After StateFansNation shared this link today, the eyes of the NC State community are turning to Eugene, Oregon as a potentially spot for the embattled coach to jettison. But, as the SFN piece also higlighted, it doesn’t look like the interest is mutual.
Obviously Oregon people don’t know basketball like Lee Fowler.
We found this nugget this afternoon.
It’s legitimate to wonder whether the past two seasons, in which the Ducks were 6-12 and 7-11 in the Pac-10 and failed to reach either the NCAA Tournament or even the NIT, represent an insurmountable decline for the Oregon program.
It’s also legitimate to contend, as I do, that this young team, talented but not without flaws, was initially overhyped by Kent and Oregon and by the rest of us, but that next year will be the breakthrough year, with a senior point guard and a nucleus of juniors.
The ultimate decision about whether Kent returns for his 10th season rests with athletic director Bill Moos, who will weigh all that, and Kent’s contract that runs through 2010, and his dreams of building a $160 million basketball arena.
My sense is that Moos, who has said he could meet with Kent as early as Monday or Tuesday, is going to retain the coach who led the Ducks to three NCAA Tournament appearances and two berths in the NIT semifinals, and, again, I think he should.
But Moos hasn’t come out and said that yet. Meanwhile, things have come to this:
There’s now an active Web site advocating Kent’s termination – firecoachkent.com.
Please don’t hesitate to share anything else that you may come across as it develops.
