Turned on UCONN women's game with St. Francis. Announcer said St. Francis coach was John Thurston. Googled him and sure enough it is the same John Thurston that was Lou's asst. & who became head coach for a few years after Lou left. St. Francis not faring too well so far - down 28-11 with 11 min to go in 1st half.
Very cool! Just turned it on. Poor John's team looks like a high school team against UConn( a lot of teams would) . They're just so young looking and tiny. They move the ball around very well- just don't have the athleticism, talent, height and strength.
Outscored 32-0 in the paint in the 1st half. Uggh
Very cool. They said Saint Francis won like 40 games the seven years prior to his arrival and they have won 40 plus in his 3 years. He had one good year coaching the Dukes with Eric Brent and Ben Gordon( I think). They played exciting basketball and won the Times Dispatch tournament. That team also lost at Navy when David Robinson made a half court buzzer beater when we were up 1 or 2 Points.
Thurston was coach when Kenny Brooks was recruited and also I believe for his freshman year.
Talk about a circle of life. Rollie Massimino was instrumental in getting Campanelli the gig at JMU. Thurston came as one of his assistants and later took over the JMU program. After a number of stops after JMU, Thurston is charged with starting up the women's program at naia northwood. And who was given the responsibility to building the men's program there? Rollie Massimino!