Butler’s Brad Stevens, Virginia Commonwealth’s Shaka Smart and Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall were this year’s so called hot coaches.
All three had major success in the recently completed season. Steven’s took the Bulldogs to their second straight championship game. Smart led the Rams to the Final Four. Marshall helped the Shockers to the NIT championship. Yet, all three decided to remain at their mid-major schools.
I find that somewhat hard to believe.
Conventional wisdom says a coach should use postseason success as a springboard to more pay and a BCS job. But just maybe these guys didn’t want to go to the bright lights and start over. Generally, the reason the job is open in the first place is because of lack of success from the previous coach. And why leave a successful program for the unknown?
Just maybe these guys have learned from the bad experiences of other mid-major coaches.
We have two examples here in the state of Iowa.
Keno Davis led Drake to the NCAA tournament in his first season as coach. He cashed in on that success and moved on to Providence. The trouble was Davis lost his job at the end of this season after only three years.
Greg McDermott was laboring at Iowa State after leading Northern Iowa to three straight NCAA tournaments. The talk was Iowa State would give him one more year. But this had a happy ending for McDermott. Before Iowa State could pull the plug, Creighton offered McDermott a 10-year deal.
So maybe Stevens, Smart and Marshall subscribe to the theory that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Showing posts with label Virginia Commonwealth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virginia Commonwealth. Show all posts
Friday, April 8, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Talking Final Four
The college basketball season has come down to four teams: Cinderella Virginia Commonwealth, Butler, Kentucky and UConn. Sixty-Four teams have already gone home unhappy. Two more will join them today and then one more Monday.
So this suddenly long and grueling season is down to only two games. Remember the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday tournaments? They seem so long ago. Even the first week of the NCAA tournament feels like history.
CBS must think the Kentucky-UConn Final Four game will attract the most viewers since it is the nightcap contest. Maybe CBS is counting on those East Coast television sets and Kentucky’s basketball tradition. Some say this winner will take Monday night’s game too.
But if I could only watch one game, I would choose Virginia Commonwealth and Butler. The Rams are playing for history. If they can win tonight and the championship game, they will have collected seven tournament victories. No team has ever done that.
The fact that Virginia Commonwealth is the Cinderella team is reason enough to view this game. The Rams have stolen the routing interest of many Americans and they want to see them go all the way.
Others still favor Butler. This former Cinderella still garners a strong following. The Bulldogs are playing their best basketball of the season and it’s no stretch that they could win two more games.
So prepare for championship basketball. Who do you think will win it all?
So this suddenly long and grueling season is down to only two games. Remember the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday tournaments? They seem so long ago. Even the first week of the NCAA tournament feels like history.
CBS must think the Kentucky-UConn Final Four game will attract the most viewers since it is the nightcap contest. Maybe CBS is counting on those East Coast television sets and Kentucky’s basketball tradition. Some say this winner will take Monday night’s game too.
But if I could only watch one game, I would choose Virginia Commonwealth and Butler. The Rams are playing for history. If they can win tonight and the championship game, they will have collected seven tournament victories. No team has ever done that.
The fact that Virginia Commonwealth is the Cinderella team is reason enough to view this game. The Rams have stolen the routing interest of many Americans and they want to see them go all the way.
Others still favor Butler. This former Cinderella still garners a strong following. The Bulldogs are playing their best basketball of the season and it’s no stretch that they could win two more games.
So prepare for championship basketball. Who do you think will win it all?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Final Four Heavyweights
Despite the mid-majors (Butler and Virginia Commonwealth) receiving most of the Final Four attention, the heavyweights are still around.
UConn and Kentucky are household college basketball teams and they will represent the establishment Saturday in Houston.
UConn coach Jim Calhoun has built a consistent winner, something that wasn’t happening before he arrived in Storms, Connecticut. His tenure has been far from blissful however. NCAA sanctions for rule violations continue over Calhoun’s head.
Kentucky coach John Calipari has taken three teams to the Final Four with UMass and Memphis being the other two squads. People have never said Calipari cannot coach. His best performance may have been this season. This group returned zero starters from the 2009-10 Kentucky team. But like Calhoun, Calipari has had trouble with the NCAA. Unlike Calhoun, he has not been charged with anything.
Guards usually highlight NCAA play this time of year and the UConn-Kentucky tussle will feature a couple of good ones. UConn’s Kemba Walker has taken over games in the tournament and is scoring 23.4 points per game. On the Kentucky sideline is freshman Brandon Knight. This kid is a point guard who can score. He’s at 17.3 per game.
But my favorite player in this game is Kentucky center Josh Harrellson. At 6-10, 275, he is what they say in basketball, a wide body. He was virtually unknown coming into the tournament, but America is taking a liking to this blue collar worker. He has put up decent numbers this season averaging 7.6 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Here’s hoping the old Kentucky home can gain the victory Saturday and send the final and 11th Big East team home.
UConn and Kentucky are household college basketball teams and they will represent the establishment Saturday in Houston.
UConn coach Jim Calhoun has built a consistent winner, something that wasn’t happening before he arrived in Storms, Connecticut. His tenure has been far from blissful however. NCAA sanctions for rule violations continue over Calhoun’s head.
Kentucky coach John Calipari has taken three teams to the Final Four with UMass and Memphis being the other two squads. People have never said Calipari cannot coach. His best performance may have been this season. This group returned zero starters from the 2009-10 Kentucky team. But like Calhoun, Calipari has had trouble with the NCAA. Unlike Calhoun, he has not been charged with anything.
Guards usually highlight NCAA play this time of year and the UConn-Kentucky tussle will feature a couple of good ones. UConn’s Kemba Walker has taken over games in the tournament and is scoring 23.4 points per game. On the Kentucky sideline is freshman Brandon Knight. This kid is a point guard who can score. He’s at 17.3 per game.
But my favorite player in this game is Kentucky center Josh Harrellson. At 6-10, 275, he is what they say in basketball, a wide body. He was virtually unknown coming into the tournament, but America is taking a liking to this blue collar worker. He has put up decent numbers this season averaging 7.6 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Here’s hoping the old Kentucky home can gain the victory Saturday and send the final and 11th Big East team home.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
No Cinderella Matchup
Some are the calling the Butler-Virginia Commonwealth Final Four game a Cinderella affair. But that isn’t the true picture.
Yes, we do have one true Cinderella team in Virginia Commonwealth. The Rams barely got an invitation to the tournament and were seeded No. 11. They have awakened the college basketball world with five straight tournament wins and knocked out No. 1 seeded Kansas in the Final Four qualifier. Fans are learning all about a school that very few basketball fans know about before the tournament. Yes, Cinderella is Virginia Commonwealth.
Butler is not a Cinderella story, however. Maybe the Bulldogs were in the past, but not this year. They are a veteran NCAA tournament team. Remember last year when they matched Duke toe-to-toe in the championship game? These players know the drill and expect to do well in the tournament. It’s no real surprise that Butler is where the Bulldogs are at this time of year. They did have some hiccups during the season, but once the tournament began, the games faces came on and Butler went into high gear.
What we do have here is a wonderful game between two mid-major schools. It brings rich freshness to the Final Four. Maybe this will force the NCAA brass to invite more mid-majors to the NCAA party. Maybe they can drop some power conference .500 record teams and give the smaller boys a better chance.
Let’s hope they receive the memo.
Yes, we do have one true Cinderella team in Virginia Commonwealth. The Rams barely got an invitation to the tournament and were seeded No. 11. They have awakened the college basketball world with five straight tournament wins and knocked out No. 1 seeded Kansas in the Final Four qualifier. Fans are learning all about a school that very few basketball fans know about before the tournament. Yes, Cinderella is Virginia Commonwealth.
Butler is not a Cinderella story, however. Maybe the Bulldogs were in the past, but not this year. They are a veteran NCAA tournament team. Remember last year when they matched Duke toe-to-toe in the championship game? These players know the drill and expect to do well in the tournament. It’s no real surprise that Butler is where the Bulldogs are at this time of year. They did have some hiccups during the season, but once the tournament began, the games faces came on and Butler went into high gear.
What we do have here is a wonderful game between two mid-major schools. It brings rich freshness to the Final Four. Maybe this will force the NCAA brass to invite more mid-majors to the NCAA party. Maybe they can drop some power conference .500 record teams and give the smaller boys a better chance.
Let’s hope they receive the memo.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Virginia Commonwealth Tops Wild Basketball Weekend
The Cinderella slipper firmly remains on Virginia Commonwealth’s foot. The Rams refuse to lose.
Virginia Commonwealth took care of No. 1 seeded Kansas Sunday and earned itself a Four Final berth. This is not a misprint. Your eyes are not deceiving you. Virginia Commonwealth is going to the Final Four.
This is one of the best stories in college basketball in a long, long time. The Rams weren’t given much respect entering the tournament. They were selected as a play-in participant. VCU won that opening test and then an amazing five straight games.
The team with a great named-coach (Shaka Smart) will play Butler Saturday in Houston. That in itself is special. Two mid-major schools battling for a trip to the championship game is indeed priceless.
VCU is suddenly the talk of the college basketball world. The Rams are no longer strangers. They have a new bunch of bandwagon fans hoping to cheer them on to the college basketball promise land.
VCU hopes to still be wearing that slipper championship night. Why doubt the Rams now? That slipper looks pretty shiny.
Virginia Commonwealth took care of No. 1 seeded Kansas Sunday and earned itself a Four Final berth. This is not a misprint. Your eyes are not deceiving you. Virginia Commonwealth is going to the Final Four.
This is one of the best stories in college basketball in a long, long time. The Rams weren’t given much respect entering the tournament. They were selected as a play-in participant. VCU won that opening test and then an amazing five straight games.
The team with a great named-coach (Shaka Smart) will play Butler Saturday in Houston. That in itself is special. Two mid-major schools battling for a trip to the championship game is indeed priceless.
VCU is suddenly the talk of the college basketball world. The Rams are no longer strangers. They have a new bunch of bandwagon fans hoping to cheer them on to the college basketball promise land.
VCU hopes to still be wearing that slipper championship night. Why doubt the Rams now? That slipper looks pretty shiny.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
NCAA Basketball Tournament Talk
Here are some thoughts about the happenings in the NCAA tournament as we await the Elite 8 games today and Sunday.
The national media said Kentucky stunned Ohio State last night. True, the Buckeyes were the overall No. 1 seed, but I think stunned is a strong word. I knew that Kentucky would give Ohio State a good game and I thought the Cats had a chance for the victory.
Cinderella lives on in Virginia Commonwealth. This story grows in its excitement as the No. 11 seed seeks a Final Four berth Sunday. Unfortunately, the Rams play the only No. 1 seed remaining—Kansas. Dreams do come true but against Kansas, it will be difficult. It would be great if the slipper doesn’t fall off.
The Butler story doesn’t seem to grow old. It’s difficult not to cheer for those guys. Florida will throw lots of athletes at them today. It should be a great game. If it turns into a grinder game, that favors Butler. If it’s a track meet, the Gators will prevail.
Has Arizona come back to reality after its upset win over Duke? Can the Cats derail the last remaining Big East team in UConn? Let’s hope so.
Tomorrow’s Kentucky-North Carolina contest should be a battle between loads of young talent. I think this game will feature the best overall talent of the tournament.
The tournament has been entertaining this year. And with a couple more twists or turns, it will remain entertaining.
The national media said Kentucky stunned Ohio State last night. True, the Buckeyes were the overall No. 1 seed, but I think stunned is a strong word. I knew that Kentucky would give Ohio State a good game and I thought the Cats had a chance for the victory.
Cinderella lives on in Virginia Commonwealth. This story grows in its excitement as the No. 11 seed seeks a Final Four berth Sunday. Unfortunately, the Rams play the only No. 1 seed remaining—Kansas. Dreams do come true but against Kansas, it will be difficult. It would be great if the slipper doesn’t fall off.
The Butler story doesn’t seem to grow old. It’s difficult not to cheer for those guys. Florida will throw lots of athletes at them today. It should be a great game. If it turns into a grinder game, that favors Butler. If it’s a track meet, the Gators will prevail.
Has Arizona come back to reality after its upset win over Duke? Can the Cats derail the last remaining Big East team in UConn? Let’s hope so.
Tomorrow’s Kentucky-North Carolina contest should be a battle between loads of young talent. I think this game will feature the best overall talent of the tournament.
The tournament has been entertaining this year. And with a couple more twists or turns, it will remain entertaining.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Darling of the NCAA Tournament
Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) receives my vote as the darling of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
The Rams will play their first ever Sweet Sixteen game Friday night against Florida State.
VCU has been traveling a special road this tournament. First, the Rams knock off Southern Cal in the play-in game. Second, Georgetown is the victim. Last Sunday, Purdue goes home. VCU won three games in five days. You think the Rams were tired, not a chance? They are living on momentum.
Most people don’t know much about this school, me included. VCU plays in the Colonial Athletic Association—the same conference as George Mason another NCAA favorite. The school is located in Richmond and has an enrollment of 32,000 students on two campuses. It also features a medical center.
The Rams never won more than one NCAA game in a season before this year. Coach Shaka Smart leads the 26-11 club. I imagine bigger schools will want to talk to Smart about their vacancy when VCU’s season is finished. Mid-major coaches receive much exposure when their teams make strong tournament runs.
But Smart’s focus is on the Florida State Seminoles now. This should be an entertaining contest between two teams not figured to advance this far. The Seminoles have defeated Texas A&M and Notre Dame.
VCU hopes to continue its darling status. As the Rams march forward, the love grows.
The Rams will play their first ever Sweet Sixteen game Friday night against Florida State.
VCU has been traveling a special road this tournament. First, the Rams knock off Southern Cal in the play-in game. Second, Georgetown is the victim. Last Sunday, Purdue goes home. VCU won three games in five days. You think the Rams were tired, not a chance? They are living on momentum.
Most people don’t know much about this school, me included. VCU plays in the Colonial Athletic Association—the same conference as George Mason another NCAA favorite. The school is located in Richmond and has an enrollment of 32,000 students on two campuses. It also features a medical center.
The Rams never won more than one NCAA game in a season before this year. Coach Shaka Smart leads the 26-11 club. I imagine bigger schools will want to talk to Smart about their vacancy when VCU’s season is finished. Mid-major coaches receive much exposure when their teams make strong tournament runs.
But Smart’s focus is on the Florida State Seminoles now. This should be an entertaining contest between two teams not figured to advance this far. The Seminoles have defeated Texas A&M and Notre Dame.
VCU hopes to continue its darling status. As the Rams march forward, the love grows.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Quiet NCAA Tournament Friday
The higher seeds took back the NCAA tournament Friday after some upset specials Thursday.
Only Virginia Commonwealth’s disposal of Georgetown made headlines yesterday. Florida State did defeat Texas A&M in a mild upset.
But how about Virginia Commonwealth? The Rams are one of the darlings of this year’s tournament. They first take out Southern Cal in the play-in game and then the Hoyas. They face Purdue next.
Today’s love needs to go to Butler as the Bulldogs face Pittsburgh. Another interesting game should be the mid-major battle between Morehead State and Richmond. That winner will become another NCAA darling. And I’m glad Cincinnati and UConn oppose each other. That means another Big East team will go home.
Anyone enjoying Marv Albert and Steve Kerr on the broadcasts? I wonder what they think of the college game after doing the NBA for so long.
Only Virginia Commonwealth’s disposal of Georgetown made headlines yesterday. Florida State did defeat Texas A&M in a mild upset.
But how about Virginia Commonwealth? The Rams are one of the darlings of this year’s tournament. They first take out Southern Cal in the play-in game and then the Hoyas. They face Purdue next.
Today’s love needs to go to Butler as the Bulldogs face Pittsburgh. Another interesting game should be the mid-major battle between Morehead State and Richmond. That winner will become another NCAA darling. And I’m glad Cincinnati and UConn oppose each other. That means another Big East team will go home.
Anyone enjoying Marv Albert and Steve Kerr on the broadcasts? I wonder what they think of the college game after doing the NBA for so long.
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