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April 24, 2008

Connecticut hoops star Monteiro signs to play at Duquesne

PITTSBURGH (AP) - B.J. Monteiro, a 6-foot-5 swingman chosen as the Connecticut high school player of the year, signed a binding letter of intent Thursday with Duquesne University.

Monteiro, an excellent shooter and penetrator, is expected to compete immediately for playing time at Duquesne, which is losing guards Gary Tucker and Reggie Jackson to graduation.

Monteiro verbally committed to Duquesne following a campus visit in February and signed his letter of intent at a news conference at Crosby High School in Waterbury on Thursday. He also considered UNLV, Saint Joseph's, Penn State and Fordham.

"He's a very good offensive player that we've watched for a long time," Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said. "He's a good kid who comes from an excellent program and a player who will be able to help us immediately."

A former high school teammate of Duquesne forward Damian Saunders, Monteiro averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals on Crosby's state Class LL championship team as a senior. He won several state player of the year awards, including that of the Hartford Courant.

Monteiro averaged 24 points as a sophomore on another state championship team in 2005-06, when Saunders was his teammate, and 25 points as a junior.

Posted by mikemcd at 3:01 PM

April 18, 2008

Travis Ford's contract: seven years, $9 million

LANGSTON, Okla. (AP) - New Oklahoma State basketball coach Travis Ford will make about $9 million over seven years under a deal revealed Friday at a regents meeting.

The contract calls for Ford to make $1.3 million per year.

He replaces Sean Sutton, who resigned April 1 under pressure.

Sutton's original buyout package called for him to make $2.7 million over 10 years, but tax considerations have led officials to restructure the deal to give him $2.2 million, with him to receive full payment by the end of this year.

Ford, who took Massachusetts to the NIT the last two seasons, was introduced as Oklahoma State's new coach Thursday. Earlier this month, he turned down the PC job and received a new contract from UMass.

Posted by mikemcd at 3:22 PM

Hoops chat transcript

Bill Reynolds took questions from projo.com readers today about PC basketball. He was a late substitution for Kevin McNamara, who is in Boston today covering the Celtics (hence the questions addressed to Kevin). Here's a full transcript of the hour-long chat.

Bill Reynolds: hello everybody, i'm pinch-hitting for Kevin McNamara, who has disappeared somewhere, so here goes

gboy: KMac, what was the extent of Keno's playing career?

Bill Reynolds: Gboy, keno played through high school, then went to Iowa where his father was the coach and he became a glorified grad assistant and worked out with the team

ggrossi: since the PC team is senior laden, any ideas about what type of player Keno favors and if anyone he had targeted for Drake might end up at PC/ thanks

Bill Reynolds: ggrossi, i have no idea about what kind of players keno prefers, but I know that he likes pressure defense and his team this year took a lot of threes. But, as you said, it's a senior laden team and he needs players, a lot of them. that's the real work right now, as he is getting the job late and after next season this program is bereft of talent.

Fitzy: Any leads on where Brown is going with its search process?

Bill Reynolds: Fitzy, i have no idea on the brown job, for they haven't even gotten all the applications yet. Their time frame is to have a coach in about a month. stay tuned.

magmay77@verizon.net: Is the recruiting year over or is it still going on

Bill Reynolds: magmay77, the recruiting year is never over, especially now when the entire process has been speeded up, many of the top juniors having already committed. The point is that recruiting now is a 12-month process.

Big Hoops Fan: Kev - Do you find it humorous that Davis looks like Bruschi's brother? As a Pat's fan, I hope he brings the same amount of intensity to Friar's hoops as Bruschi did to the Pat's "D".

Bill Reynolds: Big Hoops Fan, I didn't see the connection to bruschi until you brought it up. but you're right. if he brings the same intensity things will be great

THL: Good afternoon Kevin. My question centers around the ultimate make up of Coach Davis' staff. Do you have any opinions that relate? Do you feel that Griffin and Kurbec will ultimately end up as part of that staff? If, I believe his name is Chad Davis, does not become the new HC at Drake, he will come to join the staff here and KD will need to hire another coach with northeast ties. If he does not come to PC, obviously 2 more coaches will need to be hired. I do have the opinion that both Griffen and Kurbec will be retained.

Bill Reynolds: THL, you're right. the makeup of davis's staff will depend on who gets the drake job. he said the other day that he is definitely looking for someone who has experience recruiting on the east coast, which only makes sense. what that means for either griffin or kurbec I have no idea, but history tells us that most coaches bring their own people in.

steve: 1. Will coach Davis bring in any recruits for next season?

Bill Reynolds: Steve, the friars have one kid already signed, and don't have room for any more in next year's class unless someone leaves. there's been talk of Dwain Williams doing that, but so far anyway, that's just talk. So I suspect that next year's team will look very much like last year's.

Fabulous Friar: Hi Kevin - how much was Keno involved in the recruitmen of players at Drake, and what is the 'word on the street' about his recruiting prowess?

Bill Reynolds: Fabulous Friar, the word is he was very involved.

Dan: Hi Bill, question. Do you think Providence got lucky considering the long drawn out search?

Bill Reynolds: Dan, I think davis is an excellent choice, a smart young coach on the way up, exactly the kind of coach I always thought they should have hired. And he's the coach of the year to boot. hey, you roll the dice with any new coach, but it seems to me that this was a real good get.

steve: 2.how much of a disadvantage is it in recruiting players on the east coast given the fact that most of your recruiting as an assistant and head coach have been rooted in the midwest and west?

Bill Reynolds: Steve, yes, it's a disadvantage. In a perfect world you would want guy with great eastern ties, but it's not a perfect world. It's the reason why davis will hire someone like that on his staff. But it's a national game in ways it never was before, so, ultimately, I don't think it's going to matter in the long run.

southie: any word on where TW and his staff may end up?

Bill Reynolds: Southie, I heard welsh could have had the toledo job and backed out, and that he is involved with the Florida Atlantic job.

THL: Jeff Goodman has Dwain Williams on his list of players who are transferring. I have heard that he has already received his release from PC.

Bill Reynolds: THL, that would not surprise me at all, as that rumor has been around since the end of the year and makes a lot of sense for Williams, especially since Curry is due back. It also would give the friars an extra scholarship to play with and that would be good, for they could really use another big body - maybe a juco? - who would be ready to help next year.

bfriar: Kevin: Do you anticipate that Coach Davis will be in attendance at this weekend's AAU "JamFest" at PC? Are you hearing any names for potential recruits, especially a true point guard?

Bill Reynolds: bfriar, davis said the other day that he has a commitment in Iowa, but that all games of the JamFest are on tape.

BrownFanatic: Kevin, any word on who Brown is targeting to replace Robinson? Any chance that Tim O'Shea might be in the mix?

Bill Reynolds: Brownfanatic, I have heard that Tim O'Shea might have an interest, but don't know that for sure. because of Robinson's success, the perception is that this is a better job than it was one two years ago.

Rock: Hi Kev, you expressed some belief that the Friar search for a coach was going to attract only such lowly candidates as the Tim O'Shea and Will Browns of the world. Does the naming of the national COY in Keno Davis give you thought that perhaps the program is not as bleakly seen as you may have forecasted? Thanks.

Bill Reynolds: rock, I'm not speaking for Kevin, but any time a school is paying roughly a million dollars a year for a coach it is going to get someone good, so I'm not sure I understand your phrase ``lowly'' candidates.

THL: Kevin, when do you think KD will begin recruiting for 2009...and, with DW probably gone, for that elusive backup PG we need so badly?

Bill Reynolds: THL, I think he will begin recruiting for 2009 immediately, given that his roster for next year is virtually set and that the entire recruiting process has been speeded up. and, you're right, they need a backup point guard.

bfriar: Aside from the Anaheim Classic, any word yet on other OOC opponents?

Bill Reynolds: bfriar, i haven't heard a thing about that.

THL: Kevin, do you believe that KG will encourage a transfer by a frontcourt player to open another spot? Your opinion on the JUCO question. Do you feel that there will be an easing by the administration so a JUCO big man could be recruited?

Bill Reynolds: THL, that's a good question about the school's opinion of juco players. I know that some of them don't always work out, but Eric Williams, Ruben Garces and Derek Brown certainly did.

THL: Bill, do you have an opinion on PC's current place in the Big East compared to the 80's and early 90's? In other words, do you feel that the BE is more difficult now than what it was during the years of Pitino and Barnes?

Bill Reynolds: THL, it is definitely more difficult, for the simple reason that there are more teams. Sports Illustrated just came out with a proposed top 25 for next year and they had eight Big East teams on it. That's the reality. For you can be a good team and still finish ninth or 10th in the league and not go to the NCAA Tournament and everyone thinks you've failed. That's the other reality.

pc guy: Who's the better coach in your opinion, TFord or Keno Davis?

Bill Reynolds: pc guy, good question, with no real answer. Not now anyway. Ford has more experience, certainly, davis had a great year last year and is the national coach of the year. But when all is said and done? I think PC got the best guy, because he obviously wants to be here more than Ford did.

jimmy626: Name your starting five for next year

Bill Reynolds: jimmy626, McDermott, Curry, Efejuku, Hanke, Xavier, with McKenzie and Kale off the bench.

jimmy626: Do you expect Chris Davis to be one of the assistants?

Bill Reynolds: Jimmy626, is that the Drake assistant coach's name? If he doesn't get the Drake job I expect to see him here.

pc guy: Looking back Bill, would you still have rather seen Robinson get the job over Davis, who the Friars ultimately ended up with?

Bill Reynolds: pc guy, that's impossible for me to really answer because I know Robinson, saw what he did at Brown, think he is a future star in coaching, and believe he would have been a great hire at PC. But everything I''ve heard tells me that Davis is an excellent hire, too.

Bill Reynolds: thanks for your interest. sorry about the typos, i flunked typing in high school.

Posted by mikemcd at 12:52 PM

Hoops chat substitution: Reynolds in for McNamara

Kevin McNamara had a late conflict come up -- it involves the basketball team that wears green and plays near North Station -- and so he had to back out on today's scheduled PC hoops chat. Fortunately, Bill Reynolds is in the house and ready to take your questions. He'll answer from noon to 1 p.m. today.

You can submit your questions now: Go to projo.com/chat, click launch chat, choose a display name (you do not need a password) and enter the college hoops chat room. Type in your question, but remember not to press enter or click send until you have finished your thought. Questions will display to the room as Bill answers them.

Posted by mikemcd at 11:37 AM | Comments 1

April 16, 2008

Ford leaving UMass for Oklahoma State?

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State had no announcement planned Wednesday amid conflicting reports that Massachusetts' Travis Ford was expected to take the job as the Cowboys' basketball coach.

Spokesman Mike Noteware said Oklahoma State had no plans for a news conference despite a report from ESPN that had unnamed sources indicating that Ford intended to meet with his players at UMass in the afternoon regarding the position in Stillwater.

"Right now, he's still here, still our coach at UMass," Massachusetts assistant athletic director Jason Yellin said.

Ford, 38, turned down a job offer from Big East school Providence and had also previously been linked to an opening at LSU that was eventually filled by Trent Johnson, who left Stanford. UMass athletic director John McCutcheon announced last week that Ford intended to stay with the Minutemen, but did not discuss terms of the coach's new contract.

A former player at Kentucky, Ford led UMass to a 25-11 record this season and an appearance in the NIT championship game, where it lost to Ohio State. He is 62-35 in three seasons at Massachusetts.

Ford previously took over a losing program at Eastern Kentucky and guided it to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 26 years.

Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder told The Oklahoman there was no deal in place for Ford to coach the Cowboys. Holder has been looking for a replacement for Sean Sutton, who resigned under pressure on April 1.

Kansas coach Bill Self turned down the Cowboys last week, instead signing an extension to remain with the national champion Jayhawks.

Posted by mikemcd at 1:36 PM

Talk PC hoops with Kevin McNamara on Friday

Kevin McNamara will take your questions about new PC Friars coach Keno Davis in a live chat from noon to 1 p.m. Friday. You can submit your questions now: Go to projo.com/chat, click launch chat, choose a display name (you do not need a password) and enter the college hoops chat room. Type in your question, but remember not to press enter or click send until you have finished your thought. Questions will display to the room as Kevin answers them on Friday.

Posted by mikemcd at 8:47 AM | Comments 2

April 15, 2008

New coach Davis to PC: ' We can do something special here'

davis2.jpg
Journal photo / Ruben W. Perez
New basketball coach Keno Davis, is given a PC jersey by athletic director Bob Driscoll, as he is greeted by the students and players during a news conference late this afternoon to announce his hiring.

PROVIDENCE -- Keno Davis, introduced today as Providence College's new men's basketball coach, said at a news conference that the team "is at a tipping point where we can do something special here."

With as many as 300 people, including cheerleaders and a band, attending the 5 p.m. announcement in Alumni Hall, Davis expressed thanks to Drake University, where he has been coach this season and assistant coach for four prior seasons.

"They did everything they could and more to try to keep me there," Davis said. "It was a tough decision."

But he said the lure of playing in the Big East and one of the biggest conferences in the country drew him to Providence College.

Davis, 36, won the Associated Press' National Coach of the Year award at the Final Four last week after leading Drake to a 28-5 record in his first season as head coach. Davis arrived in Providence on Monday and discussed particulars of the job into the night with athletic director Bob Driscoll. A contract was apparently agreed upon this morning.

The question of who would replace former PC coach Tim Welsh had been hovering over the program for a month. The Friars thought they had a new coach twice before in this laborious process and were ultimately turned down, first by George Mason’s Jim Larranaga and then by UMass’ Travis Ford.

-- With reports from Journal sports writers Paul Kenyon and Kevin McNamara

Davis is the son of Dr. Tom Davis, who was the head coach at Boston College from 1977-82. Keno was born in 1972 and raised as a BC fan before his dad left to take a job at Stanford and then moved on to Iowa and then Drake from 2003-07 where he was joined by his son, Keno.

Bob Driscoll, Providence College's athletic director, said at the news conference: "This is a great day to be a Friar."

Driscoll introduced the coach and the coach's wife, Krista. Driscoll said the good news is Davis spent part of his childhood in Boston and his father coached ar Boston College -- and that the new coach is a Red Sox fan. (His wife is a Cardinals fan).

Father Brian Shanley, Providence College's president, was involved in the search for the new coach. "Keno is an answer to prayer. I really believe that," Shanley said.

Shanley noted that Keno has gotten several coaching awards.

"To get the consensus national coach of the year to come to Providence College, is a great treat for us," Shanley said.

The Drake University Bulldogs were picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Missouri Valley Conference but blossomed into the most surprising team in the nation on the way to a conference title with a 15-3 record. At one point, Drake won 21 games in a row.

Drake advanced to the NCAA's for the first time since 1971. The Bulldogs lost to Western Kentucky in the first round on a last-second 3-point shot in overtime.

Keno Davis was previously an assistant coach at Drake from 2003–2007, Southeast Missouri State 1997–2003, Southern Indiana 1995–1997, as well as an undergraduate assistant coach at Iowa from 1991–1995. He and his wife Krista, whom he married in 2005, have a son, Brady, who was born in November 2007.

Read more about the new coach in the school's news release.

Posted by apanciera8154 at 6:28 PM

Davis photos, from the Des Moines Register

davis04151.jpg
Des Moines Register / Andrea Melendez
Davis talks to players on the bench during the NCAA Tournament game with Western Kentucky.

davis04152.jpg
Des Moines Register / Andrea Melendez
Davis watches courtside as his team shoots around before the Western Kentucky game.

davis04153.jpg
Des Moines Register / Christopher Gannon
Davis urges on his team last month against Wichita State.

davis04154.jpg
Des Moines Register / Justin Hayworth
Davis gives instructions during a timeout in an early-season game against Central College.

Posted by mikemcd at 3:32 PM | Comments 1

Readers are happy with choice of Davis

We've been asking projo.com readers all day whether Keno Davis is a good choice to lead the PC Friars. We've had 300 votes as of 2:30, and by a 5-1 margin, the public is saying that this is a good move. Here is a sampling of reader comments:

"GREAT BLOODLINES, NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR. JIM WHO?"

"Davis is a better choice than either Larranaga or Travis Ford. I trust that he'll build a program and stay around long enough to sustain that program."

"Mass, guy... local to the area... Travis Ford would have left quickly and Larranaga coaches in a real weak conference and was too old."

"ONE year coaching? Sure he got to the NCAAs, but blew the game, once they played. No track record. It's like hiring an assistant coach."

"I'm not sure really. He has only 1 year of coaching experience and has been a mid-western based coach. I hope he has recuiting contacts on the East Coast. I kind of liked [Karl] Hobbs who is based in DC and from NE."

"When he finds out how hard (or should I say impossible) it is to win here then he will leave like the others."

"PC is set to hire " a young, second-generation coach with limited head-coaching experience, but a winning record during his tenure at a mid-major"....is it 1998 and is his name Tim Welsh?"

"AP coach of the year, not 10 years ago but this year, took his team to the NCAAs for the first time since the 70's in his first year as coach. Are you kidding me? PC is lucky to have Keno. Great job Bob! Send me my season ticket renewal package I'm ready to sign up."

"I'm happy, 2008 coach of the year, gives choice some credibility. Are they overpaying him, yes. Will I answer my phone when the PC students soliciting money call again, Not unless he wins."

Posted by mikemcd at 2:44 PM

PC's press release announcing Davis

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE NAMES KENO DAVIS MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH

2008 National Coach Of The Year Becomes PC's 14th Head Coach

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Providence College President Reverend Brian Shanley, O.P. and Athletics Director Bob Driscoll announced today the appointment of Keno Davis as the head basketball coach of the College. Davis, who becomes the 14th head coach at Providence College, comes to PC after spending the 2007-08 season as the head coach at Drake University. Davis, a 1995 graduate of the University of Iowa, was named the 2008 National Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and the Sporting News.

"We are very excited to have Keno Davis leading our men's basketball program," Father Shanley said. "Over the last several weeks, we have conducted a thorough search. During this process, we talked to some of the most knowledgeable members of the college basketball community. It was our task to find a coach who would lead our student-athletes and embrace the College's mission. Keno Davis met all of our selection criteria."

In his first season as a head coach, Davis led the Drake Bulldogs to a 28-5 mark, which included a 15-3 record in the Missouri Valley Conference. His team captured its first MVC regular season title since 1971 and its first ever MVC Tournament title. Drake became the first MVC school to win both the regular season and league tournament titles since 2002. For his efforts, he was named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs also made their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1971. Drake was defeated in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament by Western Kentucky, 101-99, in overtime.

During the 2008 season, Drake was nationally ranked for a school-record eight consecutive weeks. The Bulldogs finished ranked 14th in the Associated Press Poll and 23rd in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Davis had all this success in his first season after inheriting a team that was 17-15 in 2007 and lost four starters to graduation. His 2008 squad was picked to finish ninth in the MVC.

"I believe Keno Davis has the knowledge, passion, commitment and ability to bring Providence College basketball to another level," Driscoll said. "Throughout his career he has demonstrated that he is an excellent leader and teacher. From the first moment I met Keno, I was impressed with his competitive nature and his desire to return Friar basketball to national prominence. His hiring is one of the many steps we have taken to improve the Friar men’s basketball program."

Prior to being selected as the head coach at Drake, Davis served as an assistant under his father, Dr. Tom Davis, at Drake from 2003-07. He began his coaching career in 1995 as an assistant under Bruce Pearl at Southern Indiana. He left Southern Indiana in 1997 and took an assistant position under Gary Garner at Southeast Missouri State.

He has written two books on basketball, "Pressure Defense" which was published in 1994 and "Camp Success" published in 2004.

Davis is no stranger to New England. His father served as the head coach at six colleges, including Boston College where he posted a 100-47 mark from 1977-82.

Davis and wife, Krista, have one son, Brady, who was born on November 12, 2007.

Posted by mikemcd at 1:06 PM | Comments 1

Keno Davis is PC's next coach

By KEVIN McNAMARA

Providence College has just confirmed that it will hire Drake coach Keno Davis has its next basketball coach.

Davis will be introduced at a news conference at 5 p.m. today at PC's Alumni Hall. Fans and friends of the program are encouraged to attend the new coach's introduction.

Davis, 36, won the Associated Press' National Coach of the Year award at the Final Four last week after leading Drake to a 28-5 record in his first season as head coach. Davis arrived in Providence on Monday and discussed particulars of the job into the night with athletic director Bob Driscoll. A contract was apparently agreed upon this morning.

Davis is the son of Dr. Tom Davis who was the head coach at Boston College from 1977-82. Keno was born in 1972 and raised as a BC fan before his dad left to take a job at Stanford and then moved on to Iowa and then Drake from 2003-07 where he was joined by his son, Keno.

The Bulldogs were picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Missouri Valley Conference but blossomed into the most surprising team in the nation on the way to a conference title with a 15-3 record. At one point, Drake won 21 games in a row.

Drake advanced to the NCAA's for the first time since 1971. The Bulldogs lost to Western Kentucky in the first round on a last-second 3-point shot in overtime.

Keno Davis was previously an assistant coach at Drake from 2003-2007, Southeast Missouri State 1997-2003, Southern Indiana 1995-1997, as well as an undergraduate assistant coach at Iowa from 1991-1995. He currently lives with his wife Krista, whom he married in 2005. They have a son, Brady, who was born in November 2007.

Posted by mikemcd at 12:56 PM

PC close to naming Davis

We're awaiting official word from Providence College, but it appears that the Friars have found their next coach in Drake's Keno Davis. A press conference will happen this afternoon (5 p.m.).

One media outlet, FoxSports.com, has reported that the contract with Davis is complete, citing unnamed sources. We're going to wait for official word, which should be coming soon.

Here are some online resources to get you up to speed on Davis:

-Des Mones Register columnist Sean Keeler writes about Davis' successful 2007-08 season.

-Des Moines Register on Davis' AP coach of the year award.

-ESPN story on Davis and his father, Tom, the first father-son duo to both win coach of the year awards (Tom Davis won with Iowa).

Posted by mikemcd at 11:47 AM | Comments 1

April 14, 2008

PC focusing on Keno Davis


Providence College's search for a new basketball coach has focused on Drake's Keno Davis. The 36-year old coach has emerged as the favorite to be the next Friar coach.
On Monday, the rumor mills focused on Karl Hobbs and Kevin Willard. However it is Davis who could be hired as the next PC coach, as early as tomorrow.
More in Tuesday's Journal.


KEVIN McNAMARA


Posted by Kevin at 10:28 PM

NO Providence Coach Tonight


Providence College's basketball program is just about to wrap up its annual team banquet downtown at the Biltmore.
There is no news on the coaching front. Athletic director Bob Driscoll was not in attendance and is said to be actively chasing a replacement for Tim Welsh. It is not clear whether Driscoll is in town or traveling, although it appears he was out of town talking to a one particular prospect.
Just an informed guess here but I'm hearing George Washington's Karl Hobbs is still alive in this race. Iona's Kevin Willard and Hofstra's Tom Pecora are not viable names, it was learned on Monday.
More on the dinner in Tuesday's Journal.

KEVIN McNAMARA


Posted by Kevin at 8:15 PM

April 13, 2008

PC Coach Update


By KEVIN McNAMARA

On Monday night, Providence College is holding its annual end-of-season basketball banquet at the Biltmore Hotel. Will the program have a new head coach to unveil at the event?
That was the hot tip that interrupted the Masters this afternoon. PC athletic director Bob Driscoll has been working the phones the last few days in search of a new coach and it would not be a surprise if he’s settled on someone who will actually take the job this time around. The question, of course, is who?
After initially hearing rumblings about GW’s Karl Hobbs and Florida associate coach Larry Shyatt from high-level basketball people, we now know that Driscoll has been urged to think about Iona coach Kevin Willard by none other than Rick Pitino. Pitino is the same man who listened to an offer for himself to come back to Providence (not sure just how long that offer was considered by the King of Louisville) and then pushed PC to chase UMass coach Travis Ford. Ford turned PC down last Thursday in a major embarrassment for the Friar faithful.
Now it’s Willard. He just finished his first season at Iona where he went 12-20 and 8-10 in the MAAC. He inherited a 2-28 train wreck from Jeff Ruland and is considered a coach with potential but this would be a major risk for the Providence program. What would make it a little more palatable is if Kevin brings along his father, Ralph, the current Holy Cross head coach and use him in an associate head coach role. Something to think about.
Will Driscoll keep listening to Pitino, a conference rival whose job demands that he keep beating the Friars? He has not called Florida’s Shyatt but has done some background work on Hobbs, an interesting candidate. Hofstra’s Tom Pecora is another interesting name but as of yesterday his athletic director hadn’t heard of any interest from Providence.
No doubt shook by the public nature of his courtship of Ford, Driscoll seems to be playing his next move close to the vest. Wrapping it up Monday in time for a dinner expected to draw a few hundred fans wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.

Posted by Kevin at 11:13 PM | Comments 4

April 10, 2008

Travis Ford staying at UMass

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

AMHERST, Mass. -- Travis Ford has told Providence College officials he will not accept their offer to become the next coach at PC, deciding instead to remain at the University of Massachusetts.

There is no word on the Friars' next move in their coaching search, which began when they fired Tim Welsh nearly a month ago.

Posted by Art Martone at 5:29 PM | Comments 2

No word on PC and Travis Ford

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE -- There is no pending word on whether Travis Ford will accept an offer to become the next basketball coach at Providence College.

PC has no press conference scheduled, according to associate AD Arthur Parks. Athletic Director Bob Driscoll is in Providence and no doubt anxiously awaiting some kind of resolution to his courtship of Ford.

The UMass coach spent yesterday at PC but returned to Amherst last night and is on campus there today. There is no word coming from UMass, either.

"John McCutcheon, our athletic director, has a policy of not commenting on speculation regarding coaches," said UMass athletic spokesman Jason Yellin.

UMass is holding its end-of-season team banquet tonight on campus. Representatives of both schools privately say they hope this situation is resolved sometime later today. PC's banquet is scheduled for Monday night.

It's unclear if Ford is asking for more money from UMass. He already has a contract that runs through 2015, so security is not an issue. UMass' athletic department is far from flush with cash and the university system is dealing with major budgetary issues.

What could also be playing out is Ford wishes to tell his team and UMass officials that he is moving on. Doing so before (or at) a public banquet would prove difficult but Ford is scheduled to attend the event.

Posted by Art Martone at 11:27 AM

April 9, 2008

NO PC Decision tonight


We do not expect a decision on PC's courtship of Travis Ford tonight.
Ford and his wife spent all day with PC athletic boss Bob Driscoll and schools president Rev. Brian Shanley. They were still on campus tonight but no announcement from the school is forthcoming. No press conferences are set for tomorrow at this point either.
Ford has a team banquet at the University of Massachusetts scheduled for Thursday night. It would be a major shock if he doesn't give PC his decision by then.
Could Ford turn the Friars down? Sure. He'd be walking away from a huge payday, Big East notoriety and a chance to live in a more vibrant, urban community than Amherst but he's done a very good job at UMass and proven he can win a lot of games (49 in the last two years) in the Atlantic 10. Only fear that he can't do the same (or something remotely close) at Providence should keep him from saying yes to the Friars.

KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Kevin at 10:04 PM | Comments 1

Travis Ford's in town, talking with PC

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE -- Providence College's search for a new basketball coach has focused on Massachusetts coach Travis Ford.

Ford, 38, is in Providence today and meeting with athletic director Bob Driscoll. He and his wife just finished a tour of the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

There are no indications that an agreement between the two sides is complete but this is the strongest sign yet that the four-week search could be nearing an end.

"I have not scheduled any press conference for today.'' PC associate athletic director Arthur Parks said.

Ford met with Driscoll at the Final Four in San Antonio. On Tuesday, he issued a statement from his office at UMass that said he no longer wished to be considered for the coaching job vacancy at LSU.

"I would like to make clear that I do not want to be considered for the head job at LSU," Ford said in the statement. "There has been a lot of misinformation circulating about me and the job at LSU. I feel that it is necessary to state that I do not want to be considered for the job."

Ford's interest in other jobs was not addressed, however. UMass finished 25-11 this past season in Ford's third year at the school and the Minutemen lost the NIT championship game to Ohio State, 92-85.

Posted by Kevin at 2:18 PM

April 8, 2008

Friar Fans: Go watch the Sox

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE -- All Providence College basketball fans hungry for a press conference to announce the next coach can rest easy today. Go watch the Red Sox' Opening Day game.

First off, no New England school in its right mind would ever announce anything on Opening Day. This is a true Holy Day for the majority of sports fans in the region.

More importantly, PC isn't closing in on a new coach. Bob Driscoll is set to fly home from San Antonio today. No candidate has met with Fr. Brian Shanley, which clearly must happen before anyone gets hired. In theory, that could occur in the next 2-3 days but we've learned not to hold our breath during this search. We think a search that's already taken plenty of twists and turns has more twisting and turning ahead.

Larry Brown? We hear he's listened to Driscoll in San Antonio. Would he really come here? You can find some long odds somewhere on that one but it sure would make things interesting in Friar Town.

By the way, PC's Driscoll is NOT attending the Frozen Four in Denver this week. He's on the NCAA Hockey committee but has cancelled do to the basketball situation.

Posted by Kevin at 10:31 AM | Comments 2

April 7, 2008

Daniels opts not to go to camp

URI forward Will Daniels has decided not to take part in the Portsmouth Invitational draft camp.

Daniels, who was in Texas last week for the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star game at the Final Four, has had a hectic schedule and decided not to go the event in Virginia that runs Wednesday through Saturday.

Daniels had five points and five rebounds in the NABC game as his National All-Star team won, 108-103. Demarcus Nelson of Duke had 21 points Josh Duncan of Xavier 19 for Daniels’ team.

URI guard Parfait Bitee will compete in Portsmouth this week. He is on the Cherry, Berkaert & Holland team with guards Joe Crawford of Kentucky, Derrick Lowe of Washington State and JaJuan Smith of Tennessee along with forwards Brian Butch of Wisconsin, Patrick Ewing Jr. of Georgetown, James Mays of Clemson and Sonny Weems of Arkansas.

Posted by pkenyon at 5:42 PM | Comments 2

Robinson expected to be introduced as Oregon State coach tonight

Here's word from Oregon State's athletic web site.....

Corvallis – Oregon State University Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis is asking “Beaver Nation” to turn out for Monday’s welcoming press conference for the new men’s basketball coach at Oregon State University.

The formal introduction will take place at 4 p.m. in legendary Gill Coliseum.

Brown coach Craig Robinson is expected to be the coach introduced at OSU. He traveled to Oregon this morning but had yet to accept the job. Obviously a press conference will seal the deal.

- KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by mikemcd at 4:09 PM | Comments 1

April 6, 2008

Brown's Robinson Headed West??

There is a report from FoxSports.com that Brown coach Craig Robinson is ready to accept the coaching job at Oregon State.
That's bad news for Brown and bad news for Providence College, which clearly took a pass on Robinson or at least was caught dragging its feet if it indeed wanted Robinson to be the next Friars' coach.
We're trying to confirm this report as we speak.

Posted by Kevin at 8:05 PM

PC Coach Update


ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla has emerged as a candidate for the vacant PC job. Fraschilla hasn't coached since he was bought out of his contract by New Mexico in 2002 but he is a `name' coach who is an ex-PC assistant under Rick Barnes and was the head coach at St. John's from 1997-98.
Albany coach Will Brown is also in the mix. The New York Daily News reported Sunday that PC had `focused' its search on Brown, Ohio's Tim O'Shea and Brown's Craig Robinson.
More on the PC search in Monday's Journal

KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Kevin at 6:33 PM | Comments 3

April 4, 2008

PC Search Moves South

By Kevin McNamara


Providence College athletic director Bob Driscoll is traveling to San Antonio today. The city is the site of Saturday's Final Four and the national title game Monday night.
Once he checks into his room, Driscoll will be inundated with `Who are you going to hire?' questions from the hundreds of AD and coach-types who fill Final Four cities every year. Driscoll is expected to meet with the candidates he says are on his `short list' beginning Saturday.
One name that's appeared in The Journal since Tim Welsh was fired three weeks ago is that of Tim O'Shea, the former URI and Boston College assistant who is now the head coach at Ohio University. O'Shea is one of the coaches likely to sit with Driscoll over the next few days.
O'Shea has compiled an impressive resume at Ohio, a member of the Mid-American Conference which happens to be one of the most competitive leagues in the country. Over the last 18 seasons, only one school (Kent State, 2001-02) has repeated as conference tournament champion.
Ohio won that tourney in 2005 and put a major scare into Billy Donovan and Florida before losing, 67-62. The Bobcats finished 21-11 that season and that success has continued with O'Shea's teams winning 19, 19 and 20 games the last three years. In his seven years as coach, Ohio has beaten North Carolina, DePaul, Virginia, Cincinnati, Rhode Island (twice), St. Joseph's, Maryland and St. John's.
Ohio finished 20-13 this season, including the win at Maryland and over SJU in Hawaii. Interestingly, the Bobcats thumped Jim Larranaga's George Mason team, 69-57, in February when it erupted for 50 second half points. Larranaga is the coach who turned down an offer to come to PC on Wednesday.
Neither Driscoll or O'Shea will comment publicly about a potential meeting. That means we can't report it. But it seems likely the two will talk. Who else will get Driscoll's ear. Brown's Craig Robinson seems likely. So does UMass' Travis Ford but the Kentucky native is reported to be waiting to see if he can get involved at LSU.


Posted by Kevin at 11:21 AM | Comments 1

April 2, 2008

Larranaga News

We've been posting today on the ProJo's Sports Blog. Don't want to short change the Hoops Blog, however.
Here are the last 3 entries on a busy day for the Friars.


Larranaga Gets 3-year extension

Not a shock. Jim Larranaga has reached agreement on a 3-year extension to his contract at George Mason.
Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Tom O'Connor announced today that Larranaga has signed a three-year extension at George Mason. Larranaga is now signed through the 2014-15 season.
"Jim (Larranaga) is a terrific ambassador for George Mason University,"
O'Connor said. "Obviously with the 2006 run to the Final Four, our basketball program and the University have garnered a lot of national attention. On top of that he is a tremendous basketball coach, he's our coach and I'm proud to say that he will continue to be our coach for the next seven years."
"I've made it clear over the years that my family and I have loved it here at George Mason," Larranaga said. "I feel very fortunate to work under the great leadership of President Merten and Tom O'Connor. I feel very connected to both the George Mason and the greater Fairfax County communities. We have enjoyed their great support and it continues to grow. I've said before that I hope to retire here at George Mason and this contract extension allows me to do just that."

Posted by Kevin at 4:48 PM | Permalink
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PC renews search for coach

PC athletic director Bob Driscoll just issued a press release. Here's what it says:
"Over the last several days it became public knowledge that we were in discussions with George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga about becoming our men's basketball coach. We offered him a very substantial package but he was too comfortable in his current situation and opted to stay at George mason. As a result, I will continue to have ongoing discussions with the other finalists in this search. I remain very optimistic that we will find a head coach who will embrace the rich tradition of Friar basketball and move the program forward."
Who's next for the Friars? Certainly not clear at this point but they're likely to look at Davidson's Bob McKillop (who won't be interested), Brown's Craig Robinson, UMass' Travis Ford, Arizona's Kevin O'Neill and Ohio U's Tim O'Shea. But this race is now wide open.

-- KEVIN McNAMARA

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Larranaga says no to Providence

Jim Larranaga has decided to remain as coach at George Mason and not accept an offer to come to Providence College, according to PC associate athletic director Arthur Parks. A release from athletic director Bob Driscoll is due at any moment.

-- KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Kevin at 4:56 PM | Comments 1

Larranaga says no to Providence

Jim Larranaga has decided to remain as coach at George Mason and not accept an offer to come to Providence College.

PC athletic director Bob Driscoll just issued a press release. Here's what it says:

"Over the last several days it became public knowledge that we were in discussions with George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga about becoming our men's basketball coach. We offered him a very substantial package but he was too comfortable in his current situation and opted to stay at George mason. As a result, I will continue to have ongoing discussions with the other finalists in this search. I remain very optimistic that we will find a head coach who will embrace the rich tradition of Friar basketball and move the program forward."

Who's next for the Friars? Certainly not clear at this point but they're likely to look at Davidson's Bob McKillop (who won't be interested), Brown's Craig Robinson, UMass Travis Ford, Arizona's Kevin O'Neill and Ohio U's Tim O'Shea. But this race is now wide open.

Posted by mikemcd at 3:15 PM | Comments 3

Larranaga struggling with choice

It appears that George Mason coach is understandably torn between staying in Virginia and leaving for the basketball coaching job at Providence College. We expect word one way or the other some time today.
Here's a good story from today's Washington Times.

Posted by Kevin at 8:29 AM | Comments 1

April 1, 2008

Friars and Larranaga Keep Working on Deal


No fresh news today on the PC-Jim Larranaga courtship. But the day isn't over yet.
The George Mason coach is weighing an offer to become the next Providence College hoop boss and it's certainly possible that a decision could come later today or tonight. Larranaga has been in contact with several notable PC people, including high-ranking alumns and his former coach, Dave Gavitt.
At this stage of the process, it's quite normal for both sides to be talking money and length of contract but also for the coach to be asking for things that can help him win: money for staff, charter flights, scheduling control, ect. It is unclear, however, if Larranaga has decided if he's going to take the job.
Now, as this morning's Journal reported, the ball is in his court. We'll see how much longer it takes before he makes his move.


KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Kevin at 5:09 PM

Daniels named to All-Star team

Will Daniels is going to finish his college basketball career at the Final Four.

The URI forward has been selected to play in the annual National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star game Friday in San Antonio. That is the event that kicks off Final Four festivities.

Daniels will play on the same team with Josh Duncan of Xavier, the only other Atlantic 10 player selected.

Others on the National All-Stars, to be coached by Oliver Purnell of Clemson, the past president of the NABC, are Sean Singletary (Virginia), Jonathan Wallace (Georgetown), Cliff Hammonds (Clemson), DeMarcus Nelson (Duke), Ramel Bradley (Kentucky), Shan Foster (Vanderbilt), James Gist (Maryland), Joe Jones (Texas A&M), and Jason Thompson (Rider).

The American All-Stars, to be guided by Dave Odom, the outgoing South Carolina coach, are Jamar Butler (Ohio State), Drew Neitzel (Michigan State), Mike Green (Butler), Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky), Robert McKiver (Houston), Kyle Weaver (Washington State), Alex Harris (UCSB), Maarty Leunen (Oregon), Charles Rhodes (Mississippi State), Brian Butch (Wisconsin) and Aleks Maric (Nebraska).

Daniels is the first URI player ever to take part in the event, which is sponsored by DiGiorno. The game, which will begin at 6 p.m. eastern time Friday, will be telecast by the CBS College Sports network. The game will be held on the same court as the Final Four, the first time that has been done.

Daniels finished his career with 1,678 points and 662 rebounds. This past season, Daniels led URI and ranked fourth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game. He also registered 6.5 rebounds, good for second on the squad and 11th in the conference. The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder is the first URI player since Tyson Wheeler (1996-97, 1997-98) and just the third URI player all-time to earn First Team All-A-10 honors in consecutive seasons.

Posted by pkenyon at 3:50 PM

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