Author: Coach Z (Page 34 of 38)

The head coach has changed, but Butler keep rolling along. New Head Coach Brad Stevens was elvated from assistant when Todd Lichlighter left for Iowa and the Bulldog tradition just keeps getting stronger. Many programs seem to falter when a new head coach comes in, however, at some schools the program just gets stronger. It is a testament to two things. First a commitment by the schools athletic administration and also the ability to promote from within.

Butler is fresh off winning the Great Alaskan Shootout. Not only did they beat Bob Knight and Texas Tech, but they dismantled them with superior team play and accurate marksmanship. Knight said it best “they play extremely smart basketball, they take advantage of what they can do and they do it very wel.” Butler made 16 three pointers in the championship game and shattered the tournament record with 47 (an average of over 15 makes per game). Butler is now 6-0 under their new head coach.

The tradition has grown through the years at Butler. However, it was Barry Collier who took it to another level (before leaving for Nebraska). He was followed for one year by Thad Matta (left for Xavier) and then Lichlighter. Now that Barry Collier is back as the athletic director there is no doubt that Butler will be a team that could wrest the title of “best mid major” team from Gonzaga.

Another team that would argue that is right down the road in Carbondale, Illinois. Coach Chris Lowery had an impressive weekend, albeit losing in the finals to USC in the Anaheim Classic. Even though graduation hit the Salukis hard they still like a team to be reckoned with. Preceding Lowery at the helm was Matt Painter (left for Purdue). However, it all started with Bruce Webber. He set the stage for the success that has followed prior to his departure for Illinois. Also, credit the administration for supplying resources and the intelligence to promote from within.

Tulsa is a program that seems to be back on the right footing under third year coach Doug Wojcik. The former Michigan State assistant has them pointed in the positive direction. But for you basketball historians you will recall that Tulsa basketball was put on the map by Nolan Richardson and then kept on the upper level by Tubby Smith, Bill Self, Steve Robinson and Buzz Peterson. Five great coaches who benefited from an administration that knew what it was doing.

Please don’t think I am disrespecting the achievments of George Mason, Gonzaga or Creighton. But for the most part it was the same coach who has built and maintained those programs.

UCLA,Louisville, Florida, Kansas, Florida State recorded the top five early classes in the just completed Early Signing Period. The Bruins filled the holes in the backcourt with the addition of Malcolm Lee and JRue Holliday. They are the type of pressure guards that Ben Howland loves.

Louisville filled it’s roster with long, agile and skilled versatile forwards who will be interchangeable in their system. Rick Pitino took a page out of Denny Crum’s book with the signing of Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings. Both players can play more than one position. The roster is starting to look like Pitino’s Kentucky line up when the won the national championship.

Florida followed up last year’s top ranked class with immediate help in the frontcourt and backcourt. Eloy Vargas will step in at the forward position while lightning quick guard Erving Walker will be pushing the ball down the court in record speed.

Kansas got a two for one deal when they signed a pair of twins out of New Jersey. Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris will give immediate help on the backboard. However, look for junior college swing, Mario Little, to have the most impact.

Florida State pulled off the biggest upset by landing Chris Singleton and five other players. Look for Xavier Gibson out of Alabama to play a significant role down the road.

Others in my top ten were as follows:

Georgetown
Ohio State
USC
Oregon
Arizona

That is it for the hype. Now let’s see where they are two years from now. It used to be four years, but if they are as good as advertised they won’t be there longer than two.

Each week it seems like another mid major team upsets a high major team…The truth of the matter is that football has skewered the basketball picture. Without a BCS label on your conference you are automatically placed in the mid major category. Financial resources may play a factor, but the dispersal of talent has made college basketball an even more entertaining product.

For example last night George Mason outplayed, outhustled and outexperienced the 20th ranked team in the country, Kansas State. A ranking that is based on the fact that they play in a BCS conference. There is no doubt with freshman sensation, Michael Beasley, the Wildcats are going to be a very good team. However, with 5 freshamn playing the majority of the minutes they were no match for a team with five seniors that included two players from a Final Four team. If you took away the name and just put up the roster of players my money would be on the Patriots of George Mason to be the ranked team.

Coach Jim Larranage was masterful in orchestrating the tempo of the game. Run when it there and grind when it’s not. Folarian Campbell and Will Thomas were too much for a youthful Kansas State team. It was the fourth straight win for the Patriots and the first time they have ever started 4-0. Look out CAA..Their back and wanting more.

For the Wildcats, Michael Beasley had 30 points (the third time in four games) and ten rebounds. Can you spell one and done. I just hope for Frank Martin’s sake he is able to lead them back to the NCAA tournament.

Speaking of Frank Martin. It was a homecoming for the Wildcats coach as he cut his teeth as a high school coach in Miami. Coach Martin is a guy who worked his way up through the ranks and will prove over time that you don’t have to be an assistant at Duke or North Carolina to do a great job…

Charlie Coles is the energizer bunny when it comes to college coaches. He just continues to win and win. Following an upset win over Xavier his Redhawks of Miami (OH) knocked off South Alabama to move to 2-0. Hard to believe he was let go as the head coach of Central Michigan back in the 80’s. I wonder if that Athletic Director caught any grief for that move?

Missouri State knocked off St. Louis for their third straight win of the year. After dropping their opener at Toledo the Bears have regrouped and won three in a row at home… It dropped St. Louis to 4-2 on the year. After watching St. Louis in practice I am continually amazed at how well the Bilikens have played with such a short bench…Right now Coach Majerus is only operating with a couple of bona fide Division one players on the roster…

On the flip side Barry Hinson has been able to overcome some early season suspensions to start building a resume for post season.

Maryland Assistant Michael Adams has left the Terps staff for personal reasons. He will be replaced by former Colorado Head Coach Joe Harrington. Harrington is a Maryland alum who coached under Lefty Driesell. He should give the coaching staff some stability in a year that will take a lot of patience while the young Terps develop…