Ernie Kent let go at Oregon: link to press conference

He may have lost a bunch of games in the last few years, but he’s not a bad gamble for a school who might like to pick up some Chicago-area talent… youth and lax defensive principles did his team in.

But as he says in his tearful press conference, he was offered the chance to step down in February, btu thought it would be hypocritical for him to walk out on his guys after what they had done in terms of player development and teaching them how to play like men.

Bobby Knight could take a lesson from Kent here. The DePaul fans would howl if they got Kent, but he might just be the right kind of coach for them – Chicago AAU connections, hungry to prove he is better, a coach with a winning record and some Elite Eights on his resume, and I don’t think there were any off-court player incidents, just some on-court player moments (remember Aaron Brooks and Ryan Appleby? That Appleby kid DID use his lanky elbows a lot).

Kent’s a good coach. Here’s a timeline and recap.

Watch the press conference.

Transplanted New Yorker and now Midwesterner Peter a/k/a Pico writes for Johnny Jungle, doing the Calm Before the Storm posts and also for the Church of Bracketology. Pico is also on Twitter, @ECoastBias. Add the East Coast Bias to your .rss feeds; or follow by email.

Game 33: vs Memphis Tigers NIT Round1

Game Information

Tip Off: 9:00 PM, Wednesday, March 17
Location: Fed Ex Forum
TV: ESPN 2
Radio: Bloomberg 1130AM Delayed 10:00 PM

As of now, there is no word on a coaching change; and the team was selected for the National Invitation Tournament as a 6th seed, starting off on the road against the Memphis Tigers. It’s an opportunity for the team to show that they have something good going on, and to put their talent on display against a good Memphis team from a good mid-major conference, Conference USA.

The Memphis Tigers were a Final Four participant in 1985 along with St. John’s, Villanova, and Georgetown, back when they were known as Memphis State. They are a far cry from where they were last year – and really, the last 4 years, where they dominated the Conference USA with a combination of John Calipari’s bravado, some impact 4 year players and a few one-and-done stars who were lottery picks in the NBA draft. This year may be a step down from those heights under new young coach Josh Pastner, but it’s understandable; the former coach took the impact recruits the team was counting on to be interior and perimeter presences with him to Kentucky.

click on the read more link below.

Nut Punch Tuesday!

In the NIT, nut punching is not allowed. No one told Seton Hall’s Herb Pope… or Jackson State’s Phil Williams:

Seton Hall:

Jackson State

2010 NCAA Bracket

Your NCAA bracket; click on the image below for large, printable version. More commentary to come.

Transplanted New Yorker and now Midwesterner Peter a/k/a Pico writes for Johnny Jungle , doing the Calm Before the Storm posts and also for the Church of Bracketology. Pico is also on Twitter, @ECoastBias.

Add the East Coast Bias to your .rss feeds; or follow by email.

2010 Coaching Carousel: More teams hand out pinkslips

An update on the coaches on the hot seat:

Auburn‘s Jeff Lebo, after a 15-17 season, is gone.

Oregon‘s Ernie Kent has told his players that he is not returning.

Iowa‘s Todd Lickliter might “resign.” Under duress.

The hot seat rumors were pretty accurate.  See my earlier post on each coach’s record at their school, in conference, and overall. Also see the post on evaluating up and coming coaches.

Addendum – and one I didn’t hear much buzz about before a week or two ago – Boise State fires coach Greg Graham.

Transplanted New Yorker and now Midwesterner Peter a/k/a Pico writes for Johnny Jungle, doing the Calm Before the Storm posts and also for the Church of Bracketology. Pico is also on Twitter, @ECoastBias.

Add the East Coast Bias to your .rss feeds; or follow by email.

2010 Coaching Hot Seat: Hawai’i's Bob Nash fired

Bob Nash, longtime player and assistant coach for the Rainbows (or Warriors, as they call themselves now), was 34-56 in his 3 seasons as head coach.

Links

Pomeroy Page

Honolulu Advertiser: Nash fired as UH basketball coach

Aloha Update:  UH Coach Nash Fired After Disappointing Results

KHON: Offsetting the Cost of Coach Nash’s Contract Buyout

Hoop Dirt: Candidates at Hawai’i

Transplanted New Yorker and now Midwesterner Peter a/k/a Pico writes for Johnny Jungle , doing the Calm Before the Storm posts and also for the Church of Bracketology. Pico is also on Twitter, @ECoastBias.

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Binghamton staying home from America East conference tournament

Binghamton University has decided not to continue playing the season after all the well-documented turmoil:

“With the controversy currently surrounding the program it is not appropriate we play in this year’s post-season,” Binghamton president Lois DeFleur said in a news release Monday night.

“This action is being done voluntarily as part of our commitment to move forward as we develop a comprehensive plan to address the recommendations of the recent review,” DeFleur added.

The New York Times indicates that the move was not voluntary on Binghamton’s part.

Transplanted New Yorker and now Midwesterner Peter a/k/a Pico writes for Johnny Jungle , doing the Calm Before the Storm posts and also for the Church of Bracketology. Pico is also on Twitter, @ECoastBias.

Add the East Coast Bias to your .rss feeds; or follow by email.