Musketeer Madness

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/s ... id=5398415

"During the EYBL Peach Jam last week, we interviewed 20 high-profile head coaches, representing each of the six power conferences. With the promise of full anonymity, we asked them to tell the truth about their sport."

The link takes you to the Q&A, which pretty much confirms that high-major Div. I college basketball is a tough, tough business, and not "Hoosiers" by any stretch of the imagination.

Mr. N.: Thanks that was a good read. Beats working! Then again, anything beats working.

Unless your job is golf instructor and masseuse for Megan Fox.

I liked this. It would be fun to know which coaches said what. I could picture Calipari and Matta saying something like don't know or no comment.
With our programs sucess and a personality like Mack, our recruiting will be top notch in the near future.

Comment from a fan of college basketball.
Would you continue to support Xavier if your coach(s) was/were in violation of the rules?

Depends on the violation, the number of times, etc. The NCAA rules are so incredibly complex, they're like the rules of golf or the tax code; not only can you unwittingly violate them, but many make no friggin' sense whatsoever.

Substantial, and repeated, violations deserve scrutiny, sure.

Gary, thanks for the great find. Paints a really grim picture of an almost resigned hopelessness in many ways. BTW, did you notice The Raccoon pictured in one of the segments?
I have long said that the AAU farce is the biggest culprit and the one that needs most policing. And I got a chuckle out of the ""pee more"remark. Just shows where there's a mouse trap visible, there is sure to be a more savvy mouse.

I think many of us have an idealistic view of college b-ball, both as to the coaches and players, that doesn't really match the reality. Are there honest, upstanding coaches who try to do the right thing, and fulfill their obligation to the student-athletes? Absolutely, but there are many who don't, and given the job pressure they face to win, you can understand why.

And the players aren't all Bill Bradleys, either, who intend on using their undergrad education as a possible Rhodes Scholarship opportunity, either.

It appears that X does as good a job as possible under the circumstances to play by the rules, have its coaches run a clean ship, and give the players every opportunity to develop as players AND graduate. That may be all you can hope for these days.

Shadow wrote:Comment from a fan of college basketball.
Would you continue to support Xavier if your coach(s) was/were in violation of the rules?

Depends on the violation and how the school reacts. If we had a coach in a scandal like Rick Pitino and he was not fired (i'd be shocked if he wasn't) then i'd probably have a hard time support the program.