Dynamic people move mountains.
Just ask Florida about Urban Meyer.
Or Ohio State about Thad Matta.
Read what Andy Katz of ESPN.com had to say about the Buckeyes' developer."Ohio State coach Thad Matta had a sales pitch that most coaches may use, but few can hardly deliver on: Come to my school and we're going to win championships. Not down the road, but right away -- league, tournament, and NCAA.
"This wasn't spin. It wasn't some sort of fantasy. It was, in this fluid era of college hoops, a distinct possibility for a talented group of freshmen."
Stop.O.K., who does that sound like to you?
Some guy in Boulder?
Now, Matta has been successful because he knows how to coach which makes it easier for him to recruit. Then he dreams big, doesn't believe in settling and then rolls strikes over and over once out talking to all the best talent. He's not intimidated by those names, not surprised when he reels them in.
Who's that sound like?
Dan Hawkins sounds half-crazy at times to many but that is who he is and one day, he will likely be thought to be crazy like a fox.
Either that or he's going to get locked up in some hospital for living a delusional existence.
Now for more Katz.
"[Matta] laid it out for us and said we would win the Big Ten, [and] the national championship. He basically told us what we're going to do, and I believed him," freshman point guard Mike Conley Jr. said. "He had so much confidence in us in year one."
Sounds like the statements made by Hawkins' recruits, especially Ryan Miller, the newest Flatiron.Jayhawks escape Norman with victory
It fought off Oklahoma, 67-65, in Norman behind 18 points each from Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright. The Jayhawks' offense was sub-standard --45 percent shooting from the floor and 22-of-34 makes at the foul line -- but its' defense was so stout (33 percent shooting allowed) that it got what it came to town for -- victory.
BGT: Over the course of a season, some wins are going to be ugly. This was one of them but the important thing is that KU did not get upset and blow all the momentum they have been building coming down the stretch. The Jayhawks are becoming the power everyone expected them to be out of the gate this season. Look out.
BGT Big-12 Poll
- Texas A & M
- Kansas
- Texas
- Texas Tech
- Kansas State
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Iowa State
- Baylor
- Ricardo Patton's ego
Easy pickins': Iowa State, CU
Dangerous come Big-12 tournament time: KSU, Texas Tech, OSU, OU
NCAA heavyweights: Texas A & M, Kansas
Coaches due a pat on the back: Billy Gillispie (TAM), Bob Huggins (KSU), Bob Knight (TT)
Coaches due a timeout: Sean Sutton (OSU), Scott Drew (Baylor), Ricardo Patton (CU)
Letters
From Dan, who is in Dan Hawkins' camp and believes CU will be one of the most-improved teams in the country next season.
"My feeling about Dan Hawkins' 2007 team is they will win 7-8 games and play everyone close. They are not far away from everyone in the North division. If they had just had the 70th-best offense in the land last year, they would have had a chance to win the division.
"Hawkins is a winner and will be the 2007 Big 12 coach-of-the-year.
"Bank on it."
BGT: Dan, that is a big jump you're forecasting for the Buffs, especially considering the talent question marks on the roster. However, you can't pay attention to Hawkins, can't look at his track record and doubt he will get it done. It says here he will be successful at CU. Will he win a national championship? Who knows, but I do believe his tenure will eventually match the heights of Gary Barnett and be more consistent from season to season. As said before, his personality, drive and history indicate he will be an achiever. And after last season, you can see it in his attitude coming forth and by reading between the lines you hear it -- he failed in some people's eyes and that has Hawkins' feeling judged unjustly. He badly wants to prove naysayers wrong, pound his chest and let out a jungle cry.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
That's powerful motivation.
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