5-at-10: Next for UTC hoops, Masters contest, Geno's the best ever, Braves roll

What's up folks?

We are on the cusp of arguably our favorite sporting event of the year.

From the "Talks too much" studios, enjoy the pimento cheese and bring your slickers.

Will Wade

Wade out

Well that kind of stinks.

The news that was being reported Monday night became official Tuesday as Will Wade took the VCU job, leaving UTC for a program that he helped get to the Final Four and one that has decidedly more resources than the Mocs.

So it goes, and while we feel for the players in the program, we all know this is the price of doing mid-major business.

You find a good one, and unless it's a very rare McKillop-like or potentially Huesman-type scenario, that good one will move on.

We certainly can see the line of reasoning TFP ace columnist Mark Wiedmer lays out in today's TFP.

Wes Long could continue the roll Wade started here if Wes decides not to go to VCU with his former boss.

That said, promoting down the bench has seldom worked at this level, and while the torment of the moment may have skewed the view of John Shulman's accomplishments, history's view of his two NCAA tournament trips will be kinder in the narrative that was his time coaching the Mocs.

That said, Long does have previous head coaching experience and that's a huge plus. We tentatively believe he deserves first crack at it if he wants it because of the momentum created and the roster put in place.

That does not come without the pause that the lessons of history give, but Long has always impressed. (That said, we believe Wade will do everything in his power to convince Wes Long to come to Richmond, which is an even stronger endorsement for his abilities.)

After that, we are going to trust David Blackburn's list, and he has earned that. Facing two basketball hires before he unpacked his office in Chattanooga, Blackburn hit a homer with Wade and a grand slam with Jim Foster.

David Blackburn

We will say this, count us among the group that would question how motivated would an Anthony Grant be? The former Alabama coach would be still cashing buyout checks and since this roster could contend for a tournament trip with Stewwie and the 5-at-10 on the bench, well, next year's hardly going to be a gauge.

Would Grant bring splash factor? Yep, he would. But splash after the initial entry means little beyond that. Hiring Dickie V would be splashy too, but not sure that's where UTC needs to be focused.

Still, if Blackburn thinks Grant is the guy - or Long or Norman Dale or any of the other names floating about - Blackburn has earned some blind trust from this point of view.

---

Masters story lines

There are a slew of interesting story lines this week and Augusta.

Whether you want to admit it or not, it starts with Tiger and what he does after his hiatus. It could be a train wreck or it could be the sports story of the year or anywhere in between.

Tiger Woods hugs his children Charlie, left and Sam during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament Tuesday, April 7, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Then there is Rory McIlory who is trying to join a pretty impressive twosome of Woods and Ben Hogan by winning three consecutive majors. We don't know much, but if you become the third name on a golf list with Woods and Hogan, well, that's a good thing.

There are the long-hitting lefties and former Masters champs of Phil and Bubba, who are crowd favorites there. (Although interesting story this week about Bubba being the least-liked player on Tour. Not a huge surprise there but still interesting.)

THere's the list of guys without a major title who could win this week. Names like Fowler, Day, Dustin Johnson, Jimmy Walker or Matt Kuchar.

There's the soggy weather that will make the 7,400-plus yards play even longer. But it also will soften the greens to the point that these guys who bomb can be more aggressive with their approaches. Edge long hitters.

Finally there's the 5-at-10 Masterfully Mastering the Masters Contest that could win you some stuff. Here's the latest round of names, and feel free to add yours in the comments or email them to jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.

Whatcha got?

5-at-10: Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker.

Mrs. 5-at-10: Rory, Phil, Jordan S., Rickie Fowler, Jimmy Walker

Spy: Rory, Matt Kuchar (three top 10s in last three years), Jimmy Walker, Jordan Speith and JB Holmes.

scole023: Tiger, Bubba, Spieth, D. Johnson, Adam Scott

Matt W.: Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson

Sportsfan: Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jimmy Walker, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day

John C.: Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Adam Scott, and Jason Day.

Believer: Phil, Fowler, A. Scott, Rory, Paul Casey

DCrotty: Matt Kuchar,Lee Westwood,Adam Scott,Fred Couples,Justin Rose

Billy in Brainerd: Thongchai Jaidee [Thailand], Miguel Angel Jimenez [Spain], Hideki Matsuyama [Japan], And from KoreaKevin NaNa?Yeah!, and Brent Snedeker [Tennessee]

Dawg747: Jason Day, Rory Mcilroy, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott

McPell: Rory, Phil, Matt Kuchar, Jason Day, Jimmy Walker

Terry: Tiger, Couples, Kuchar, J. Walker, Patrick Reed

Dean: Rory, Bubba, Phil, Spieth, A. Scott

ThatIDoKnow: Rory, Adam Scott, JB Holmes, Billy Horschel, J. Walker

More to come

---

Is Geno the best?

We tossed out Tuesday that Coach K is as good as John Wooden. We believe that too.

Yes, Wooden's 10 titles in 12 years was amazing, but couple Coach K's five titles and more than 1,000 wins and the numbers are equally as impressive.

Plus, Duke's run has been against a more balanced and deeper field of college hoops contenders.

But somewhere in the middle of the Coach K and Wooden debate is Geno Auriemma.

FILE - In this April 6, 2004, file photo, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma hoists the championship trophy after UConn beat Tennessee 70-61 in the NCAA Division 1 Women's championship game in New Orleans. Auriemma could win his 10th championship and the tie the record held by former UCLA coach John Wooden with a win Tuesday night, April 7, 2015, against Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

You make not like him, but what he has crafted at UConn demands respect, Dear sweet ruler of domination and dynasties, Geno has crafted the greatest wrecking machine since Tyson in his heyday.

The UConn women's basketball team is simply unstoppable. It's a shock when they lose and it was mildly surprising that they won the title game by only 10 over Notre Dame, which is no worse than the third-best team in the country.

And Geno is starting to craft a resume that will stack up against any coach in any team sport. He won his 10th NCAA title Tuesday night and if he sticks around, he will get to four-digits in the win column sooner rather than later. He has toppled the legacy of Wooden of the women's game, passing Pat Summitt not long after she was forced to resign because of Alzheimer's. Side note: Think how motivated she would have been with Geno's three-year title run only picking up steam.

So Geno has won 10 rings - forget one for the thumb, dude is going for one for the big toe for crying out loud - and the last three. He turned 61 two weeks ago. He is 917-134 overall in his career and a staggering 293-14 with five titles and eight Final Four trips in his last eight seasons. Read that last sentence again.

So if dude goes until he is 70, he could be looking well past 1,100 wins and who knows how many titles.

So we put it to you Greg, is Geno the best coach in a team sport in the modern era?

---

This and that

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chris Johnson hits an RBI double in the first inning as Miami Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, right, looks on during their baseball game in Miami on Tuesday, April 7, 2015.

- Break-up the Braves. A 12-2 win over the Marlins means Atlanta is 2-0 - and quite possibly a season-high two games over .500 - and atop the NL East. Tuesday they scored 12 runs without a homer. Yes, read that again, and know last year's team couldn't get half that without going yard. We want to believe in you Braves, but we are skittish. But boy, that 9-for-16 stat with runners in scoring position is a great look.

- OK< we admit it, this may be the single creepiest Jepopardy! answer of all time. The question was "In common law, the accepted age for this for boys is 14 and girls is 12." The correct question was "What is puberty?" Dude offers "What is the age of consent?" Man, who are you Bill Shakespeare? Good luck shaking that one off when you get back home.

Byron Buxton is interviewed by local media organizations during the 2015 Chattanooga Lookouts media day on Tuesday, April 7, 2015.

- Enjoyed this story from all-around TFP ace David Paschall on Minnesota's top prospect Byron Buxton. Rushmore of Byron would have to be Lord Byron, Byron Scott, Byron "Whizzer" White, and the next person to "buy Ron" Hall a coke at a UTC game. Deal?

- While we are speaking of Paschall, look for a Q&A with new Tennessee basketball coach in Thursday's TFP. And we appreciate Barnes joining us on Press Row on Tuesday.

---

Today's question

Had lots to discuss above, so feel free.

We had an interesting question on Press Row late in Tuesday's show.

"What's the toughest sport to officiate?" We said hoops, but are curious about your thoughts too.

It certainly does not help that with all the bellyaching about the officiating, this story circulates saying that the referees in Monday's title game did not have all the angles the viewing public did.

That's simply unacceptable.

Thoughts, and you have until noon Thursday to enter the Masterfully Mastering the Masters Contest.

Also, remember the mailbag.