Possible basketball changes, tourney talk among topics for schools to consider
By Gary Parrish
May 15, 2006
DESTIN, Fla. -- Used to be they'd come here to the home of white waves and whiter sand -- not to mention countless souvenir shops with everything from toe rings to beer funnels -- to learn faces and names and mostly just get to know one another. Now, not so much.
"We're beyond that," said University of Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson. "Now it's about business."
Business that will begin this afternoon at 3 when the athletic directors, faculty athletic representatives and senior women administrators from the 12 Conference USA institutions convene to briefly discuss what lies ahead this week. Then Tuesday morning at 8 all the football coaches (including Memphis' Tommy West), men's basketball coaches (including John Calipari) and women's basketball coaches (including Blair Savage) will get busy redefining this redefined league by bouncing around ideas that should lead to new legislation during these annual C-USA Spring Meetings.
Some possible developments:
Basketball tournament sites: A year ago at this time the penciled-in plan was to simultaneously hold both the 2007 men's and women's C-USA basketball tournaments in Memphis. But while that remains an option, it presently seems like a longshot for logistical reasons, meaning it's likely the events will officially be separated again at some point over the next four days.
"We're cautiously optimistic that we'll get the men's tournament, but the doubleheader thing is probably somewhat suspect," Johnson said. "If we had the doubleheader, the women's tournament would have to be on campus, and there are some questions there. The size of Elma Roane (Field House) is fine; it's big enough. It's the amenities that are around it that are causing a little bit of consternation. But like everything else, it will be voted on."
Men's basketball changes: With a task force headed by former Virginia basketball coach and current East Carolina athletic director Terry Holland in place it's reasonable to expect many changes to the hoops set-up. Calipari is involved, after all.
"John has a lot of ideas," said C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky. "He thinks outside the box."
Which is good considering the league finished 13th in the RPI rankings last season behind all the BCS conferences plus the Missouri Valley (No. 6), Mountain West (No.
, WAC (No. 9), Colonial (No. 10), Atlantic 10 (No. 11) and West Coast (No. 12), this despite having a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and Elite Eight squad in Memphis.
Dozens of possible changes will be discussed, things like modifying mirror opponents. Last year Memphis was hurt by having to play UAB, Southern Miss and Tulsa twice; Calipari would rather it be something like UAB, UTEP and Houston and lowering or raising the amount of C-USA contests from 14. The wilder the idea the better, so long as it also makes the league better.
"We don't feel like we are bound to any particular way," Banowsky said. "We just want to make sure we do things the best way for our members."
Members whose representatives, in the spirit of full disclosure, will also get plenty of quality time at the resort this week considering Tuesday's and Wednesday's meetings end at noon.
Houston basketball coach Tom Penders will work on his tan. Southern Miss football coach Jeff Bower will work on his putting. Perhaps new SMU basketball coach Matt Doherty and new UAB basketball coach Mike Davis will team up on the volleyball court and later discuss the sense of relief that comes with being out of the pressure cookers otherwise known as North Carolina and Indiana.
The free afternoons are by design.
They are crucial too.
"For the league to be successful we have to be able to work together well because if people aren't working together then they'll only be pursuing their own individual interests and not considering the broader conference interests," Banowsky said. "So having folks together is critical because if they like each and know each other, then they're able to work well together, and that's important
