More tarnish added to the Golden Dome

Sporting News, The, Feb 14, 1994 by Gene Wojciechowski

"I think he's a funny dude," Pelphrey says. "I thought it was really cute. But I've been wondering if I could get a piece of that money."

The power

of television

Reduced to its barest essence, college basketball recruiting success and the eventual coaching success that comes with it is determined, ultimately, by television, Temple Coach John Chaney says.

No TV coverage ... no chance.

"You got to get players," Chaney says. "I think the thing that gives you players, the thing that opens the doors in the homes of young people, (is) the fact that you're able to talk to them about something they're familiar with. They're familiar with having seen you on TV.

"(North Carolina Coach) Dean Smith does not leave his door - and I know he doesn't leave his door. He's got assistant coaches out there working their tails off, and the only thing he's got to do is get on a phone and say, |Did you get the letter-of-intent?' That's all he's got to ask. He just mentions his name, |This is Dean Smith.' That's all he's got to say to the average kid, because he's a household word in this business.

Anytime a guy can come in at the 11th hour - the 11th hour - and who was not even in the picture and recruit the top recruit in the country (7-foot center Rasheed Wallace of Philadelphia) ... that does not happen because somebody is looking at the radio.

Texas needs Tyler

Our best wishes to Texas' point guard BJ. Tyler, who deserves a speedy recovery - and by season's end, Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Tyler broke a bone in his left hand during the January 29 rout of Houston, a game in which he set a school record for most steals (10). At last check, his availability was iffy. Too bad. Before getting hurt, Tyler was the lone Division I player to be included in the top 20 in scoring, assists and steals.

Tyler, who missed all but 13 games last season because of injuries and later entered the John Lucas Center in an effort to combat depression, is the prime reason for the Longhorns resurgence. With Tyler in the UP, Texas is scoring nearly 20 points more per game.

Bank on it

According to Ron Glenn Robinson's coach Roosevelt High School in Gary, Ind., the heralded 6-8 forward narrowed his college choices to Purdue and Indiana. Now the interesting part.

During Robinson's visit to Bloomington, then-assistant coach Joby Wright took the coveted recruit to Coach Bob Knight's office for a brief session. As Wright (no head coach at Wyoming) and Robinson were watching videotape, Knight entered the room, saw Robinson's feet propped up and bellowed, "Hey, get your feet off the desk!"

Knight was kidding, of course, but Robinson didn't know it. To this day, says Heflin, Knight thinks the prank might have cost Indiana a chance at signing the sensitive and shy Robinson. Not so, Purdue assistant coach Frank Kendrick says. Kendrick says Robinson promised to sign with the Boilermakers years ago, when Robinson, then a sophomore at Roosevelt, attended a Purdue camp.

"I learned that if Glenn tells you something, you can take it to the bank," Kendrick says.