In light of the relationship that NC State’s basketball history has with the University of Houston, I found today’s article in the Houston Chronicle regarding the immediate impact of Tom Penders quite an interesting read. I thought that I would share it.
There he goes again: Penders has UH flying
By Michael Murphy
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
Published Feb. 12, 2005
All you need to know about Tom Penders’ impact at the University of Houston is this � it’s February, and fans are discussing the Cougars’ chances of making the NCAA Tournament.
Are you kidding?
Yep, “Turnaround Tom” has engineered one of his biggest U-turns on Cullen Boulevard, transforming the once-moribund Cougars into a winner (14-10) heading into today’s game at Southern Miss.
But the biggest turnaround of all has been getting Houston fans, most of whom have been clinging to a past filled with memories of Phi Slama Jama, Final Four trips and The Game of the Century, a reason to look forward.
Lanny Smith is the new Rob Williams. Defense-minded Brian Latham is an updated Don Chaney. Ramon Dyer is the new Clyde Drexler.
Well, let’s not get carried away. But you get the picture. Yes, it’s been quite a turnaround under Penders.
Ask Michael Young, who teamed with Hakeem Olajuwon and Drexler during UH’s high-flying, dunk-you-very-much zenith in the ’80s and is now an assistant coach on Penders’ staff.
Young has seen the highs and lows � a lot of lows � and likes what he sees these days.
“It’s like night and day,” Young said. “From last year at this time to this year, it’s a totally different situation. He’s got us playing Cougar basketball again.”
Better believe it
Who, other than Penders and UH athletic director Dave Maggard, would have guessed?
After all, Penders arrived at his seventh school with baggage � more like a steamer trunk � that included NCAA investigations, player rebellions, illegal transcript-faxing and allegations of verbal abuse.
At the time it seemed as if Maggard was swapping Guy V. Lewis’ polka-dot towel for a checkered past, all because Maggard wanted a name. And he was getting one.
It was suspected that even if Penders managed to buy back some small tract of the national landscape for the Coogs, the success would merely put a bandage on his r�sum� and allow him to flee Houston for greener paychecks.
But his peers, especially in the coach-rich Conference USA, thought all along that Maggard had hit the bull’s-eye.
“He’s perfect for them,” said Louisville’s Rick Pitino. “Tom is so well-grounded that he’s not going to get upset by all the little things. He’s going to look at the big picture.”
That’s an IMAX-sized view of the game Penders is trying to impart to his team. The slow process that began on day one, when Penders brashly announced that the Cougars, who were coming off back-to-back eight- and nine-win seasons, would make the NCAA Tournament. This year.
Ownership society
Penders made it clear to the players he wasn’t going to do all the heavy lifting in this endeavor, that the players ultimately were going to be responsible for getting the team to the promised land.
“He holds them accountable for all their actions, both on and off the court,” Young said. “With him, you’re only as good as your last game. You have to come out and perform every night or you’re going to hear about it.
“And that’s the way it was back in coach Lewis’ day. I think when you have that kind of relationship with the kids, you’re going to get a lot more effort and play out of them.”
Effort and play that should translate into a postseason berth, either the NCAAs (a long shot) or the NIT.
Hey, who wouldn’t love a UH vs. Texas first-round NIT matchup?
But Penders insists he is just laying the groundwork this season, that he is determined to keep it going by mining the rich lode of elusive local talent.
“This is just beginning,” Young said. “We’ve been having a good season and I’ve been hearing some good things out there (in the community).
“I think we’ll be able to get a lot of these local kids to stay home like we did in the good old days.”
