Return to the NBA starts at foundation

Sporting News, The, August 1, 1994 by Gene Wojciechowski

Before anyone accuses Stu Jackson of doing the hit-and-run thing at Wisconsin (two years, then - poof - gone to the NBA-expansion Vancouver franchise as general manager), remember this:

Before Jackson's arrival, the Badgers hadn't been to the NCAA Tournament since brontosauruses munched on leaves. Attendance was so spotty at Wisconsin's ancient Field House/Fire Hazard that you could hear yourself breathe. And recruiting was a mess. The pre-Jackson pitch to potential freshmen: "You can start right away, and you can get a really good deal on cases of Hamms."

Jackson changed all that. "I will never come to grips with mediocrity," he said during his March 25, 1992, news conference. "I can't relate to that."

And he didn't. Wisconsin: mediocre to meteoric. The Badgers won 14 games that first season and, more important, won the attention of UW fans and big-time recruits.

Jackson already had star forward Michael Finley, but when he added freshman center Rashard Griffith to the mix for the 1993-94 season, Wisconsin's program managed 18 victories (third highest in school history) and its first NCAA postseason appearance since the 1946-47 season.

Wisconsin couldn't thank him enough. The school rolled over his contract and began making plans for a new arena.

Meanwhile, every program with an opening discreetly inquired about Jackson. The Dallas Mavericks. The Portland Trail Blazers. The Los Angeles Clippers. Seton Hall. Iowa State.

Jackson wasn't interested. He liked Madison son. He liked coaching in college. He liked the fact that he and Griffith had patched things up, making the Badgers one of the preseason favorites for 1994-95.

So what happens7 He leaves ... for a team that doesn't even have a name yet.

As it turns out, the decision was a nobrainer. Jackson, who thoroughly enjoyed his one-year stay as an NBA administrator back in 1991, has always been intrigued by a franchise's inner workings. Now he gets the chance to build Vancouver's NBA basketball legacy, from scratch.

And nothing against Madison, but where would you rather Eve? Also, Jackson, who has a wife and three young daughters, gets to call his own shots on travel. No more recruiting red-eye flights.

And with due respect to Jackson's coaching ability, the Badgers lose Finley to graduation in the spring and, in all likelihood, Griffith to the NBA in the summer.

In other words, new Coach Stan Van Gundy inherits a Big Ten contender in 1994, a Big Ten project in 1995.

Of course, it beats the alternative. Without Jackson, Wisconsin would have stayed a project. With him, it made history, however brief.

Jones narrows field

Avondre Jones, the heralded freshman center who left Southern Cal in a huff, has supposedly narrowed his transfer choices to Iowa and Missouri.

Last season Jones averaged 3.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 13.2 minutes and 2.0 complaints per game. He came to USC as the school's first true center prospect in years, choosing the Trojans over Michigan.

Then came the growing pains, made even more obvious by the first-year success of Charles O'Bannon, his former high school teammate and then cross-town rival at UCLA.

While Jones sat and steamed, O'Bannon started and sometimes starred. O'Bannon had his problems as the season wore on, but nothing like Jones. Jones thought he deserved more playing time. The USC coaching staff, as well as some of Jones' own teammates, thought the freshman center needed an attitude adjustment.

The irony is that Jones, a player with all sorts of potential, likely would have seen his minutes double at USC this year. Instead, he has to sit out another season, this time in street clothes.

Blaney joins Pirates

After a prolonged and mildly embarrassing search for a new coach, Seton Hall finally hired George Blaney, who spent the last 22 seasons at Holy Cross.

Blaney, 54, is a solid choice. Respected among his peers, a mover and shaker in the National Association of Basketball Coaches and known for getting the most out of his teams, Blaney will do fine at Seton Hall. He led Holy Cross to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1977, 1980 and 1993 and has won nearly 360 games on the Division I level.

That said, Blaney wasn't even Seton Hall's first choice. Or its second. Or maybe even its third.

Athletic Director Larry Keating went after Florida State's Pat Kennedy, but was turned down. USC's George Raveling was offered the job, but decided to stay put, partly because Trojan President Steven Sample interceded at the last minute. Nebraska's Danny Nee was another name heard as the interview process dragged on.

The reluctance of other candidates to take the Seton Hall plunge is simple enough. P.J. Carlesimo, who left the Pirates to become the Trail Blazers' new coach, is no easy act to follow. Carlesimo had personality and a resume that included a Final Four appearance, Big East Conference championships and national coach of the year trophies.

Blaney doesn't even have a beard.