Oh good. My Sanity Has Returned

Now I know why I have never gotten deeply involved in illegal drugs. Besides, of course, the whole brain damage and death thing, I realize that if I ever got started I would not be able to stop. I'll admit it -- I couldn't handle the withdrawal. Heck, after yesterday's college-basketball free post, I found myself cowering in the corner of our laundry room, sweating profusely and counting the cracks in the floor tile. Today...the sun has once again risen to its rightful place in the sky (although it is covered by ugly clouds).

When I last visited the wonderful world of college basketball, I wrote morosely about the Mike Davis saga at Indiana. Boy, I'm happy I got that post up before the media began reporting on Davis' comments at his weekly teleconference (during which Davis essentially walked out the door). I've been arguing since the beginning of the season to anyone who would listen (read: my cat Boris and Baby Ryan -- okay so he is not actually listening) that Davis would not return next year to IU regardless of his performance this year. Now at least I have saved myself the opportunity to say "I told you so" (admittedly by only a couple of hours).

So who is going to be the next coach? On Monday, I mentioned a few names and now I have a few more. First of all, let's remove West Virginia's John Beilein from the equation (that's just my dream...I've also dreamed that Kerry Wood stayed healthy for an entire season and that the Blackhawks returned and played hockey this year. Wait, they have?). Let's also discount the Jay Wright possibility. I just threw that on the wall and Villanova responded yesterday by giving Wright a 7-year extension (my timing is becoming a little scary -- self-pat on the back).

There are the names that I have already mentioned...Mark Few (no thanks), Northern Iowa's Greg McDermott (who proved last night that he might be a perfect fit at IU as he also lead his team to a loss at Indiana State), Wichita State's Mark Turgeon (a future star), Rick Majerus (reservations are now being accepted at the Red Roof Inn!) and my dark-horse John Calipari. And then there are the following...Steve Alford (No, no, no, no, no, no, no. To put it another way...no, but I have to recognize that it is a possibility), Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings (he was hired at Illinois State by current-IU athletic director Rick Greenspan), and Pitt's Jamie Dixon (just throwing this one on the wall. I think he is a great coach and would love to see him at IU. If not, he seems like a good guy so maybe Pitt will respond to this post by giving him a fat, new contract).

Then, of course, there are the guys that are "one of Indiana's own" (quoting Coach two feet out of the door). Where in the heck are we going here? Damon Bailey? Keith Smart? Dane Fife? Lynn Washington?

I have finally come to the ultimate conclusion. We need a coach that has unforgettable ties to Indiana, will institute a disciplined system that focuses on the TEAM and that knows how to get a drunk off the wagon. Enter Norman Dale. The perfect candidate.

A side note is that Davisgate is likely to benefit the "team that must not be named" (or suffer the wrath of the Simon clan). Top-20 recruit Darrell Arthur remains the top rated recruit still uncommitted. Arthur is a done-deal for IU, but only if Davis is the coach (like D.J. White and Robert Vaden, he could apparently care less about the fact that it is Indiana and would only be in Bloomington to play for Davis --assumedly he enjoys standing around for 30 seconds on offense and then hoisting up an unbalanced three-pointer...and he sees no need to play defense). With Davis gone, Arthur's likely destination is to play for Bill Self at the "team that must not be named."

Now that I have rambled on for six paragraphs about IU and Davis, I am sure that I have completely lost Bob Knight as a reader (ask Dana Jacobsen of ESPN 2's Cold Pizza if Knight likes talking or reading about Indiana) and it is too bad. I would love to ask Coach Knight a question. Why is it inappropriate for a young man to call you "Knight," but it is okay for you to call a professional journalist, Dana Jacobsen, "Dear?" Just wondering...

Mike Davis? Not a good coach. Bob Knight? No longer a good coach. Joey Meyer. Never a good coach. You know who is a good coach? Bruce Weber. You simply cannot deny that he is one of the best coaches in the country. But Bruce, please close your mouth during the game. Do you walk around like that outside with your mouth slightly ajar? I can only imagine what may be flying around in the Champaign-Urbana skies (cow manure drfit, horse manure drift, sheep manure drift, the stench of your football team). It is a good thing that ex-Illini Marcus Griffin did not walk around like that during his tenure patrolling the lane for Illinois. He may have swallowed an opposing player whole (and if the game is at the fake Assembly Hall there would not even be a foul called).

Now I am calling a foul on Arizona coach Lute Olson and his win-at-all-costs approach to the game. An under-reported Monday night news item was Arizona's reinstatement of Chris Rogers. For those of you who are not familiar with the Chris Rogers situation, let me bring you up to speed (as I see it).

-- Last summer, coming off of a mediocre season, Rogers declared for the NBA draft. Olson and the rest of the Wildcat players basically said "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out." Rogers was told that his penchance for acting like Sammy Sosa may not make him welcome in Tucson in 2005-2006.

-- Rogers realizes he sucks and pulls out of the draft. Olson realizes that his team may suck and lets Rogers return to UA.

-- Expected starting 2-guard Jawaan McClellan becomes academically ineligible. Rogers is treated as a hero despite his continued Sosa-ish behavior.

-- McClellan gets the necessary "help" with his studies and prepares to return to the team. Olson decides the Rogers is too great of a lockerroom cancer and kicks him off the team. Rogers leaves the University, verbal barbs are traded, gauntlets are thrown down, the whole situation reeks of Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens. Olson states that Rogers will never return to Arizona.

-- McClellan suffers a season ending injury. Arizona loses to both Oregon schools and falls onto the tournament bubble. You know the rest...

Does anyone else have a problem with this? Is this what we want college basketball to be? Now, I am not an Arizona fan to begin with, but I will be cheering my butt off for whoever plays them in the first round of the tournament. Look, I am all for giving kids a second chance if they deserve one, but please make sure that you are giving the kid a second chance and not just trying to save a season that is spiraling out of control.

Just thought you might like to know what type of a shyster you are cheering for when you pick 'Zona to go far in your brackets.

Well, its official. I have put the curse on West Virginia. A loss last night to Seton Hall has sealed the deal. I imagine that the Mountaineers are not sure what to be more upset about...the fact that the Big East schedule makers forced them to play three road games in under a week or the fact that I adopted them as a second team.

Look, I am not giving up on either Indiana or West Virginia, but it may be time for me to save a little face a choose a third team. That said, I'd like to officially announce my allegiance to whatever team is playing Coach Win-At-All-Costs and his players.

Now watch Arizona rip off eight straight wins...

Have a nice Wednesday.

P.S.: I predict Penn State 71, Indiana 70