By Paul Gotham
Coaching through adversity
To get to the Elite Eight or Final Four a team has to confront its fair share of hurdles. Some teams have more than others. Tom Izzo, Bruce Pearl, and Bob Huggins deserve a tip of the hat. Each of these guys guided their squads through some trying times.
New Years was not a time of celebration for Pearl. Four of his guys were in a car when it was pulled over by police. Guns, dope, and open container were the news du jour in Knoxville.
Instead of panicking, Pearl circled the wagons. He suspended Tyler Smith, Brian Williams, Melvin Goins, and Cameron Tatum while the legal process took place. In the mean time, the Vols knocked off then No. 1 Kansas. Eventually, Williams, Tatum, and Goins were reinstated. Smith, the Vols’ leading scorer, was removed from the team. Tennessee’s run ended this past weekend. What could have been a disaster turned into the Vols reaching the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.
Huggins could have fallen back on excuses. Reasons were there for the taking. He was preparing for arguably the best team in the country, with the most explosive offense, and the most explosive combination of players. To make matters worse, the Mountaineers losing “Truck” Bryant seemed the end of the season for West Virginia. Instead, Huggins got a great performance out of his squad for the win.
What can be said about Tom Izzo, that has not already been stated? While others recruit, Izzo coaches. Add to that, the guy does not air his dirty laundry in public. Everyone knew there were problems in the Spartan program this year. A few benchings and suspensions indicated motivation was an issue for the Green. Rest assured, Izzo confronted each and every one of those problems. If MSU is going to win, they are going to do it the right way. Add to all of that the untimely injury to Kalin Lucas, and it looked like the Spartans would return to East Lansing after advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. To no real surprise, Izzo figured out how to get it done, and the Spartans moved on to Indianapolis. Six Final Fours since 1999 – the guy can coach.
Was it a charge?
No! Brian Zoubek did not have his feet set. Quincy Acy should not have been called for a charge. Zoubek should have fouled out. That’s the extent of that one play. Baylor was whistled for 21 fouls yesterday. In the Bears’ other losses this year they were called for 24, 23, 21, 20, 22, 21, and 25. The zebras did NOT cost Baylor the game. Baylor lost because of the 23 offensive rebounds Duke pulled down. 23?!?
And, had Scheyer knocked down those three WIDE open looks, that game might have been a blowout.
As for Baylor – Wow! What a team. Tweety Carter and Josh Lomers are the only seniors. Here’s hoping Coach Drew can keep LaceDarius and Epke Udoh around for another year. They could be fun to watch.
Has there been a shift in the Big 12?
Could the top of the Big 12 take on a new look next year? Sherrod Collins is a senior. Cole Aldrich is foregoing his senior season. Xavier Henry is not far behind. The Jayhawks should lose a step. The Texas Longhorns don’t seem to be able to get out of their own way.
The Bears have just the two seniors previously mentioned. Kansas State loses one starter – Denis Clemente. Next year, Baylor and Kansas State might be battling for the top of the conference.
The cautionary tale of Todd Lickliter
Three years ago, Todd Lickliter led Butler to the Sweet 16. It was the team’s and coach’s second trip to the regional semi-finals in four years. The time seemed right for Lickliter to make a career advancement. He took the head position at Iowa State.
Fast forward. Butler is the talk of American basketball community. Lickliter is looking for a job.
Now, is the time for the coaching merry-go-round to pick up speed. Fran McCaffery left Siena for Iowa. Kevin Willard moved from Iona to Seton Hall. Financially, these jobs make sense. Just as Lickliter’s advancement made sense.
If allowed, ambition can shackle the unsuspecting.
Another coaching vacancy
In 1985, three Big East teams made the Final Four. Can you name them? I’ll give you a minute.
If you guessed Villanova, you are right. That was the year the Wildcats surprised everyone. Rollie Massimino and his squad tripped the heavily-favored Georgetown Hoyas. The third Big East team? The long forgotten St. John’s (at the time) Redmen. That was one of 15 NCAA Tournament appearances in 17 years for the Johnnies. Hoops fans knew well the sweaters of Lou Carnesecca.
Currently, St. John’s hasn’t won a tournament game since 2000. Who is going to bring back the pride to St. John’s?
No love for Cinderella?
A few radio personalities commented about the onset of schools from outside the “power” conferences advancing in the tournament. The suggestion was that these teams cheapen the importance of the tournament. References were made to those unlikely teams getting badly beaten in later rounds.
Baylor HAMMERING St. Mary’s reinforced this idea.
Just in case people think this makes sense, a few reminders: Louisville 103 Arizona 64 (Sweet 16 2009), Villanova 77 Duke 54 (Sweet 16 2009), Kansas 94 Marquette 61 (Final Four 2003). Teams from “power” conferences can get whacked too.
Just desserts
When you roll the dice, you take what you get. How is John Calipari feeling about his recruiting efforts over the last year or so? Especially, when you consider the actions of DeMarcus Cousins in the latter part of Saturday night’s game. At least twice the camera caught Cousins snapping at his coach. Why would any NBA GM want Cousins in his locker room? What does that say for Calipari? Cousins can be thankful he is not a football player. Mike Singletary might have some fun with Cousins on his roster.
Ranking the tournament
This might be a fruitless exercise, but here goes anyway. I am trying to remember a more competitive all-around NCAA Men’s Division I basketball tournament. There have been so many games that have gone down to the last minute. Is this the best tournament ever?
With that in mind, why would the NCAA consider expanding the field to 96? Instead of making drastic changes, how about getting better coverage for the conference tournaments. That’s when the NCAA Tournament actually begins.
NIT anyone?
Two Atlantic 10 teams have made it to the little final four: Dayton and Rhode Island. Don’t laugh. Baylor played in last year’s NIT title game.
Coming this week
Capsules for the final four coming at you over the next few days.
1st Team All-Casey
PG Jon Scheyer – Duke
SG Jordan Crawford – Xavier
SF Gordon Hayward – Butler
PF Da’Sean Butler – West Virginia
C Epke Udoh – Baylor
2nd Team All-Casey
PG Denis Clemente – Kansas State
SG LaceDarius Dunn – Baylor
SF Wes Johnson – Syracuse
PF Chris Wright – Dayton
C JaJuan Johnson – Purdue
Got any college hoops splinters? Share them here.
Casey —
Emily and I were watching the Duke-Baylor game and we asked eachother repeatedly: “WHY is Baylor staying in that zone???”. Duke got consistently open looks AND 23 offensive rebounds cuz the Bears just didn’t really match up with anyone to block out after the ball went up. Huge coaching mistake by Drew in our opinion. I’m pretty sure I woulda made a defensive change after, say, 8 offensive rebounds … how about you??
Agree that it was a bad call (the charge on Acy), but also agree that was not what cost Baylor the game. It was all those offensive rebounds and several missed FTs by Baylor that were costly. You can’t beat yourself when you play Duke cuz they won’t beat themselves AND they will take huge advantage of your mistakes. Nolan Smith is da man!
Love the fact that Butler is in the Final Four …. in Indy no less. When a team from the Horizon Conference goes this far, that alone makes it one of the best tournaments ever … at least for me. But I also agree that the competitiveness of what seems to be each and every game has also greatly distinguished this tournament. Some have called Butler the “Gonzaga of the midwest”. Correction: Gonzaga is trying to become the “Butler of the West”.
As I predicted, Kentucky fell prey to their youth and oft-terrible shooting … both from beyond the arc and at the FT line. How many treys did they fire up … 26? 29? How about mixing in some penetration … maybe after going 0 for 10?
Predictions: WVU over Butler for the title. Having said that, MSU over Duke or vice-versa would not be at all surprising. This year, nothing is surprising … and that’s what’s great!
Haha!
I was thinking the same thing about Kentucky. Just keep chucking it up. They were like little kids hoping one would finally sink for them. Calipari’s idea of a practice plan: backboard taps, lay up lines, rebound and outlet – water break. Backboard taps, lay up lines, rebound and outlet – you get the picture.
At this point – predictions are no longer needed for this tournament.
Drew was pretty caught up in the moment.
Someone passed Duhon’s “giant killer” to Smith. That running tear drop in the lane over Udoh was awesome. Here’s hoping he stays one more year in Durham as should Singler.
As for making the defensive change after the eighth offensive rebound – I was thinking man, what is Duke going to do? Every time they get a rebound and go for a putback that get a generous helping of leather surprise. Leave it to K to buck coaching convention and kick those out for threes. How many high school coaches watched that game and said – gee I always tell my guys to go right back up with the ball.
By the way – Butler plays AT Xavier next year. We missed out on getting tix for the game at Hinkle in December.
This just in … Emily has decided to be a Texas A&M Aggie. So that gives me 2 former football powers to root for … hope they can both restore the glory. Gig ’em !!!
Congrats to Em!
Saturdays in the fall at College Station?
Back to Butler – they return four starters (Howard, Hayward, Mack, Nored) and their first two off the bench (Hahn and Vanzant). A good recruiting class sets the table for a long run from the Bulldogs.
I’m excited to see college football at a place where student spirit is supposed to be legendary with the 12th man and all. I work with a lot of Aggies and they certainly love their alma mater … that’s a good sign!
Very promising future for Butler. Hopefully their coach is content to see this through for a few more years.