Sports
The Wichitan April 22, 2009
9
McCasland takes over as MSU men’s basketball coach MSUMustangs.com For the Wichitan
Grant McCasland was named the eighth men’s basketball coach at Midwestern State University on April 17, 2009. “Our family is thrilled and honored to come to Midwestern State,” McCasland said. “I am thankful (President) Dr. (Jesse W.) Rogers and (Athletic Director) Mr. (Charlie) Carr for trusting me with the responsibility of leading a program with such a great tradition. I hope to continue that.” If his track record as a fiveyear coach at Midland College is any indication, the Mustangs will be in good hands.
McCasland led the Chaparrals to a National Junior College Athletic Association championship in 2007 and a national runner-up finish earlier this spring. Midland College has won at least 26 games in each of its seasons with McCasland at the helm while posting a 143-32 record and an .817 winning percentage. “We just felt like he was such a good fit for our program and what we are trying to do,” Carr said. “He has a great passion for the game, and he came across as having a great passion for the kids in the meetings he had with them.” McCasland led the Chaparrals to the NJCAA Elite Eight
in all but two of his seasons at Midland College and earned numerous coaching honors, as he was named NJCAA National and McCasland Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ Junior College Coach of the Year in his national championship season of 2007. He is a two-time NJCAA District Coach of the Year and earned Western Junior College Athletic Conference top coaching honors on two other occasions.
McCasland is the first coaching hire from outside of the MSU staff since Dr. Gerald Stockton accepted the position in 1970. He steps into a rich basketball tradition at Midwestern State. MSU boasts 15 NAIA National Tournament appearances including a national runner-up showing in 1975 and four trips to the NAIA Final Four (1975, 1979, 1993, 1994). More recently, the Mustangs experienced great success under Jeff Ray, who vacated the position last month to become the full-time men’s and women’s golf coach. “Coach Ray is very highly regarded and it’s an honor to fol-
Mo Williams teaming with the incomparable James to forge a dastardly alliance, will navigate the treacherous playoff waters like salmon swimming upstream, catapulting the very competent Mike Brown into his second appearance as an NBA Finals head coach in the last three years. With LeBron totaling 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in the regular season, the Cavs are truly the real deal-just take a look at their pristine 39-2 mark at Quicken Loans Arena this season if you need a reminder. And Mo, minus the shoulder hair, has dealt a lookat-me 17.8, 3.4 and 4.1 line every step of the way, making him Tonto to James’ sure-fire Lone Ranger. Since Boston is back, back, backing into the playoffs as the second-seeded team without Kevin Garnett, the Celtics will
certainly struggle. Orlando, riding Mr. Shoulders, a.k.a. Dwight Howard, looks very strong, and the Atlanta Hawks (not your Daddy’s Hawks) will make the Miami Heat sweat its hair out. The Philadelphia 76ers (not that bad, but facing Magic), the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons should be first-round fodder, which will get us into the second round in the East sans too much consternation. In the West, the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs (yuck!) and the Portland Trail Blazers have the top four seedings, but their respective roads might be fraught with danger from the likes of Houston, Dallas, New Orleans and Utah (Jerry Sloan is a beast, even seeded eighth). So without further ado, here is the road to the NBA Finals: In the East, Cleveland rolls past the Pistons in sweep-like fashion, while Boston dodges Chicago, Orlando bullies the 76ers and the Hawks end Dwyane Wade’s most-fabulous season in a seven-game, do-or-die battle. Next up, Cleveland finds itself in a tussle with Joe Johnson and the Hawks, but with a true home-court advantage, the Cavs will march on by 4-2. In the same round, Howard shows his redwhite-and-blue, Superman colors and kicks tougher-than-dirt Paul Pierce, Jesus Shuttlesworth (a.k.a. Ray Allen) and the Celtics to the curb in shocking fashion with a 4-2 beat down. Doc Rivers might be a better coach than Stan Van Gundy but the not-so-svelte Van Gundy has the better team with Garnett missing in action.
That leaves us with Orlando and Cleveland in what could be a monster series in the Eastern Conference finals. But, as stated earlier, LeBron happens . . . and he surely will as the Cavs squeeze past a determined and talented Orlando team in maybe six, more likely seven. In the West, the Lakers handle the Jazz and the kitchen sink Coach Sloan will throw at them in five games; Denver manages to subdue Chris Paul (love this kid!) and the Hornets in a shocking seventh game; I don’t like the Spurs, never have, but they are still very good and should get past aging point guard Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks; and in the most intriguing firstround series, it’s the Rockets’ red glare upsetting Portland behind a yeoman’s effort from Yao Ming and Ron Artest, yes, Ron Artest. In the next round, Kobe shows all those who feel that LeBron and Wade had better seasons that he is Still the Man as the Lakers bounce the Rockets in rather easy fashion now that Andrew Bynum is back in earnest. Denver and San Antonio, well, this is a pick-’em series, seriously. Lovable loaf of banana bread George Karl and Gregg “I Got Rings” Popovich going head to head should make for great newspaper quotes, but in the end, take Chauncey Billups’ brawn and Carmelo Anthony’s creativeness over Tony Parker’s speed and whatever is left of Tim Duncan as the Nuggets, yes the Nuggets, advance in seven to the Western Conference Finals in an obvious upset to the uniformed. That leaves us with the Lakers vs. the Nuggets; Jackson vs.
low him because he’s done such a great job,” McCasland said. “Having him on campus is a huge plus for the program.” Ray compiled a 231-121 (.656) record in 12 seasons as the head coach at Midwestern. He led his teams to four Lone Star Conference championships earning a berth in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional in each of those seasons (199899, 1999-2000, 2006-07, 200809). The Mustangs posted win streaks of 11 and nine games this season for the program’s fourth LSC title and fell in the second round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional to host
Central Missouri. McCasland also earned the reputation for developing great individual talents. He has sent 19 players to NCAA Division I programs and had a player selected in the NBA draft. During his tenure, Midland College, McCasland coached two NJCAA All-Americans, a national tournament MVP, 10 NJCAA All-Region V selections, a WJCAC MVP and 14 All-WJCAC first-team performers. “The people at MSU really sold me and my family on coming to Wichita Falls,” McCasland said. “I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
Superstars ready for the grind of the real NBA season Garry Howard MCT
Where LeBron happens . . . That will be the supreme theme during the real NBA season, which begins early Saturday afternoon with first-round games in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. And you should know, right from the start, that these matchups will be as riveting as Commissioner David Stern’s extremely capable publicity machine will have you believe, despite the two months it takes to crown “The King.” In the end, who will be left standing? We’ve already given you a hint as to who will be one of the last two breathing. The Cleveland Cavaliers, with former Milwaukee Bucks (gratuitous mention) point guard
MCT The Kobe Bryant-led Lakers look as poised as ever to make a run at the NBA Finals title since Shaq left L.A. A crashcourse with LeBron looks imminent but Kobe seems ready.
MCT LeBron James is attempting to single-handedly carry the Cleveland Cavaliers through the Eastern Conference playoffs and into a possible collision course with the Lakers.
Karl; Kobe vs. . . . Ahaaaaaaa! Too much Kobe and too smooth an offense (Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Bynum, with Bryant? That’s a wrap.) will derail what will be hailed in the Denver Post as the Nuggets’ finest season this side of the franchise’s memorable 1994 upset of Karl’s top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics. Now, after taking a deep breath, is the time to purchase your most favorite libation since the NBA Finals, pitting Kobe’s Lakers against LeBron’s Cavaliers, will be must-see television, no question. With all things being somewhat equal between Kobe and LeBron, we have to dig further for the true outcome of this series. And here it is: Kobe’s bench of Trevor Ariza,
Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic (Vujacic!) and Luke Walton will outshine LeBron’s bench of Daniel “Boobie” Gibson, Wally Szczerbiak, the ageless Joe Smith and Sasha Pavlovic. Superstar Jackson will be gunning for his 10th NBA title while neophyte Brown seeks his first. And lastly . . . but most important. . . . Kobe over LeBron! . . . Still. Although we would never suggest you place wagers on the outcome of sporting events, the Los Angeles Lakers will defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games, or maybe seven, in the NBA Finals as Bryant clings, tearfully, to his fourth career championship trophy, leaving LeBron to regroup for another run in another season. And that’s the truth. Don’t believe me? . . . Just watch.