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DICK'S TIDBITS | Feb. 10, 2005
Wouldn't it be great to see USA Basketball name Duke's Mike Krzyzewski to coach the 2008 U.S. Olympic team?
The Hall of Famer is so respected, he'd be the perfect guy to bring back respectability after the recent disappointments of the American team. The U.S. men failed to medal at the 2002 World Championship and then settled for the bronze at the 2004 Olympics.
Olympic coach is the one thing missing from Coach K's resume. I hope he gets the call for that position.
All-Rolls-Royce: Sneak Preview
It isn't easy to pick an All-America team with all the talent out there. If I had to pick my All-Rolls-Royce Team right now, it would be:
G: Chris Paul | Wake Forest
G: J.J. Redick | Duke
F: Wayne Simien | Kansas
F: Hakim Warrick | Syracuse
C: Andrew Bogut | Utah
I reserve judgment, of course, to make changes for my final All-Rolls-Royce team at the end of the regular season.
Memphis Getting Better and Better
Is this the Memphis team we were all expecting at the start of the season?
The Tigers have won four of their past five games, and coach John Calipari picked up career win No. 300 with the stunning upset at Louisville on Wednesday. Guard Darius Washington had a brilliant game with 25 points against the Cardinals.
Remember, the C-USA tournament this season is at Memphis.
Next Year Will Be Special Too
For those who watched Duke-North Carolina on Wednesday -- with Duke holding on for a 71-70 win at home -- next year also should be special, thanks to several diaper dandies expected next season.
Duke recruit Josh McRoberts and North Carolina recruit Tyler Hansbrough are ranked among the top five in America, according to Bob Gibbons, the guru of talent analysis.
The Blue Devils also bring in guard Greg Paulus, whom Coach K has referred to as a mix between Bobby Hurley and Steve Wojciechowski. That's good enough for me.
I met Paulus last week at Syracuse, and he seems like a special young man. His athletic talents are well documented.
Tough Calls for Selection Committee
I just have to wonder: How much weight will the NCAA Tournament selection committee give to Iowa without Pierre Pierce and to Texas minus P.J. Tucker?
Iowa coach Steve Alford was forced to dismiss Pierce from the team due to his star junior guard's off-the-court troubles.
Meanwhile, Tucker didn't take care of business in the classroom, so the sophomore forward is academically ineligible and will miss the rest of the season.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question to Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
