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I had planned to
interview my buddy Phil Martelli (St. Joseph’s), but another one of my
pals used his size to set a screen. Dave Magarity, who continues to
monopolize the CollegeInsider.com landscape, recently unveiled a new
feature called,
The VERY Round Table. I have to admit Mags has a winner with his
different approach to the traditional Q&A format.
Due to his sizeable demeanor, it is difficult to move him out of the way
and carve out a niche on CollegeInsider.com. But Mags isn’t the only one
with a CI connection. I am still miffed that I have not received more
attention in the Fashion Power Index, but I am pleased with CI’s efforts
to bring more attention to GreenbergBall.com. They have helped to get
the word out about the great Hokie Nation.
The idea of giving my question-and-answer sessions a little more
character is a welcome suggestion. Thus, the introduction of “The Kosher
Korner.” For the most part, we will continue with the same edgy approach
to the one-on-one interviews. Typical Q&A sessions can often be a little
mundane so I felt it was important to add a little character and humor,
while still maintaining a serious side.
Having now renamed this section, what better way to begin then to speak
with a Jewish boy from New England. The Kosher Korner welcomes,
Wisconsin-Milwaukee head coach
Bruce Pearl.
Bruce did an outstanding job at Southern Indiana, where he created a
Division II power. When Bo Ryan accepted the head coaching position at
Wisconsin, UWM made its second consecutive great hiring by bringing in
Bruce.
In four seasons he has won three titles at UWM and his Panthers are the
prohibitive favorite, heading into this weekend’s Horizon League
tournament.
ONE ON ONE WITH BRUCE PEARL
SETH: First let me congratulate you on being one of the ten
finalists for the
Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award. That’s quite an honor
and quite deserving.
BRUCE: I don’t normally get caught up in coach of the year
honors, but this one is special. When I saw the names of the other nine
guys I realized I was in special company. But most important was the
name on the award. Jim Phelan represented all that is good about this
game for half a century. It’s a real honor.
SETH: The Horizon League tournament begins this weekend. You
enter as the favorite, which is a familiar position for many of your
players. It’s an often-used expression, but there is no substitute for
experience.
BRUCE: You’re right. You cannot teach it and you can’t inherit
it. Experience is something you gain through attrition. Our kids
understand what it takes to be successful. They have the mindset that
today is the most crucial game of the year and that is how we will
approach the conference tournament. You can tell your team what approach
you want them to take, but only through experience can they fully
understand that it will work.
SETH: In a city with Marquette and the Bucks, how have you been
able to carve out your niche?
BRUCE: We are sort of a blue-collar school. UWM may not be a big
school in name, but there are 100,000 alumni living in Southeastern
Wisconsin and they are all strong and proud. We have fed off that
support and been able to have consistent success.
SETH: Here in Blacksburg, VA the commitment from the alumnus,
fans and administration is outstanding. I gather you have a similar
situation in Milwaukee?
BRUCE: Absolutely. It starts at the very top and permeates down
through the ranks. The infrastructure is tremendous. I believe that, in
order to have sustained success, you have to have a full and total
commitment from everyone involved in the program. The commitment here is
unbelievable.
SETH: Who are some of the biggest influences on you as a coach?
BRUCE: Well of course you know it starts with Dr. Tom (Davis). He
was my mentor at Boston College and most of what I know is a direct
result of Dr. Tom. He gave me my first opportunity in college basketball
so I owe him a lot. Growing up I also had some great grade school and
high school coaches. Those people had a tremendous impact on me as both
a person and a coach. Without them, I would have probably not been a
position to work with Dr. Tom.
SETH: What makes you tick?
BRUCE: Jewish guilt and a fear of losing. I am a tireless worker
for those two reasons. I was not the best player and I am definitely not
the best coach so, for better or worse, I put everything I’ve got into
my job.
SETH: If you could change one thing about yourself, other than
your mug, what would it be?
BRUCE: (laughing) Probably that I wouldn’t perspire as much on
television. Do I get an opportunity to ask that same question of you
because I can make a few suggestions?
SETH: No, I am the questionnaire and you are the respondent. Next
question: How is that a good Jewish boy like you isn't a New York
Yankees fan? I am very troubled by this fact.
BRUCE: (laughing) As you know I grew up near Boston and I am so
proud to have been on the other side of the greatest collapse in sports
history. Up 3-0 and just three outs away, but your team was unable to
close the deal. Have you sought out counseling for that? How have you
been able to deal with that?
SETH: Like I said, I am the one asking the questions. Next
question: We added Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano and Jarrett Wright to our
rotation. How are you going to compete with that?
BRUCE: I’m not worried. We brought in Boomer (David Wells), Matt
Clement and Wade Miller is making good progress. We also strengthened an
already strong bullpen by picking up Matt Mantei. You might think your
team bought a championship, but I seem to remember Yankee fans thinking
that was the case last year also. And I am sure you thought it was money
in the bank with a 3-0 lead. |
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My pal
Riley Wallace gets no love on the Big Island. In the last five
seasons nobody has won more games in the WAC than any other team. The
Warriors have been to the postseason in each of the past four seasons (2
NCAA, 2 NIT) and Riley is the second all-time winningest coach in the
league, behind only Don Haskins.
It’s pretty simple -- Riley has put that program on the college
basketball map.
In addition to being a great coach, Riley is also a great guy and a good
friend. I don’t understand why he won’t root for the greatest Dynasty in
sports -- the New York Yankees -- but other than that he is a winner in
my book.
ONE ON ONE WITH RILEY
WALLACE
SETH: How does a Midwestern guy follow a path that brings him to
paradise?
RILEY: It’s all about having the right friends. I grew up in
Jerseyville, MO and Larry Little grew up in Winchester. We played
against each other a lot, while were growing up. Larry later became the
head coach at Litchfield and I was his associate head coach. Years later
he brought me to Hawaii. He is retired and living in Vegas, which is
where I plan on calling home when my coaching career is over. It’s a
paradise out here until you have to deal with the media, but that is
another story. Right now it’s sunny and 75. What’s it like in Blacksburg
today?
SETH: Someone once said that, "No man is an Island," which may be
debatable in your case, but the Island factor must be a huge drawing
card in recruiting. I would imagine that when you get recruits on campus
they have to be sold?
RILEY: Recruiting is tough no matter where you coach, but we have
some different challenges here. In the past few years we have been on
television more so that has really helped. Kids have an opportunity to
see our brand of basketball and they see the great environment we have
here. Winning at Tulsa to go to the NCAA tournament was also big for us.
Those were nationally televised games. Our new facilities have also been
a big plus. The Stan Sheriff Center is a state of the art arena. We have
a great weight room and our locker rooms have bedrooms so we can get the
kids away from all the distractions before games. As a recruit, when you
visit the campus it’s pretty difficult to not be sold.
SETH: I have a theory that you recruit so many International
players because they won't be able to understand you when you have your
tyrants. How accurate is that? By the way, the Volcanic Eruption on your
website is appropriate.
RILEY: (laughing) You are one to talk. People out here are more
mild-mannered so my approach has not always gone over well with the
fans, but the players get it and that’s what is most important. They
rather me yell at them on the court then pull them out and lecture them
on the bench. Most don’t understand the volcanic eruption approach.
SETH: Give us a little insight into your book, "The Rainbow
Circle." By the way, where is my autographed copy?
RILEY: I was waiting for a Seth Greenberg autographed 8x10 before
I mail you a signed copy of the book. I wrote the book with Michael
D'Andrea and Judy Daniels who are a husband and wife team that work with
the team as sports psychologists. After our magical run to the NCAA
tournament, with a team that nobody expected to do anything, I thought
it was the perfect time to write the book. It not only gives people a
perspective on the coaches and the player’s personalities and
backgrounds, but it also provides some life skills. It doesn’t matter
what line of work you are in, there is something for everyone in the
book.
SETH: It's hard to believe but JFK was in the White House when
you played college ball. It's hard to find documents dating back that
far, but I did learn that you are still in the Centenary record books.
How good of a player was the youthful Riley Wallace?
RILEY: (laughing) I am better now. Centenary became a division
program in 1958 and I got there the following year. I averaged about 11
points and 6 rebounds a game and I always wanted to guard the other
team’s best player. I was also little skinnier than I am today. My
nicknames were “rickets” and “slats” because, at 186 pounds, I was thin.
We had a great shot at the NCAA tournament, but Paul Silas and Creighton
beat us. We had some pretty good teams back then. As for not being able
to find my records, I found your stat sheets as a player and I
understand why you don’t want them made public.
SETH: On a serious note, how has your health been since your
surgery a couple of years ago?
RILEY: As you know, five years ago I had heart surgery and I
recently had another surgery and two years ago I had the brain surgery.
Of course they said I don’t have a lot above the shoulders, but what I
do have is working well now. I am feeling better than anytime in the
past 15 years. I am like Colonel Steve Austin. I have all new parts and
I feel like a Six Million Dollar Man.
SETH: Here’s another important question. When are you going to
get smart and move your loyalties to the New York Yankees?
RILEY: When a frost starts to form across the landscape of hell.
It will have to get awful chilly down there before I become a Yankee
fan. I would rather not watch baseball then root for the Yankees. After
losing to Boston last year they may build that Bionic Man if that is
what it will take to win. It’s time for you to move across the border in
St. Louis Cardinal territory.
SETH: Lastly, lets talk golf. I have a feeling I know the answer
to this question, but I will ask anyway. What is your greatest golfing
victory?
RILEY: (laughing) You’re right about that. It was a nice sunny
day in Southern California against you and Gary Colson. You two gave me
9 strokes and I went out and shot a 73 and won by 10 strokes. It was one
of those perfect golfing days. Everything found the bottom of the cup.
As I recall, you were more impressed with your golf game than we were. |
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Barry Collier has done a tremendous job at Nebraska, coming off a
nice run in last season’s NIT. Coaching at a place where football gets
most -- if not all -- the headlines provides a unique challenge a coach.
Recently I caught up with
my good friend to talk about this among other things.
ONE ON ONE WITH BARRY
COLLIER
SETH: Like you I
coach in a football environment. What is it like to coach at a
football-rich school like Nebraska?
BARRY: One thing about coaching here is that I love football.
This is one of the great football environments in the country and it’s
great to be a part of it. Beyond that, it is a proven fact that
traditional football schools can also be successful in many other
sports. Given the choice, I would rather have the tradition. At Butler
we operated with basketball as the main revenue generator. The
basketball environment was great, but here at Nebraska we have a great
environment and an enthusiastic following for many sports.
SETH: Before you arrived at Nebraska you did a great job of
building a program at Butler. What did you enjoy most about that
process?
BARRY: The players, from that first season, when we struggled to
my eleventh season with the great senior leadership. I also enjoyed
working with some great assistant coaches, including Thad Matta who
played for me the first year I was head coach. Current Oregon State head
coach Jay John was with me for the first eight years before moving on to
Arizona. And Todd Lickliter who was named head coach when Thad took the
Xavier job.
SETH: What are some things about the University of Nebraska that
most people wouldn't know?
BARRY: First, the academic support for student athletes. This is
something that I feel is often overlooked. Our student athletes have so
many resources at their disposal to give the best opportunity to succeed
at the highest level. Secondly, the training table, which we like to
call the ‘performance buffet.’ The kids really eat well and the
‘performance buffet has an unbelievable variety. In addition our weight
program is state of the art. Combine that with good eating and we have a
great developmental program. Lastly, I would say the friendliness.
Recruits always comment on how everyone around campus is so friendly and
accommodating. Young people really enjoy attending school here.
SETH: What is one thing about Barry Collier that most people may
not know?
BARRY: I guess the fact that I would stay up all night to watch
an Andy Griffith marathon. I constantly quote Sheriff Taylor, Floyd the
Barber and Barney Fife to my players who look at me like I am growing a
second head.
SETH: Lastly, what are your thoughts on the RPI? I recently did a
feature story for my website (greenbergball.com) on this very subject.
BARRY: First, I was not aware that you were such the accomplished
author. You certainly have a second career waiting for you. I do agree
with your overall assessment. I would add that some schools have to
schedule more road games, while others have to schedule more home games
to help their respective budgets. Each school’s needs are unique to the
institution. If there are a variety of different scheduling criteria
then how can we have ‘one’ ratings criteria? It just doesn’t fit. I
remember when Dave Gavitt was the commissioner of the Big East he would
say, “Don’t wear your road uniforms until conference play begins.” It’s
an imperfect tool, but I think the selection committee understands that
and it doesn’t have as great an impact on the selection process as some
may think. |
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It’s only appropriate
that my first question and answer session would be with my pal
Bruiser Flint. Bru and I have exchanged jabs over the past few years
in regards to style. For some unknown reason Bru thinks that he is “Mr.
Fly” when it comes to his attire. I firmly believe he was a very good
player (in his days at St. Joseph’s) and I think he has become an
excellent coach, but I completely disagree with his notion that he is
one of America’s best dressed.
Recently I had an opportunity to catch up with pal to discuss a variety
of topics, including his lack of style.
ONE ON ONE WITH BRUISER
FLINT
SETH: What drove you into coaching?
FLINT: No question my father. He got me to coach when I was in
College. From that point on, I caught the bug. I really enjoyed being
around the kids and that led to paying more attention to what was going
on in practice.
SETH: Aside from Mr. Slick Calipari, who else has been a major
influence on you as a coach?
FLINT: It began with Dan Dougherty my high school coach. I
learned a lot from him as kid. He was a great teacher and I came away
from that experience knowing a lot more about the game. When you are
young you think you know the game, but as you get older you realize that
knowing how to play and knowing the game are two different things. I
also got a great education in coaching from former UMass coach, Jack
Leaman. Coach Leaman helped to reinforce what I had already learned and
he helped to expand my approach. And I cannot forget about Fang. Coppin
State’s Fang Mitchell gave me my fist shot, as an assistant on his
staff.
SETH: I have to know, what makes you such a horrendous dresser?
FLINT: (laughing) My shoes are terrible. But horrendous is a word
better used to describe your attire.
SETH: Okay “Mr. Fly” lets break it down then; Sport coats or
suits?
FLINT: Sport coats.
SETH: Straight collar or spread?
FLINT: Straight.
SETH: Laced or loafers?
FLINT: Laced.
SETH: Pleated or flat front?
FLINT: Pleated, big butt and thighs.
SETH: Who was a better player you or Geoff Arnold?
FLINT: Ask your brother, Brad. Of course I was better.
SETH: Who is a better player right now?
FLINT: Geoff’s body is too banged up. I still have the advantage
today.
SETH: How about a one-on-one with me?
FLINT: (laughing) I’ll spot you 10 in a game to 11.
SETH: Is Andy Reid in tights a good thing or a bad thing?
FLINT: A Bad thing!
SETH: How about Bruiser Flint in tights?
FLINT: Well, my wife would love it.
SETH: Is it true that you have an extensive John Calipari bobble
head collection?
FLINT: He’s not good enough to have his own bobble head yet.
Besides, that Bobble head would have too much gel to bobble. |
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