coaching

That is cool.... and you make a lot of great points. ETSU has not made a ton of great decisions in the past with basketball.... totally agreed. Again, my argument was that it has never happened before. A coach from the AAC has a hard time making it out of that league. They either retire, take high school jobs, or get out of coaching all together. Coach Pitts may very well be the exception. But look at Tony Wallingford at Milligan. From 1993-2002 he won 8 championships in that league. If there has ever been a guy deserving, it is him. Why cant he make it out? Why doesnt he get offered a D-2 job? Again, I am a coach Pitts fan. If anyone can make the moves, I am sure that it is him.... but I have to disagree with you that it will be in less than two years. As much as the guy already knows... he still has a lot to learn. Sure, once he gets guys on the floor he is a genious. But getting guys to come to King over Carson Newman, Lee (they have a TV show), Mountain State (they have a jet for recruiting), or any other plethora of schools out there is a different challenge. He has NEVER experienced what it is like to recruit. And he will be recruiting kids who have to be smart. You need a 3.5 or higher just to make it at King.... Its gonna be fun to watch.... I sincerely hope that he does well.

I am not underestimating coach Pitts. He is "the man". An incredible coach, with an incredible resume. I hope that he does well at King. I am sure that he will. It will take some time. And if he makes this jump (which I hope he does), he can kiss his family time goodbye... he has never recruited before, and no matter how much you hear about what its like to try to be on the road all the time, it is a different story when you actually have to do it. My entire point is that he will not be on ETSU's staff with a significant role (head coach, top two assistants) anytime in the next 5-6 years. ETSU is one of the most sought after mid-major programs in the country, and a coach with a few high school championships and a couple of years D-2 experience is not going to get him the job. I hope he does well at King. He should, .. they have the money and facilities to bring in some players.... he will be challenged to find players who can cut it academically at King.

ACDC Fan, If what you are saying is true... do this: Name one coach in the HISTORY of college basketball that has made the jump from NAIA division 2 (KING), to NCAA Division 1..... short answer for you.... It has never happened, and it never will. I challenge you to prove me wrong..... The closest you are going to come is Lipscomb (NAIA D-1) and Belmont (NAIA D-1), and they made the jump a few years ago. Lipscomb lost one of the best coaches in the country when it happened.... As a matter of fact, of every coach in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (Kings league), only 2 coaches in the last 15 years have moved up to coach a higher level of basketball. Rick Scruggs (Milligan -NAIA D2) moved to NAIA 1... and Tommy Brown (Bluefield-NAIA D-2) is now the head coach at Lee (NAIA D-1)... I am not saying that it couldnt happen..... I am saying that whoever the next head coach at King is has absolutely ZERO chance to make the jump straight to ETSU. Maybe a NAIA-1 or NCAA 2, but ZERO chance at state.

Its gonna get him a college coaching job.... just not ETSU. It will get him an NAIA job such as King. 100% agree with you on everything. I wish my grandma was Pat...

Coach Pitts is not ready to coach D-1 basketball. It has taken him seven state championships just to get an opportunity at an NAIA job. His name is well known in high school circles, but college AD's know that it is a completely different job coaching D-1. That is why he didnt get the ETSU job years ago. He didnt even deserve consideration. And that is why he is just now getting the opportunity to make the jump. And lets be honest people... with the players that he has won all those state titles with.... It's not rocket science.... my grandmother could win with those players. Just throw them the ball and let them play.

Is the HUGE difference between NAIA and NCAA D-2 the game Tusculum played against Bluefield this year? I dont think 80-76 is a huge difference. Bluefield didnt even win that league. Montreat won the league. And Montreat beat D-1 UNC-Asheville.... Carson Newman lost to D-3 Maryville. There is not as big a difference as you think.... the stats and records speak for themselves. D-2, NAIA, D-3 are all about the same.... the difference is the size of the school and the amount of scholarships.

You are probably right about the financial decision part.... But has never coached college before..... could be a new challenge for him. Does Brentwood pay him $60K????

King's job would pay around $60K with camps. If he has enough years to retire out of the high school system, both incomes could potentially be around $120K. If that is the case, he would be crazy not to take a look at that opportunity. If any coach in TN high school deserves the opportunity, its him. However he is in for a rude awakening. He has been coaching better players at Brentwood than he would be coaching at King. You cant recruit David Harrison's, Brandon Wright's, and the kid going to Southern llinois to an NAIA or a D-2 school. Best of luck whatever he decides.

Your the man dawgwriter... dont listen to everyone else...... THANK YOU FOR THE HELP!!!!

Keeping up with you Dawgwriter..... I am in Texas.... you are my only contact to the game!!!! Thanks!!!

I wonder if the boarding school link is a shot at vespie? just checking

This guy is right..... When the ball came in bounds the arrow should have changed....

That is good stuff.....I am not positive about this answer, but.... The possession arrow technically doesnt change until the ball comes in bounds, so in that case I think the ref would be right. But I agree with you.... that is a stupid rule that should be changed. That is an extremely unique situation.

Let's not get carried away. They are definitly not high class people by any stretch of the imagination, but the lowest on earth? Just idiot high school kids who are imature. Probably an upset football player who hasnt beaten Maryville in the forty years.

I think Temple and Grace should combine. They would still be a single A school. Can you imagine the lineup? Carter, skogen, eldridge, and Dee Newson? Pick another starter, it really wouldnt matter. I know this will never happen, but i thought it was an entertaning idea.

COMPLETELY respectable Harvo. Best of luck to Wartburg. I hope you guys have the opportunity to take it to the next level this year. I hope your teammates can learn a lesson a needed lesson from you. You have class, I respect that.

Great reply harvo. Obviously I have upset you. In all honesty, I really dont care. You're attitude about Wartburg basketball explains precisely my point. The reason they never win anything is because no one cares. Two weeks ago before Wartburg lost, half of their team was on here talking about how good that they are. Now after three losses, it's you, me, and a freshman talking junk. Seriously, did you not see this coming? They are not THAT good of a basketball team. (GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE POST ORANGENATION STARTED). I dont care if I upset you or anyone else who talks about Wartburg. So save your guilt trip. If your players can dish it out, then they should be able to take it.

And just so we know who I am talking about when I say "Selfish players" .... I am talking about the Shannon's. The rest of the team would be better off without them.

HAHAHHAH.....Great answer harvo......Now evaluate who you are defending!!! A team with no merit!!!! 1. Unaka beat the district 4-A champ!! Great!!! The district 4-A hasnt mattered since 1994 when Oneida and Powell Valley were in the final four. And if you want to bring up Cosby.... lets talk about Eric Coggins. I know you dont want to go there..... 2. How does it feel to put an apostrophe in the wrong place? It feels as good as a loss to Rockwood and Pickett. Was there anyone else???? 3. Ohhhh......You were talking about state trophies???? Perfect.....(HA!!!) If you walk in Wartburg's lobby, you can see all of the GOLD trophies they have won. They produce state championship trophies every year............ When did they go to a substate again? ........'88? ..... Nice....Your dad was in high school then..... that was a great year. They won the Petros Joyner christmas tourney that year.....HA!! And since I dont know how to spell Murfreesboro.... I will go ahead and spell this for you......."Me and my parents have no idea what it is like to make it to a state tournament"....... How is the spelling on that??? Does that work??? 4. "Dont lose faith until its over"......"A loss is not a big deal".... Ask Ricky Norris if a loss is a big deal. You dont need faith if you have good coaching and good talent. Ask anyone that comes from a winning program if a loss is a big deal....OF COURSE IT IS!!!!!! Coming from someone who has no idea what the glass house looks like..... I can completely understand. The only way Wartburg has a chance is to get coach Goldston back. Otherwise.... the inmates will run the prison. Selfish basketball... selfish players.

1. Philip2003, "AWSOME" is spelled "Awesome". --- You probably wont learn how to spell that until your sophomore year. 2. (Harvo) Who cares about trophies from Christmas tournaments?? The only one that matters is the one they hand out in Mufreesboro. How many of those does Wartburg have? With the high schools surrounding and the state tourneys that they have won in different sports, you should just ask them: Oneida, Coalfield, Rockwood, Harriman, Oak Ridge.... ask them what it is like to hold up a gold ball.... 3: The year Unaka won the state, they played teams like Science Hill (State tourney 3-A), Elizabethton (State tourney 2-A), and Grace Baptist (State finals 1-A). Wartburg's schedule doesn't compare to that. During Unaka's 13 losses, I can assure you that they werent saying "Ohhh, its just a season loss". That is why they won state. Besides the fact that Coach Ensor is now coaching college.... that always helps when your high school coach is good enough to coach college. 4. Rockwood, Pickett, Kennesaw.... it doesnt matter. A loss is a loss. These guys you are defending (Harvo) are the same guys who two weeks ago were deciding whether or not to stay at the Garden Plaza or the Holiday Inn when they play for the state finals in March. GUT CHECK TIME!!! If you cant beat two teams within 50 miles of you, how are you gonna win state?????? 5. Harvo: When you say "your" and you are talking about me being 'proud of myself', you should be spelling it: "you're". Have you been teaching freshman English at Wartburg?? I wish I had my red marker with me..... Take it easy boys!!!! I am just talking a little junk. There were 18 pages of this until Wartburg lost!!!!

Unfortunately for me, you are correct "bballplaya24"... after looking at the Kennesaw Mountain website, their Varsity team was at the Harriman tournament. Kennesaw is 30 miles north of Atlanta, and they are class 5-A. I hope that makes Wartburg feel better. They only got beat by a 5-A school from Georgia, a Single A school from Pickett County, and a Single A school from Roane County.

1. Again: English...."was you at the game" ... should be "Were you at the game?" 2. Again: Excuses.... its all the ref's fault ("Wartburg's had 5 starters with three fouls in the first quarter") Your telling me Wartburg had 15 fouls called in the first quarter? Whatever. "The clock keeper couldnt hit the right buttons"-- stop making excuses and play the game..... All I am hearing you say is that you have excuses for losing. Play the game... stop whining. 3. I saw Wartburg play Pickett and Kennesaw. If you look at Kennesaw's schedule, you will notice that their varsity was at a tournament in Florida. The J.V. team was at the tourney in Harriman, playing only sophomores and juniors. 4. Stop comparing scores... Wartburg is not the top team in their district (See Rockwood), much less a top team in the region...... And you dont deserve to be mentioned in the same breath with state tourney teams.... 5. And if you want to talk womens basketball for something to brag about... there is a different thread for that. See "Womens basketball" on Coacht.com.

What? Wartburg lost? I thought everyone had already decided they were going to win the state? I mean c'mon, They have the best one - two combination this side of Bolivar with the Shannon's.... How can a team with two future NBA first round draft picks lose three out of four? I guess they arent ranked in the top ten anymore? There were 15 pages of "Wartburg, who will stand in their way?" Lets start a list: Kennesaw Mtn's JV team, ummmm who else.......oh...Pickett County......lets see, anyone else? ............hmmmmmmmmmmm.....Did Rockwood beat them? They must be spending a little more time in English class learning how to spell so that they dont screw up all of the smack talking on coach-t. Where is all of the talk now?

Sure... glad to help... that is years of coaching that has taught me that. Let 'em Play: That is a great question... you have a great point and I agree with you. I am simply saying that refs, unfortunately, control the arena. For better or worse we have to deal with it.