Colleges

Coach K recalls legendary Meyer

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times wires
Published March 23, 2006

ATLANTA - Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, a Chicago native, couldn't make it back there for legendary DePaul coach Ray Meyer's funeral on Tuesday but offered his own eulogy a day later.

"He loved the game and he loved the people," he said. "I'm not sure that anybody loved the people from Chicago any more, from sports, than Coach Meyer. He was the face of Chicago basketball and a great example of what coaches should be. ... He had a great life and we'll celebrate his life forever."

Krzyzewski recalled the last time he saw Meyer was when he attended a dedication outside his high school; he had a street named after him.

"Coach Meyer was there in a wheelchair and he always had that big smile," he said. "He had a big hug."

FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS: The Blue Devils beat Illinois then Xavier in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight at the Georgia Dome in 2004 to reach the Final Four. They lost in the semifinals to eventual champ Connecticut.

"Walking back into this building earlier (Wednesday) brought back really good memories of us playing here two years ago," senior guard J.J. Redick said.

Texas was here also for the Sweet 16, losing to Xavier. Coach Rick Barnes was ejected in the waning seconds. Said Barnes: " ... what happened at the end you hate to see that happen, but it happened and it was dealt with, I think, in the right way by the NCAA. I haven't thought much about it since then."

FAMILIAR FACES: Texas and West Virginia met on Nov. 21 in the semifinals of the Guardians Classic in Kansas City, Mo. The Longhorns won 76-75 despite turning the ball over 24 times. It didn't hurt that they dominated the boards 54-22.

LOCAL REPRESENTATION: West Virginia freshman guard Alex Ruoff, a former star at Spring Hill's Central High, has made the most of limited minutes in the NCAA Tournament. He scored three points against Southern Illinois and had two steals against Northwestern State.

READY FOR MORRISON: Gonzaga's Adam Morrison averages 28.2 points and has topped 40 five times this season. UCLA players laughed when asked if they could imagine someone scoring that many against their stingy defense. "My job is to stop the opposing team's best guard, just limit him as much as possible" said Arron Afflalo, who will likely get the first shot at Morrison. "One of the luxuries of attending UCLA is I get a lot of opportunities to play against pros throughout the summertime. I've gone to a few camps, played with Michael Jordan, Paul Pierce. I've had my share of experience throughout the year. Just another game for me."

LET ME DO THE WORRYING, GUYS: Coach John Calipari, with six straight 20-win seasons at Memphis, doesn't need to be told about the credentials of tonight's opponent, Bradley. He opted not to have his team watch tape of the Braves, instead asking them to focus only on what they need to get done. "I don't want them to worry about Bradley," Calipari said. "I'm vomiting worrying about Bradley."

GEORGE WASHINGTON: The University of Cincinnati has received permission from GW to talk to coach Karl Hobbs about the Bearcats' opening. Brad Bower, the Colonials sports information director, confirmed that permission was granted and said he was unaware of any formal contact between Hobbs and Cincinnati.

IOWA: Coach Steve Alford has no scheduled interviews with other schools, despite his name being linked with several high-profile openings, including at his alma mater, Indiana. "I'm flattered with the interest and the recognition of the outstanding season we had this year," Alford said in a statement Wednesday. "With that success, comes attention and speculation I cannot control." Alford is considered a front-runner for the Indiana job. Iowa athletic director Bob Bowlsby said Missouri officials had previously contacted him about interviewing Alford.

MISSOURI: Guard Thomas Gardner said he will attend NBA draft camps but will not sign with an agent, protecting his senior season eligibility. The Big 12 Conference's No. 2 scorer and 3-point leader has until June 18 to withdraw from the draft.

HUGGINS FANS: Bob Huggins is a coach without a team, but he could end up with two of Ohio's top players no matter where he lands. O.J. Mayo, Ohio's two-time Associated Press Mr. Basketball, said that he and Cincinnati North College Hill teammate Bill Walker - both juniors - may go wherever the former University of Cincinnati coach goes. "That could be right," Mayo said of the rumor that he and Walker would go with Huggins as a package deal. "That could be a possibility. At the same time, we don't want to go to a raw program." Mayo is a 6-foot-5 swingman and Walker is a 6-6 power forward.

[Last modified March 23, 2006, 02:15:42]