DICK'S TIDBITS | July 3

SCHILLING SOLID ADDITION IN MEMPHIS
One transaction that recently occurred and didn't get much attention was the hiring of Ed Schilling as an assistant coach at Memphis.

I know you're probably saying, "Who's Ed Schilling?"

Memphis head coach John Calipari made a great decision. Schilling spent the last six seasons as the head coach at Wright State before he was fired in March with three years remaining on his contract, according to the Associated Press.

Ed Schilling is a protégé of Howard Garfinkel, who has recommended the likes of Mike Fratello, Rick Pitino, Pete Gillen and John Calipari.

Let me tell you, the first time I saw Schilling in action was at a practice session at Massachusetts, where he was with Calipari during UMass' great run to the Final Four with Marcus Camby.

Schilling was so impressive -- his knowledge, personality and ability to communicate with players made him a coach to watch.

Unfortunately, he got himself into a difficult situation where it was tough to get the kind of results he desired at Wright State. Sometimes in the world of college basketball, making a quick move to become a head coach is a mistake because guys take jobs in no-win situations.

Schilling is one of Howard "Super Garf" Garfinkel's protégés from the Five-Star Camp. Garfinkel has recommended the likes of Mike Fratello, Rick Pitino, Pete Gillen and Calipari.

The move to Memphis will help Schilling grow in the coaching profession. Keep an eye on him -- he'll be an asset for the Tigers.

ASBURY LANDS IN ALABAMA
Another name that popped up in the transactions this offseason was former Pepperdine and Kansas State head coach Tom Asbury, now a member of Mark Gottfried's staff at Alabama.

Asbury had lots of success at Pepperdine and then went into a tough situation (like Schilling did) at Kansas State. It's not easy when you face the likes of Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Texas Tech. Asbury knows basketball and he also will be a big-time asset.

It's great to see these former head coaches getting opportunities again. They usually come in hungry and with fire, trying to prove that mistakes were made in their situations. It is an asset to get guys like this, with a wealth of knowledge and the desire to prove they can run a program, even if it means serving as a second lieutenant.

COUSY AWARD IS SPECIAL
Growing up as a kid, point guard play was all about No. 14. I remember speaking at a banquet for the Magic Johnson Roundball Classic. When I spoke to Magic that night, I told him he was only a gleam in his mother's eye when No. 14 of the Celtics, Bob Cousy, was going behind his back and between his legs with the ball. Cousy was magical.

The Celtics' superstar was a special player, and I'm so glad that there will be an award in his honor given to the nation's top point guard. Inch for inch, pound for pound, he was one of the best ever to play that position.

I call him Mr. Cousy because he was one of the most special players ever to don the Celtics uniform.

WORKING FOR A JOB
With the influx of foreign talent in the NBA draft, a number of talented college players went undrafted.

Many four-year players were bypassed in the second round. It had to be a Heartbreak Hotel situation, since they gave their all on the collegiate level. They will still try to live their dream as they attend various camps and try to make summer-league rosters.

You will see invitations extended. The Miami Heat invited three solid college players. Ron Slay, who was outstanding at Tennessee, joins UNLV's Dalron Johnson and Kentucky's Marquis Estill as they battle for a job.

Estill was a senior, but he had a year of eligibility remaining -- and he would have been wiser returning to Kentucky. He would have been a vital force on the inside as the 'Cats vied for the national title. Instead, he threw it all away by keeping his name in the draft, only to hear 58 other names called. Now he will be fighting for survival on the professional basketball scene.

TOUGH SCHEDULE FOR HOOSIERS
In recent years, Indiana has played a rugged pre-conference schedule. In fact, I felt last year's was too tough with so many games on the road. You can't blame coach Mike Davis for taking some early losses in a few tough situations. But I think balance is the key in scheduling.

I'm glad to see that Notre Dame is back on the Hoosiers' schedule, though Louisville is off that schedule next season. In a stretch of almost a month, Indiana goes to Vanderbilt (a difficult place to play), then faces six straight 2003 NCAA teams -- Xavier in the Wooden Tradition, Wake Forest, Missouri, Notre Dame, Butler and Kentucky.

That will be a testing stretch for super soph Bracey Wright and company.

HAPPINESS IN HORIZON LEAGUE
Horizon League commissioner Jon LeCrone was ecstatic with the announcement of the hosts for the 2009 and 2010 NCAA men's Final Four. That's because two Horizon League schools have earned host roles.

The University of Detroit will help when Ford Field hosts in 2009. Butler will assist when the Final Four is at the RCA Dome in 2010.

IT'S AWESOME BABY
I'm looking forward to the horse I have a 25 percent share in, It's Awesome Baby, running its maiden race. The 2-year-old colt will be ridden by jockey Gary Boulanger on Friday, July 4, in the ninth race at Calder.