Scott knows 335 > 266
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SHAREI find it hard to believe, and I'm sure many other people do as well, that it was former Princeton coach Joe Scott's decision to leave Princeton to become the head coach at the University of Denver.
You might think that it had to be because Princeton (11-17, 266 Pomeroy RPI) is so bad, but that is not the case. Well, the Orange and Black are, indeed, horrible, but they aren't as bad as Denver. The Pioneers went 4-25 overall and 3-16 in the prestigious Sun Belt Conference. In Ken Pomeroy's RPI ratings he has Denver at 335 of 336.
When it got to play good teams, Denver lost to Stanford 82-39, to Wyoming 91-59, but the showing was worse in-conference.
The Pioneers somehow beat West division winner Arkansas State (11-7 Sun Belt), but lost to both Middle Tennessee and Arkansas Little Rock by 26, and Louisiana Monroe by 36. What's even worse is that Northern Colorado -- the only team lower than Denver in the RPI -- beat Denver, 74-59.
Here's what Scott said today.
"The head coaching position at the University of Denver represents a great opportunity for me both professionally and personally," Scott said today. "DU showed a real interest, a genuine commitment and a high level of understanding of what it takes to be competitive in Division I basketball. We're going to work hard every day to build our program and define the Denver brand of basketball. I think the way we do things matches up really well with the vision and mission of the University of Denver."
Did Princeton not have that same commitment to basketball? That seems like the only real reason he gives for leaving his alma mater for the Pioneers. But if there's a team with a commitment to basketball it's got to be the one with the second-worst RPI.
Here's what Scott said following his team's loss to Penn.
"I'm extremely disappointed in the outcome of the games, extremely disappointed in the record. It hurts a lot, but at the same point in time I see promise. I see young guys with the ability to get better, and I see us in those games with numerous chances to win those games.
"I'm confident in our younger guys because they're workers," Scott said. "The level of their love to play -- we're going to find all that stuff out. But if you combine the love to play with the work ethic plus the experience that they just went through, that's how you make a jump and do get better."
Sure sounds like a coach itching to get out.