Grip on Sports: As the NCAA tournament begins, a reminder fame is fleeting everywhere but at Gonzaga these days
A GRIP ON SPORTS • It is called March Madness, right? Well, the madness part of it started yesterday. Well, actually earlier this week. As we march to the NCAA championship game – in April, of course – let’s get ourselves ready. Read on.
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• I know one fact: You want to get to the games. I get it. So we won’t keep you. Turn on TBS, TruTV and the rest and sit back and enjoy. But before you get there, let’s cover the other aspect of March Madness.
Coaching changes.
Washington fired Lorenzo Romar yesterday after 15 years and quite a bit of success. Yes, very little of that success came lately and it was probably time for a change. But Romar’s firing doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
Consider this salient fact: There are nine Division I basketball playing schools in Washington and Oregon, or the Northwest if you prefer.
They are Washington, Washington State, Gonzaga, Eastern Washington, Seattle U., Oregon, Oregon State, U. of Portland and Portland State.
Of those nine schools, three of them – one-third by my math – have fired their coaches in the past week.
Romar yesterday. Portland State’s Tyler Geving, who has been the Vikings’ head coach for eight seasons, was fired Wednesday as well. And Cameron Dollar was let go by Seattle U. earlier this week.
Why so many? There isn’t one reason but there may be an underlying factor. Winning is crucial, especially when one of the smallest schools in the Northwest, Gonzaga, is one of the best basketball programs in the nation.
The Zags’ success puts more pressure on all the Northwest programs to succeed at a higher level. And no one else has. Oh sure, Washington for a while back in the day, WSU and Portland State for a couple years, Oregon the last few. But all the while Gonzaga has rolled on. And other programs play an impossible game of catch up.
Patience isn’t a commodity in high regard any more. (If it ever was.) Coaches have a short leash. So when a coach jumps to another job, remember weeks like this one.
• Speaking of catch up, Saint Mary’s is back in the NCAA tournament under Randy Bennett. But I’m guessing this is the final time.
When Cuonzo Martin quit at California yesterday to take the Missouri job – where former WSU athletic director Jim Sterk gave him a familiar-sounding seven-year contract – I think Bennett’s time at Saint Mary’s ended.
It’s just a hunch based on Bennett’s body language at the WCC tournament. He looked tired of playing Sisyphus, trying to roll the rock up Gonzaga’s hill. Every time Bennett gets near the top, Few knocks the rock back down again.
California will pay better. Finishing in the top half of the conference will ensure an NCAA berth. And Bennett shouldn’t even have to change his home address.
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Gonzaga: Let’s get to the stories, if you have time to read them all. Jim Meehan kicks off the coverage from Salt Lake City with an advance of today’s 11 a.m. game based on South Dakota State’s big man (pictured). … Jim also has the news assistant Tommy Lloyd has been mentioned in the Washington coaching talk and Przemek Karnowski is the top winner in college hoops history. … John Blanchette’s column covers the conundrum of playing a team with one big weapon. … Jacob Thorpe roams off the court with this story on a couple of Gonzaga benefactors. … Whitney Ogden also headed into town to bring us this piece on a Utah high school athlete with a great name. Dan Pelle brings you pictures of Stockton Malone Shorts. Yep. Whitney also has a story on two sisters with different teams. … Dan has a picture report from the Zags’ arena practice. … The coverage nationally is always off the charts this time of year, including the historical pieces. … The Jackrabbits of South Dakota State are happy to be in the spotlight. … On the women’s side of things, Jim Allen looks at what a healthy Emma Wolfrum brings to the Zags. … Gonzaga seems to be a tough out for Oklahoma. … Back to the men, BYU’s NIT adventure lasted all of one game. … Saint Mary’s expects to last longer in the NCAAs.
WSU: Romar’s firing was met with understanding by most in the Puget Sound media, even though there was a segment of the fan base that was hoping he would get another season. It wasn’t to be. And now the highly touted recruiting class will probably scatter and never play for his successor. … Who will replace Romar? These guesses are as good as any. … Martin leaving California is probably not unexpected as he’s not been anywhere for too long. The Bears will be in rebuilding mode. … On the court, USC rallied from 17 points down to oust Providence in the NCAA opening round game in Dayton. Will the comeback fuel a long NCAA run? … Arizona knows what it is to be upset in the tournament and the Wildcats don’t want it to happen again tonight vs. North Dakota. … UCLA, and the rest of the West Coast, really, would like to see some success in the tournament. … Oregon may be in position to have that. … The NIT was three-and-out for the Pac-12 as Colorado also lost. … California opened spring football yesterday.
EWU: The Eagles couldn’t stop Wyoming’s hot shooting and saw their season end, 91-81, in the first round of the CBI tournament. … Geving’s firing at PSU is the first in the Big Sky this offseason.
Idaho: The Vandals opened the CIT with an easy 73-50 win over Stephen F. Austin at home. Josh Wright has the game story.
Mariners: The new commercials are out. That’s fun, right? … Yesterday’s game, a 12-7 loss to Los Angeles, wasn’t fun. … Tony Zych is getting healthier. … M’s fan won’t be happy to read this. Or maybe they will, since it’s been written before. … Both M’s pitchers did well last night in the WBC.
Seahawks: Will the Hawks lose an injured DeShawn Shead to free agency? … Other defensive players are in for visits. … The Eddie Lacy contract is good to the team.
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• Get to the TV. Now. And stay there all day. You won’t regret it. Until later …