Final Four -> Four Coaches -> Four Questions

Now that the college basketball season has officially ended, questions and rumors begin swirling endlessly.  Here are four questions regarding the four coaches from the Final Four :

Roy Williams - North Carolina

      What happened to his team???  Should people bash him for wearing that Jayhawk sticker?

The Tar Heels just came out flat against the Jayhawks and played one of the most embarrassing games.  It was just one of those days and the only black mark on a spectacular season.  The main question however is regarding Roy William’’s choice of wearing a Kansas sticker during the championship game, two nights after the Jayhwaks thrashed his team.  If you are a Carolina fan or if you know something about Roy Williams’ personality, you had to love what he did.  The man  respects Kansas after 15 years there.  He did the same thing in 1993 when he pulled for UNC in the championship after UNC beat his Kansas team back then.  Basically, it was a very classy move and something UNC fans should not be surprised about.  However, I am curious about how his current players must have taken that gesture?

 

Ben Howland - UCLA

       Three straight Final Four losses.  A sign of greatness or a major weakness because he can’t get over the last hump?

        This was supposed to be the year.  The Bruins had the big man they lacked in their previous two runs.  Florida would definitley not be a problem this year since they were having their own party in the NIT.  Yet, Ben Howland just couldn’t get the charm to work on the third time either.  Howland is a remarkable coach from his days in Pitt and his recent tenure at UCLA, but I am not sure where the trouble is.  While this year’s team was a forimiddable group, they still struggled to get points up on the board and were a bit slower than previous teams.  Maybe, Howland needs a new group of guys to gel together or maybe his late game style of coaching needs to change.  With Kevin Love, Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook all potentially jumping ship early to the NBA, we’ll see if Ben Howland can change his luck next year.

 

John Calipari - Memphis

          Will he bolt for the Big League again?

          John Calipari has always had a different mindset in coaching than other teams.  He loves the dribble and drive and has brought two unlikely schools to the championship game in UMASS and Memphis.  He even had his brief fling with the NBA and his infamous stint as the head coach of the New Jersey Nets.  Isiah Thomas may possibly getting booted from the New York Knicks bench and Caliapri might have a chance to redeem his NBA reputation.  If new Knicks GM Donnie Walsh is ready to throw big bucks in an offer to Calipari, I see Calipari running the show at the Garden next year in attempt to fix Team Titanic.  

 

Bill Self - Kansas

        Will he take the money that Oklahoma State throws at him or does he want to enjoy the Jayhawk basketball tradition?

        This seems to be the biggest question since the Championship game.  Now, that Self has a title under his belt, he can demand even more money whether it be from the Jayhawks or any other team.  He says he wants “security” from the Jayhawks.  The way I see it, the more he wins, the Jayahawks will do everything to keep him.  Kansas has a history of being loyal and treating their head coaches well.  I don’t think that Self has anything to worry about from Kansas.  The question is whether the 6 million dollar signing bonus and 3 million dollars/year that Oklahoma State is willing to offer, will be enough to pull him back to his alma mater.  While Kansas may not be able to throw that kind of money around now, I am sure that they will be able to satisfy their coach in the long run.  I think Self should stay at Kansas and forego the few extra millions in hopes of winning more championships in a school with a rich basketball history and tradition.  But, hey we live in a time when money controls everything and people always follow the money and never the tradition.  If Ok. St. is serious about the offer, I see Self sitting at the Sooners bench next year.