I also saw the game last night. WTF was Hakeem doing? Losing on a prayer shot...tough. Losing on a slam dunk while your future NBA hall of famer and Olympian doesn't box out...unacceptable Penders is a bad hire especially IF Josh Pastner is available. I think UH got burned with Drexler and doesn't want to go with a coach without D1 experience, but Penders has a troubled past and teams that don't play defense. Recruiting at UT is not the same as recruiting at UH. Pastner's reputation would get him some recruits and would generate excitement. Penders is a has been.
Winning isn't everything... from everything I hear, we've got great kids on our teams and they almost always graduate. And no coaches/ athletic administrators trying to break rules or cut any corners. College sports has gotten out of hand at too many of the enormous state schools.
Somebody was out to kill the Lady Cougars. Our next match up is UCONN in Connecticut if we escape Santa Barbara, an 11 seed, on their home court of all places. I mean what the hell is that all about. 2 road games. If we win it this year we deserve if. Cause that is messed up for a 3 seed. And why did UCONN get home court in in the Final 8. They were a 2 seed. At least send them to another bracket so the #1 seed isn't screwed over the same. Ridiculous. The Women's NCAA has a lot of rethinking to do. It ruins the whole point of the tournament to just hand UCONN home court no matter what.
What do they call that guy, "turnaround" tom? I don't know much about Penders, but as a UH undergrad and active participant in the atheletics programs I hope this guy can revamp the house that Guy V built.
isabel .. exactly, there are way too many schools in the country who let their players get away with not even going to class.
Eddie Oran, the assistant coach released the grades. Drunk calling his players in the middle of the night? Where did you get this from? The Austin-American Statesman or whatever the Austin newspaper is called? I think there's a little bias towards UT Sports in that rag. So its guilt by association? Because last I heard Penders was not directly in violation of any NCAA rules or regulations. I guess in America we are guilty until proven innocent.
so what does Gabe think? wasn't he one of the players who complained to Dodds about Penders? give us the insider dirt.
UH needs someone high profile. They need a "name" and this is the best they can do with the budget they have. Penders has his issues, but he isn't Tarkanian or anything. This is a college that has a chance to be a solid Div IA basketball program. There is no reason they can't be on the same level as Cincy or Memphis or other city-schools that have had success in college ball.
At the UIL's last week my UT buds were reminding me that allegedly Penders and his assistant used to skim the players' meal money to collect a slush fund for emergencies ( abortions, bail, etc.). Some of the players complained and investigation found that the assistant was stashing it rolled tin foil in the coaches lounge freezer. It was called something like "cold cashgate'.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=1766114 Tom Penders has accepted a five-year deal to become coach at the University of Houston, a source close to the negotiations told ESPN.com's Andy Katz on Tuesday morning. Penders, 58, will be introduced at an evening news conference in Houston. He replaces Ray McCallum, who coached Houston (9-18, 3-13 Conference USA) for four seasons. Pender's career has included stops at Tufts, Columbia, Fordham, Rhode Island, Texas and George Washington. Penders led the Longhorns to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, and Rhode Island and GW also reached the tournament on his watch. His tournament record is 12-10. Penders has said the Houston administration wants to see the Cougars return to their glory days of the 1980s when they put together consecutive Final Four seasons between 1982 and 1984. Houston also played in the 1983 and '84 championship games. His hiring comes at a time when Houston and other C-USA members await the reshaping of the conference. Cincinnati, Louisville, DePaul and Marquette (along with South Florida) depart for the Big East in 2005, and Charlotte and Saint Louis will leave at the same time for the Atlantic 10. TCU is also leaving for the Mountain West. Houston, Memphis, UAB, Southern Mississippi, East Carolina and Tulane are C-USA's holdovers. SMU, Tulsa and Rice are joining the league from the WAC, Marshall is joining from the MAC and Central Florida is joining from the Atlantic Sun. In addition, Conference USA might add another member to get back to 12 teams. Houston athletic director Dave Maggard also interviewed BYU assistant Dave Rose, a former Houston player on its Final Four teams; Sam Houston State's Bob Marlin, and Arizona assistant and Houston native Josh Pastner. Penders has had a heart condition that required a pacemaker, but he said he's been given a clean bill of health by doctors. Andy Katz is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
Sweet. Penders has a track record with good and bad programs. Turning them all around. I think he'll give us a shot in the arm. don't know about his personal problems enough to comment. But second chances are worth giving. Was he at Rhode Island when Odom and Mobley where there?
I dont know if she was referring to penders in her cut corners/cheat remark or not.. but the bottom line is there are way too many colleges cheating.. just look at the SEC.. I know we haven't had a violation or anything in the last 5 years, but I'd venture to guess just about every other school in the conference has had some problem
Freakin' sweet...I think everyone deserves a second chance and our program needs this type of pub and someone with a winning track record... BTW, if we start winning again, I don't see him staying...
