NCAA Basketball FanHouse

Tommy Amaker Lowers Standards at Harvard

Michael David Smith — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Mid-Majors Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Recruiting, Michigan

When we think of Harvard we think of rigorous scholarship, of ivy-covered buildings, of notable alumni from John Hancock to John F. Kennedy, from Henry David Thoreau to James D. Watson.

We don't think of basketball prowess, but new coach Tommy Amaker wants to change that, and Harvard's administration is giving him a huge hand in doing so: The school is lowering its standards to attract better basketball players.

Pete Thamel of the New York Times has a fascinating article today about the way Amaker, the former Michigan head coach, is getting away with tactics that would have seemed unthinkable at an Ivy League institution:

In the race to become competitive in basketball, Harvard's new approach could tarnish the university's sterling reputation.
Two athletes who said they had received letters from Harvard's admissions office saying they would most likely be accepted have described tactics that may violate N.C.A.A. rules...

In another case, Amaker approached the parents of an athlete in a grocery store and urged that their son visit Harvard, even though N.C.A.A. rules limit contact with potential players....

Yale Coach James Jones said he had seen an academic change at Harvard. "It's eye-opening because there seems to have been a drastic shift in restrictions and regulations with the Harvard admissions office," he said.

I always liked and admired Amaker when he coached at Michigan exactly because he struck me as the kind of coach who had certain standards he wasn't willing to compromise. But after a 43-53 career Big Ten record got him fired, it appears that Amaker has decided that wins and losses need to be his top priority. It's stunning that Harvard's administration is going along with that decision.

Tommy Amaker Lowers Standards at Harvard originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jalen Rose Buys Fab Five Billboard

Michael David Smith — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:51:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Michigan

There's a billboard at 7 Mile and the southbound Lodge Freeway in Detroit that shows the Michigan jerseys of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King and Juwan Howard, with "Timeless..." underneath.

Michigan, of course, can't put up billboards promoting the Fab Five -- it can't even acknowledge the existence of the Fab Five. So who paid for the billboard? It was Jalen Rose himself.

"The motivation for that speaks for itself," said Rose, who didn't tell the other guys until after it was up, wanting it to be a surprise. "Being this (2006-07) is the year of the Fab Five 15th-year anniversary, people nationally are talking about it -- about how we changed college basketball and the landscape of the sport. We have no banners and representation at U-M, almost like we didn't go there."

That's where Rose pauses, emphasizing the location.

He wants the billboard to be a celebration, not a distraction. That's why he placed it on Detroit's west side, near where he and Webber grew up.

I lived 20 miles from Michigan's campus in 1991, and I loved the Fab Five. So it makes me a little sad that Rose acknowledges that if he had put the billboard up in Ann Arbor, it wouldn't be so widely celebrated. But Rose seems to think Webber is blameless in what the Fab Five has become -- a symbol of what's wrong with college sports -- and there he's wrong. There are lots of stupid rules in the NCAA, but they're rules that Webber agreed to, and if Webber's refusal to abide by those rules taints the Fab Five's legacy, that's Webber's fault.

Jalen Rose Buys Fab Five Billboard originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jimmy Walker, Providence Great and Estranged Father of Jalen Rose, Dies at 63

Michael David Smith — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:22:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Big East Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, Michigan

Jimmy Walker, the great Providence guard who was named an All-American three times and led the nation in scoring in 1967, has died of lung cancer at the age of 63.

Younger fans know Walker mostly because he's the father of Jalen Rose. Walker's name was often mentioned during TV broadcasts of Michigan games when Rose and the Fab Five went to two Final Fours in the 1990s. At one point they held the NCAA Division I record for most career points scored by a father-son duo.

But the TV announcers often glossed over the fact that Rose and Walker didn't know each other. Walker was out of the picture before Rose was born, and in 2005, when Rose surpassed Walker's NBA point total, he spoke in a matter-of-fact tone about the biological father he had never met. Walker and Rose look a lot alike, but the only things Rose got from Walker were facial features and basketball talent.

Jimmy Walker, Providence Great and Estranged Father of Jalen Rose, Dies at 63 originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-Michigan Coach Tommy Amaker to Coach Harvard

Michael David Smith — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Boston, Michigan

Tommy Amaker, who was fired last month after six mostly unsuccessful seasons at Michigan, is expected to accept the head-coaching job at Harvard. Amaker, who has also coached at Seton Hall and was a player and assistant coach at Duke, beat out former Boston University and St. John's coach Mike Jarvis for the Harvard job.

Harvard seems like a good fit for Amaker, who is known for emphasizing academics. Amaker will be the only African-American coach at Harvard, which has 32 intercollegiate sports. Amaker's wife, who was associate dean of students at Michigan, is expected to get a job on the Harvard faculty.

Harvard, which has never won an Ivy League title in men's basketball, was criticized in some quarters for firing previous coach Frank Sullivan, who ran a clean program and held his players to high academic standards but had a losing record. Michigan is scheduled to play at Harvard next season.

Ex-Michigan Coach Tommy Amaker to Coach Harvard originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Sad Fate of Robert 'Tractor' Traylor

Michael David Smith — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Police Blotter, NCAA Basketball Rumors, Michigan

Robert Traylor, the guy whose enormous frame gave him the nickname "Tractor," was such a unique athlete. I'm the same age as Traylor and grew up in the same area, so I've been following his basketball career since high school. He seemed like a can't-miss prospect.

It didn't quite work out. Traylor was good but not great at Michigan, and never did much of note in the NBA. Michigan has long since washed its hands of him, with the punishment the school received for recruiting violations surrounding him grossly exceeding any benefit the school got for his on-court performance. At age 30 he can't find an NBA team that wants him. And now he's facing eight to 14 months in federal prison.

The prison sentence is a result of laundering money for his cousin, Quasand Daniell Lewis, a drug dealer who is serving 18 years in prison. This Detroit News article about Traylor describes helping Lewis as "foolish" and says he "got some bad advice."

But I don't think that quite covers it. The best way to describe Traylor is greedy: It was his greed that led him to take money in violation of NCAA rules and his greed that led him to earn money participating in illegal activities for his cousin. Now it's landing him in prison. He's still young, though. Let's hope this guy who had so much promise at 20 and is in so much trouble at 30 is doing something productive with his life at 40.

The Sad Fate of Robert 'Tractor' Traylor originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 07:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan Buying Beilein from West Virginia

Charles Rich — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:33:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, West Virginia Basketball, Big East Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, Michigan, West Virginia

The reports all day have been that Michigan has been talking, then negotiating with John Beilein to leave West Virginia for Ann Arbor. It looks like it has finally happened. CBS Sportsline is reporting that Beilein has accepted the offer and a news conference will take place within 48 hours.

This means that Michigan will be paying West Virginia about $2.5 million dollars for the Beilein buyout -- whether directly or via Beilein. That will be on top of whatever else Beilein will receive as an annual salary.

Looks like the Wolverines might be getting serious about basketball. You don't think that team to the south that is playing in the NCAA Tournament Championship tonight may have had added a little spur to upgrade?

Previously on Fanhouse:
John Beilein Officially Offered Michigan Job
John Beilein: Win NIT Tonight, Take Michigan Job Tomorrow?
Who's Hot for Michigan Basketball?
The 1-3-1 Is Not a Gimmick

Michigan Buying Beilein from West Virginia originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Still a Saluki: Chris Lowery Signs Seven-Year, $5M Deal

Michael David Smith — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Mid-Majors Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Michigan

In the latest sign that Southern Illinois is advancing beyond mid-major status, the Salukis have tripled head coach Chris Lowery's salary. Although his contract isn't exactly what Big Ten coaches are making, ESPN's Andy Katz reports that Lowery will make $750,000 a year for the next seven years.

That puts Lowery in line with the highest-paid coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference. On the other hand, Michigan State paid Tom Izzo more money in 2006 than Southern Illinois will pay Lowery in the next seven years combined. Basically, it's enough money to show that the Salukis intend to pour resources into their basketball program, but it isn't enough money to keep Lowery around if a major-conference team comes calling next year.

It does, however, take Lowery off the market this year, and it narrows down the Michigan basketball search a little more. Lowery was thought to be a strong candidate for the Michigan job, and if John Beilein stays at West Virginia and Kevin Stallings stays at Vanderbilt, Michigan is running out of candidates.

Still a Saluki: Chris Lowery Signs Seven-Year, $5M Deal originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 10:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings Top Candidate at Michigan?

Michael David Smith — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Michigan

Maybe John Beilein isn't the primary target of Michigan's basketball coaching search. Gary Parrish of Sportsline is reporting that Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings is a top candidate for the Michigan job, and that he'll strongly consider taking it if it's offered to him.

An interesting aspect of this, though, is that Stallings sees himself as something like an actor who's reached the point where he doesn't have to audition for roles:

Stallings already indirectly informed Michigan officials that though he's interested he will not go through a formal interview process of any kind. In other words, if Michigan wants Stallings it must make an offer soon and without the circus that would accompany a public flirtation. Otherwise, he's out and content to stay at Vanderbilt.

I find it hard to believe that Michigan will make Stallings an offer without even interviewing him. And I find it hard to believe that Stallings would refuse to go through an interview if that's what Michigan wants. Parish doesn't even mention Beilein as a candidate for the Michigan job, calling UNLV's Lon Kruger, Southern Illinois' Chris Lowery and Butler's Todd Lickliter the other top candidates.

Previously at FanHouse:
John Beilein: Win NIT Tonight, Take Michigan Job Tomorrow?
Who's Hot for Michigan Basketball?
Michigan Fires Tommy Amaker

Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings Top Candidate at Michigan? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Beilein: Win NIT Tonight, Take Michigan Job Tomorrow?

Michael David Smith — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, West Virginia Basketball, Big East Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Rumors, Michigan, West Virginia

West Virginia coach John Beilein's team has advanced to tonight's NIT championship game. If reports out of Michigan are to be believed, it will be Beilein's last game as the Mountaineers' coach.

A story in today's Detroit Free Press begins like this:

From all indications, John Beilein is not just a candidate to be Michigan's next basketball coach. Beilein is the candidate. Michigan athletic director Bill Martin is not tipping his hand publicly, but he appears to have zeroed in on West Virginia's Beilein.

Of course, it's not a sure thing that Beliein will take the Michigan job if it's offered. I think the consensus among coaches around the country is that Michigan isn't as attractive a job as Martin thinks it is. On the other hand, Beilein didn't make much secret that he wanted to leave for both Indiana and North Carolina State last year. If Michigan is willing to invest the kind of money in Beilein to give him a substantial raise and pay his $2.5 million buyout, the chances are good that tonight is his last game in West Virginia.

John Beilein: Win NIT Tonight, Take Michigan Job Tomorrow? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the Big Ten the Dirtiest Conference in Recent History?

Charles Rich — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:11:00 EST

Filed under: Ohio State Basketball, Illinois Basketball, Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Campus, Michigan, Ohio State

The Ohio State Buckeyes have advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1999. According to the Buckeyes official records, however, it's the first time since 1968. That's because the Buckeyes have taken down all evidence of the 1999 appearance and stricken it from all official records as part of their penalties for major recruiting violations that occurred in that time under then Coach Jim O'Brien.

Of course it's unfair to label the whole conference as dirty because of isolated incidents. Still, the Big Ten teams (and especially their fans) love to hold out their conference as all that is good and pure of conferences -- isn't that right Commissioner Delany? Exemplifying the student athlete and how they have programs that do things right and succeed.

Or do they? Consider the following for their basketball programs:

1999 -- Ohio State makes the Final Four, but the visit has been officially expunged because of major recruiting violations.
1997 -- Minnesota makes the Final Four, but recognition was officially expunged because of major academic fraud to keep players eligible.
1996 -- Purdue's NCAA Tournament appearance and all 24 wins that season forfeited for recruiting violations.
1994 -- Northwestern. Well, they didn't actually win anything, but they were somehow involved in point shaving. Proving that some people will bet on anyone.
1992 and 1993-- Michigan has both of their Final Four visits officially expunged because of booster payoffs to the players. This all started coming out in 1996 after ~~Robert~~ Maurice Taylor's driving troubles and people noticed the ride he had.
1989 -- Illinois recruiting/payola scandal brought to light thanks to then Iowa Assistant Coach Bruce Pearl and a tape recorder. It resulted in a 1991 post-season ban.

Let's at least agree that in the 90s, if you weren't cheating you weren't trying in Big 10 basketball. The conference's basketball programs were not exactly the paragons of virtues -- 4 Final Four appearances from the 90s expunged. That's 4 of the 6 Big 10 Final Four appearances no longer recognized by the respective schools -- no banners in the rafters, nothing in their official record books.

6 of the 11 teams over a ten year period in serious enough trouble in the NCAA, resulting in post-season penalties. The sheer variety was impressive as well. Gambling, recruiting violations, booster pay-offs and academic fraud.

What's amazing, is that despite over half of the basketball programs in the conference in some sort of major hot water in one decade, there's never any discussion of widespread corruption in the conference -- like say the SEC. A lot of it has to do with the time between when the malfeasance took place and the subsequent discovery. The variety also had an impact, since there was a lack of a common thread

Teams like St. John's, Villanova, Oklahoma, Baylor, UMass, Rhode Island and Georgia in recent years have all been embroiled in basketball scandals (and shockingly, Jim Harrick was responsible for two of them). Who knows what will happen and what has yet to be discovered? Still, no other conference as a whole has yet to step up the way the Big 10 did in the 90s.

Is the Big Ten the Dirtiest Conference in Recent History? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oregon's Ernie Kent Needs to Win

Charles Rich — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Oregon Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, Pac-10 Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Michigan, Oregon

It's being remarkably under-discussed how Oregon Head Coach Ernie Kent is basically daring the Oregon administration to fire him or extend him. Keep in mind, that this is the same head coach who came into the season on the warmest seat in the PAC-10 and the subject of FireCoachKent.com (since pulled, but you have to love Google cache). A coach who isn't exactly fully supported by the outgoing Athletics Director (AD) and the present AD, Pat Killkenny.

Oregon has been one of the more surprising teams all season. Two or three seasons of completely underachieving and it finally comes together this year. Apparently Ernie Kent has been feeling pretty good about his bargaining position. The day Tommy Amaker was fired from Michigan and the day before Oregon's second round game against Winthrop, Kent didn't hide any interest or why.

Said Kent: "I have an agent, and he's been contacted by some people. All I'm going to say is that I want to be at Oregon as long as they want me there. But if they don't want me there anymore, and Michigan wants to talk, Oregon owes me the opportunity to listen."
Kent said he never would pursue a vacant job. But if they want to talk, he's all ears. Also, Kent said he prefers to wait "until we've finished our own tournament run," before talking more about his future.

Kent's contract actually runs through 2010, but unlike previous years it hasn't been rolled over prior to the start of the season. It's not like Kent is in the last year or even 2 years from his contract expiring. He's got 3 years. Michigan has denied any contact with Kent.

How that short little bit about his agent being contacted and his willingness to listen, can not be construed as pursuit of a vacant coaching job, is only if you take it as an attempt to leverage a new deal and/or extension from Oregon. Thank goodness he would rather wait to discuss this.

Well, I guess Kent just likes to make sure his name is out there.

Illinois had an opening in 2003, and hired Southern Illinois coach Bruce Weber. But not before Kent looked at the list of candidates, and asked friends if they would contact various media, and inquire why he wasn't being mentioned for the job.

He's like John Calipari in that respect. Always loves to see his name mentioned for other jobs.

Have to give him some credit for guts, since that sort of talk and if Oregon had fallen flat against Winthrop, he'd be taking heat for needlessly distracting his team in the NCAA Tournament. He would likely be looking for work at a mid-major. Instead, they handled Winthrop with ease and now look like a strong shot for at least the Elite Eight. Still, few programs like to be threatened like that, and Kent's popularity isn't that strong. He had best get to the Elite Eight if he wants to get an extension from Oregon or a serious offer from Michigan.

Oregon's Ernie Kent Needs to Win originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who's Hot for Michigan Basketball?

Charles Rich — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:44:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Gossip, Michigan

~~Until~~ Unless Tubby Smith is fired or walks away from the Kentucky job, the Michigan Wolverines basketball gig is probably the highest profile job available.

That means it is time to speculate on potential hires. The Michigan blogs have been all over Amaker's termination -- here's the media recap -- and it is not exactly with great sorrow that they see him leave. Both Michigan Sports Center and M Go Blog have nice capsule summaries of some of the top potential targets -- it's almost like they were anticipating and preparing for this. Nah. I mean, who really believed Tommy Amaker would be fired? Oh, yeah, almost everyone.

In addition to the head coaches at various mid-majors who got their teams into the NCAA Tournament this year, the other names being bandies about are Tubby Smith (Kentucky), Stan Heath (Arkansas), John Beilein (WVU), and Ernie Kent (Oregon).

Right now, there is no clear indication from Michigan about who they are targeting, so it is the fun entertaining pure speculation part of any coaching carousel.

Previously on Fanhouse regarding Amaker and Michigan:
Michigan Makes Early Plans for the NIT
Michigan: NIT; Amaker: Out of Work
Go Buckeyes! Michigan Fans Want Tommy Amaker Fired
It's Over for Tommy Amaker

Previously on Fanhouse regarding hot mid-major coaches in the NCAA Tournament:
Looking for Hot Coaches: Midwest Bracket
Looking for Hot Coaches: East Bracket
Looking for Hot Coaches: West Bracket
Looking for Hot Coaches: South Bracket

Who's Hot for Michigan Basketball? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan Fires Tommy Amaker

Michael David Smith — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Michigan

Michigan fired head coach Tommy Amaker today, bringing to an end a six-year reign for a coach who cleaned up a troubled program but never got his team to the NCAA Tournament. Amaker's last game was a loss to Florida State in the second round of the NIT.

To most Michigan fans, this decision is long overdue. At Maize n Brew, they're saying, "This could quite possibly be the best day ever." MGoBlog is already promising a coach-hiring blowout on Monday.

Michigan athletic director Bill Martin had a somewhat more subdued reaction saying, "Letting Tommy go was the toughest decision I've had to make in seven years as athletic director."

Amaker is a nice, classy guy in a business where being nice and classy doesn't buy you any job security if you aren't also winning ball games. Amaker's record at Michigan was 109-83 and 43-53 in the Big Ten.

Previously at FanHouse:
Michigan: NIT; Amaker: Out of Work
Go Buckeyes! Michigan Fans Want Tommy Amaker Fired
It's Over for Tommy Amaker

Michigan Fires Tommy Amaker originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 17 Mar 2007 15:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan Player, Fans Don't Care About NIT

Michael David Smith — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:09:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, Michigan

You'd think Michigan basketball players would be used to playing in the NIT by now, but senior Lester Abram isn't able to get very excited about it. Before Michigan's first-round NIT game, Abram said something that I imagine a whole lot of college players feel:

"You're always happy to keep playing, but nobody wants to play in the NIT,'' senior Lester Abram said. "It's just something you have to do.''

Something you have to do. Like go to the dentist or clean the toilet. But if the Michigan players are uninspired by the NIT, the Michigan fans are even more so. The official attendance at Michigan's 68-58 win over Utah State was 3,114, the lowest reported turnout for a home game at Michigan in the Tommy Amaker era, according to the Associated Press.

It was also probably the last home game in the Tommy Amaker era. When you're a school with Michigan's pedigree, you're not supposed to miss the tournament year after year and only draw 3,000 fans to your home basketball games. Amaker will take the fall for that.

Michigan Player, Fans Don't Care About NIT originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ohio State: No. 1 Seed; Michigan: NIT; Amaker: Out of Work

Michael David Smith — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 13:56:00 EST

Filed under: Ohio State Basketball, Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, March Madness, Michigan, Ohio State

Ohio State is one step closer to a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance after a convincing win over Michigan in which the Buckeyes looked very much like a potential Final Four team.

Michigan looked ready to play, and the Wolverines did play fairly well, but Ohio State is just far too talented, and Greg Oden played about as well as I've seen him play this year, with 22 points and eight rebounds even though Michigan was throwing everything including the kitchen sink at him. He was shooting right-handed (his wrist is healed) and that should make him even more dangerous going forward.

The Buckeyes are the prohibitive favorites to win the Big Ten tournament, and even if they don't, they might be able to get a No. 1 seed just by winning one more game.

Michigan's bubble burst today -- the Wolverines are definitely NIT bound. And the NIT will probably be the last we see of Michigan coach Tommy Amaker, a nice guy who just wasn't up to the task of building a winning program from the ashes of the Ed Martin recruiting scandal. The four Michigan seniors make the Wolverines one of the early NIT favorites, but that's small consolation.

Ohio State: No. 1 Seed; Michigan: NIT; Amaker: Out of Work originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 09 Mar 2007 13:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan Stays Alive; Needs to Upset Ohio State

Michael David Smith — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Michigan

Michigan kept its slim bubble hopes alive and Tommy Amaker kept his slim job-stability hopes alive as the Wolverines beat Minnesota 49-40 in the first game of the Big Ten tournament.

It's still a long shot for the Wolverines: They'll need to upset No. 1 Ohio State tomorrow, and even after that they might need to win one more game to get an at-large berth. But with an RPI of 52, a signature win tomorrow would make a spot in the Big Dance possible.

And that's what Amaker needs to keep his job. Few coaches have been saddled with as burden as large as the one Amaker had when Michigan hired him in the wake of the Ed Martin scandal, but the bottom line is he still has never gotten his team to the NCAA tournament. Tomorrow against Ohio State is likely his last chance.

Note: When the tournament moves to Indianapolis next year, the Big Ten might want to re-think how it distributes tickets. Hundreds of empty seats in the front rows gave this game a decidedly bush-league feel.

Michigan Stays Alive; Needs to Upset Ohio State originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Go Buckeyes! Michigan Fans Want Tommy Amaker Fired

Michael David Smith — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Ohio State Basketball, Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, Michigan, Ohio State

Michigan has its biggest basketball game in a long time on Saturday. With Big Ten champ Ohio State coming to town, a win could put the Wolverines into the Big Dance. And a win is probably the only thing that could save coach Tommy Amaker's job.

That's why Lion in Oil says smart Michigan fans will cheer for Ohio State:

While Amaker is a nice guy, and he has led the program out of scandal and probation, the reality is that he has to be one of the worst coaches in college basketball. The players pretty much admit that the Wolverines run absolutely no set offense, giving them no chance to get themselves out of jams that often end up causing seven-minute streaks without field goals.
That's why for about the last three years I have pulled for the Wolverines to lose, and lose and lose. While my Michigan friends have wavered, giving in to the urge to pull for Blue, I have staunchly fought against it. The sooner Michigan gets a new basketball coach, the better off the program will be.

It's hard to disagree. Michigan has the reputation and the resources necessary to be a good program, maybe even an elite one. It's certainly not the kind of school that should miss the tournament every single year, as the Wolverines have done in the Amaker era. The Ohio State game should be Amaker's last at Crisler Arena.

Go Buckeyes! Michigan Fans Want Tommy Amaker Fired originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan Beats Michigan State, Both Teams on Bubble

Michael David Smith — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:55:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State Basketball, Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, Michigan, Michigan State

Michigan beat Michigan State 67-56 in Ann Arbor tonight, and if any one game could completely change the complexion of the Big Ten race, this one was it.

And when I say "the Big Ten race," I'm not talking about the race to win the Big Ten. We've known for months that either Ohio State or Wisconsin would do that, and it became official that Ohio State won the Big Ten on Sunday. I'm talking about the race to be part of the one or two or three or four Big Ten teams that will make the NCAA tournament after the Big Two get their berths.

Throughout tonight's game, ESPN's Brent Musberger talked as if both teams were playing for a spot in the NCAA tournament. I think we've all been operating under the assumption that Tom Izzo had done a great job and Michigan State is definitely in, while Tommy Amaker had failed and Michigan is definitely out. But I'm no longer sure.

After all, Michigan State ends the season at Wisconsin, meaning the Spartans are likely to finish 8-8 in the Big Ten. That might not be seen as tournament-quality by the selection committee. Michigan ends the season at home against Ohio State, and although a win is highly unlikely, if they somehow pulled it off it would at least put the Wolverines in the conversation for an at-large berth.

I think the Big Ten tournament teams are Ohio State, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan State and Illinois. But I could be very wrong. Indiana, Michigan State and Illinois could all still miss it. Purdue, Michigan and Iowa could all still make it. The last week of the season and the conference tournament don't mean much of anything for Wisconsin and Ohio State, but they mean a lot for the six Big Ten bubble teams.

Michigan Beats Michigan State, Both Teams on Bubble originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After Beating Indiana, Does Michigan Have Tournament Hopes?

Michael David Smith — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 06:04:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Basketball, Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, Indiana, Michigan

When I wrote about the Big Ten's tournament chances, I really wasn't even including Michigan in the equation. I've been thinking it's over for Tommy Amaker and Michigan for at least a couple of weeks.

But after yesterday's 58-55 win over Indiana, the locals think Michigan is still in the hunt for an NCAA at-large berth. Michigan's remaining four games are at Illinois, at Minnesota, and home against Michigan State and Ohio State. A 4-0 finish certainly gets them in, but that's not going to happen. Winning three out of four gives them a realistic chance, but what reason do we have to think that this Michigan team that had lost five of six heading into the Indiana game is capable of going on that kind of run? I think this is still a solid NIT team.

As for the Hoosiers, were they under the impression that their season ended when they beat Wisconsin? They've lost three of four since then, and the win was a fairly sloppy one over Illinois. With Penn State, Northwestern and Minnesota remaining on the schedule, Indiana will get to 10 Big Ten wins, but a couple of weeks ago I was prepared to give Kelvin Sampson the coach of the year award. I don't feel that way anymore.

After Beating Indiana, Does Michigan Have Tournament Hopes? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 06:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Webber: When You Think Michigan, You Think Fab Five

Michael David Smith — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, Detroit, Michigan

I was about as big a Fab Five fan as you can possibly be. When Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson were leading Michigan to back-to-back Final Fours, I was a high school student just 20 minutes down the road from Ann Arbor. I loved those guys.

But I'm not so sure that, all things considered, the trouble Webber caused Michigan was worth his talent on the court. Michigan's basketball program is still reeling from the NCAA sanctions that resulted from Webber taking improper benefits, and those Final Four banners have long since been put in storage. So I find it a little galling that 15 years later, he says, "You can't think of Michigan without thinking of us."

Still, the article in which that quote appears is a fun way to reminisce about those days. Although the other four members of the Fab Five haven't been scrubbed from Michigan's official history the way Webber has, they all seem to feel loyalty to Webber and feel slighted by the way the Fab Five's legacy now seems tarnished. They seem to blame Michigan for that. They ought to blame Webber.

Webber: When You Think Michigan, You Think Fab Five originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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