The Daily Grind: Tuesday

Jeff Goodman of FoxSports reports two new developments in the Louisville program: Brian Johnson is transferring out and considering GW or FSU, while Chad Milard has chosen Creighton. Millard also considered Vandy (something about Princeton offense and big men who like to shoot from the perimeter (aka small-forward-wannabes :)) and Northeastern. The MVC teams are receiving dividends from their 05-06 NCAA campaign :)

Meanwhile the coaching carousel may take an August spin, with troubled Nebraska coach Barry Collier ejecting to take over the AD job at Butler. Perhaps he will use the Isiah Thomas method there to become their new basketball head coach next year: Get the basketball coach fired and then take over :-) Who will replace Collier? Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com mentions the names of Mark Fox, Christian (of Kent State), McClain (Wyoming), Majerus (!) - an interesting pairing, Dana Altman and a number of assistant coaches. Randy Ayers was also mentioned in another report.

McNeese State fired its coach as well but I doubt that is going to cause a major spin of the coaching carousel :)

Meanwhile the post-season NIT is going back to 32 teams (currently at 40 teams). 32 teams creates a nicely balanced schedule. 40 teams required an opening around which made the brackets rather ugly ;-) Despite the reduction, the regular season conference champions receive an automatic NIT bid if they don't get an NCAA bid. Seven of those were handed out in 2006 post-season NIT.

Fast-forward to the beginning of this season and the Guardians Classic will be no more. It will be renamed. The new name chose is FUNNY and SILLY! The College Basketball Experience. Will Jimmy Hendrix and the Experience perform? :-) The format remains the same, four regional sites Nov 12-15 with the final four Nov 20-21 in Kansas City with coverage on the ESPN family of networks.

And a fresh game on TV! The Texas high school coaches basketball all-star game was played on Monday night and it is being rebroadcast on various regional FSN and Fox CollegeSports stations. It features players who will play in the 2006-07 NCAA basketball season, highlighted by the battle of the big big big men, Josh Lomers of Baylor vs Dexter Pitman of Texas. 600+lbs!