March Madness 2009

[katmai]

And he is succesful despite that fact.  Pretty good when he is competing against schools that can attract talent from outside their State.

Does being that tall deprive your brain of oxygen? Only reason i can see for such an odd arguement.

[Berkut]

Redemption!

Well the main reason i was posting the story was to say i'd be surprised by Izzo leaving for Arizona with such deep roots/ties to Michigan, that line was just icing on cake.


Oh and last rumor i did hear Berkie, Mark Few from Gonzaga to UA.

Yep, that is what I am hearing as well. I'll believe it when he says so.

And your article is not at all redemption - the fact that Izzo does well recruiting in Michigan does not mean he cannot do well recruiting elsewhere. In fact, one of the cool things about Michigan this year is that they are accomplishing so much with guys who were not considered blue chip recruits - I don't think any of his starting 5 will have a significant career in the NBA, for example.

The argument that Izzo won't go to Arizona simply because he loves Michigan is a hell of a lot better claim.

[crazy canuck]

And he is succesful despite that fact.  Pretty good when he is competing against schools that can attract talent from outside their State.

Does being that tall deprive your brain of oxygen? Only reason i can see for such an odd arguement.

You're right of course.  The reason he is successful has nothing to do with recruiting kids from Michigan and everything to do with recruiting a giant from Serbia that can consistently hit the three ball.

[Admiral Yi]

You're right of course.  The reason he is successful has nothing to do with recruiting kids from Michigan and everything to do with recruiting a giant from Serbia that can consistently hit the three ball.

Kid is I think Bosnian and raised in Michigan.

[katmai]

Yep, that is what I am hearing as well. I'll believe it when he says so.

And your article is not at all redemption - the fact that Izzo does well recruiting in Michigan does not mean he cannot do well recruiting elsewhere. In fact, one of the cool things about Michigan this year is that they are accomplishing so much with guys who were not considered blue chip recruits - I don't think any of his starting 5 will have a significant career in the NBA, for example.

The argument that Izzo won't go to Arizona simply because he loves Michigan is a hell of a lot better claim.

Since only the 2nd one is mine I'll declare a win!

[crazy canuck]

I don't think any of his starting 5 will have a significant career in the NBA, for example.

Goran Suton seems tailor made for the NBA.  But I will agree with you on the rest.

[crazy canuck]

Kid is I think Bosnian and raised in Michigan.

If by "raised" you mean now living there.

[katmai]

You're right of course.  The reason he is successful has nothing to do with recruiting kids from Michigan and everything to do with recruiting a giant from Serbia that can consistently hit the three ball.

Kid is I think Bosnian and raised in Michigan.

Since HS yes.

[Admiral Yi]

El Chainsaw beat me to it.

[crazy canuck]

El Chainsaw beat me to it.

Thats not raised.  He was playing international ball in his homeland and came to the US to continue playing.

Hardly a local kid done good type story.

[Berkut]

Izzo likes Michigan, and that is a damn good reason for him to stay.

The idea that he could not be successful, or even that he would be even marginally less successful, at Arizona is, quite frankly, idiotic. If anything, he could recruit much more effectively at Arizona.

[Admiral Yi]

Hardly a local kid done good type story.

Closer to a local kid done good than to a Kevin Bacon discovers giant Bosnian shepherd type story.

[Berkut]

Hardly a local kid done good type story.

Closer to a local kid done good than to a Kevin Bacon discovers giant Bosnian shepherd type story.

It isn't either.

[Berkut]

Latest rumour is that Few was offered the job and turned it down.

Not terribly surprising, if it is true - he has turned down offers similar to Arizonas before. I think he is happy be a big fish in a small pond.

Capel is the latest rumor. Which would be fine, although I suspect he would be looking at Arizona as a stepping stone to Duke when Coach K retires.

[katmai]

Latest rumour is that Few was offered the job and turned it down.

Not terribly surprising, if it is true - he has turned down offers similar to Arizonas before. I think he is happy be a big fish in a small pond.

Capel is the latest rumor. Which would be fine, although I suspect he would be looking at Arizona as a stepping stone to Duke when Coach K retires.

Few turning it down wouldn't surprise me yeah. Capel seems like a decent coach.

Oh and follows my point from a few days ago about it's gonna be tough two years or so for whomever takes over.

Arizona's Pennell issues parting words
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TUCSON, Ariz. -- Russ Pennell knows he will most likely be coaching college basketball next year, just not at Arizona.

The surreal one-season ride of the former assistant coach and ex-radio broadcaster who was thrust into the head coaching role at one of the country's premiere basketball programs in October is winding down after last week's 103-64 loss in the Sweet 16 to Louisville.

"I asked [athletic director Jim Livengood] who the next coach was going to be and he wouldn't tell me," Pennell said Tuesday after an exit interview with Livengood.

Pennell, who cleaned out his McKale Center office on Monday, said he wishes the next coach nothing but the best, but likely wouldn't accept an assistant coaching position at the school.

"To me, I wouldn't think someone would even do that," said Pennell, who went 21-14. "I had a whole year of calling the shots, being the guy and I ... just think that would kind of be an awkward situation for everyone."

Pennell was named Arziona's interim coach on Oct. 25, one day after Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson announced he was stepping down due to health concerns.

Pennell was a radio broadcaster a year ago for Arizona State.

From the time he took over, Pennell knew his time guiding the program would be short-lived. He never even moved into Olson's office, opting to operate out of his assistant coach's office during the season.

Like most of the college basketball world, Pennell said he and UA were waiting to see what happened at Kentucky before their next moves. John Calipari agreed to take the Kentucky job Tuesday evening.

"I think a lot of guys in coaching right now are waiting to see how everything trickles down," Pennell said. "Everyone is sitting there watching the Kentucky thing and seeing what happens from there."

Pennell plans to leave Thursday for the Final Four, where there will likely be many conversations with potential suitors.

As for the future of the Arizona program, Pennell sent a word of warning to Wildcats fans.

"One of the things that is going to hurt Arizona for awhile is, basically, there have been three years missed on recruiting when you get right down to it," Pennell said. "Not that they didn't sign some good guys, they just didn't show up. So you've got some repairs to make in the recruiting world before Arizona can really get back to being Arizona."