More Random Thoughts

Yesterday's "Random Thoughts" turned out to have some substance. Paul Pierce supported Doc Rivers' decision to stay with the bench during Wednesday's loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Pierce didn't like seeing the C's blow an 18-point lead but he understands that the young guys need to learn how to produce. I bet they'll be more competitive -- while losing -- tonight against the Mavericks... And a closer they have found! Jonathan Papelbon, All-Star closer in 2006, will return to the end of the bullpen immediately after preparing to be the No. 4 starter this spring. This is a tremendous move for the Red Sox, Pap's gives them a true CLOSER, not just some also ran middle reliever who tries to finish games. Papelbon went to Terry Francona and Theo Epstein and stated his desire to be the man who takes the ball in the ninth inning -- as reported by Peter Gammons on Mike Felger's ESPN Radio show yesterday, and he told the media he wants to do for the Red Sox what the great Mariano Rivera has done for the Yankees... How long until the Red Sox and Curt Schilling battle over Curt's new blog, 38pitches.com. I enjoy reading what the opinionated Schilling has to say but I get the feeling that Dr. Charles Steinberg and the rest of the Sox p.r. staff might not like Curt writing freely. I can't wait for him to mention his First Amendment rights... Both NCAA Tournament games I told you would be keepers -- the South Regional matchups between Ohio State-Tennessee and Memphis-Texas A&M -- were thrilling games. In the early game, Memphis bounced back from a 42-37 halftime deficit to beat the Aggies 65-64 on two made free throws by Lynn native Antonio Anderson. A&M's star guard Acie Law IV will be having nightmares over his missed layup with under a minute to play. In the nightcap, No. 1 seed Ohio State bounced back from being down as much as 20 and dealt with Greg Oden's foul trouble for the second straight game to beat Tennessee 85-84. Oden may have struggled but he blocked a potential game winner by Ramar Smith at the buzzer to seal the win... In the West Regional, No. 1 seed Kansas survived a very tough Southern Illinois team, winning 61-58. No. 2 seed UCLA held off No. 3 Pitt in a meeting between mentor (UCLA coach Ben Howland) and protege (Pitt's Jamie Dixon), 64-55... In other college basketball news, Tubby Smith walked away from Kentucky after 10 seasons and a National Championship in 1998. However, the '98 Championship was his only trip to the Final Four and the Wildcat faithful expect more from their coach then good teams with good players and a clean program ... they expect the absolute best on the court. Smith decided his time was up and has accepted the University of Minnesota job. The circus that will be the search for the new Kentucky coach has already started. Names like Billy Donovan of Florida (a former UK assistant under Rick Pitino), Billy Gillispie of Texas A&M, John Calipari of Memphis, Tom Crean of Marquette, Travis Ford of UMass (a former star at UK under Pitino), Thad Matta of Ohio State and Rick Barnes of Texas will be thrown around. Donovan is probably Kentucky's top choice. He already has two Final Four appearances (2000, 2006) and a National Championship (2006) and his current team is a leading contender to become the first team to win consecutive National Championships since Duke turned the trick in 1991 and 1992. He has ties to the school, coaching under his mentor Pitino. He also has beat up on Kentucky, winning six consecutive times against the Wildcats. The question isn't whether or not he is qualified, it is if he will leave Florida or not? I say he stays at Florida -- he has built an Empire in Gainsville and that should keep him a Gator. If Donovan turns down UK, the rest of the mentioned candidates would all be good choices. Personally, I believe Calipari would make Kentucky a true national power within two years if he moves from Memphis, Tennessee to Lexington, Kentucky. Calipari is a proven winner on the college level, having built UMass from a constant loser to a Final Four team in 1996. He has also rebuilt Memphis into a contender for the first time since the 1980's. There is also the very remote possibility that Kentucky would turn to Pitino himself. Pitino saved the Kentucky program once, coming in from the New York Knicks in 1989 to a program that was crushed by the NCAA penalties imposed due to the actions of his predecessor, Eddie Sutton. He led the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1993, 1996 and 1997, a National Championship in '96 and a trip to the championship game in '97. He also gets credit for building the 1998 championship team that Tubby coached. After failing miserably as coach and president of the Boston Celtics, Pitino returned to college as coach of Kentucky's arch-rival, the Louisville Cardinals. However, Pitino has made Louisville a contender, making the Final Four in 2005. I bet Kentucky people are already secretly speaking with Pitino's people about a return to Lexington. It may be a longshot -- bet on Donovan if he'll leave Florida or Calipari after that with A&M's Gillispie running third (his defeat of Louisville/Pitino in the second round of the NCAA's at Kentucky's Rupp Arena has to count for something) -- but it will make for interesting conversation... I know that college football is months away but watch out for the Oregon Ducks. They will be the highest scoring team in the Pac-10 under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, formerly the offensive guru at UNH...