Sorry for the lateness. Visiting family, and away from what passes for normalcy.
Oregon columnist/sports radio guy blog post on an interview with the David Pump of Pump Bros.:
Said Pump: “Oregon job is a Top 20 job, it’s extremely, extremely attractive. They’re paying top dollars and will probably end up paying more (to the next coach) than any Pac-10 school out there.”
Pump called Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon and Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon Oregon’s top priorities, and saw Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett as the fallback candidate.
First, the Pump Bros. are not running the search for Oregon.
Second, money alone does not make it a top-20 gig. In no particular order: UCLA, Arizona, USC, Washington, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., Kentucky, Florida, Ohio St., Purdue, Michigan St., Indiana, Wake Forest, Duke, UNC, NC St., Maryland, UConn, Syracuse, Louisville and Pitt are all better jobs in terms of the combination of money, recruiting, reputation and fan passion for basketball among BCS programs. That is 23 teams off the top of my head, and Oregon at its best comes into the tier with Tennessee, Michigan,, Georgia and Texas A&M — football schools that are willing to spend money to look decent or better in basketball.
The rumors for Oregon really don’t seem to be focused on Jamie Dixon. More on Mark Turgeon since he was a Oregon assistant in the past and longshots that others claim Phil Knight wants: Tubby Smith from Minnesota, Billy Donavan of Florida and Michigan St.’s Tom Izzo.
Izzo receives $300,000 a year to represent and wear Nike clothing and equipment, plus a $25,000 annual Nike merchandise credit in addition to Nike equipment provided for his basketball camps and four assistant coaches, as well as a bonus package that takes into account postseason games.
Izzo also became embroiled in a dispute during the past season when he came to the defense of Nike and lashed out at Michigan State alums for being critical of a new logo designed by Nike for the school’s sports teams.
Well, that ‘s enough to convince me.
Chris Dokish addresses further comments and notes that it seems unlikely Dixon is leaving for Oregon.
Maurice Walker remains one of the better players not to be signed. Even if he does end up at Pitt. Be realistic. He won’t have much of an impact until at least his second year.
Maurice Walker (6-10, 270) | Grade: 92 | C Rank: 8
Toronto, Can./Brewster Academy (N.H.)
He is a Canadian transplant that has developed his game in the New England prep ranks. He is a space-eater that is a huge presence bumping and grinding in the paint. Although he is limited athletically and is better suited for a team that likes to play in the half court, his combination of size and soft hands will be in high demand during the late signing period.
That description also explains why he is so interested in signing with Pitt and their history of developing big men like that.
Continuing the Pittsburgh area silliness and focused only on the NCAA Tournament to determine that Coach Dixon is an underachiever is today’s Q&A comparing him Cowher. That’s just plain foolishness of the typical fan that only pays attention to things starting in March. That’s as stupid as defining a football coach’s success only in terms of whether he wins a bowl game, because that was the only time you started paying attention.
