Source: http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2011/4/29/2143235/zags-visit-santa-clara
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Regents Approve Crisler Arena Makeover
The University of Michigan Regents approved the schematic designs of the $52 million makover to Crisler Arena. The overhaul will include new fan entrances, additional retail and ticketing spaces as well as a private club space. The Basketball Player Development Center is currently under construction and is expected to be completed later this year. The [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UMHoops/~3/A9ihJ5Lj85s/
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Texas lawmakers criticize Rick Barnes’ raise amid budget crisis
The $200,000 raise Rick Barnes received this week didn't just confound fans surprised the Texas basketball coach would be rewarded despite failing to make the Sweet 16 each of the past three years.
It also angered state lawmakers who criticized the Longhorns for increasing Barnes' salary at a time when the Texas budget crisis may lead to deep cuts to higher education.
One Republican state senator called it "nuts." Another described it as "not appropriate." Democratic state Sen. Kirk Watson, whose district includes the Texas campus, summed up the position of his colleagues when he told the Associated Press the raise suggests regents are "tone deaf" to the budget shortfall.
"I'm a big fan of UT basketball and coach Barnes," Watson said. "But at a time when everyone up here is fighting to come up with money to pay for education, it was disappointing."
It's understandable that Texas lawmakers would be sensitive to frivolous spending at a time when a budget shortfall estimated anywhere from $15 billion to $27 billion may slash funding for universities and tuition programs for poorer students. Nonetheless, their anger is misplaced in this case because Barnes' raise does not come from taxpayer money.
The Texas athletic department, one of the most profitable and successful in the nation, is entirely self-sustaining, according to school officials. Money for everything from coaching salaries, to new facilities, to charter flights comes from income generated from the Longhorns football and men's basketball programs in the form of TV revenue, ticket and merchandise sales, or alumni donations.
Barnes' raise boosted his salary to $2.4 million annually, making him among the nation's 10 highest-paid college basketball coaches but nowhere close to No. 1. According to a USA Today report from March, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski makes $4.2 million and Kentucky's John Calipari makes $3.9 million.
An elite athletics program is important to a university as a whole because winning teams generate volumes of publicity for the university, inspire donations from alumni and even increase the number of students applying for admission. When George Mason made the Final Four in 2006 for example, admissions inquiries rose 350 percent, active alumni increased 25 percent and a study estimated the school reaped more than $677 million in free media coverage.
In the case of Texas, the value of a top-notch sports program is even more apparent. ESPN recently agreed to pay the university $300 million over 20 years to launch the Longhorn Network, the first-ever network devoted entirely to sports, cultural and academic content from one school.
Barnes' basketball program is one reason the network received such a lucrative offer since the Longhorns have made the NCAA tournament in each of the coach's 13 seasons in Austin.
It's fair to question whether Barnes' history of underachieving in the NCAA tournament makes him worthy of a top-10 salary. It's also fair to question whether college coaches should be earning more than school presidents do.
But like it or not, Texas is paying market value right now for a top college basketball coach. And as long as that salary isn't coming from taxpayer money, it's difficult to find merit in the Texas lawmakers' complaints.
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Regents Approve Crisler Arena Makeover
The University of Michigan Regents approved the schematic designs of the $52 million makover to Crisler Arena. The overhaul will include new fan entrances, additional retail and ticketing spaces as well as a private club space. The Basketball Player Development Center is currently under construction and is expected to be completed later this year. The [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UMHoops/~3/A9ihJ5Lj85s/
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Ex-Wisconsin AD: Roy Williams is ‘afraid’ to come to Madison
It's probably safe to assume North Carolina coach Roy Williams and former Wisconsin athletic director Pat Richter don't attend each other's birthday parties.
During his weekly appearance on WTLX-FM in Madison, Richter tore into Williams for being unwilling to bring his North Carolina team to Madison. Wisconsin will visit Chapel Hill in November to face the Tar Heels in one of the marquee games of next season's Big Ten-ACC challenge.
"It still is a joke," Richter said. "I know darn well that you'll never get Roy Williams here. He won't come to Wisconsin. He's afraid the people are going to boo him and everything else. I think that's all bogus."
The animosity between Williams and Wisconsin stems from comments the North Carolina coach made months after Michigan State beat Wisconsin at the 2000 Final Four� in a physical, low-scoring game that was 19-17 at halftime. After his Kansas team beat UCLA 99-98 in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic the following season, Williams made a joke that appeared to be a jab at former Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett's trademark deliberate style.
"Are you going to tell me you don't like this more than 19-17 at halftime?" Williams said� "I'm not a nuclear physicist, but you make the choice. We're trying to make it a game of basketball skills, not a weight room contest."
The comments have not been forgotten at Wisconsin.
Boos rained down on Williams when he was introduced during the 2002 NCAA tournament when Kansas played at the Kohl Center. Members of Wisconsin's 2000 Final Four team also admitted they were still furious over Williams comments prior to a 2005 Elite Eight matchup between Wisconsin and eventual national champion North Carolina.
"These guys can get some revenge for us from the 2000 team," former Badger Andy Kowske told the Wisconsin State Journal at the time. "To be able to watch them go to the Final Four against a coach who at one time singled us out, it would be special."
Wisconsin and North Carolina have not faced each other in the first 12 seasons of the Big Ten-ACC challenge, so Richter believes it's no coincidence that the Badgers have drawn a visit to Chapel Hill in a year when the Tar Heels figure to be preseason No. 1. Of course, Wisconsin is expected to contend in the Big Ten, though the Badgers will have to replace frontcourt stalwarts Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil.
One reason why the game is in Chapel Hill is probably because North Carolina played at Illinois in last season's challenge while Wisconsin hosted North Carolina State, but Richter isn't buying that logic.
"There were many times when that should have been our matchup and now the matchup is there because who's supposed to be the top team in the country? North Carolina.," Richter said.
"We've got to go down there when they're supposed to have all these horses back, and it's going to be a tough road for us. Who's going to benefit but Roy Williams?"
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Penn State passes on Larry Brown. Was that the right choice?
Given the band of no-names and retreads considered to be the leading choices for the Penn State job, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Nittany Lions' coaching search is the candidate they've already turned away.
According to the Harrisburg Patriot-News, Penn State told longtime NBA coach Larry Brown thanks but no thanks after he expressed interest in the job last week. The obvious assumption was that the Nittany Lions couldn't afford Brown, but the paper reported he wasn't turned off by Penn State's desire to pay its next coach no more than $1 million per year.
It might not seem wise for a program of the stature of Penn State to turn down a future hall of fame coach, but there's a reason that Stanford and UNLV have also passed on him in recent years.
He's 70 years old. He hasn't been on the recruiting trail in more than two decades. And of course he has a well-deserved reputation for spending no more than three years in one place before moving on, which would make him an easy target for rival coaches looking to dissuade recruits from coming to Penn State.
On the other hand, hiring Brown would certainly be a headline-grabbing move for a Nittany Lions program overshadowed by its football team on its own campus and by Villanova, Pittsburgh and Temple in its own state.� Furthermore, Brown acknowledged his role would be to inject some energy into the program for a few years while grooming his successor.
Maybe there's a better available candidate for Penn State than Brown. Perhaps the Nittany Lions can unearth a young up-and-coming coach capable of transforming the program into a consistent Big Ten contender the way Ed DeChellis and his predecessors never could.
But considering that the leading candidates at Penn State are reportedly uninspired choices like East Carolina coach Jeff Lebo or Tulsa's Doug Wojcik, it's hard not to think the Nittany Lions should at least give Brown a longer look.
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The Bird-Dirk Advanced Stat-off
Bill Simmons and BS Report HoF guest Chuck Klosterman are discussing Larry Bird vs. Dirk Nowitzki in a podcast. Simmons says that the advanced stats place Dirk in the same category as Bird, perhaps even giving Dirk the edge, and he's not sure how he feels about this. I wasn't sure how I felt, either, [...]
Source: http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=9486
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Missouri basketball assists with tornado relief efforts in Joplin
The Kansas City Star reported Wednesday that new Missouri coach Frank Haith hopes to play an exhibition game next fall at Missouri Southern, the Division II school located in Joplin. Proceeds from the game would go to Joplin residents displaced by the tornado that ravaged the town on Sunday, assuming the NCAA grants the Tigers permission to play the game.
Missouri would need to negotiate a waiver from the NCAA to play the game because Division I programs are only permitted two exhibitions per season. The Tigers already have two exhibition games scheduled for next season.
In addition to the potential exhibition game, the Tigers have also raised money for the United Way's campaign to support Joplin by selling T-shirts with the slogan "One State. One Spirit. One Mizzou" written above Sunday's date. Missouri basketball spokesman Dave Reiter tweeted Wednesday morning that the school has already sold 3,500 of the T-shirts in less than one day.
New Missouri coach Frank Haith has hardly been on campus in Columbia long enough to unpack his office, but he too has become involved in the relief efforts.
Haith and fellow Missouri staffers intend to visit Joplin on Thursday to donate items collected by the university this week. Missouri has requested that fans donate anything from food to stuffed animals to diapers, formula and baby wipes.
"The images of the destruction in Joplin are absolutely devastating," Haith said in a statement released by the school. "But at the same time, the sight of neighbor helping neighbor serves as inspiration for us all. We can't change what happened on Sunday night, but if we can make life a little easier, you better believe we are going to try and do it."
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Monday, May 30, 2011
Is transfer Ryan Harrow Kentucky’s next great point guard?
Coach John Calipari landed another highly touted point guard late Wednesday night to go along with former Wildcats stars John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight and promising incoming freshman Marquis Teague.
NC State transfer Ryan Harrow, a former top 50 recruit, selected Kentucky over Georgia, Louisville and Texas, among others. The sophomore-to-be will have to sit out all of next season but will have three years of eligibility remaining starting in the 2012-13 season.
It's easy to see why Harrow would be enamored with a point guard-friendly system like Kentucky's after spending a year in Sidney Lowe's structured, methodical system. Harrow started just 10 of the 29 games he played as a freshman at NC State and averaged 9.3 points and 3.3 assists, eventually growing frustrated that he was unable to fully showcase his creativity, passing or quickness getting to the rim.
There are plenty of benefits for Kentucky too even if Harrow's slight frame and erratic jump shot make him less of a sure thing than some of his can't-miss NBA lottery-bound predecessors.
First of all, Harrow's presence will give Teague a worthy practice adversary next season, something Kentucky would have otherwise lacked. Secondly, he may be better than any point guard prospect the Wildcats could have attracted from a 2012 class that appears unusually weak at the position.
What will be most intriguing watching Harrow at Kentucky is seeing if he's willing to follow a very different path than previous Calipari point guards.
Will Harrow have the patience and self-awareness to be the rare Kentucky point guard willing to remain in Lexington a few years and grow under Calipari's tutelage? And will Calipari embrace Harrow as his potential starting point guard for two or three seasons or try to recruit over him if the opportunity presents itself?
The answers to those questions will probably determine whether Harrow and Kentucky turn out to be a good longterm fit.
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Two showdowns highlight next season’s Big Ten-ACC challenge
Duke will visit Ohio State on Nov. 29 in a matchup of likely preseason top-five teams. North Carolina will host Big Ten contender Wisconsin the following night. And Florida State-Michigan State, Michigan-Virginia and Miami-Purdue highlight an intriguing list of secondary games.
The middle tier of both the Big Ten and ACC appears to be very muddled entering the new season, so next year's event will represent an early opportunity for some of those teams to distinguish themselves. The ACC leads the overall series history 10-2, but the Big Ten's lone two victories came in the most recent challenges.
The Duke-Ohio State matchup may be the most anticipated of the 12 games because the two national powers haven't shared a court very often. The Blue Devils defeated the Buckeyes 91-76 in the 2002 ACC challenge to take a slim 3-2 advantage in the series, but that's the only time the teams have met since 1978.
What will be appealing about the matchup between Wisconsin and North Carolina will likely be the contrast in styles. The run-and-gun Tar Heels will probably be looking to push the pace in front of their home fans, whereas potential preseason All-American point guard Jordan Taylor will surely slow the tempo to a crawl and reduce the number of possessions in the game.
There are other intriguing storylines outside of the two marquee games.
Nebraska will make its challenge debut against Wake Forest in its first year in the Big Ten, enabling all 12 ACC teams to participate for the first time. Rebuilding Boston College will try to keep its undefeated record in the event intact when it hosts Penn State. And Georgia Tech and Northwestern will stage the lone rematch from last year when the Wildcats dusted the Yellowjackets 91-71.
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Gerald Henderson talks UNC vs. Duke
The biggest rivalry in college basketball kicks up again this week, and to start things off, here’s a few comments from former Duke star Gerald Henderson on the rivalry: UNC Duke Rivalry
Source: http://accbasketballrecruiting.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/gerald-henderson-talks-unc-vs-duke/
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R.J. Hunter spurns high-profile schools to play for his father
R.J. Hunter is his son.
The younger Hunter spurned the higher-profile schools that were recruiting him earlier this week and told his father he'll play at Georgia State, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
What prompted Hunter to commit now after months of saying he wasn't certain he wanted to play for his dad? It was a conversation the 6-foot-5 senior-to-be had with newly hired Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew, who played for his father Homer in college and famously hit a buzzer beater to lead the Crusaders to a memorable first-round NCAA tournament victory in 1998.
"He said he loved playing for his dad at Valpo, and that right there was a turning point," Hunter told the Journal-Constitution. "He was being recruited by bigger schools; he said it was all about where you can go and play. He said he loved playing for his father and it was the best experience of his life."
Hunter's decision to pass up the chance to play in a major conference in order to be coached by his father is not unusual in college basketball. In 2010, top 75 recruits Trey Zeigler and Ray McCallum passed up offers from the likes of UCLA and Michigan among others to play for their fathers at Central Michigan and Detroit respectively.
It's too soon to project whether those decisions were the right ones, but both Zeigler and McCallum made an immediate impact at the mid-major level. Both guards led their teams in scoring as freshmen, though Detroit finished in the middle of the pack in the Horizon League and Central Michigan labored through a disappointing 10-21 season.
Hunter is not considered quite the impact recruit that Zeigler and McCallum were, but he possessed enough tools that schools from the ACC, Big Ten and Big East were interested. In particular, his tremendous range and deft ball handling skills are considered to be strengths.
When Ron Hunter left IUPUI this spring to take on the challenge of building Georgia State into a contender in the Colonial Athletic Association, he told the National Hoops Report that a primary reason was to find a school that would entice his son to play for him.
"I really want an opportunity to coach him, not that he wouldn't have gone to IUPUI," the elder Hunter said. "I wanted to make sure I gave him another opportunity if he did want to play for his dad to play in a conference where he could really thrive in and play well. With VCU, George Mason, Old Dominion and the other teams in our conference that have done well, (the Georgia State job) became attractive."
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Sunday, May 29, 2011
Weekend Recruiting Links and Notes
This has been a busy weekend on the grassroots scene, with a number of events taking place throughout the country. Obviously the event that received the most attention was the second round of the Nike EYBL, which was played in Dallas. Forty of the top AAU teams in the country are in the field, and this weekend was a continuation of what began at the Boo Williams Invitational the weekend after the Final Four.
Also on tap this weekend were the Jayhawk Invitational in Lawrence, Kansas, the Hoop Group Providence Jam Fest and the Double Pump Best Buy Challenge Spring Classic in Las Vegas. There was also the Tucson Spring Exposure Showcase, an event that featured some solid young talent especially in the 2013-15 classes. Below are some notes on players observed in the Spring Exposure Showcase in addition to links to recaps on other action around the country. (Note: some of the links may require a subscription)
Nike EYBL Session #2 (Dallas)
- Friday recap from Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com
- Friday recap from Five Star Basketball (Team Takover's 22-point win over Mac Irvin Fire)
- Day one and day two recaps from Evan Daniels for Scout.com
Jayhawk Invitational (Lawrence, KS)
- Notes from Eric Bossi of Rivals.com (most notably a good Friday for Mitch McGary)
- Day two notes from Tim Dwyer for Five Star Basketball (including Dream Vision's loss to Minnesota Southside)
Hoop Group Providence Jam Fest
- Friday night notes from Dave Krupinski of the Hoop Group
Double Pump Best Buy Challenge (Las Vegas)
- Day one notes from Anthony Ray of ArizonaPreps.com
Tucson Spring Exposure Showcase notes
- 2011 guard Frank Mgbolu played well in a pair of games in the early afternoon portion of the event, displaying the ability to get to the basket with speed and finish with contact. Also in the 2011 class, forward John Makkar played well on both ends of the floor for the Fastbreakers. Makkar is still a bit raw, as evidenced by the need to further improve finishing around the rim with two hands, but his wingspan allows him to get to shots as a help-side defender. Makkar was productive on the boards as well, especially on the offensive end where he did a good job of keeping the ball up high.
- 2012 guard Michael Barry also played well for the Fastbreakers and he's got the ability to get hot from the perimeter. At one point in their second game of the day he scored seven unanswered points, combining the three-point shot with the ability to pull up off the dribble for mid-range shots. Barry also showed solid composure with the ball in his hands in other situations. 2011 wing Daniel Cobb has a good build (can finish in traffic) and shoots well from the perimeter, although there were instances where he settled for the three instead of attacking the basket.
- Two other 2012 players on display were teammates Anthony Charles and Julien Phifer. Charles is a good perimeter shooter who got open in the second half of their final game of the day, helping spark the decisive run in their victory. Phifer is an interior presence on both ends of the floor, but he needs to improve at keeping the ball up high on rebounds (an issue that some pros have these days to be honest). Look for these two to get even better as the spring/summer wears on.
- The Tucson Heat 2014 squad has some talented players as well. Guard Cameron Denson, who remarked after the game that he's looking to improve his left hand and outside shot, is an athletic player who proved tough to keep from getting to the rim. He's got very good jumping ability as well, a characteristic that should get even better as his career wears on.
- Also playing well on the perimeter was Austin Nehls, who proved tough to handle in their final game of the day. Nehls is looking to work on the quickness of his release in addition to getting to the basket. When the Heat pulled away in the second half his offense proved to be the catalyst. Austin Miller wasn't too thrilled with his shooting in the win but the guard displayed very good vision with the basketball. That makes perfect sense given the fact that his father is Arizona head coach Sean Miller. Austin will look to improve upon his shot this summer, which should pay dividends as he matures physically.
- Inside for the Heat were Chaz Mack and Thomas McEvoy, and if both can improve upon their games away from the basket (both noted this area as what they'd like to improve upon this summer) they'll be guys to keep an eye on. They both rebounded well in addition to defending in the paint, and they were a solid supplement to what the aforementioned guards provided offensively.
- 2013 big man Jeremiah April will be a player to remember as the circuit progresses this year. Already standing at 6'10", April has good shooting form in addition to being a shot-blocking presence on the defensive end. As he fills out and becomes even more comfortable in what he can do, look out. And 2015 forward Dakota Kordsiemon should only get better as well. In a brief conversation with him following a game, Kordsiemon noted that he's looking to work on his left hand and perimeter shooting this summer. He did a good job of getting to the basket and finishing, and that should only improve as he matures.
- More on the event from Chad Groth of the West Coast Hoops Report�
Source: http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/weekend-recruiting-links-and-notes-169261
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Arizona coach Sean Miller pledges to stay for ‘the long haul’
The Arizona fan base was less than 48 hours removed from the anxiety and stress of Sean Miller's dalliance with Maryland when the third-year Wildcats coach began the process of assuaging any lingering concerns.
Miller spoke to reporters at a news conference on Monday, insisting that the contract extension he agreed to with Arizona on Saturday night is a sign he'll be "here for the long haul." He also addressed misconceptions that have emerged that his wife isn't happy in Tucson, that he and Byrne don't have a good relationship and that he's eager to move back to the East Coast.
"(The Maryland job) was opportunity that I really felt in the best interests of our own family and myself I had to at least pause and consider," Miller said.
"Nobody's happier to be a head coach at any place in the country than I am here at the University of Arizona.� if the deeper meaning of this weekend is that I'm here for the long haul, unconditionally, then that's what that means. I am. I'm excited to be here, and I believe we can do some magical things."
The fear that Miller might accept the Maryland job was so fervent among Arizona fans because of how great a setback it would be to a Wildcats program just beginning to emerge from a period of coaching turmoil and uncertainty. Under Miller, Arizona reached the Elite Eight last season and has signed a highly touted recruiting class for next year.
The consensus among the national media was that Miller was likely to accept the Maryland job because he's a lifelong East Coast resident with ties to the Washington D.C. area and to the ACC. There were also reports that Miller hadn't received the raise or charter flights for the team he was expecting from athletic director Greg Byrne, a storyline the Arizona coach did his best to quash on Monday.
"Greg Byrne and I have a tremendous relationship," Miller said. We have from the moment he got here. He's been a breath of fresh air, not only for me, but I believe for the entire athletic department. I don't think there's a more hard-working, high-energy, somebody who really gets what college sports is today, than him.
"The athletic department and his team, and Greg have done everything that we need to be successful and we continue to look and say, `how can we be better?' This weekend didn't change that in any way. This weekend wasn't about, in my mind, leverage. We've had talks all the way from the time he was hired all the way through this weekend."
There also had been speculation that Miller's wife, Amy, and his family wanted to move back East, where they lived until the coach left Xavier to come to Arizona in 2009. Miller shot down that theory as well, insisting that his sons would be "crushed" to leave Arizona and his wife "loves Tucson" as well.
"Just so you know, one of the big reasons we are here today is because of her," Miller said. "Not just when we left Cincinnati, but in the fact that we're here today on Monday.
"If Greg Byrne and my wife took a hit because of me, shame on me, because that's the furthest thing from the truth. The fact that that's over with right now, and I'm looking at all of you, it's almost embarrassing. I want to coach our program, and deal with our team, and the future here is very bright."
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Meet Howard Moore: Illinois-Chicago?s New Coach
What Happened to…Jimmy Collins? Only a few months before beginning his 15th season at Illinois-Chicago, Jimmy Collins stepped down as the Flames’ head coach. Nearly all of UIC’s success as a Division 1 program can be attributed to Collins, who … Continue reading 
Source: http://basketballdaily.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/meet-howard-moore-illinois-chicagos-new-coach/
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Scouting Video: Demetrius Jackson at Adidas May Classic
Demetrius Jackson’s recruitment has exploded this spring. He’s impressed scouts on the AAU circuit and his list has expanded, now including Xavier, Michigan, Notre Dame, Indiana, Michigan State and Illinois. Xavier and Michigan have both indicated that he’s near the top, if not at the top, of their recruiting boards for the class of 2013. [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UMHoops/~3/sYjYjay45is/
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Scouting Video: Demetrius Jackson at Adidas May Classic
Demetrius Jackson’s recruitment has exploded this spring. He’s impressed scouts on the AAU circuit and his list has expanded, now including Xavier, Michigan, Notre Dame, Indiana, Michigan State and Illinois. Xavier and Michigan have both indicated that he’s near the top, if not at the top, of their recruiting boards for the class of 2013. [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UMHoops/~3/sYjYjay45is/
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A corporate logo will soon grace the floor at Hinkle Fieldhouse
Even the historic gym where the movie "Hoosiers" was filmed is susceptible to corporate influence.
Butler announced Wednesday that Zotec Partners, a medical billing and practice management services firm, will be the lead sponsor of Hinkle Fieldhouse's upcoming $25 million facelift. As part of that agreement, Zotec Partners will become the first company to have its logo on the Hinkle Fieldhouse floor.
The idea of a corporate logo gracing the floor of the 83-year-old gym has sparked a healthy debate among Butler fans. Some acknowledge that the $25 million won't just raise itself. Others are wary that this could be the first step toward the place one day being renamed "Steak and Shake Hinkle Fieldhouse."
Butler director of corporate sponsorships Joe Gentry said Friday that "there's absolutely no chance" of Hinkle Fieldhouse being renamed. He did not disclose the terms of the agreement with Zotec Partners but said Butler will make sure the logos are tasteful.
"We're always conscientious of our fans and their opinions, but foremost in our minds was how we could help our student-athletes and our department," Gentry said. "Having logos on the floor, it seems like more schools are doing that these days. To be honest, it's something we've been trying to do for quite a while."
Even those who aren't wild about the logo at Hinkle Fieldhouse recognize the importance of funding the renovation project.
Chairs will replace benches in the lower bowl. A new scoreboard with video capability also is in the plans. New restrooms will be installed and part of the building will be converted to a lobby where spectators can gather.
Hinkle Fieldhouse is a national historic landmark and the sixth-oldest college basketball arena still in use, so it's understandable that the basketball-savvy residents of Indiana would be fiercely protective of it. Still a corporate logo seems like a small price to pay to preserve the building for years to come.
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Thursday Links
Michigan Ranked 8th in 2012 Rivals Team Rankings Two top 100 kids – Robinson 50, Stauskas 89 – earns Michigan the No. 8 spot for now. Not sure the ranking will stick based on the expected size of that class. Just spoke to Luke Hancock Has only visited Louisville (where his former Hargrave coach is [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UMHoops/~3/tF6-FlV5Pok/
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Arizona coach Sean Miller pledges to stay for ‘the long haul’
The Arizona fan base was less than 48 hours removed from the anxiety and stress of Sean Miller's dalliance with Maryland when the third-year Wildcats coach began the process of assuaging any lingering concerns.
Miller spoke to reporters at a news conference on Monday, insisting that the contract extension he agreed to with Arizona on Saturday night is a sign he'll be "here for the long haul." He also addressed misconceptions that have emerged that his wife isn't happy in Tucson, that he and Byrne don't have a good relationship and that he's eager to move back to the East Coast.
"(The Maryland job) was opportunity that I really felt in the best interests of our own family and myself I had to at least pause and consider," Miller said.
"Nobody's happier to be a head coach at any place in the country than I am here at the University of Arizona.� if the deeper meaning of this weekend is that I'm here for the long haul, unconditionally, then that's what that means. I am. I'm excited to be here, and I believe we can do some magical things."
The fear that Miller might accept the Maryland job was so fervent among Arizona fans because of how great a setback it would be to a Wildcats program just beginning to emerge from a period of coaching turmoil and uncertainty. Under Miller, Arizona reached the Elite Eight last season and has signed a highly touted recruiting class for next year.
The consensus among the national media was that Miller was likely to accept the Maryland job because he's a lifelong East Coast resident with ties to the Washington D.C. area and to the ACC. There were also reports that Miller hadn't received the raise or charter flights for the team he was expecting from athletic director Greg Byrne, a storyline the Arizona coach did his best to quash on Monday.
"Greg Byrne and I have a tremendous relationship," Miller said. We have from the moment he got here. He's been a breath of fresh air, not only for me, but I believe for the entire athletic department. I don't think there's a more hard-working, high-energy, somebody who really gets what college sports is today, than him.
"The athletic department and his team, and Greg have done everything that we need to be successful and we continue to look and say, `how can we be better?' This weekend didn't change that in any way. This weekend wasn't about, in my mind, leverage. We've had talks all the way from the time he was hired all the way through this weekend."
There also had been speculation that Miller's wife, Amy, and his family wanted to move back East, where they lived until the coach left Xavier to come to Arizona in 2009. Miller shot down that theory as well, insisting that his sons would be "crushed" to leave Arizona and his wife "loves Tucson" as well.
"Just so you know, one of the big reasons we are here today is because of her," Miller said. "Not just when we left Cincinnati, but in the fact that we're here today on Monday.
"If Greg Byrne and my wife took a hit because of me, shame on me, because that's the furthest thing from the truth. The fact that that's over with right now, and I'm looking at all of you, it's almost embarrassing. I want to coach our program, and deal with our team, and the future here is very bright."
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Texas lawmakers criticize Rick Barnes’ raise amid budget crisis
The $200,000 raise Rick Barnes received this week didn't just confound fans surprised the Texas basketball coach would be rewarded despite failing to make the Sweet 16 each of the past three years.
It also angered state lawmakers who criticized the Longhorns for increasing Barnes' salary at a time when the Texas budget crisis may lead to deep cuts to higher education.
One Republican state senator called it "nuts." Another described it as "not appropriate." Democratic state Sen. Kirk Watson, whose district includes the Texas campus, summed up the position of his colleagues when he told the Associated Press the raise suggests regents are "tone deaf" to the budget shortfall.
"I'm a big fan of UT basketball and coach Barnes," Watson said. "But at a time when everyone up here is fighting to come up with money to pay for education, it was disappointing."
It's understandable that Texas lawmakers would be sensitive to frivolous spending at a time when a budget shortfall estimated anywhere from $15 billion to $27 billion may slash funding for universities and tuition programs for poorer students. Nonetheless, their anger is misplaced in this case because Barnes' raise does not come from taxpayer money.
The Texas athletic department, one of the most profitable and successful in the nation, is entirely self-sustaining, according to school officials. Money for everything from coaching salaries, to new facilities, to charter flights comes from income generated from the Longhorns football and men's basketball programs in the form of TV revenue, ticket and merchandise sales, or alumni donations.
Barnes' raise boosted his salary to $2.4 million annually, making him among the nation's 10 highest-paid college basketball coaches but nowhere close to No. 1. According to a USA Today report from March, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski makes $4.2 million and Kentucky's John Calipari makes $3.9 million.
An elite athletics program is important to a university as a whole because winning teams generate volumes of publicity for the university, inspire donations from alumni and even increase the number of students applying for admission. When George Mason made the Final Four in 2006 for example, admissions inquiries rose 350 percent, active alumni increased 25 percent and a study estimated the school reaped more than $677 million in free media coverage.
In the case of Texas, the value of a top-notch sports program is even more apparent. ESPN recently agreed to pay the university $300 million over 20 years to launch the Longhorn Network, the first-ever network devoted entirely to sports, cultural and academic content from one school.
Barnes' basketball program is one reason the network received such a lucrative offer since the Longhorns have made the NCAA tournament in each of the coach's 13 seasons in Austin.
It's fair to question whether Barnes' history of underachieving in the NCAA tournament makes him worthy of a top-10 salary. It's also fair to question whether college coaches should be earning more than school presidents do.
But like it or not, Texas is paying market value right now for a top college basketball coach. And as long as that salary isn't coming from taxpayer money, it's difficult to find merit in the Texas lawmakers' complaints.
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Meet Howard Moore: Illinois-Chicago?s New Coach
What Happened to…Jimmy Collins? Only a few months before beginning his 15th season at Illinois-Chicago, Jimmy Collins stepped down as the Flames’ head coach. Nearly all of UIC’s success as a Division 1 program can be attributed to Collins, who … Continue reading
Source: http://basketballdaily.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/meet-howard-moore-illinois-chicagos-new-coach/
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Austin Rivers: A Player We?d Like To See In the ACC
It seemed like Austin Rivers was destined to stay near his home in Florida. After he committed to the in-state Florida Gators, it seemed like a done deal. The Gators would get one of the best point guards in the 2011 class, Austin would stay close to home (Gainesville is relatively close to Winter Park, [...]
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Friday, May 27, 2011
ESPN on Indiana Elite, Hanner Perea and A-Hope
We’ll have to dig into the meat of this later on because it’s a lot to digest in such a short period of time, but ESPN just published several�investigative�stories on A-Hope, the Bloomington-based non-profit that assists in bringing international players to the United States. The first is an in-depth investigative piece on the A-Hope program [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/insidethehall/~3/zHHpW1lNn7g/
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Ex-Villanova forward Will Sheridan tells ESPN.com he’s gay
The support Will Sheridan's teammates gave him suggests that day is getting closer.
Sheridan, Villanova's starting power forward from 2004 to 2007, told ESPN.com's Dana O'Neil that he first revealed to roommate Mike Nardi that he was gay and later to other teammates as he grew more comfortable around them. None of them ostracized him or even behaved differently toward him afterward, nor did any of them feel the need to even inform coach Jay Wright.
"Your personal life is your personal life," Nardi said. "It didn't matter to us because it's family and you don't go putting your family's secrets out in the streets. I mean, why would I tell anyone? It's no one's business except Will's."
"After I found out, I was like, 'Did you know?' And all the guys, they were like, 'Yeah, Coach, we knew,'" Wright said. "They just didn't care and I guess I was just oblivious."
The courage of Sheridan and the nonchalance of his teammates is just the latest sign that even testosterone-driven jock culture is becoming more accepting of gays and less tolerant of homophobia. In the past few days alone, New York Rangers star Sean Avery took a stance in support of gay marriage and Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts told the New York Times he's gay.
What's missing, of course, is a well-known professional athlete still active in one of the four major sports feeling comfortable enough to publicly acknowledge that he's gay. Until that happens frequently enough that it's no longer considered a taboo, athletes like Sheridan will continue to be viewed as trailblazers.
The fact that Sheridan doesn't appear to have been the target of much homophobia from anyone at Villanova hopefully will help others in his position to find the courage to be honest with their teams.
The more athletes who are gay that follow in Sheridan's footsteps, the sooner the day will come when stories like this are no longer newsworthy.
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Austin Rivers: A Player We?d Like To See In the ACC
It seemed like Austin Rivers was destined to stay near his home in Florida. After he committed to the in-state Florida Gators, it seemed like a done deal. The Gators would get one of the best point guards in the 2011 class, Austin would stay close to home (Gainesville is relatively close to Winter Park, [...]
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Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats" Series: Cal Poly's Jeff Schneider
In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Cal Poly head coach Jeff Schneider, who led the Mustangs to a conference title in 1996 and won seventy games over five seasons. Coach Schneider, who is now CEO/President of the Big Shots, sent a son (David) off to William & Mary where he became one of the best players in school history.
Jon Teitel: You were an All-American at Washington Irving HS (where Schneider became the only two-time West Virginia High School Player of the Year ever) but lost to Logan in the 1977 AAA state title game. Do you consider yourself to be one of the best high school players in West Virginia history?�
Jeff Schneider: I was fortunate to be the only two-time winner of the Player of the Year award.� We had a really good run when I was in high school, and we got on the map once we made it to the state finals.� I am very proud of those honors.�
1980 NCAA Tournament (as a player at Virginia Tech)
JT: You scored nine points in a four-point overtime win over Western Kentucky. How were you able to hang on for the win?�
JS: It was an amazing game.� There were not a lot of games on TV back then but we were on TV...and down by 21 at halftime.� It was WKU coach Gene Keady's last game before he went to Purdue.� We came out strong in the second half and tied it up to force overtime.� Dale Solomon did nothing in the first half but ended up with 22 points and 11 rebounds.�
JT: You scored 12 points (6-8 FG), but Isiah Thomas had 17 points and seven assists in a nine-point Indiana win. Could you tell at the time that Thomas was going to become a star?�
JS: He was phenomenal.� Growing up as a coach's son I had run a lot of Coach Bobby Knight's offense and defense.� I got to play against some great players like Ralph Sampson, Larry Bird and Darrell Griffith, but Isiah was the best point guard I ever saw.�
JT: In the summer of 1982 you were drafted in the 5th round by Houston but did not make the roster. Did you consider it to be a success (due to getting drafted) or a failure (due to not making the team)?�
JS: I ran into former All-Star Bob Dandridge a few years ago and he said that I would have a better chance of making an NBA roster today because there are so many more teams now.� I wish the three-point line was in play back then.� I took a lot of deep shots and was a 50% shooter, which not a lot of guards are.�
JT: What are your memories of the 1984 NCAA Tournament as a graduate assistant at VCU under JD Barnett (Rolando Lamb made a jump shot at the buzzer for a one-point win over Northeastern despite 31 points from Reggie Lewis on 15-17 shooting from the field, then Rafael Addison scored 24 points to lead Syracuse to a win in the next round)?�
JS: We had three amazing assistant coaches: Tubby Smith (now at Minnesota), David Hobbs (former Alabama head coach), and Kevin Eastman (now an assistant with the Celtics).� Jim Calhoun coached Northeastern and they led the nation in rebounding despite not having a guy over 6'6" because their starting five all played above the rim.� Northeastern set a record that night by shooting 75% in the loss, as we only shot 69%.� Barnett and Calhoun are both great defensive coaches but neither one could stop the other that night.� Lamb made a turnaround shot to win it, and we all jumped on top of him in a pile.� Pearl Washington just dominated the Syracuse game.�
1994 NCAA Tournament (as an assistant for Tubby Smith at Tulsa)
JT: Gary Collier scored 34 points (12-13 FT) in a ten-point win over UCLA that saw your team take a 29-point lead in the first half. How on earth were you able to dominate a team that would win it all the following season?�
JS: I think that game had a lot to do with UCLA becoming champs the following year, as it was a real embarrassment to them.� My dad did not watch the game. Once he saw the score he assumed that the Bruins were just blowing us out!� We were terrific offensively. This was before people knew who Tubby was.� Collier was a 6'3" power forward, so even after the game UCLA coach Jim Harrick still probably would not have recruited him!�
JT: Lou Dawkins made a three pointer with six seconds left to clinch a two-point win over Oklahoma State in Oklahoma City. Was your team out for revenge after losing to the Cowboys by double-digits earlier that season?�
JS: It was a big rivalry.� They were crushing us at halftime, as "Big Country" (Bryant Reeves) already had a double-double.� I asked Tubby how our own kids would guard us, and he said that they would double-team us, so we did just that.� We left Scott Sutton wide open and double-teamed Big Country, who scored only two points in the second half.�
JT: Eventual tournament MOP Corliss Williamson scored 21 point in a win by eventual champion Arkansas. Did you get the sense that the Razorbacks were going to win it all, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus?�
JS: We had played them earlier in the year without Shea Seals and they only beat us by two points in overtime.� They played a 2-3 zone defense and just dominated us by forcing us way out of the paint.� We had to get there really early because President Clinton was attending the game!�
JT: In 1996 you won a conference title in your very first season at Cal Poly. How were you able to come in and be so successful so quickly?�
JS: When I got there we had only sold about 12 season tickets, but we just got on a roll and it became fun to attend the games.� We went from 100 people at our home games to 3,000 people almost overnight.� We played Tubby's system of just pressing on defense and running on offense.� The effort our team put in was amazing.� Hall of Famer Jerry Lucas came to every one of our games and said we were the hardest-working team he had ever seen. We would just jump on people.�
JT: Your teams at Cal Poly were consistently among the best in the nation in scoring and three-point shooting. What is the secret to three-point shooting, and do you believe that a good offense beats a good defense?�
JS: Some of it is that I recruited players who played like me and were good shooters.� If I did it over again, I would probably play more zone defense and use a Princeton offense with a lot of back cuts...but I would still shoot the three.� If you look at the school record book, that is when all of the records were broken.�
JT: You had a 100% graduation rate at Cal Poly for guys who played four years. How important were academics to you?�
JS: It is a top-level academic school so we valued that and took pride in having everyone graduate.� I am sure that guys went on to be successful, even if they did not like all the study hours that we made them put in!�
JT: Your son David played basketball at Brophy College Prep in Phoenix and was later named CAA Men's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year at William & Mary, and is currently playing professionally in England. How proud are you of all his success, and how do you think he is going to do as a pro?�
JS: David was a low SAT guy but developed a tremendous work ethic.� He was probably the highest scorer that Brophy had at the time, then scored 1,500+ points at William & Mary.� He played as hard as anyone could play, and could score 14 points per game no matter where he played.� Unlike a lot of players who know all their opponents David did not know a lot of the guys he played against, but statistically he was as good or better as a lot of them.� He is averaging double figures in England and just goes out and plays for a team that wins a lot of games.� David probably learned from those Tulsa and Poly teams because they played so hard themselves.�
JT: You currently serve as CEO/President of Big Shots, where your Skills Academy teaches fundamental skills and techniques for players of all ages and hosts nationwide tournaments. What makes your academy different from other academies, and how important is it for players to participate in tournaments where they can get exposure to coaches?�
JS: I used to do more training but my main focus now is on tournaments.� I cannot think of anyone else who has been a player/assistant coach/head coach, has a recruiting service, and runs his own events. My entire career has prepared me to do this.� The NCAA is talking about getting rid of July events but that is crazy because July is the cleanest time of the year. There are 200 coaches and the NCAA at each event!� As a college coach if you go to an event with 500 teams and 5,000 players, there are probably at least 30 guys who are good enough to play at a school like North Carolina.� You can see them all over the course of two days, whereas it would take about two years to go around the country and see them all on your own.� I think my own kids got college scholarships due to the exposure they got from playing in summer tournaments.� The recruiting advantage is TV. For example, the reason the SEC has won five straight NCAA football titles is because they split billions of dollars from their contract with CBS.� LSU is not getting top recruits because they are attending Les Miles' football camp!�
�
Coach Schneider is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Big West history.
Cal Poly: Jeff Schneider (1995-2001) 70-84, 1 conference title
Cal-State Fullerton: Bob Burton (2003-present) 134-112, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title
Cal-State Northridge: Bobby Braswell (1996-present) 219-199, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
UC Riverside: John Masi (1979-2005) 462-269, 6-time conference COY
UC Davis: Bob Williams (1990-1998) 158-76, 4 conference titles, 1 D-2 title, 1-time national COY
Long Beach State: Jerry Tarkanian (1968-1973) 122-20, 4 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles
Pacific: Bob Thomason (1988-present) 381-277, 4 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 5-time conference COY
UC Irvine: Pat Douglass (1997-2010) 197-191, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
UCSB: Bob Williams (1998-present) 217-170, 3 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
�?
Source: http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/jon-teitels-coaching-greats-series-cal-polys-jeff-schneider-169260
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Regents Approve Crisler Arena Makeover
The University of Michigan Regents approved the schematic designs of the $52 million makover to Crisler Arena. The overhaul will include new fan entrances, additional retail and ticketing spaces as well as a private club space. The Basketball Player Development Center is currently under construction and is expected to be completed later this year. The [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UMHoops/~3/A9ihJ5Lj85s/
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Proven Sports Tips for Basketball Players
Basketball is among the many sports that people love to watch and play. But if others play it just for fun, there are some who play it professionally, thus they need to become more competitive.
Source: http://www.blogbasketball.com/2010/01/26/proven-sports-tips-for-basketball-players/
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Thursday, May 26, 2011
Ed DeChellis taking Navy job isn’t as surprising as it seems
It's going to raise some eyebrows any time a coach trades a major conference gig for a place in the Patriot League, but Ed DeChellis leaving Penn State for Navy isn't nearly as illogical as some are suggesting.
With stars Talor Battle and Jeff Brooks having graduated this spring and promising Dayton transfer Juwan Staten not eligible for another full year, DeChellis was staring at a major rebuilding effort next season. Pressure on the eighth-year coach had been mounting in recent years, so why not leave now if he wasn't confident the Penn State administration was behind him long term?
DeChellis certainly had to be an easier sell for an athletic director now than he would have been were he fired at Penn State in a year or two. He has done a credible job at a football-crazed school, earning a three-year contract extension in 2009 for winning the NIT title and then making a late surge to the NCAA tournament this past season.
The downside to the Navy job is of course that it will likely come with a substantial paycut and it will be a big drop in prestige from the Big Ten to the Patriot League. Furthermore, Navy's admissions standards and post-graduate military service requirements make it more difficult to recruit there than at some of its Patriot League peers.
DeChellis replaces Billy Lange, who left Navy earlier this month to become the associate head coach at Villanova. Navy went 11-20 overall and 6-8 in league play last season, falling to Lehigh in the Patriot League quarterfinals.
As DeChellis begins his transition at Navy, Penn State will have to find a replacement at an awkward time. Most of the coaching vacancies have already been filled, and a high-profile coach isn't nearly as likely to leave his job for rebuilding Penn State as for powerhouse Maryland or stacked Texas A&M.
The other problem for Penn State is that DeChellis' departure may cost it Staten, a one-time top-75 recruit who was considered a steal for Dayton last year. The point guard did not immediately return a text message seeking comment, but his father told the National Hoops Report that Staten will open his recruitment again.
National Championship Game Preview: Your Commentary
9:23 PM (CBS) (8) Butler (28-9) vs. (3) Connecticut (31-9)
The end of the college basketball season is here, for better or worse, and the national title game matches a pair of teams few expected to get to this point on Selection Sunday much less at any point during the regular season. The Butler Bulldogs are back where they saw their season end a year ago, and if Gordon Hayward's half-court shot were a few centimeters to the left we're talking about a possible repeat. Instead, they look to avoid going home empty-handed for the second consecutive season with the Connecticut Huskies standing in their way.
UConn's season began in earnest with a great run through the Maui Invitational with junior guard Kemba Walker leading the way. But while Walker has continued to play like one of the best players in the nation, the youngsters have matured by the game and have been pivotal figures during the month of March. Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier and Alex Oriakhi are three of the key figures for Jim Calhoun's team, and if they can get one more solid outing from this group a third national title for the program could be on the horizon.
Butler was able to calm down on Saturday night after temporarily being drawn into the helter-skelter game that VCU preferred, winning 70-62 behind 24 points from Shelvin Mack and 17 and eight rebounds from Matt Howard. The difference for the Bulldogs was their ability to get to the foul line, making 20 of 26 while VCU went just 8 for 13. That may not be the case tonight as UConn gets 21% of their points from the foul line as well, but points from the charity stripe will likely be one of the key factors in the outcome.
Connecticut hung on to beat Kentucky 56-55 thanks to a pair of key plays from Napier, a reverse lauyp to give them a six-point lead and two made free throws that sealed the game. UConn ran out of gas late but the same went for Kentucky, who continued to fire away from the perimeter despite losing their legs in a game that lacked whistles in the second half. Could fatigue be a concern for Walker, who has seen nearly every possible type of defense/defender this season and will have to deal with Ronald Nored tonight?
"The reason I was tired was because that long stretch, we didn't get that [media] timeout," said Walker on Sunday. "It was a fast-paced game. That was the only reason I was a little out of breath. But as long as I stay mentally tough and my team stay mentally tough, just like we've been doing throughout this whole post-season, we'll be fine."
Offensively the Huskies are a point better when it comes to scoring and they're practically even when it comes to both offensive and defensive efficiency. But if there's one thing to watch it will be how the two teams get their points. On the season Butler scores 31.5% of their points from beyond the arc, making 35.5% of the shots they take. UConn will have to chase players such as Mack, Zach Hahn and Chase Stigall off the arc or at the very least make sure the Bulldogs have to take challenged perimeter shots.
Kentucky outscored UConn by 24 from three on Saturday night but their poor shooting from both two (34.2%) and the foul line (4 for 12) cost them the game. Butler shoots 73% from the foul line and with Howard and Mack they do a good job of finding quality shots with an eFG% of 50.9%. One other concern for UConn will be how they control the defensive boards. Kentucky grabbed 15 offensive boards on Saturday, and Tyler Olander, Charles Okwandu and Roscoe Smith will all need to help out Oriakhi to avoid a similar situation tonight.
Butler also handled the offensive boards in their win, grabbing 16 and out-rebounding VCU 48-32 on the night. But given VCU's propensity to shoot from the perimeter, it was a little easier for the Bulldogs to control the boards in that situation. The ability of Napier and Walker to get to the basket will pose a challenge that Butler hasn't seen often in the Tournament, and when they have (Florida) those guards lacked the control that UConn's possess.
"The thing that UConn doesn't get enough credit for, everybody talks about how good those guards are with the ball, I think they're great cutters," remarked Butler head coach Brad Stevens. "I think when they put [Walker] off the ball with Napier on the one, he's as difficult if not more difficult."
This is going to be a fun matchup to say the least. While much of the attention will center on Walker and rightfully so, Connecticut's youngsters also have the ability to make plays. Lamb was somewhat quiet on Saturday night but given what he's been able to do this month it would come as no surprise if he were to rise to the occasion. Butler's players have more Final Four experience given their run last year but in Jim Calhoun, UConn has a leader with two national titles to his credit. These may not be the two "best" teams in America when breaking them down, but there's no doubt that the Bulldogs and Huskies are playing the best basketball at just the right time.
Source: http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/national-championship-game-preview-your-commentary-169248
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