Missouri and Illinois are racing in opposite directions as they hit the stretch run of the college basketball season.
The Tigers drubbed Baylor 72-57, continuing their quest for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. Frank Haith furthered his case for national Coach of the Year recognition in his first year at the helm.
The Illini fell at Michigan 70-61, losing for the sixth time in seven games. With the Illinois season heading the wrong way fast, Yahoo! Sports put Bruce Weber on its endangered coaches list.
Such is the brutally competitive nature of college athletics.
When Missouri athletic director Mike Alden hired Haith to replace Mike Anderson, the move generated much public outcry and drew national media criticism. The outrage intensified when Haith was tied to massive recruiting scandal at his previous stop, the University of Miami.
Not only did Haith appear to be imperiled at Mizzou, but Alden heard renewed calls for his head.
But Haith has won 23 of his first 25 games, so he and his boss are feeling much love these days.
New Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas inherited Weber, just as he inherited football coach Ron Zook. Thomas fired Zook and later sent strong signals that Weber could suffer the same fate if he fails to guide the Illini back to elite status.
Here is what folks on the Illini beat have been writing about this scenario:
Mark Tupper, Decatur Herald & Review: “llinois' inconsistency combined with a difficult finishing schedule makes getting into the NCAA Tournament a tricky matter. The maddening thing for the Illini is it already missed out on excellent opportunities to get ahead of the game. Losing at Minnesota when Illinois had the game won was a killer. Losing at Penn State one game after beating 5th-ranked Ohio State was another setback. And losing at home to Northwestern on Super Bowl Sunday invited further trouble.”
Tina Akouris, Chicago Sun-Times: “Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas went on a Champaign radio station Saturday and didn’t give Weber a vote of confidence through the end of the season. Instead, Thomas said he will evaluate Weber later.”
Loren Tate, Champaign News-Gazette: “Thomas said he wants the fans asking where the basketball team will be seeded, not whether. As of Sunday's showdown at Michigan, the Illini are in danger of falling two games under .500 in the Big Ten race. The question of ‘whether’ is growing, much as it has been in recent NCAA ‘bubble’ seasons.”
Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune: “Weber's contract runs through 2014-15, which according to USA Today paid $1.5 million last year. The school is paying Zook a $2.6 million buyout and it hired Tim Beckman as a replacement for $9 million over five years. Women's basketball coach Jolette Law also may be on the hot seat. Asked about the financial feasibility of paying out contracts of multiple coaches, Thomas said, ‘You have to be sensitive to that. Is it the primary consideration? I wouldn't say so.’”
Bruce Weber, you are on the clock.
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while waiting for somebody to wake up Baylor forward Perry Jones III and tell him the college basketball season has started:
What sort of candy Valentine's Day hearts should athletes receive from their fans?
If a competing dog kept a journal at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, what would it read like?
What are the odds Jose Canseco actually succeeds in his Mexican League tryout?
QUIPS ‘R US
Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:
Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “There are actually some baseball fans in Texas who are blaming the bartender for recently serving drinks to Texas Rangers superstar and off-the-wagon alcoholic Josh Hamilton. Last I checked, it was a bartender's job to serve drinks, not be Hamilton's personal rehab counselor. If Hamilton is a drunk, that's his problem, not the bartender's.”
Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Kendrick Perkins got upset because LeBron James, in a tweet, praised how Blake Griffin had dunked over Perkins. Dear Kendrick: If your skin were any thinner, we could see your intestines.”
Jerry Greene, ESPN.com: “It's time to let the last Super Bowl go as anyone in Boston will tell you. But before we move on, we should salute New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin for checking off a major accomplishment on his personal Bucket List. No, we are not talking about beating Bill Belichick for a second time in the biggest game of all. We're talking about something much rarer than that -- Getting a hug from Flavor Flav. Check.
MEGAPHONE
“Is it realistic that we in any sport are going to win the Big Ten championship every year? It's probably not likely. But even in those situations, you want to be part of the discussion. You want to feel that energy and excitement is there when you get towards the end of the season. And then when you're looking into the NCAA postseason play, it's not a question of whether you're in the tournament, now you're sitting there saying, 'Where are we going to be seeded?'”
Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas, on a Champaign radio station.
