through whether our AD is the real problem here.

[Young Drachma]

Missouri has facilities that rival most any program. If you have to hire a coach who has only one .500 record in conference in seven seasons and has never had less than 11 losses in a season, it's obvious that the program isn't the problem. It's the AD. There were rumors that Painter had reservations about the Mizzou program due to previous dealings by the AD that were passed amongst the coaching circles. You've got to wonder if this hire goes through whether our AD is the real problem here.

Maybe people are just happy where they are? I mean, Columbia isn't exactly Malibu.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I mean, Columbia isn't exactly Malibu.

And that's a good thing.

[Lathum]

Sources: Miami's Frank Haith agrees to coach Missouri - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6288358)

pretty underwhelming

[Izulde]

I've heard a few places that Bobby Knight inquired about the UNLV job, but UNLV told him no. Although it would have been cool, I think that's the smart move.

[molson]

Who knows. I wonder what the difference is between these coaches outside of the elite top anyway. Haith has been steady at a place where basketball is an afterthought. In theory, he would win even more at a place with better facilities/prestige/recruiting advantage. How can we so definitely compare him to Painter or Anderson or anyone else?

Here's hoping the alumni base freaks the hell out, Haith succeeds, and then all the alumni claim they knew it was a great hire all along.

[jbergey22]

My sources tell me that Alford never has had any interest in Missouri:)

MU talked to Tubby; Alford denies contact (http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/tiger-tracker/article_e08cfbf6-5da6-11e0-89d1-0019bb30f31a.html)

[Karlifornia]

And that's a good thing.

Yes...Malibu sucks! I want some o' dat Missouri Pinot!

[DeToxRox]

Sports by Brooks
Alden elected not to wait for a possible chance to talk to Shaka Smart. Mizzou sources tell me that Alden had no interest in bidding against NC State for Smart's services. A Big 10 head coach told me tonight Alden's search was hindered by a perception that he was lowballing candidates.

[jbergey22]

I can see cartman at the bottom of the screen shaking about this potential hire.

[cartman]

Good to see the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporting information a day or two after I posted it on this board.

Mizzou likes Mike, prepares deal to keep him (http://www.stltoday.com/sports/article_28525b44-53f6-11e0-b074-00127992bc8b.html)

I actually feel somewhat bad for the Arkansas fans in this situation. They were sold a bill of goods by UA alumni and media who thought they knew what was going on when they didn't have a clue. There wasn't a lick of interest by Anderson. Welcome to the business of college athletics.

If UA is smart, they'll let MU put out a 'MA has been signed to an extension' press release and just pretend that they never made an attempt. It would appear that the pretending has already begun if the connected UA posters are already acting like a contract never happened. I know without question that MA was offered a 5 year, $10M contract through his agent. As I mentioned before, they got a polite 'no' and little else.

Absolutely thrilled with how our AD is handling both the Anderson situation and the new hire. Still points to a Painter hire sooner rather than later. Surprised how easily Purdue is willing to let him go, but it sounds like Painter was pretty pissed when Crean got a better offer than he did. Even Purdue fans are posting on both Purdue and Mizzou message boards that Painter is likely gone.

Missouri has facilities that rival most any program. If you have to hire a coach who has only one .500 record in conference in seven seasons and has never had less than 11 losses in a season, it's obvious that the program isn't the problem. It's the AD. There were rumors that Painter had reservations about the Mizzou program due to previous dealings by the AD that were passed amongst the coaching circles. You've got to wonder if this hire goes through whether our AD is the real problem here.

ROFL

Do you use this bullshit to feed the grapes, or are you too wrapped up in playing "Scooby Doo and the Case of the Bride in the Haunted Wine Cellar" to realize that you are an utter fraud?

[Karlifornia]

Let's face it guys, if John Wooden wouldn't re-animate for the Missouri job, then he deserves to be dead.

[MrBug708]

dear god the irony is killing me :D

Why? Brooks doesn't believe, that's the difference :)

[DeToxRox]

Rumor is KSU's Frank Martin considers Miami his dream job because he's from there. Would be a trade up for the U.

[MrBug708]

This reminds me of Trent Johnson leaving for LSU to avoid being fired (That was for you Karl)

[JonInMiddleGA]

And I thought GT shit the bed when hiring.

If this news/rumor holds up, Mizzou's AD just made Mike Hamilton look like a relative genius in Knoxville.

[Karlifornia]

This reminds me of Trent Johnson leaving for LSU to avoid being fired (That was for you Karl)

Ugh...still have no idea what really led to that chain of events. All I know is everyone wound up losing.

[wade moore]

I LOVE THIS THREAD!

Seriously. Constantly delivering.

[TroyF]

If Brooks had got a single thing right since the Anderson fiasco started, someone might listen. He's already admitted he thinks he's receiving misdirection indirectly on most of his information. Kind of hard to take a guy seriously who doesn't even believe his own leaks.

I rarely, if ever, get speechless. After reading this, followed by the shredding of the AD who was praised so much before. . . wow. just wow.

Wonderful hire by the way.

[Logan]

I woke up this morning, saw the news scrolling on MSG, and just COULD NOT WAIT to get into work so I could read this thread. And the bullshit was even better than I expected!

I want this thread pinned for posterity.

[Butter]

University of Dayton hires former NC State point guard, and current Arizona assistant coach Archie Miller to be their 6th head coach in the last 60 years.

Archie Miller is Sean's brother, and UD fans are pretty happy about this hire. The guy looks like he is about 20 years old, but with Sean's track record and the early talk about his style of play, I think it was a good hire and the message boards seem pretty happy about it with about 90% of boarders giving it an A or B.

UD as a stepping stone to a major conference job... it has worked for Xavier and frankly that continues to be the model team that we have been trying to emulate without success for 15 years now. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with the talent we have left... frankly, if we have enough success that in 2-3 years Archie is moving on, that means we have had some tournament success that we haven't had since 1984.

That said, I would MUCH rather have Archie Miller than Frank Haith. Jesus, what a horrible hire that guy is.

[Ksyrup]

Word passing around is that it's a 'current head coach'.

Spot on as always.

[panerd]

Have to admit the Mizzou hire is pretty underwhelming. I am under no delusion that it is anybody's dream job by any stretch of the imagination but at least go with an unproven mid-major coach instead of a ACC retread. (Nobody knew who Gary Pinkel was at the time) I will obviously support the coach and won't act like Smart or Stevens or Calipari or any othr big name was even considering Mizzou. Alden has done well with Pinkel and Anderson so I am willing to give him some leeway here but I have to say again this is pretty underwhelming.

[MJ4H]

I guess SBB should've listened to the Missouri sources so he could finally get something right.

(btw He said he wasn't going to report anything until he was sure since he was receiving so much misdirection. Then he reported this. And he was dead on.)

[Swaggs]

If Miami ends up with Frank Martin, I think they end up the winner in all of this Anderson-Mizzou-centric mess.

[Izulde]

Latest news on the UNLV search: Apparently it's Dave Rice's if he wants it. I think this is a combination of A) Rice being a likely cheaper hire than Reggie Theus (In case you haven't notice, we're in a major financial crisis here, with 33 degree programs on the chopping block if Sandoval's proposed cuts go through) and B) the instant pipeline to national powerhouse Bishop Gorman, where his brother is head coach.

I still think Theus is the better overall coach, but I can see where Rice makes a ton of sense.

[MrBug708]

Rice would be a good hire, but you aren't getting Shabazz :)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Will be an interesting meeting tonight.

Curator: Board will have 'a lot of questions' about Haith (http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/tiger-tracker/article_cc3c0c30-5ecf-11e0-9c5c-001a4bcf6878.html)

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

While that source seems legit, I think I'll wait to see what Brooks' take on it is.

[MJ4H]

lol

[Logan]

Will one of the questions raised be "Who keeps making us look like a bunch of jackasses on the internet?"

[Young Drachma]

CBS Sports and less truthy internet sources reporting that Shaka Smart isn't entertaining NC State and will stay at VCU. I don't think that's shocking at all, really.

[TroyF]

Will be an interesting meeting tonight.

Curator: Board will have 'a lot of questions' about Haith (http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/tiger-tracker/article_cc3c0c30-5ecf-11e0-9c5c-001a4bcf6878.html)


OK, let us all assume the meeting goes horribly tonight and the curators do not approve the hire.

Now what? What coach in their right mind decides to speak to Missouri? It's a disjointed mess at this point. If I'm the AD, I have a fairly short response tonight. If you don't trust me to hire coaches, fire me and put in someone who can.

[MJ4H]

I'm sure I know what the response to that would be. Or should be.

[molson]

OK, let us all assume the meeting goes horribly tonight and the curators do not approve the hire.



If by assume you mean hope, I'm right there with ya. I'm not ready for the Missouri drama to end!

[TroyF]

I'm sure I know what the response to that would be. Or should be.


I think I know what it would be too. But if it's me, that's the response I give.

[MJ4H]

Yeah I think you have to say that.

[JonInMiddleGA]

If I'm the AD, I have a fairly short response tonight. If you don't trust me to hire coaches, fire me and put in someone who can.

If they override/block him on this, I'd say the negotiations for his termination would already be underway at that point.

[Swaggs]

What exactly would happen if the board of curators does not approve the deal?

Wouldn't Haith be able to sue the everloving bejesus out of them?

[cartman]

If they override/block him on this, I'd say the negotiations for his termination would already be underway at that point.

If he is terminated, my sources are saying that David Stern, Roger Goodell, Jacques Rogge and Sepp Blatter are the leading candidates to be the next AD.

[JonInMiddleGA]

If he is terminated, my sources are saying that David Stern, Roger Goodell, Jacques Rogge and Sepp Blatter are the leading candidates to be the next AD.

Please.

Those are strictly Plan B in case they're turned down by Kennesaw Mountain Landis.

(sorry, I couldn't resist)

[Butter]

CBS Sports and less truthy internet sources reporting that Shaka Smart isn't entertaining NC State and will stay at VCU. I don't think that's shocking at all, really.

Have to wonder now if they wouldn't have rather have had Archie Miller, since he played there, now that Shaka has turned them down. Where do they go now? Do they really take one of the Duke assistants? I can't see that happening.

[Young Drachma]

Have to wonder now if they wouldn't have rather have had Archie Miller, since he played there, now that Shaka has turned them down. Where do they go now? Do they really take one of the Duke assistants? I can't see that happening.

Yeah, I hope Yow had some backups on speed dial. The reputation of that job is making it a hard sell. Reiterates that the money isn't everything and I think the coaching field is littered with enough former coaches that young assistants could get that point.

[MizzouRah]

Have to admit the Mizzou hire is pretty underwhelming. I am under no delusion that it is anybody's dream job by any stretch of the imagination but at least go with an unproven mid-major coach instead of a ACC retread. (Nobody knew who Gary Pinkel was at the time) I will obviously support the coach and won't act like Smart or Stevens or Calipari or any othr big name was even considering Mizzou. Alden has done well with Pinkel and Anderson so I am willing to give him some leeway here but I have to say again this is pretty underwhelming.

Totall agree Panerd... ugh...

[digamma]

What exactly would happen if the board of curators does not approve the deal?

Wouldn't Haith be able to sue the everloving bejesus out of them?

His offer was probably contingent on curator approval.

But it does seem like a pretty backwards way to do things, particularly in today's media cycle. Get your board approval, make your offer. Doing it the other way is a PR disaster.

[Young Drachma]

Shaka Smart has deal to remain at Virginia Commonwealth - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6290035)

ESPN making it official.

[DeToxRox]

So it's that time where Rumors about Cal wanting to go back to the NBA are starting. It won't most likely happen but let's say it did. Who would end up at Kentucky? I could see that being the place Brad Stevens ends up since it's still close to Indiana and they would make him perhaps the highest paid coach in the game.

[Butter]

I think Kentucky probably wants Frank Haith, that's why Mizzou had to step up and get him. Genius move by the AD, frankly.

[Young Drachma]

So it's that time where Rumors about Cal wanting to go back to the NBA are starting. It won't most likely happen but let's say it did. Who would end up at Kentucky? I could see that being the place Brad Stevens ends up since it's still close to Indiana and they would make him perhaps the highest paid coach in the game.

Don't see it. I don't think he wants to be close to Indiana. I think he wants to stay in Indianapolis, period.

[DeToxRox]

Don't see it. I don't think he wants to be close to Indiana. I think he wants to stay in Indianapolis, period.

Yes, and it's possible Crean gets fired after this year but if he has any success at all this year he will be in for a long haul because of the insane talent coming into the program. I think if Kentucky came calling it would be hard to turn down.

[Ksyrup]

FWIW - not that I know anybody or care all that much about basketball - but I'm hearing zero talk in Lexington about Cal leaving, or even rumors of him leaving. I think if there was even the smallest bit of smoke beyond a general feeling that Cal eventually wants to go back to the NBA at some point before he retires, the paranoia would start to set it pretty quickly.

[DeToxRox]

Yeah the rumors are coming from the New York Daily News. Same place the called the Painter to Mizzou thing IIRC. So not much credibility right now.

Source: Calipari Wants Return To NBA

Kentucky coach John Calipari recently left the distinct impression that, although he is recruiting and conducting business as usual, he "wants back in" the NBA, a source told the Daily News.

Calipari's stock has risen in recent seasons among more than a few GMs, and he has close ties to William Wesley, the Creative Artists Agency powerbroker who has an in with several teams.

Kentucky reached the Final Four this season.
Via Mitch Lawrence/New York Daily News

[dawgfan]

Yes, and it's possible Crean gets fired after this year but if he has any success at all this year he will be in for a long haul because of the insane talent coming into the program. I think if Kentucky came calling it would be hard to turn down.
Would it? Let's assume for a moment that Stevens is a clean coach (or as clean as Division 1 coaches get) - would Kentucky be a place in which he'd feel comfortable? There's a not insignificant chance that Kentucky will be in line for more penalties from stuff that's happened under Calipari, so he might be stepping into a program that's on the verge of probation and penalties.

And let's face it, there's a long history of violations at Kentucky - who's to say that rogue boosters might not undermine Stevens and get the program in trouble again?

One of the appealing things about Indiana is that Knight, for all his faults, ran a clean program, and there's likely far less of a culture of wanting to cheat to get ahead around the Hoosier boosters.

Of course, if Stevens isn't clean, all bets are off.

[MrBug708]

So it's that time where Rumors about Cal wanting to go back to the NBA are starting. It won't most likely happen but let's say it did. Who would end up at Kentucky? I could see that being the place Brad Stevens ends up since it's still close to Indiana and they would make him perhaps the highest paid coach in the game.

Sean Miller

[dawgfan]

CBS Sports and less truthy internet sources reporting that Shaka Smart isn't entertaining NC State and will stay at VCU. I don't think that's shocking at all, really.
Interesting. Holding out for other, better openings this season, or rolling the dice that he'll still be a hot commodity next year?

Either way, has to be a letdown for NC State fans.

[Young Drachma]

Yes, and it's possible Crean gets fired after this year but if he has any success at all this year he will be in for a long haul because of the insane talent coming into the program. I think if Kentucky came calling it would be hard to turn down.

I think after back to back national championship games and more than a puncher's chance at a national title tonight, there's absolutely no reason to go anywhere else. Even if he's been lucky to do it, the only reason to go would be money. And it's clear from hearing the guy talk, he's not like the mercenaries that have been out there on the coaching scene.

Smart and Stevens are different than a lot of these career assistants who get mid-major jobs in their mid-to-late 30s and then are ready to cash in by their 40s. They're both guys who got their first job in their early 30s. Smart obviously slogged as an assistant at several places, but he did so in his 20s.

Stevens spent a few years at the same school which enabled him to get tapped for the head job because of the relationships and OJT he got being there day in and day out. I think that alters the perspective of guys like them over the no-brainers of most head men who would bolt in a sec understanding the fickleness of the profession and the "fear" that you wouldn't have the same success again.

I think the only reason either would have a reason to leave would be a lack of commitment by the institution to give them the tools to be successful. In Smart's case, if his AD left and was replaced by someone he didn't work well with, you could see him going.

With Stevens, I think Butler has been building up to this point for a while. Heck the current AD is a former men's coach there. So I think the infrastructure is in place.

I think Smart is less likely to hang in Richmond forever, perhaps desiring a new challenge and waiting for the right job. But for Stevens, I just don't see any reason other than money for him to bolt and if he was interested in money, he'd never have gotten into coaching in the first place.

But a decade is a long time, so who knows what'll happen and how the landscape will change down the road for him.

[MrBug708]

I don't think Stevens will ever leave except for a handful of jobs that don't open up every year. (The usuals - UCLA, Kentucky, UNC, Duke, and Indiana)

Smart will likely wait a year and even if he doesn't make the tournament, I doubt his demand will suffer much.

[dawgfan]

DC, that's a good take on Stevens. To expand on that, I think there are a couple additional things to consider:

- On the one hand, success can be fickle, and while the Butler program has proven under multiple coaches that it can consistently win the Horizon League and make the tournament, getting to the NCAA title game is far harder; can the pieces come into place again down the road for Stevens at Butler, or has he already peaked with a special group of kids? For as much success at the school has had recently, they still don't have the cache and resources of big, blue-blood programs out there, to say nothing of the money he could be making elsewhere.

- On the other hand, it's probably sobering for Stevens to look at the career paths of Barry Collier and particularly Todd Lickliter after they left Butler and were unable to replicate their success at their new jobs.

[TroyF]

DC, that's a good take on Stevens. To expand on that, I think there are a couple additional things to consider:

- On the one hand, success can be fickle, and while the Butler program has proven under multiple coaches that it can consistently win the Horizon League and make the tournament, getting to the NCAA title game is far harder; can the pieces come into place again down the road for Stevens at Butler, or has he already peaked with a special group of kids? For as much success at the school has had recently, they still don't have the cache and resources of big, blue-blood programs out there, to say nothing of the money he could be making elsewhere.

- On the other hand, it's probably sobering for Stevens to look at the career paths of Barry Collier and particularly Todd Lickliter after they left Butler and were unable to replicate their success at their new jobs.

Regardless of what happens tonight, Stevens is going to be a legend in Indiana for the rest of his natural life. (and beyond) He could put up back to back 5 win seasons and they'd still give him a million to keep him. He will have a chance at some point to go to a bigger job if he wants to. Once he does that, he has to realize the rest will depend on success.

For security purposes alone, I'd stay at Butler for 5 or 6 more years. Then cash in with a big payday when the time is right for him and his family. (and of course, until then, money isn't going to be a concern)

[Butter]

I think Stevens may be a legend in college basketball for the rest of his life, not just Indiana. Taking a mid-major to the national title game 2 years in a row? Amazing.

If he wins tonight, they will name buildings after him.

[Young Drachma]

Joe Posnanski » Posts The Madness of March « (http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/04/03/the-madness-of-march/?eref=sihp)

[Logan]

I think Kentucky probably wants Frank Haith, that's why Mizzou had to step up and get him. Genius move by the AD, frankly.

Brilliant!

[dawgfan]

I think Stevens may be a legend in college basketball for the rest of his life, not just Indiana. Taking a mid-major to the national title game 2 years in a row? Amazing.

If he wins tonight, they will name buildings after him.
Agreed. I think Stevens can be coach-for-life at Butler at this point. My question is simply whether things will be able to come together as perfectly for him at Butler again, or if he'll eventually have to move on to a bigger program to have a chance to compete for an NCAA title annually.

[Young Drachma]

The deets on Smart's extension:

The deal is for in excess of five years and will pay Smart $1.2 million in base pay annually, a source said, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

[TroyF]

I think Stevens may be a legend in college basketball for the rest of his life, not just Indiana. Taking a mid-major to the national title game 2 years in a row? Amazing.

If he wins tonight, they will name buildings after him.


I don't disagree. Getting Butler to two straight title games is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in sports. I was just making the point he has more security at Butler than he'll have anywhere else.

[Izulde]

UNLV AD Jim Livengood and Reggie Theus talked last night. Haven't heard anything else beyond that. The Board of Regents meets Friday, and in addition to a bunch of budget/cuts stuff on the agenda, Livengood's hoping to have a recommendation for them on the men's bball coach hire.

I think most of the fanbase prefers Theus to Dave Rice, but we'd be fine with either one.

[Arles]

Sean Miller
I don't know, Miller makes over $2 mil per season guaranteed for the next 5 seasons - with an automatic option for 2 more years after that (basically a 7-year deal). If he leaves in the next 2-3 season, the buyout is somewhere near $1 million.

It's certainly possible, but given the money and job security Miller has, it would be odd to see him leave after just 2 seasons. But, you never know I guess ;)

[Arles]

UNLV AD Jim Livengood and Reggie Theus talked last night. Haven't heard anything else beyond that. The Board of Regents meets Friday, and in addition to a bunch of budget/cuts stuff on the agenda, Livengood's hoping to have a recommendation for them on the men's bball coach hire.

I think most of the fanbase prefers Theus to Dave Rice, but we'd be fine with either one.
Not sure I'd want Livengood leading the charge to replace a coach. When he was Arizona's AD in 09, he wanted Tim Floyd (even with the red flags) over Sean Miller. :banghead:

That said, I think Theus would be a good choice.

[MrBug708]

I don't know, Miller makes over $2 mil per season guaranteed for the next 5 seasons - with an automatic option for 2 more years after that (basically a 7-year deal). If he leaves in the next 2-3 season, the buyout is somewhere near $1 million.

It's certainly possible, but given the money and job security Miller has, it would be odd to see him leave after just 2 seasons. But, you never know I guess ;)

I agree, but he's pretty good friends with Calipari and he'd be the best realistic coach they would go for. Doesnt mean he would leave, but I think Miller leaves for four jobs. Kentucky, UNC, Duke, and Pitt

[MizzouRah]

I've been reading up on our new coach and found this on Haith from someone who at least knows a little bit about him:


KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)

Since Haith is leaving my alma mater, The University of Miami, I know a lot about him. I’ve followed his head coaching career closely and have a good bit of perspective on the hire. First things first: just because you hadn’t heard his name mentioned or hadn’t seen him in the NCAA Tournament each year doesn’t mean the man can’t coach.

Haith averaged 18 wins a year at Miami, which doesn’t sound like much but when you consider the horrific history of basketball at The U it makes the achievement look a lot better. He had three 20-win seasons in his 7 years there. The previous three coaches who worked there had three 20-win seasons over 19 years (1985-2004). Think about that for a minute.
This isn’t the case of an up-and-coming coach who took a mid-major team to the tournament a few times with gaudy records playing against weaker competition. Haith took on an historically awful basketball program through the ACC each year. Now, his ACC record is weak. No doubt about that. But again, this was the case of a guy taking his first head coaching job with a bottom-feeder program in one of the top basketball conferences in the country. I have no doubt that Haith would have been “the-next-big-thing” kind of hire had he gone mid-major when he left Texas.

Haith is 45 years old, he’s been an assistant at Penn State, Texas A&M, Wake Forest and Texas and he has a reputation for being a good recruiter. He knows the Big 12 landscape and he’s run a major conference program while averaging 20 percent more wins than those who ran the program the 19 seasons before he arrived. Haith also graduated 21 of the 22 seniors he had at Miami, as Vahe Gregorian pointed out in his story today.
He’s not the sexy name people wanted (which is EXACTLY what Quin Snyder was) and he’ll get ripped by some hoops analysts for sure. Maybe he’ll fall flat on his face in Columbia but he’s earned the right to a fair shot. People shouldn’t be overly excited about Haith but they should be willing to give him a fair chance. Look at his achievements at Miami in the proper context and it will help you understand Mike Alden’s decision a little better.

[Radii]

Wait wait wait.


The previous three coaches who worked there had three 20-win seasons over 19 years (1985-2004).

This is a seriously fancy way to look at things to make Haith look as good as possible. Those 3 20 win seasons came in a period from the 97/98 season to the 01/02 season when Miami made the NCAA Tournament 4 out of 5 years led by Leonard Hamilton and then Perry Clark.

When Haith took over they had fallen back a bit with two bad seasons, but prior to those two bad seasons Miami had 8 winning seasons in a row, 7 postseason appearances in those 8 years including 4 NCAA Tournament Bids and a Sweet 16 appearance. That's not awesome but its not "historically bad" either.


In one of Haith's 20 win seasons he went 4-12 in conference play and had no postseason at all. In the other, 6-10 and an NIT bid. For awhile now the ACC has rightfully taken a TON of crap for being Duke/UNC and 10 also rans, rightfully so. This isn't a super super strong conference that Miami just can't compete in. Its a conference with tons of opportunities for anyone able to step up and Miami has had 1st team all ACC players and as much chance as anyone to step up and has failed miserably. That description above is sugar coating of the highest order.

Maybe he’ll fall flat on his face in Columbia but he’s earned the right to a fair shot.

The point of everything above of course is that IMO he has had a *very* fair shot. He took over a team two years removed from consistent NCAA Tournament appearances in a great location and took them nowhere.

[sterlingice]

If he is terminated, my sources are saying that David Stern, Roger Goodell, Jacques Rogge and Sepp Blatter are the leading candidates to be the next AD.

I read that as Simpsons prank call name Jaques Strapp and then some sort of Bladder joke

SI

[sterlingice]

Shaka Smart has deal to remain at Virginia Commonwealth - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6290035)

ESPN making it official.

Gotta be a mixed bag for wade. Good news for the CAA, probably bad news for any other team in the conference

SI

[sterlingice]

Maybe I just don't have a good view on Haith, but it feels like New Mexico hiring Steve Alford as he was about to get kicked out of Iowa City, only you'd have to replace New Mexico with, say, Missouri or another school that would be comparable- not a school in a smaller conference looking for a "big time coach".

SI

[Comey]

Maybe I just don't have a good view on Haith, but it feels like New Mexico hiring Steve Alford as he was about to get kicked out of Iowa City, only you'd have to replace New Mexico with, say, Missouri or another school that would be comparable- not a school in a smaller conference looking for a "big time coach".

SI

I think it's been said that Miami didn't even want the buyout in Haith's contract...they just wanted him gone. That can't illicit confidence in Mizzou's fan base.

[Comey]

I know it's small potatoes, but my current home of higher education (Fairfield) hired Princeton coach Sydney Johnson to replace Ed Cooley. I don't follow Fairfield a whole lot because I'm a grad student who lives over an hour away from campus and is only there at night, but this seems like a good hire to me.

[Groundhog]

I find it a little surprising that, despite the trip to the finals last season, Butler only landed one top-150 player (according to Rivals) in the class of 2011, and that was #124. I wonder what effect two straight trips will have.

Obviously with a school like Butler it's more the coaching than the raw talent of the recruits they are bringing in, but will still be interesting to see what sort of kids they are able to bring in now.

[Young Drachma]

I find it a little surprising that, despite the trip to the finals last season, Butler only landed one top-150 player (according to Rivals) in the class of 2011, and that was #124. I wonder what effect two straight trips will have.

Obviously with a school like Butler it's more the coaching than the raw talent of the recruits they are bringing in, but will still be interesting to see what sort of kids they are able to bring in now.

It apparently came down to the wire with them versus Indiana for Top 20 recruit Cody Zeller last year. I think if they get in that battle again, this trip might help sway a discussion a bit easier.

Cody Zeller Chooses Indiana Over Butler, North Carolina (http://www.aolnews.com/2010/11/11/cody-zeller-chooses-indiana-over-butler-north-carolina/)

[MizzouRah]

Wait wait wait.



This is a seriously fancy way to look at things to make Haith look as good as possible. Those 3 20 win seasons came in a period from the 97/98 season to the 01/02 season when Miami made the NCAA Tournament 4 out of 5 years led by Leonard Hamilton and then Perry Clark.

When Haith took over they had fallen back a bit with two bad seasons, but prior to those two bad seasons Miami had 8 winning seasons in a row, 7 postseason appearances in those 8 years including 4 NCAA Tournament Bids and a Sweet 16 appearance. That's not awesome but its not "historically bad" either.


In one of Haith's 20 win seasons he went 4-12 in conference play and had no postseason at all. In the other, 6-10 and an NIT bid. For awhile now the ACC has rightfully taken a TON of crap for being Duke/UNC and 10 also rans, rightfully so. This isn't a super super strong conference that Miami just can't compete in. Its a conference with tons of opportunities for anyone able to step up and Miami has had 1st team all ACC players and as much chance as anyone to step up and has failed miserably. That description above is sugar coating of the highest order.



The point of everything above of course is that IMO he has had a *very* fair shot. He took over a team two years removed from consistent NCAA Tournament appearances in a great location and took them nowhere.

Thanks.. honestly I know NOTHING about this guy. I guess time will tell.

[wade moore]

Gotta be a mixed bag for wade. Good news for the CAA, probably bad news for any other team in the conference

SI

As I'm reading this thread (on vacation so not on the board as much), I said this exactly to my wife. Great, but sucks ;). Bad news for individual CAA teams, but good news for the CAA - but that really helps everyone in the long run.

If Shaka lives out this contract, expect VCU to have a monster class in.. what.. 3 years? Then 6ish years from now they could have just an absolute monster team (for mid-major standards).

Of course, Butler could do the same thing.

[wade moore]

I find it a little surprising that, despite the trip to the finals last season, Butler only landed one top-150 player (according to Rivals) in the class of 2011, and that was #124. I wonder what effect two straight trips will have.

Obviously with a school like Butler it's more the coaching than the raw talent of the recruits they are bringing in, but will still be interesting to see what sort of kids they are able to bring in now.

It apparently came down to the wire with them versus Indiana for Top 20 recruit Cody Zeller last year. I think if they get in that battle again, this trip might help sway a discussion a bit easier.

Cody Zeller Chooses Indiana Over Butler, North Carolina (http://www.aolnews.com/2010/11/11/cody-zeller-chooses-indiana-over-butler-north-carolina/)

Well, here's the other thing (as I mention in my post above). Your amazing march madness run won't pay off in the immediate following class. Many (most?) recruits have already signed LOIs. Even for two years out, much of the contact has been made really. The 2010 Finals game will pay off for the freshman class that comes in in 2011 a little, but mostly in 2012. And that 2012 class will REALLY see some growth with the repeat years.

[Young Drachma]

Princeton fans are trying to figure out why their coach left them for an MAAC job at Fairfield. He was a Princeton alum, too. Money? Or just tired of dealing with recruiting in the Ivy League? Seems like a curious move.

[Wolfpack]

Well, everything looks like it went to hell in a handbasket today for State. Regardless of whether State made "official" offers or not to someone like Smart, it's coming off in the media like a total rejection at this point. AD Debbie Yow issued a statement via email describing the issues facing the search process and most everyone (at least on the internet) is calling it a horrible move that reeks of panic.

Personally, I'm okay with not getting Smart. He would have just been too much of a wild-card hire to me. He was such an unknown that the range of possibilities would have been "a great in the making" to "utter disaster" and right now, State needs something where they know the trendline will go up and not have to revisit the hire again in five years. The problem is this seems to be a perfectly awful offseason to go hunting for a steady, proven coach. They're just not out there.

At this point, I'm not much caring anymore who gets hired. It's not going to be a grand slam unifying hire and the fanbase will continue to be at war with itself and we'll revisit this issue again within the next 5-7 years. Oh, well.

[Butter]

Princeton fans are trying to figure out why their coach left them for an MAAC job at Fairfield. He was a Princeton alum, too. Money? Or just tired of dealing with recruiting in the Ivy League? Seems like a curious move.

Wondering that myself. Dayton fans were keen on throwing the name Sydney Johnson around a lot when our opening came up. He seems like a coach that could've waited out a couple more years, and with a couple more impressive Ivy finishes and an NCAA run he could've made some major cash at a Big Six or even top mid-major type school.

I just don't see that happening at Fairfield.

[Butter]

Well, everything looks like it went to hell in a handbasket today for State. Regardless of whether State made "official" offers or not to someone like Smart, it's coming off in the media like a total rejection at this point. AD Debbie Yow issued a statement via email describing the issues facing the search process and most everyone (at least on the internet) is calling it a horrible move that reeks of panic.

Personally, I'm okay with not getting Smart. He would have just been too much of a wild-card hire to me. He was such an unknown that the range of possibilities would have been "a great in the making" to "utter disaster" and right now, State needs something where they know the trendline will go up and not have to revisit the hire again in five years. The problem is this seems to be a perfectly awful offseason to go hunting for a steady, proven coach. They're just not out there.

At this point, I'm not much caring anymore who gets hired. It's not going to be a grand slam unifying hire and the fanbase will continue to be at war with itself and we'll revisit this issue again within the next 5-7 years. Oh, well.

Not trying to slam you or your team, but it seems like the last time you went hunting for the next big coach after Sendek's departure, the Pack ended up rejected by multiple coaches and settled on Lowe. Maybe I am mis-remembering the search, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

It kind of seems like about the same thing that is happening now? The AD and fans must be wondering why the State job seems about as desirable as Kryptonite right now. It seems like a job that has its pros and cons, but more pros than cons for me. As Radii said earlier in the thread, the ACC is a conference just DYING for someone to pick up the mantle of the 3rd best team to fight with Duke and UNC, a team that could easily perenially be an NCAA team. For the life of me, I can't figure out why no one can seem to do this on a consistent basis.

[panerd]

Wait wait wait.



This is a seriously fancy way to look at things to make Haith look as good as possible. Those 3 20 win seasons came in a period from the 97/98 season to the 01/02 season when Miami made the NCAA Tournament 4 out of 5 years led by Leonard Hamilton and then Perry Clark.

When Haith took over they had fallen back a bit with two bad seasons, but prior to those two bad seasons Miami had 8 winning seasons in a row, 7 postseason appearances in those 8 years including 4 NCAA Tournament Bids and a Sweet 16 appearance. That's not awesome but its not "historically bad" either.


In one of Haith's 20 win seasons he went 4-12 in conference play and had no postseason at all. In the other, 6-10 and an NIT bid. For awhile now the ACC has rightfully taken a TON of crap for being Duke/UNC and 10 also rans, rightfully so. This isn't a super super strong conference that Miami just can't compete in. Its a conference with tons of opportunities for anyone able to step up and Miami has had 1st team all ACC players and as much chance as anyone to step up and has failed miserably. That description above is sugar coating of the highest order.



The point of everything above of course is that IMO he has had a *very* fair shot. He took over a team two years removed from consistent NCAA Tournament appearances in a great location and took them nowhere.

Yep you beat me to it and said it much more eloquently that I would have. The local press is talking about how hard it is to win at Miami and how Haith was able to but my research has shown that the previous three coaches (not only Hamilton) had much more success than Haith. Just because teams play more games now doesn't make him a better coach.

Its like saying the 2001 Mariners are better than the 1932 Yankees because they won more games.

[Butter]

So let me get this straight. BYU's head coach is Dave Rose and his top assistant's name is Dave Rice?

OK, got it.

[Thomkal]

Well, everything looks like it went to hell in a handbasket today for State. Regardless of whether State made "official" offers or not to someone like Smart, it's coming off in the media like a total rejection at this point. AD Debbie Yow issued a statement via email describing the issues facing the search process and most everyone (at least on the internet) is calling it a horrible move that reeks of panic.

Personally, I'm okay with not getting Smart. He would have just been too much of a wild-card hire to me. He was such an unknown that the range of possibilities would have been "a great in the making" to "utter disaster" and right now, State needs something where they know the trendline will go up and not have to revisit the hire again in five years. The problem is this seems to be a perfectly awful offseason to go hunting for a steady, proven coach. They're just not out there.

At this point, I'm not much caring anymore who gets hired. It's not going to be a grand slam unifying hire and the fanbase will continue to be at war with itself and we'll revisit this issue again within the next 5-7 years. Oh, well.

Well I would have thought Wichita State's Gregg Marshall would have been an ideal fit for North Carolina State, but I see on ESPN now that he has turned them and all other schools down and got a contract extension.

[mckerney]

Still wish theyed hired Quin Snyder back.

[Izulde]

Not much has changed here. Dave Rice is still considered the lead guy, but Reggie Theus is coming to town for his interview this week. Mike Dunlap's name came up again for the first time in a while, but it's still down to Rice or Theus, realistically speaking.

I'd actually be a tiny bit disappointed in Rice, I think. I don't think he can restore the program to the national level of appeal or bring in the kind of recruits that Theus can, BG connection notwithstanding.

Plus, Theus has had success at the collegiate level and he has extensive NBA experience, both as a s player and a coach. To me, Rice would be a bit short-sighted and settling.

Livengood returns to Las Vegas today; coaching search hitting home stretch - Las Vegas Sun (http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/apr/05/unlv-coaching-search-040511/)

[digamma]

Princeton fans are trying to figure out why their coach left them for an MAAC job at Fairfield. He was a Princeton alum, too. Money? Or just tired of dealing with recruiting in the Ivy League? Seems like a curious move.

Agreed. Seems very curious to me. Alum, star of the team that beat UCLA in 96, came back home and rescued them from their worst basketball stretch in modern history. Who knows?

[MacroGuru]

Not much has changed here. Dave Rice is still considered the lead guy, but Reggie Theus is coming to town for his interview this week. Mike Dunlap's name came up again for the first time in a while, but it's still down to Rice or Theus, realistically speaking.

I'd actually be a tiny bit disappointed in Rice, I think. I don't think he can restore the program to the national level of appeal or bring in the kind of recruits that Theus can, BG connection notwithstanding.

Plus, Theus has had success at the collegiate level and he has extensive NBA experience, both as a s player and a coach. To me, Rice would be a bit short-sighted and settling.

Livengood returns to Las Vegas today; coaching search hitting home stretch - Las Vegas Sun (http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/apr/05/unlv-coaching-search-040511/)

Really?

BYU credits a lot of their recruiting to Rice...they say he is an amazing recruiter...

I think he will do quite well there.

[MrBug708]

I agree. Theus would be a bad hire

[JonInMiddleGA]

UGA's Thompkins will enter the draft & hire an agent.
UGA's Leslie will test the waters but forego an agent & could return.

[Radii]

Missouri's Kim English and Laurence Bowers have declared for the draft but aren't signing with agents. Unless they are just going to go play in Europe or something I cannot imagine either of them staying in the draft.

Rumors are everywhere that all Tar Heels are coming back for next year. I'm not getting my hopes up quite yet. Only backup big man Justin Knox was a senior.

[digamma]

Agreed. Seems very curious to me. Alum, star of the team that beat UCLA in 96, came back home and rescued them from their worst basketball stretch in modern history. Who knows?

Thinking through this some more, maybe Johnson just wants a realistic chance to coach in the NCAA tournament again in the next five years.

[Swaggs]

Final USA Today poll is out: Top 25: Connecticut, Butler top final poll of season - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/usatpoll.htm)

Interestingly, someone gave Ohio State a #1 vote.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Final USA Today poll is out: Top 25: Connecticut, Butler top final poll of season - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/usatpoll.htm) Interestingly, someone gave Ohio State a #1 vote.

I wonder what that is supposed to be ranking. "Best" team this morning? "Best" season / body of work? Something else?

It's a fairly rhetorical wonder but still.

[jbergey22]

Final USA Today poll is out: Top 25: Connecticut, Butler top final poll of season - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/usatpoll.htm)

Interestingly, someone gave Ohio State a #1 vote.

That is the tricky part of polls. If they started a whole new tournament tomorrow Id still pick Ohio State or Kansas over UConn and especially Butler in my brackets and Im sure the odds of Ohio St or Kansas winning it would be better than the other two teams but they didnt earn it so..................

Basically, why polls dont mean much IMO. Always biased opinions involved.

[Swaggs]

I wonder what that is supposed to be ranking. "Best" team this morning? "Best" season / body of work? Something else?

It's a fairly rhetorical wonder but still.

Well, polling (in both football and basketball) has never really been clearly defined for me. Is it the most talented team (most HS All-Americans/NBA prospects, capable of beating any other team at any given time, etc. -- think Kentucky/North Carolina this season) that has maybe lost some games on the nights it didn't bring its "A-Game" or is it the team that has had the best season (won the games they have played, not had let downs against inferior opponents, looked dominating during the course of games, etc. -- think San Diego State/BYU/Pitt)? Basically, is it talent or is it accomplishment?

In the case of a final poll, after the postseason tournament has been completed, I think you go with the champion and runner up as #1 and #2 and then hash out #3+ (with strong consideration to the Final Four teams).

[MJ4H]

That's the problem with the polls. Nobody knows what the question is. How the hell are we supposed to trust the answer?

[jbergey22]

That's the problem with the polls. Nobody knows what the question is. How the hell are we supposed to trust the answer?

I believe they are suppose to be voting on the best teams at the current moment. Of course no one will be able to convince me that Butler would win more than 50 percent of the time over Kansas or Ohio St so I believe the tourny is weighted too heavily in what they are suppose to be trying to figure out.

In other words either use the tournament to complete the final season rankings or rank the teams accordingly for their regular season as well. IMO losing 1 game doesnt knock Kansas or Ohio State below Butler. Trying to sell that Butler is a better team doesnt work for me.

I find it funny that VCU ended up behind Kansas and Ohio St but ahead of Duke. Whats the logic in that? VCU showed they were good enough to beat Duke consistantly with their run to the final four but not Kansas and Ohio St??? Good stuff.

Obviously the voters dont know what the hell they are voting on because that makes no sense to me.

[DeToxRox]

So apparently Mark Gottfried is taking the NC State gig. Sorry Wolfpack.

[dawgfan]

Its like saying the 2001 Mariners are better than the 1932 Yankees because they won more games.
Minor quibble - the 2001 M's not only won more games, but they had a higher winning percentage than the 1932 Yankees.

The Yankees won the World Series, so I'm totally fine calling them a better team, but I'm not sure the example you're using is the best one to illustrate (what I think is) your point.

[Marmel]

Final USA Today poll is out: Top 25: Connecticut, Butler top final poll of season - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/usatpoll.htm)

Interestingly, someone gave Ohio State a #1 vote.

This is the dumbest thing in all of sports.

[sterlingice]

This is the dumbest thing in all of sports.

Really? I mean, yeah, it's dumb but what about..

Astroturf? Tennis scoring? The BCS? NASCAR? Mike Tyson? The wave? John Madden?

SI

[Wolfpack]

So apparently Mark Gottfried is taking the NC State gig. Sorry Wolfpack.

State fans are trying very hard to sell themselves on it from what I can tell. Gottfried said pretty much all the right things at the PC, but that means diddly (Lowe, by all accounts "said all the right things" at his PC when he was chosen five years ago).

Interestingly, I don't think Gottfried started getting support pushed into his corner until right about the time Debbie Yow totally upstaged the entire thing by calling out Gary Williams very publicly for what she believed was interference by poor-mouthing her to potential coaching candidates. Whether that is true or not, I don't know (Williams issued a statement denying it), but the remarks certainly galvanized the entire PC. A whole lot of State fans suddenly jumped on the bandwagon after that (one thing to understand about many State fans is that they are very conspiracy-minded from years of feeling like the local media, especially, is out to ruin the university and the program to the benefit of their favored school in Chapel Hill, so this sort of thing is red meat for the fans). The next Maryland game at the RBC Center will be...interesting, to say the least as a result. :popcorn:

[Marmel]

Really? I mean, yeah, it's dumb but what about..

Astroturf? Tennis scoring? The BCS? NASCAR? Mike Tyson? The wave? John Madden?

SI

The BCS is close, but I am still going with this.

[muns]

State fans are trying very hard to sell themselves on it from what I can tell. Gottfried said pretty much all the right things at the PC, but that means diddly (Lowe, by all accounts "said all the right things" at his PC when he was chosen five years ago).

Interestingly, I don't think Gottfried started getting support pushed into his corner until right about the time Debbie Yow totally upstaged the entire thing by calling out Gary Williams very publicly for what she believed was interference by poor-mouthing her to potential coaching candidates. Whether that is true or not, I don't know (Williams issued a statement denying it), but the remarks certainly galvanized the entire PC. A whole lot of State fans suddenly jumped on the bandwagon after that (one thing to understand about many State fans is that they are very conspiracy-minded from years of feeling like the local media, especially, is out to ruin the university and the program to the benefit of their favored school in Chapel Hill, so this sort of thing is red meat for the fans). The next Maryland game at the RBC Center will be...interesting, to say the least as a result. :popcorn:

I'm hoping most of your fan base was expecting it with Gary???? There is no doubt in my mind this happened, as those 2 hate each other since Debbie tried to push Gary out at Maryland and failed miserably.

I actually think Gottfried might not be a bad selection compared to other candidates that were out there.

[Logan]

Have a buddy at work who's an NC State guy but doesn't really follow the more behind the scenes stuff. I told him that the Yow/Gary thing would hurt them as he listed off the reasons why he thought it was a great job for the right candidate; he had no idea about it.

I don't know if it was Gary being the one doing the badmouthing to potential coaches, as much as it was everybody in the inner coaching circle knowing what Yow did. He seems to be someone who is extremely respected with no real enemies (maybe because his team hasn't truly reached its full potential after the NC in 2002).

[Izulde]

Final four candidates for UNLV posted. Rice, Theus, Dunlap, and Ernie Kent.

UNLV announces official list of finalists for vacant men's basketball job - Las Vegas Sun (http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/apr/06/unlv-coaching-search-040611/)

I'm 99.9999% sure it won't be Kent and 95% sure it won't be Dunlap. Both Rice and Theus are UNLV alumni who played on great Rebels teams of the past. Dunlap is a West Coast and Livengood guy, but if his calling card is defense, that won't play well with the fanbase. Kent sucked at Oregon, so I don't want him here.

The informal and wholly unscientific Sun poll has 59% of fans favoring Theus, 32% favoring Rice, 4% Kent, 1% Dunlap.

[MrBug708]

Did Mizzou BB fan go and off himself after this hire?

[duckman]

He's getting with his PR people to determine how to spin this hire into something positive.

[Logan]

I assume he's in Vegas again.

[cartman]

He's trying to make the Royals as well loved as the mighty Tigers.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Interesting post-op of the Painter situation. Makes a lot of sense why so many at Mizzou felt it was possible to land Painter. Most trust Moccia for good info. Obviously not the case anymore.

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/why-mizzou-was-duped-into-matt-painter-pursuit-29611

[Logan]

current SIU Athletic Director Mario Moccia told Alden there was a chance he could help influence Painter to depart Purdue for Mizzou.

With assurances like that, how could you not be expecting him to be at the Cardinal game a couple days later?

Welcome to college athletics.

[molson]

With assurances like that, how could you not be expecting him to be at the Cardinal game a couple days later?

Welcome to college athletics.

That jumped off the page at me too. And also this, "But when Alden met with Painter in Orlando on March 29, it was clear from the outset of the meeting that non-committal coach was merely using Mizzou to beef up his hoops budget and personal bank account."

Clear from the beginning, huh? How in the world does this information translate somehow to "offer accepted, press conference this afternoon, attending a Cardinals game a couple of days later"? Clearly, people are just making shit up to feel cool, and some college sports fans believe everything they read anyway. It's insane.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Good article about Maggie Dixon, 5 years later............

Maggie Dixon, five years after her death, still remembered for her impact - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/news/story?id=6289706)

[Radii]

Tyler Zeller, John Henson bypass NBA draft, will return to North Carolina - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6301434)

Two down, one to go!


Also for Kansas:

Kansas' Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris twins hire agent, declare for NBA draft - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6305761)

[Radii]

dola, I'm satisfied whether Barnes returns or not now. Zeller wasn't going to be a lottery pick and Henson may be an exciting prospect but he really, really needs to bulk up a bit and work on becoming a better offensive player in situations where he doesn't get an offensive rebound or an alley-oop. I feel the same way about Barnes as well. I know that he'll be drafted high enough that it would be hard to pass up the money, but Barnes could *really* use another year in the weight room and another year working on his game to prepare him for the NBA. He settles for the jump shot too much, he'll make his money in the NBA by being a threat to attack the basket, and his mindset most games is just not right for that IMO.

[Radii]

North Carolina State AD Debbie Yow accuses Maryland Terrapins coach Gary Williams of 'sabotage' - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6299936)


When asked if she had specific examples of anything Williams had said or done, Yow replied: "There'll be somebody else writing about that nationally. I don't need to be doing that. That's not my job."

If you're going to publicly accuse someone of "sabotaging" your coaching search, doesn't it become your job to cite examples? :P She does not look good here at all imo.

edit: I'll go as far as to say that the first person that comes to mind with this kind of thing is Al Davis, that is just not a good thing

[Izulde]

According to some insider info I received today:

1) Dave Rice is 99.999% certain to be the next UNLV head coach. That's not a surprise.

What is interesting is this:

2) Rice is going to try to get Larry Johnson and Ed O'Bannon on his staff, which will open up significant recruiting opportunities, particularly O'Bannon with the LA market.

Note, I'm not saying these are guarantees. I'm saying this is what the actors involved are shooting for.

[MrBug708]

That would be interesting, but wouldn't say much about the coaching ability

[muns]

North Carolina State AD Debbie Yow accuses Maryland Terrapins coach Gary Williams of 'sabotage' - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6299936)



If you're going to publicly accuse someone of "sabotaging" your coaching search, doesn't it become your job to cite examples? :P She does not look good here at all imo.

edit: I'll go as far as to say that the first person that comes to mind with this kind of thing is Al Davis, that is just not a good thing


She can't as that would ruin her credibility even more and kill other opportunities with coaches she may want to hire in the future. I'm sure she got told exactly what happened by someone she interviewed. That coach before hand called up Gary wanting to know exactly how she was before they interviewed with her. Gary straight shot with whoever called him up and then that coach disclosed it within the interview with her.

She then leaked it to a person that writes nationally so she doesn't publicly have to use that coaches name and then it looks like a giant jumbled mess.

I still think she looks like an idiot because she showed her cards trying to take another few jabs at Gary before going down in flames. Thats just my take though.

[digamma]

According to some insider info I received today:

1) Dave Rice is 99.999% certain to be the next UNLV head coach. That's not a surprise.

What is interesting is this:

2) Rice is going to try to get Larry Johnson and Ed O'Bannon on his staff, which will open up significant recruiting opportunities, particularly O'Bannon with the LA market.

Note, I'm not saying these are guarantees. I'm saying this is what the actors involved are shooting for.

I love these "we'll get x former player to be an assistant coach" rumors. Here's the reality. Being an assistant college basketball coach is a brutal job. It's a lot of thankless work. Traveling from high school gym to high school gym. Working all hours to recruit. Not fun. Particularly for Grandmama. Maybe O'Bannon would be up for it, as he's been grinding as a used car salesman, but it isn't like you just show up to an LA high school, say you're Ed O'Bannon and kids commit. The guy at Nevada or Utah or even UCLA who slept in his car and has been at every pick up game the kid has ever played is going to outwork you. Most big time former players aren't into putting in that kind of work.

[MrBug708]

I believe O'Bannon has been working as a coach at a local high school and has been trying to break into college coaching. No idea what his connections are in LA anymore though other than a few places

[DataKing]

No surprise at all about the Morris twins leaving. Their stock won't get much higher than it is after the seasons they had. The folks in Lawrence trying to convince themselves they would stay were just fooling themselves.

[MrBug708]

Apparently Lavs has cancer so I wish him a speedy recovery

[Izulde]

UNLV decision delayed until at least Sunday, with a Monday press conference.

[Butter]

Sunday? Well the BYU guy is out.

[Izulde]

I'm sure y'all have it seen already, but Dave Rice was indeed the hire, which I'm glad for. I'd changed my mind on who I wanted after various conversations I'd had over the last week.

Latest assistant rumors are Stacey Augmon and Justin Houston from SDSU. Houston is apparently an excellent West recruiter, though I know nothing about assistants so I can't say anything as to the truth of it.

We'll see what kind of staff comes in. I'm actually starting to get a bit excited about recruiting and next season now.

[TroyF]

I'm browsing ESPN today and saw an article on Frank Martin with him addressing the rumors. I'm not sure I've ever heard a coach BEG to be contacted without actually uttering the words as much as I saw him doing it in the article. I think it's safe to say that if Miami gives him a call, he's leaving Wlidcats.

[dawgfan]

I'm browsing ESPN today and saw an article on Frank Martin with him addressing the rumors. I'm not sure I've ever heard a coach BEG to be contacted without actually uttering the words as much as I saw him doing it in the article. I think it's safe to say that if Miami gives him a call, he's leaving Wlidcats.
Yeah, pretty clear that Martin would love that job and was saying so as best he could without coming right out and saying it directly. I mean, clarifying his salary situation?

[TroyF]

Yeah, pretty clear that Martin would love that job and was saying so as best he could without coming right out and saying it directly. I mean, clarifying his salary situation?

That's what got me. "they probably think I make 1.55, but I actually make 1.1. Sure, I'd make 1.55 if I stayed the length of the contract and hit all of my bonuses, but I want to make sure everyone knows I make 1.1 now, not 1.55. I've also had tons of family and friends tell me I should go to Miami and return home. I love it at KSU, but I'll listen to all offers. I've never had any options but to be at KState this year. Of course I always wanted to stay at KState too. Oh, and I've never chased a job. Never. Ever. Ever. Miami, PLEASE CALL ME AND GET ME OUT OF THIS HELL HOLE, K THNKS, BYE"

Just a bizarre interview. If I'm the KState AD, I'm looking at other options right now. I'm not waiting for Miami (or anyone else) to give him a call.

[dawgfan]

If I'm the KState AD, I'm looking at other options right now. I'm not waiting for Miami (or anyone else) to give him a call.
Tough call. I see where you're coming from, but it's entirely possible the KSU AD is fully aware that Martin covets the Miami job and, while probably not happy about it, understands it. I mean, I think anyone can understand why it would appeal to Martin. The bigger question is if he has a wandering eye period, or if it's just this particular circumstance.

If I'm the KSU AD, I'm doing my best to get the pulse of the donors and fanbase and how they feel about Martin's obvious flirting with the Miami job. It's quite possible that they are happy enough with the job he's done that they're willing to give him some latitude. Now, if he starting winking at the NC State job, that would probably be a different story...

[TroyF]

Tough call. I see where you're coming from, but it's entirely possible the KSU AD is fully aware that Martin covets the Miami job and, while probably not happy about it, understands it. I mean, I think anyone can understand why it would appeal to Martin. The bigger question is if he has a wandering eye period, or if it's just this particular circumstance.

If I'm the KSU AD, I'm doing my best to get the pulse of the donors and fanbase and how they feel about Martin's obvious flirting with the Miami job. It's quite possible that they are happy enough with the job he's done that they're willing to give him some latitude. Now, if he starting winking at the NC State job, that would probably be a different story...


I'm not saying to outright fire him ----- yet. I just think I'd get my shortlist together and get ready because if Miami calls he's going to ditch them in about 2.3 seconds. I think it's incredibly poor taste to come out publicly like this. He could have easily made the same statements through the grapevine rather than piss off his fan base by doing something like this.

[Izulde]

Las Vegas Sun is officially reporting Hutson as Rice's first assistant.


On Sunday night, the Sun confirmed through multiple sources that San Diego State assistant Justin Hutson will officially become the first member of Rice's staff. Hutson spent the last five seasons heading up SDSU's recruiting efforts and coordinating the Aztecs' defense — both areas which contributed heavily to SDSU's storybook 2010-11 season that ended with a Sweet Sixteen berth.

[MrBug708]

Great pickup for Rice

[Swaggs]

Reading the article (and they may have added more context to it since Troy posted it) and it doesn't sound that bad. It sounds like someone asked him if Miami had inquired and why he thinks that they had not. Makes it clear that he has had opportunities to leave the past two seasons (for raises), but has stayed because he and his family like the area and he appreciated the opportunity.

It certainly sounds like he is posturing for a raise, but if he is "only" making $1.1-million, he probably deserves one (95 wins in four years and an appearance in the Elite 8 at Kansas State is pretty notable).

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I'm browsing ESPN today and saw an article on Frank Martin with him addressing the rumors. I'm not sure I've ever heard a coach BEG to be contacted without actually uttering the words as much as I saw him doing it in the article. I think it's safe to say that if Miami gives him a call, he's leaving Wlidcats.

His family, including a son and his parents, live down there. Several good reasons why he'd be interested in going back down there.

[DeToxRox]

Perry Jones is returning to Baylor. Pretty shocked about this one. He has to sit out the first five games next year.

[sterlingice]

From what I remember, Frank Martin is from Miami so this would be the equivalent of his dream job/going home job. I think this is a unique circumstance and I never really thought Frank Martin has had a wandering eye.

SI

[molson]

Possibily the wrong thread, but there's been arrests in a San Diego point shaving probe, including Brandon Johnson (who was the team's best player when they beat UConn in the 1st round of the tournament in 2008). It looks like the point shaving took place in early 2010 (they went 2-13 against the spread in January-March of 2010).

Former University of San Diego assistant coach, players charged with shaving points - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6330566)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Another fan meltdown incoming at Mizzou. Otto Porter, who was a mortal lock to come to Mizzou before the coaching fiasco, has committed to Georgetown. Another prize recruit leaves the borders.

[Young Drachma]

Tommy Amaker stays at Harvard rather than going to Miami. He's a package deal with his PhD wife -- she was an Associate Dean of Students at Michigan when he was there and is now working at Harvard Med School -- and I suspect she shot that one down on sight.

Can't blame her.

[JPhillips]

I have it from a very well placed source that Amaker's wife is first in line to run the medical school at Mizzou.

[digamma]

Tommy Amaker stays at Harvard rather than going to Miami. He's a package deal with his PhD wife -- she was an Associate Dean of Students at Michigan when he was there and is now working at Harvard Med School -- and I suspect she shot that one down on sight.

Can't blame her.

Amaker's coaching position is also endowed (well endowed, you say?), so I wouldn't be surprised if his current salary is, all in, very comparable to what Miami can offer.

[Young Drachma]

Amaker's coaching position is also endowed (well endowed, you say?), so I wouldn't be surprised if his current salary is, all in, very comparable to what Miami can offer.

Didn't know that. Interesting, but makes it a smarter choice then.

[MrBug708]

UCLA hires Korey McCray fromt he highly successful Atlanta Celtics AAU program and suddenly becomes the favorite to land Jordan Adams

[RainMaker]

I was so insensitive earlier for mentioning race in regards to BYU.

Deadspin, Sports News without Access, Favor, or Discretion (http://deadspin.com/#!5791461)

[Radii]

Completely unsubstantiated rumors from random twitter accounts that are now exploding are reporting that Harrison Barnes is staying for another year.


The interwebs are getting my hopes up. I'm going to find someone to kill if they're wrong.

[Young Drachma]

Sydney Johnson leaves Princeton Tigers for Fairfield Stags - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/6361471/johnson-leaves-princeton-fairfield)

Sydney Johnson cried during an on-court interview after Princeton beat Harvard on a last-second shot in a thrilling, one-game playoff for an NCAA bid at Yale on March 12.

Sydney Johnson surprised many when he left alma mater Princeton to become head coach at Fairfield.
He cried again at a postgame news conference after Princeton lost to Kentucky in the final seconds in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
He said he may get just as emotional in his new position as head coach at Fairfield, now that he has left his alma mater in a stunning move to replace Ed Cooley.

"My emotions, as they relate to coaching, are genuine," said Johnson by phone from his new office in Fairfield, Conn. "One thing you'll be surprised by is the connection I have and will have with our guys at Fairfield whether I wore that jersey or not. I can relate to what the guys are going through; the grind of being a student and a player.

"I don't feel like that since I left my alma mater, that it makes me any less sincere in how much I invest emotionally in coaching," said Johnson, who will turn 37 on April 26. "I don't accept that."

Johnson's move from Princeton to Fairfield has been one of the most surprising of any during the spring coaching carousel, mostly because of Johnson's public display of emotion while leading his alma mater into the postseason. However, a closer examination of the move makes it much more explainable.
Princeton's pay scale for Johnson was estimated at around $200,000.

According to sources, Johnson was able to secure more than double his salary at Fairfield and will be paid in the $400,000 range that Cooley was making before he returned to his native Rhode Island to coach Providence.
Princeton athletic director Gary Walters, also an alumnus, didn't want to comment further on Johnson's departure. He was not pleased that Johnson's representatives were sending out feelers about openings at Towson and Bradley prior to the Fairfield opening. Walters has long held firm to the belief that coaching at Princeton is a privilege. Having someone like legendary former coach Pete Carril, who guided the Tigers from 1967 to 1996, is a luxury that won't occur anymore.

John Thompson III, who like Johnson played at Princeton, was the Tigers' head coach for four seasons before taking over at Georgetown, where his father had built a legacy.
"It was extremely difficult for me to leave Princeton," Thompson III said. "People didn't initially believe that since I was going Ivy to the Big East. But Princeton in many ways was, and still is, home for me and leaving that program was extremely difficult for me."

Johnson was a part of Carril's final team that scored an historic upset over defending champion UCLA in the first round of the 1996 NCAA tournament. He was part of Thompson's staff at Georgetown before taking over a Princeton program that was in shambles. He coached the Tigers to six wins in Year 1, 13 in Year 2 (8-6 in the Ivy), a 22-9 record (11-3 in the Ivy) and a CBI semifinal appearance against Saint Louis in Year 3.

In 2011, he matched Harvard game for game; the Tigers shared the regular-season title with the Crimson but earned the Ivy's NCAA bid after winning a one-game playoff. The Tigers finished 25-7 (12-2 in Ivy).
"As a graduate of the class of '88, it was a great four years to watch," Thompson III said of Johnson's Princeton tenure. "World order was restored.

We have a long, proud tradition and one of the best basketball programs in the country. Sydney said it best before the playoff game: There is an expectation to win and added pressure to win and it's different sitting in that Princeton locker room. He's leaving the program where it should be at this point."

Walters said he's going through a national head-coaching search but the Princeton alumni in college basketball want Johnson's successor to be one of three Princeton alums: Thompson III assistant Mike Brennan, Bill Carmody assistant Mitch Henderson or Johnson assistant Brian Earl.
"One of the things that we're proud to be associated with is the success of the former players as head coaches," Thompson III said. "Given that opportunity, they've been successful."

Johnson saw things at Fairfield -- such as a higher salary and the ability to cast a wider net in recruiting -- that he didn't see at Princeton, while Ivy League rival Harvard is taking steps in that direction, according to those close to the program.

Johnson wouldn't go into detail about his departure, but said he was impressed after listening to Fairfield's vision.
"Clearly Fairfield is aspiring to be something just as meaningful in terms of educating kids, student-athlete mentoring and aspiring to be something bigger," Johnson said. "There is momentum here. Clearly, Ed put it in place."
Fairfield won the MAAC regular-season title and reached the second round of the NIT, finishing with a 25-8 record. Fairfield hadn't won a conference title since 1996 and had never won one outright.

The Stags will be the favorite again with the return of guard Derek Needham, Ryan Olander, Colin Nickerson and the transfer of Rakim Sanders from Boston College.

"Ed and the university helped improve and change the lives of these young men and there are resources here around this program that will help them," Johnson said. "I'm not embarrassed to want to be associated with that."
He sees a chance to develop Fairfield even more.
"I can be emotionally attached to this school and I do believe there's a lot of room to grow behind what Ed Cooley did," Johnson said. "I have nothing negative to say about Princeton. I don't think conference affiliation matters. With all due respect to the Big East and the ACC, just because those teams are in those leagues doesn't make them great basketball programs. Sure, they get a bump. But Butler and VCU have shown that if you pop the hood and look underneath you can see something better. Fairfield looks a little different but it looks good and might not to others. But once you start talking to the recruits, the alumni, you see what this program is about."

Still, the emotion that Johnson felt after the Harvard win and near-miss against Kentucky was real. "Those are the type of moments in your coaching career that you'll always remember," Johnson said. "Those players were working their entire lives for those moments and didn't know it. It validated everything we did from that first 6-23 season."

Johnson doesn't have to rebuild Fairfield. The Stags are ready to win again next season, and Johnson said he'll be just as emotionally attached in his new venture as he was at Princeton.

[stevew]

Barnes is staying at UNC.

[Pumpy Tudors]

saw this thread bumped just now and was hoping for more mike anderson news

bite me fofc

[MJ4H]

mike anderson just came out of the broyles athletic center restroom

the motorcade is ready

[Radii]

saw this thread bumped just now and was hoping for more mike anderson news

bite me fofc


Harrison Barnes took longer than most to decide because he was waiting on Mike Anderson to return his calls for advice before deciding.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Harrison Barnes took longer than most to decide because he was waiting on Mike Anderson to return his calls for advice before deciding.
Nice. :)

[Scoobz0202]

Found this humorous:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1184204/3/index.htm



Kemba Walker


Walker took schoolwork with him throughout the Big East and NCAA tournaments, completing short required papers while postponing tests until after the season. He met with his campus tutor on Skype. And in his travel pack is a copy of New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden's Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete, a book that Crump encouraged Walker to read as part of an independent study class on racism in sports. Before the Final Four, Crump suggested that Rhoden's book would be the first that Walker had ever made it through cover-to-cover. After the win over Kentucky, Walker confirmed this. "That's true," he said. "You can write that. It is the first book I've ever read."

[JonInMiddleGA]

That Kemba Walker story makes me think it's time to review the admissions process at UConn.

[Logan]

Kid graduated in 3 years like Emeka Okafor, I'm sure he's doing just fine.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Kid graduated in 3 years like Emeka Okafor, I'm sure he's doing just fine.

If that's the "first book he's ever read" & graduated in three years, I'd say that's all the more reason for concern, not less.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Maybe the University of New Orleans is old-fashioned (or maybe I'm just old), but how the hell does somebody get through college without having to read even one entire book? I had to read at least 10 when I was in college, and I hated almost all of them. Didn't get me out of reading them, though.

[Young Drachma]

I'm sure some will quibble, but I'm inclined to believe that he was trying to say that it was the first non-academic book he's read or more pointed "book read that he enjoyed reading that wasn't a school book."

I wouldn't think that Kemba Walker is some kind of scholar, but he's not the first college student I've heard something like this said in this same context. But those kids aren't quoted for national media and I think this is just another case of a college student being taking out of context.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I'm sure some will quibble, but I'm inclined to believe that he was trying to say that it was the first non-academic book he's read or more pointed "book read that he enjoyed reading that wasn't a school book."

I wouldn't think that Kemba Walker is some kind of scholar, but he's not the first college student I've heard something like this said in this same context. But those kids aren't quoted for national media and I think this is just another case of a college student being taking out of context.
Well, to me, that's different, then. It didn't occur to me that that's what he could've possibly meant. I rarely read, but I wouldn't come right out of college saying that I've only read one book. That makes me sound ridiculous and I would want to shoot myself in the face and then punch myself in the joy department.

[Passacaglia]

But it was a school book...he read it for a class.

Anyway, I'd put it at over 50% of college classes, at any level, that don't require you to read a book cover-to-cover.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I think this is just another case of a college student being taking out of context.

Hard to say it was entirely ooc when he clearly meant it to be quoted "You can write that. It is the first book I've ever read."

[Young Drachma]

Well, to me, that's different, then. It didn't occur to me that that's what he could've possibly meant. I rarely read, but I wouldn't come right out of college saying that I've only read one book. That makes me sound ridiculous and I would want to shoot myself in the face and then punch myself in the joy department.

I agree, but that's my point (well, I didn't make that point here..but I digress) about school's need to train students better for speaking with the media. I watch these press conferences and I want to throw something at the screen. It's infuriating that schools send these kids for the public so unprepared.

But it was a school book...he read it for a class.

Anyway, I'd put it at over 50% of college classes, at any level, that don't require you to read a book cover-to-cover.

No, it wasn't for a class. The SI story said his academic advisor gave it to him to read. And I agree, most classes will just pick excerpts, unless it's an English class. I'd love to assign full books, but was told it's not realistic by my department chair when I was an adjunct. I taught a business class in the art department though.

The courseloads of D1 athletes, many who might be underprepared for college to begin with are designed to keep them eligible, not to advance their academic prowess. So if they don't come to college with that gumption to maximize their education, they're not going to magically seize it when they get there. They'll listen to the folks paid to give them advice, take that advice and do what a lot of people do athletes or not; find the shortcuts to get the degree.

[Young Drachma]

Hard to say it was entirely ooc when he clearly meant it to be quoted "You can write that. It is the first book I've ever read."

I've been around thousands of college students in the past decade or so, so I'm taking liberties. If I'm wrong, so be it.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The question to me really isn't how you get through college without reading a single book cover to cover, it's how the hell did he get through MS or HS and manage to qualify for admission to college without doing so?

[Logan]

If that's the "first book he's ever read" & graduated in three years, I'd say that's all the more reason for concern, not less.

I read plenty for my own pleasure in college, but I was required to read exactly zero books. For a freshman writing class, we read what amounted to non-fiction short stories. In my finance/econ classes we read the usual suspects when it came to financial publications, plus case study type materials. No books in there cover to cover.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I agree, but that's my point (well, I didn't make that point here..but I digress) about school's need to train students better for speaking with the media. I watch these press conferences and I want to throw something at the screen. It's infuriating that schools send these kids for the public so unprepared.

In many cases, I believe what we're seeing IS the "prepared as well as possible" version.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I read plenty for my own pleasure in college, but I was required to read exactly zero books.

See above (I think I was posting simultaneously to your post).

[molson]

"I'm gonna read a book. From beginning to end! In that order!"

[Radii]

I'm gonna say he's exaggerating or outright lying. I know when I was in high school/college it was cool to brag about how you passed an English class without reading "any of that stupid shit" ... almost all posturing because reading isn't cool, yo.

[molson]

I might put the over under on the total books read by the UConn basketball team at zero.

[Young Drachma]

In many cases, I believe what we're seeing IS the "prepared as well as possible" version.

No excusing him being obtuse enough to even utter a quote that would make him look so ridiculous. No amount of media training in the world can prevent for that. I'm just willing to gamble that it's not something most institutions just drop the ball on save for perhaps a cursory look at it.

[Young Drachma]

Just went to the UConn site to see what the benchwarmers were majoring in and sure enough, UConn doesn't even list majors even the media guide bios of the players.

[Passacaglia]

No, it wasn't for a class. The SI story said his academic advisor gave it to him to read.

Yes it was.

And in his travel pack is a copy of New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden's Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete, a book that Crump encouraged Walker to read as part of an independent study class on racism in sports.

[Young Drachma]

Yes it was.

Point well taken.

[terpkristin]

I don't know, I interpreted his comment to mean that it was the first he read cover-to-cover.

I know that when I was in school, I rarely read things all the way through. And I also know that I have friends that don't read books. Period. Yes, they're rocket scientists.

/tk

[JonInMiddleGA]

And I also know that I have friends that don't read books. Period. Yes, they're rocket scientists.

Now? I'd buy that fairly easily.

In their years from middle school until they hit at least the somewhat hard stuff in college? That would boggle my mind.

[terpkristin]

Now? I'd buy that fairly easily.

In their years from middle school until they hit at least the somewhat hard stuff in college? That would boggle my mind.

The conversation came up recently when I was talking to a group of friends about a book I'm reading. Two of them indicated they couldn't even think of the last book they actually read, even in college. They admitted to "mostly watching the movie" for most books or getting Cliffs Notes. I know a fair few who did this in high school, too, so wouldn't surprise me...

I read at some point (maybe in Freakonomics?) that the number of books in the house could be linked on some level to standardized test scores. My mom, sister (4 years younger than me), and I were talking about this and my sister related that in middle school, they did an informal poll about how many books were in each of the kids' homes. Most had very few books (compared to our house which has hundreds...and we had well-used library cards).

People don't read these days. I'm rare amongst my friends that I read and keep up on current events and politics (and vote). It's weird.

/tk

[JonInMiddleGA]

Props to a legendary broadcaster
Woody Durham To Retire As Voice Of The Tar Heels - NORTH CAROLINA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE (http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/genrel/041911aad.html)

Durham has called UNC games for six head coaches in football (Bill Dooley, Dick Crum, Mack Brown, Carl Torbush, John Bunting and Butch Davis) and four head coaches in men's basketball (Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, Matt Doherty and Roy Williams) in addition to working with head coaches and assistant coaches from all of UNC's sports on Rams Club tours and as master of ceremonies at many other speaking engagements. He worked with directors of athletics Homer Rice, Bill Cobey, John Swofford and Dick Baddour.

Durham has called 23 Tar Heel football bowl games, 13 men's basketball Final Fours and six national championship games, including the NCAA title-winning seasons in 1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009.

His broadcast career spanned the collegiate playing days of football players such as Paul Miller, Mike Voight, Amos Lawrence, Kelvin Bryant, Lawrence Taylor, Harris Barton, Natrone Means, Jason Stanicek, Leon Johnson, Greg Ellis, Dre' Bly, Julius Peppers, Darian Durant, Hakeem Nicks and T.J. Yates. In basketball, Durham called games for 26 different Tar Heels whose jerseys hang in the Smith Center rafters, including National Players of the Year Phil Ford, James Worthy, Michael Jordan, Kenny Smith, Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, Antawn Jamison, Sean May and Tyler Hansbrough.

Durham broadcast Carolina football and basketball games with numerous color analysts and sideline reporters, including Jones Angell, Phil Ford, Stephen Gates, Jerod Haase, Jim Heavner, Henry Hinton, Bob Holliday, Charlie Justice, Freddie Kiger, Lee Kinard, Ken Mack, Draggan Mihailovich, Mick Mixon, Eric Montross, Lee Pace, Bob Quincy and Rick Steinbacher.

[Radii]

oh man. I cannot tell you how many nights I listened to Woody call a game in the mid 80s when I was supposed to be in bed and mom wouldn't let me stay up late to watch them play (every 9pm game on a school night basically). Most years I would "be sick" on the Friday that the ACC tournament started, but years that I couldn't I'd sneak a walkman to school and listen to Woody call the early games. If I was unlucky enough to have UNC play an early first round tournament game, same story. In high school I got my first job working in a pharmacy. Both of the pharmacists that I worked for were Carolina grads and as long as the pharmacy wasn't slammed the radio was on for every Carolina basketball game. Going to Georgia Tech it was always really freaky to hear Wes Durham calling a Tech game because he sounds so much like his father. It will definitely be very strange to hear someone calling a Carolina game other than Woody Durham.

[Radii]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsu5R9-UxZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_dkJY08tsk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh-FqB6C91c


Woody Durham calling the final moments of the 1982 and 1993 national championship games. The last one is a favorite UNC moment when I was younger. A rare chance to be a pretty big underdog, and one of my favorite Tar Heels ever in Rick Fox with a last second shot to take down #1 Oklahoma in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Most years I would "be sick" on the Friday that the ACC tournament started

Did the same thing through HS, although it was mostly because GT usually had the noon game & I knew if I didn't see that one, I wouldn't see them in the tournament at all ;)

[Wolfpack]

I'll admit to unbridled bias and say I couldn't stand listening to the guy on the radio, but I'll give him his due for a long and distinguished career. It's going to be pretty damn alien to not hear his voice even in the brief seconds that I find myself on the Carolina radio station as I'm passing through.

Wonder if they'll get Wes to take over or whether they'll bring Mick Mixon back since he's now got pbp experience under his belt working the Panthers games for the last few years.

[wade moore]

Wow.

In a shocking development for CAA fans, and especially GMU fans, it looks like 14 year GMU coach Jim Larranega will be the next coach at the University of Miami.

[wade moore]

Jim Larranaga leaving George mason to coach at Miami - NYPOST.com (http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/george_mason_coach_leaving_for_miami_A2jPE1xg3uUsETvk0pSg6I)

[Swaggs]

Odd choice on both ends.

I guess he gets a big payday and is a very good coach, but he is 60+ years old which presumably doesn't give him a ton of future there.

[wade moore]

Odd choice on both ends.

I guess he gets a big payday and is a very good coach, but he is 60+ years old which presumably doesn't give him a ton of future there.
That is my thought and seems to be the general consensus.

The other odd thing is he's turned down several relatively good job offers before, so I don't know why he'd jump now...

Unless this is a Matt Painter situation where he's trying to get GMU to pay him more, who knows.

[Young Drachma]

That is my thought and seems to be the general consensus.

The other odd thing is he's turned down several relatively good job offers before, so I don't know why he'd jump now...

Unless this is a Matt Painter situation where he's trying to get GMU to pay him more, who knows.

Tony Kornheiser actually made a funny statement on PTI yesterday that I think might have rang true. He basically said when you get older, you think about going to a warm place and retire.

He's going to double his salary, move to a major conference in the otherwise twilight of his career. I guess that's not a bad way to go out.

[sterlingice]

Maybe the University of New Orleans is old-fashioned (or maybe I'm just old), but how the hell does somebody get through college without having to read even one entire book? I had to read at least 10 when I was in college, and I hated almost all of them. Didn't get me out of reading them, though.

There were quite a few that I "faked" reading if they were not worth getting through- read a plot synopsis, a few chapters to get the style, and then cherry pick quotes for a paper on some narrow portion of the book's scope on what you read.

But that's because I had read a lot of books in grade and high school so I knew how to play that game. Nowadays I never read- tho I do books on CD. It's both funny and sad- my wife falls asleep reading some thick tome of classic literature because it's her thing while I'm playing Pokemon or whatever on my DS.

SI

[RPI-Fan]

There were quite a few that I "faked" reading if they were not worth getting through- read a plot synopsis, a few chapters to get the style, and then cherry pick quotes for a paper on some narrow portion of the book's scope on what you read.

But that's because I had read a lot of books in grade and high school so I knew how to play that game. Nowadays I never read- tho I do books on CD. It's both funny and sad- my wife falls asleep reading some thick tome of classic literature because it's her thing while I'm playing Pokemon or whatever on my DS.

SI

For whatever its worth, I was not assigned to read (for school) a book cover to cover (and only can think of one that I had to even read halfway - a biography of a Supreme Court justice) over four years of college and three years of law school.

[sterlingice]

If I had picked different classes for my few trips out into CLAS (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), I probably could have avoided it entirely. Then again, there weren't a lot of non-engineering classes in our curriculum and, well, in engineering, you rarely are assigned to read anything that's not a textbook

SI

[wade moore]

Wow.

Jim Larranega officially the new coach at Miami.

Jim Larranaga leaves George Mason, accepts offer to become coach at Miami - Campus Rivalry: College Football & Basketball News, Recruiting, Game Picks, and More - USATODAY.com (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/04/jim-larranaga-miami-george-mason-acc/1)

[Butter]

Very big surprise. Not a bad place to retire, I guess.

[wade moore]

Word is coming out that this is largely due to a rift between Coach L and the AD at GMU.

It really seems like an odd situation.

He turns down good offers after the final 4 year run.

Then, 5 years later, at 61, he takes a job at Miami.

It's just weird.

[digamma]

Going to Georgia Tech it was always really freaky to hear Wes Durham calling a Tech game because he sounds so much like his father. It will definitely be very strange to hear someone calling a Carolina game other than Woody Durham.

I suspect you'll be hearing someone who sounds a lot like Woody Durham calling the Carolina games.

[Young Drachma]

Word is coming out that this is largely due to a rift between Coach L and the AD at GMU.

It really seems like an odd situation.

He turns down good offers after the final 4 year run.

Then, 5 years later, at 61, he takes a job at Miami.

It's just weird.

Watched the presser. Deliberately avoided thanking the AD, but thanked the President and his players. Said that once the President decided to step down at GMU, that he realized there were things he hadn't accomplished.

So it seems the combination of him not being cool with the AD, losing the President who he's friends with and probably Shaka Smart's payday resulted in him bolting when the opportunity presented itself. But as it turns out, he floated himself for it, Miami didn't seek him out directly from what I've read, letting them know he'd be interested in making the move.

GMU flat out said they couldn't match what Shaka got at VCU. Also, Larranaga says he's got a second home in Sarasota.

Seems like the perfect storm made this happen.

[Radii]

God's Gift Achiuwa chooses to play hoops at St. John's - ESPN New York (http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/ncb/news/story?id=6443546&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines)

God's Gift Achiuwa??????????????????????

[dawgfan]

How God's Gift got his name (http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/How-junior-college-star-God-s-Gift-Achiuwa-got-h?urn=ncaab-253762)

On a related note, when was the last time a major program signed 9 kids in one recruiting class? Does this happen more frequently than I'm aware of? Pretty impressive what Lavin has pulled off here with the quality on top of the quantity.

[MrBug708]

That's a lot of talent to be wasted in one singular class.

What's UW's next step now in the middle?

[dawgfan]

What's UW's next step now in the middle?
They're hoping Richard Peters can get a qualifying test score enabling him to become a 2011 prospect - if so, he's theirs.

Beyond that, they're pursuing a project by the name of Vashill Fernandez, and supposedly have shown interest in Daouda Soumaoro. They would obviously be thrilled if Peters can qualify, as he's the most polished of the bunch - the rest are basically upside guys who need a lot of refining.

[MrBug708]

Peters would help, but would he be thought of as a player who would make an immediate impact? Or a body to play down low?

[dawgfan]

Peters would help, but would he be thought of as a player who would make an immediate impact? Or a body to play down low?
At this point I don't think there's anyone out there that's an immediate-impact kind of guy. That ship sailed when Chol picked Arizona. It's about getting competent bodies to spell Aziz, Gant and Simmons and who might have some potential to blossom down the road (and thus justify taking up a scholarship).

Peters is probably the most likely to add more than just a warm body to the rotation, but I wouldn't expect him to be a major impact kind of guy his first season.

If nothing else, I think Romar would like to feel like he has enough bodies that he can redshirt Jarreau.

[whomario]

NCAA moves up the early withdrawal date again, this time into mid april (first day of spring signing period), making it essentially pointless to go through the draft process unless a player is 100% sure that he´ll stay in.

I´m very surprised that after the age-limit the NCAA is playing hard-ass so extensively. Sure the NBA didn´t do it to help the NCAA per se, but still seems weird how that gets "repaid"

[Atocep]

NCAA moves up the early withdrawal date again, this time into mid april (first day of spring signing period), making it essentially pointless to go through the draft process unless a player is 100% sure that he´ll stay in.

I´m very surprised that after the age-limit the NCAA is playing hard-ass so extensively. Sure the NBA didn´t do it to help the NCAA per se, but still seems weird how that gets "repaid"


The one and done rule is worse for the NCAA than just letting the players declare after high school and it was the NBA coaches complaining about having to scout kids as juniors in high school. The NCAA would likely be perfectly fine with High School kids being draft eligible.

What the NCAA and the NBA need to do is get together and find something that works for both parties because the current setup doesn't. The rumor is the NBA is going to push for high school players to be eligible for the draft and then make the guys that go to college stay for 2 years before becoming draft eligible in the next CBA.

[Young Drachma]

George Mason Patriots tab former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt to replace Jim Larranaga - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6456028)

George Mason taps former Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt. His buyout didn't include any offsets for him taking another job, so both will pay him.

Paul Hewitt is the new men's basketball coach at George Mason.

The former Georgia Tech coach was hired Saturday to replace Jim Larranaga, who left this month for the University of Miami.

Hewitt was fired by the Yellow Jackets last month. He went 190-162 in 11 years at the school and was just 72-104 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Hewitt is receiving a $7.2 million buyout over five years from Georgia Tech, making him more affordable for a school such as George Mason of the Colonial Athletic Association.

A Georgia Tech official told ESPN.com's Andy Katz that Hewitt's Georgia Tech contract had no offset if he were to take another job. Hewitt will receive the full buyout from the Yellow Jackets, an approximate check of $130,000 a month for the next five years.

[JonInMiddleGA]

So much for GMU having any relevance.

[wade moore]

So much for GMU having any relevance.

Wow, I've been gone all week and this is the first I'm seeing this news.

Is this seriously the best GMU could do?!

[digamma]

Gary Williams retires.

[digamma]

Maryland targets Haith?

[MrBug708]

Sean Miller, Mike Brey, Jaime Dixon, and Jay Wright

[Izulde]

Stacey Augmon got hired as an assistant at UNLV.

[MrBug708]

Stacey Augmon got hired as an assistant at UNLV.

How much hope do u guys have for Shabazz, Roscoe, and the Findlay group?

[Izulde]

How much hope do u guys have for Shabazz, Roscoe, and the Findlay group?

Depends on which set of fans you're talking to. Realistically, out of that group of guys, the logical fan is hoping for one or two.

Nigel Williams-Goss, a Findlay sophomore, de-committed. He said UNLV is still a possibility, but that the reason he'd committed in the first place was because of Kruger and the staff.

Grandy Glaze, our lone commit for 2011, asked to be released out of his commitment and Rice is honoring it. I think it's a good thing, to be honest. Glaze struck me as the sort of mediocre recruit that Kruger coaches up to decent that he specializes in.

So we've got two scholarships open right now. Bryce Jones, the frosh from USC, is a top target, I think. UNLV, San Diego State, and Gonzaga are his three finalists from what I hear.

It's going to be a few years before we can accurately judge Rice and his staff (Hutson, Augmon, and Heath Schroyer, who, ironically, comes from Wyoming), both in terms of recruiting and coaching.

Dantley Walker re-committed, but he's going to a two year Mormon mission starting this summer. Anthony Marshall is having surgery for a wrist cyst and will miss four weeks.

[Radii]

Sean Miller, Mike Brey, Jaime Dixon, and Jay Wright

I see Jamie Dixon's name constantly. I may have asked this before, but, is he underpaid at Pitt or something? Wouldn't even Maryland be a lateral move at best for him with the success he's had in the big east? What's the reason he's mentioned so often in job searches?

[MrBug708]

He's always been considered a WCO, but Maryland is an easy Top 10 job

[wade moore]

I think they're crazy, but CAA fans are already wondering what might have happened with Maryland if Larranaga didn't leave for Miami.

[RedKingGold]

Geez, Jay Wright gets called for every job.

[MrBug708]

I havent seen him called about really any...he's always been a solid no

[RedKingGold]

I havent seen him called about really any...he's always been a solid no

I know, that's why it's funny.

Whenever you see Wright thrown on team's wish list, just know it's an fake wish list and the replacement coach will not be on that list.