Mind Over Chatter: ESPN Analysts Fail to Deliver Hoop Goodies
Why didn't ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla say anything more incisive after Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State's ticking time bomb, committed a "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader" technical foul in the late stages of the Bulldogs' pre-conference loss at Baylor? Fraschilla's window-dressing whitewashing insulted the intelligence of viewers who certainly possess IQs a mite higher than the troubled MSU frontcourter. Perhaps Fraschilla doesn't boast the cojones credentials to do so although it should be an area of expertise for the former coach who reportedly dropped his pants during a locker-room spiel suggesting his St. John's players didn't measure up in the manhood department.
Meanwhile, commentator Len Elmore and his partner, clamoring for substantial facts, couldn't believe rumblings about Seth Greenberg's job status with Virginia Tech amid the Hokies getting hammered at home by Duke. Well, Greenberg deserves plaudits for defeating a nationally top-ranked team from the ACC three times in the previous five years - North Carolina in 2006-07, Wake Forest in 2008-09 and Duke in 2010-11. But here are some "facts" why Greenberg, who failed to recruit the son (Davidson All-American Stephen Curry) of VT's only NCAA consensus All-American (Dell Curry), is among the following alphabetical list of the 10 most overrated coaches from the top six leagues:
Jeff Bzdelik, Wake Forest - Career losing overall record and abysmal 11-53 mark in first four seasons in Big 12 and ACC league competition.
Tom Crean, Indiana - Total of 28 games below .500 in conference competition in the last eight seasons. Repulsive record in Big Ten road contests.
Mick Cronin, Cincinnati - Total of 16 games below .500 in Big East competition in first five seasons with the Bearcats.
Johnny Dawkins, Stanford - Total of 14 games below .500 in Pacific-10 competition in first three seasons with the Cardinal.
Seth Greenberg, Virginia Tech - Posted only one NCAA playoff victory and one undisputed regular-season conference championship in his first 22 years. Only five winning league records in 15 campaigns with South Florida and the Hokies.
Stan Heath, South Florida - Only one winning league record in first 10 seasons in the SEC and Big East.
Kevin O'Neill, Southern California - Career losing record at DI level has only three winning conference marks among first 15 years of league competition.
Oliver Purnell, DePaul - Total of 28 games below .500 in conference competition the last eight seasons in the ACC and Big East.
Herb Sendek, Arizona State - No regular-season conference championship and only six winning league records in first 16 seasons in the ACC and Pacific-12.
Bruce Weber, Illinois - Losing record in Big Ten competition over the last six seasons.
Do you agree with CollegeHoopedia.com on where Fraschilla, Elmore and other "Mouths That Can Bore" rank among the nation's color commentators?