This is Part III of our "Who Will Succeed Tubby Smith" series. Here is Part I and Part II.
Scrapin' the Barrel
Before we get into our lower-tier candidates for the Kentucky job, let's be clear about something. All of the coaches in this category are extraordinarily good at what they do, easily in the Top 1% of their professsion; and some if not most are destined for illustrious coaching careers. There might even be a Dean Smith-like legend in there somewhere. But for now, looking at them from the present-day perspective, Kentucky will have a hard time pulling the trigger on these lesser-known names. That's not because they couldn't be successful in Lexington; it's because the job we're talking about is one of the highest-paid, highest profile positions in the country. "Scrapin' the Barrel" is therefore only from the perspective of the Kentucky boosters, fans, and athletic department. (Which is, sometimes, borderline delusional.)
Scrapin' the Barrel Name #1: John Beilein, West Virginia
Beilein is no newcomer to the game. His head coaching career began in 1978 at Erie Community College, and continued through to two other small community colleges until 1992. His rise to relevance began as he took a private Catholic school in Buffalo, New York called Canisius College to two NIT and one NCAA postseason appearance between '92 and '97. From there he left to coach for five years at the University of Richmond, again reaching the NIT twice and the NCAAs once.
Beilein took over at West Virginia in 2002. Although the '07 Mountaineers failed to make the NCAA Tournament, they beat 2-seed UCLA in the course of the regular season. Since the '02-'03 season, Beilein's Mountaineers have made an NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite Eight plus two NIT appearances. Beilein has consistently improved the Mountaineers, who started 14-15 in '03 and are 25-9 in 2007.
Beilein runs a modified Princeton offense, but is probably best known for his unusually effect 1-3-1 zone defense.
Marks against him: His overall record is reasonably good at 102-60 (.630) but at Kentucky they're looking for coaches with better numbers. Plus, his offensive philosophy is seen by some as a bit outdated.
Reasons to snag him: Beilein is steady. His teams are constantly, if not slowly, improving. An '07 berth in the NCAA Tournament would have been a big help to the 'What Have You Done For Me Lately' section of his resume.
Scrapin' the Barrel Name #2: Chris Lowery, Southern Illinois
After the Salukis' near-miss with immortality after giving 1-seed Kansas everything they could handle in the 2007 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round, Lowery's a hot prospect and could be considered a 'mid-shelf' name for almost any other job. Lowery's Southern Illinois team is tough -- literally. When they practice, there is no out of bounds, no fouls are called, and players sometimes need stitches after workouts. Although Lowery is a defensive-minded coach (and we all know how Tubby Smith's emphasis on defense went over like a lead balloon in Lexington) his brand of defense and offense is aggressive, although slow-tempo. Lowery is almost certainly destined for bigger jobs.
Marks against him: He probably needs one more stop at a 'traditional' mid-level power before landing somewhere like Kentucky. Also doesn't play a style of basketball that is necessarily likely to attract top recruits.
Reasons to snag him: Lowery is a winner. He is 78-26 in three years as SIU's head coach and he earned the Salukis their highest seed yet for an NCAA tournament (4th seed in 2007.)
Scrapin' the Barrel Name #3: Anthony Grant, Virginia Commonwealth
Anthony Grant has enjoyed an incredibly successful career as both an assistant and head coach. Grant spent twelve years with Billy Donovan -- two at Marshall at ten at Florida. Under Donovan, Grant has coached his way to eight straight NCAA tournaments, including two Sweet Sixteen and two Final Four appearances. The '06-'07 season was Grant's first as a head coach, and to call it a good first year would be an understatement. Grant's Rams went 28-7 after beating 6th-seeded Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament and nearly upset the 3rd-seeded Pitt Panthers in overtime.
Marks against him: There's only one -- inexperience. Grant might become the hottest coach in college basketball if he can manage another 25+ win season at VCU.
Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Billy Gellespie (Texas A&M)
Will someone please call Louisville and tell Pitino we have a blue chair here waiting on him.
How about Bobby Huggins? A proven winner, comes from the area, and is an excellent recruiter. Was shafted big time by the Bearcats. (Bet that lame brain president wishes she had him back after a 2-14 conference record.) Turned a perennial loser K State into a winner in one year. He may not even consider the job, as he has no pressure out there, and has a very good class coming in next year. Still, would be a good fit.
Could it be Ernie Kent from Oregon? Barnhardt got his old buddy Rich Brooks from Oregon to coach the football team, but I'm not sure if Kent and Barnhardt know each other. Kent graduated from Oregon in '77 and was a Freshman Coach there in 1978 and 1980 (In '79 he coached at a Catholic High school in Eugene, 0regon. He has been the head coach for the Ducks since 1998. Five postseason appearances. A Pac-10 title and a Pac-10 tournament title. The NCAA Elite Eight. Two NIT Final Fours. Three NBA First Round Draft choices. He's averaged about 20 wins a season.
I don't know if he has an "In" with Mitch Barnhardt, but if he does Barnhardt could have a quality head coach who stays out of trouble and is African-American, just like his former coach.
I know I wouldn't be surprised if his name comes up, and the way Oregon has played in the Tournament this year I think I would enjoy having Ernie Kent as the next head coach at the University of Kentucky.
What about Larry Brown coming back to college basketball at Kentucky and bring in former player/coach John Pelphrey as his assistant and groom him to take over in 5 or 6 years. Larry took Kansas and UCLA to the final 4 and he knows what it takes to get a kid ready for the NBA, which he would use as a tool to recruit. All this is only if Billy Donavan would not come to UK, Billy may still come cause he will always be number 2 to Florida football, and that may be enough reason to come to UK.
And above all of these choices stands alone the very best selection Kentucky could possibly make. His jersey hangs in Rupp Arena. Possibly the greatest coach in the game today... PAT RILEY
Pitino, Pitino, Pitino
I am a die-hard BigBlue fan since the SEC Tourney was played at Louisville Armory late 1930's. I bleed blue every hoop season, and out of season. I live among the Gators and haven't felt comfortable for a few years. Moved here 1980. Billy Donovan is pure class, on/off court. His ethics untouchable. What a coo Billy would be. Ken Adams, St Augustine, Fl..
WE DON,T NEED ANY OF THE ABOVE SUGGESTIONS.CERTAINLY NOT POTINO.BILLIE GILISPIE, BILLIE DONIVAN AND CALIPERI. I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SHOT AT ANY IN THIS GROUP . I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW DAY AT KY. BASKETBALL. LETS BE PATIENT AND GIVE BARNHART TIME TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. WHEN THIS SELECTION IS MADE I BELIEVE ALL WILL BE HAPPY.
Maybe you should get in a circle, light a fire and hold each others hand and chant to your basketball gods to ressurect Adolph Hitl,I mean Adolph Rupp so that he can bring the glory back to Wildcat basketball. The only problem with that is that the only McDonalds All-Americans you will see is a Double Quarter Pounder with chesse combo meal, because Rupp dont like it dark, but I hear its pretty bright in Utah and Idaho, so you should be able to recruit there.
Tubby Smith wasn't a bad coach & not a great one either, I believe he failed in recruiting. What we need is someone who can do that & bring back our Kentucky basketball tradition dominating our opponents. I feel that Billy Donavon is our man that can bring back the "COME BACK CATS" and also the "333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333's"
Billy Donavon is our man for the job show him the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Tubby Smith was not a bad coach & not a great one either. I beleive his problem was how to recruit. We need our Kentucky Wildcat tradition back and I beleive Billy Donavon is our guy that can bring back that tradition. He is that someone that can bring back the "COME BACK CATS". He can bring back the 33333333333333333333333333333333's. Greg Helm Elizabethtown, Ky
i wish Pat Riley would be the coach at uk .
Pat Riley, Is a great choice. A proven winner, with UK tradition !
Ernie Kent ??? No NCAA Final Four...No NCAA Championship in 10 year! Why would KY want him? That was some of the fan's complaint with Tubby,and he left. Plus,in Tubby's era we never failed to be invited to the NCAA. So KY never had to claim that they made the NIT Final Four. Get someone that can get good recruits and make them great players...before they leave. KY has had some good recruits "on paper", that never seemed to develop into what they were advertised to be.
I dont know about how anyone else feels about the name Thad Matta.After doing a wonderfull job at Xavier he has brought Ohio State back from the ashes and Columbus is only about a 4 hour drive to lexington
Billy the kid has to be the number 1 choice, but he declines - Travis Ford with Kyle Macy as an assistant. Kyle Macy could recruit KY & Indiana. If we are going to go with the inexperience coach, why
not give it to a guy that will recruit the top KY players. Tubby really helped Vandy and Tenn.
Travis Ford....how come no one wants to bring him up?
Lets face the facts......The "Deliverance" fan base at UK wants Adolph Rupp and his ideology back.....