|
Chat Reel: Eddie Fogler
'I am going to pick Duke to win the championship'
Posted: Friday March 30, 2001 6:46 PM
CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's Final Four chat with Eddie Fogler. Welcome Eddie and thanks for joining us.
Eddie Fogler: Nice to be with you!
From Wideopen: I think this is one of the strongest Final Four fields in years. It seems every team has a legit shot at winning the championship. What is your opinion?
Eddie Fogler: I do agree with that. All four teams are very, very good teams. And any of the four can win this weekend. I believe Maryland is the lowest seed left, and they've already beaten Duke. This is a great doubleheader tomorrow in Minneapolis.
From Jeff in Columbia, S.C.: Hey coach, first let me say thank you for everything you have done for South Carolina. I'm a big Gamecock fan, and a big Fogler fan. Can you give us your best educated guess on who will fill the vacant positions for the Gamecocks and at Tennessee? Do you have any gut feelings on these positions? Plus what does Arizona have to do to beat Michigan State?
Eddie Fogler: First off Jeff, thank you very much. I very much enjoyed my eight years at USC. At this point I don't know much about those searches except for what I have read and heard here in Minneapolis. Jeff Lebo from Tennessee Tech and Dennis Felton of Western Kentucky and Gregg Marshall of Winthrop all have interviewed at UT, and Buzz Peterson of Tulsa will interview as well. The USC search is much more quiet. To the best of my knowledge, there have been no formal interviews. There seems to be a push for Tubby Smith, the great Kentucky coach. Arizona can beat MSU, in my opinion, but will have to get better play from Loren Woods, their 7-foot-1 center, particularly rebounding. MSU is a tremendous rebounding team and Arizona must keep them off the offensive backboards. That will be the real key for Arizona.
From eddaman: I've been hearing all these experts speak on how Loren Woods dominates the inside. I believe Woods is too soft to deal with MSU's big men. What do you think?
Eddie Fogler: Well, Loren Woods is 7-1, very athletic as well, is an excellent shot blocker and he intimidates other shots because of his great size and he can make free throws, which is important for a big man. However, he needs to be more aggressive rebounding and that will be the key for Arizona. In the games I have seen, he has not been physical enough.
From Gotoguy: Do you think in the final minutes of a close game that Duke would have the advantage because of Jason Williams' ability to take over a game almost at will it seems now?
Eddie Fogler: I am going to pick Duke to win the championship. I think Duke has two players who can take over the game at the crucial point in Jason Williams and Shane Battier. None of the three teams have two players who can dominate, and that's why I think Duke can win it all.
From Joe in Anderson, S.C.: I hated to see you leave the University of South Carolina. I thought you did some good things for the basketball program at USC. What do you think would be reasonable goals to set for the program? What things need to change to put USC in the direction that the school and fans want? Lastly, what is your prediction for the football team next year? Thanks coach, best wishes for you in the future!
Eddie Fogler: (laughs) The basketball program is being left in very good shape. Most of the players return and its strength will be the frontcourt. With Howell Petravicius and Tony Kitchings returning, the frontcourt is very good and with Aaron Lucas and Jamel Bradley returning at guards, the team should have a very good year next year. Of course, the real key will be the healthy return of Chuck Eidson. I'm hoping the new coach can take the program to a top-20 level each and every year. I'm not sure about how the football team will do next year. It will be tougher because of the great year they had this season and will not be a surprise to anyone that plays them now. Lou Holtz is a mad scientist coaching football. He's a genius.
From Big: What about Maryland with Lonny Baxter and Juan Dixon? They can certainly take over a game.
Eddie Fogler: Well, Dixon and Baxter are very good, but Jason Williams handles the ball all the time. And the point guard has the better chance to dominate than any other player on the court.
From WiseVol: Coach, what was your opinion of the talent level of the Tennessee team this year?
Eddie Fogler: Tennessee had excellent athletes, but sometimes athletes don't beat players.
From TheUSC: Eddie, did you have any player work harder for you than Norm Greene?
Eddie Fogler: That's a great question. Norm was an excellent worker and a very smart player as well. But I have never coached a young man who worked harder than Petravicius.
From Tippyterp: Coach, Maryland is the only team that has been able to really play with Duke all season. What must the Terps do to slow down the much-improved Jason Williams?
Eddie Fogler: Well, Steve Blake has guarded Jason Williams very well in the first three games. I think the best chance Maryland has is for Jason Williams not to shoot the ball well from the 3-point line. He can be somewhat streaky and seems to struggle more against point guards with good size, like Steve Blake.
From aplsqyr: Eddie, will you please come back to Wichita State? We haven't had a real coach since you've left!
Eddie Fogler: Thank you for your kind words, however, I must disagree. Because I do think Mark Turgeon is an outstanding young coach and will begin to move the program to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference in the next couple of years.
From WiseVol: Was it fair for the UT administration to hold Jerry Green accountable for not doing a better job of turning UT's athletes into players?
Eddie Fogler: No one can argue with Jerry Green's record in his four years at UT. Four 20-win seasons, four NCAA tournament bids, a Sweet 16 finish two years ago. Regardless of this past season, which was somewhat disappointing, seems to me Jerry Green should still be the coach at the University of Tennessee.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Eddie Fogler. Eddie, thanks for joining us.
Eddie Fogler: Thank you, nice to be on with you!
| Related information |
| Multimedia |
 Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
|
| Search our site |
Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day |
|
|
Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV. |
|
Copyright © 2001
CNN/Sports Illustrated
An AOL Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.
|
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
|
| 
