Beyond the Arc : Coaches

Does college hoops have any myths?

Mike Miller — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:58:00 GMT

People say a lot of things about John Calipari. Top-flight recruiter. Builder of programs. Shady coach. Winner. Take your pick.

But I’m not sure how often this one gets thrown around: Calipari produces NBA point guards.

It’s the subject of a Dimemag.com article titled “The biggest myth in college basketball.” The author writes how Calipari doesn’t really produce NBA point guards. True, his last two point guards – Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans – are NBA players right now. But both would’ve been in the league, regardless of what Calipari did. Same goes for John Wall, the freshman who’s currently playing at Kentucky.

And other players under Calipari, Darius Washington, Dajuan Wagne, Willie Kemp and Antonio Burks, among others, aren’t NBA-caliber players. Where did Calipari’s get this point guard reputation? I have no idea. Perhaps it’s passed around in NBA circles and on blogs I don’t read.

ANYWAY, labeling the notion that Calipari produces NBA point guards as the biggest myth in college basketball seems more than a little ridiculous. Mostly, I wonder who talks about it. Agents? AAU coaches? Scouts? It doesn’t qualify as a myth.

For that matter, are there any great myths in college hoops? Maybe there are just notions, which are true … sometimes.

You know, stuff like this:

The Big Ten is brutally slow. (Not always)
Guard-oriented teams rule in March. (I blame ’97 Arizona for this one.)
Defense wins titles. (UNC averaged 90.2 ppg last season, 2^nd in the nation, and topped kenpom.com’s ratings.)
Everyone hates Duke. (Not everyone. Just a lot of people.)

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'How did it get away from me?!'

Mike Miller — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:22:00 GMT

If there’s a spot on those ubiquitous Coors Light commercials for college basketball coaches, Charlie Coles just earned himself a spot.

Miami of Ohio’s coach was answering questions after his team’s 72-70 loss to No. 4 Kentucky Monday night – in which his RedHawks played marvelously – when someone asked him how the game got away from Miami.

Context: The RedHawks led UK by 18 at one point, but that was in the first half. They played the Wildcats – flush with one of the best recruiting classes of all time – even throughout until John Wall hit the game-winner.

Coles’ reaction? Classic mix of indignation, restraint and humor, worthy of Lefty Driesell. See for yourself.

(H/T: Ballin' Is a Habit)

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OK Roy, this is getting ridiculous

Mike Miller — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:47:00 GMT

Roy Williams likes to say his name doesn’t belong in the same sentence as Dean Smith. When North Carolina won its fifth NCAA tournament last spring – its second under Williams, matching Smith’s total – he continually deflected attention from himself to his school and his players.

“Roy Williams is not that good,” he said last April. “But Ole Roy has got some big-time players and that’s what it takes.”

Well, chalk up another big-time player. Another title may follow.

Jeff Roberson/AP

Roy Williams has already won two NCAA tournament titles. Can another be right behind?

Harrison Barnes – perhaps the nation’s No. 1 recruit – committed to North Carolina on Friday. "He's the most complete offensive player in the country,” says Paul Biancardi, Scouts Inc.'s national recruiting director.

That gives the Tar Heels two of the Top 10 prospects and three of the top 32 in the class of 2010, according to Rivals.com.

It’s generally acknowledged that places like UNC don’t rebuild after winning a championship, they reload. But this is getting ridiculous.

Ever since 2005’s recruiting class that featured Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Marcus Ginyard and Bobby Frasor, Williams has snagged at least one five-star prospect and at least two four-star players every year except 2007. And that was only because Ole Roy didn’t have any available scholarships.

To call North Carolina’s annual recruiting hauls an embarrassment of riches would be too easy. This is more like John Rockefeller assembling building a bigger, more powerful oil monopoly year after year.

Of course, there are reasons Williams can secure classes like this.

North Carolina’s always attracted star players, both in-state and out. As one of the game’s premier programs – and with an alum like Michael Jordan – it’s the type of place that recruits itself. The school gets plenty of TV time and, perhaps most importantly, is almost always in the national title hunt.

But with places like Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA and Tobacco Road rival Duke steeping up their recruiting efforts the last few years, Williams has had to do the same.

He’s always been a year-round recruiter. Yet despite hitting an age (58) when some coaches shift into neutral and coast (hey, he’s got those two titles), he’s still at it. Check out this exchange Williams had with SI.com’s Grant Wahl.

SI.com: I will never forget riding back overnight on the Kansas team bus from Stillwater, Okla., to Lawrence, Kan., for an SI story back in 2002, and you stopped in Wichita to hop on a plane for California to recruit during a crazy stretch in your schedule.

Williams: I still do some of those things. I have several of my coaching buddies say that I do more recruiting during the season than any other head coach around. But what I do is when we give our team the day off from practice --NCAA rules state you have to have one day off each week -- that enables me to go somewhere and see a game or a practice. I'm still doing that. I think a couple years ago every single day off that we gave our kids after practice started, I went somewhere recruiting-wise. Or tried to go. A couple times I had weather complications getting there.

Williams isn’t the only coach putting in those kinds of recruiting hours. But few can match the players he’s nabbed between 2005 and 2009. All of these were rated as five- or four-star recruits: Hansbrough, Green, Ginyard, Frasor, Brandan Wright, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Alex Stepheson, Deon Thompson, Ed Davis, Larry Drew II, Tyler Zeller, John Henson, Leslie McDonald, Dexter Strickland, David Wear and Travis Wear.

That’s two varsity teams worth of top-flight players. (To say nothing of Roy's luck when it comes to those players staying. Wright left after his freshman season and Stepeson transfered. Five of them stayed four years, Lawson and Ellington, three. That's not normal for that type of talent.)

Now it’s two five star guys in Barnes (a 6-7 swingman) and Reggie Bullock (6-5 shooting guard) and a four-star prospect in 6-3 point guard Kendall Marshall.

Reload? Yeah, with a machine gun.

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Trickle-down effect actually works in coaching

Mike Miller — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Ever wonder how trickle-down economics works? Don’t bother. Pay attention to trickle-down coaching effects instead.

When guys like John Calipari leaves Memphis for Kentucky, it affects more than just Calipari and his staff. It covers assistant coaches at both schools, the school that hires Calipari’s replacement, and so and so on.

Given all the offseason head coaching changes, you can imagine just how much trickle-down occurs. And sometimes, there doesn’t even need to be a head coaching change.

This AP story explores how it affects the numerous assistant coaches out there and how they jump from one job to the other in the offseason. But the best part? It’s the assistants doing the talking, not the head coaches. We hear enough from them already.

(For those who prefer visual learning, click here to see the fancy graphic illustrating these moves.)

Take Wake Forest assistant Rusty LaRue. He benefited from former Xavier coach Sean Miller taking the Arizona job.

Follow this:

La Rue was the boys’ basketball coach and athletic director at Forsyth Country Day School, located in Winston-Salem, N.C. But when Miller went to Arizona, Xavier promoted assistant Chris Mack, who then named Wake Forest assistant Pat Kelsey to his staff. Voila! An opening was all set for La Rue.

Rick Pitino’s son, Richard, had a similar move, then caused another trickle down.

He left his dad's staff to work for his father's most famous protege: Florida's Billy Donovan. The elder Pitino then replaced his son with his best friend: veteran Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard, who was taking a job once held by HIS son. Kevin Willard spent six years on Pitino's staff before moving to Iona in 2007.

And just think: Maybe none of those moves at Louisville takes place if Mark Gottfried doesn't first step down under fire at Alabama. When the Crimson Tide hired Anthony Grant from VCU, the Rams hired the Gators' Shaka Smart to replace him — creating an opening on the Florida staff and an opportunity for the younger Pitino.

"It's amazing how much trickles down when a head coach leaves," Richard Pitino said. "People don't realize how much an assistant coach leaving changes everything, and really all it takes is one job for it to do that."

Sure, it means a lot of assistant coaches spend each season jumping from job to job, but that’s how the game is played early on in a coach’s life. They usually start as a graduate assistant somewhere, pay their dues, find an assistant job and wait for the head coaching trickle-down to come their way.

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Putting Boeheim's 800th in perspective

Mike Miller — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:43:00 GMT

The list of men’s Division One coaches who’ve reached 800 career victories is a short one.

But the list of coaches who’ve done it faster than Jim Boeheim is even shorter.

Syracuse’s coach reached his “great milestone” Monday with a 75-48 win against Albany. It was the 1,088^th game of his career. In 33 seasons, he’s won at least 20 games 31 times.

Marc Squire/Getty images

Jim Boeheim reached 800 career wins faster than all but three D-I coaches.

That’s why only three coaches – Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski – have gotten to 800 faster than Boeheim. Guys like Bob Knight and Jim Calhoun (who got there last season) needed more games.

And every win has come at Syracuse. Only two coaches, Smith and Mount St. Mary’s Jim Phelan, have coached more games at one school, while only Smith, Phelan and Rupp have won more at one school. It’s quite a tribute to a coach who’s already in the Hall of Fame, but probably doesn’t get the recognition of some of his peers.

Part of that’s because he’s only won 1 NCAA tournament (only’s in italics for sarcasm; even 1 is significant), while taking the Orange to 3 Final Fours, 16 Sweet 16s and 26 NCAA tourney appearances. He’s been the Big East coach of the year three times.

But few coaches have ever won as consistently as Boeheim. And given that’ll he’ll only turn 65 next week, expect him to keep winning for a few more seasons and possibly surpass 875. (His successor is in place.)

Look, getting to 800 isn't easy. It's a combination of longevity and winning, which some coaches aren't going to match. Rick Pitino (age 57) is 247 away. Tom Izzo (54) isn't even halfway there. Same goes for John Calipari (50) and Bill Self (46). All those guys may fall short. Roy Williams wins 80 percent of his games, but at 59, he's still 205 away. Will he coach long enough to hit 800?

Only Bob Huggins (56, 163 away) seems like a sure thing, but he won't get there for another six years at best.

Even if you don't care about milestones, this was a biggie.

“Obviously, it’s a very big milestone for any coach to get,’’ Boeheim said in a story from the Syracuse Post-Standard. “The coaches and players that have been here have been consistently good for a long time. As I said out there, the fans have been a tremendous part of this. You have to have a good fan base to have a good basketball program. You have to. You have to have people coming. We’ve always had that.

“But it still goes back to the players that have played here over the years.’’

Those players have included guys like Pearl Washington, Derrick Coleman, Lawrence Moten, Carmelo Anthony and Jonny Flynn, who were all world-class talents or Orange stalwarts.

Monday, their coach outdid them all.

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Dollar banking on area talent at Seattle U

Mike Miller — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:52:00 GMT

Just last spring Cameron Dollar was touted as one of the country’s top assistants.

So what’s he doing as the head coach of Seattle University? The Redhawks aren’t eligible for the NCAA tournament until 2013 and don’t belong to any conference. They’re still making the transition back to D-I status. Sounds like a thankless, under-the-radar job.

After all, it’s been a long time since Elgin Baylor tore it up at Seattle U. The guy averaged 30 and 20 in two seasons and took Seattle U to the 1958 NCAA tournament title game.

Dollar doesn’t see it that way. He spent the last seven years at Washington recruiting the area’s massive talent base and tells the Seattle Times he couldn’t be more excited.

"One of the things that make this really, really special is that there is no ceiling," Dollar said. "Being in Seattle, one of only two D-I schools in this area and the talent of the kids in this area, playing at KeyArena [where Seattle U will play all of its home games] — you have the potential to develop and grow outside the box."

It’s not new that the Seattle-Tacoma area produces a fair share of elite players, but it would be new for a small school like Seattle U to snag one.

In the last five years, guys like Terrence Williams, Jon Brockman, Brandon Roy, Marvin Williams, Nate Robinson, Terrence Williams and Aaron Brooks hailed from the area. Current players like Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Abdul Gaddy and coveted prospects like Josh Smith and Tony Wroten are all garnering plenty of attention.

And that’s just the stars. There’s even more talent when it comes to supporting players. It’s a similar tact to what Florida International and South Florida have tried in football. The state produces more than enough D-I players than Florida, Florida State and Miami can handle.

All it’ll take is one star or a couple three-star prospects for Dollar to make his mark. It’s a longshot, but one worth taking.

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Tim Floyd isn't scared of casino fights

Mike Miller — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:11:00 GMT

Some videos need no explanation. Well, very little explanation.

Tim Floyd resigned as USC’s men’s basketball coach last June. Since then, he’s mostly been off the radar, perhaps occasionally speaking to teams when friends asked him.

He’s also breaking up fights at a casino. Yes, breaking up fights at a casino.

I’m not sure that’s a scene I’d want to wade into, but I have no idea why Floyd is there, what’s he’s doing for the casino (apparently, it’s the Morongo Resort and Casino in California), or how long this fight had gone on.

What I do know is that Floyd ain’t scared, even when one woman raises a chair in back of him, WWE style. That’s a man, right there.

(H/T: The Dagger)

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Guess Knight's not attending IU's ceremony

Mike Miller — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:24:00 GMT

Bob Knight refused a $75,000 check from an anonymous Indiana booster, which would’ve settled a long-standing suit between the legendary Hoosiers coach and his ex-school. (Details of the suit are here.)

This means two things:

1. It’s not about the money; Knight clearly wants the school to admit it’s at fault.

2. Knight’s not attending next week’s induction ceremony for Indiana University’s Hall of Fame.

Is there a better way to say “I’m not coming, and I’m not even bothering to decline the RSVP” than by shrugging off 75 grand? Maybe get Luca Brasi involved, but that’s about it.

Indiana fans and onlookers had been wondering for months if Knight would attend. Imagine trying to plan an event around the possibility of the biggest sports figure in the state’s history not attending. It’s be ulcer upon ulcer.

Well, stop wondering. Knight’s made up his mind about next week, even if he’s not saying it.

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Change coming on coaches' salaries. Maybe

Mike Miller — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:46:00 GMT

For those who think college coaches’ salaries are excessive, change is coming. Slowly. Maybe.

It’s being talked about, so chalk it up as possibly.

A Knight Commission poll released Monday found that 85 percent of the 119 university presidents at D-I football schools think coaches’ salaries are too high, but 56 percent of them are pessimistic about controlling those salaries. Most would love to see a reduction in the sheer number of assistant coaches and support personnel for revenue-producing sports.

Translation: We’re not sure we want to anger the big guy by paying him less, but we’d like to take away part of his staff that helps him do his job.

No wonder university presidents are feeling pessimistic.

“There’s been an explosion of salaries, multimillion, multiyear contracts,” one president told the Kansas City Star. “It drives everything; fund-raising needs, ticket prices, exposure, need to win. If you don’t win a championship, the team is no good, and you need a new coach.

“Coaches get raises while faculty pay is frozen.”

Some may point out that faculty pay isn’t determined by the athletic department, but it’s certainly tied to it, no matter how many incentives are tied to a coach’s contract. Because they’re all in the same boat.

In the wake of last week’s story that only 25 percent of those 119 D-I football schools actual have a profitable program, it’s probably time to give this serious thought, no? Schools that only play D-I hoops are slightly better off, but not by much.

And true, some coaches are actually a bargain when one considers how much revenue they bring in, but that’s a year-to-year thing, dependent on how a team performs.

One president wants the NCAA to wield an iron fist and implement rule changes that help schools control these budgets, yet doesn’t sound optimistic.

“I think it would be great if the NCAA had rules about coaches’ salaries, but I don’t think they will ever have the guts to do that,” one president told the Star. “I’m in favor of the Knight Commission doing what they do if they actually do it and don’t just talk about it.”

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Calipari's pitch-perfect offseason gets better

Mike Miller — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:51:00 GMT

Without even coaching a game, John Calipari’s given Kentucky basketball fans everything they could want.

National attention. A recruiting class for the ages. Making himself accessible to fans and generally being an exceptional ambassador for the program.

This quote from a Dana O’Neil story sums it all up nicely.

"In Kentucky, you can't love your grandmother more than basketball,'' said Van Florence, the 30-year president of the Committee of 101, the UK booster organization. "And if you did, your grandmother would tell you you're stupid.

"Having a couple of winning seasons at Texas A&M or El-Paso doesn't equate to nothing to these people. They equate to Carolina and Kansas. They don't give one damn who's in the Big 12 or who you beat in the Big 12. Until you've beaten Louisville and Indiana and UCLA and Kansas, you haven't proven a damned thing. That's what this program is about.''

And somehow, Calipari keeps topping himself. The response to his speech at Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness has already reached mythical proportions among the Big Blue Nation.

And I gotta say, it’s an impressive speech for its delivery, message and reach. Say this for Cal, he knows his audience because this is everything they want to hear, and expect. See for yourself.

The speech’s aftermath was what you’d expect. Fans were delighted, pumped, ecstatic, etc. Any adjective will do.

"I don't ever remember it being like this,'' said 74-year-old Tom Wilson, who has served as an usher at Rupp for 21 years and was at his usual perch Friday night for Big Blue Madness. "I usually get here about two hours early, and it's quiet. I got here at 4:45 tonight, and you couldn't get a seat at the food court. People are just so anxious to get this season going.''

To quote O’Neil, this was more than Big Blue Madness. This was Big Blue Salvation.

In a speech in which he invoked Richie Farmer, the Unforgettables, grandmothers sharing cocoa with their grandkids while camping for tickets and Big Blue fans "fighting for our country overseas," Calipari laid it on thick and laid it on loud. For a fan base that felt disenfranchised by the previous regime, it was nothing shy of a come-to-Jesus meeting.

And why not? When your coach proclaims his goal for the school as the “gold standard, not just for college basketball, but for all college athletics,” it’s gonna create a tidal wave of high hopes in Kentucky.

The inevitable question – what happens if they don’t win a title this year? – is fair, but it misses the point. Kentucky fans aren’t looking to end their NCAA tournament misery this season.

They’re seeking NCAA dominance for years to come. This is what Calipari is selling, and what he intends to deliver.

And given his performance thus far, I’m starting to believe he’s on his way.

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