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2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Friday, April 4, 2008

Final Four has ex-coach conflicted

By By Ashley Fox - The Philadelphia Inquirer

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KU Basketball

Philadelphia — Larry Brown is conflicted. When you've been a coach since a peach basket was hoisted on a pole, you touch a lot of folks, but probably no one has touched as many as the 67-year-old Brown, the quintessential basketball nomad and former 76ers coach who lives with his family on the Main Line.

In the span of 30-plus years, Brown has coached 12 teams, from the old ABA to college behemoths to the NBA, and his coaching tree is an old oak, with roots at North Carolina and branches stretching across the basketball landscape.

He is deeply connected to all four remaining participants in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. As a coach, Brown won a national championship with Kansas in 1988 and led UCLA to the Final Four in 1980.

He played for North Carolina under legendary Dean Smith and considers Memphis coach John Calipari to be his "son." Brown loves them all, maybe like no one else. For whom will he root? "I think I've got a spot on each corner," he said.

Yes, Brown will be at the Alamodome in San Antonio this weekend when, for the first time in tournament history, the four No. 1 seeds will play each other. On Saturday night it will be UCLA against Memphis, followed by Kansas vs. North Carolina, and Brown accepted dual invitations from Kansas coach Bill Self and Memphis' Calipari to attend the event. A seat at center court, with a foot in each camp for the two games, would be Brown's ideal location.

"When one team wins, then three teams that mean a lot to me will be pretty upset," Brown said Wednesday before beginning his trek to San Antonio.

As a scrawny young man out of Brooklyn in the 1960s, Brown was a guard for Dean Smith at North Carolina. Fatherless since he was 6 years old, Brown looked up to Smith, relied on Smith, loved Smith.

While he was crushed when, as the 76ers coach, the Tar Heels passed over him for Roy Williams when they had a coaching vacancy earlier this decade, Brown says he harbors no lingering ill will. Another national championship for Carolina would be fine with him.

From 1979 to 1981, Brown coached at UCLA, then the titan of all college programs. In his first season, he took the Bruins back to the national title game, losing to Louisville.

While Brown stayed in Westwood for only two seasons, he says current coach Ben Howland is a friend of his. Howland has led the Bruins to three consecutive Final Fours but is still looking for his first national championship.

Brown led the Kansas Jayhawks to the national title in 1988. It was in Lawrence that he mentored two young coaches, Self and Calipari.

When Brown arrived at Kansas in 1983, he retained Calipari, a volunteer assistant under former coach Ted Owens. Brown also gave Self his first job, also at Kansas.

"I'm really a proud parent, to be honest with you," Brown said.

Comments

yates33333 (anonymous) says...

As a basketball wizard he has a lot to be proud of.

April 4, 2008 at 3:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

I'm glad he accepted his Kansas invitation. He was smart in doing so that way when we win it all he can celebrate the 2 year anniversary of his national championship with another KU championship.

April 4, 2008 at 6:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Displayhawk (anonymous) says...

Y'know, if KU beats North Carolina, the classiest thing Coach Self could do would be to invite Roy Williams to sit behind the bench with Coach Brown as his invited guests for the title game! Maybe then all those idiots who still hate Roy will finally put his departure behind them!

April 4, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Displayhawk, that is the best idea I have heard. Brilliant.

April 4, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rhino11 (anonymous) says...

That is a great idea.

April 4, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

chaggs (anonymous) says...

What was that Fox Sports interview leading into the KU championship game?

Interviewer: "You're coaching tonight, and your Jayhawks are in the championship game. What are you going to do?"

Larry Brown: "I'm going to get tossed early."

Classic!

on a side note...excellent idea Display

April 4, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

wats211 (anonymous) says...

larry brown has ties to about everyone it seems...gypsies are like that..a friend in every town...but in his early days..he wanted to experience everything...can you really blame him?....now he is ready to setlle in somewhere...and it just might be here....strange things happen....t boone pickens may offer bill self a job with titles and money that no one could refuse

April 4, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Langford5 (anonymous) says...

I just don't understand all the hatred for Roy. Very unclassy on our part. Why doesn't everyone just hate Larry Brown the same then? He left us too and flirted with going to UCLA but went to the NBA instead. Both are phenomenal coaches and we should treat each of them with respect

April 4, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

domino (anonymous) says...

Langford5 - thanks! I totally agree! I've always wondered why so many were upset about the way Coach Williams left but they didn't seem that upset when the probation came down after Coach Brown left. I'm with DisplayHawk on his idea too!

April 4, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Finally a story about KU on cnnsi.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008...

April 4, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LIHawk (anonymous) says...

Gosh, I can't believe so many don't seem to understand why people are still upset around Roy leaving. Maybe that's because of all the mis-information circulating in the news media. Check out the message board on this site if you want to know what people are really saying. We don't hate Roy, at least I don't. We're upset because Dean Smith and UNC couldn't resist messing with Roy's head (and the player's heads) when we were on the verge of a national championship. We lost to Syracuse by only 3 points and I think likely would have won another national championship if we hadn't had all the unnecessary distraction. It was worse than classless to spoil a final four run like that for our team and fans. Just what was the big hurry? No, I didn't like the way Roy handled it, but he had a right to leave if that's what he really wanted. Based on things I have been reading, I am not sure Roy thinks he made the right decision, but he had Dean apparently twisting his arm. I got over my disappointment with Roy years ago, but I am still mad at Smith and company. Yet, I am very happy with coach Self and would not trade him for anyone, including Roy. We got the better deal.

April 4, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

LIHawk~ the voice of reason rings through you. Too bad so many do-gooders and namby-pambys will disregard your dissection of the real issue and continue to 'wonder why people just don't get over it.'

I want to know, why is it so hard for people to see clearly?

Sheep.

April 4, 2008 at 9 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

Well said, LIHawk. I will say here, as I did on another thread: Even if we lose a game, I am very appreciative of the team unity and the advancement of KU's style of basketball that has developed under Bill Self. How fitting for a school so intertwined with the history of the game itself, to be able to say about its current team: We Can Play Every Style of Ball. And, we do it with great team chemistry. I'm really proud of our program, and really hope we bring home the banner!

April 4, 2008 at 10:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawkdan42 (anonymous) says...

Breakout the red unies!

April 4, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )