Author: Coach Z (Page 23 of 38)

Bob Knight announced tonight that he is retiring effective immediately. He was a great coach who has left his footprint on the game. Now it is up to his son, Pat, to carry on the legacy. His statement read that he was tired. However, as Digger Phelps said on ESPN it is simply about giving his son the best opportunity to be successful. So not only has he handed over a high major job to his son, but has done it on his own terms. I didn’t realize that he owned the University. Then again it is Texas and all oil magnet sons are given their next jobs (Hunt, Bush, etc…)

Truth be known it has been Pat Knight who has done all of the recruiting the past few years and he has certainly paid his dues. Here’s hoping it turns out for him like Keno Davis at Drake (son of Tom Davis) or Tony Bennett at Washington State (son of Dick Bennett) and not Sean Sutton at Oklahoma State (son of Eddie Sutton).

Now that Eddie Sutton has reached 800 wins will he retire immediately or begin his quest for 900. Since he said he did not want to go back to San Francisco (found out that coaching at the lower levels when talent is scarce is not as easy or fun), where will be his next stop. Coaches with new athletic directors (ad’s that didnt hire the current coach) better start worrying. Every AD is looking to win the press conference and who better than a Hall of Fame coach fresh off his 800th win….

Speaking of openings, I hear South Carolina is interested in former Wintrhop coach and current Wichita State coach Greg Marshall. Also, on the list is Fran McCaffrey from Siena. Both excellent coaches and great teachers.

Disappointment of the week has to be Michigan State losing to Penn State. A Penn State team that got beat by double digits by Iowa should not be able to take down the Spartans. Oh, that’s right, Michigan State lost to Iowa as well. Iowa has inched closer to the top half of the Big Ten with a solid win at home vs. Ohio State. They can solidify their climb with a win over Wisconsin on Wednessday. Considering all of the injuries and changes, that would be a tremendous accomplishment for first year head coach Todd Lichlighter.

Games on tap with a chance for fireworks:
#2 Duke vs. #3 North Carolina— You can always count on a great game when these two ACC titans square off. Coach Roy Williams coaching prowess will be tested with the injury to Ty Lawson. That means third stringer Quintin Thomas will get the starting nod. Very unusual for Coach Roy to go into a game with less talent than his opponent. Might be the first time in his head coaching career.

Gonzaga vs. St. Mary’s— The battle for the WCC crown. Gonzaga has beaten St. Mary’s at home and now must go to Moraga. Patrick Mills will need his A game tonght for the Gaels. If Gonzaga wins this one, then look for them to run the table in the league.

Indiana at Illinois— The fireworks will be caused by the visit from freshamn Eric Gordon. As some of you will remember he commited to Illinois first before changing his mind and becoming a Hoosier. I don’t think the Illini coaching staff has forgotten.

Looking around the country there are eight teams still endefeated in their own leagues. Led by #1 ranked Mephis who has not lost inside or outside of their league. They are as close to a sure bet to go undefeated in Conference USA as any team left . As a matter of fact the only team that stands in their way of a perfect regular season is Tennessee. They will play the Volunteer in late February. Should be a great game!!

Staying at the top of the league in the ACC is a resurgent Duke. Hard to believe I am saying resurgent about a team that won over 25 games last year. Their big showdon comes in another week when they match up with North Carolina.

Keeping it with a Southern Flavor, both Davidson (13-0) and North Carolina-Asheville (11-0) are still perfect. Asheville won their big showdown with conference defending champion Winthrop. While the Stephen Curry led Davidson squad has not been tested as of yet.

Swinging all the way to the left Coast, Gonzaga is off to a 6-0 and even though they have been challenged by St. Mary’s this year they still look like the team to beat.

Moving to the Midwest, Oral Roberts is 10-0 in Summitt League play. Their start breaks the old mark held by the 2004-05 UMKC team which started the league at 9-0 before losing a controversial game against Chicago State. In the Missouri Valley, the Drake Bulldogs are still living a dream season. They own the second longest winning streak in the country (18) and are 11-0 in league play.

And it should be noted that Steve Donahue has Cornell off to their best start in league play at 4-0 in the Ivies.

For my money, Memphis and Davidson will be the only teams to go undefeated in league play. And for teams in the lower leagues (Summit and Big South) the regular season doesn’t matter if you don’t win the conference tournament. Just ask Oral Roberts who won 25 games two years ago and stayed home after being upset by Oakland in the conference tourney.

Just a week after starting point guad Steffon Hannah broke his jaw in a bar fight and four of his teammates were suspended indefinitely for breaking curfew, another development. On Friday Jason Horton was arrested for assault stemming from the incident. Possibly more arrests to follow.

It has been two years since the Ricky Clemmons nightmare under Quinn Snyder and Mike Anderson was brought in to clean up the mess. However, five incidents later (two of them involving guns) it looks like Snyder might not have been so bad.

Two years ago the Tigers had a chance to hire Bob Huggins, but shied away because of his reputation. Kansas State took a chance and now they have a top 25 team and a roster full of talent. Time will tell who made the best hiring decision.

For the second straight game Duke found themselves down by nine. And just as it was against Maryland, the Blue Devils used a shooting barage of three pointers to overcome the deficit and beat North Carolina State, 92-72. They shot a phenomenal 66% from the field and hit 7 of 11 three point shots in the second half.

“You can’t play too much better than we did in the second half,” Coach K said. That might be the understatement of the year. With the win Duke sits alone atop the ACC with the showdown with North Carolina on the horizon.

Four players scored 18 or more for the Blue Devils led by 22 from Greg Paulus. Freshman Kyle Singler added 19 while Gerald Henderson and DeMarcus Nelson added 18 a piece.

Duke’s high octane offense looks to be in great shape as they prepare for a trip to Chapel Hill.