Truth & Rumors > NCAAB

Georgia eyeing Capel or Anderson

Views
5667
Comments
23

Dominoes are starting to fall in several schools' searches for basketball coaches. By all indications, they are not falling Georgia's way. Kentucky's late entry into the competition for candidates -- it fired Billy Gillispie this past Friday -- appears to have cast a Big Blue shadow on the proceedings. Numerous reports Monday had the Wildcats zeroing in on Memphis coach John Calipari in a deal that might be the richest college basketball has ever seen. If true -- and Memphis and Lexington media outlets are both saying it's an all-but-done deal -- that creates yet another formidable competitor for Georgia in the coaching marketplace. The Tigers reportedly were paying Calipari about $3 million per season. The Bulldogs are believed to have narrowed their focus on Missouri's Mike Anderson and Oklahoma's Jeff Capel. But neither Georgia nor those coaches' current employers will say whether the parties have met or even gotten permission to do so.

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Jeff Capel, AP Jeff Capel, AP
March 31, 2009  08:09 AM ET

Why would Capel leave OK for GA or Memphis? UNC I get, he's an alum, but GA, Memphis?

March 31, 2009  08:11 AM ET

Don't know much about Anderson; I think Capel would be a good choice.

March 31, 2009  08:12 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Why would Capel leave OK for GA or Memphis? UNC I get, he's an alum, but GA, Memphis?

Actually Jeff is a Duke alum; his brother Jason played at UNC. Why would he leave? It's all about the almighty $$$ GatorBaitor. :-)

March 31, 2009  09:03 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

Actually Jeff is a Duke alum; his brother Jason played at UNC. Why would he leave? It's all about the almighty $$$ GatorBaitor. :-)

Do you think GA could pay more than OK? Doubt it.

March 31, 2009  09:10 AM ET

I could see Capel leaving. Griffin is gone to the pros and Willie Warren may follow him out the door as well. Not so sure that Oklahoma is going to have the same kind of season next year that they had this year and the guy is from the Southeast so if Georgia throws a ton of cash at him he could leave.

Got to agree with ATLfan15 that the almighty dollar will definitely be a part of the equation.

March 31, 2009  09:19 AM ET

I agree that the $$$ might dictate Capel going to UGA from OU - but it has to be a LOT of $$$.

I wonder if this "search firm" that UGA is using has caused more troubles than it's worth. That's one reason Anthony Grant didn't look too hard there and went to Bama -- the search firm's approach was more of the "take a number, fill out the forms, leave your resume and we'll call you later on," instead of the "we want you, we REALLY want you" approach. That might work if you're looking for a mid-level manager in corporate America, but not for a higher-level D-I conference men's basketball program.

March 31, 2009  09:22 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

Do you think GA could pay more than OK? Doubt it.

Not sure GB, but booster and alumni pockets are pretty deep when they want a certain coach (re: Calipari and Kentucky).

March 31, 2009  09:24 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

I agree that the $$$ might dictate Capel going to UGA from OU - but it has to be a LOT of $$$.I wonder if this "search firm" that UGA is using has caused more troubles than it's worth. That's one reason Anthony Grant didn't look too hard there and went to Bama -- the search firm's approach was more of the "take a number, fill out the forms, leave your resume and we'll call you later on," instead of the "we want you, we REALLY want you" approach. That might work if you're looking for a mid-level manager in corporate America, but not for a higher-level D-I conference men's basketball program.

Yeah, I think UGA really missed out on Grant......UGA's b'ball program has been on the decline for a while. IMO, last year's SEC conference tourney was an anomaly.

March 31, 2009  09:32 AM ET
QUOTE(#7):

Not sure GB, but booster and alumni pockets are pretty deep when they want a certain coach (re: Calipari and Kentucky).

Avoid the bidding war, sometimes it's the smart move - ok you've convinced me why

March 31, 2009  12:07 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Why would Capel leave OK for GA or Memphis?

agree-
that would be a lateral move (at best) not a step up.....
of course if the $$ is overwhelming- that's another story

But to pick up & change for georgia? they aren't a bball power
& memphis minus cal is going to be a LESSER job than OU

- now if they want him at say Arizona or KY- then he's gone in a heartbeat

March 31, 2009  12:33 PM ET
QUOTE(#10):

now if they want him at say Arizona or KY- then he's gone in a heartbeat

If Arizona did come calling for him, he should take that job in a heartbeat. Even if Zona is down right now it would be a pretty easy fix-up job for a top coach.

March 31, 2009  01:19 PM ET

I hope neither of them go to UGA because Lebo can't compete with either of those coaches. I think that there will be a seperation of the elite teams to the avg teams in the SEC soon and right now UK, UF, UT, LSU will be on top. Add UGA to that list if Capel gets enough money to go there.

March 31, 2009  01:49 PM ET
QUOTE(#12):

I hope neither of them go to UGA because Lebo can't compete with either of those coaches. I think that there will be a seperation of the elite teams to the avg teams in the SEC soon and right now UK, UF, UT, LSU will be on top. Add UGA to that list if Capel gets enough money to go there.

please post more ofter- you avitar is TREMENDOUS

March 31, 2009  01:56 PM ET

Capel will leave if offered....not because UGA is a better gig (I mean come on they are both football schools) but because Capel feels the heat of the resurgence of the Oklahoma State Cowboy program under Travis Ford. O.S.U is on the rise, rebuilding and gaining momentum, while Capel is getting ready to lose his star Blake Griffin and he knows it. Next year, order will be restored in the state of Oklahoma, and OSU will assume it's rightful position as OU's superiors in basketball. Go Pokes!!

March 31, 2009  04:06 PM ET

Jeff Capel and OU have the "Big 12 Freshman of the Year" and some more great players coming along nicely. Recruiting is looking good at Oklahoma as well, especially if Blake Griffin goes #1 in the NBA draft, more kids will want to go to OU so they can get that kind of attention. OU has some of the best basketball and training facilities (top notch practice court) available. It is program on the rise and Capel knows it, is liked there and he likes it there. Too soon to make a move to a another school now, but he may leave for Duke someday, possilby even the NBA with continued success at OU. Mizzou also has a great BB program, again on the rise of late, but I would not be surprised to see Anderson leave for UK, Memphis, GA or somewhere else, although I hope he stays and gives those young players of his a chance to be in the Final 4 next year!

March 31, 2009  04:09 PM ET

The Georgia job is a better one than most realize--the state of Georgia is a hotbed of basketball recruiting (many stalwarts have come out of the state, including this year's national high school POY), and the school WANTS to win at basketball. The Georgia athletic department has been successful in many areas besides football (i.e. national titles in gymnastics, baseball, equestrian, men's and womens' golf, mens' and womens' tennis, swimming, etc.) and the AD, Damon Evans, presides over an athletic department that is the third-most profitable in the NCAA (~$55 million in the black last season). Georgia has more money to spare than just about anybody. Frankly, it's Oklahoma (or Missouri) that would have a hard time keeping up financially, not the Dawgs. If they want a guy, and he likes the gig, money will not be the determining factor.

March 31, 2009  05:36 PM ET
QUOTE(#16):

The Georgia job is a better one than most realize--the state of Georgia is a hotbed of basketball recruiting (many stalwarts have come out of the state, including this year's national high school POY), and the school WANTS to win at basketball. The Georgia athletic department has been successful in many areas besides football (i.e. national titles in gymnastics, baseball, equestrian, men's and womens' golf, mens' and womens' tennis, swimming, etc.) and the AD, Damon Evans, presides over an athletic department that is the third-most profitable in the NCAA (~$55 million in the black last season). Georgia has more money to spare than just about anybody. Frankly, it's Oklahoma (or Missouri) that would have a hard time keeping up financially, not the Dawgs. If they want a guy, and he likes the gig, money will not be the determining factor.

That is true,but no matter what basketball will always take a back seat to football at Georgia just like Oklahoma. He's already at Oklahoma though and I would have to think competetion for player isnt as intense. At Georgia he would have UNC, Duke,UK, not to mention the rest of the ACC and SEC almost right in his back yard.

March 31, 2009  06:19 PM ET

If I was Capel I would go where the money tells me to. OU will suck next year without both Griffins and a few other players. My argument is that OU would have been a bubble team at best without BG. What are they going to be next year? We all saw how bad OU was as a team against UNC, BG was the only one who played well.

April 1, 2009  01:36 AM ET

Heeldawg hit the nail on the head . . . Georgia is a hot-bed of basketball players and UGA has more money than most Div I schools . . . combine that with the serious intent of fielding a championship basketball team and Georgia will hire the best coach available

 
April 1, 2009  11:38 AM ET

Maybe UGA should spend some of that huge profit that no one else seems to have and improve their BB facilities, practice courts and training facilities like other Div I schools with successful programs. OU has spent that money on the best football facilities and coaching staff they can buy and even threw some money at the BB programs since the women are a powerhouse and the men's program is on the rise again because of it. Just throwing $2-5M at a head coach will not build the program and bring in recruits.

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


The Si.com Cover Hub Go to the Cover Hub

Stub Hub

The 2009 schedule has been released. Search for tickets!

Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    Bills owner wanted Gruden
    Views
    62902
    Comments
    393
  2. 2
    Parcells to Browns?
    Views
    43334
    Comments
    278
  3. 3
    FSU to offer Bowden compromise?
    Views
    5973
    Comments
    121
  4. 4
    Why Knicks passed on Iverson
    Views
    32085
    Comments
    112
  5. 5
    Chivas USA to hire Sampson
    Views
    751
    Comments
    102

Message Boards

  1. NCAAF > LSU Tigers

    Les Miles FIRE HIM
    Views
    342
    Replies
    33
  2. NCAAF > General NCAAF

    Did Uga VII commit suicide?
    Views
    229
    Replies
    10
  3. NCAAF > General NCAAF

    Has anyone seen my ...
    Views
    162
    Replies
    74

Blogs

SI.com

Swimsuit

SI Photos