ACC-Big Ten

Dickie V was back to the guy I like last night calling the UNC-Indiana game. The game was less spectacular, though I will reserve some judgment until after the Indiana-UConn game Saturday.

The Wake-Illini game was an eye-opener. Wake just looked awful. I can't tell yet if it was one of those nights, the superiority of the Illini, is Wake just hype or a combo. I admit that I have a tougher time reading the tea leaves after blow-outs then in close games. On Saturday, the Illini play the Razorbacks, who are untested. (They did blow out Winthrop, who just beat Providence...) Jeff Saragin now has the Illini #2 and Arkansas #16. (This understates Arkansas and overstates Illinois due to the fact that, at this point, the start ranking impacts placement.) The news for Wake is that it was SO bad, there is nothing to do but move on.

Thew has not put up his Hot Top 10, but my list would not change much.

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A quick note on Ty Willingham. His press conference was the epitome of class. If a major program does not get this guy soon, there is no justice. Contrast him with Nolan Richardson's exit at Arkansas a few years back.

There was alot of comment during the ESPN telecast (and in web circles) of the visible difference in the number of black coaches in college hoops versus college football. Of course, the big question is why? My guess is two fold. First, while you can look at the "universe" of NCAA 1-A, the "real" universe of the respective sports is drastically different. The fact is that college hoops universe of teams is probably 100, while the football universe is, maybe, 20. Why? Glad you asked, because it brings me to point two.

The TV exposure of programs and coaches (black and white) is so much higher in college hoops because of March Madness. Stan Heath was an outstanding coach at Kent State and made a terrific run during the 2002 NCAA Tourney, just short of the Final Four. Terrific exposure that NCAA football cannot match. When Nolan Richardson, ahem, left Arkansas, Stan was an obvious candidate and proven winner.

The point is both the opportunity for advancement among successful team (defined as team making a deep run in the Tournament or consistently making the Tournament) and the exposure you need to bring yourself to the attention of the ADs and Presidents is much greater.

There is no doubt black coaches are lagging in NCAA football, but the comparisons to NCAA basketball are apples to oranges.