Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoOKLAHOMA CITY ? In his 11th year as Bucknell University’s men’s basketball coach and in the midst of an 11-game win streak, Pat Flannery took a walk. Twice.
Flannery left at halftime of a home game against Army. Two days later, he did the same thing during a home game against Lehigh. Then he missed the next two games altogether.
Flannery didn’t have the flu or any other physical problem. He was fighting demons.
“We got to a point where it wasn’t as fun as it was supposed to be,” Flannery said prior to Thursday’s practice session at the Ford Center. “I wasn’t communicating with my wife and my kids. I just hit a wall.”
Kansas University coach Bill Self could empathize with Flannery. Self said he, too, had felt undue pressure at times and had been told he needed to find some way to relieve the tension.
Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo“I don’t listen to the radio or read the papers,” Self said. “That’s how I deal with stress.”
After a week or so away from the Bison, Flannery found a way to handle the stress. He returned in early February and has coached every game since.
“I got the help I needed,” Flannery said. “Fortunately, I’m around people that care — my administration and the people in my community.”
If anything, Flannery’s leave of absence might have helped his team coalesce.
“It’s tough to lose your head coach for any stretch of time,” Bucknell guard Kevin Bettencourt said. “When he did get back, it did bring the team closer together. It made other guys step up and be leaders.”
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoFlannery’s absence didn’t hurt the Bison, that’s for sure.
“It was just another road bump in our season,” guard Charles Lee said. “Overall, we missed coach a lot, but it was a good experience because it made us grow up.”
Bucknell grew up enough to win its first Patriot League championship with a 61-57 victory at Holy Cross, the league’s perennial power and a team good enough knock off Notre Dame in the first round of the NIT earlier this week.
Still, the showcase victory on the Bison schedule was a 69-66 victory at Pittsburgh, then the No. 7-ranked team in the country. That was more than two months ago and, stressed Lee, Pitt isn’t as good as Kansas.
“That game brought us a lot of confidence,” Lee said. “It gave us confidence to go against a team like Kansas, but they’re no Kansas.”
Flannery uttered all the obligatory things about KU — how Wayne Simien would be a load, how the Jayhawks were better outside shooters than he had heard — but he sounded just as worried about boredom before tonight’s 8:50 tipoff against the Jayhawks.
“Unfortunately, we’re the last ones playing,” Flannery said. “The kids are sitting around, and we’re going a little nuts in the hotel. We’re trying to keep them calm before the storm.”
Meanwhile, Flannery sounds convinced his personal storm has passed.
“Basketball is not who I am,” he stated. “It’s what I do. I found that out.”
| ¢ This is the first meeting between the schools. Bucknell never has played a game in Oklahoma.¢ This is KU’s 34th overall NCAA Tournament appearance and third trip to Oklahoma City for the event. Its last trip to OKC was the start of KU’s run to the NCAA Tournament championship game in 2003.¢ The Jayhawks’ 34 NCAA Tournament appearances rank fourth nationally behind only Kentucky (47), UCLA (39) and North Carolina (37).¢ Kansas sports an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 73-33, and the Jayhawks’ 73 wins rank fifth in the nation.¢ KU will play its 107th NCAA Tournament game today, which ranks fourth all-time in NCAA history. KU’s NCAA Tournament winning percentage (.689) ranks seventh all-time.¢ Kansas’ 16 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances ranks second among active streaks.¢ The Bison, who are making their third NCAA appearance in history and first in 16 years, have won four straight and seven of their last nine games.¢ Bucknell’s last three victories came in the Patriot League Tournament, where the Bison allowed 126 points (42.0 per game) in triumphs over Lafayette, American and Holy Cross.¢ The No. 14 seed is Bucknell’s highest in three NCAA appearances. It was seeded 16th when it lost to Georgetown, 75-53, in 1987 and 15th in a 104-81 loss to Syracuse in 1989.¢ Bucknell is trying to become the 14th No. 14 seed to win a first-round game, and the first since 1999. |
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