Great read from NY Post on MU/Seton Hall

[NersEllenson]

Not sure if y'all saw this:

There's a reason colleges across the country pay handsome salaries to their head basketball coaches even as they raise tuition and/or slash other sports.

An elite head coach is supposed to give his team an edge in those crucial games that determine a season.

Case in point: On Feb. 22, Jim Calhoun's early eruption resulted in a quick technical. His Huskies went on to beat West Virginia, 73-62, making more free throws (30) than the Mountaineers attempted (23).

Calhoun won the game for Connecticut.

Fast forward to yesterday. Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez got hit with a technical with 2:50 left in the first half. Lazar Hayward (23 points) made 1-of-2 free throws. One point.

Marquette went on to win 84-83 in overtime at the Prudential Center. One point.

Gonzalez continued to ride the referees, who showed remarkable restraint in not sending him for a powder.

After the loss Gonzalez lamented that despite the similar styles played by Marquette and Seton Hall, the Golden Eagles got 12 more free throw attempts and made 10 more foul shots.

Gonzalez -- not senior John Garcia, who he said -- on Senior Day, no less -- was a matchup liability; not power forward Herb Pope (six points, eight rebounds), who has worn down battling opposing big men for 40 minutes a game -- lost this game for Seton Hall.

"I know there's some fans that believe that," said Gonzalez when asked if he's aware his courtside antics do more harm than good. "They think you can rub somebody the wrong way and it can hurt your team. My thing always has been there's a human element to officiating and to coaching.

"Whether you're supposed to talk or not, you have to fight if you feel things aren't going well," Gonzalez added. "You can go one of two ways. You can sit there and get your head kicked in or you can try to fight. My theory has always been to fight for our kids."

Elite coaches know when to stop fighting the good fight because, yes, at some point human nature comes into play. Gonzalez still has to learn this, if he can.

Any referees who are forced to listen to Gonzalez for, in this case, 45 minutes must feel like they're trapped in an elevator with Rush Limbaugh and Bill Maher with no emergency call button.

Gonzalez bemoaned that Maurice Acker got a late three-point play, but senior Eugene Harvey of Brooklyn (13 points, nine assists and seven rebounds) did not.

"I've got to figure that one out," Gonzalez said. "That's like in heaven. That calls in heaven."

Actually the call was made in The Rock, where the Pirates (16-11 overall, 7-9 in the Big East) had won six straight to climb on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Pop!

Marquette (19-9, 10-6) continues to stage one of the most remarkable seasons in Big East history. This was its third straight road, overtime win, an astonishing accomplishment in such a brutal league.

"This is a testament to our kids," Marquette coach Buzz Williams said. "They have handled themselves remarkably."

At least someone did.



Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/seton_hall_ncaa_bubble_pops_after_QIg4wHoiSHTRPhPwMiupwI#ixzz0gxbZd3Gr

[Brewtown Andy]

That last line is a fantastic burn.

[NersEllenson]

That last line is a fantastic burn.

Gotta love the East Coast media...no way a journalist in WI would ever take such a blatant shot at one of its coaches.  The media in WI are quite respectful/non-confrontational toward head coaches.  And I don't mean that in a condescending way (Buzz-ism)..truly, not sure it is media's place to call out coaches, etc..