Monday, April 01, 2002
IU's Davis would listen to NBA
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Mike Davis doesn't plan to finish his coaching career at Indiana.
“I would love to coach in the NBA,” he said Sunday. “Maybe it would take me five, 10 years from now. That is a goal of mine.”
Davis has three years remaining on a contract he signed in February, and he said he's waiting to see if Indiana gives him a raise after the season. He got a $25,000 bonus for leading the Hoosiers to the NCAA tournament, and if they win Monday night, he gets another $100,000.
Davis is making a base salary of $175,000 this season. His salary will go up to $225,000 in each of the next three season before his contract expires May 1, 2005.
“If they want to take care of me, fine,” he said. “I make more money than I've ever dreamed of making. But people said, "You have to prove yourself.' We're in the championship game. That should be proof.”
If an NBA team wants to discuss an opening with him, Davis said he's willing.
“I doubt anyone would ever call me from the NBA,” he said. “If they did, I definitely would listen. I mean, that's the ultimate, is to coach in the NBA.”
COVERDALE UPDATE: Tom Coverdale's sprained ankle didn't swell after Saturday's victory over Oklahoma, and the senior point guard plans to play in the championship game.
“I think running on it during the game will help loosen it up,” he said. “Mentally, I proved to myself I can play and now I know the ankle will be stable on Monday.”
But he won't be 100 percent.
“If I am on the floor playing, I should not be making excuses,” Coverdale said. “Sure, it is difficult playing in a championship game and knowing you aren't 100 percent, but I am thankful that I am here and playing.”
A.J. Moye, who injured a hamstring against the Sooners, didn't offer much information on his status.
“It's tight,” was all he said.
JEFFRIES' DECISION: IU”s Jared Jeffries insists he won't make a decision about the NBA until after the national championship game.
Davis doesn't buy it.
“There's no way he's coming back next year,” Davis said Sunday. “But, hey, he's in the Final Four, he's in the championship game. That's a decision he has to make with his parents rather than me.”
Jeffries, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, is Indiana's leading scorer and rebounder. He also was named the Big Ten player of the year.
Last Monday, Jeffries said reaching the Final Four would not influence his decision. He said he planned to go fishing for two weeks in Tennessee before making an announcement. On Sunday, Jeffries backtracked slightly, saying the Hoosiers' postseason run would be a factor.
“I mean, it will be a little bit, definitely, because it's a big impact on my life,” he said. “So it'll affect it a little bit, the way I decide.”
WILLIAMS' LEGACY: If Maryland beats Indiana, coach Gary Williams will become only the ninth coach ever to lead his alma mater to the national championship. North Carolina State's Norm Sloan, in 1974, was the last to do it.
“It's one of those things where, when I was at the university, going to school, we weren't a very good basketball team,” Williams said. “I always felt when I left there and went into high school coaching and all that, there's no reason why Maryland couldn't be as good as anybody else.”
UNDERDOG IU: Maryland's an early 7 1/2-point favorite for tonight's game, and Terrapins forward Byron Mouton said that gives Indiana an edge.
“That's why the underdog always has the upper hand, because they have nothing to lose,” he said. “I'm not even going to take them for granted.”
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