GO FOR 2

Usually I’m the first in line to criticize the NCAA, but now they’ve gotten two in a row right (granted, they were easy calls), and I have to give them some credit. Today, the NCAA denied former Indiana University Men’s head Basketball coach Kelvin Sampson’s appeal of sanctions issued against him more than a year ago. Sampson is now essentially barred from coaching in the college ranks until after the 1012-1013 season. Based on the ridiculously strong evidence against Sampson, you might wonder why he even filed an appeal. Well, he really thought he was going to win, back in January Sampson was quoted as saying:

“They were wrong in every way. If I didn’t think they were wrong, I wouldn’t have appealed”

Let me make sure I’ve got this right. The NCAA has proof that Sampson made more than 100 ‘impermissible’ calls in just one season at IU. He essentially destroyed that basketball program by repetetively breaking rules he knew very well, which all basketball coaches are expected to follow. Why did Sampson know the rules so well? Apart from the fact that all coaches are given handbooks explaining the rules (don’t tell me its too long or complicated, they have legal counsel to help … see, you didn’t know that, did you?), coaches sign contracts with the NCAA, and coaches sign contracts with their school…experience plays a big role as well. Well, Sampson had plenty of experience, it wasn’t the first time he was investigated OR disciplined.

That’s right, he did it before. The University of Oklahoma was the subject of a three-year long investigation which resulted in a finding that Sampson and his staff had made more than 550 ‘impermissible’ calls to at least 17 different recruits. Oh, so the problem isn’t that he didn’t know the rules, its that he just assumed he could keep breaking them. Sampson’s only punishment from the OU incident was that he was barred from recruiting off-campus or making phone calls for a period of one year (roughly 100 illegal calls, in Sampson terms).

So, now Sampson is arguing that the NCAA is punishing him ‘too severely’ by keeping him out of the college ranks for 5 years. Frankly, Sampson is lucky the NCAA is ever willing to take him back (not that any school’s AD is going to stick his neck out and hire Sampson). One of the biggest concerns for NCAA basketball right now is recruiting violations, as one-and-dones and the agents willing to pay millions for their attention cause recruiting violation headaches for everyone. Why would the NCAA ever want to take back a proven cheater in this age of uncertainty? I have no idea. More importantly, why would someone who has been caught red-handed twice try to argue for leniency? I’m guessing equal parts ego and ignorance, though I can’t give you a concrete answer. Either way, I’m glad the NCAA held firm on this one.

Oh, you were wondering what the ‘other one’ of the two in a row the NCAA got right was? See my earlier article on why Florida State and Bobby Bowden will have to finally accept that in COLLEGE, academics are going to come first some of the time, no matter how bad they want to make it all about them.

Saying that USC hired Kevin O’Neill to take over its men’s basketball program is technically correct. Saying that USC didn’t really have any other option is also probably correct, and is a lot more fun. Southern Cal is absolutely reeling from the allegations that former coach Tim Floyd payed a middle man to help deliver one-and-done OJ Mayo. In the wake of the scandal Floyd resigned without speaking to a single player or recruit about it, the school has come under (yet another) NCAA investigation, had 3 starters and a reserve officially stay in the NBA draft, and lost EIGHT…count it…EIGHT recruits.

So, now USC has a basketball program that is short on talent, and under investigation and running a strong possibility of losing scholarships. At the same time, the program is in the national spotlight because of the exposure that USC and PAC-10 sports always garner, and the program is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 20 wins and two NCAA tournament appearances. So who would possibly want to take over a program with high expectations, lots of exposure, no talent, and no recruits?

Meet Kevin O’Neill. O’Neill spent the last season as an assistant with the 24-58 Memphis Grizzlies, which is hardly a reason to think you have much job security. O’Neill has held coaching positions with other NBA teams, but also has experience as a college head coach. In 12 seasons as a college head coach O’Neill managed a 171-180 record, coaching 5 teams, including Marquette, Tennessee, and Northwestern. So, this is a guy who doesn’t even have a .500 lifetime record despite coaching recruiting powerhouses Marquette and Tennessee? He’s spent time in the NBA with the Knicks and the Grizzlies? Now, according to the Associated Press O’Neill had this to say about his hiring:

“I’m very excited about this opportunity to coach at such a great institution as USC.”

Loosely translated that means: “Hahaha, I can’t believe someone gave me another head coaching position in a major conference! Thank God I have a job!”

USC, had this to say about the hiring of O’Neill:

“We’re thrilled to have Kevin O’Neill as our men’s basketball coach.”

Wow, they didn’t even try to hide how unenthused they are. The official translation: “It was either this or get rid of the basketball program…I guess we pick this.”

Now, nothing says O’Neill doesn’t overcome the obstacles, completely turn this around, and return USC to another tournament and national prominence. Except of course, how ridiculous the obstacles are and how bad O’Neill’s track record is. Oh well.