|
|
|
Friday, April 27
Updated: May 4, 4:30 PM ET
The Word's Answer Man
|
The Answer Man is back throughout the offseason. Every Friday, Andy Katz will tackle some of the questions he receives each week.
Since everyone else in the state is speculating, I figured you could give your two cents: Is Bobby Huggins interested in the Cavs job, or in a contract extension with UC? Also, I think people are underestimating the impact that asst Mick Cronin will have in leaving Huggins to help out Rick Pitino. The guy is
such an uber-recruiter that I think this, combined with Pitino's rep, is going to completely change the balance and face of C-USA within a year or two. Thoughts?"
Mike Kramer
Cincinnati, Ohio
Huggins will listen to any NBA team that comes calling. But it looks like the Cavs are leaning toward a former NBA coach, rather than go with another inexperienced head coach at the NBA level. If Denver or any other team called, Huggins will listen. He has to, even with his million-dollar annuity set to kick in after next season. He'll probably wait before he signs his deal with the Bearcats, which isn't a bad move. Cronin's importance will be felt in Louisville, but he won't be the reason a shift occurs -- if it does. Rick Pitino and John Calipari will have more to do with that than anything Cronin can do on the bench or the recruiting trail. Calipari is already having a major impact on the recruiting trail and Pitino will likely have the same effect this summer. Cincinnati is still the team to beat in the league, but the gap is closing.
Do you feel that Kwame Brown would declare if he's a No. 1-3 pick? I think he is the most polished high schooler since Kevin Garnett. But I think that if he plans on going to Florida for one year and leaving right after is also a mistake. If he goes to Florida do you think he would become a better player if he stayed for at least two years? He sounds like a very intelligent person. If he's trying to raise his draft status there's no need to go to college next year because if Jason Williams and Yao Ming do not declare I think he would be a top-3 pick. What do you think he should and will do?
Brown would be a top-seven pick in this year's NBA draft. He's facing one of the toughest decisions of any of these underclassmen. Brown doesn't have the luxury of testing the draft process because he's a high school senior. Once they declare, they can't go to college. But he doesn't have to test the process. He knows where he stands in the draft order. The decision comes down to how bad the family needs the money this year and whether or not he's ready to be in the working world at 18 years old. If he's OK with that then he'll go. Playing in college will help him because he'll play. It's that simple. He'll also become emotionally and physically more mature. He could be in the top seven again next season if he comes out of college after just one season.
More of a comment than a question. I really feel I need to take you to task for your story about the "coaching carousel" in the A-10. The tone of the story seemed to indicate that the A-10 was somehow experiencing troubles and that it was indicative of 75 percent of the schools changing coaches. Not sure if that's what you meant, but it seems some people in the media (not necessarily you) saw these schools change coaches and immediately thought it signaled instability.
On the contrary.
If you stop and look at the changes, only one coach left for "greener pastures" and that is Skip Prosser at my alma mater Xavier. Rhode Island gained a better coach, as did St. Bonaventure. LaSalle, Duquesne and UMass made changes to better improve their programs and the league as a whole. GW may be the only one where there is a problem and that's because Penders has made a mess out of that program. I applaud programs like RIU, LaSalle and Duquesne for showing a commitment to their programs and the league.
I think the changes are extremely healthy and not a sign there is turmoil in the A-10. Xavier will get a new guy in there and I feel it will be a refreshing change. The A-10 will be more than OK, and every school in the league has demonstrated a desire to compete and succeed. I appreciate the exposure the A-10 gets from you. You, more than anyone in the media, seem to appreciate what these schools are trying to do. Keep up the good work.
Kevin Dockery
Virginia Beach, Va.
Kevin, I agree with your take, but the fact that seven coaching changes occurred can't be a good thing for the league, even if it means some dead weight was removed and a few new lively bodies were put into the conference. Change means instability, at least for a season or two. The Atlantic 10 will go through a transition phase over the next season. That doesn't mean it won't have three teams in the NCAA Tournament again or potentially an Elite Eight squad. That can still occur, and the bottom of the league will probably be better than it was last season. But seven coaching changes is still an alarming number in one season.
How do you think Louisiana Tech will stack up against the rest of the WAC next year? They return four starters, including All Sun Belt (and former conference player of the year) Gerrod Henderson. They also return their two big guys in 6-9 Antonio Meeking and 6-9 Zack Johnson. Throw in an excellent recruiting class of three JUCO transfers and two great high school recruits. We also get former Texas guard Lawrence Williams and former Mississippi State forward Darrien Browne eligible after sitting out a year after transferring. Do you think this team has the ability to compete and win the WAC?
Bret McCormick
Ruston, La.
Louisiana Tech will likely end up being one of the tougher road stops for teams in the WAC. They won't know how to get there, let alone deal with the crowd and all the other elements that go into a road game. The Bulldogs have the size and athleticism to cause some problems for teams in the league. But the problem for Louisiana Tech will be on the road. If they can get a road win or two then it will be cause for celebration. The WAC is an extremely tough road league because of the travel. Louisiana Tech will have to get to Hawaii, Fresno State, UTEP, Boise State and Tulsa to name a few of the spots. The Bulldogs will be an unknown to the rest of the league and that will allow them to sneak up on a few opponents at least earlier in the conference.
I wanna say thank you for all the analyzing you do for the game. But I have one question! Why in the world does no one give coach Mike Gillespie a chance at the D-I level? He has a great track record, has been able to recruit NBA-calibar players to the Tallahassee Community College, and his teams have been ranked in the JUCO top 5 for the past five years. I would like to see him go somewhere they will give him a chance to win. He seems like a quality guy who can flat out coach! Do you have any reason why he might not be considerd a big-time coach?
There had been some talk that Gillespie might go to Iowa State as an assistant, but that hasn't occurred yet. Gillespie gets good vibes among coaches and has consistently produced D-I talent. But it's hard for a junior college coach to go directly to being a head Division I coach. Most of the time they've got to be assistant coaches first, and that's why Gillespie probably needs to hook on with a high-profile program, without having to promise players. He's good enough to go on his own merit without having to be a package deal.
Why has Joey Meyer never gotten a second shot at coaching? Other than a brief mention for UW-Milwaukee, he's not even mentioned. As a proven coach with a solid track record (and a Catholic to boot) he seems like a nice fit for Xavier, no?
Tom Ksobiech
Kansas City, Mo.
Tom, you're right, Joey would be a good fit for Xavier. But athletic directors are too caught up on going with the hot name nationally. Meyer is a proven winner and showed it during a one-year stint with Chicago's version in the ABA 2000. Meyer needs to get a shot at a Division I school, preferably in the Midwest. UW-Milwaukee could have been a nice fit and Xavier would make sense, too. But the trend is to shy away from coaches who aren't coaching or who haven't been in the postseason in the past few months.
I'd really like to hear your thoughts on the Widcats for next year. I hear a lot about Duke and Florida and see UK predicted as preseason 4-7, but I really believe that if Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans return, then anything short of a preseason No. 1 is a gross underestimation. I know I'm biased, but the 'Cats are unbelievably deep next year. Bogans, Prince, Jules Camara (word around the campfire here is that Camara is easliy the best player on the team), Jason Parker, Rashod Carruth ... well I guess I could list the entire team. Anyway I truly don't think that Duke or Florida could stay with UK for very long next year ... just wondering what you think.
Shane Stevens
Lexington, Ky.
Shane, I like the 'Cats next season to contend with Florida for the SEC championship. Kentucky is a viable national contender, as long as Keith Bogans and Tayshaun Prince return to school. Marvin Stone's status is still questionable, but the rest of the inside game with the return of Jules Camera is intact and good enough to hang with Florida. Prince became a leader last season and Gerald Fitch was the steal at the point. They'll be more experienced, deeper and more physical next season. Tubby Smith was right to stay becuase he does have a chance to win the national title.
Why do you continue to say Jason Williams will not return to Duke? If you were informed you would know that at their banquet he announced that he would be back and was going to be one of the captains next year. If you are going to report you should report the facts be more informed.
Jon, we're not sure what state you're from because you didn't list it but here's the bottom line: I didn't say Jason wasn't coming back to school. All that was said is the NBA doesn't want to believe he's returning because they want him to be No. 1. Also, other examples were set out for players who did change their minds after publicly saying they would return to school. No one ever said Williams has changed his mind. Everyone is well aware of what he said and his nomination to be a Duke captain next season.
Where do you think former Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe will land next? He's proven himself as a good recruiter, so do you think he could land as an assistant somewhere? Or maybe he'll look for a mid-major head coaching job?
Brian was trying to get jobs at Rutgers, where he played, Pepperdine and Old Dominion but wasn't able to land any of them. He'll probably have to be an assistant before he can get a head coaching job again. He might not want to hear that but athletic directors might be shy to hire him as a head coach so soon after being forced out at Michigan. He could do wonders for his image if he went as a top assistant for a year or two and then got back in the mix for a head coaching job.
What do you think about the Fighting Illini's chance of of repeating last year's performance and perhaps even winning the national championship? Also what does the recruiting situation look like for coach Self? I think that it is important for his programs long-term success to keep the local talent in the state of Illinois.
Illinois has a shot to get to the Final Four, or the Elite Eight again, with the return of Frank Williams, Cory Bradford, Brian Cook, Robert Archibald and Lucas Johnson. The Illini have a core that got the taste of the Elite Eight. They have the Big Ten's best player back in Williams, who can dominate a game like no other player in the Big Ten. If Bradford can become more than a random 3-point shooter and Cook continues to diversify his game then the Illini could be a national threat again. Self is determined to get to the Final Four after getting to two consecutive Elite Eights with two different teams.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He answers questions on college basketball every Friday.
|
|
|
|
