Author: Coach Z (Page 29 of 38)

Two coaches were relieved of their duties this past week. Scott Skiles of the Chicago Bulls and Jessie Evans of the University of San Francisco. In the NBA, teams change coaches in mid stream all of the time, but in college it is becoming just as common. After starting 4-8 it was announced by the athletic director (Debra Gore-Mann) at USF that Jessie Evans was taking a leave of absence.

Please Ms. Athletic Director, call it what it was. He was forced out!! In his place steps Eddie Sutton. Let me preface my comments by first saying that I like Eddie Sutton and that he has always been good to me. Also, he is one helluva coach. Only two wins away from 800 signifies that he is one of the best in the profession. However, he was forced out at Oklahoma State after getting into an accident while he was intoxicated. I understand that he admitted a drinking problem, but he was, afterall, on his way to meet his team to fly to a game in the middle of the afternoon.

Coach Sutton was given a second chance by his alma mater, Oklahoma State, after he was dismissed from the University of Kentucky for NCAA violations. I am all for forgiveness and second chances, but let’s be realistic for a moment.

Does he really deserve another chance? I don’t think so!

The hypocrisy of college athletics has shown through again. Instead of setting and example for young student-athletes, this athletic director decided to say that the most important thing is winning. If that is so, then why shouldn’t we pay the players just like the NBA does. (That’s a topic for another day.)

The next time a college athletic director stands up and says we are all about education and the welfare of the student athlete. Ask them why their actions don’t say the same thing. Actions have always spoken louder than words.

Oh and by the way I hope Coach Sutton gets to 800 and beyond. Also, that someday athletic directors and presidents tell the unadulterated truth.

As we near the end of the non-conferecne season there I would like to take some time to identify some teams who I think are for real and others who did a great job scheduling. Scehduling has become an art. With so much money to be made playing a home game it is easy to see why the going rate for a guarantee game has averaged out to $75,000. You figure it out. It makes more sense to play at home and pocket $100, 000 (after expenses) than it does to go play on the road. The added benefit is a padded record.

The following is a breakdown of the top 6 BCS conferences and their schedules:

Conference Home game Away Game Neutral Courts
Big East 120 31 38
Big 10 86 24 26
Big 12 110 31 32
ACC 109 30 37
SEC 103 29 38
Pac 10 80 30 14

Percentage wise the winners and losers are the Big East (only 16% of their games on the road) and the Pac-10 (24% of their games on the road). Of course, when you lose four home games like Cincinatti did it doesn’t help you down the road.

With so many home games it is no wonder that every team in the ACC, Big 12, SEC and Pac 10 have winning records. Shame on you Cincinnati, Depaul, and Michigan for not protecting your home court better.

Prospects—

North Carolina, Kansas and UCLA have emerged in my book as the teams to beat when it comes to March. The Tarheels have great toughness led by Tyler Hansborough and excellent leadership by Ty Lawson. UCLA has battled injuries early and seems to be getting healthy as the conference season looms. However, the experience of the upperclassmen at Kansas makes them my favorite to cut down the nets. With a senior and junior dominated roster they appeared poised to get the monkey off Bill Self’s back.

Suspects–

Miami and Clemson are off to unbeaten starts, but have no big wins in the bunch. Remember this was was the Clemson team that started off so well last year and then crumbled when they got into conference play. I don’t think the collapse will be as bad this year, but don’t make resevations for San Antonio if you are a Tiger fan.

One loss teams that are making noise are led by Rhode Island. Jim Baron has fashioned this team in his own image. A tough street fighter from Brooklyn they have already chalked up three wins over Big East teams. St. Marys went half way around the world to get one of the best guards in the colledge basketball. Patrick Mills has led the Gaels to a 10-1 start and looked poised to knock off Gonzaga at the top of the West Coast Conference.

Also, hats off to a special father and son. Homer Drew has the Valparaiso Crusaders off to a 10-2 start while playing in a new conference. His son Scott has the Baylor Bears back in contention for a NCAA bid while starting the season off 9-1. After the mess he inherited he has plugged away and brought the program back from the dead.

The Blue Devils had their way early against Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden. However, some halftime adjustments by Pitt Head Coach Jamie Dixon proved to be the undoing for Duke. They stormed back from a 15 point deficit to beat the Dukies by one. In doing so they remained unbeaten and handed Duke thier first loss of the season.

Coach Dixon should be proud of the toughness displayed by his team. They battled back time and again until they got to the top of the mountain. Even though they have replaced their nucleus from a year ago, they still appear to be a team to be reckoned with on the national level.

Could this be the year they break into the Final Four?

Miami Coach Charlie Coles has done it again. After knocking off Xavier and Mississippi State they traveled to Champaign and beat Illinois in their own house. The timeless wonder of Coach Coles!!

Another statment that the MAC will get multiple bids this year..

It was one of those nights that you dread as a parent. Your two sons squared off against each other on the court. That made for a tough night for former Oklahoma State Coach Eddie Sutton as his two sons, Scott (the head coach at Oral Roberts) and Sean (the head coach at Oklahoma State) pitted their teams against each other for the first time.

Take off the uniforms and you wouldn’t have known who the Big 12 team was and who the mid major was in this contest. Oral Roberts led from start to finish as they routed the Cowboys by 15. After closing the first half with a 17 point lead ORU held serve in the second half enroute to their first win over Oklahoma State.

It looks to be a long year for the Cowboys as they looked totally overwhelmed by ORU. NO disrespect to them, but one only wonders how OSU hopes to match up against the likes of Texas and Kansas in Big 12 action. If it is any consolation this is the same ORU squad that knocked off Kansas last year and took Texas down to the wire a week ago. Maybe they should be playing in the Big 12.

On the bright side for Eddie Sutton, at least one of his sons was guaranteed a win last night.

Coach Bob Huggins was supposed to be in a transitional year at West Virginia. Many skeptics thought that the players who were recruited by John Beinlein wouldn’t be able to adapt to Huggins in your face style and system. However, Huggins has proved again why he will be in the Hall of Fame when his career is over. The Mountaineers are 8-1 and don’t seem to be having any trouble adjusting. Look out Big East opponents Huggie Bear is back and better than ever.

Frank Haith is in a make or break year at Miami. Many thought he would be in such a hole by the time the ACC season rolled around that he would be stepping down early. So what have the Haith led Hurricanes done. They are 10-0 and one of only 14 undefeated teams left in the country. With the next five games at home the Hurricanes have a chance to roll out to a 15-0 record. After seeing what their football team did this year, Miami fans can celebrate the revival of their basketball squad.