Old Dominion coach Blaine Taylor is an out-of-nowhere name that was just thrown out by ESPN.com's Andy Katz.
So that natural curiosity -- who else might be considered -- led me to make a call to find out more. You can catch that conversation below but first, humor me as you do an irritating relative.
Remember this name -- no matter how foolish you think it to be -- Tubby Smith. Want to dream big? It was written in this space before that Kentucky is dumb and not happy with Smith's latest work. It has got so bad that a Louisville writer thinks it best that Smith resigns.
Resigns.
Unbelievable. I'll withhold the adjective in that comment but let's just say UK would be making a serious mistake suggesting Smith look for new employment.
If, and that's one giant IF, Smith were not to be in Lexington next season, how could CU scrape together and print off enough money to get a quality person and coach like the Wildcat coach to Boulder?
Laugh it off as highly unlikey, a pipe dream, a drug-induced fiesta, which it might all well be, but do not use the word impossible unless you wish to be bounced.
Not from me, as I'm somewhere between Earl Boykins and Hugh Charles-sized, but from some yet-to-be-hired muscle.
Decourcy talks coaching search
Slipped into a phone booth and dialed up Mike DeCourcy of the SportingNews.com, one of the country's most plugged in and respected writers on college basketball and one of the guys in the white hats you'll ever know.
Needed to hear the vibes from around the country on the CU coaching search.
Here is the tape, amigos.
BGT: All we're hearing out this way, Mike, is Mike Dunlap and Jeff Bzdelik. Who else could be lurking?
DeCourcy: My source says that's where (the search) it is right now. I think that's where (the hiring) is headed.
It's a question of Colorado deciding what they want, what the best fit is.
I think Mike Dunlap is an ideal choice because of being involved in that basketball community for as long as he has and having the technical abilities he has and having won college championships.
BGT: The concern many followers have is recruiting. Mr. Candidate, address that, please.
DeCourcy: (Dunlap) recruited championship-level players at Metro State. In most cases you are getting those guys from the same places that you get the high-major players. You're just getting the lesser players in those circumstances.
Look at what Ben Howland did when he was at Northern Arizona. He's on the other side of the country and he's recruiting Big Sky players. Then you put him at Pitt and all of a sudden he's recruiting Big East-championship players.
That shows exceptional basketball minds can find the talent they need wherever they are and I consider Mike Dunlap to have an exceptional basketball mind.
BGT: So there are no concerns when it comes to player acquisition when it comes to him?
DeCourcy: Now, I would want Mike, if he got the job, to bring himself in a heavy hitter as a recruiter, not just three guys he knows (as assistants), somebody who has been accomplished at recruiting in the D-1 arena.
BGT: Could the CU administration ask him to do that -- hire the big dog -- to bring top talent to Boulder or is that being presumptuous?
DeCourcy: If you're interviewing him, you ask him "who would be your staff?" That's one of the first questions you ask.
If you don't ask that as an administrator you'd be failing at your job miserably.
Tigers break down CU's vaunted defense
Missouri knew it was going to have to play its' best to beat Colorado's notorious in-your-face defense but it somehow was up to the challenge, scraping out points the best it could in a 91-82 victory.
Matt Lawrence led four Tigers in double figures with 17 while Dominique Coleman had a game-high 19 along with nine rebounds to lead four Buffs in double digits in the team's 19th loss of the season.
Jeremy Williams was finally unchained from the dog house to score 15, fellow freshman Xavier Silas added 15 more and Richard Roby finished with 13, but on a difficult 5-of-16 shooting night.
Just one disclaimer. Remember, ain't none of this sloppy defense or team incongruence on coach Ricardo Patton.
BGT: O.K., maybe I'm harsh and some might say -- totally classless -- for all the arrows shot Patton's way but honestly, if it weren't for his Teflon-nothing-sticks-to-me act in the media it would be much easier to be more understanding. See, Patton has passionately wanted all the credit when things were going well, seen as the savior this program needed and was beyond fortunate to have, but he has wanted none of the blame for late-season fades or this season's family embarrassment. That, mates, is dishonest.
As Neill Woelk of the Daily Camera once told me -- Patton has some insecurity issues.
The BGT believes Patton wants to be deeply respected, which is what we all want, but to be so revered you need to be honest and admit shortcomings. Then you fix them and earn praise.
Patton is stubborn to a fault. Now maybe you can get away with that if you've won national championships or are ripping off 20-win seasons like toilet-paper squares but if you are going 6-19 and deflecting blame, you don't get a pass, especially when you're arrogant about it.
Johnson's claims lead to inquiry
Former CU linebacker Ted Johnson went public with his outrage at New England Patriots' coach Bill Belichick's lack of responsibility over his boss' lack of caution when Johnson was playing with concussions.
That, in part, has led to a shakeup at the top in the NFL, according to an ESPN report.
"Dr. Elliot Pellman, whose work as the head of the NFL's concussion committee has been investigated by ESPN The Magazine and criticized by experts in the field, has stepped down from the post, The Baltimore Sun reported.
"Last fall, ESPN The Magazine reported that Pellman was selective in his use of injury reports in reaching his conclusions and omitted large numbers of players from the league's concussion study. His findings also contradicted other scientific studies into the effects of concussions."
BGT: What's this mean? When money and power are on the line, when you are paid by the NFL, you are there to promote their product not protect the best interests of the workers. This is criminal and because of it, the league and Pellman have likely opened themselves up to litigation.
The question that now begs asking is this -- if you're a player or even family of a player, how confident are you that doctors have your best interests in mind?
Boggan kicked to bench
Oklahoma State has faded terribly down the stretch and now leading scorer Mario Boggan has just left the assistant principal's office with his punishment for his punk-ass behavior against Kansas State.
Cowboys coach Sean Sutton suspended Boggan for one game for head-butting Cartier Martin in OSU's 84-70 victory over the Wildcats on Tuesday.
BGT: Hey, all for entertainment here but Wrestlemania or pro sports thuggery is not usually applauded by the suits that rule over college athletics. No excuses like, 'he took my candy' wash. Stupid is as stupid does and Boggan was stupid. He is the team's leading scorer and he gets himself pined. Maybe the Pokes know they can beat Baylor but it wouldn't be shocking to see the Bears win that game now. Matter of fact, the BGT might lean towards picking Baylor in that one.
Kansas State changing their ways
Officials at Kansas State apparently want to shake their stereotype as an agricultural school so to that end they have ix-nayed the always fun-until-someone-gets-hurt chicken toss.
Apparently, Kansas State students smuggle live chickens into games against Kansas and then, get this -- this is funny, like real funny, like I'm going-to-pee-my pants-Kansas funny -- they, wait, hold on, they throw them onto the court and behind the opposing bench before tip-off to poke fun at the Jayhawks' mascot.
But it all had to end because of those radical animals' rights people, leading the school to send out an open letter to fans.Where has all this got K-State?
Twenty-four straight losses to KU in Manhattan.
Maybe they should try smuggling Ralphie in or hit Baylor up for some Bears to turn loose.
Them other guys
Texas showed it had all the stamina it needed by outlasting seventh-ranked Texas A & M, 98-96, in double overtime in Austin as Kevin Durant, D.J. Augustin and Damion James combined for 77 points, shredding what has suddenly become a sieve-like defense.
Durant also added 16 rebounds.
Regardless of whether he becomes national player-of-the-year, Durant is the national player-of-the-year, and it's not close.
Any argument?
Getouttahere!
Acie Law ripped up the Longhorns for 33 but it wasn't enough.
BGT: There is no dominant team in college basketball this season. Not North Carolina, not Florida, Wisconsin, UCLA, or Texas A & M, Kansas or even Ohio State. They are very good but not great. Even UT, with all its' youth, questionable defense and lack of bulk down low could make a deep run come postseason.
Texas Tech was awful on defense but beat Baylor, 85-74, in Lubbock as Jarrius Jackson led the way with 26 points. Curtis Jerrells had 20 in the loss.
BGT: Bob Knight has done an excellent job this season with his roster's limited talent while Baylor is trying to figure out how to play defense.
Iowa State tops Nebraska, 69-63, in Lincoln, overcoming 36 points from Husker center Alexs Maric. Wesley Johnson led the winners with a career-high 22.
BGT: If only Maric were more consistent, this super talent would make Nebraska a real player in this conference. The NBA is watching for him to, like Richard Roby, to even out his performances. Johnson, a freshman, was outstanding early in the season but has been out of the limelight for some time. Both teams are competitive but a definite notch below the best.
Today's Special
Maybe you've read this particular story or maybe you haven't but it's incredible. Look for a television movie soon, if not on this lone event, but Rulon Gardner's life.
The visual as this story is being told is as strong and vivid as if I was living it myself. The strength of those men was inspiring.
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