The Coaching Carousel

Charlie Weis has already been let go by Notre Dame

Every year it happens, a big name program fires a big name coach.  This year, some big name programs are firing some big name coaches and some programs are just firing big coaches (and some are doing both).

This part always interests me because it means programs get a whole new look.  No two coaches do things the same way, and it’s a complete craps hoot unless you get a proven guy in there and there aren’t many coaches who can claim to be proven.  Some coaches are good at recruiting and terrible at coaching (see: Zook, Ron).  Some coaches don’t have to recruit because their school does it for them (a la Pete Carroll).  I like to imagine his recruiting pitch being a whole lot like Peter Griffin’s anti-smoking speech before Congress.  I think that’s pretty accurate.

Anyway, two coaches that I know of have already been fired: Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis and Louisville’s Steve Kragthorpe. One more is on thin ice: Kansas’ Mark Mangino (funny visual there) and one has voluntarily retired: Florida State’s Bobby Bowden.

Now it’s my turn to throw out the names of who I think would be the best fit for each school and who I think will actually be hired.

Sweet 16 Day 2

Last night I put up my picks for Day 1 of the Sweet 16.  I got 3 of the 4, missing only my alma mater, Mizzou.  I’ll call it a good day.  Also, it’s time to talk about Villanova as a contender for this tournament.  They’ll get a Pittsburgh team who hasn’t impressed me thus far. As of right now, I think Villanova will win that game and it may not even be close.  ESPN keeps talking about Duke’s historic futility last night and most of the credit has to go to the Wildcats.  They’ve sold me.

In the West region, UConn beat an upstart Purdue team.  They’re playing some excellent basketball as well.  The Huskies will be pitted against my Missouri Tigers, who halted the Memphis Tigers’ 27 game winning streak.  In fact, they hung 102 points on a team who gave up an average of 57 on the season.  It was an impressive display to say the least.  The Tigers can beat UConn if they can get Thabeet away from the basket and run him to death.  That will be an interesting clash of styles.

Now, onto tonight’s games.