In between games as camp broke for the dinner break, I went up to coach Weber and
congratulated him on his great season last year. I mentioned that as a Purdue grad
that I was rooting for him. He seemed to appreciate the comment and was courteous
and friendly.
At that point, Coach Weber headed out to dinner with Coach Keady and Coach Price.
We talked as they walked out, with Coach Weber asking me a bunch of questions. The
conversation including a conversation about the 88’ team from my senior year at
Purdue (I can hear the collective grown from all that remember the KSU NCAA game).
Coach Weber mentioned Lewis, Michell, Stevens and McCants (no mention of Kip
Jones, VBG). He said that Mitch Richmond was a hell of a player. I recalled that we
had beaten KSU by 30 earlier that year. Overall Coach Weber was very personable
and likable. He has the recruiting personality, asking lots of questions to show
his interest. I wanted to sign with him right then if I only I was taller, faster,
a better shooter and about 20 years younger. Based on this brief encounter, a
later conversation and his performance as SIU, I am very impressed by Coach Weber.
I would not complain one bit if he is our next coach. I am not ready to say he is
the only candidate, but he is certainly an excellent candidate.
The night before, I overhead conversation between Coach Price and Jim Harrick Jr.,
and assistant for his father at Georgia:
Harrick: Bruce Weber’s team (SIU) really kicked our ass in the 2nd half during the
tourney last year. That was the best coached team we played all year. They cut a
lot and were steady, Bruce does a great job.
Price: Bruce Weber is one of my best friends, Harrick mentioned that he had watched
all three SIU versus Creighton games (I assume in preparation for the NCAA match-up)
and was impressed by Weber’s coaching and the play of his team in all three. Harrick
also said something about the amount of hoodlums on the Creighton team (the pot
calling the Kettle black in my opinion).
Other Misc. Comments from the Harrick Jr. conversation:
Harrick also mentioned that Kartelo was originally a commit to Rhode Island before
Harrick went to Georgia from URI. He asked how Ivan was doing and Price said in a
positive way that Ivan "gives us something different". Price then joked with a
Minnesota assistant that was also part of the conversation that Kartelo would go
out and foul Rickart hard 5 times in the first 5 minutes of the game.
Price mentioned all of the Georgia talent in the junior class. He said that "our
planes don’t fly that far" meaning that Purdue does not recruit Georgia very much.
Harrick said "I will tell you who does, Cincinnati, Memphis and Louisville". He may
have been bragging about who Georgia is competing against for talent, but I consider
it an indictment of the Georgia programs low standards when you look at the rouge
programs they recruit against.
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