March 28, 2006

Shock waves came across college basketball on Tuesday when word came out that Indiana's new head coach would be Kelvin Sampson. The decision to hire the former Oklahoma coach was a stunner because many Hoosier fans thought the job would go to one of their own, Iowa coach Steve Alford. The former Indiana superstar led the Hoosiers to the national title in 1987 and played for the General, Robert Montgomery Knight.

The belief was that an Alford hire would bridge the gap between Knight fans and Knight detractors, and would be the top candidate of the Indiana Board of Trustees and the school's athletic department. It wasn't to be, and Indiana ended up making a terrific choice.

There is no doubt that Sampson brings a special winner's mentality. He did a terrific job at Oklahoma, leading the Sooners to the NCAA tournament in 11 of his 12 seasons there. Oklahoma won 20 or more games each of the last nine seasons, including a 31-5 mark and Final Four trip in 2002. His squads averaged over 23 wins per campaign during his stint in Norman.

The Oklahoma program became one of the elites of the Big 12. He also worked to get the facilities upgraded big time. That aided the Sooners in recruiting.

He also built a winner at Washington State, winning 20 or more games in two of his final seasons at Pullman. Sampson led the Cougars to the NCAA tournament in 1994, the school's first trip in over a decade.

Look for Sampson to do the same at Indiana building a consistent winner and working to improve the facilities in Bloomington. Rick Greenspan and his Indiana athletic department staff did a great job in bringing in a proven winner. Sampson is one of the premier coaches in America and he will spell trouble for many opponents in the Big 10.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.