Mixed Nutts

Well, Hog fans, we finally have a new roundball coach after being turned down by everybody this side of James Naismith. I was never enthused about Billy Gillispie, friends from the Big XXII have told me he coaches a Big 10 half court style. Not what we need, especially since we need to put butts in all those empty seats.

Then, we got a scare when it was reported that John Calamary, the squid-like Tiger High coach of Memphis STATE was offered the job. Thank goodness he didn't want it. The guy is a crook, leaving behind a major play for pay scandal at UMass. The guy was caught red-handed giving $$$ to Marcus Camby and skipped town ahead of the posse by going to the NBA for 3-4 years. It never made sense to me that a coach can do that and come back with no sanctions, just like nothing happened.

Dana Altman is not the spectacular hire many had hoped for (Pitino?) but those guys didn't want the job and Altman proclaimed a desire to press 40 minutes a game. Uptempo basketball is back! Altman is a good hire, taking Creighton to the Big Dance 9 times in 13 seasons. Yes, his record is 2-7, but Nolan was 0-5 before 1989, and one of Altman's wins was over Florida and Eddie Munster. Who's NOT going to Kentucky in my opinion, no matter how much the Cats offer.