The Morning Dish – Monday, December 27th
Phillips Steps Out of the Golden Hurricane: Tulsa coach John Phillips resigned Christmas day. The Golden Hurricane is off to a 2-5 start that includes losses to Wright State, Oral Roberts and Lamar. With the program seemingly treading water, Phillips opted to usher in a change midseason. Assistant coach Alvin Williamson became the interim head coach until school officials reach a decision about Phillips’ replacement. Phillips finished with a 61-42 record in about three seasons, including two trips to the NCAA Tournament. But Tulsa finished 9-20 last season and appears headed toward another losing season.
Phillips will continue to serve the Tulsa sports administration as an assistant athletic director. Team leaders, such as seniors Jarius Glenn and Klye Blankenship, wished their former coach well. They felt that Phillips made a decision based on what he determined to be the best course of action for the team and, therefore, his resignation was an unselfish act. In other words, don’t accuse Phillips of abandoning this team just because the season isn’t going according to everyone’s original plans.
Williamson said he doesn’t intend to make major changes to Tulsa’s game plan in the near future, but he would like to increase the team’s defensive pressure in due time. Tulsa visits Oklahoma Tuesday and also hosts Louisiana Tech and SMU this week.
Washington Crushes Houston: In the lone game played since Thursday, the Washington Huskies played the role of the Grinch against Houston, giving the Cougars a lump of coal for Christmas in the form of a 110-63 beatdown. Bobby Jones led the way for Washington with 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Four other Huskies scored in double figures, and the Huskies shot better than 57 percent from the field. Houston, on the other hand, struggled against Washington’s defensive pressure, shooting less than 32 percent from the field. Washington dominated every phase of the game and gave Huksy fans a well-timed reason to be jolly.
Heavy Hearts: Louisville officials announced that Rick Pitino’s mother died Sunday in Long Island, N.Y. They did not say her age or the cause of death. Pitino will remain on the sidelines tonight when the Cardinals host Morehead State. He will then travel to New York for the funeral and return for Louisville’s game Wednesday night against Eastern Kentucky.
Any roundup of deaths in the sports world would be incomplete without mention of the passing of former NFL football player Reggie White, a legendary defensive lineman and a player who transcended the game. White, 43, apparently died of a heart attack caused by sleep apnea. An ordained minister, White inspired as many people off the field as he did teammates in the locker room. Whether it’s basketball, football, baseball or otherwise, people such as White should be cherished for who they are, not merely what they have accomplished in their sport.
