I am fully aware Kelvin Sampson has yet to be fired, with "yet" being the operative word. Despite huge wins for his team over conference rivals Michigan State and Purdue in the last week, the Indiana University administration is days away from suspending Sampson (allegedly), with most believing that is simply the intermediate step to firing Sampson (without getting sued like the Ohio State/Jim O'Brien situation). The likely successor for Sampson - current assistant and former Hoosier Dan Dakich. Which got me to thinking...when was the last time a big time program with national title aspirations switched coaches this late in the season?[And for those reading this and saying, "What an asshat. Sampson isn't getting fired. Go back to posting YouTubes" all I can say is "Can I interest you in some prime ocean front property in Las Cruces?"]
As the title indicates, I immediately thought of one fantastic, if not 100% perfect, parallel:
Steve Fisher taking over the Michigan Wolverines as they entered the 1989 NCAA Tournament.
Chew on these similarities:
- Dakich would have 4 or 5 games to finish the regular season (and maybe 2 more in Big Ten tourney), and after getting his feet wet he can go 6-0 to win the title (Fisher of course just decided to start his career going 6-0 and winning a title...no warm ups needed for Steve-O)
- The '89 Wolverines were an offensive juggernaut, with five players averaging at least 11ppg. They also led the nation in field-goal percentage, hitting 56.6 percent of their attempts. The '08 Hoosiers have basically four guys averaging 10ppg (Jordan Crawford is at 9.9) and they aren't too shabby in the shooting department, making 47.5% of their field goals on the season.
- Fisher's team had Glen Rice, a second-team All-American, and Rumeal Robinson to lead the club. Dakich has D.J. White and super frosh Eric Gordon leading the club.
- Current IU record: 22-4, 11-2 in conference. According to bracket nerd Joe Lunardi, they are projected to be a #5 seed entering the dance but that seed could easily bump up a line or two in the coming weeks. The '89 Michigan club? 30-7, 12-6 in conference...and a #3 seed entering the tourney.
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And after such lofty heights, Fisher now coaches the San Diego State Aztecs (17-9 Mountain West). Which means maybe Dakich will be running UNC-Charlotte some day.
Bobby Lutz won't be happy to hear that.
What about Barry Lutz?
Greg, please tell me that was a reference from "The State"...
Barry & Lavar? Those guys were smooth...
Wasn't Dakich the coach at Bowling Green who took the job at WVU a few years back and then backed out a day or so later?
indeed he was
He also had a fantastic profanity-laced tirade on the Bowling Green sideline late last year, I believe.
Here's hoping both sides get hit by a bus:
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Detroit Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield called his former agent a "bad person" and said Scott Boras is trying to get money he doesn't deserve.
OK, the wheels are definitely in motion for this to work:
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indianapolis television station WTHR is reporting that Indiana men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson won't coach another game for the Hoosiers.
The station reports today that assistant coach Dan Dakich (DAHK'-itch) will take over as interim coach for the rest of the season.
Yes it is Teej!!! Barry Lutz was the host of "The Barry Lutz Show"
Greg, you are a terrific human being.
Instead of giving the phonetic spelling of Dakich, why don't they just say, "rhymes with jock itch" -- seems like it'd save time on both ends.
Was Barry Lutz the host of the show with monkeytorture?
He sure was.
It also rhymes with "Gay Kitsch".
That's right monkey torture. Mental torture though.
Have you seen this supposed three team deal between the Cavs, Bulls and Sonics?
Very interesting.
no, dammit, greg. jock itch and gay kitsch do not fucking rhyme.
why does seattle do that deal?
The word from the Buchers of the world is Seattle collects three more expiring contracts and gets even more cherished salary cap space. I also think Seattle now has an absurd six 1st Round picks in the next three years.
If you're watching the Pitt-ND game you'll realize that Brad Wanamaker is on the Todd Burgen All-Stars. Which is like the opposite of the Reggie Cleveland All Stars.
Irony 1: Eric Gordon loves dipping his balls in it.
Irony 2: Indiana will be overseeded to be Michigan.
Irony 3: Neither Irony 1 or Irony 2were all that ironic.
'Cause I'm Kelvin . . . and I'm out of heeeeeeere.
man, beat me to that by exactly 5 minutes.
Whit, I get jokes.
Technically Robert it was eight minutes.
This Pitt-ND game is pretty good.
pitt just wilted.
the best espn can do is a high school blowout? wazzu's on comcast midcentralnorthwesternamerica - why can't we get some of that on the wwl? east coast biased melonfarmers.
Notre Dame leads the country in bad haircuts...
This game isn't exactly a blowout, Robert.
Off night or not, there's no way Tyreke Evans is the #2 player in the country (hs)...Cant say I'm a fan.
Cuz he's Kelvin and this is Gheorghe and ne'er the twain shall meet.
well it was when i got all grumpy and changed the channel, mark. and that's all i need to know.
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