By Paul Gotham

Mr. Greenberg and Mr. Golic,

Let me start by saying my wife and I have been fans of your show for several years. We find “Mike & Mike In The Morning” informative, insightful and entertaining. In addition, we congratulate you on your recent success with the publishing of your book.

As teachers, we catch bits and pieces of your show. On an average work day, I will see / hear 30 minutes of the dialogue (most during my drive time).  From time to time I will search out a podcast or two. I really enjoyed the segment with Marcellus Wiley. That was great stuff. I mention this because I do not get a chance to hear your shows in their entirety. Further, my comprehension is limited to what I hear. I do not know if you produce transcripts of any sorts.

With that in mind,  I have been somewhere between scratching my head and alarmed recently.

The discussions about golfer Brian Davis and the expansion of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament have caused me concern. In particular, the attitude of Mr. Golic seems disappointingly callous.

The topic of honor in sports was the focus of a discussion surrounding Brian Davis, the golfer who called a penalty on himself and thus lost a tournament.  Mr. Golic distinguished between sports by using the excuse that football, basketball, baseball etc. all have officials responsible for overseeing those games. Players make plays and it is the responsibility of the referee to uphold the rules of the contest.

Again, I do not have Mr. Golic’s exact words, but unless I am mistaken, his assertion suggested that if a player gets away with doing something illegal that is part of the game.  From there Mr. Golic suggested it was part of player’s role to push the limits of the rules.

If you recanted all of this, I apologize. But you need to understand I am coming from an educational stand point. That is exactly what I battle every day. Frequently in the classroom, I use the saying: “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” Mr. Golic left no doubt that the rules were not his responsibility during a game. If the referee is not watching, it is not the player’s fault.

Does conscience play a role in this at all?

A fourth-grade student at my wife’s school was playing little league last spring. He scored from second. There was a discussion about whether he touched third base. The umpire admitted not seeing the play. Overhearing  what was going on, the ten-year-old took it upon himself to go up to the umpire and admit he missed the bag. He was called out.

I know there is a difference between the NFL and little league baseball, but conscience knows no boundaries.

Maybe it is a stretch, but using your mindset Mr. Golic, the only thing Derrick Rose did wrong was to get caught. He had someone take his SAT exam. The proctors (or officials of the exam) did not recognize any problem. They did not see a penalty on the play. Rose and the University of Memphis got away with this until someone with a conscience spoke. It’s kind of late to make it up to the fans of UCLA, Texas, Michigan State, Mississippi State and Texas-Arlington – the teams that lost to the Tigers in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

I put this discussion of honor in the back of mind until Friday.

While analyzing the NCAA’s decision about expanding the tournament, Mr. Golic sarcastically read an email from a listener (John) who disagreed with using gambling brackets as motivation for the scheduling of the tournament. I applauded John’s email. Mr. Golic did not.  He proceeded to say that “John probably doesn’t have a cell phone.” Not that it matters, but I have a cell phone. I text. I tweet. I have a facebook account. I have a website where this article is published. I do not think the NCAA should worry about how their schedule will affect your “sheets of integrity” or anybody’s brackets.

Beyond that, Mr. Golic went on to discuss the role that gambling plays in generating popularity and revenue for the NCAA. I hope that gambling funds do not go directly into NCAA coffers.  Do you really want to associate gambling with college athletics?  Haven’t I seen television commercials from the NCAA that directly contradict what you are saying?

Beyond that, the manner in which you encouraged a mob mentality amongst others listeners was disappointing. Of course others would write in and criticize John. You left no doubt where you stood on the topic and your sycophants joined in the bashing.

Finally, Mr. Golic I am further confused by all this when considering your status with the University of Notre Dame. I have had the good fortune of marrying into a Fighting Irish family. My late father-in-law graduated in 1953 and my mother-in-law attended St. Mary’s. I have had the privilege to attend many events on the South Bend campus. I have always thought that Notre Dame held itself to a higher standard.

Does that still apply to you?

Sincerely,

Paul Gotham

Phot by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

By Paul Gotham

If all goes as planned, the Seattle Seahawks will announce Pete Carroll as their new coach early this week. The two sides continue to negotiate the extent of Carroll’s potential role with the NFC West team.

Carroll leaves behind a USC program that he led to 97  wins including a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the 2005 BCS title game.

Carroll’s potential move appears to be that of a coach looking for a new challenge. There is not much more the San Francisco native can accomplish at Southern Cal. His teams have won 10 or more games in seven of his nine seasons. Beyond that, 50 Trojans have moved on to the NFL during Carroll’s  tenure including Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

With the past closing in on him the nine-year coach knows the time is now for him to make a move.

Recently, the USC athletic department self-imposed sanctions upon its men’s basketball team.  A similar request was made for the Trojan football team. The NCAA declined, thus sending a clear message to Southern Cal: WE want to continue the investigation of the Trojan football program.

It has been four years since Reggie Bush left USC, and that is about how long the NCAA has been looking into possible violations surrounding the Heisman winner. A forced deposition could be coming from the star tailback soon after the NFL season. It appears as if the granules of sand are quickly diminishing from the hour glass.

No one knows what sanctions lie ahead, and Carroll has good reason for not wanting to stay around and find out.

Carroll’s case parallels that of current University of Kentucky basketball coach, John Calipari. The coach who made popular the mantra: “Refuse to Lose,” is on the short list of coaches who have led more than one school to the NCAA’s Final Four. He is on an even shorter list of coaches who have multiple appearances to the Final Four vacated because of violations.

Calipari’s named has been cleared of any wrong-doing with the 1996 University of Massachusetts Minutemen and the 2008 Memphis University Tigers. In other words, Calipari has avoided any consequences for those two programs of which he had direct supervision.

Much of the blame for the situation in Memphis has been placed on the NCAA. College basketball’s governing body gave Derrick Rose his eligibility only to recant that decision later. On the surface, Calipari avoids blame, but it is hard to ignore the coach’s role in the infraction. The NCAA oversees roughly 400,000 athletes. Calipari supervises less than 20.

Both Carroll and Calipari have more than likely addressed current and former players about personal responsibility – responsibility to self, family, team and school.

By week’s end, Carroll will have probably moved up the coast from Los Angeles to Seattle. Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats will still be undefeated. Both leaving behind the responsibility for cleaning up situations which they were entrusted.

What should remain with these coaches is the reputation for leaving when the crime came to light.

Photo by Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard

By Paul Gotham

Setting: 900 Irving Avenue, in Syracuse New York, is the place as Josh Pastner brings his Memphis Tigers (10-3) to Upstate New York for a non-conference tilt with Jim Boeheim’s No.7 Syracuse Orange (13-1, 1-1).

Plot: It is Conference USA versus the Big East in a game that pits two teams who have combined for 11 NCAA Tournament appearances since 2003. Memphis advanced to the final in 2008 (since vacated) and the Elite Eight in ’06 and ’07. Last season the Tigers were eliminated in the Sweet Sixteen. Syracuse won the title in ’03 and earned Sweet Sixteen berths in ’04 and ’09.

Sub-plot: The game brings together arguably the two best transfers in the country. Memphis’s Elliot Williams played at Duke last season. Two years ago, Wes Johnson made the move from Iowa State to Syracuse. Coincidentally, Duke plays Iowa State immediately following this game.

Flashback: Jonny Flynn led the Orange with 24 points and six assists as Syracuse went into the FedEx Forum and took a 72-65 road win from the Tigers last December. Syracuse leads the series 2-1. Wednesday’s game marks the first time the two have met at the Carrier Dome.

Foreshadowing: The Tigers have sent 29 to the NBA including current players Rodney Carney, Joey Dorsey, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Tyreke Evans, and Derrick Rose. Thirty-four Orange have earned spots in the league. Carmelo Anthony, Jonny Flynn, Donte Green, Jason Hart, Etan Thomas and Hakim Warrick currently hold spots on NBA rosters.

Mood: With their Big East schedule ready to get into full swing, the Orange could easily overlook this game. Classes are not in session, and it is the middle of the week. On the other hand, the Orange will seek to right their ship after their first lost on Saturday to Pittsburgh, 82-72.  If Syracuse wants to prove themselves as an elite team, this is an important game to win.

A victory for Memphis could go a long way in securing an at-large bid, if needed, in the NCAA Tournament. Memphis’s three losses have been by a combined 10 points. The Tigers lost to No. 1 Kansas, 57-55. UMass toppled the Tigers at the buzzer, 73-72. The Tigers fell to No. 14 Tennessee, 66-59.

Conflict: Syracuse is second in the nation with 12.6 steals per game. Memphis ranks ninth in the category with 10.6 steals per game.  The similarities continue from there. The Orange outscore opponents by an average margin of 22 points. The Tigers hold a 20.1 advantage in this category. Syracuse hits .393 of their attempts from behind the arc. Memphis finishes .358 from long range. Syracuse limits their opponents to .298 success on three balls. Memphis opponents hit just .292 behind the arc.

Meanwhile, Syracuse averages 21.1 assists per game to 14.5 for Memphis. At the same time, Syracuse turns over the ball 15.9 times to 12.2 for Memphis.  Syracuse has a rebound margin of +3.2. Memphis holds a margin of 1.0.

All these could be null and void depending upon how Memphis responds to the Syracuse zone.

Williams leads four Tigers in double figures with 19.7.  The sophomore adds four rebounds and assists per game. What makes Williams difficult to defend is that he has 23 trifectas out of 66 attempts. At the same, the 6’5″ guard can go off the dribble and get to the rim (think of Dwyane Wade driving the lane). Can Williams penetrate the Syracuse zone? He will need to be patient and wait to catch the ball in reversal.

Wesley Witherspoon scores 10 point per game off the bench. The 6’9″ forward will need to be alert and find seams in the zone as Williams looks to drive.

Doneal Mack and Roburt Sallie combine for 21 points in Pastner’s four-guard lineup. Mack leads the Tigers with 28 three-pointers.  The senior hit four from long-range in a losing effort to Tennessee.

Will Coleman grabs six boards off the bench to lead the way for Memphis.

Johnson leads four Orange in double figures with 17 points per game. The junior adds 8.8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Johnson plays his best when the Orange need him. He scored 17 points in a win over Cal, 25 in a victory over UNC, and 17 against Florida. Johnson had 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Orange erased a six-point second-half deficit against Seton Hall.

Arinze Onuaku adds 10 points and 3.7 boards per game.

Brandon Triche scores 10 a game with 2.9 assists. The freshman guard had just one turnover in 26 minutes of play against Pittsburgh.

Kris Joseph adds ten points and 5.6 rebounds off the bench.

Senior, Andy Rautins leads the Orange with 32 three pointers. He also leads the team with 2.4 steals per game.

Rautins along with Scoop Jardine top the Orange with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.2/1.

Rick Jackson scores 9.9 per game with 7.3 rebounds.

Resolution: Coleman and Witherspoon match up well with Onuaku and Jackson. For the first time this year, the Syracuse front court will not have a size advantage over their opponents. The question for Josh Pastner will be whether he goes with his four-guard lineup or decides to match up inside with the Orange.

The Tigers are catching the Orange at the wrong time. Saturday’s loss served as the wake up call this Syracuse team needed. Memphis has the ability to make this a game in the second half. Syracuse’s rebounding advantage will prove the difference in the end.

Got any comments on the game? Please post them here.

1st Team All-Casey

PG Sherron Collins – Kansas

SG Jeremy Hazell – Seton Hall

SF Wes Johnson – Syracuse

PF Damion James – Texas

C Greg Monroe – Georgetown

2nd Team All-Casey

PG – Jon Scheyer – Duke

SG – Elliot Williams -Memphis

SF – Robbie Hummel – Purdue

PF – Al-Farouq Aminu – Wake Forest

C – Cole Aldrich – Kansas

Bouldin

By Paul Gotham

Mind for a marathon

Nothing like a made-for-television event to feed the appetite of all basketball junkies. Nothing like a made-for-television event to start the revenue stream for ESPN. Billed as a marathon, ESPN offered 26 continuous hours of college hoops on Tuesday. How sweet it was to come home from work and catch some action. Never mind that it was the three o’clock hour and college kids were playing instead of …going to class. Who cares.

Owls spook the Hoyas

Everyone will focus on the paltry offensive stats for this game. There is no hiding it. Georgetown led at the half, 19-13 – not exactly a barn burner. Both of these teams could have taken a spot next to the tuba or clarinets and filled in fine because they were as tight as a drum. For the game, Georgetown and Temple combined to go 6-41 from the three-point arc.

Looking past those obvious shortcomings, both teams displayed notable maturity on the defensive side of the ball. Georgetown wanted to run ball screens all day, but Fran Dunphy has his Owls well versed on hedging. It also helped that the GU back court seemed out of sync. It’s probably not a good thing that Hoya center, Greg Monroe, led G-Town with three assists.

Georgetown’s defensive rotation continually frustrated Temple.The Owls displayed a deft passing touch on the interior, but nobody was willing to pull the trigger. Such is life after Christmas. Dionte Christmas that is. The former three-time A-10 leading scorer graduated last year, and the returners will need to pick up the slack. Given time, Lavoy Allen and Ryan Brooks will make their mark. Brooks hit a three-pointer to give Temple the lead, 39-33with 6:53 remaining. The Owls could not hold the lead on the road.

MSU wins; Gonzaga serves notice

Gonzaga led for35 minutes of this game. Unfortunately, they trailed when it mattered most. Tom Izzo’s Spartans recovered on their home court and downed the Mark Few’s Bulldogs, 75-71.  MSU showed flashes of what made them national runner up a year ago. Gonzaga showed that they been overlooked.

Down by as much as 13, the Spartans stayed the course outscoring the Zags 14-6 in the final 4:30 of game time. Durrell Summers led the way with 21, but Ramar Morgan came off the bench and added 16. MSU shows a balanced attack. The maturity of Kalin Lucas could add the missing element from last year. It is like Lucas spent the off-season watching replays of Ty Lawson eating him up. Last night, with :40 left on the clock, MSU went into a 1-4 set and Lucas took his man off the dribble to give Sparty a 73-70 lead.

In the end, foul trouble cost Gonzaga the game. Robert Sacre and Elias Harris played much of the second half with four fouls. The Spartans took advantage in the paint. Matt Bouldin is a classic Gonzaga-type player. The senior will not dazzle anyone with overpowering athleticism. Bouldin possesses a great feel for the game. He never seems rushed. He lets the game come to him and always seems to know when to make the extra pass and when to shoot. The guard finished with 15 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Few, if any, outlets included the Zags in their top 25. Going into East Lansing and sticking with the Spartans should change that.

The curious case of Josh Pastner

Much has been made of the new Memphis coach. Riding in the wake of the recent scandal in Tiger program, Pastner has nothing if he hasn’t been a beacon leading the program out of the dumps. First, there is the resume to consider.  Then came a report the 31-year old planned to not sign any endorsement deals. Despite all the possible negative press, Pastner inked a top-flight recruiting class in his first go round.

Everything is pointing in the right direction for the young coach. Judging by last night’s performance, the future might be closer than expected for the Tigers.

Cole Aldrich had a double-double, and Kansas took a white-knuckle ride and outlasted Memphis, 57-55. Memphis attempted a three late that would have won the game.

The story of this game is Memphis’s Elliot Williams. Much has been made how the sophomore transferred from Duke to be closer to his ailing mother. More is going to be made about his play. Williams must have been home sick for his jumper because I don’t remember him having that sweet stroke when he played at Cameron last year. Combine the outside threat with his ability to go off the dribble, and Williams has the potential to be a special player. You will be hard pressed to find a player who is a better on the ball defender. It sure would have been sweet to see him in a Duke uniform.

Dusquesne takes down Iowa

This game didn’t get television coverage.  Yes, Iowa is down this year. But do not overlook the Dukes. They return four starters from a team that went to the NIT last year. Dusquesne lost in double OT to Virginia Tech. The Dukes could surprise people this year. Damian Saunders grabbed 16 boards and threw in 16 points last night. Bill Clark scored 20 as the Dukes won on the road, 52-50.

Got any college basketball splinters? Share them here.

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

By Paul Gotham

It’s one thing to lose – make sure you don’t lose twice.

Sage advice shared by many a coach.

In the past, the suggestion of such words offered perspective for young athletes. Losing a single contest should serve as an opportunity for learning. One needs to make sure to not lose respect through such a process – respect for the opponent, respect for the game, and respect for oneself.

On this day like so many other days, with sports stories swirling through the ticker,  those words of advice need to find the ears of Coach John Calipari.

The Memphis Tigers’ 2007-2008 season faces extinction. Like a common advertisement delivered by the post man quickly whisked to the circular file, college basketball fans can dispose of the Memphis run to the NCAA finals. For John Calipari, this is not the first time through such an experience.

Followers can consider what might have been for those teams that lost to Memphis. There was the first round victory over Texas-Arlington. It didn’t matter. The Mavericks earned a sixteen seed and would have only fallen to someone else.

Then came the three-point victory over Mississippi State in the second round. Memphis promptly blew out the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ candles of Michigan State before eliminating Texas and earning a spot in the Final Four.  UCLA posed little threat to the Tigers in a national semi-final decided by 15 points.

Maybe fans of those schools can seek the counsel of Central Florida, Stanford, Arkansas, and Georgetown. After all, those teams found themselves trudging through the manure of John Calipari’s University of Massachusetts Minutemen as they rode their horses into the 1996 Final Four.

Forgive me if I overlook those injustices.

I find it difficult to believe Coach Cal is “not implicated in either instance.”

Calipari made famous the mantra: ‘Refuse to Lose.’ As if he possessed some deep understanding of the virtues needed to inspire young men on a quest to become part of something larger than themselves.

Now, it seems impossible to separate Calipari from the allegations of a  fraudulent SAT score, doctored high school grades, and paid trips for relatives.

Yet Calipari has conveniently left all of that behind as he now prepares his Kentucky Wildcats for the upcoming season.

Calipari and his fans can rationalize all they want. Hey! at least Calipari isn’t like that thug Michael Vick who killed defenseless dogs, lied to the Feds, and smoked pot.

No, Calipari didn’t do those things. All he did, in his dapper suit with a clean-shaven face, is lead a team of young men. And he led them to believe in another mantra: “It ain’t cheating unless you get caught.” Now, it seems Calipari has even figured out how to manipulate that adage. Calipari’s new motto reads: it ain’t cheating when you can run from the consequences.

Maybe,  Calipari could consider the wisdom found on a wall of the Philadelphia Palestra:  ”To win the game is great . . . To play the game is greater . . . But to love the game is the greatest of all.”

Winning is NOT the most important thing; loving the game is what matters. For all those who came before him, Calipari needs to take responsibility for what he has done. From now on, all of us will wonder what could have really happened in the 2008 NCAA tournament.

Let’s hope Michael Vick is not like John Calipari. Let’s hope Vick can make good on his second chance.