THE ROAD TO SAN ANTONIO

While most web sites will break down the teams and the top players, it’s only natural that I let you know about the men in charge.  In some cases, I’ll post a link to a story on that particular coach or I will give you my thoughts.

I will continue with the tournament coaches right up to the last night in San Antonio.   And by the way, Bob Knight is correct, the NCAA should expand the field – there are too many good teams sitting this one out like Ohio State, Arizona State and Virginia Tech.

(Thanks to wikipedia and school websites for some of the information)

North Carolina – Roy Williams.  I have always liked him.  I liked him even more after I read a great story about him in Sports Illustrated a few years ago and he talked about his journey in coaching.  How he drove hundreds of miles as a young coach to deliver Dean Smith’s television show on videotape to the news station.  The guy paid his dues…

Coppin State – Fang Mitchell. Has been at Coppin for 21 years. Here’s a piece from his Juco days via NJ.Com.  Not too shabby. Here’s Yahoo.com sports writer Danny Wetzel on Coppin State

On the morning of Feb. 4, Coppin State was 2-19 against Division I competition and 0-8 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. That is practically the definition of finished. But Fang’s Gang (coach Fang Mitchell) won 12 of its final 13 games – including four in the conference tournament – and now they head to the NCAA tournament, albeit a Tuesday play-in game in Dayton, Ohio, against Mount St. Mary’s.

“We were life and death,” Mitchell said.

Or life after death.

Mt. St. Mary’s -  Milan Brown.   He succeeded legendary Mount Saint Mary’s coach Jim Phelan, who retired in 2003.  Brown graduated in 1993 from Howard University, playing basketball there for four years. Brown was a member of the Bison squad which made the school’s last NCAA tournament in 1992.   On March 12, 2008 Brown led the Mountainers to the 2007-2008 Northeast Conference Championship game where they were victorious over Sacred Heart Universtity   The Baltimore Sun has a piece.

Arkansas – John Pelphrey. First season at Arkansas.  Former assistant under Billy Donovan.  Has done a great job in the business.  Turned South Alabama around.

Notre Dame – Mike Brey.  Good guy.  Has done a good job in South Bend.  Heard him speak at a clinic – did an outstanding job.

George Mason – Jim Larranaga.  Another great guy in the coaching business.   We all know what he did a couple of years ago.  Has other interests outside of basketball.  Well-balanced guy.

Washington State – Tony Bennett.  What is it with all the good guys?  TB is another good one.  I recall him as a manager for his father at Wisconsin back in 2000.  Has a terrific back court.   The Seattle Times tells us about his future.

More coaches to come…