Author: Coach Z (Page 22 of 38)

A disturbing trend is happening in college basketball. John Brady, two years removed from the Final Four, was fired as the head coach of LSU. That brings my count to 6 of coaching changes in the middle of the season this year. Suddenly, it is becoming like the NBA. What is even more disappointing is that the AD fired him for losing too many games. That part of it is not disappointing. Actually, I respect the AD honesty on that comment. What is disappointing is that the AD is a former coach. I could see if he was an academic guy or business guy who had never coached, but he wasn’t.

With money getting so big it looks more like the NBA, so why not act like the NBA. Remember this AD’s the next time you hire and fire a coach in mid-season, you may be next.

Big games abound in the Big East and Big Ten this weekend. First off, Purdue visits Wisconsin. I know Purdue is having a great year, but Bo Ryan’s Badgers just do not lose at home. Chalk one up for the home team.

On Sunday Indiana is at Ohio State. This is an opporutnity for the Buckeyes to build their post season resume. A win against Inidana will help tremendously. However, for them to win they will have to find a way to stop DJ White and Eric Gordon. This could be the game that Jon Diebler breaks out.

In the Big East, Georgetown visits Louisville. Ever since the return of David Padgett and Juan Palacios the Cardinals have been rolling. Look for them to continue their roll as they find a way to speed up the Hoyas. Both teams are great on the defensive end. The Cardinals are holding opponents to 59 points a game while the Hoyas are holding teams to 54 points per outing. Give the nod to the home team on this tight one.

Also, Marquette visits Notre Dame. Luke Harangody and his teammates need a win to build their resume. The Irish were soundly defeated by Marquette (26 points) earlier in the year. I have to believe that Coach Mike Brey will devise a way to slow them down and get it done at home.

In the Pac-10 USC visits Washington State. The Cougars were sailing along at one point. Then Cal and Stanford came to town and knocked them off their pedestal. Derrick Low needs to take back the leadership mantle and help his team rebuild their confidence. Talent and glitz vs. substance and grit in this one. I’ll take the grit and homecourt advantage of Washington State.

Back in the East, St. Joes visits Xavier. I know it’s not east, but the Atlantic 10 will always be an Eastern conference to me. After dropping a game to Duquesne, St. Joe’s needs a signature win that a victory ovr Xavier will provide. However, Drew Lavender is playing with a chip on his shoulder and I expect him to lead the Muskateers just as a couple of years ago Jameer Nelson did the same for St. Joe’s.

Two days after I wrote about officials working too many games in a week, I watched Steve Welmer (who has officiated 80 games this year) almost cost Indiana a win on the road a Illinois. With just under 3 seconds DJ White was fouled shooting a desparation shot right in front of Welmer (it was not a judgement call either–he clearly grabbed his arm) and Welmer swallowed his whistle.

Fortunately for the Hoosiers they were able to win in double overtime. How would you like to be Kelvin Sampson explaining how he lost the Big Ten title by one game after having that type of call missed? The sad part is the officials will not be reprimanded or penalized for a bad game.

Earlier in the week I watched two calls go against Gonzaga in their loss at St. Mary’s. I don’t want to take anything away from the Gaels win, but again it was a case of the same officials working too many games in a week.

As Jay Bilas has so eloquently put it. “There must be accountability to keep officials in line.”

After reading a story by Dick Jerardi in which he related the fact that Steve Welmer has worked 76 games this season, I am not surprised at the lack of quality of officiating as we head down the stretch run. Officials are doing too many games in too many parts of the country to be effective every night. I know this sounds anti-capitalistic to say we need to limit the number of games they work each week, but when people’s livings (coaches) are based on their decisions we need to make sure we get a quality effort every time out. For more about the officials check out statsheet.com. It will give you a breakdown of fouls called (including technicals) by each official.

Again I asked for more accountability with officials. There is too many lives at stake.

Welcome back Dickie V. Vitale came back from throat surgery to do the game last night at North Carolina. It was great to see the best ambassador for college basketball back on the sidelines. Love him or hate him, you have to appreciate is sincere enthusiasm for the game.

While most of America’s basketball fans were tuned to the North Carolina-Duke game (which by the way turned out to be anti-climactic since the Tarheels were without Ty Lawson), I was doing the broadcast of the Wisconsin-Iowa game. It was a typical Big Ten game. A lot of physical play. It was block and tackle for fourty minutes. In the end Wisconisn’s balance wore down the Hawkeyes and the Badgers went home with their 19th win of the season.

Coach Bo Ryan has brought this team a great distance after losing three starters from last year’s 30 win team. In my book he is one of the best teachers of the game in the profession. His team’s talent doesn’t overwhelm you, but their chemistry and cohesiveness is a credit to the man and his philosophy. If they can get consistent outside shooting from Trevon Hughes they just might make a run at the Final Four.

Meanwhile down in Memphis Coach John Calipari has told Robert Dozier that if he has one more misstep he is gone. When you are loaded with talent like Memphis is you can give guys ultimatums. I for one think that if they lose Dozier they might be better off. Fewer players means fewer distractions.

Michael Beasley recorded his 18th double-double of the year last night against Nebraska in a 15 point win for the Kansas State Wildcats. He scored 35 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Kansas State has a favorable schedule down the stretch and with a little consistency from freshman Jacob Pullin they could win the Big 12. Also, our prayers are with senior guard Clent Stewart who lost his mother this week to cancer.

In the ACC, Duke grabbed the lead in the league with a victory over North Carolina. However on the other end of the league, Miami is dropping faster than a lead balloon. They have turned into this year’s version of Clemson. Things could get tight for Coach Frank Haith is he doesn’t pull the Hurricanes out of this downward spiral.

Three names for the vacant South Carolina job: Fran McCaffrey (Siena), Anthony Grant (VCU) and Greg Marshall (Wichita State).