Sweet Sixteenth Coach

Sweet Sixteenth coach for Creighton? Greg McDermott represents the 16th coach for Creighton University. Could that mean a possible appearance in the NCAA and maybe even the sweet sixteen? Creighton announced that the new Men's basketball coach is Greg McDermott. Creighton signed him for a 10- year, $9 million contract. Making Creighton a Altman- free team.

McDermott, a 45- year old coach born in Cascade, Iowa will move to Omaha, Neb.

McDermott is returning to the Missouri Valley Conference and leaving the Big 12. After coaching for Iowa State University in Ames for the past four years; McDermott leaves a weak program.

Bruce Rasmussen, Athletic Director at Creighton, said that McDermott has always been on the top of his list. Rasmussen knows that anything can happen and it's important to have a list of possibilities if something occurs. Although Oregon chose to do a 37-day search, Rasmussen felt confident enough to hire McDermott. Why?

Looking more closely at McDermott, I came to realize he could bring a lot to Creighton. First of all, I want to share that I never spoken to Altman, but also have never read a quote of him making a joke. McDermott already seems incredibly outgoing and I am excited to welcome him into the Creighton community. However, the lack of experience should not be looked upon as a weakness. Prior to being a coach at ISU, McDermott coached at Northern Iowa. There, he brought the Panthers to the NCAA tournament for three years in a row. McDermott has the experience, but how come ISU did not do that well these past four years? I blame ISU.

McDermott will be dedicated and will try to make Creighton become a power- house. It has been announced that Creighton's latest recruit has been released. Tyrone Nared has chosen not to go to Creighton. On his visit, Nared played pick- up with the current team this year. A current player on the team told me Nared wasn't that great of a player, just an athetlic guy.

I feel as though it's not much of a loss. McDermott is not just coming to coach at Creighton, he is also coming to move his son into the dorms in the fall. McDermott's son, Doug, a high school senior is going to play ball for his Dad. Doug is raked at No. 29 in the nation as a small forward in the class of 2010. Doug had originally committed to University of Northern Iowa, but has changed his mind due to his Dad's new position. Could UNI be honest over this? Of Course.

How is it, that a team that went 18- 16 and was in the CIT tournament just got UNI's best recruit (an up and coming basketball program) as a new player? Blame the Creighton community. I think Wragge and D. McDermott will lead Creighton out of the CIT and NIT, and finally to the NCAA tournament. There, Creighton will prove Altman was not replaceable. Because clearly, I do not think so.