I like everyone else was left scratching my head with the hiring of Thomas by FIU last summer. The destroyer of the CBA, the demolisher of the Knicks and yet here is a school willing to give complete control of their basketball program over to him. Maybe the school thought his high-profile name would draw recruits, give some publicity to their institution other than being known for that massive on field brawl with Miami a few years back in football.

It has been a tough month for Thomas, I will give him that. Magic Johnson came out and bashed him in his book and now his team can't even win their first exhibition game against a team that is not even in the NCAA. 

Continue reading "Joy at Florida International basketball team Loss Focused on Isiah Thomas"

Probably biggest of these scandals to me was the Rick Pitino scandal where he was allegedly being blackmailed by a former lover with whom he allegedly had an extra-marital affair. Pitino was always one of those guys who seemed to do everything right, at the college level at least, and when he became front page news, it was a real shock to many.

The other scandals, Billy Gillispie's drunk driving trial, the Kansas Jayhawk basketball team (the No. 1 team in the nation in the polls) fighting the Kansas football team along with a score of other issues made us wonder what was going in this sport that we love.

Continue reading "NCAA Basketball Season Beginning Will Hopefully Down Play Off Season Woes"

This year there is no Sabathia and a little more is at stake then a series against the Reds. Milwaukee will finish the first half with a three-game set against Cardinals starting tonight and then close out with three contests against the Dodgers. Milwaukee and St. Louis are battling for the top spot in the central, while LA looks like they will run away with the NL West.

So these six games can mean a lot to a Brewers team that is looking to take the next step. Winning both series not only give them momentum into the second half but would send a message to two teams that Milwaukee could possibly see in the playoffs if they make it there.

Continue reading "Brewers Need Strong Finish Before the All-Star Break"

While those games are daunting enough, the single game schedule is no less appealing to Cardinal fans. While Louisville will welcome the likes of Georgetown, Notre Dame and Villanova to Freedom Hall, the Cardinals will have to travel to Pittsburgh, Marquette, Providence and West Virginia.

The Big East is the toughest conference in college basketball but to see those opponents lined up in a row must be a little nerve racking to any coach. But if anyone can handle the challenge of defending the conference crown in the toughest league in the country, it is Rick Pitino.

Continue reading "Louisville Will Have a Tough Road This Season"

But you can't blame bloggers and media types for trying. I am sure Coach K's name came up as a possible candidate in some brief conversation but the fact that it has been reported is more a product of the time of year rather than the actually likelihood that it would happen.

In the sports world, we are in the certified doldrums of the year. The NBA Finals are done, baseball is only halfway through its marathon season and NFL training camps are still about a month away. What is a sports writer/blogger to do? Of course the Laker story and Phil Jackson have made some entertaining reading so far. Jackson floats a coaching only at home scenario (maybe Jackson could coach via Twitter while sitting at home in his recliner watching the game on a big screen tv). The signing of Ron Artest has added new drama with his love for Kobe. Why not throw Coach K in there?

Continue reading "Summer Malaise Probably Led To Coach K Rumors"

Last night Penn State put the emphasis on the redemption of the Big Ten season by knocking off Baylor and securing the NIT crown at Madison Square Garden. And the Nittany Lions won the National Invitational Tournament by knocking off some quality opponents.

Penn State not only beat George Mason, Rhode Island and Florida to get to the Big Apple, but Penn State then finished off their title run with wins over Notre Dame and then last night against Baylor. And Big Ten fans could not be happier.

Continue reading "Penn State Win Is Redemption for Big Ten"

Mike Anderson agreed to a new extended contract at Missouri, keeping him a Tiger for the next seven years and ending rumors that he would jump ship to coach Memphis.

And signing that contract may have been the best decision Anderson has made all year (and this from a coach who took his team to the elite and an impressive win over that same Memphis team).

In his time with Missouri, Anderson has transformed the Tigers from a mid level contender in the Big 12 to conference front-runner, with a flashy style and up pace game plan that he perfected at UAB. With all that going for him, why would he even consider Memphis?

Continue reading "College Coaches Staying Put Was The Right Call"

With the signing of John Calipari to Kentucky, however, that rivalry just intensified. But the battles may be in living rooms across the Midwest rather than on the hardwood.

Calipari has always been known as a great recruiter. He got Marcus Camby to come to UMass and then went to Memphis and built a national juggernaut in a couple of years. Add the prestige of Kentucky basketball and Calipari is a force on the recruiting trail.

But if anyone is ready to face up Coach Cal in the battle of the living rooms it is Indiana head coach Tom Crean. Crean also is one of the top recruiters in the country. Where Calipari can go into a propects home and fill them dreams of the NCAA titles and NBA contracts, Crean is like a tornado of energy that anyone would be hard pressed not to be attracted too.

Continue reading "Calipari Hiring Will Create Recruiting Rivalry"

So when word came out Monday that Trevor Hoffman would be sidelined with an injury, Brewers fans had to cring a bit. The one position where the Crew cannot afford to have doubt is in the pitching staff. And even though Hoffman was the closer, any news that may interupt the balance of the Milwaukee pitching is unwelcome.

Filling in for Hoffman while he recouperates will be Carlos Villanueva. Villanueva open the season last year as a starter but finished as the club long reliever. His absence in that role, could mean that the staring rotation of Gallardo, Dave Bush, Para, Braden Looper and Jeff Suppan, might need to take on more innings earlier in the season.

Continue reading "Hoffman Injury is a Bad Omen for Brewers"

First of all, as you know, the NIT's final four is held every year at Madison Square Garden, which possibly the best venue to watch a broadcast game from. The floor always seems a little shinier, the paint a little brighter and the atmosphere is unbeatable.

Whether it is preseason tournaments, the Big East tournament or the NIT, watching a game on television broadcast from the MSG is treat.

And that ambiance will only enhance the slate of games being played tonight. Going into the NIT, the field was loaded with quality schools because the regular season was so tough. When you have field that has Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina, Georgetown and up starts like St. Mary's and Creighton, you know you are in for some quality basketball.

Continue reading "NIT Moves to New York Previewing the Other Final Four in College Basketball"