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Upsets Are Trendy
By Angela Lento
The NCAA Tournament has provided plenty of drama. Upsets were the storyline on the court. Would that ‘trend’ carry over to the catwalk?
“He’s got no shot,” said Vermont coach Tom Brennan, regarding his first round opponent, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski.
The Duke-Vermont contest is on the Monday afternoon ticket in the East Region.
“There is no question in my mind that I can walk away with a victory,” said Marist coach Dave Magarity. “In the NCAA tournament, guard-play is crucial, but in this field size takes over.”
Magarity, the No. 11 seed in the South Region, will face No. 6 seed Lorenzo Romar (Saint Louis) later today.
The day’s action would begin on the stages in the Midwest.
MIDWEST SESSION I
Kent State’s Gary Waters, fresh off a win over Indiana on the hardwood, looked dazzling as he hit the catwalk in the No. 1 vs. No. 16 matchup. Last year Cincinnati’s Bob Huggins was knocked off the catwalk in the 1-16 contest. Could it happen again?
“I am cosmetically challenged,” said the No. 16 seed Dan Dakich of Bowling Green. “It’s not going to be easy, but I am here to take my best shot.”
Dakich’s invitation came as a surprise to many. His wardrobe would not normally get so much attention, but his ‘backwards’ fashion statement was deemed as being worthy of inclusion.
“I’m glad to see such liberal thinking among the judges,” said Dakich. “It’s not politically correct to let a guy like me in the tournament. “I go with the socks backwards, the turtleneck backwards, but not the pants because I’ve got too much ass.”
What did Waters think of all this?
“He showed a lot of guts wearing his sport coat backwards, but his threads are still not all that good.”
After all the buildup, the action on the stage failed to live up to the hype. Waters was a convincing winner and was onto the second round.
“It was nice to get an at-large bid,” said Dakich. “In the Mid-American Conference we are not use to getting at-large bids. I am glad that you recognized how tough it is to button up your sport coat backwards.”
Waters left the stage to familiar chants -- ‘Shops in Paris, Shops in Paris.’ The Golden Flashes coach grabbed a seat to see whom he would face in round two.
The next contest featured a battle of good friends. Southern Illinois’ Bruce Weber was pitted against Purdue’s Gene Keady.
“I made progress I used to be the worst dressed,” said Keady. “I guess my wife and daughters tutoring paid off. They buy most of my clothes. Once in a while, when I go out to a big city, I’ll buy something myself. They know what’s the latest trend and my size so they will buy stuff for me.”
His coaching staff did a tremendous job of preparing him. He looked splendid.
Weber, the Missouri Valley’s best-dressed, was happy to be strutting his stuff, but knew he was up against it.
“Gene has got more money so he can buy nicer suits than me,” said Weber. “I’ve got no chance because his suits are being tailor made. Being a new head coach I am still buying my suits on sale.”
The Saluki coach’s fears were confirmed as Keady walked off a winner.
“It’s nice to see he has gone from a graduate assistant to a guy that can buy his own clothes,” said Keady. “He has made a lot of progress financially.”
The Purdue coach has progressed well also. Last season he was out in the first round, but now he is headed to the round of 32.
On the other side of the bracket, South Carolina State’s Cy Alexander dispatched Big Ten champion Steve Alford to advance. The MEAC champion would get the winner of the contest between Cincinnati’s Bob Huggins and San Diego’s Brad Holland.
“It’s not something I aspired to do, but I’m honored,” said Holland about making the field. “I do take pride in trying to look professional. Other than being named WCC Coach of the Year this might be my finest honor.”
The WCC’s most stylish knew he had his hands full in the opening round.
“I’m behind the eight-ball. He has the advantage because he’s on the TV every other night.”
Huggins was out to make sure that he did not have a repeat of last year’s performance.
“Let me tell you, he didn’t display anything special,” said Kent State’s Gary Waters. “He looked pretty basic when we faced him on Saturday.”
Waters seemed confident that unless Huggins stepped it up, the Midwest Region was his. A matchup between the two Ohio coaches was a ways off, but both mentors took the first step. With Waters sitting in on the action, Huggins used his pressing style to get past Holland.
Following Huggins’ win the action took a brief intermission, but it was not uneventful.
Former UMass coach Bruiser Flint checked in from Memphis, where he was out visiting mentor John Calipari. Bruiser said he was out to get some advice and to support his former boss in the NIT, but this fashion author knows better. A look at the brackets in the East shows that Flint and Calipari could be on a collision course in the ‘Sensational Sixteen.’
Rider coach Don Harnum was the spokesman for a rather large group, which felt they were robbed and deserved a spot on the runway, but the big talk was surrounding the opening round matchup between Lehigh’s Sal Mentesana and Morehead State’s Kyle Macy.
Rumors were flying that the former Kentucky All-American was going to take his name off the fashion ticket, but I was unable to confirm that. Jackie Bracco is on the scene in the East to follow the story.
MIDWEST SESSION II
The early action saw no upsets, but there was a buzz in the air as the evening session began. The Portland State contingent was very confident that they could upend Oregon coach Ernie Kent.
PSU’s Joel Sobotka was leading the optimism.
“I have a vast variety of outfits, which should give me an advantage with depth,” said the Big Sky champion. “While my depth is solid, my starting five is also very strong. It could come down to the ties. That’s my ‘x-factor.’ My silver ties against his school color green’s.”
Sobotka’s assistants, Brian Loyd and Matt Steffe were on hand to give him advice. Loyd called numerous ‘tailor timeouts’ in the early going to help Joel make adjustments, while Steffe was intent on finding any slippage on the part of the Oregon coach.
The Viking staff tried everything to grab the advantage. All of their efforts paid off. The first major surprise of the catwalk went to Sobotka.
“This is awesome,” said an excited Sobotka. “I thought I had a chance, but I knew I had to be flawless and wrinkle free. Anytime you beat a Pac-10 program it is big, but this is really big.”
The crowd had barely settled back into their seats when the second stunner of the day occurred. With a big assist from Tori Richards, Hawaii’s Riley Wallace edged Long Beach State’s Wayne Morgan.
So round two would match a No. 11 (Sobotka) against No. 14 (Wallace).
Would the upsets continue?
Virginia Tech’s Ricky Stokes looked nervous as he prepared to meet the coach with the biggest upset in the NCAA Tournament. Hampton’s Steve Merfeld was still sky high from his Pirates win over Iowa State.
Merfeld pulled out all the stops on the stage, including a few stylish dance steps reminiscent of the aftermath of his win over the Cyclones. He wowed the crowd, which was clearly in his corner.
The Hampton band entertained the crowd and kept Merfeld right in step. Stokes tried desperately to take the crowd out of the contest, but Merfeld answered every move with a few of his own.
It came down to the closing moments, but this time Tarvis Williams was there to make the big shot and Stokes survived.
“We used to live together when we worked together at Bowling Green,” said Stokes. I think he is a good dresser and I am glad to get this victory. I think Angela’s a smart lady.”
Stokes opponent in the round of 32 would be St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis who proved too much for Pat Dennis (The Citadel).
The opening round of the Midwest was over. It was onto the West Region.
THE MIDWEST RESULTS
No. 1 Gary Waters (Kent State) defeated No. 16 Dan Dakich (Bowling Green)
No. 9 Gene Keady (Purdue) defeated No. 8 Bruce Weber (Southern Illinois)
No. 5 Ricky Stokes (Virginia Tech) defeated No. 12 Steve Merfeld (Hampton)
No. 4 Mike Jarvis (St. John's) defeated No. 13 Pat Dennis (The Citadel)
No. 11 Joel Sobotka (Portland State) defeated No. 6 Ernie Kent (Oregon)
No. 14 Riley Wallace (Hawaii) defeated No. 3 Wayne Morgan (Long Beach State)
No. 7 Cy Alexander (South Carolina State) defeated No. 10 Steve Alford (Iowa)
No. 2 Bob Huggins (Cincinnati) defeated No. 15 Brad Holland (San Diego)
WEST SESSION I
The upsets in the Midwest gave Maine’s John Giannini reason to be hopeful as he took the stage against the top seed in the field, Melvin Watkins of Texas A&M.
"I am going up against one of the all-time greats,” said Giannini. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I can only hope that I have some friends at College Insider. Hopefully Angela likes that 70's look, which I can sport well."
John did sport it well and made it interesting early, but was clearly out-classed by the very elegant Watkins. There would be no upset here.
Next up was Penn State’s Jerry Dunn who was still in a frenzy over his team’s win over North Carolina on Sunday. The Penn State coach would face the champion of the Southern Conference, Davidson’s Bob McKillop.
“Jerry Dunn coaches Titus Ivory and I coach his brother Terrell Ivory so we do have a relationship,” said McKillop. “Jerry’s a great friend and he’s not only just dapper on the sideline, but when you seen him on the summer recruiting circuit he has that classic elegant look. He also has that very casual at ease look. He matches up to any occasion.”
But on this occasion would he match up with the very majestic McKillop? The answer came quickly as the dapper Davidson coach built a big lead and never looked back.
“My gray hair gives me more versatility in terms of what colors I can wear,” said a victorious McKillop. “It is a great win.”
On the other side of the bracket, things went according to plan as Providence coach Tim Welsh got past George Mason’s Jim Larranaga. The win set up a showdown with his former assistant Jeff Ruland who edged out Valparaiso coach Homer Drew. But the Iona coach was still grumbling.
“A three seed? I don’t know what the judges were drinking. I have been married for 20 years and my wife takes good care of me. Tom James makes all my stuff. I am not buying stuff off the rack like Dave Magarity or these other chubby guys.”
Magarity was not around to rebuttal.
The Iona coach wasn’t done. He broke from his normal routine of bashing, for a moment.
“I know Homer’s son, Scott, really well and he’s a real nice guy. I have nothing bad to say about Homer.”
So were you surprised at your victory?
“Oh hell no, that was a lock.”
WEST SESSION II
The late action went as expected with UL-Lafayette’s Jessie Evans beating the No. 12 seed Paul Graham (Washington State), while Arizona’s Lute Olson edged the No. 13 seed Jim Phelan (Mount St. Mary’s). Thus setting up a showdown of the mentor, Lute, and his protégé Evans.
While coach and former assistant would meet in the second round, there was also another mentor- protégé contest in the first round. Cleveland State’s Rollie Massimino would meet Hofstra’s Jay Wright.
“Are you kidding me? I taught him how to dress,” laughed Massimino. “He was with me for ten years. If you start with shoes first that boy has no chance. He goes to Tom McCann for his shoes. I go to the big time places.”
Jay seemed unaffected by the remarks and hit the stage flying. Rollie, the Amelda Marcos of coaches, broke out his entire shoe collection, but it wasn’t enough. Jay advanced to meet the winner of the all Pennsylvania contest, between Phil Martelli (St. Joseph’s) and Bobby Jones (St. Francis-PA).
“I have watched coach Martelli from a distance and I was very impressed,” said Jones. “I would trade my wardrobe for his won-loss record. They had a great season.”
Martelli has a big group of supporters on hand, including the Hawk, which flapped away next to Martelli on the stage. Sports Information Director, Larry Dougherty kept feeding me fashion footnotes on his coach, but Jones was just simply too much.
“This is quite a victory,” said the champion of the Northeast Conference. “I think this may have activated a bonus clause in my contract.”
Jones would now meet Wright in round two.
“My assistants are going to need to really do some great scouting for me to have a chance,” said Jones. “Yard sales in Loretta, Pennsylvania are not going to be enough. I may have to step it up and hit K-Mart or Walmart. Facing Jay Wright is like Monmouth facing Duke. It will be a daunting task.”
Later today, the East and South Regional action will unfold on the catwalk. On Tuesday, the assistant coach field will be paired down to the ‘Fancy Four.’
THE WEST RESULTS
No. 1 Melvin Watkins (Texas A&M) defeated No. 16 John Giannini (Maine)
No. 8 Bob McKillop (Davidson) defeated No. 9 Jerry Dunn (Penn State)
No. 5 Jessie Evans (UL-Lafayette) defeated No. 12 Paul Graham (Washington State)
No. 4 Lute Olson (Arizona) defeated No. 13 Jim Phelan (Mount St. Mary's)
No. 6 Tim Welsh (Providence) defeated No. 11 Jim Larranaga (George Mason)
No. 3 Jeff Ruland (Iona) defeated No. 14 Homer Drew (Valparaiso)
No. 10 Bobby Jones (St. Francis-PA) defeated No. 7 Phil Martelli (St. Joseph's)
No. 2 Jay Wright (Hofstra) defeated No. 15 Rollie Massimino (Cleveland State)
Be sure to listen to Angela Lento talk fashion on the 'Adam Paul Show' at 2:30 (EST) every Friday.
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(Head Coach: 3-8-2002) 1. Bruiser Flint
2. John Calipari
3. Gary Waters
4. Willis Wilson
5. Jay Wright
6. Paul Graham
7. Tubby Smith
8. Rick Pitino
9. Melvin Watkins
10.Mike JarvisPlaying Catch with Satchel Paige
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Jan 21 FPI: John Calipari Tops Fashion Power Index
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Jan 7 FPI: Gary Waters Tops Fashion Power Index
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John Feinstein Plugs Fashionable Four
(Assistant: 3-8-2002) 1. Wayne Brent
2. Gary Stewart
3. Steve Sauers
4. Ronny Thompson
5. Tony Jones
6. Patrick Sellers
7. Reggie Hanson
8. Lew Hill
9. Tom Schuberth
10.Jennifer Johnston
AMERICA EAST:
Tom Brennan
ATLANTIC COAST:
Skip Prosser
ATLANTIC SUN:
Don Maestri
ATLANTIC 10:
Bob Hill
BIG EAST:
Gary Waters
BIG SKY:
Joel Sobotka
BIG SOUTH:
Pete Strickland
BIG TEN:
Jerry Dunn
BIG 12:
Melvin Watkins
BIG WEST:
Kevin Bromley
COLONIAL:
Bruiser Flint
CONFERENCE-USA:
John Calipari
HORIZON:
Ed Schilling
IVY LEAGUE:
James Jones
METRO ATLANTIC:
Don Harnum
MID-AMERICAN:
Stan Joplin
MID-CONTINENT:
Homer Drew
MID-EASTERN:
Cy Alexander
MISSOURI VALLEY:
Barry Hinson
MOUNTAIN WEST:
Charlie Spoonhour
NORTHEAST:
Bobby Jones
OHIO VALLEY:
Kyle Macy
PACIFIC-10:
Paul Graham
PATRIOT LEAGUE:
Sal Mentesana
SOUTHEASTERN:
Tubby Smith
SOUTHERN:
Bob McKillop
SOUHTLAND:
Mike Deane
SOUTHWESTERN:
Lafayette Stribbling
SUN BELT:
Dennis Felton
WEST COAST:
Michael Holton
WESTERN ATHLETIC
Willis Wilson
Take a stroll down last season's Runway to the Fashionable Four
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