Missouri Loses In First Round of NCAA Tournament, Kansas And Kansas State Play Today

The 2013 NCAA tournament is officially underway, and all three local Kansas City schools found themselves in the field of 68. One team is already out however, as Missouri lost to Colorado State yesterday. Kansas and Kansas State will play today.

(8)Colorado State 84   (9)Missouri 72

Colorado State jumped out to an early lead and held Missouri at arm’s length the rest of the way. Kansas native Dorian Green scored 26 points for the Rams, who won their first NCAA tournament game since 1988. The Tigers were led by Phil Pressey’s 20 points, while Alex Oriakhi added 16 points and Jabari Brown contributed 14.

It has been a frustrating last two years for Tiger fans. After a strong regular season last year, Missouri lost as a two seed in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament in one of the biggest tournament upsets of all time. This year, the team played well below expectations. Head coach Frank Haith showed early promise, but Tiger fans have to be disappointed in the team’s consecutive first-round tournament exits and poor 2013 regular season.

(1)Kansas   (16)Western Kentucky – 8:50 p.m.

NCAA tournament fans will recognize the Hilltopers, who have been a regular in the field over the past several years and have sprung a few upsets. WKU won four games in four days to win the Sun Belt tournament title and earn an automatic bid into the tournament.

A one seed has never lost to a 16 seed, and the Jayhawks should take care of business if they focus and avoid looking ahead to a possible second round matchup with Roy Williams and North Carolina. KU won the Big 12tournament with ease, and could be primed for another deep tournament run.

(4)Kansas State   (13)La Salle – 2:10 p.m.

The Kansas State Wildcats have avoided being upset all season, and they hope to continue that trend this afternoon. La Salle is a dangerous team, capable of hitting threes or getting to the rim. This is a game K-State should win, but don’t be surprised if the Explorers give the Wildcats all they can handle.

If KSU advances, they will play the winner of (5)Wisconsin vs. (12) Ole Miss with a rematch against top seeded Gonzaga possibly waiting for them in the Sweet 16.

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NCAA Puts Frank Haith Case On Hold Due To Its Own Misconduct

Recently, it appeared that the NCAA was close to taking action against Frank Haith, current basketball coach at the University of Missouri and former coach of the University of Miami. The allegations stemmed from an NCAA investigation into Miami’s athletic department, and it was widely believed that Haith was expected to face NCAA charges for unethical conduct and a show-cause penalty.

However, in a stunning turn of events, the case against Haith has been put on hold by the NCAA due to misconduct by its own rules enforcement staff. Basically, the NCAA is punishing itself.

The misconduct stemmed from how the NCAA enforcement staff obtained their information in the Haith case. Details were improperly obtained through a federal bankruptcy case – an area in which the NCAA does not have subpoena power. Worse, the enforcement staff paid defense attorney Nevin Shapiro for the information. Shapiro is currently in prison for his role in a Ponzi scheme, and is a former Miami booster who accused Haith of being involved in payments going towards players and recruits.

This turn of events should help Haith keep his coaching job at Missouri, as the case is both suspended for the time being, and weakened by the actions of the NCAA. Just a few days ago, it appeared that the allegations against Haith could be enough to force Missouri to look for a new basketball coach. Now, Haith will at the very least be able to finish coaching the Tigers this season, while his legal team has ammunition to attack the NCAA and its infractions committee.

The ruling on the NCAA could also lead to legal action regarding other significant actions college sports’ governing body has made. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett is suing the NCAA to void the sanctions leveed on Penn State as a result of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, and more lawsuits against the NCAA could follow.

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Mizzou Hires Frank Haith - Wait, Who?

I don't understand Missouri Athletic Director Mike Alden. He goes from trying to hire one ot the top tier coaches in America, to hiring a coach who was on the verge of being forced at a mediocre (at best) basketball school. Frank Haith has coached Miami University's basketball team for 7 seasons. He's been to the NCAA Tournament a total of once. He has a 38% winning percentage in the ACC in the last 7 years - to give some perspective, that's roughly equivalent to Iowa State's performance in the Big 12 over the last 7 seasons. Not Good. Alden really fouled up this one, and there is no shortage of criticism from MU fans either.

With good reason. Even if Haith wins a National Championship at Missouri, this is a bad hire. Why? Because he doesn't have the kind of pedigree that a coach needs to be at a big time program. Obviously Alden doesn't think he has a big time basketball program - it's embarrassing. It's almost like he's settling for a guy that he likes personally and simply getting the hire over with. It's really incomprehensible.

Now what. Well, I guess the we have to give the guy a chance. By all accounts he's tremendous person - honest, loyal, family man, all that, and that does count for something. He's got a reputation as a good recruiter, and he plays a more traditional brand of basketball that Missouri is surely ready for after the Mike Anderson Era. I wish the man well, and he doesn't deserve all the negative comments coming his way, but he may just be over his head. He does give a great "mean look" though.