Month: February 2008 (Page 16 of 30)

One thing Thad Matta knows how to do is win. He collected his 200 win as a head coach and is currently the winningest coach in Ohio State history. He is on track to record his 8th straight 20 win season and 13th overall when you throw in five years as an assistant.

He has the Buckeyes poised to make another run with his third different core group of players in three years. Losing three players drafted in the first round of the NBA draft last year would cripple most programs, but Matta has found a way to mix a group of talented freshman (Koufos, Turner, Diebler) with some outstanding upperclassmen (Butler and Lighty).

Currently, three games out of first place theyt have three of the four top teams coming to Columbus to close the season. You better not count the Buckeyes out yet….

Speaking of Koufos, he had a double double against Northwestern and is clearly one of the best freshman big men in the country. Butler became the all-time assist leader for the Buckeyes last night breaking Kelvin Ransey record. Senior and freshman leading the way…

Not only did Coach Kelvin Sampson and his Indiana Hoosiers lose to Wisconsin last night, but the NCAA has come out with their report and he could lose his job. Brian Butch banked in a three point shot to give the Badgers a two point lead with just under 10 seconds and a three point attempt by Jemarcus Ellis bounced off the rim as time expired. One might think that was the most important thing to happen to the Hoosiers last night, however, think again.

A program that Bob Knight came in and cleaned up in the late 60’s has been free of NCAA scrutiny since then is now under a dark cloud due to Sampson’s excessive phone use. After commiting the same violations at Oklahoma prior to his hiring at Indiana, he has now commited the same violation.

The catch this time is that the NCAA has alleged that he provided false information during the investigation. If this is true he could be done at Indiana. Right now however, the university is not in position to jump the gun. If you will remember a couple of years ago when Ohio State jumped the gun in firing Coach Jim O’Brien it came back to cost them millions. O’Brien won his court case and was awarded over $2 million because Ohio State did not follow due process. I don’t believe Indiana wants to do the same thing with Sampson.

This could stretch on until the summer in which case both parties could be severely damaged. It doesn’t look good for Sampson at the moment. But then again the NCAA has a habit of jumping to conclusions. Ask Jerry Tarkanian who sued the NCAA and won over $2 million for their vendetta against him.

In America you are innocent until proven guilty. Also, I love the fact that the NCAA is going after phone violations when there are a lot of more serious problems being overlooked.