Author: Coach Z (Page 8 of 38)

Ohio State made it to the champhionship game again. Unfortunately, it is in the NIT. However, if you are Thad Matta you can use it as a sprongboard to next year. With so many young players, these extra games are key in their development. They lacked a true point all year as Jamar Butler is not the same type of leader that Mike Conley was a year ago. Not to take anything away from Butler. He has had one of the greatest careers in Buckeye history. He will leave as the all time assist leader and will have taken part in the most wins in a Buckeye uniform.

Just in case you don’t know, UMass is the opponent for the Buckeys. Travis Ford has done an outstanding job resurecting the program. Albeit, not to the same level of the Calipari days. His success has made him the leading candidate at LSU. Hard to believe only a few years ago he was in a make or break year at E. Kentucky. They won the conference tournament and the rest shall we say is history.

Other Coach News:

Look for Fran McCaffrey to be the top choice at Providence now that Larranaga has turned it down. Also, he could be in the hunt at Marquette. Billy Grier is the top guy at Oregon State and Mike Montgomery looks to be looking at Rice.

George Mason Coach Jim Larranaga met with the president of Providence today about the opening with the Friars. Larranaga played at Providence and would be the perfect choice to rebuild his alma mater. If that happens, look for former assistant Bill Courtney to be the leading candidate at George Mason. Courtney was intrumental in the recruitment of the personnel on the Final Four team.

Reach the Sweet Sixteen, get a new job. That’s what Darrin Horn of Western Kentucky did. He will be announced as the new head coach at South Carolina. Look for the Hilltoppers to go the assistant route as they did with Horn. Former assistant and current Texas assistant, Ken McDonald will be involved heavily.

Staying put for the time being. Washington State’s Tony Bennett has rebuffed Indiana out of concern for possible NCAA penalties. Also, look for him to be the leading candidate at Cal. How upside down is college basketball when a coach turns down Indiana for Cal. Are you kidding me? On another note, I was glad to hear that Isiah Thomas said he wasn’t interested in the job. Talk about overinflated opinion of yourself. He bankrupts the ABA then destroys the Knicks. Time to get off scholarship and find another profession.

Rumor has it that Bill Bayno (former UNLV, current Portland trailblazer) is the leading candidate at Loyola Marymount. His connections with the Pump Brothers, who run camps on the Marymount campus, is the main hook is this scenario. However, the other day Bo Kimble came out in the newspaper and said he wanted the job. Makes perfect sense. He’s 41 never coached a day in his life, but he was a great player there. That is an insult to all of the coaches out there who have worked their tails off perfecting their craft.

Also, look for Geno Ford, current Kent assistant, to be bumped up as the head coach to replace Jim Christian. Makes sense since he already has head coaching experience.

You could see it on Stephen Curry’s face when he started the game 0-5. This was going to be a different game for him. Soon as I started to think that Kansas’ defense would put the clamps on him, he proved me and the Jayhawks wrong. He exploded for 10 quick points and was on his way to another big game.

At each TV timeout in the first half Davidson was in the lead or tied until the end of the hald when Kansas went up 2. I kept waiting for Rush or Chalmers or Collins to take over. They never did! Thas is the Jayhawks achilles heel. Too unselfish for their own good. I know I am picking on a team that is 35-3, but that’s what people do in Kansas. Much maligned big man Sasha Kaun came up big going 6-6 fro the field and leading them in scoring. Mark my words he will be a 8-10 year player in the NBA.

Back to today. In the second half Curry made shots and kept the Wildcats close. Just when Kansas started to pull away he got a little help from Bryant Barr who knocked down three three’s to keep them in it and give Curry a chance to regroup for the final push. Kansas had a couple of opportunities to put the game away, but Collins and Rush couldn’t deliver. Curry did hitting a 3 and cutting the Jayhawk lead to 2.

On the final possession Kansas played four guards and won it on the defensive end. They forced Curry to give it up and escaped a missed three point shot by Richards at the buzzer. They say defense wins championships. On this day it did for the Jayhawks.

Now that Bill Self has gotten the gorilla off his back (first final four), he has an opportunity to get the little monkey (Roy Williams) off his back. Here’s hoping that Self can quiet all the Kansas fans who wanted Roy back forever.

All tournament long Coach John Calipari has been saying his team is the underdog because they play in Conference USA. I know it’s a coaching ploy, but come on Cal, do you really expect anyone to believe you. Of course Cal can sell ice to eskimoes. How else could he get a roster loaded with NBA talent to come to a depleted Conference USA. As I said before he has a chance to do what Tark did at UNLV. I just hope he stays out of the NCAA’s cross hairs.

Derrick Rose showed why he is the top point guard in the country. No disrespect to DJ Augustin, but Rose dominated this game on both ends of the floor. Rose almost finished with a triple double (21 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds). Chris Douglas Roberts looked like a man amongst boys. And this was a Texas team that was 31-6.

As long the Tigers can keep the game moving at high pace they can win it all. Joey Dorsey seems focused and out of the night clubs. He had 12 rebounds and could have easily had 20. This team reminds me of the Houston Phi Slamma Jamma team. The only difference is that Coach Cal won’t slow them down when they get a lead. He will just have them step on the gas even more.

Their matchup with UCLA will be a sight to see. You have two talented teams that like to get after it. My only question is can Memphis make free throws in the clutch. Today they made 30-36, but then again, the game wasn’t tight enough to tell if they can do it under pressure. However, if these underdogs keep jumping to double digit lead will never find out.

Coach Rick Pitino said before the game that it would come down to who makes fewer mistakes (tunrovers). He was right. Unfortunately, for him his Louisville team commited 19 turnovers to 14 by North Carolina. After taking a 12 point lead at halftime, the Cardinals came roaring back to tie the game, but never could get over the hump.

A big three by Ty Lawson with under 4:00 to go and then two jump shots by Tyler Hansborough gave the Tarheels the cushion they needed. Hansborough was fantastic in the second half as he finished with 28 points. All year long I have been thinking who does he remind me of. It finally came to me. He is Dave Cowens. His ability to battle every possession and come away with rebounds in a pack while sending other players sprawling is what will make him a solid NBA player. The fact that he comes out playing aggressive and fouling from the opening tip (just like Cowens) prevents him from getting in foul trouble (officials let him get away with more bumps and whacks than any other college player) and putting up great numbers. I know I may sound like a Louisville fan, but honestly, I am complimenting Hansborough’s rugged style of play.

I can hardly wait for a match-up of North Carolina and Kansas. That could make ol Roy cry before the game. First, Kansas must stop Stephen Curry and Davidson from becoming this year’s George Mason.