You think Broadus could make a triumphant return to Foggy Bottom?  He could join Ellerbe...what a wonderful cadre of scandal-charred coaches we could have.

Ah, if only TP Jr. was available again.  To dream, to dream.

I wonder what the typical Binghamton student or alum thinks about all of this.  Sure, people are going to leave comments about how the AD (and presumably Kevin) was ruining this fine academic institution.  We can't have this sort of thing here...good riddance.  Then again, there wasn't much discussion along these lines when the Bears played on ESPN to win their first conference title or on CBS in the first round of the NCAA tournament.  The school received a ton of positive publicity and the raised profile will likely lead to more applications and a more competitive student body as we've seen at the past in places like GW and Mason.

Before you come forward with your righteous rebuttals, consider that the only coach in the history of NCAA basketball who has had to vacate two Final 4 appearances at two different schools is John Calipari (at UMASS and at Memphis).  Incidentally, Calipari is also currently the highest paid coach in college basketball. Ask yourself if GW ever were to make a Final 4 only to have this distinction removed years later due to some rule or recruiting infraction, would you likely to feel ashamed or delighted nevertheless?

I don't know how the coach survives, but as referred to above, this is a truly enjoybable reference to Broadus's background. It's hard to believe we have escaped trouble for once, but even better where it is pointed at.

..."It had gone smoothly until Thirer removed Al Walker as coach in 2007 and brought in Coach Kevin Broadus, an assistant at Georgetown with a history of recruiting players with troubled backgrounds.

Thirer did not know until after he had hired Broadus about the coach’s history of recruiting players from a diploma mill in Philadelphia. "

I may be wrong but I recall there was a thought that UMass was a step ladder for the NBA - he had Pitino envy was the word.  He did a lot for the school, no doubt including demand that the school upgrade the facilities etc.   I do not think he was a cheater. 

Ask yourself if GW ever were to make a Final 4 only to have this distinction removed years later due to some rule or recruiting infraction, would you likely to feel ashamed or delighted nevertheless?

This is the essential question that GW admin has never asked, much less answered. They let their coaches hunt with subpar resources, then rein them in on the inevitable blowback when GW wins with questionable tactics.  Rather, they should just draw a line in the sand -- either way -- and say either, "Win, and we'll be fine with the consequences either way" or "We run with these rules, record be damned."

Binghamton seems similarly conflicted, but the lesson to be learned is this: It's not whether you deal with the devil to reap the rewards of basketball success or not. It's how you spin it and what kind of backing or you willing to give slippery dealings.

Mentzinger, thank you for bringing this thread back to where it needed to be.  This isn't as much about Calipari as it is about what fans are willing to overlook for on-court success.  Is anyone here ashamed of our 27-3 season because it involved at least two players who academically speaking, should not have been allowed to play college basketball (in the eyes of the NY Times and Washington Post, not necessarily the NCAA)?   Taking this further, pretend you were a UMASS student in 1996(?) when the team reached the Final 4, or a Memphis student two seasons ago.  You attended all home games, maybe even a few road games, maybe you even went to the Final 4.  You undoubtedly lived a euphoric life during those seasons.  Now, the NCAA has officially "taken away" your Final 4 appearance.  They can't take away your memories but they did take away your Final 4 banner.  It may have been the last game Billy Packer ever called on tv (thank God) but in the eyes of the NCAA, it didn't happen.  So as a former student who eperienced this, how do you feel today?  Would you have traded in the eperience if you knew it would end like it did?  I didn't think so.

Binghamton Zoo insulted by comparisons to basketball program

Pretty funny news tidbit I saw on the A-10 forum.

I am sorry, you are correct.  I would not have jumped on the Santa Maria either.  The Earth is flat, I just want to get kind of near the edge.

From the above mentioned "Birminham ZOO" article:

"No otter knocks over old ladies to shoplift condoms."

Could be the line of the year.

 Mentz,

Whats wrong with Mark ?