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Today's college hoops chat transcript

Kevin McNamara: Hello everyone. Obviously one of the busiest times of the year for college hoop mavens. I'm headed to NYCity later today to get ready for tomorrow's PC-West Virginia game. I'm packing right now. Should I go light or heavy?

Kevin McNamara: Please forward your questions. I have about 15 in the Q right now. I will not answer the PC coaching situation over and over and over. I will take questions on URI and Brown as well as NCAA tourney questions. We'll go for about an hour.

BedfordPenthouse: What does Tim Welsh have to do at this point to get an extention going into next year?

Kevin McNamara: Here goes with the Tim Welsh category. The PC coach is obviously on very shaky ground right now. You can debate whether that is fair or not but it is fact. No decision has been made on whether his contract is extend or not. I know this as fact. Can he save himself at this point? That's debatable but he can make it interesting with, say 2 wins this week. Getting to Big East semis with team would be a major achievement....As to new coaching names, let's just say that I've done my share of research. Most of the names fans are tossing about have NO interest in coming to Providence. They either can get better jobs, have a better job or don;t like the chances to win here. I do think that if TW were to get fired, the Friars can find a good coach and won;t have to pay $800K-plus. I think Bob Driscoll will aim high and see if he can get a proven winner. If that doesn't happen, he'll have to get creative and think broadly. That is risky but if Welsh isn't the coach next year, there are no guarantees that the next coach is `better' than he is. If this reads like I am not going to discuss Larranaga, O'Brien, Christian, Van Gundy, ect. you are correct.

BedfordPenthouse: The two names that people have been throwing around to become the next Friars coach have been Jim Larranaga and Jim O'Brien. Of the two, who is better for this job?

Kevin McNamara: Ditto.

THL: Have you heard anything new regarding a coaching change at PC?

Kevin McNamara: Ditto.

pcfan: Hello, Kevin: Should PC be eliminated tomorrow, and the season officially end, do you have any sense of a timeframe for when (or if) PC will replace Welsh? Is it likely that he will "resign" or do you think PC will fire him? Thank You.

Kevin McNamara: As for timing, if PC goes down tomorrow, I would think early to middle next week they have an annoucement on whether the coach is in contract negotiations or moving on.

FriarFan: When will PC make a coaching announcement? What do anticipate regarding their decesion? Thanks.

Kevin McNamara: See above.

BedfordPenthouse: Will Greedy Peterson be in a Friars uniform next season?

Kevin McNamara: I think Greedy has the potential to be a good Big East player. He is undersized, however, and needs to learn how to play without the basketball on offense. That's been his issue late in this season. Tim Welsh would love to have Greedy back. if he's not the coach, you'd have to ask the new guy.

BedfordPenthouse: While his brother will most likely go to UCONN, what are the chances that Majok Majok ends up with the Friars?

Kevin McNamara: All recruiting is up in the air at Providence. That's been the main problem with the decision to let this season be a `referendum' on Tim Welsh. No way anyone would commit to PC in this scenario. The staff has worked the junior class but fallen behind other competitors. Majok Majok is just a name. PC doesn't `lead' for him, in any way shape or form.

matt: kevin ,next year coach baron will give us the excuse that when you lose seniors like Will Daniels and Parfait Bitee that it is tough to replace them. Knowing that will be his excuse next year - what possibly could his excuse be for the collapse we witnessed this year? I think he needs to take responsibility for this. 2007-2008 was supposed to be THE YEAR. Not qualifying for any tournament is totally unacceptable. I hope Thorr Bjorn recognizes this.

Kevin McNamara: I am as surprised as anyone that the Rams have faded here in February-March. I hope they can win a game in Atlantic City and find their way into the NIT or CBI but it will be tough, as Paul Kenyon's article in today's Journal correctly points out. What is the `excuse?' It's lack of defense. Why is this? URI patterned its game after the run-and-gun NBA teams and when its offense was roaring, the Rams were very good. When the O stalls a bit, the defense isn't there to back things up. Losing WDaniels, PBitee and Joe Mbang is very big for this team. URI fans are learning how tough it is to get to the NCAA's.

Ben: Hi, Kevin. URI basketball has seen yet another embarrassing, horrific collapse under Jim Baron. While this guy seems like a nice man who appears to run a clean & honest program, I (and other URI fans) feel that he is not a good coach and has worn out his welcome as coach of the Rams. His teams ALWAYS finish worse than they started. He has never won an NCAA tournament game & has only been there twice in well over 2 decades as a head coach. In fact, neither of those trips were with URI. His offensive strategies are incredibly simple, predictable, and easy to defend once you see what they're doing. This man is not capable of better than getting to the occasional NIT. Do you think that URI would make a coaching change if the state's financial situation were better and/or his contract was closer to its end? And, do you personally feel that Jim Baron has performed adequately in his 7 years (that's almost a decade) at URI?

Kevin McNamara: I won't speculate about Baron's future at URI. I will state that he isn't going anywhere. URI's decision to lock him up for 10 years was an odd one at the time and severely handcuffs the school. It's a 1-way deal that only favors the coach. It also gets very expensive as the years roll on so buying him out is not an option. I personally feel they shouldn't even think about that and no one at Rhody is. Baron has rebuilt the program to his liking and winning 21-22 games this season is a very good year. Obviously expectations were raised once the Rams got off to such a hot start and now people are disappointed. The good news is the staff is working hard to stock the program with good players, more needed size and some additional athleticism. I think a core of Jimmy Baron, KSeawright, Ulmer, Cothran, Delroy James is pretty good. If some of the newcomers can help a bit, the Rams will be in the A-10 mix once again. That's very different from the poorer years that Baron endured trying to get the program back on track.

rhodewarriorlm: Tough question Kev! Baron is a really likable guy and the job he first took over in Kingston was far from a tea party. He has done good things for the program yes. With all of that good will acknowledged Coach cannot seem to get any team to the NCAA's? His best teams at Rhody (this year) and the (Dustin Hellenga) team both had swoons that cost them post season play under Baron. Putting the good will aside for a moment do you really think Jim Baron is anything more than a NIT coach in his best? Do you think Rhody fans have a point in being really upset with the coaching staff regarding this years collapse?

Kevin McNamara: Look above. Getting to the NCAA is hard, especially at a school like URI which is not a top 5 Atlantic 10 program. Not yet, anyways. I think the student-athlete center being talked about will help a lot and recruiting the last 2-3 years is clearly going well. Getting ahead of Xavier, UMass, Temple, Dayton, St. Joe, St. Louis (on the rise) consistently is asking a lot if you cheer for the Rams. If the A-10 remains a 1-3 bid league, do the math. Cracking the NCAA's is a tall order.

rhodewarriorlm: With the swoon in full scale at Rhody do you see them inning any games in the A-10 tourney. If they get eliminated in the 1st or 2nd round do you even see them getting an NIT invite or will the severity of the swoon keep them out of even the NIT?

Kevin McNamara: If URI loses to Charlotte, I think there is a very good chance the NIT passes on them. Hope not. Beat the 49'ers and things clearly improve. problem is A-10 is loaded with NIT-type teams (Charlotte, Temple, Dayton, St. Joe).

rhodewarriorlm: Lets get things flowing for next year.... who has the better recruting class for next year- URI or PC? Can you tell us about either class?

Kevin McNamara: That's for the easyt question. URI in a landslide. The Rams have signed a good, deep class that was badly needed. Lots of promise anyways. PC had one scholarship and used it on Bilal Dixon, a player who could see time right away. URI's class depends on several players academically qualifying. Things look good now but anything can happen with kids these days. Big men Ryan Brooks and Orion Outerbridge are the keys. Both aren't bangers but are athletic and can run the floor. Think Will Daniels, minus 20 pounds. Raw but talented. Remember, the Rams also welcome transfer Ben Eaves, who PC badly wanted out of prep school. He's impressed all year in practice.

rhodewarriorlm: Where (if you do) do you have Will Daniels going in the NBA draft? Do you see him having a productive career or will he ride the pine and be out of the league in a year or two?

Kevin McNamara: I am not hearing much on Will and the NBA. I see his name on some web sites (nbadraft.net, for example) but no scout I've talked to says they see him as a 1st rounder. Will is an NBA 3-man who lacks quickness and will have major defensive issues. He needs to go to pre-draft camps and prove that scouting report wrong. We all know he can score. He'd have a great European career because of those skills but he'll try to make a run at the NBA first. We all wish him luck. He's a good kid.

THL: Is there any serious recruiting being done at this time by the Friars?

Kevin McNamara: I would say no. Any HSchool coach with a clue would know PC's coaching sitaution has to be cleared up before I can take what PC's assistant are saying seriously.

mando11522: Rhode Island's chances of winning the A-10...semms there path isn't to bad

Kevin McNamara: Winning the tournament? Let's just beat Charlotte first. URI lost to the 49ers at Ryan Center just a few days ago. That sounds like a very tough first round game.

friar fan: Kevin- Do you think Gonzo is in trouble for his actions Sunday with his press conference and screaming at a SHU official to "get out of my face"?

Kevin McNamara: That's one of the issues I can't wait to hear more on once we get to New York. I know Gonzo is intense but his inability to control that intensity is one of his major faults. It's not winning him any friends, that's for sure.

mando11522: thoughts on uri chances at winning the a-10

Kevin McNamara: see above.

THL: With San Diego winning the WCC by beating Gonzaga last night, do you feel that the Zags will still get a bid to the dance using up an at large bid?

Kevin McNamara: Thanks for the NCAA question. Best time of year speculating on who does and does not get in. Gonzaga will definitely be an at-large pick. The Zags play a great schedule, won enough games out of conference and were regular season champs in a good league. The West Coast will now get 3 bids: Zags, SDiego and St. Mary's. All three should be watched closely in your pools next week.

Blue Elvis: Looking ahead to next year for the Friars, it seems to me that getting Randal Hanke into the weight room should be a priority. It seems when he plays tough, the Friars play better as a whole team. (I live in DC, and rarely get to see PC games, so I am basing this opinion off of what I read. Let me know if I am off-base).

Kevin McNamara: That's a good call. Randall has enjoyed a very good season after coming in with all sorts of question marks hovering over him. Fans expected him to be good right away and that didn't happen. Tim Welsh didn't play him early on, which was based on shoddy practice efforts, but may have been a mistake. Obviously the Friars needed Hanke to be a legitimate offensive team. He's playing well in the post right now. Hanke will never be the Incredible Hulk but does work in the weight room. Not sure what his upside physically is, though. That's why getting Bilal Dixon, a banger, was so important for next year. Jon Kale's inability to fill that role consistently has hurt this team.

THL: Dwain Williams....In your opinion, has he played his last game in black and white? What are his issues?

Kevin McNamara: Word is Dwain is in the doghouse and is `concentrating on his academics.' Don't know for sure but sounds like he's struggling academically and needs to go to every class. Just a guess, which I guess we're allowed to do in a chat but not the newspaper.

mando11522: As everyone knows san diego won the WCC and south alabama and VCU lost in there conference torney's...who's bubbles just burst because of those teams winning/losing...

Kevin McNamara: These are the teams on the bubble right now. They don't want to see anymore upsets. I think South Alabama (RPI 24) had better watch out. It has 20 wins against teams ranked 100 or higher on RPI. I'd take Dayton over that every day. Dayton, St. Joe, Villanova, Syracuse, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio State, Oregon are just some of the teams that better win a game or two to lock up bids. It would be a shame of the A-10 only got 2 bids. They don't deserve more, however. Beat teams you're supposed to (re:Dayton & St. Joe) at home and you'd be in...I look at quality wins and playing well late. Those are the 2 things I like best.

rodfromcranston: Come on Kevin. CFL's teams always fade at the end of the season. This is THE biggest collapse in URI history, and yet not ONE word of media criticism.

Kevin McNamara: Rod. Let's get JHarrick back! Just bustin'. It is a major collapse but I think URI fans got juiced up over a team that was always flawed. Then the flaws came through. Look at you 5-man. An unheralded JUCO who can't score. That led to rebounding an interior defense issues. Also, the schedule didn't help. URI played great in the Syracuse win but didn't have to play great to win any of its other NC games (Providence included). Once they started playing good teams (especially on the road) at least once a week in a much-improved Atl-10 then things began to crack. You want to kill the coach? Go ahead. But I fault talent issues more than X's-and-O's. They need better players, especially on the interior. That's the coach's fault, too.

mando11522: Florida, Ohio st., Cuse, or Kentucky...which outta those 4 do you think will legit get in the NCAA

Kevin McNamara: Good question. If it's those four, I'd probably have to go with Ohio State. They beat SYR head-to-head back when Eric Devendorf was playing. They're playing well now. Excellent coach. I think what kentucky and Florida did in the N/C season cannot be overlooked. You can't whack bad teams, lose to ALL the good ones and then get healthy in conference. That tells me your conference isn't all that good.

THL: Your old friend, Ron Borges wrote in the Attleboro paper that Dwain Williams was told not to go anywhere near the team....Does this relate to your answer above that he is/has to devote time to academics?

Kevin McNamara: Ron Borges? Peter Gobis covers PC up in Attleboro. My reference to Dwain's academic issues was cut out of a PC Journal I wrote for Sunday's paper. Dwain is out for the season with an ankle injury, by the way. You should probably focus on the guys who are healthy.

URIGONZO: Kevin, a lot of blame on URI Projo board has been placed on Coach Baron for the late season collapse. I for one think it is lack of effort on the part of the player's i.e. not playing hard on defense and letting a guard go from the 3-pt arc to the hoop without stopping him. Do you feel the player's could have done better, or does the task of motivating them fall squarely on the coaching staff??

Kevin McNamara: It's a team game and the coaches & players work together. Coach's fault? That's what the fans always say. It's the player's job to execute and URI's players obviously have not done a good job with that. As I stated somewhere above, I think this team was always flawed with its lack of size and once opponents figured out how to slow the offense down, the Rams' main strength was sapped....Growl all you want Ram fans. You've won 21 games and I like the talent in the program. Getting to that next, NCAA ,level is hard.

KD: What's your read on W. Efejuku? Coaching challenge? Out of position? Why the incredible inconsistency?

Kevin McNamara: I think Weyinmi Efejuku is a talented player but not nearly as talented as PC fans think. His mental approach to the game has clearly been hurt by inconsistent playing time and clashes with the coaching staff. If he gave a better effort on defense and off the glass, he'd play more. He also needs to improve his ballhandling so he can get his own shot more often. That is PC's number one problem. Without a PG, there are few players who can break a defender down a get their own shot. Watch tomorrow's WVU game closely and count how many times a guy makes a move and gets off a clear jumper or continue past a defender or three and makes his way to the rim...You'll be amazed at the low number.

Kevin McNamara: Guys. I have to wrap this up. I saw all of your questions but i do have to pack. So what's the answer, light or heavy???

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:36 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Greenwell: Clemens belongs in Hall of Fame

Mike Greenwell returned to the Red Sox family today, 12 years after his bitter departure, and spoke on a number of topics, including Roger Clemens' Hall of Fame chances, the allegations of PED use against Clemens, the temptation he felt to use steroids during his career (and why he didn't), and Dan Duquette. See what he had to say on projo.com's Sox Blog.

Posted by Art Martone  at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Download today's sports cover

On today's sports cover, Joe McDonald profiles Jon Lester, who is looking like a candidate for Opening Day starter now that Josh Beckett's chances of traveling to Japan are in serious doubt. Bill Reynolds writes about the Rev. Robert Morris, who has been a PC Friar fan for about as long as anyone. And Paul Kenyon looks at the stark reality for the URI Rams: win in the A-10 tourney or else.

Click here to download the file in pdf format.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Talk college hoops at 11 a.m. today with Kevin McNamara

Kevin McNamara will stop by the office today just before heading down to New York City for the Big East Tournament to take your questions about the Friars and the Rams, who are on their way to the A-10 tourney in Atlantic City. Kevin will be in the college hoops chat room at projo.com to answer your questions from 11 a.m. to noon.

You can submit a question now: go to projo.com/chat, click launch chatm, choose a display name (you don't need a password), enter the college hoops chat room and begin typing. Do not hit enter or click send until you have completed your thought. Questions will display to the room as Kevin answers them.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments 0