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Roundball Chatter
Dick VitaleSPECIAL TO ESPN.COM
August 11, 2006
Each Friday I will write about the sport I love, college basketball
Down at Nebraska, Cornhusker Country, this is football time! Bill Callahan and the 'Huskers are trying to build on last season's big bowl victory. Basketball fans recently learned of Barry Collier's decision to become athletic director at his alma mater, Butler. Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson moved quickly and he got a good replacement in Doc Sadler from UTEP. In his two seasons with the Miners, Sadler's teams went an impressive 48-18. He did a solid job and he brings his energy and excitement as he moves up the ladder. This is not an easy job in Lincoln when you think about the competition; there is such great basketball tradition throughout the league. Going against teams like Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will never be easy games. I wish Sadler the best.
Sadler received a setback when 6-11 Aleks Maric announced he is not returning to Nebraska, according to a report in a Nebraska newspaper. Maric, who was a big fan of Collier's, averaged 10.9 ppg. and 8.1 rpg. last season.
There have been more than 60 coaching changes in Division I entering the 2006-07 season, due to a variety of reasons. The Big 12, with Nebraska's hiring of Sadler, will have six new full-time head coaches: Oklahoma (Jeff Capel), Kansas State (Bob Huggins), Missouri (Mike Anderson), Iowa State (Greg McDermott), Oklahoma State (Sean Sutton) and now Nebraska … wow! It will be interesting to watch the league in the upcoming season.
Speaking of football, the Nittany Lions are getting ready for the season under Joe Paterno. There was other news out of Happy Valley and it didn't involve Joe Pa. Ed DeChellis has bought some excitement to the Penn State hoops program. There is some optimism over the young talent he has, and his reward came in a contract extension through 2011. It was well deserved.
Down at Duke, they are hoping for a quick recovery for Josh McRoberts, who recently went through back surgery. He should be back in full force and ready for practice in October. If healthy, he will have a big, big year.
It's nice to be rewarded before ever coaching a game. That was the case at NC State, where new coach Sidney Lowe got a six-year deal. That was different from the philosophy of athletic director Lee Fowler, but he went with it and gave Lowe the extra season. He has six years to build the program and keep the Wolfpack in ACC prominence.
Back in his college hoop days, Jared Jeffries helped spark Indiana to the Final Four, leading to a long-term deal for Mike Davis. He was a vital member of the Hoosiers, an explosive player. It is unbelievable that in the world of the pros, you can average under seven points and five rebounds a contest as Jeffries did last season, and still get a $30 million deal. I wish I had the magic that Mr. Jeffries has.
Speaking if Indiana, Kelvin Sampson landed a hot prospect for the Hoosiers. Brandon McGee, a 6-7 forward from Chicago gave an oral commitment to Indiana. He averaged a double-double at Crane Technical School in the Windy City last season.
California got some good news as 6-6 Drew Viney, a top 50 prospect, verbally committed to Ben Braun and the Golden Bears. He is a versatile, athletic performer who should help California right away.
Good news for Marquette coach Tom Crean. He received an oral commitment from 6-8 power forward Trevor Mbakwe from Minnesota. Mbakwe picked Marquette instead of staying close to home with the Golden Gophers, or going to Florida, Georgetown, Miami, or Michigan, schools that were all interested in him.
Give Dick Davey and Santa Clara some credit for an ambitious non-league schedule. Davey's squad goes to Kentucky, California, Stanford, Pacific, Missouri State and could play George Washington or Air Force in the Cable Car Classic.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
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