JimBob
02-08-2008, 09:30 AM
Sutton defended by father
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
2/8/2008
Eddie Sutton backs son Sean and asks fans for their support.
Former Oklahoma State basketball coach Eddie Sutton defended his son, saying that some of the top coaches in college basketball failed to produce great records during their early years, and he encouraged OSU fans to be supportive.
Sutton's oldest son, Sean, is OSU's second-year head coach. Sean Sutton's career record is 33-24 and the Cowboys' record this season is 11-11.
Eddie Sutton began a Thursday morning interview on Tulsa radio station KYAL by talking about his current interim coaching stint at the University of San Francisco. After co-host John Holcomb, who is OSU's football and basketball radio analyst, shifted the topic to Cowboy basketball, Eddie Sutton said, "People have got to understand. If they had JamesOn Curry and (Kenny) Cooper, they would be right in the thick of the conference race in the Big 12. You can't lose two ballplayers like that, especially with a young ballclub like OSU has."
Curry declared for the NBA Draft following his junior season and Cooper, who would have been OSU's only returning experienced post player, transferred to Louisiana Tech. The Cowboys were left with four scholarship players who had Division I experience.
"I know a year from now, Oklahoma State will be very, very good because all those young players are getting better and better and they are improving," Eddie Sutton said.
Contacted later Thursday by the Tulsa World, Eddie Sutton indicated that anyone who researches the backgrounds of elite college coaches will find that many started their careers with only modest success.
Dean Smith was 8-9, 15-6 and 12-12 in his first three season at North Carolina.
Mike Krzyzewski was 11-14 and 20-8 in his first two years at Army and was 17-13, 10-17 and 11-17 his first three seasons at Duke.
Billy Donovan had winning seasons his first two years as a head coach (at Marshall), but was 13-17 and 14-15 his first two season at Florida.
Jim Calhoun had winning records in only three of his first seven seasons as a head coach at Northeastern, then went 8-19 his first year at Connecticut and didn't go to an NCAA Tournament until his fourth season.
Although Eddie Sutton recently secured his 800th career victory, he never won more than 15 games in any of his first four seasons as a Division I head coach at Creighton.
OSU began the Sean Sutton era 18-3, but a late-season slump forced the Cowboys to settle for an NIT bid in his inaugural season. OSU was riding a six-game losing streak this season before a Wednesday homecourt victory over Colorado.
Eddie Sutton said during the radio interview that one of the things that bothers him about criticism of Sean is "that I did a lot for Oklahoma State and bringing that basketball program back. Before I got there, it wasn't very good and for (Sean) not to get an opportunity to show what he can do really upsets me."
From 1959-90, OSU made two NCAA Tournament trips. In 16 seasons under Eddie Sutton, the Cowboys made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and reached two Final Fours.
Eddie Sutton said Sean was a key part of OSU's glory-years success as a player and assistant coach, adding that Sean ranks with Gene Keady and Bill Self as the best assistants he ever had.
Eddie Sutton said he wants fans to continue to support the program.
Meanwhile, the coach reiterated in his radio interview that he doesn't plan to stay at San Francisco beyond this season. "I think I'm going to close the door to my coaching career," he said. "I always feel like I had such a marvelous career, but I think this is it."
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
2/8/2008
Eddie Sutton backs son Sean and asks fans for their support.
Former Oklahoma State basketball coach Eddie Sutton defended his son, saying that some of the top coaches in college basketball failed to produce great records during their early years, and he encouraged OSU fans to be supportive.
Sutton's oldest son, Sean, is OSU's second-year head coach. Sean Sutton's career record is 33-24 and the Cowboys' record this season is 11-11.
Eddie Sutton began a Thursday morning interview on Tulsa radio station KYAL by talking about his current interim coaching stint at the University of San Francisco. After co-host John Holcomb, who is OSU's football and basketball radio analyst, shifted the topic to Cowboy basketball, Eddie Sutton said, "People have got to understand. If they had JamesOn Curry and (Kenny) Cooper, they would be right in the thick of the conference race in the Big 12. You can't lose two ballplayers like that, especially with a young ballclub like OSU has."
Curry declared for the NBA Draft following his junior season and Cooper, who would have been OSU's only returning experienced post player, transferred to Louisiana Tech. The Cowboys were left with four scholarship players who had Division I experience.
"I know a year from now, Oklahoma State will be very, very good because all those young players are getting better and better and they are improving," Eddie Sutton said.
Contacted later Thursday by the Tulsa World, Eddie Sutton indicated that anyone who researches the backgrounds of elite college coaches will find that many started their careers with only modest success.
Dean Smith was 8-9, 15-6 and 12-12 in his first three season at North Carolina.
Mike Krzyzewski was 11-14 and 20-8 in his first two years at Army and was 17-13, 10-17 and 11-17 his first three seasons at Duke.
Billy Donovan had winning seasons his first two years as a head coach (at Marshall), but was 13-17 and 14-15 his first two season at Florida.
Jim Calhoun had winning records in only three of his first seven seasons as a head coach at Northeastern, then went 8-19 his first year at Connecticut and didn't go to an NCAA Tournament until his fourth season.
Although Eddie Sutton recently secured his 800th career victory, he never won more than 15 games in any of his first four seasons as a Division I head coach at Creighton.
OSU began the Sean Sutton era 18-3, but a late-season slump forced the Cowboys to settle for an NIT bid in his inaugural season. OSU was riding a six-game losing streak this season before a Wednesday homecourt victory over Colorado.
Eddie Sutton said during the radio interview that one of the things that bothers him about criticism of Sean is "that I did a lot for Oklahoma State and bringing that basketball program back. Before I got there, it wasn't very good and for (Sean) not to get an opportunity to show what he can do really upsets me."
From 1959-90, OSU made two NCAA Tournament trips. In 16 seasons under Eddie Sutton, the Cowboys made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and reached two Final Fours.
Eddie Sutton said Sean was a key part of OSU's glory-years success as a player and assistant coach, adding that Sean ranks with Gene Keady and Bill Self as the best assistants he ever had.
Eddie Sutton said he wants fans to continue to support the program.
Meanwhile, the coach reiterated in his radio interview that he doesn't plan to stay at San Francisco beyond this season. "I think I'm going to close the door to my coaching career," he said. "I always feel like I had such a marvelous career, but I think this is it."