Coach K to LA

What would happen to college basketball if Coach K left Duke for the Lakers?  Coach K is Duke.  He isn't just the men's college basketball coach at Duke. When you think of Duke, do you think of their football team?  I didn't think so.  If Coach K leaves for the greener (and I mean that in a cold, hard cash way) pastures of LA, what happens to Duke basketball?

I completely understand both sides of this issue.  First of all, Coach K has done all he can in college hoops.  He has won numerous NCAA titles, been to the Final Four over and over again, named coach of the year a few times, etc etc etc.  He also has dealt with, in recent years, players leaving school early and players not coming at all.  Elton Brand, Corey Magette, Luol Deng, Shaun Livingston and the list goes on.  Duke still wins and always will as long as Coach K is in Durham, but don't you think it gets a little old when all of these players take off early who shouldn't be leaving at all?  I'm not talking about Elton Brand.  I'm talking about the Corey Magette's.  Shaun Livingston promised over and over he'd be a Dookie. 

I know the money is there but it will always be.  Coach K has to deal with this every year now.  A few years ago when players said they were coming it was a given they would stay four years.  All of that has changed.  When he recruits the best players in the country Coach K knows he will have them for one year, maybe two or they wont come at all.  Wouldn't that start to weigh on you after a while?

On the other hand is coaching the Los Angeles Lakers for $8 mil per year.  Hello.  $8 MILLION.  I understand Duke could probably match that without blinking but this is Jack, Kobe and Hollywood.  Who would turn this down?  Coach K would for one.  He does love Kobe.  He recruited him out of high school.  If Kobe would have went to college, it most likely would have been to Duke because he respected Coach K so much.  Coach K could walk into the Laker's locker room and command total respect from every player in there....Shaq or not.  Gary Payton might be another story though.  Remember Gary Payton?  He signed with the Lakers 'just to win a championship,' then halfway through the season when he wasn't getting enough shots he was complaining more than a little girl at Toys 'r' Us.  He's a baby.

I really am looking forward to Coach K's decision.  He will do what is right for him and his family.  I for one would like him to stay in college basketball.  He is this generation's John Wooden.  Coach K is not a 'pro' coach.  He is in the mold of Bobby Knight, Rick Pitino, and Dean Smith.  I don't think in the long run it's a good deal for him.  He'll make the right decision and stay at Duke. 

My Top 8 College Basketball Coaches

1. Coach K, Duke-- He IS college basketball of this generation.

2. Rick Pitino, Louisville -- He is hopefully going to take Louisville to where he took Kentucky.

3. Lute Olsen, Arizona -- Done incredible things for the Wildcats even after the passing of his wife a couple years back.  Lute is a class act.

4. Rick Barnes, Texas -- As all of you know I'm a diehard Sooner fan but Barnes can recruit and coach with the best of them...unlike Mack Brown the slob who coaches UT football.  He couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper bag. 

5. Tubby Smith, Kentucky -- Who else could walk into a lion's den like UK and keep the 'Cats at the same level they have always been?  He has been under constant pressure since he took the job, primarily because he is colored, but he dominated the SEC this past year and he recruits like no other.  Keep it up Tubby.

6. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse -- Keeps the Orange at the top of the Big East year in, year out.  Lost both parents to cancer and finally got his first NCAA title in 2003 with Carmelo.  Can't cheer against the guy.

7. John Calipari, Memphis -- Taking the Tigers to the top.  He took off to the NBA to make some money after UMass, but he was born to be a college coach.  Amare Stoudamire was supposed to be at Memphis.  Think Amare could be helping Memphis right now?

8. Bo Ryan, Wisconsin -- Little biased, but what he did at UW Platteville and what he is doing for the Badgers is remarkable.  Only if Devin Harris would have stayed for his senior year...(by the way, I teach Bo's wife and daughter at the country club; nice family.

P.S. Sorry Bobby Knight fans...choking the lights out of Neil Reed pushed him right out of my list. 

Three and a half months to midnight madness, four and a half months to the preseason NIT.  I like college basketball just a little.