Cross one off the list

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 7, 2008 11:49 PM CDT in News

I didn't pay attention enough to know if John Calipari coached well or not in Monday night's championship game.

But I do remember, while seeing some key free throws clank, when weeks ago he started really bristling at the questions regarding his team's shooting from the line:

"We've been about the same for three years. What has been our record for three years?" he says. (Answer: 99-9.) "It's something I don't spend a lot of time with."

(Eh, there was more that I remember hearing audio on and I couldn't find a better link.)

The point is, instead of just saying "of course, I wish we shot free throws better" he attacked the questioner asking if they knew anything about the team's record or what kind of team they were, and in general led his group in some 'us against the world' hooey going into the tournament.

Not that I was ever really interested in him or any other college coach (his first pro stint didn't go too great) leading the Bulls next season, but looking at Calipari, he sure comes off as 'un-professional'. Just another basketball-coach-as-mayor in the small pond of campus, Calipari is likely better suited staying the overbearing arrogant leader of teenagers that are the celebrated 'stars' of the college game.

Ok, the insults are basically just an excuse to crap on the institution of college basketball coaches, and the fact that Calipari was once tied to the Bulls coaching vacancy makes it fair, heh.

I mean, Tim Floyd is regarded as successful in that realm, so who knows, maybe Jimbo the Clown will be a star himself if he gets a chance at the Marquette vacancy, where he can get away with playing 4 guards and a forward in a lineup. Not exactly a place where credentials are built.

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I guess Boylan COULD be a successful college coach

But there doesn't seem to be any reason to believe he WOULD be a successful head coach anywhere.

Jim Boylan blew his last try at college coaching.

And I don't mean he sucked a little.

I'm sure we can agree NBA head coaching is not the answer for him, but, to me college isn't the answer either. How about euthanasia?

Where does he work?

by MarketMaker on Apr 8, 2008 12:41 AM CDT reply actions

Buzz Peterson

Lead assistant under Crean has been named head coach at Marquette. I guess we can kiss that thought good-bye

by Illini15 on Apr 8, 2008 1:24 AM CDT reply actions

Gordon

in the article (Jimbo the clown link) says that he never wants to miss the playoffs again, and he's going to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Hey, does that mean you are going to agree to a very reasonable contract, Ben, and then play your ass off and be happy with your situation ?

Because that would be the best way of making sure you never miss the playoffs again.

One can hope :-)

The Game chose him !

by Diabolo on Apr 8, 2008 1:54 AM CDT reply actions

I envy your naivete

This season beat mine to death.

BAB Tyrus Love-Meter -- 7 - Debating whether Moses Malone was better in his prime than Tyrus right now.

by cubbybear on Apr 8, 2008 2:28 AM CDT up reply actions

What naiveté ?

Tell me where you find naiveté in my post again, please.

The Game chose him !

by Diabolo on Apr 8, 2008 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions

For all the crap piled on him as a Bull

Gordon's been a pretty good soldier, don't you think?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 8, 2008 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe it means he wants to be traded to New York?

My Blog (Econ/Politics/Sports/NBA Salary Info)

by Sports2 on Apr 8, 2008 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

I still love you D ROSE

man you gotta give credit where credit is due, ya kansas won but it was decided by "ONE" freethrow. If memphis woulda scored the first 4 or so points of OT they woulda won it. 5 min overtime is LAME. If the game is 40 minutes long shouldn't it be 1/4 of that? Like 10 min? D Rose wore #23 for MJ. He grew up in chitown and wouldn't be the baller he is today without that. He made MJ proud, too bad he fumbled the last minute of the game. The dood was obvioulsy sick/not 100 percent. But no worries he's still going top 3 in the draft, so he's a walkin millionare. KANSAS an example of "DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS"

Shit maybe this is a good thing for us, conisdering maybe being a NCAA champion woulda made him go automatically #1, i'm wishin on a star he'll be a BULL- you know he is.

by AFireInside661 on Apr 8, 2008 5:17 AM CDT reply actions

Champions don't brick free throws

in the championship game.

Rose didn't brick them by himself. Dozier bricked em. Douglas-Roberts bricked them too.

But even missing free throws isn't enough to give up an 18-3 run in the final 2 minutes of regulation and the first 2 minutes of overtime.

Memphis blew a championship. That might have been want William Wesley wanted all along.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Apr 8, 2008 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Well blowing a huge lead to

close out the game, turning a sure victory into a demoralizing defeat, is as good a reason as any to not have Calipari coach the Bulls.

Sorry, Coach C, but the Bulls have already mastered that trick. As they like to remind us fans every now and again.

"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Apr 8, 2008 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd say that was my main take-away from the game.

I know we have very little chance of landing Rose, but Calipari was a real (imagined?) possibility, and I'd say the loss can be pinned mostly on him.

by alec on Apr 8, 2008 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions

What?

Rose only missed one, and Dozier made both of the free throws he shot with like 2 minutes left. CDR was the only true choke artist at the end of that game.

by Illini15 on Apr 8, 2008 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions

They were 1 for their last 5

and Rose missed the free throw that would have sealed the championship.

Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 9, 2008 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions

BULLS GAME TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

hey any1 know wher i can pirate a live feed for tonights game vs the heat? my old site i used for 30+ games is gone... HELP A CALIfornia-BULL FAN OUT!

by AFireInside661 on Apr 8, 2008 5:21 AM CDT reply actions

evaluating basketball properly

In each of their first 5 games in the NCAA tournament, I had Memphis to win outright and cover their number. This was a highly profitable perspective to take on their team.

But, in last night's game, vs Kansas, I had the Jayhamwks to win outright and, if nothing else, at least, to cover their number (+2, at tip-off), against a very, very good Tigers' team.

Why?

In part ...

i) During Saturday's semi-final game ... the way that Bill Self calmly handled his team's almost catastrophic 2nd half collapse/meltdown vs UNC, was a thing of beauty, from a coaching 101 perspective;

The quality depth & quickness (relative to their size & position) of Kansas' personnel, especially at the 4 & 5 positions AND the ability of Brandon Rush to go head-to-head vs Chris Douglas-Roberts; and,
John Calipari's tendency to err, coming down-the-stretch of a close game, vs a quality opponent, with a quality head coach.

Individual possessions are what determine which teams Win and which teams Lose basketball games ... and, last night, Coach Calipari was 100% correct, when he admitted, frankly, that the reason his team lost last night's game was because of coaching errors he made, himself.

If for nothing else but this, John Calipari, now has my respect.

Arthur, Jackson, Aldrich and Kuan were too much for Dorsey, Dozier & Taggart to overcome ... when Calipari made the mistakes he did last night in the use of his personnel.

Kudos to the Jayhawks.

by khandor on Apr 8, 2008 7:27 AM CDT reply actions

Wow, you look brilliant now

but how smart would you have looked if Rose hits the other free throw? Get over yourself. Any idiot can point out that a championship game between two of the best teams over the course of the season is probably going to be close. You just got lucky to pick the right one.

by snley on Apr 8, 2008 8:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm sure gambling on college basketball

will continue to be profitable.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 8, 2008 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Key to the game

memphis' critical error of playing a guy too tall at the point. A shorter point guard certainly would have hit those crucial free throws to seal the win.

:-p

Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 8, 2008 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions

LOL!

by sue369 on Apr 8, 2008 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Where was Calipari's vaunted

penetrate-and-kick-out offense? I saw a lot of flat-footed passing around the perimeter during crunch-time.

"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Apr 8, 2008 9:49 AM CDT reply actions

by tyger1147 on Apr 8, 2008 10:52 AM CDT reply actions

Picking Kansas to win 9 years in a row pays off

I think I like their jerseys. That was actually an enjoyable game to watch, and naturally Bill Self finds success and redemption OUTSIDE of Illinois state lines.

Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 8, 2008 10:32 PM CDT reply actions