Former Princeton coach Sydney Johnson was introduced at Fairfield today as the Stags' new head coach, leaving behind his alma mater just four years after taking over and turning the Tigers into a competitor.
The general sentiment among those analyzing his move is that it was primarily financially motivated. And while Johnson certainly has emotional ties to Princeton, the prospects of not having to worry about academic indexes, financial aid and the other banes of Ivy Athletics are alluring to any coach.
It's definitely easier to see a Steve Donahue or Fran Dunphy leave for greener pastures, but, as Kotloff noted, we're all a little bit shocked to see a son of the Ancient Eight move onward and, dare we say, upward (not to say that Fairfield is definitely upward, except for monetarily).
It's far too premature to wonder whether Penn could face a similar fate. Jerome Allen has a lot of work to do before he'll be fielding calls from the Fairfields of the world. But could Penn be his stepping stone as well? It is, after all, his first NCAA coaching job ever. I'm inclined to say no based on my experiences with the coach, but there are a few nagging pieces that might indicate otherwise:
I blogged a while back that Allen once mentioned offhand to me that he might be interested in pursuing a masters degree of some kind. This isn't the same as another coaching job, but it could indicate he's got higher ambitions.
I remember watching the ESPN3 broadcast of the Harvard-Princeton playoff and the postgame interview with Sydney Johnson. The only bit I distinctly recall was an emotional Johnson saying "I love love love Princeton basketball." I don't doubt that Johnson still loves Princeton basketball, but a month after he cried in his press conference with joy over the Tigers, he has quickly moved on.
This one's a bit silly, but in our annual column exchange before the first Princeton game, the Daily Princetonian editors pointed out how Penn was on an eerily similar trajectory to Princeton, rising out of the depths of the League with a former star player leading the way. While I still hold that we won the column battle this year (and last year, for that matter), the Princeton editors make a good point.
So now that Johnson has left his beloved Princeton, will the parallels between the two program continue? What are the odds that Allen leaves when his stock is high?
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I wrote last week about the possibilities of more recruits joining Jerome Allen's first class this year, and listed a few prospects to fill out the roster. Well, here's one more: Aaron Best, a 6-foot-4 small forward (though I've also seen him called a guard...) out of Ontario, Canada.
Best told the Canadian basketball site Crown that he was deciding between Penn and Ryerson in Toronto. He said his decision won't come until May. The dilemma, he says, is between a program and coach he knows in Canada, and D-I Ivy school like Penn.
This list ranks him as the 13th best guard in the province of Ontario. Here's a video of the kid:
And here's another article about his recruitment, which describes him as "an explosive wing with great versatility. He can have his way inside due to his athleticism, but can also run the break after crashing the boards"
Hopefully by now, the Buzz faithful have picked up on the fact that today was the DP's annual joke issue, and the content on the Buzz has been maybe a little bit false.
Henry Brooks didn't break his second knee — he did break his first, though. Greg Louis was not named the top player in the nation, just Florida....and Rudy Wise is here to stay, for now, as am I.
Sydney Johnson is actually going to Fairfield. Even I couldn't make that up.
Thanks to my colleagues for pointing out everything I've messed up on in the last year. For a great backstory to the DP's gag issue, see this editorial.
*This post appeared as part of the 2011 Joke Issue.
Former Daily Pennsylvanian Senior Sports Editor Calder Silcox is accepting a blogging position at the Harvard Crimson.
"We are delighted for the Penn community and what this means for the future quality of the paper, and we wish Cal all the worst," Daily Pennsylvanian executive editor Lauren Plotnick wrote in a statement.
Leadership at the Crimson said they recruited Silcox for his ability to aggregate relevant website links without adding any contextual information.
"Let's be honest, Silcox already writes more about Harvard than about Penn anyway," Crimson Sports Chair Brian Campos said.
Silcox -- rated a 40 by ESPN.com and a one-star recruit by Rivals -- said he is excited to rebuild The Back Page blog despite its less illustrious history.
"I have a lot of respect for what Tommy Amaker has accomplished in his short time here, and I expect the Crimson to have a similar renaissance," Silcox said. "But let's be honest. As we saw with Sydney Johnson, and as it is with all Harvard recruits, it's all about the money."
Campos said the move is not yet a done deal because Silcox must still be accepted by Harvard admissions as a transfer student.
"He's going to have to increase his SAT scores by at least 50, maybe 100 points," Campos said.
*This post appeared as part of the 2011 Joke Issue.
Rummaging through closets at the DP, I stumbled on piles upon piles of old sports photos. So over the coming seven months, The Buzz will feature a photo-a-day to countdown the start of the men's basketball season.
New head coach Michael Chien speaks at his introductory press conference in March of 2010.
*This post appeared as part of the 2011 Joke Issue.
Assistant to the assistant to the assistant coach Rudy Wise plans to leave his job at Penn and join former Princeton basketball coach Sydney Johnson as a top assistant at Fairfield, according to sources on the JV team.
Wise has been the JV coach and volunteer assistant at Penn for just one year. Unlike Sydney Johnson's move, this appears to be an upward one for Wise. But much like Johnson's move, it appears to be 100% fiscally motivated.
"They were paying me peanuts here," said Wise. "At Fairfield it's cashews. and money."
A wise move indeed.
No word as to who will replace him on the Penn staff, though rumors of a tag-team JV coaching duo of Vince Curran and Brian Seltzer have begun to take hold.
*This post appeared as part of the 2011 Joke Issue.
Incredible news for Penn basketball fans. Quakers commit Greg Louis has emerged as the HS Class of 2011's best player nationwide. Apparently, after a few impressive pickup games, including one stretch during which he made five straight hook shots, scouts jumped on the Louis bandwagon and he has now leapfrogged over all his competition. Louis even got the nod over heralded guard Austin Rivers (son of Celtics' coach Doc), to become the nation's No.1 player graduating this year. This is obviously a tremendous "get" for the Penn program and definitely lessens the blow of losing a guy like Jack Eggleston. Louis has shown great improvement over the year, rising the ranks from a dubious candidate for Florida's player of the year now to the nation's best. Should be an impact player right away.
This info has also been verified as per the standard Seifter Smell Test.
*This post appeared as part of the 2011 Joke Issue.
Some crippling news out of Georgia this morning — heralded Penn recruit Henry Brooks has reportedly broken his other knee in a game of pick-up basketball. The star forward previously broke his right knee in the state playoffs. With the compounded injuries, there's no set timetable for his return to the court.
But much like with the first knee injury, the Penn staff is sticking by Brooks through and through.
"We've got a first rate sports medicine program here at Penn," coach Jerome Allen said. "Just look how things have gone for us with injury recoveries over the last few years. He'll be back on the court by his senior year for sure"
*This post appeared as part of the 2011 Joke Issue.
Dear loyal readers,
We regret to inform you that the DP Sports Editors have decided to disallow commenting on all future Buzz post. We feel that as an extension of Weightman Hall, we need to protect the image of Penn Athletics. Due to the nature of recent Buzz posts, we feel we have betrayed this image, as per LP's Raising the Bar. This will be the last day that readers can comment on posts. We hope you understand.
Regretfully,
Cal Silcox, Kevin Esteves, Brian Kotloff and Megan Soisson
Sydney Johnson is leaving Princeton to become the head coach at Fairfield University. Johnson is a 1997 graduate of Princeton and has spent four years as its head coach. He recently led the Tigers to their first NCAA tournament appearance in seven years and nearly upset Kentucky in the first round. The news was confirmed to ESPN.com by Princeton athletic director Gary Walters.
"The Princeton family is disappointed but we wish Sydney all the best," Walters told the website.
Fairfield is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Stags finished the season 25-8, making an appearance as a No. 6 seed in the National Invitation Tournament, and losing to Kent State 72-68 in the second round. Johnson is replacing Ed Cooley, who was recently named the head coach at Providence.
Those of you who follow the obscure ESPN channels might have seen this week that Penn commit Greg Louis and his Dwyer (Fla.) High School teammates played in the ESPN Rise National High School Invitational. The Dwyer Panthers were knocked out of the tourney last night by Virginia-Oak Hill in a three point loss. Louis actually put up the game-tying three at the end of the game but it didn't go in.
“Down here, we’re a football state and I always wanted to play in a basketball city like New York or Chicago or Philly. We have all of the accolades in football here and we hope to bring some in basketball.”
On a totally different topic, former Penn hoopster Steve Danley made an appearance writing for ESPN, doing a little guest blog about a recent experience he had at a Euroleague playoff game he attended in Athens. Here's his account of the scene:
The fans didn’t disappoint. By the time I took my seat, still half an hour before tipoff, all 19,000 of them were standing, singing, and as far as I could tell, smoking. The haze was made worse by some sort of torch that fans lit during big moments of the game, so much so that the smoke notably hung over and obscured the action on the court.
I'm not the first DPer to write about Glen Miller this week, but whereas my colleague Matt Flegenheimer could write a thousand words on the subject, I'll let pictures do the talking. A former DP Sports ed. brought this photo to my attention, and it's really too good not to share.
You'll notice right below Calhoun's backside a steely-eyed young lad by the name of Glen Miller, hunched over on all fours, paisley tie dangling in the heat of the moment.
Flash forward to 2006-2009. Miller has left his role as an assistant, now the head man here at Penn. The title may have changed, but the position remained the same:
And today, Miller is back on the Connecticut bench, right where it all started. What a difference 20 years makes.
The Recruiting Moment: Schmall heard from other Division I coaches, but as soon as the Ivy League’s started to come around he had to look at them. Penn sold him with the chance to win.
The Skinny: Schmall was a CIF –SS East Valley Division Defensive MVP in his junior year as St. Margaret’s in San Juan Capistrano, CA before moving on to SoCal powerhouse Mission Viejo his senior year. Schmall made a smooth transition as an outside linebacker and will need to be a little more physical in taking on lineman. However, what he lacks in physicality, he makes up with speed. His 4.65, 40 yard dash allows him “to cover wide receivers very well.”
The Quote: “[I am most excited about] the whole atmosphere that Penn basically entails. I’m so happy of the clear path the school sent me on.”
While Penn waits for its potential first Public League recruit in 30 years to attain the necessary SAT score to get admitted, another could join the Quakers in 2012. 5'10 Boys' Latin point guard Maurice Watson Jr., the Pub League Division B's leading scorer at 21.9 ppg (4th in the city), considers Penn his top choice, according to father and coach Maurice Watson Sr.
The junior has connections with players and coaches all over the city, but has moved on from his dream to go to Villanova after Ryan Arcidiacon - rated by ESPN as the fourth-best PG prospect in the Class of 2012 - committed to the Wildcats in October. Watson has also received interest from Princeton, Cornell, Yale, Dartmouth, Rice and NCAA tournament teams Boston U. and Bucknell. He may make a decision as soon as April, but will likely opt to wait until after this summer's AAU season.
Watson's preference for Penn stems from its academics and close location to his West Philadelphia home - he frequently hangs out in University City, just a 10-minute drive from his house - plus, perhaps most importantly, his relationship with Jerome Allen. The Watsons have known Allen since Maurice Jr. participated in Allen's "Hood Enriched" program as an 8-year-old. Maurice Sr. called Allen a "hometown hero" and Philadelphia "icon" and said that Allen has dreams of giving local inner-city kids opportunities to play for Penn. However, the process has been "frustrating" for Allen because Penn's academic standards are so high and city recruits therefore would have a hard time getting into the school.
"I can't name a kid that wouldn't want to play for him," Watson Sr. said, adding that he could see Allen building a "dynasty" if he can manage to attract city talent and get them into Penn. Watson said his son got a 1320 on the PSAT and Penn coaches told him he needed to raise his score by 100 points on the SAT to be in range (Note: I am fairly sure but not certain that this is a three-section score, including critical reading, math and writing).
As a player, Watson Jr. is an "explosive" point guard that can score in bunches - he posted a game high of 43 points this season - as well as distribute the ball. His father said Maurice is "naturally born with the gift of being a point guard" who "knows the game better than some coaches." Watson's play is the result of a decade of work with Philadelphia basketball greats, including Allen, Villanova coach Jay Wright, former Germantown Academy, Villanova and Toronto Raptors point guard Alvin Williams, former 76ers' greats Allen Iverson and World B. Free, and legendary coach Larry Brown. "He watches all the classics," Watson Sr. said. "He's a sponge."
Currently, the Watsons are looking to set up a campus visit with Allen and assistant coach Mike Martin, who has already attended several of Watson's games. The "financial package" Penn offers could become a factor, and Watson said Rice has already offered a full ride. Still, he made it clear that Watson's focus is on joining the Quakers, especially since he has a relationship with Constitution High commit Xavier Harris that dates back 8-9 years. The addition of a dynamic point guard would be huge for Penn - and Watson said Allen specifically told him he's looking for a point - given that Zack Rosen will have graduated by 2012.
With 1,659 career points already, Watson is within range of Wilt Chamberlain's career total of 2,206, which ranks second in Philly high school history to 2003 Strawberry Mansion grad Maureece Rice (2,681).
Beginning at 5 a.m. this morning students and other members of the Penn community gathered in Houston Hall to watch the ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal matchup of India and Pakistan. The matchup pitted fierce rivals who have fought four wars since their partition in 1947, and the game didn't disappoint.
Paced with 84 runs by star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, India was able to place their score 260 (in 50 overs) just out of reach of the Pakistanis who managed to score 231 runs (all out). In case you don't know who Sachin Tendulkar is, ESPN's Wright Thompson wrote a great profile about the legend, which was on the front page of ESPN.com last night. in his piece he writes:
"He's done it. A century. I've never been in a stadium that feels like this one. Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, people from different castes and classes, speakers of a dozen languages, all citizens in the Republic of Sachin. The stern cops give wide smiles and thumbs-ups. The chant goes from "Sachin! Sachin!" to "Hoo … ha … IN-DI-A!" They are interchangeable. Finally, at 120, Sachin pops out. He walks off, and the crowd rises once again. The people lean over the railings, trying for one more moment with their hero.He waves his bat and disappears.Sachin's gone."
After the final out the Indian-partisan crowd at Houston Hall erupted in jubilation. Chanting "Sachin" and "Jitega bhai jitega india jitega" (Will win, Indian will win).
As the four most unexpected teams in March Madness history prepare for this weekend's Final Four in Houston, many questions are being raised about whether this is good for college basketball.
The other teams that could be considered Cinderellas in this 27-year span were either from the 'Establishment' (which does not include the Ivy League) or had a future NBA star leading them. But since 2005, four Cinderellas have made it to the Final Four: George Mason in 2006, Butler in 2010 and Butler and VCU this year.
"It stands to reason that experienced teams filled with good players can compete with inexperienced teams carried by one or two very good players. Regardless of conference affiliation or program profile," Forde writes. So while it seems improbable that an Ivy team could make it to the Final Four in the coming years, these Cinderella stories should provide inspiration to all the Ivy teams. And maybe, just maybe, Penn will find a way to regain that 1979 magic that made it one of the best Cinderella stories in March Madness history.
Talk about your recruitment. I heard you visited last week — what did you think of your trip?
Simeon: The trip to the University of Pennsylvania was great. we were welcomed by both the players and coaching staff. they gave us a feel of life at UPenn. I was Amazed by the architecture and facilities on campus.
Keelan: My recruitment came about through a link between my former high school, St.Malachys College Belfast, and UPenn. Therefore I heard about Upenn after graduating in '10 but decided to take the equivalent to a prep school year at Barking Abbey and to play for the London Leopards in the EBL division 1.
The trip over was fantastic, in Ireland and England we are not exposed to college basketball as much and basketball as a sport is seem almost as a second tier sport, so the Palestra and history there was quite overwhelming. The College as a whole is totally different to anything we have back home so everything was new and made everything more enjoyable for me.
How long has the recruiting process been going on for you and which coaches were you in touch with?
Keelan: The recruitment process started back in November i think with a call from Washington state University. Then after this I had been getting interest from a range of colleges from Hartford, to Illinois state, to Tennessee at Chattanooga and NJIT and I think more but I wanted to have the opportunity to play at the highest level I could while getting the best of both worlds with education and basketball both a priority.
What is Jerome Allen's reputation like over in England and how did that factor into your commitment?
Keelan: I did not know of Jerome Allen's reputation before i looked into it, but a few of my coaches and their contacts were aware of him during his 11 years in Europe. I think his time spent playing overseas has had a massive influence into my commitment as it is clear there is much European influence in his coaching style. Some of the basic rules of his team are exactly what i am playing this year and have been playing my whole career, so i think i will be able to catch on to his program quickly and produce straight away.
Had you hoped to play together? Are you excited to have someone familiar coming over with you?
Simeon: During the whole recruiting process we never expected we would be given the opportunity to or be recruited by the same school. Fortunately we have. We enjoy playing together and complement each others game. Coming over with someone I know will help me settle sooner.
Keelan: Me and Simeon have played together this whole season and we both intended to go to college in the states to play basketball, but we never discussed or thought of the possibility of playing stateside on the same team, so when news arose that UPenn had an interest in us both we made a deal that we either both go to Penn or that neither of us go to Penn and it turns out that worked out pretty nicely for us both.
Yeah, I think having a teammate come over with me to play makes the whole experience much more comfortable as I will already have someone I know and trust with me. It also makes the process of being so far away from home a little easier for us both. But hopefully after a few months we will feel at home anyway in Penn.
Describe strengths and weaknesses of your games?
Keelan: I am a pretty versatile player that can play both inside and out. I have played as a 4 man and also a wing player this year depending on whatever line up we have on. Strengths to my game are my shooting, which helps stretch the floor and usually takes away the helpside defense of a big on the opposing team and my versatility all over the court as I can dribble and pass well for my size which will hopefully cause matchup problems for opposing teams. My main weakness is at the moment is admittedly my strength and explosiveness but hopefully I can make up for whatever I lack with other aspects of my game.
I think Simeon is a great player because he can shoot and get to the basket as well as anyone, plus he is also a lengthy and quick wing defender that can guard multiple positions.
What differences do you expect between the game over in England and here in the USA and how are you going to adapt?
Simeon: The USA game will be very different to here in the UK. The players in the US are conditioned better and more athletic. I expect their intensity of play to be higher as a result. However, the UK use a 24 second shot clock as to your 35. I will have to get used to offences taking longer.
Keelan: Usually I would answer with the game being more one on one based in the USA than Europe but I think Coach Allen's scheme involves lots of ball and player movement which is typical of the European style. I think some aspects of the game are slower due the the longer shot clock to which I am used to, we have a 24 second shot clock for the age of 10, so to adapt I think I will have to know what shot is good and what shot is bad for me to take early in an offence and to always take shots I practice rather than inventing or forcing anything too early on.
Coach Jerome Allen's first recruiting class ballooned to six over the last couple days as two European commits declared their intention to come to Penn over the weekend, and big-time recruit Henry Brooks (Ga.) did the same yesterday. They join Greg Louis (Fla.), Cam Crocker (Calif.) and Xavier Harris (Pa.) to fill out an already large class — especially after seven freshman joined the Quakers last year.
But could there be more on the way? There are still a few prospects that Allen and co. might still be considering. How big could this class get? Let's take a look at the players still on the table (keep in mind that this is very speculative):
Keegan Hyland. Penn already reeled in a Keelan from Ireland, but there might be a Keegan from Maine coming. The Penn coaching staff was spotted last week giving a tour to the former Gonzaga freshman guard who left after a semester, and is now looking for a new home. He dealt with some injuries and never saw significant action for Gonzaga. Wherever he ends up, he'll have to sit out the next year in compliance with NCAA rules.
Patrick Lucas-Perry. The Michigan guard has a story similar to Brooks, but a year removed. PLP drew interest from some big time programs, but tore his ACL, and the interest decreased. He's still yet to commit, and Penn's main competitor for Perry's interest is Oakland, where his brother Laval plays. He listed Penn and Oakland as his top two last month.
Will Davis. Remember the one-time Quakers commitment who decommitted in early January? He's still on the market and he could conceivably re-commit.
The class' current distribution is four forwards and two guards. Last summer we spent a lot of time speculating how the large roster would play out for Penn, and it looks like the case will be the same this year.
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Brooks is a 6-foot-7 power forward out of Miller Grove High School, rated an 87 by ESPN, which would make him one of the highest rated Ivy League recruits this season. Brooks had originally received interest from programs like Minnesota, Georgia Southern, and Mississippi State, as well as Harvard and Cornell, but tore his ACL in the state quarterfinal game. He was even offered a scholarship from Tennessee in early March, though the coach who offered, Bruce Pearl was fired several weeks later.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution high school hoops writer Michael Carvell described Brooks as "an ace defender for No. 1-ranked Miller Grove"
Earlier this month, we detailed Zack Rosen's impressive connections to NCAA tournament players across the country. Last night on 60 minutes, CBS aired a story about Bob Hurley, "the Sage of St. Anthony," who is considered "America's best high school coach" and has been chronicled in the book, The Miracle of St. Anthony. Hurley's son, Danny, served as Rosen's coach at St. Benedict's, one of St. Anthony's chief rivals in the state. Both Hurleys now coach at Wagner College in New York City.
Here's a full list of New Jersey high school players who made it to March Madness, including Princeton hero Douglas Davis and future first-round NBA draft picks Kyrie Irving (Duke), Kenneth Faried (Morehead St.), Marcus and Markieff Morris (Kansas) and Tristan Thompson (Texas). Definitely gives you a sense of the caliber of competition Rosen faced in high school and the type of coaching he received - as described in this Sports Illustrated story - to make him the player and person he is today.
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