April 14, 2006
Each Friday during the off-season I will do a column on the game I love, college basketball. I may also throw in some thoughts on another game I love, baseball ...
• I know some fans in Norman, Oklahoma were surprised with the news of Jeff Capel as Kelvin Sampson's replacement. Let me tell you, athletic director Joe Castiglione does his homework. Remember, for the women's program he hired a young coach working at the high school level named Sherri Coale and she has turned out to be a superstar. Capel is a rising star with a terrific basketball background. His father, Jeff, coached many years at the collegiate level. His brother Jason played at North Carolina. They talked hoops at the dinner table! The new Sooners coach also played for the maestro at Duke, one of the best, Mike Krzyzewski. Mr. Capel also did a fine job at Virginia Commonwealth. Castiglione knows how to find talent.
• Speaking of Capel, one perk early at Oklahoma is a trip to Maui. The Sooners are part of a super field at the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The field includes Final Four participant UCLA, Elite Eight competitor Memphis, Kentucky, an up-and-coming Georgia Tech squad, plus the Sooners, DePaul, Purdue and Chaminade. Wow, think about some of the young talent out there, including McDonald's All-America performers Scottie Reynolds, Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton.
• What is going on at NC State? First it was Rick Barnes saying no thank you, then John Calipari. By the time they find a new coach, the guy will feel like he was 20th on the list. Is that the way you go about hiring a coach? It becomes embarrassing after a while, going after people that they had no realistic shot of getting. Zero in on your candidate and make certain that he is as excited about you as much as you are thrilled about him. NC State also suffered a blow when 6-1 guard Chris Wright, originally recruited by Herb Sendek, said he is re-thinking his decision about going to the Raleigh-based school.
• I can't wait to see Curtis Sumpter come back for Villanova next season. He deserves all the good luck in the world. He has battled all kind of knee problems, and I hope he can come back and have an All-American type of season.
• Down in Austin, Texas, it didn't come as a major shock when LaMarcus Aldridge announced his intention to join the NBA draft. All of the NBA scouts are salivating over the potential of this big guy. Remember, the word is potential. I believe it will be a while before he is a major factor on the pro level, but he has all the tools to become an outstanding player. He will be a top three selection. Meanwhile Daniel Gibson made a wise decision to return to school for his junior season.
• Some of the other guys who have put their name in the draft, you simply have to wonder. Already close to 20 players entered the process, though several may pull out because they haven't signed with an agent. The bottom line is there are only 30 guaranteed contracts for first-round selections, so some of these players have received bad advice.
• In the case of Rutgers guard Quincy Douby and Connecticut forward Josh Boone, they will test the waters and get a true evaluation of where they fit. Then they will make their decision and sometime they drag out and hold a coach hostage. Can they fill that spot if those players don't come back to college? All parties should figure out what is beneficial.
• I am happy for Fran Dunphy, getting a chance to compete in a scholarship recruiting situation. He will really have the opportunity to show the talent he has. Dunphy was really brilliant at Penn, but a lot of people weren't aware of it. His peers certainly knew of his ability and he has a great understanding of the game, a terrific basketball intellect. Working for an athletic director like Bill Bradshaw should put him in a comfort zone. If there is a guy perfect for stepping in to replace Hall of Famer John Chaney, it is Dunphy. He is a good choice for Temple.
• New Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin suffered a blow when guard Devan Downey announced he is transferring. He will have three years of eligibility left but must sit out the 2007 season. It really amazes me when a guy gives up a year of playing without even getting to know Cronin, whose philosophy and style are very similar to that of former Bearcats coach Bob Huggins. I understand Downey wants to go closer to home in South Carolina, but Cronin may have been an ideal fit. It is understandable if playing time was an issue, but Downey was going to play plenty. Sitting out a year can be a long time.
• Will Mike Montgomery become a hot item on the college circuit again? Things are a little bit shaky out at Golden State with the Warriors. Montgomery has a great basketball mind and is a perfect college coach. He did an amazing job at Stanford and a lot of people would come calling if he left the NBA. He is a very talented guy.
• Congratulations to former Boston College assistant Ed Cooley, the new coach at Fairfield. I am happy for him because he is such a hard worker. He was part of a solid staff with the Eagles under Al Skinner. Bill Coen also does a phenomenal job and he is rumored to be heading to Northeastern. Cooley will work to build up the Stags program. Performing with a great staff like BC had opened up the door for an opportunity as Cooley takes on the challenge of running his own program.
• At Seton Hall, something tells me that Bobby Gonzalez, a 24/7 guy, a workaholic, is going to give so much energy that it will become contagious on campus and create such excitement.
• Tom Crean had a major addition when former Sampson assistant Bennie Seltzer joined the Marquette staff.
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.
