Vlyrock
04-09-2007, 11:01 PM
http://6news.kusports.com/art/apps/pennynews/ljworld_pn_inlines_9505Shocker the World
Shock the World. The rallying cry of the 2005 Texas A&M basketball team that won 9 of their last 10 games and made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1987. Maybe the phrase should be altered a bit for the 2007 team. How about "Shocker the World?"
The team will be looking to do just that as the Texas A&M men's basketball team finds itself with a new man in charge come Tuesday morning. After Billy Gillispie jump started the program in 3 years before leaving for Kentucky, Texas A&M has tapped Mark Turgeon as the man to build upon its recent success.
Turgeon has experience building a program, albeit on a smaller scale. Tuergon led the Wichita State Shockers to a 111-76 record in his six years as their head man.
Year by Year:
2000/01 - 9-19
2001/02 - 15-15
2002/03 - 18-12 (NIT)
2003/04 - 20-11 (NIT)
2004/05 - 22-10 (NIT)
2005/06 - 24-8 (NCAA - SWEET 16)
2006/07 - 17-14
Prior to his coming, Wichita State was coming off of two sub .500 seasons. He also led them (in 2001) to a win over then #12 Creighton, which was the school's first win over a ranked team in 11 years. He's not new to taking over programs and building them up...but many agree -- he hasn't had a challenge like this. The shoes he's filling are mighty big and the microscope on him is 10x larger than it would be at Wichita State...but if he's the right type of man to lead A&M -- he's looking forward to the challenge.
He's got plenty of experience winning. He was the first Kansas Jayhawk to play in 4 consecutive NCAA tournaments. He was coached by Larry Brown, and eventually joined his staff. While an assistant at Kansas, they won the National Championship in 1988 and made an appearance again in 1991. He then moved on to greener pastures at Oregon to be an assistant there. He rejoined Brown later in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76'ers.
Mark Turgeon has been where A&M basketball has not been -- at the pinnacle of men's basketball. If his name doesn't make you pay attention, then maybe his ring will. If not that, then maybe the fact that he took "sub-par" talent (used loosely) from a mid-major conference to the Sweet 16. Bill Byrne is committing to this guy and has done a great job hiring coaches to date. With that said, it's time for the fans to respond. Are we going to let the new passion for basketball die? Or are we going to keep fueling the fire with Coach Turgeon and building A&M into a basketball powerhouse? That parts up to us...
Shock the World. The rallying cry of the 2005 Texas A&M basketball team that won 9 of their last 10 games and made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1987. Maybe the phrase should be altered a bit for the 2007 team. How about "Shocker the World?"
The team will be looking to do just that as the Texas A&M men's basketball team finds itself with a new man in charge come Tuesday morning. After Billy Gillispie jump started the program in 3 years before leaving for Kentucky, Texas A&M has tapped Mark Turgeon as the man to build upon its recent success.
Turgeon has experience building a program, albeit on a smaller scale. Tuergon led the Wichita State Shockers to a 111-76 record in his six years as their head man.
Year by Year:
2000/01 - 9-19
2001/02 - 15-15
2002/03 - 18-12 (NIT)
2003/04 - 20-11 (NIT)
2004/05 - 22-10 (NIT)
2005/06 - 24-8 (NCAA - SWEET 16)
2006/07 - 17-14
Prior to his coming, Wichita State was coming off of two sub .500 seasons. He also led them (in 2001) to a win over then #12 Creighton, which was the school's first win over a ranked team in 11 years. He's not new to taking over programs and building them up...but many agree -- he hasn't had a challenge like this. The shoes he's filling are mighty big and the microscope on him is 10x larger than it would be at Wichita State...but if he's the right type of man to lead A&M -- he's looking forward to the challenge.
He's got plenty of experience winning. He was the first Kansas Jayhawk to play in 4 consecutive NCAA tournaments. He was coached by Larry Brown, and eventually joined his staff. While an assistant at Kansas, they won the National Championship in 1988 and made an appearance again in 1991. He then moved on to greener pastures at Oregon to be an assistant there. He rejoined Brown later in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76'ers.
Mark Turgeon has been where A&M basketball has not been -- at the pinnacle of men's basketball. If his name doesn't make you pay attention, then maybe his ring will. If not that, then maybe the fact that he took "sub-par" talent (used loosely) from a mid-major conference to the Sweet 16. Bill Byrne is committing to this guy and has done a great job hiring coaches to date. With that said, it's time for the fans to respond. Are we going to let the new passion for basketball die? Or are we going to keep fueling the fire with Coach Turgeon and building A&M into a basketball powerhouse? That parts up to us...