Just trying to get caught up here before I leave
for Washington, D.C. in the morning. Here are some random tidbits. Also,
check back as the tournament progresses – as I’ll try to update several times a
day beginning tomorrow.
- Kansas coach Bill Self told me that guard Sherron Collins is
“100 percent”. That the factor that ultimately swayed me to pick the Jayhawks
to beat UCLA in the national title game.
- Villanova’s Dwayne Anderson suffered an ankle injury in practice on Monday
and is day-to-day. The 6-foot-6 junior has been terrific of late, leading the
team in rebounds in the last 11 games at nearly eight per game.
- Look for Texas freshman Gary Johnson, who sat out the last two games
of the Big 12 tournament with an ankle injury, to play in the first round game
against Austin Peay. He probably could have played in the title game against Kansas, but sat for precautionary reasons.
- If anyone is upset today, it should be Butler first-year head coach Brad Stevens. Not only did Butler somehow slip all the way to a No. 7 seed, but the
Bulldogs will have to play No. 10 South Alabama in Birmingham.
- Why are the All-American teams picked prior to the start of the postseason? It’s
ridiculous not to include the most important games of the season when
determining the top players in the country.
COACHING CAROUSEL
- Still hearing that Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel is strong for the opening at South Carolina. Remember, Capel grew up in North Carolina, went to Duke and may want to return close to home.
- Crazy to think how far John Brady has fallen in less than two years. Two
years ago, he was ready to begin LSU’s magical run to the Final Four. Now he’s
going to be announced at Arkansas State on Wednesday.
- Clemson coach Oliver Purnell has agreed to a multi-year extension that will
keep him with the Tigers through 2013, according to sources. The deal is
expected to be announced later today.
- The Providence opening has probably garnered more names than any
other spot. We’ve already mentioned former PC grad Jim Larranaga of George
Mason, ex-Friars assistant Fran Fraschilla and former Ohio State coach Jim O’Brien. There are plenty more: Kent State’s
Jim Christian, Brown’s Craig Robinson, Ohio’s Tim O’Shea, GW’s Karl Hobbs,
UMass’ Travis Ford, Arizona interim coach Kevin O’Neill and even St. Joe’s
coach Phil Martelli.
- TCU will need to get in someone who can recruit Texas. ORU head coach Scott Sutton is a
possibility. Look for all three Longhorns assistants (Russell Springmann, Ken
McDonald and Rodney Terry) as well as Arizona assistant Josh Pastner and former Texas A&M
assistant Buzz Williams, who was the head coach at New Orleans last season before joining Tom Crean’s staff at Marquette this year.
- It's a complete joke that Idaho AD fired coach George Pfeifer after two seasons. This is one of the worst jobs in America and to give a guy two years is insane. Sure, Pfeifer won just a dozen games in two years, but give the guy a chance. Also, we're hearing that Utah State assistant Don Verlin is basically a done deal to replace Pfeifer.
