Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Kelly

Rick Pitino: College Basketball Icon

Chris Kelly — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:30:56 -0400

Note: That is not a picture from Fantasy Island. That is Rick Pitino wearing the white suit.

New York, New York. That is what comes to mind when talking about Rick Pitino, the Italian from New York who knows basketball. Pitino was once a basketball player himself, before he ever coached the sport.

Pitino played college ball for UMass and was a star point guard for the Minutemen. Pitino lays claim to the sixth-best single season assist total. Pitino moved on to coaching at Hawaii for a short time, before becoming an assistant at Syracuse under new head coach Jim Boeheim.

His first big time coaching job was at Boston University from 1978-1983. He would turn the Boston program around, by returning it to the NCAA tournament. After Boston, Pitino would venture into NBA waters as an assistant coach.

Pitino returned to his true calling as a college coach at Providence University where he would take the Friars to the final four. One of his players happened to be future two-time national champion Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan.

It wasn't until after Providence that Pitino hit the big time at the University of Kentucky. At UK, Pitino would get the Wildcats to the Final Four, and eventually win a national championship at one of college basketball's premier schools. Also, he would be on the losing end of one of basketball's most remarkable plays (Christian Laettner's winning shot).

After a failed tenure as the Boston Celtics head coach, Pitino returned to coaching as UK's in-state rival, the University of Louisville's head coach. At Louisville to this day, Pitino has really brought success to the once proud program, by being the only coach to get three different NCAA teams to the Final Four.

Off the court, Pitino is a man with lots of pride,but of course there have been a few tragedies that some people never fully recover from emotionally. His six-month old son died from heart failure. In his honor, Pitino has set up the "Daniel Pitino Foundation." He also lost one of his best friends during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Looking back on the unfinished career of Rick Pitino, it is easy to say that he is by far one of the greatest coaches of all-time. And he belongs in conversation with the great coaches that came before him.

Dick Vitale: College Basketball Icon

Chris Kelly — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:34:03 -0400

Throughout the years there have been those special human beings that shaped the game of college basketball. These people appear to be walking on water in the eyes of the countless fans that watch college hoops. Not all are high fliers, or make a living on the three-point line, but in the end they changed the game for the best.

This ongoing series begins with one man. This particular individual cannot dunk a basketball or shoot the three, but he has had a great impact on the game. His voice is heard all throughout college basketball and his personality is just electric. He goes by the name of Dick Vitale or Dicky V. for short and he is a college basketball icon.

Dick Vitale has been a lot of things during his career. He has been a coach, a mentor, a sports fan, and someone who just loves life and lives it to the fullest. There has really never been a time where one can see Vitale with a frown on his face, as he is always happy because he is doing what he loves.

As a sports fan Vitale has a passion for what he does. Is there any greater rivalry than UNC and Duke in the eyes of Vitale? I don't think so.

During his tenure analyst Vitale has created his own lingo with words like "diaper dandy" and "cream puff delight." It is assured that at times fans of Vitale find themselves using his words while watching a game.

Not only is he a sports fan, but he is someone who cares. Vitale has supported the V Foundation and its goal to find a cure for cancer. In the end, Vitale is a well-rounded individual who does things for the benefit of others.

He brings excitement to the game as it is a way of giving back to the game that gave him so much. If there is anyone who is a basketball icon it is Dick Vitale. He is a true ambassador of the sport.

The Beast of the (Big) East: Is It the Toughest Conference?

Chris Kelly — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:48:12 -0400

Every season sparks the same debate, "Which is the toughest conference?" This year the Big East has a chance to put nine teams into the NCAA Tournament come March. Here is a rundown of those nine teams.

Note: I chose only to describe the nine teams that I thought would make the tournament.

1. Louisville

There is not many coaches better than Rick Pitino when it come time for the tournament. Terrence Williams and Earl Clark return this year and will be joined by super frosh Samardo Samuels.

2. Connecticut

Two years ago this team was young and they failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Last year they seemed to put it all together. With Hasheem Thabeet still in college and AJ Price back, this could be a top 10 team all season. True frosh Kemba Walker could see immediate playing time.

3. Pittsburgh

Sam Young, Dejaun Blaire, and Levance Fields fuel this team. The Panthers are always in the thick of things come tournament time.

4. Notre Dame

Big East P.O.Y. Luke Harangody returns with Kyle McAlarney. These two propelled Notre Dame to the top of the Big East last year and have a good shot at finishing on top of the Big East.

5. Villanova

Jay Wright has made the post season all seven years since he started at Villanova. During that time he has visited the Sweet 16 three times in the last four years. With Scottie Reynolds in the backcourt and experienced sophomores Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes, this could be the surprise contender for the Big East crown.

6. Marquette

A new coach shouldn't change things, but then again you never know. This could be Dominic James' big year. Guard play is essential to this team.

7. Syracuse

Everyone's back except for Donte Greene, but 'Cuse might be better without him. Injuries plagued the team last year but Rautins and Devendorf return from injury. They won't miss the tournament this year.

8. West Virginia

Devin Ebanks will make up for the loss of Joe Alexander. This is a Huggins' team so it should be competitive till seasons end.

9. Georgetown

John Thompson III should be able to make up for the loss of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert in the last two seasons. Greg Monroe enters this season as a freshmen ready to make an impact.

10. Providence

11. Seton Hall

12. Cincinnati

13. St. Johns

14. DePaul

15. Rutgers

16. South Florida

In the end the Big East should prove it is the best with eight to nine teams in the tournament come March.

Building a Program the (Jay) Wright Way: Villanova's Rise to Prominence

Chris Kelly — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:52:45 -0400

Everyone knows of the 1985 Villanova Wildcats and how they shocked the nation by stopping the Georgetown Hoyas in the NCAA Championship game. That was 23 years ago. Today the program has changed a great deal, and it started with the hiring of Jay Wright in 2001.

A new era of Villanova basketball began when Wright became head coach. He was a Villanova assistant coach from 1987 to 1992 under Rollie Massimino, eventually following him to UNLV. Wright would find success as a head coach at Hofstra University, taking the team to three NCAA tournaments and being named America East Coach of the Year twice.

Wright moved past Hofstra when he was named coach at Villanova to replace coach Steve Lappas, who had underachieved as a head coach. In his second year Wright was able to land a highly regarded class of players, which included stars like Allan Ray, Curtis Sumpter, Jason Fraser, and Randy Foye.

This class would take Nova to four straight postseasons, consisting of two NITs and two NCAA tournaments. The two NCAA appearances resulted in two losses to eventual national champions (UNC and UF) and a No. 1 seed.

Move forward to today, and Wright has led the Wildcats to seven consecutive postseasons in his seven-year tenure as head coach. By making three Sweet 16s in the past four seasons, Jay Wright has made Villanova a constant contender come tournament time.

His recent success has helped bring in some star high school players during his time at Villanova, and it has seemed to pay off. Maybe Jay Wright doesn't have a national championship, but it is evident that his success will pay off sometime in the near future.

Jay Wright will field a team that returns all his starters from a Sweet 16 team that lost to eventual national champion Kansas.

Philadelphia Eagles of Old: Training Camp Report

Chris Kelly — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:26:50 -0400

Donovan McNabb was all smiles yesterday while giving an interview after morning practice up at Lehigh University. The basic feeling one gets from the interview is that McNabb is on a mission—a mission to prove all the doubters wrong.

During his tenure with the Eagles, McNabb has been the focus of much criticism. Yesterday at training camp none of that mattered, as McNabb didn't talk about that. Instead he talked about the future and how he felt this was a special team that can win games.

Donovan should have been excited, because during the multiple scrimmages he almost looked like the McNabb of old. In the pocket he was able to get away from the blitz and throw the ball down field to his receivers, including rookie speedster DeSean Jackson out of California.

Many seemed to come away impressed by the young rookie after seeing him run his lightning-fast routes downfield or over the middle. Jackson will not only be used as a receiver, but also as a return specialist, and he should shore up an area in which the Eagles struggled last year.

The day finished on a positive note with autograph signings, but most will say the highlight was the youthful athleticism shown by Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, a 13-year veteran and the king of Philadelphia sports.

Dawkins was able to dominate the younger players very easily in drills, and was able to keep up with them on the field

In other news, Asante Samuel and Lito Sheppard did not practice. Sean Andrews was a no-show due to personal problems.