Isiah Thomas
Thomas gets into the college game
Losing to an NAIA school does have one benefit for Isiah Thomas’s Florida International squad.
Monday can hardly be any worse.
That’s Thomas’ actual coaching debut – Wednesday was an exhibition – and it comes against defending champion North Carolina, replete with McDonald’s All-American and future NBA players. Yes, the Heels lost most of their players and are fine-tuning a new offense. But it’s still UNC. Get ready for a blowout.
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Florida International had us all fooled. If getting trounced by the defending national champions can help the “greater good,” that’s OK with the Panthers.
The Panthers’ athletic director, Pete Garcia, bitterly complained last week that Isiah Thomas’ FIU coaching debut would be against North Carolina. Garcia claimed that the event’s organizer, the Gazelle Group, was reneging a previous agreement that FIU would play Ohio State. FIU even considered withdrawing from the event.
But it turns out Thomas isn’t above a good thumping.
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Florida International wants to be a college hoops contender. But playing North Carolina in Isiah Thomas’ college coaching debut wasn’t what athletic director Pete Garcia had in mind.
Not one bit.
The Panthers are slated to be part of the Coaches vs. Cancer preseason tourney, with a Nov. 9 game at Chapel Hill. But Garcia is livid at the prospect of facing the defending champs, threatening to withdraw the school from the event. He says FIU’s being “bullied” into the matchup.
“Would they do what they’re doing to us to Duke, or to North Carolina? No,” Garcia said Tuesday. “But they’ll do it to FIU and any other school out there like FIU.”
Well played Garcia. Here’s a tip: If the Panthers ever get an invite to the NCAA tournament, don’t bitch about where FIU is slotted. Just be grateful you’re in.
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Say this for Isiah Thomas – he’s giving it the old college try.
A pair of Thomas features surfaced this week, as Florida International’s new coach made the recruiting rounds at various tournaments. See what you think.
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Isiah Thomas has lofty goals. And “lofty” is being kind.
Thomas, the former college hoops- and NBA star-turned failed coach/executive with the New York Knicks, is Florida International’s new coach. He’s either unafraid of losing games (been there, done that) or a supremely confident in his abilities, because it’ll take a small miracle to win there.
“I like rolling up my sleeves. I like taking some from the bottom and building it to the top. There’s a lot of risk in that and there is also a lot of reward in that. But that’s how I grew up. I want to take FIU to the next level and I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work, but I’m willing to pay the price to do that,” he said Wednesday.
Indeed. Thomas’ salary for the first year will be donated to the school’s athletic department. Give Thomas credit – he knows how to set the stage.
But it’s not the ideal place for someone who has no previous college coaching experience to start from scratch.
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