Marquette University basketball fans, already worried about point guard Dominic James' impending decision regarding his eligibility for the NBA Draft, now have another reason to be nervous.
In the coming days, Golden Eagles supporters will have to endure reports that coach Tom Crean is -- or will be -- a candidate for the vacant head coaching job at Kentucky.
Wildcats coach Tubby Smith resigned Thursday to take the job at Minnesota. Smith made the NCAA Tournament in each of his 10 years at Kentucky, winning the championship in 1998. But, that wasn't enough to keep rabid fans from getting restless. The perception was that Smith ran a "loose" program. Crean, who runs a tight ship, is being mentioned in initial reports along with Gonzaga's Mark Few and several others.
This is nothing new for Crean, whose name has been linked to openings in past seasons. Though Marquette fans may recoil at the idea that their coach would leave, they also must remember that losing a coach to Kentucky is hardly an indication of a shortcoming. Kentucky is regarded by most insiders as being among the top four or five most prestigious coaching gigs in the country.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
