Mike Anderson and Billy Gillispie both started their Division I head-coaching careers in the 2002-03 season…and that’s where the similarities end.
Anderson’s frenetic, hectic, pressuring style of basketball will be on display Saturday as the Missouri Tigers attempt to reach their first Final Four in school history while Gillispie might be out of a job at Kentucky.
Heading into this season, Anderson had a combined head-coaching record of 123-69. He spent four years at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, then two years at Missouri where he put up lukewarm results (an 18-12 season followed by a 16-16 campaign). Now, in his third year with the Tigers, Anderson’s team has thrust itself back into the national spotlight as it has won 31 games this season and prepares to face Connecticut Saturday night.
For Gillispie, his combined head-coaching record entering this season was 118-71. He spent two years at UTEP followed by three years at Texas A&M. His first year at Kentucky ended with an 18-13 record and he just concluded a 22-14 season. But, will he get to a third year with the Wildcats?
If history is any indicator, Kentucky might be wise to keep Gillispie for a third season. Never mind the money he’s still due on the remaining five years of his seven-year contract, a third season, much like in the case of Anderson, has been extremely successful for some big-time coaches. And, if the coach stays for a fourth season — look out!
In Tom Crean’s third year at Marquette, he went 26-7 (after a pair of 15-14 seasons). He followed that with a Final Four appearance in his fourth year. Xavier’s Sean Miller went 25-9 in his third season (after 17-12 and 21-11 in his first two years). He followed that with a 30-7 campaign and a trip to the Elite Eight last year…his fourth with the Musketeers. In Bruce Pearl’s third year at Tennessee (2007-08), he went 31-5 after posting records of 22-8 and 24-11 in his first two years. Jeff Capel currently is in his third year at Oklahoma. The team plays tonight for a berth in the Elite Eight and has posted a mark of 29-5 this season in comparison to Capel’s first two years with records of 16-15 and 23-12.
I’m not suggesting a third season as a head coach is a magic elixir but it does provide the person in charge time to develop the players, install the system and have everyone believing in the program. Remember, the Missouri team you are going to watch tomorrow features three seniors and two juniors in its starting five while the Kentucky team that just lost to Notre Dame in the NIT had four juniors and a sophomore comprising its starting five. With all those players back next year, Kentucky is looking at an experienced bunch playing within the Gillispie system. Who knows how high the Wildcats’ ceiling is for 2009-10?
Maybe they should look to Anderson’s experienced team with three years under his system to find out.
