Tom Penders

**nfrine** · 01-04-2010, 04:40 PM

The University of Houston BB coach was Tom Penders....

I can remember when Tom coached the UT Longhorns (1988-1998). He was 208-110 (.654) in those ten years at Texas. Went to the NCAA 8 times in those ten years with one elite 8, one Sweet 16, 5 second rounds (Only 1 loss in the first round). This was a very good coach and Houston is a respectable team.

Penders resigned from UT after the 1998 season...had some health issues (heart) and was coach when a scandal that involved a release of a player's grade info to the media (which is a violation of NCAA rules) occurred.

This is his 36th year of college coaching...he is right at .600 (638-434) for his career.

**CycloneErik** · 01-04-2010, 04:41 PM

He's outstanding. I don't remember seeing him run a slow-down game before at any point.

**CycloneWarning** · 01-04-2010, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by nfrine

Penders resigned from UT after the 1998 season...had some health issues (heart) and was coach when a scandal that involved a release of a player's grade info to the media (which is a violation of NCAA rules) occurred.

This is his 36th year of college coaching...he is right at .600 (638-434) for his career.

That was Luke Axtell, who wanted to transfer to KU. IIRC, an interconference transfer should have cost him a year of sitting out and a year of eligibility, which is why you never see a kid transfer within conference.

But Axtell's parents threatened a big stink lawsuit over the privacy issues, and behold, KU gets its transfer without losing a year of eligibility.

**joefrog** · 01-04-2010, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by CycloneWarning

That was Luke Axtell, who wanted to transfer to KU. IIRC, an interconference transfer should have cost him a year of sitting out and a year of eligibility, which is why you never see a kid transfer within conference.

But Axtell's parents threatened a big stink lawsuit over the privacy issues, and behold, KU gets its transfer without losing a year of eligibility.

So what else is new? It seems no rules apply to KU basketball. Dead ball three pointers? Mark it down dude. Count it. Big12's response? Good call.

Also, remember Lester Earl? No, well let me refresh your memory:

9. Lester Earl, 1995-98; 9; 10; .6389

Earl took a $6,600 payment from an LSU assistant coach, played 11 games for the school, was kicked off the team for violating rules and then ratted out the assistant. Then, after transferring to Kansas, the 6-foot-8 power forward was spotted around Lawrence driving a $35,000 Yukon, sometimes with rap mogul and sports agent Master P.

Even worse, Earl never had to pay back money and never lost eligibility.

Back by popular demand

And people wonder why I hate KU with the heat of a thousand suns.

**CycloneErik** · 01-04-2010, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by joefrog

So what else is new? It seems no rules apply to KU basketball. Dead ball three pointers? Mark it down dude. Count it. Big12's response? Good call.

Also, remember Lester Earl? No, well let me refresh your memory:

9. Lester Earl, 1995-98; 9; 10; .6389

Earl took a $6,600 payment from an LSU assistant coach, played 11 games for the school, was kicked off the team for violating rules and then ratted out the assistant. Then, after transferring to Kansas, the 6-foot-8 power forward was spotted around Lawrence driving a $35,000 Yukon, sometimes with rap mogul and sports agent Master P.

Even worse, Earl never had to pay back money and never lost eligibility.

That's different, though. That was simply part of an extended vehicle test-drive program that Lawrence dealers have been offering to every Kansas student for decades. Master P was just making sure that the young man knew this option was available to him.

I actually don't remember anything about this either way, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express all weekend.

Back by popular demand

And people wonder why I hate KU with the heat of a thousand suns.

**bufante** · 01-04-2010, 07:41 PM

I happened to have very good seats to the Houston game, right behind ISU's bench. I watched Houston's coaching staff quite a bit. One of their assistants was nuts and looked like he had to be held back at one point.

Anyway, at the end of the game Penders shook everyone's hand like normal, but what stood out was he looked each player in the eye and said something to them. On tv they barely look at each other. I was impressed with Penders.

**CycloneErik** · 01-04-2010, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by bufante

I happened to have very good seats to the Houston game, right behind ISU's bench. I watched Houston's coaching staff quite a bit. One of their assistants was nuts and looked like he had to be held back at one point.

Anyway, at the end of the game Penders shook everyone's hand like normal, but what stood out was he looked each player in the eye and said something to them. On tv they barely look at each other. I was impressed with Penders.

I've always liked watching him and his teams. Their style is fun to watch (usually), and he seems like a pretty solid guy. The guy won at Texas back when it seemed like nobody won at Texas. That was impressive.

And we're 2-0 against him in the last couple of years.

**cyclone1975** · 01-04-2010, 07:48 PM

I remember his days back at Texas too. He was always a good coach and I am glad to see he is doing well again.

**CycloneErik** · 01-04-2010, 07:49 PM

Didn't he have that Tom Garrick at Rhode Island, the one whose father was blind?

I remember that Rhode Island team making a run to the Sweet 16. They were really fun to watch.

**Cardinal2001** · 01-04-2010, 09:58 PM

Even with their slow down game, they could score at will. They were lights out in the shooting department. They were scoring 90+ in a lot of their games, and they took out Oklahoma. Penders was always a fun coach to watch, his teams always came to play, and they were ready.

We're lucky they made that mistake at the end of regulation. They had played pretty mistake free up until then.