>>> Coach Magarity Recaps the Second Round Results

>>> Coach Magarity Breaks Down the First Round Results

>>> Kyle Macy Previews the Field of 65
 

HEAD COACH TOURNAMENT

Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino, Bruce Weber and Roy Williams are all bound for St. Louis. Later this week hundreds more coaches will descend on the Gateway to the West and eight will be taking a stroll across the catwalk. And by Tuesday evening, we will know who is styling and who is crying.

This is year number eight on the Runway to the Fashionable 4 and there is no sign that it’s lost any appeal. Based on the media coverage and the buzz among the coaches, fashion madness hasn’t lost any of its’ pizzazz. In fact, it’s bigger and better then ever.

The bigger part refers to me. Come to think of it, the better part is also a reference to my tremendous coverage of the event. But I wasn’t the only one in attendance to cover the happenings in the Sensational Sixteen.

Telemundo (the Spanish Television Network) was on hand to cover the festivities, which left me scrambling for a translator.

Telemundo: “Recepción al cauce a los 4 de moda, recibido por la América el hombre más hermoso y más con estilo, Dave Magarity.”

Where is Shakey Rodriguez (former Florida International head coach) when you need him?

Translation: “Welcome to the Runway to the Fashionable 4, hosted by America's most handsome and stylish man, Dave Magarity.”

In addition to be stylish and handsome, I am now also bi-lingual. Telemundo, how do you say, “I have tremendous size and girth?”

Telemundo: “Tengo enormes tamaño y circunferencia.”

That is outstanding.

Among the others covering the event was an Italian Television Network.

Where is Rick Pitino when you need him?

Angela Lento was going over some last minute details with the competitors, when apparently Italian TV made some rude on-air remarks about her appearance. The normally reserved Lento was not in the mood for any nonsense on this day.

Angela: “Realmente il mio nome è Angela. Forse dovrei denominarlo Richard. In avvenire, può essere consigliabile che vi assicurate che la persona state parlando di non parla italiano.”

Translation: “Actually my name is Angela. Perhaps I should call you Richard. In the future, it may be advisable that you make sure the person you are talking about doesn't speak Italian.”

That is outstanding! Rumor has it that the smooth talker was Oregon State assistant Brian Loyd, but that has not yet been confirmed.

A French television crew was also spotted, but I had no interest in speaking with them.

So let the competition begin. Sixteen coaches, in both the head coach and assistant coach tournament, were ready to compete for a spot in the Elegant Eight and Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech) and Don Harnum (Rider) were not among them!


MR FLY GUY

Telemundo: Es hora para la competición de comenzar encendido en los torneos principales del coche.

Translation: It is time for the competition to begin on in the head coach tournament.

As expected, one of the most anticipated contests of the day pitted Bruiser “Damn, I’m Fly” Flint (Drexel) against John “I need some more Hair Gel” Calipari (Memphis). Curiously, these two seem to meet on the runway every year.

“I always meet Fang (Mitchell) and I always meet Cal,” laughed Flint. “Cal still thinks he taught me what I know about fashion, but it’s really the other way around. He learned from me.”

Gee Bruiser, can we be any more vain?

Calipari was in a more professional mode, electing not to speak to the media before the event. He was all business.

The winner would meet the survivor of the Gary Waters (Rutgers) vs. Bruce Pearl (Wisconsin-Milwaukee/Tennessee) clash. Like Calipari, Waters was not available for pre-catwalks comments, but we did spot Pearl speaking with his good friend Seth Greenberg.

“I am facing another No. 1 seed,” said Pearl. “Gary has to be one of the favorites to be crowned best dressed so he presents quite a challenge. Tony (Jones) did some advance scouting for me, but I don’t know how much that will really help. I now know the Yankees felt when they faced Curt Schilling. They knew what he was going to try and do and they still couldn’t beat him. Gary is the Schilling of style.”

Pearl was visibly thrilled to be heading to Knoxville, where he will take over as the new head coach at the University of Tennessee.

After breezing through the first two rounds, the defending champion Neil Dougherty (TCU) seemed relaxed. Perhaps it’s the experience of having been here before. Whatever the reason, he appeared fully prepared to deal with the style of Dave Leitao (DePaul).

“Competing in Conference USA together for the last three years means that there are no surprises here,” says Dougherty. “We have so many tapes of each other and have gone head-to-toe several times, so we know each other's tendencies and our strengths and weaknesses. There's no doubt that Dave has me in the inseam, out-seam and sleeve length, so I am going to have to find a way to change the pace in my favor in order to get a leg up.”

Coaches never like to look ahead, but Dougherty openly admitted that he knew who could be waiting for him in the Elegant Eight.

“First of all, my fashion team and I approach this tournament one game at a time, so it is hard for me to look ahead,” Dougherty said. “But I'll be honest. After I found my name (in the brackets), Coach (Roy) Williams was the second name I looked for. I was disappointed that we were put in the Midwest Bracket together, but I know that the tournament likes those kinds of matchups for TV ratings. I think that meeting up with Coach Williams would be extremely special, but very emotional too since I've tailored myself after him. I'm going to need a handkerchief for that one for sure.”

Neil is a tremendous individual. Too bad that he is years away from membership in the Portly & Stout club, but we will look forward to the day he gains entry into the exclusive club.

Much to my dismay, all of the big guys have already been knocked off the runway. All of the remaining competitors, in the Head Coach field, are fit and slick guys. However, there are a couple of size and girth gentlemen competing in the Assistant Coach tourney. We will get to that interesting bunch a bit later.

One of the big surprises this March has been the rise of Doug Oliver’s fashion stock. The Idaho State coach, a No. 13 seed, stunned both Trent Johnson (Stanford) and Jim Larranaga (George Mason).

“I felt like Cinderella,” said Larranaga. “And I thought I was not done yet. I thought the glass slipper was a part of my wardrobe, but it fit Doug better. I really thought my black calf skin, Bally, patented leather lace shoe, matching sharply with my black Joseph
Aboud 3-button would let me advance. I didn’t think Doug's cowboy boots could compare. I was psyched to make a run at the Fashionable 4.”

Well coach it wasn’t meant to be. Puxsutawney Phil said we have six more weeks of winter and Pocatello Doug says he at least one more statement to make on the runway.

“Willis and I have met before so there are no secrets. We are both fully aware of what the other will sport.”

Of course trying to knock off Wilson is no easy task. In fact, it has never happened prior to the Fashionable 4. It’s fashion fact that Wilson is proud of.

“It’s all about getting to the Fashionable 4,” says Wilson. “I never take any opponent lightly, but I always prepare for the long run of getting to the final four. The inexperienced guys will keep something in reserve, but I never leave anything to chance. I breakout my top four suits and then re-adjust at the Fashionable 4. It appears that this has been Doug’s strategy. He has been to the tournament before, but his game plan this season has worked well. It will be a tough test today.”

Many in attendance believe Wilson is the favorite to win the fashion title.

“Willis has a lot of style and class,” say Sam Houston State’s Bob Marlin. “When I saw the brackets I focused on just winning my first round contest. I knew I had no shot in the second round against Willis. His closet is too deep.”

Even NBA star Jalen Rose, who was waiting for the Assistant Coach tournament to begin, had some kind words for Wilson.

“Smooth,” says Rose. “That is the best way to describe Willis. He has done a great job building a program at Rice and he’s done a great job of building a formidable wardrobe. He will be tough to out-style.”

And Telemundo had this to say…

“El coche principal Willis Wilson del arroz está todo sobre estilo y la sofisticación.”

Translation: Rice head coach Willis Wilson is all about style and sophistication.

Hey Telemundo, how about me? How does my tremendous attire matchup with these guys?

Telemundo: “Ponga Harnum está correcto. El coche Magarity tiene una cabeza algo grande.”

Don Harnum: Hey Magarity, the English translation is, “Don Harnum is correct. Coach Magarity has a rather large head.”

I will deal with that spiked-hair porcupine later, but now here are the results of the Head Coach Sensational Sixteen matchups…

EAST

No. 1 Gary Waters defeated No. 12 Bruce Pearl: Coach Pearl got confused with his color scheme. He mixed UW-Milwaukee yellow with Tennessee orange. It wasn’t pretty. Great season coach and good luck with the Vols.

No. 2 Bruiser Flint defeated No. John Calipari: Somehow Mr. Fly snuck through the Elegant Eight. I predict that he will now be crushed by Gary Waters.

MIDWEST

No.1 Neil Dougherty edged No. 4. Dave Leitao: The defending champion was really tested, but his versatility pulled him through. After further review, coach Leitao appears to have a future in the Portly & Stout club. He is a few years away from gaining membership.

No. 3 Roy Williams snuck past No. 2 Bob McKillop: The anticipated Williams-Dougherty matchup is now a reality. It was great season on the court and the runway for Bobby McKillop. His assistant, James Fox is not a member of the Portly & Stout fraternity, but he is a full-fledged member of the follicle-challenged.

SOUTHEAST

No. 1 Willis Wilson survived No. 13 Doug Oliver: The meeting of two former Stanford assistants turned out to be the best style contest of the day. Wilson got a major scare when his luggage was lost so he had to rally, by going off-the-rack. It was a tremendous display. As for coach Oliver, there is no shame in being one of the sixteen best-dressed coaches in America. Outstanding job!

No. 2 Johnny Jones defeated No. 6 Rick Scruggs: It will be an all-Texas Elegant Eight matchup. Jones, who began the season ranked No.1 in the FPI looks like a real threat to Wilson’s unprecedented streak of appearing in the Fashionable 4.

WEST

No. 1 Rick Pitino slipped past No. 5 Bob Thomason: Coach Thomason put on quite a show, but Pitino simply outlasted the Pacific head coach. Pretty Pitino, along with Ravishing Roy (Williams) is now one step away from a double-double (Final 4 and Fashionable 4).

No. 2 Jay Wright defeated No. 6 Lute Olson: Viva Las Vegas. Everybody in Tucson was “All Shook Up” by the loss to Illinois and Monday they were singing, “Don’t Be Cruel” after learning that coach Olson had come up a little short against Elvis.

We will see you tomorrow when we will know who is headed to St. Louis.

For all the results on the 2005 Runway to the Fashionable 4: CLICK HERE