NCAA Basketball Tournament http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com NCAA Basketball Tournament http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NCAA Basketball Tournament http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/DeMarcus Cousins Is the First Memphis Recruit to Follow Calipari to Kentuckyhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/08/demarcus-cousins-is-the-first-memphis-recruit-to-follow-calipari/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/08/demarcus-cousins-is-the-first-memphis-recruit-to-follow-calipari/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/08/demarcus-cousins-is-the-first-memphis-recruit-to-follow-calipari/#commentsFiled under:

It has really been a question of if, not when, some of the Memphis commitments would choose to follow coach John Calipari to Kentucky. DeMarcus Cousins was the most likely to do so first, since he has not yet signed a National Letter of Intent (LOI) with Memphis. His commitment was only verbal, so there was not even a formality of having to ask Memphis to release him from the LOI.

Sure enough, Cousins made the decision to go to Kentucky. He is likely to be only the first.

Xavier Henry did sign a LOI with Memphis, but has just received his release. He is not ruling out sticking with Memphis since his older brother will be eligible to play for the Tigers in 2009. He is, however, now deciding between Memphis, Kansas and Kentucky.

DeMarcus Cousins Is the First Memphis Recruit to Follow Calipari to Kentucky originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>kentucky wildcatsKentuckyWildcatsmemphis tigersMemphisTigersChas RichWed, 08 Apr 2009 13:17:00 EST Jodie Meeks Will Check Out NBA Lifehttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/07/jodie-meeks-will-check-out-nba-life/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/07/jodie-meeks-will-check-out-nba-life/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/07/jodie-meeks-will-check-out-nba-life/#commentsFiled under:

John Calipari may have to start his Kentucky career in search of a new leading scorer.

Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks, who paced the Wildcats with 23.7 points per game, will find out his standing in the NBA draft. He's not going to hire an agent, according to the story, but he will go through the draft process. Meeks was an All-American this year, and along with forward Patrick Patterson, was most of Kentucky's offense this past season.

Right now, the mock drafts have him as a second round pick, at best. Still, between Calipari taking over at Kentucky and being a junior, Meeks has every reason to find out what his options are with the NBA. And if not, he still can come back for his senior year with the knowledge of what he needs to improve. He would be a fool not to find out his status.

Jodie Meeks Will Check Out NBA Life originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>kentucky wildcatsKentuckyWildcatsChas RichTue, 07 Apr 2009 00:17:00 EST Bruce Pearl Uses Memphis Interest for a Nice Bump From Tennesseehttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/03/bruce-pearl-uses-memphis-interest-for-a-nice-bump-from-tennessee/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/03/bruce-pearl-uses-memphis-interest-for-a-nice-bump-from-tennessee/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/03/bruce-pearl-uses-memphis-interest-for-a-nice-bump-from-tennessee/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Nothing like the threat of having a bitter in-state rival possibly poaching your coach to force another contract extension, even after a somewhat disappointing season. Memphis was hoping to land Bruce Pearl from Tennessee, with a whopping seven-year, $21 million contract according to some reports.

Memphis was reportedly looking to make a big splash after losing John Calipari to Kentucky. Rick Pitino was not going to be walking through that door. Neither was Tim Floyd coming from USC -- despite apparently listening. Bruce Pearl may or may not have been interested, but Tennessee was not going to let Pearl even appear to be considering an offer from Memphis.

The Tennessee athletic department issued a statement announcing the new deal for Pearl, with details of the renegotiated six-year deal coming soon. The press release came complete with statements from Pearl announcing his fealty to the Volunteers.
"I want to ensure the University of Tennessee and its fans that I'm 100 percent committed to this school, this program and our student-athletes.

"I truly love my job, and I want it to be clear that I'm not interested in any other job. There's no place in the country I'd rather be than the University of Tennessee. My children are happy here in the Knoxville community--one is in high school, one is in middle school and two are currently attending the university.

"My staff and I are building a consistent top-25 program and I'm honored and privileged to serve the greatest fans in the country. Tennessee has all the resources necessary to win championships, from our recently upgraded facilities to our ability to schedule.

"It's great to be a Tennessee Vol!"
It really is great. Especially when the salary keeps rising to stay one. Last year, Pearl got an extension that raised his average salary over the life of the contract to around $2.3 million.

Not bad after a season where the Volunteers were picked to be a preseason top-15 team, struggled in a very weak SEC, and were bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 9 seed.

Bruce Pearl Uses Memphis Interest for a Nice Bump From Tennessee originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>memphis tigersMemphisTigerstennessee volunteersTennesseeVolunteersChas RichFri, 03 Apr 2009 12:33:00 EST Georgia Finally Hires a Coachhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/02/georgia-finally-hires-a-coach/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/02/georgia-finally-hires-a-coach/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/02/georgia-finally-hires-a-coach/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Georgia fired Dennis Felton in mid-season appeared to be thoroughly botching their coaching search. They targeted Missouri coach Mike Anderson, and had to wait until he finished a strong run to the Elite Eight. In doing so, Georgia missed out on other coaches like Anthony Grant. If not for the farce of a coaching search in Arizona overshadowing things, Georgia would have been receiving plenty of ridicule.

Anderson rebuffed Georgia and the reported $2 million plus offer to stay at Missouri for a nice raise, but not what Georgia was offering. Georgia's coaching search appeared to be in disarray. As if the program did not expect to be rejected by their first choice if they overwhelmed him with cash.
It was rumored that the Bulldogs were trying to get Jeff Capel from Oklahoma next, and failing that Frank Haith from Miami. Yet, nothing appeared to be happening. It got to the point where there was speculation that Georgia was considering Ed DeChellis at Penn State or Scott Drew at Baylor, and was waiting for the conclusion of the NIT.

Well the Bulldogs finally made their pick, and it is a bit of a surprise. Nevada coach Mark Fox will be the next coach at Georgia.

Fox is an excellent young coach who has been very successful with the Wolf Pack after succeeding Trent Johnson. He has recruited well at Nevada and developed players. He's been considered a hot, young coach for a couple years.

It was expected, though, that if a major conference came calling, it would be one in the Pac-10 or Big 12. He does not have any ties to the south or the east. The native of Kansas, went to school at Eastern New Mexico and got a graduate degree at Kansas. He has been an assistant at Kansas State and Washington.

Naturally, the lack of any connections to anywhere east of the Mississippi has created some immediate doubts.The doubters are probably going to outnumber the believers for a while.

Georgia Finally Hires a Coach originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dennis FeltonDennisFeltoned dechellisEdDechellisgeorgia bulldogsGeorgiaBulldogsJeff CapelJeffCapelMark FoxMarkFoxMike AndersonMikeAndersonnevada wolf packNevadaWolfPackScott DrewScottDrewTrent JohnsonTrentJohnsonChas RichThu, 02 Apr 2009 23:52:00 EST Coaching Salaries Spiral Out of Controlhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/01/coaching-salaries-spin-out-of-control/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/01/coaching-salaries-spin-out-of-control/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/04/01/coaching-salaries-spin-out-of-control/#commentsFiled under:

At the University of Maryland, where I started teaching a course last semester, the university president just before last Christmas announced that the campus would have to implement a furlough plan -- unpaid leave -- this year because of budget cutbacks from the state due to the economic downturn. Maryland wasn't alone.

Arizona State implemented furloughs. Utah State did the same for all of its 2,995 employees the second week of last month. That followed layoffs at Clemson. Small schools like John Carroll University in Cleveland aren't immune as it, too, forced unpaid vacations on employees.

All across the country, universities are feeling the pinch of the recession and taking drastic and painful cuts to deal with it just like so many other employers in the country. The president of the University of Kentucky announced early this year that the school would have to trim at least $10 million in spending and freeze any hiring.

Apparently, the Kentucky president's message excluded his athletic department, which Tuesday was set to hire a new basketball coach, John Calipari, at an average annual salary upwards of $4 million when including incentives, or about twice as much per year as the guy they just hired two years ago, Billy Clyde Gillispie, and recently dismissed.

It was just a few weeks ago during baseball's Winter Meetings when the Steinbrenners and their Yankees were being criticized for doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in free agent contracts to a handful of players. ESPN.com's Buster Olney wrote that a high-ranking MLB executive said: "Are the Yankees aware the country is going through a recession? Are they crazy? They're going to ruin the sport."

It is time to ask that of college athletics, especially the basketball coaching department.

After all, there appears to be no sanity, let alone sensitivity, around the basketball gym. It makes it almost grossly inappropriate that college basketball next weekend is landing its grand show to Detroit, arguably ground zero for the national recession.

The Final Four is, undoubtedly, a nice diversion for the tens of thousands in the Detroit area so hardboiled by this country's economic collapse. Maybe some of the millionaire coaches, who will be using the weekend as their annual convention, will chip in a few bucks to buy the folks who can't afford to get into Ford Stadium some tickets.

The University of Virginia was forced to cut back its budget campus-wide this year and next year but its athletic department just spent roughly $2.5 million to buy out the remaining contracts of two basketball coaches -- the one it decided to dump, Dave Leitao, and the one it targeted as a successor, Tony Bennett, who was atWashington State. Then it signed Bennett for around $1.7 million per year.

It is true that basketball on the college campus is one of two sports called revenue-generating. The other, of course, is football. It doesn't matter that in many cases the phrase revenue-generating is more a misnomer, or wishful thinking, than anything else. Schools and their boosters and fans continue to dump millions upon millions not so much into those programs as much as into coaches' bank accounts in the great chase for the national championship, or some facsimile thereof like the Bowl Championship Series title in football.

This is taking the win-at-all-cost mindset in college athletics to an even lower level.

Kentucky's deal with Calipari will make him the highest paid college coach in the country and he's never even won the national title.

Of course, it isn't winning or not that winning the national crown that even matters in this argument. It is the spending spree for coaches at universities, particularly public universities, while they are cutting back on what is supposed to matter most, the education of young men and women.

For this to be going on in this atmosphere is nothing short of obscene. It was bad enough last year, before everything went to hell , when we learned that Kansas State pushed an assistant -- I said assistant -- basketball coach's salary over $400,000, ostensibly for having recruited the would-be player of the year, Michael Beasley, who promptly left the school for the NBA after just his freshman season. The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics, a national group of faculty, decried the news.

"Higher education should quickly rethink the merits of this professional athletics model before it becomes a benchmark for the next round of athletic budget escalation and further separation of athletics from academics," the COIA protested. "While we believe this to be true irrespective of economic circumstances, it is a particularly compelling matter when state budgets are surely going to be adversely affected by the financial turmoil in the country."

Latest College Basketball Images

    Penn State's Jamelle Cornley (2) drives past Notre Dame's Zach Hillesland (33) during the first half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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    Penn State's Talor Battle (12) reacts after hitting a shot during the first half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game against Notre Dame on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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    Penn State's Talor Battle (12) celebrates with teammate Stanley Pringle (11) after Pringle hit a shot during the first half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game against Notre Dame on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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    Notre Dame's Tyrone Nash (1) shoots over Penn State's Jamelle Cornley (2) during the first half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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    San Diego State's Lorenzo Wade (31) shoots over Baylor's Curtis Jerrells (0) during the second half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. Baylor won 76-62. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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    Baylor's head coach Scott Drew yells to his team during the second half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game against San Diego State on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. Baylor won the game 76-62. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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    San Diego State's head coach Steve Fisher reacts to a call during the second half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game against Baylor on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. San Diego State lost the game 76-62. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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    San Diego State's Mehdi Cheriet, left looks on with teammates Ryan Amoroso, center, and Tim Shelton, right, during the second half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game against Baylor on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. San Diego State lost the game 76-62. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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    Michigan State's Kalin Lucas is interviewed Tuesday, March 31, 2009, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State faces Connecticut in an NCAA men's college basketball tournament Final Four semifinal on Saturday. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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    Baylor's Curtis Jerrells (0) drives past San Diego State's Billy White (32) during the first half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Even Larry Eustachy, who was caught on camera partying the night away with coeds while the basketball coach years ago at Iowa State, realizes how inebriated his business has become. Now rehabilitated at Southern Mississippi, Eustachy a couple weeks ago refused a $25,000 bonus.

"I feel like the Donner Party going over the pass," Eustachy told The Associated Press. "I just felt particularly during this recession that we are in and the situation our school is in, it just didn't go right with me to accept anything above and beyond my normal contract. I'm not trying to make a statement."

It's too bad he wasn't trying to be heard. His brethren would look a lot better heeding his words.

Kevin B. Blackistone is a panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn, the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, and a former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News. He currently lives in Silver Spring, Md.

Coaching Salaries Spiral Out of Control originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>clemsoniowa statelarry eustachymarylandtony bennettutah-statevirginiaKevin B. BlackistoneWed, 01 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST John Calipari Says He's Kentucky Boundhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-semi-officially-takes-the-kentucky-job/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-semi-officially-takes-the-kentucky-job/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-semi-officially-takes-the-kentucky-job/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Kentucky press conference to announce the hiring will not be until tomorrow. John Calipari, though, texted ESPN college basketball reporter, Andy Katz, to let him know that he would leave Memphis for the Kentucky job.

That Calipari is taking the job surprises no one. Despite Memphis reportedly offering him a more lucrative financial package to stay, it is not like Kentucky low-balled him.

The contract with Kentucky is worth $35 million over eight years. The richest in college basketball. Calipari will be getting a $2.5 million signing bonus, $3 million per year for the first 4 years, and then $4.5 million for the 4 years after that. The other $2.5 million would come from meeting incentives.

Kentucky needed a home run hire, and this is just that hire. The best guy for the job. A solid coach, and one of the best (if not the best) recruiters in college basketball. A natural charmer, schmoozer and salesman. A guy who enjoys the spotlight and wants to be the face of a program. A man that could sell Milton Friedman on socialism.

In short, it looks like a good fit.

NCAA Tournament Action

    GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Wayne Ellington #22 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Garrett Temple #14 of the Louisiana State University Tigers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wayne Ellington;Garrett Temple

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    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: A Washington Huskies cheerleader performs during a break in the action against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Manny Harris #3 of the Michigan Wolverines jumps to the basket for a lay up against Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Harris

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Zack Novan #0 and Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for the loose ball with Blake Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Gibson;Zack Novak;Blake Griffin

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Willie Warren #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners makes contact as he goes to the basket with Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first hafl during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Warren

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners goes up for the short jump shot against DeShawn Sims #34 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Griffin;DeShawn Sims

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    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: JaJuan Johnson #25 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a shot over Jon Brockman #40 of the Washington Huskies in the second half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** JaJuan Johnson;Jon Brockman

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners and Zack Novak #0 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for position to the loose ball in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Novak;Taylor Griffin

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Head Coach Jeff Capel of the Michigan Wolverines yells from the sideline during their game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Capel

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    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: Lewis Jackson #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a layup as Quincy Pondexter #20 of the Washington Huskies looks on during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lewis Jackson;Quincy Pondexter

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John Calipari Says He's Kentucky Bound originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>john calipariJohnCaliparikentucky wildcatsKentuckyWildcatsmemphis tigersMemphisTigersChas RichTue, 31 Mar 2009 21:18:00 EST John Calipari Reportedly Agrees to Coach Kentucky Wildcatshttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-accepts-kentuckys-offer/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-accepts-kentuckys-offer/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-accepts-kentuckys-offer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

UPDATE: USA Today reports Calipari contacted former Wildcat coach Joe B. Hall to inform him he has taken the job. It appears as though Calipari intends to embrace the UK tradition from the get-go.

Earlier: According to Fox13 Memphis and Memphis' News Channel 3, John Calipari has officially accepted a very lucrative offer to become the head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky. More details to come on the amount and length of the contract, not to mention the expected roster turnover at both Memphis and Kentucky.

For now, though, the anticipation appears to be over. John Calipari seems to be the Kentucky Wildcats' basketball coach. He'll join up with one of the most hallowed basketball programs in the nation, as Kentucky has won more national championships than anyone but UCLA. "Coach Cal" sports a resume that fits the bill, though.

In 17 seasons, he's compiled a ridiculous 446-110 record. He's been to seven Sweet 16s, five Elite 8s, and two Final Fours -- and this was from the Atlantic 10 and Conference USA. Speaking of which, Calipari hasn't lost a conference game since the 2006 season, when his Tigers went 13-1 against Conference USA foes. Now, Calipari will be taking this resume to the hallowed halls of Lexington's Rupp Arena.

There are plenty of storylines to follow -- assuming these reports are true. The aforementioned roster turnover will likely include departures from both Kentucky and Memphis. Hanging in limbo is the already top-ranked Memphis recruiting class, not to mention the most talented prep point guard in the nation, John Wall.

Once the dust settles on all that, Calipari will enter into a fierce in-state rivalry with Louisville and Rick Pitino.

Stay tuned.

NCAA Tournament Action

    GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Wayne Ellington #22 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Garrett Temple #14 of the Louisiana State University Tigers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wayne Ellington;Garrett Temple

    Getty Images

    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: A Washington Huskies cheerleader performs during a break in the action against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Manny Harris #3 of the Michigan Wolverines jumps to the basket for a lay up against Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Harris

    Getty Images

    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Zack Novan #0 and Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for the loose ball with Blake Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Gibson;Zack Novak;Blake Griffin

    Getty Images

    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Willie Warren #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners makes contact as he goes to the basket with Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first hafl during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Warren

    Getty Images

    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners goes up for the short jump shot against DeShawn Sims #34 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Griffin;DeShawn Sims

    Getty Images

    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: JaJuan Johnson #25 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a shot over Jon Brockman #40 of the Washington Huskies in the second half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** JaJuan Johnson;Jon Brockman

    Getty Images

    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners and Zack Novak #0 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for position to the loose ball in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Novak;Taylor Griffin

    Getty Images

    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Head Coach Jeff Capel of the Michigan Wolverines yells from the sideline during their game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Capel

    Getty Images

    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: Lewis Jackson #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a layup as Quincy Pondexter #20 of the Washington Huskies looks on during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lewis Jackson;Quincy Pondexter

    Getty Images

John Calipari Reportedly Agrees to Coach Kentucky Wildcats originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>john caliparijohn wallJohnCalipariJohnWallrick pitinoRickPitinoMatt SnyderTue, 31 Mar 2009 15:40:00 EST Calipari and Kentucky Pause the Coaching Carouselhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/calipari-and-kentucky-pause-the-coaching-carousel/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/calipari-and-kentucky-pause-the-coaching-carousel/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/calipari-and-kentucky-pause-the-coaching-carousel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Everyone keeps tuned to sports sites and ESPNews for the latest plumes of smoke from Memphis and/or Lexington regarding John Calipari and whether he stays at Memphis or goes to Kentucky. The flip side is that the move has paralyzed nearly every other coaching search as programs and coaches in-demand wait to see what happens.

Oh, sure some little things have happened. Viginia Commonwealth has apparently hired Shaka Smart to be their next head coach. As with the last hire of VCU's former coach, Shaka Smart is a Florida assistant.

Everything else, though, appears to be on hold, if only for a moment.

Georgia may be offering up to $2 million per year to Mizzou head coach Mike Anderson. A number that trumps the reported $1.3 million bump in salary that Mizzou put forth. Or Georgia could be going after Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel, who reportedly makes around $1 million per year in Norman. Either way, both will be getting big raises even if they stay.

Yet Anderson and Capel are wise to wait since Memphis or even Kentucky might come calling. Even if the Wildcats do not, the money reportedly involved to get ($35 million for 8 years) or keep Calipari will surely push the pricetag up for other coaches.

Xavier head coach Sean Miller may have rejected overtures from Virginia out-of-hand, but what if a program like Memphis comes calling with over $2 million per year? Coaches in comfortable positions like Pitt's Jamie Dixon and Villanova's Jay Wright, will find themselves having to at least listen and consider the possibility of a new job if the money gets much higher. What had seemed like a realtively quiet year in the coaching carousel could turn into one of the most tumultuous.

Then there is Arizona, a program with allure, but not nearly the money. Their athletic director Jim Livengood, spoke before of winning the press conference with the hire. That means paying big money, and the big money has only increased in the months since that quote.

At the moment, there is lots of watching and waiting. When Calipari makes his decision, expect the coaching carousel to spin rapidly.

Calipari and Kentucky Pause the Coaching Carousel originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>arizona cardinalsArizonaCardinalsgeorgia bulldogsGeorgiaBulldogskentucky wildcatsKentuckyWildcatsmemphis tigersMemphisTigersmissouri tigersMissouriTigersoklahoma soonersOklahomaSoonersvcu ramsVcuRamsxavier musketeersXavierMusketeersChas RichTue, 31 Mar 2009 13:44:00 EST John Calipari Recruiting Ripple Possible, Where Will John Wall Go?http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-recruiting-ripple-possible/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-recruiting-ripple-possible/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-recruiting-ripple-possible/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the seemingly inevitable move of John Calipari from Memphis to Kentucky, there promises to be a scramble of young talent in the wake. Not only will there be obvious upheaval at both Kentucky and Memphis -- again, assuming Calipari takes the job -- but the move has the potential to reverberate throughout the nation.

John Wall, the top-rated point guard in the nation, has previously expressed plans to attend Memphis and play for Calipari. With the coaching status of Memphis currently a bit in limbo, however, Mike Krzyzewski of Duke has swooped right in.
"He told me the program had not had a point guard in a while that could penetrate and create," Wall said. "Duke has lots of great players and players who can really score. I would be surrounded by great players there."
For the record, Wall's list of potential teams has never changed. Duke was always in the running, but Memphis had been the leader in the clubhouse for quite some time. Wall, however, needs to know who the coach is going to be.
"I talked to Memphis [Sunday], and they said it was too early to know what will happen," Wall said. "I'm waiting."
As are all of us, John. This possible coaching move would send a ripple effect through college basketball's balance of power. Memphis already has the top-ranked recruiting class without Wall. Keeping Calipari and adding Wall would make them the most talented team in the nation in 2010. If Calipari goes, though, they could be left clinging to some scraps.

John Calipari Recruiting Ripple Possible, Where Will John Wall Go? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>john caliparijohn wallJohnCalipariJohnWallmike krzyzewskiMikeKrzyzewskiMatt SnyderTue, 31 Mar 2009 10:53:00 EST John Calipari Closer to Kentucky Dealhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-closer-to-kentucky-deal/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-closer-to-kentucky-deal/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/31/john-calipari-closer-to-kentucky-deal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As things progress on the John Calipari-to-Kentucky coaching front, one can't help but get a feeling of inevitability. Monday, we covered the swirling rumors and now it appears Calipari is going to accept the offer any minute. According to a source for the New York Times, one claiming to be a longtime friend of Calipari's, he will accept a very lucrative deal to become the Wildcats' next coach. It's worth noting Calipari is already one of the highest paid coaches in college basketball, so he'd likely become far-and-away the highest paid coach in the nation.

More interesting, perhaps, could be the immediate impact of talent to Kentucky -- at the expense of Memphis' once vaunted recruiting class.
More Coverage: Calipari Hire Could Cause Recruit Ripple


Highly touted recruits Nolan Dennis, DeMarcus Cousins and Xavier Henry would reportedly likely follow Calipari to Lexington, and it's possible C.J. Henry -- Xavier's brother -- would head north as well. These moves would decimate Memphis' nationally envied recruiting class, and make Kentucky an instant power.

In addition to the extra money, not having to go through a rebuilding process would likely be attractive to Calipari.

UPDATE: In a televised report, ESPN's Andy Katz stated that Calipari is "sleeping on" an 8-year, $35 million deal. Obviously, this is a significant pay bump from Calipari's current $2.3 million annual salary.

Also, a local Memphis TV station has a streaming video and chat room running -- if you want to keep up to date with where Calipari's car is parked.

John Calipari Closer to Kentucky Deal originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>c.j. henryC.j.Henrydemarcus cousinsDemarcusCousinsjohn calipariJohnCaliparinolan dennisNolanDennisxavier henryXavierHenryMatt SnyderTue, 31 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST Calipari to Kentucky Rumors Swirlinghttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/30/calipari-to-kentucky-rumors-swirling/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/30/calipari-to-kentucky-rumors-swirling/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/30/calipari-to-kentucky-rumors-swirling/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Once Kentucky finally showed Billy Gillispie the door last week, rumors immediately turned to Florida coach Billy Donovan as his successor, for obvious reasons. It took Donovan mere hours to say he wasn't interested in leaving Florida, and ever since then the hot name in the rumor mill has been John Calipari. A Memphis TV station even put up a streaming video feed outside Calipari's office.

Depending on where you get your information, Calipari is either ready to be offered the job, or he hasn't yet met with officials from Kentucky. We do know that, Monday, the Wildcats' brass received permission from Memphis to talk to Calipari.

There are myriad storylines tied to this job search. First of all, Kentucky -- while some think it's a horrible job -- is one of the elite college basketball programs. You have North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, UCLA, Indiana and Kentucky. Those are the destination jobs in college basketball. This alone should make it quite easy for the UK administration to woo a big name from somewhere. Should Calipari decide to take the job, Michigan State fans would surely breathe a sigh of relief, not to mention Oklahoma State fans as well -- both MSU's Tom Izzo and the Cowboys' Travis Ford are other possible targets if the Calipari situation does not accelerate forward.

I don't know John Calipari personally, but I can't imagine this job wouldn't be attractive to him. It's a destination job. No offense to fans/alumni of Memphis, but it's simply not a destination job. Plus, he's mired in the maligned Conference USA. Even though he's recruiting tons of talent and playing a solid non-conference schedule, it will be hard for his team to be battle-tested come tourney time. All things considered, the run to the championship game in 2008 was probably the ceiling for Calipari's program in Memphis. In Kentucky, he could make that trip a routine one.

It's worth mentioning that several of the players reportedly believe he's already made up his mind that he's leaving to take the job.

For the Wildcats, grabbing someone with the recruiting acumen of Calipari would be a relative coup. This seems like a good match on the surface, so we'll see how things progress this week.

Calipari to Kentucky Rumors Swirling originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>billy donovanbilly gillispieBillyDonovanBillyGillispiejohn calipariJohnCalipariMatt SnyderMon, 30 Mar 2009 16:45:00 EST Reporter Chases After Billy Gillispiehttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/28/one-more-demonstration-of-exactly-how-crazy-kentucky-can-be/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/28/one-more-demonstration-of-exactly-how-crazy-kentucky-can-be/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/28/one-more-demonstration-of-exactly-how-crazy-kentucky-can-be/#commentsFiled under:

Alan Cutler, of WLEX in Lexington, gives new meaning to over-the-top pursuit of a sound byte.

Billy Gillispie, fired as Kentucky coach on Friday, can be seen here reporting to the Kentucky athletic department. Cutler and his crew go Carl Monday to get a quote from Gillispie, and literally start running after the Wildcats' ex-coach, who doggedly ignores them. The whole time, Gillispie is holding a cell phone to his ear while apparently pretending to be talking to someone -- even while running.

Regional Emmy worthy video after the jump.

Reporter Chases After Billy Gillispie originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>kentucky wildcatsChas RichSat, 28 Mar 2009 15:06:00 EST Anthony Grant Settles on Alabamahttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/anthony-grant-settles-on-alabama/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/anthony-grant-settles-on-alabama/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/anthony-grant-settles-on-alabama/#commentsFiled under: ,

Alabama landed its top choice, as Anthony Grant has agreed to take over at Alabama. Grant has been a hot name in college basketball coaching for the last few years. He has been very careful, though, about finding a bigger job where he feels he can succeed.

The Billy Donovan protege has had great success with Virginia Commonwealth. He has been mentioned for several possible jobs and was nearly the successor at Florida when Donovan took then reversed field on the Orlando Magic gig. It almost seemed as if he has been waiting the last couple years to be sure that Donovan was not going anywhere.
Grant was the primary target of Alabama. This became clear with two trips down there by Grant and no other coach was interviewed once. The difficulty for Grant was whether he should wait and see what would happen with the Kentucky job and his mentor Billy Donovan. If Kentucky could succeed this time in luring Donovan away, Grant would be in line for the Florida gig

The ax fell on Billy Gillispie at Kentucky, but Billy Donovan removed his name very quickly from the speculation. That cleared the way for Grant to agree in principle to a deal that will pay him nearly $2 million. Or about half of what Alabama football coach Nick Saban makes.

Anthony Grant Settles on Alabama originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>alabama crimson tideAlabamaCrimsonTidevcu ramsVcuRamsChas RichFri, 27 Mar 2009 22:02:00 EST Worst Job in College Hoops: Kentucky Fried Chaoshttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/worst-job-in-college-hoops-kentucky-fried/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/worst-job-in-college-hoops-kentucky-fried/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/worst-job-in-college-hoops-kentucky-fried/#commentsFiled under:

BOSTON -- Tubby Smith is much too dignified to laugh out loud, or LOL in the text-message age. But for all the abuse he took at Kentucky during a decade that was absolutely dreadful -- a national championship, a 263-83 record, an NCAA tournament appearance every season, just horrendous stuff -- who could blame him if he wanted to giggle to himself Friday?

Seems the bluegrass has turned to fertilizer in Lexington.

Smith's once-golden successor, Billy Gillispie, was dismissed after two tumultuous seasons at the most blueblooded of college basketball programs. Remember when those obnoxious, overscrutinous UK creatures ripped Smith as "Ten-Loss Tubby" and rejoiced when he left for Minnesota? Well, Tubby never lost to Gardner-Webb and VMI at Rupp Arena. And Tubby never lost by 41 at Vanderbilt and at home to a 12-18 Georgia team when the Wildcats were trying to create late momentum for an NCAA bid. And Tubby never would blow games with confounding substitution patterns. And Tubby wouldn't have had two studs on his roster, an explosive scorer in Jodie Meeks and a skilled big man in Patrick Patterson, and settled for an NIT booby prize, breaking an 18-year streak of invites to the biggest March gala.

Yeah, we all should be laughing out loud at the arrogance of Kentucky. It hangs a state's entire identity on a basketball program and expects the coach to be a folksy local ambassador who makes the Final Four every spring, only to freak out when the powers-that-be don't do their homework and watch Billy Clyde become an aloof, disoriented flop. Maybe the bluebloods should realize Kentucky, which hasn't been to a Final Four since it last won a national title in 1998, no longer is America's premier program. It's stuck in the middle of the muck now, certainly not on the plateau of North Carolina, Kansas and -- this is going to hurt like a backhair-peeling session -- Louisville.

Predictably, Friday felt a lot like the last time Kentucky needed a coach. When Smith left, huge names were immediately targeted, but Florida's Billy Donovan said no and Villanova's Jay Wright and Texas' Rick Barnes rebuffed interest. Once again, before Gillispie could put the FOR SALE sign in his front yard, UK officials were on the horn with Donovan this week. How humiliating that they're now 0 for 2.

"In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible. I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here," Donovan said in a statement Friday, amid false reports he had cut a deal with Kentucky.

That must be a record for the quickest job-squelching denial.

You never know about Donovan's wavering mind -- he flipped after accepting the Orlando Magic job and returned to Florida -- but more likely, the search will center on two candidates. One is very well-known, Memphis' John Calipari, who is tiring of the Conference USA-is-weak stigma and might be ready for a new challenge after losing to Missouri in the Sweet 16. The other, Oklahoma State's Travis Ford, has a lower profile but passes political muster as a former Kentucky guard. Athletic director Mitch Barnhart will call Wright, Barnes and Michigan State's Tom Izzo, among others, but all would be making lateral moves and shouldn't be expected to leave. "It's a crazy business we're in," Wright said here Friday as Villanova prepared for the East Regional final against Pitt. "I always used a line with our assistants when they complain about things -- it's like The Godfather, this is the life we chose. It is what it is. You have to deal with it this time of year.

"I feel very fortunate I'm in a spot I don't have to deal with it. I'm happy to be at Villanova. I don't want to be anywhere else. Someone mentions your name, you're flattered. You're crazy if you don't say that, or you're not being truthful if you don't say that. But I don't want my name mentioned anywhere. I love Villanova. I've got a great athletic director, great president. As long as those guys are there, I'm good. And I can concentrate on coaching. A lot of times when you're not in that position, it's distracting."

Distracting? Gillispie was so rattled by the Kentucky experience, he twice berated an ESPN female sideline reporter, Jeanine Edwards, who reportedly had rejected his romantic flirtations in the past. Did you see him Friday, literally running away from a TV camera crew when he entered the basketball complex? I didn't know whether to laugh or give him a hug. The other night, after a loss to Notre Dame in the NIT, he turned religious, saying, "There's only one judgment that I'll really ever be concerned about, and I hope I pass that judgment. That's the only one I will ever be concerned about, and I'm really proud that's the only judgment that will ever have a real effect on me, and I hope I pass that one with flying colors."

Wow. Heavy. If I were advising any coach interested in the Kentucky job, I'd suggest you stay where you are.

Unless you want to be the next KFC.

Kentucky Fried Coach.

"All I know is to go to work, recruit, coach," Gillispie said on his final radio show. That's not nearly enough at Kentucky, where they want you to kiss babies, hug grandmothers, speak at the Rotary Club and be the biggest guy in the state. Rick Pitino and Joe B. Hall pulled it off, probably because they also were winning national championships. Smith never pulled it off because the drought grew lengthy after his first title and, well, some people in the state are bigots. Gillispie, a workaholic, never even attempted to schmooze the UK masses. They may have accepted his standoffish attitude if he'd won, but in his two years, he went 2-10 against top 25 opponents -- 0-5 this season. "A lot of teams would be happy with 22 (wins), but not always around here when it's not the right 22," Gillispie said.



At a press conference Friday, Kentucky officials made it clear that he wasn't what they wanted in a coach. "You have to be an ambassador to this program," said the school president, Dr. Lee Todd. "He had a lack of understanding that this job is a complete job that requires a lot more than just coaching and recruiting. It's kind of like the president's job; nobody ever writes out exactly what you have to do, but there is a lot to it. And philosophically, I think we need someone who nurtures the entire Big Blue Nation, has the philosophy that this is a very unique opportunity, a very unique job and it's one that is a lot broader."

"This is not just another coaching job,'' Barnhart said. "(Gillispie) spoke to things that were not in his job description, just about winning and losing and improving. This program is bigger than that. There's much more to it than that. It's something that you watch over a period of time, and this season came to an end and it became apparent that there were some differences in where we wanted to be. Sometimes, it's not the right fit, and that's my responsibility."

It's possible there is no right fit at Kentucky. We should have known this marriage was doomed when Gillispie refused to sign a contract that paid him $2.3 million a year. He never really explained why, but it was obvious he didn't trust someone or something. By not signing it, he botched a $6 million buyout, which goes down among the dumber contractual moves in coaching history. "Suffice it to say, it will be less than that," Barnhart said of the buyout amount.

Zero? Less than zero?

In retrospect, Billy Clyde Gillispie should have stayed at Texas A&M, a football school where hoops expectations are low and his performance level was high. He dared to take the Big Blue Gamble and let it end in tragicomedy, with a beaten man sprinting away from a camera crew, fleeing as quickly as possible from his basketball hell.

The coaching profession should take notes. Kentucky is a bad, bad job.

Worst Job in College Hoops: Kentucky Fried Chaos originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jay MariottiFri, 27 Mar 2009 21:01:00 EST Billy Gillispie Done at Kentuckyhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/billy-gillispie-done-at-kentucky/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/billy-gillispie-done-at-kentucky/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/billy-gillispie-done-at-kentucky/#commentsFiled under:

UPDATE: Kentucky confirms coaching change

After just two seasons at the University of Kentucky, Billy Gillispie has been shown the door. According to a televised report on ESPN, Gillispie has been fired, effective immediately. There is a press conference scheduled for 4:30 PM Friday afternoon.

The move comes a few days after Kentucky was bounced from the NIT by Notre Dame. Yeah, the NIT. At Kentucky. Obviously, fans and prominent alumni weren't too excited at the direction of the program under Gillispie. He had compiled a 40-27 record (20-12 in the SEC) in just two seasons in Lexington. According to several reports, though, this move wasn't all about wins and losses.

Gillispie's personality had reportedly rubbed many people in the administration the wrong way, and there were whispers these past few weeks of a player mutiny.

As for the future in Lexington? The first name that would appear destined to pop up in relation to the now vacant Kentucky job now would probably be Florida's Billy Donovan. You'll remember the Wildcats' top choice two years ago was Donovan. He decided to stay in Florida after building a nationally prominent program who won back-to-back National Championships. After consecutive NIT visits, however, it's possible Donovan would change his tune and return to where he was once an assistant under Rick Pitino.

Stay tuned. This saga is certain to remain in headlines for weeks.

Billy Gillispie Done at Kentucky originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>billy donovanbilly gillispieBillyDonovanBillyGillispieMatt SnyderFri, 27 Mar 2009 14:56:00 EST Mid-Majors Are Barely Missedhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/23/tourney-thrives-on-drama-not-mid-majors/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/23/tourney-thrives-on-drama-not-mid-majors/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/23/tourney-thrives-on-drama-not-mid-majors/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Duke TexasThere was a graveside service last week for what remains of the NCAA basketball tournament, at least in the nation's sports pages. When just four mid-majors earned at-large berths in this year's field of 65, the tournament was declared dead on arrival and non-BCS basketball programs were placed on the endangered species list, somewhere around polar bears, the mid-range jumper and Mike Krzyzewski's natural hair color.

Had you'd listened to all the complaints about the field, you would've believed there was so much of a bias against the little guy that short-but-stout Kansas point guard Sherron Collins was asked to wear stilettos just to play in the thing, and David Spade was asked to not even watch online.

Heck, with the number of angry folks in Creighton and St. Mary's sweaters, the selection committee probably had to pretend to be AIG executives just to get out of the building last Sunday.

So, as mid-majors were driven from the field one-by-one like they'd learned survival skills from the French Army, forgive us if we spend a moment celebrating.

It was a loss for mid-majors. And a victory for good basketball.

Not because mid-majors aren't, and can't be, great teams. Survivors Memphis, Gonzaga and Xavier are A-list college programs and prove that dynasties can be built at non-BCS schools as well, and sometimes better than at their BCS counterparts. Three years ago, George Mason proved that mid-majors can make reservations for longer than two days or even two weeks. And this season, St. Mary's had an argument for inclusion so strong it might've been authored by the ghost of Johnny Cochran. But it simply wasn't to be this year.

In fact, St. Mary's exclusion proved the selection committee cared more about basketball than possible public reaction.

Of which, there was plenty. There were those who thought last year's star Stephen Curry should've gotten a free pass for what he did in carrying the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in 2008 and those who thought the exclusion of mid-majors made the event as allegedly soulless and uninteresting as the BCS championship series.

The Washington Post's Michael Wilbon complained that the NCAA tournament doesn't care about "charm." And he's right. It doesn't. Surprisingly, March Madness isn't a very special episode of Gilmore Girls.

The NCAA tournament is not, in fact, a sweeps week production to be programmed like a reality television show. It's an event to determine college basketball's national champion. It's where careers are made, legends are born and Clark Kellogg gets heckled mercilessly. And it's where integrity of the field means more than anything, even if its selection may seem cold-hearted.

Charm plays no more a role in selection than excitement plays in soccer.

Go ahead and try that "charm" argument next time the NHL leaves Alex Ovechkin out of the playoffs, or if the NBA playoffs proceed without Shaquille O'Neal.

Including the best teams as at-large bids over the sentimental choice of the little guy is a victory for those who care more for basketball than television.

If you want good TV, then get The Wire on Netflix. If you want good basketball, do exactly what the tournament did and select the best 34 teams for at-large bids, be they power schools, mid-majors, low majors, or an all starting five of Lee Majors.

For those who thought the exclusion of mid-majors would be the moment the NCAA tournament jumped the shark, the rating numbers must've been as shocking as Arizona walloping fifth-seeded mid-major Utah.

Ratings were up through Saturday. Day 1 saw viewership jump by nine percent. The Saturday night matchup, primarily Duke-Texas (plus the two tiny sprinkles of America that actually got Gonzaga-Western Kentucky) was up 20 percent year-over-year to the same slot a year earlier. Overall, the whole tournament through Saturday was up four percent.

Online, viewership soared with the amount of people watching CBS Sports' March Madness on Demand surpassing last year's total for the entire tournament by Saturday.

And on the court there was still drama and there were still heroes.

With or without mid-majors, the tournament produces drama. And that's truly what makes the tournament special. Not the name on the back of the jersey or the name on the front of the jersey but the name on the logo at center court.

NCAA Tournament Action

    GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Wayne Ellington #22 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Garrett Temple #14 of the Louisiana State University Tigers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wayne Ellington;Garrett Temple

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    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: A Washington Huskies cheerleader performs during a break in the action against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Manny Harris #3 of the Michigan Wolverines jumps to the basket for a lay up against Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Harris

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Zack Novan #0 and Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for the loose ball with Blake Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Gibson;Zack Novak;Blake Griffin

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Willie Warren #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners makes contact as he goes to the basket with Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first hafl during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Warren

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners goes up for the short jump shot against DeShawn Sims #34 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Griffin;DeShawn Sims

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    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: JaJuan Johnson #25 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a shot over Jon Brockman #40 of the Washington Huskies in the second half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** JaJuan Johnson;Jon Brockman

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners and Zack Novak #0 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for position to the loose ball in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Novak;Taylor Griffin

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    KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Head Coach Jeff Capel of the Michigan Wolverines yells from the sideline during their game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Capel

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    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: Lewis Jackson #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a layup as Quincy Pondexter #20 of the Washington Huskies looks on during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lewis Jackson;Quincy Pondexter

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After all, there were no mid-majors around when Duke's Christian Laettner caught a pass from Grant Hill, faked, turned and sank a bucket that to this day continues to bring Thomas Hill to tears on the sideline. There were no mid-majors when body-by-Dunkin Donuts Dmitri Hill marched Florida past Connecticut and eventually to its first Final Four in 1994, or when Bill Curley leveled North Carolina the same year. There were no mid-majors when Arizona just didn't stop winning in 1997 or when Dale Brown and lowly LSU marched all the way to the Final Four as a 12-seed. There were no mid-majors last year when Mario's Miracle crowned Kansas again, or when Hakim Warrick swatted Syracuse to a national title in 2003.

Like the Vibe Awards, the tournament always produces drama in sizes you might find at Costco, no matter who's on the guest list. The NCAA tournament survives with or without mid-majors, just like it survives with or without Duke or North Carolina, both of which have sat at home in the past 15 years.

This year has been no different.

Sure, there was more chalk in this tournament than a second-grade classroom, but there was oh-so-much drama just getting to the Sweet 16, including an opening weekend that those who just cheer for the upset or their brackets might've snoozed through, but a weekend that college basketball fans should've loved.

It was drama, maybe not in the pure guilty pleasure of the 15-2 upset or the 10-9 home run fest, but of the warning track shots in a pitcher's duel, or the scoring chances only to be stopped by a diving save in hockey.

There was Trevon Hughes pinball-ing from one tall tree to another in the Florida State frontcourt before gently kissing the Badgers' opening-round win off the glass. There was freshman Demetri Goodson frenetically rushing coast-to-coast to stave off Western Kentucky. There was Duke's Jon Scheyer heaving a moonshot into the Greensboro Coliseum rafters as time ran down against Texas, sealing the game with a pop fly Barry Bonds might've admired. There was Oklahoma State's Byron Eaton plowing through Tennessee for the game-winning three-point play. There was Louisville's Terrence Williams ousting Siena all by himself, Memphis getting 10 3-pointers from a guy who averaged 4.4 points a game to survive Cal State-Northridge, and freshman Kim English coming off the bench for Missouri to hit two critical free throws.

If it wasn't a moment of good television for the first-weekend warriors, it was a moment of good basketball for the yearlong fans.

And it sets up what could be the best Sweet 16 in the 64-field era.

Instead of underdogs LSU and Western Kentucky in the South, you get North Carolina and Gonzaga, a coast-to-coast matchup of perennial powers. Villanova and Duke meet in as fine a guard showdown as you'll see, one that should give "run and gun" a meaning beyond Plaxico Burress' nightly plans. Pittsburgh meets Xavier in a regional coach-meets-pupil showdown. Missouri meets Memphis in a game whose defensive pressure would make the '85 Bears look like they were playing in the Pro Bowl.

Heck, the biggest seed spread differential games will be Louisville against Arizona -- a team that's already beaten three top-six seeds this season -- and Connecticut against Purdue, the champions of the Big Ten.

Yes, the NCAA tournament critics may be right. Mid-majors are nearly extinct this year. But they'll be back.

Meanwhile, the drama is just as good as ever.

Mid-Majors Are Barely Missed originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ray HollomanMon, 23 Mar 2009 18:11:00 EST Lady Vols Lose Grip on Historyhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/23/lady-vols-lose-grip-on-history/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/23/lady-vols-lose-grip-on-history/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/23/lady-vols-lose-grip-on-history/#commentsFiled under:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Pat Summitt wondered when her young Tennessee team would finally get through its growing pains and finally figure it out.

Ball State gave her the emphatic answer: maybe next year.

The Cardinals stunned the two-time defending national champions 71-55 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday night, snapping one of the more remarkable streaks in college basketball history.

No. 12 Ball State 71, No. 5 Tennessee 55: Women's NCAA Tourney Scores
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The Lady Volunteers (22-11) had never lost in the first two rounds of the tournament, going 42-0 through the years. It's a run the program has used as a launching pad to eight national championships.

No. 9 will have to wait.

Tennessee became the first defending champ to lose its opening game in the women's tourney. Old Dominion won the title in 1985 and failed to make the tournament the following year.

The Lady Vols were never in danger of missing the NCAAs even after an uneven regular season, though the selection committee dropped them all the way to a fifth-seed, lowest in 28 tournament appearances.

Summitt, college basketball's all-time winningest coach, hoped for a fresh start in the NCAAs. She made the team watch a documentary on Tennessee's 1997 national championship team, a club that lost 10 games during the regular season before finally figuring it out in March.

Yet instead of history repeating itself, the Lady Vols made the kind of history they were hoping to avoid.

Tennessee had never lost to a team seeded lower than fourth, yet looked outclassed against a team playing on college basketball's biggest stage for the first time.

"I thought we were tentative, maybe uptight," Summitt said. "But you have to give credit where credit is due and that's to the Ball State basketball team. They had a lot more toughness. They beat us to loose balls. They made shots."

The 12th-seeded Cardinals (26-8) will play Iowa State in the second round on Tuesday.

Porchia Green led Ball State with 23 points, Audrey McDonald added 18 and the Mid-American Conference champions dominated the second half to capture the biggest win in school history.

The upset and its decisiveness even left the Cardinals stunned.

"I would be lying to you if I told you I thought it would be a 16-point victory," Ball State guard Kiley Jarrett said. "It hasn't hit me yet. "It is just unbelievable."

Shekinna Stricklen had 17 points for Tennessee. The Lady Vols shot just 35 percent and played the second half without center Kelley Cain, who went down in the first half with a knee injury.

The way the Cardinals fearlessly challenged the Lady Vols, it might not have mattered if Cain was available.

Green and Jarrett did whatever they wanted against the bigger - but decidedly slower - Lady Vols. Using their speed to go by defenders, Green and Jarrett were able to get into the lane or find open teammates.

The Lady Vols, meanwhile, appeared to be a step behind all night.

"Their guards did an awesome job," Tennessee's Angie Bjorklund said. "We need to get down and defend no matter what and we didn't do that today."

Ball State took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Emily Maggert with just over 14 minutes remaining and Tennessee had no response.

The Cardinals pushed the lead to 10 on a pair of free throws by Jarrett with 7:20 to go and Tennessee would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

"To go out and do what they just did, it's going to take us a really long time to get our minds around the accomplishment that they have been able to achieve," said first-year Ball State coach Kelly Packard who has 26 career wins, or 979 fewer than Summitt.

Jarrett celebrated the victory by jumping into Green's arms at midcourt as the buzzer sounded while the large contingent of the orange-clad Tennessee fans who made their way to E.A. Diddle Arena walked to the exits in stunned silence.

This one may take awhile to sink in.

Getting through the first two rounds has been a mere formality for the Lady Vols through the years, as Tennessee used the opening games as glorified scrimmages in an effort to iron out the kinks before getting to the round of 16.

It's a formula that's worked for 27 years and ended with the Lady Vols cutting down the nets in the national championship game, including titles behind star Candace Parker each of the past two seasons.

Parker is long gone now and the seven freshmen that comprise the core of the youngest team of Summitt's remarkable coaching career will have to wait a year to get a shot at starting another streak.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Lady Vols Lose Grip on History originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>candace parkerCandaceParkerpat summittPatSummitttennesseeFanHouse NewswireMon, 23 Mar 2009 01:00:00 EST Ty's Toe, Tar Heels Prevailhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/21/unc-and-the-toe-of-ty-lawson-prevail/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/21/unc-and-the-toe-of-ty-lawson-prevail/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/21/unc-and-the-toe-of-ty-lawson-prevail/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I know I'm sick of hearing about Ty Lawson and his toe. I imagine most people are. We would be better served with a Facebook page to provide the status updates. Or perhaps just a continual Twitter giving reports. Breathless reports on ESPN and CBS on the latest smacked of overkill.

Yet today when LSU came out in the second half on fire, it was Ty Lawson that responded. He played almost all of the second half, and made sure the Tar Heels came away with the win.

No. 1 North Carolina 84, No. 8 LSU 70: AP Recap | Box Score | Bracket | Scores

Lawson played only limited minutes in the first half and was only 1-of-5. He was on the sidelines with his shoe off, looking frustrated and pained. He was back on the court in the second half, and when LSU surged to the lead behind a 15-3 run, it was Lawson that started making plays. He went off for 21 points in the half. Going 6-of-8 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 at the free throw line.

As much as this has been a media circus that has overshadowed the entire UNC team and anything regarding their opponents, Lawson's performance ultimately underscored why there was so much attention on his toe.

Latest Tourney Cheerleader Photos

    GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: The North Carolina Tar Heels cheerleaders perform during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament against the Louisiana State University Tigers at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: A cheerleader for the Louisiana State University Tigers cheers against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: A Washington Huskies cheerleader performs during a break in the action against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    North Carolina cheerleaders get in the spirit as their team face LSU in the first half of their NCAA Tournament game on Saturday, March 21, 2009, in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

    MCT

    PHILADELPHIA - MARCH 21: A UCLA Bruins cheerleader performs during the game against the Villanova Wildcats during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Wachovia Center on March 21, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    BOISE, ID - MARCH 20: Cheerleaders for the Florida State Seminoles dance during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March 20, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    BOISE, ID - MARCH 20: Cheerleaders for the Wisconsin Badgers perform during the game against the Florida State Seminoles in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March 20, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    BOISE, ID - MARCH 20: Cheerleaders for the Florida State Seminoles dance during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March 20, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    BOISE, ID - MARCH 20: Cheerleaders for the Florida State Seminoles dance during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March 20, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    BOISE, ID - MARCH 20: Cheerleaders for the Florida State Seminoles dance during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March 20, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

Ty's Toe, Tar Heels Prevail originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>lsu tigersLsuTigersnorth carolina tarheelsNorthCarolinaTarheelsChas RichSat, 21 Mar 2009 20:28:00 EST LSU Scores Blow for Power Conferenceshttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/19/lsu-scores-blow-for-power-conferences/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/19/lsu-scores-blow-for-power-conferences/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/19/lsu-scores-blow-for-power-conferences/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A major topic of discussion this past week was how mistreated the mid-majors have been in recent years by the NCAA tournament selection committee. Butler is definitely one of the best teams in the nation not from the so-called BCS conferences. The Bulldogs were slotted against LSU, a team from the most maligned BCS conference, the SEC.

Not only did Butler lose to LSU in the first round of the tournament on Thursday, but they came out completely flat and seemed noticeably overmatched in the first five minutes. Sure, things settled down and Butler was in the game to the end, but this game did nothing but reinforce the supposed under-representation of the mid-majors when it comes to at-large berths.
No. 8 LSU 75, No. 9 Butler 71: AP Recap | Box Score | Bracket | Scores
Marcus Thornton was "the man" for the Tigers, as he scorched the nets for 27 points on 10-14 shooting. He also survived what had to have been a scary moment for Tigers fans mid-way through the second half, when he tweaked his ankle underneath the basket.

Matt Howard led Butler, despite fighting foul trouble throughout the game, with 22 points and nine rebounds.

Overall, the season will be considered a success for Butler. They weren't even predicted to be in the running for the Horizon League title from many outlets, and they dominated the conference in the regular season. There is still a solid foundation moving forward, and they'll have another shot at a big school next season in the tournament.

The main story emerging from the tournament's first real game, though, was the power conference taking down a mid-major in what should amount to an even matchup. Butler had a chance to start off the tourney with a mid-major statement. Instead, chalk one up for the allegedly biased committee.

LSU Scores Blow for Power Conferences originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>marcus thorntonMarcusThorntonmatt howardMattHowardMatt SnyderThu, 19 Mar 2009 14:47:00 EST Speculation Begins About Billy Gillispie's Future at Kentuckyhttp://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/18/speculation-begins-about-billy-gillispies-future-at-kentucky/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/18/speculation-begins-about-billy-gillispies-future-at-kentucky/http://ncaatournament.fanhouse.com/2009/03/18/speculation-begins-about-billy-gillispies-future-at-kentucky/#commentsFiled under: ,

A report has been circling around the Internet the past day that says Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie could be out after just two years on the job because of a players' mutiny against the coach.

Leoweekly.com reported late Tuesday afternoon that a source with some University of Kentucky connections who has been "spot on in the past" said that Gillispie is "Going, going gone...only way, I'm told to prevent mass exodus....expect announcement soon." After the initial report, the website came back with another post, this time with even more confirmation.

Since my last post, I have spoken with several sources, and it now appears as if Billy Clyde Gillispie's departure from UK is imminent. This info comes from people well placed within the UK community, people who have provided reliable information to me in the past about UK personnel moves.

The termination, I'm told, will happen soon after UK's last game.

While it does seem to make sense with Kentucky's history, there is no confirmation from any of the big news sources in the area. Neither the Lexington Herald-Leader and Louisville Courier-Journal have confirmed any of this information, so take the report for what it's worth.

But, with that said, the notion that "Billy Clyde" could be done shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. Gillispie went to Kentucky to bring the program back to being a storied powerhouse, but it lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and didn't even make the big dance this season, snapping a streak that dates back to 1991. This coming after Gillispie took both the University of Texas El Paso to the NCAA Tournament in just his second season with the program and Texas A&M to the Sweet Sixteen in his third season.

On Tuesday night, Kentucky beat UNLV in the first round of the NIT to advance to the field of 16.

Speculation Begins About Billy Gillispie's Future at Kentucky originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Billy GillispieBillyGillispieShane BaconWed, 18 Mar 2009 12:08:00 EST