Penders, UH generate positive press
Richard Justice has a nice profile of University of Houston basketball coach Tom Penders in today's Chronicle.
Here's an excerpt:
"I think we've already proven we're capable of beating anybody," [Penders] says. "And we're nowhere near being healthy. We're playing at about 25 percent of what we're going to be in February."You know he's spinning. You know he's selling. You don't go see Penders because you want the usual stuff. You don't go see him if you want dark clouds. You have Jeff Van Gundy for that.
That's one of the reasons the University of Houston wanted him in charge of its basketball program. Because he's bombastic, smart, resourceful, cocky, optimistic, interesting. Because he's different.
So when he starts to talk, you let him. You're having fun, and he's not hurting anyone. And besides, maybe it's going to work out exactly the way he says it will.
Penders is selling his program hard these days. It's a good read.
Penders also got some nice press from the AP today, as UH cracked the Top 25:
Houston (4-1) moved into the rankings at No. 25 a week after the Cougars beat then-No. 25 LSU 84-83 and then-No. 15 Arizona 69-65. Houston was ranked 25th in the Jan. 18, 1993 poll. The last time the Cougars were ranked for more than one week was the 1983-84 season, when they were in the top eight all season and climbed as high as No. 2.
"Being ranked is important for recruiting and credibility and later on when they pick teams in March, the committee tends to look at that as some sort of barometer," Houston coach Tom Penders said Monday. "It's a sleeping giant here. It's been down since Guy Lewis retired in 1986, but it's a tradition-rich school with five Final Fours and banners all over the place."
[snip]
The Cougars, who lost 62-61 to Virginia Commonwealth in the second game of the season, bounced back with the wins over ranked teams.
"Rather than get giddy after beating LSU, which is an unbelievably talented team, the guys immediately turned their focus on Arizona and that final score wasn't indicative of the margin of that game," Penders said. "This is best defensive team I've ever had. They really get after it. These are very athletic, quick long-armed kids who pressure all over."
Houston's appearance is a boost for Conference USA as it joins Memphis in the Top 25 the first season after Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette, DePaul and South Florida left for the Big East.
"I think it's huge for the league," Penders said. "We still feel we're still at least a three-bid league."
Good for coach Penders and crew. It's a more entertaining product than many of our professional sports teams are putting out right now in Houston.
UPDATE (12-13-2005): Penders gets more positive press from Dick Vitale.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/12/05 09:55 PM | Print | Comments (1)
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