The Morning Dish – Thursday, March 25th
Larry Eustachy returns to the coaching ranks: Ex-Iowa State head coach Larry Eustachy has reportedly become the new head coach at Southern Mississippi University. Last year, Eustachy resigned amidst the publication of lurid photographs of him at campus parties kissing young women. After their publication, Eustachy revealed his battles with alcoholism. Eustachy has had a very successful coaching career that includes stints at Utah State, Idaho and Iowa State. The final stop of that coaching tour, Iowa State, is where he enjoyed two Big 12 championships in 2000 and 2001, as well as an Elite Eight birth in 2000. Southern Mississippi had won a share of the regular season conference title in 2001, but has not had success since. Eustachy will be replacing James Green, who compiled a 110-94 record in his seven years at the university.
Michigan hoping to return to prominence starting with an NIT championship: Michigan, whose reputation as a school that breaks the rules precedes them, is hoping to recreate its image, starting with a good showing in the NIT. The program, which has had recent struggles due to the high profile Chris Webber indictment as well as numerous investigations into the school and its recruiting practices, beat Hawaii 88-73 to build its record to 21-11 and grab hold of a spot in next weeks semi-final game against the winner of the Oregon versus Norte Dame game. Bernard Robinson Jr. led the way with 14 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds, and the senior hopes to complete his years at Michigan on a positive note, considering that he existed at the school for many of the years it was banned from post-season play. Michigan had won a ruling last fall allowing them to play in the post-season this year, and they are now making the most out of it.
Rutgers earns first NIT semi-final birth since 1978: In the year of my birth, Rutgers University reached the semi-finals of the NIT tournament, where they lost to Texas. Since then, they have had 4 NCAA appearances, two in which they were knocked out in the first round and two in which they were knocked out in the second round, and six NIT appearances, two in which they were knocked out in the first round. They have lost in the post-season to Clemson, Yale, Manhattan, Kent State, Arizona State and St. John’s (don’t forget that St. John’s used to be a good basketball program). Rutgers is in the semi-finals now, after beating Villanova 72-60 behind the hard work of Ricky Shields, who tossed in 21 points. They will meet the winner of tonight’s Iowa State versus Marquette game.
Gillispie accepts offer: Indeed it was announced yesterday, officially, that Billy Gillispie will become the new head coach at Texas A&M. He has agreed to a six year contract that could be worth up to $880,000 a year with incentives. In his two years at UTEP, which narrowly lost to Maryland in the tournament this year, he compiled a 30-32 record, but took a 6-24 team and turned them into a 24-8 team. Gillispie is a Texas native.
Ex-Sooner Brown will not face jail time: Jabahri Brown was released from the Oklahoma basketball program earlier this year, and now he will not have to ever count the days until his release from jail. He pleaded no-contest to drug charges, and the court ordered his to served three one-year deferred sentences concurrently. Brown lost his eligibility at Oklahoma when the team lost its last game of the season to Michigan in the NIT tournament.
Towe gets new contract at New Orleans:
Monte Towe has led the Privateers to three straight winning seasons since his arrival, as well as a 17-14 mark this year. They lost their final game in the conference championship to Louisiana-Lafayette, but that did not sway university officials. He will receive a new five year contract that will run through 2008-09.
Tonight’s Menu:
The NCAA tournament continues, so pack up your Laker bandwagon (did anyone see that Sacramento versus Los Angeles rout?) and grab your favorite university can openers (yes, the ones that you can buy at certain kitchen stores that play the fight song every time you open a bottled beverage) and start jumping up and down, I know I will be.
