I want to share a question I asked of Coach Tom Penders, who had a book come out in March that seems to be a worthwhile read for bball nuts like us called "Dead Coach Walking." Coach Penders' book description contains this: " In Dead Coach Walking, Penders talks about the teams he led and how he dealt with athletic directors, conference commissioners, assistants, AAU coaches, the NABC and the NCAA. The book also goes behind the scenes, revealing game strategies, coaching personalities, locker room stories, and experiences on the recruiting trail. Penders' perspective, while sometimes controversial, is riveting not to mention entertaining. Dead Coach Walking is truly as unique, quirky, and remarkable as its subject."

Penders has gone into the topic of recruiting lately on Twitter in light of Tom Crean's reported secondary violation w/ Gary Harris.  Penders feels Crean and IU's compliance director, asst coaches, etc., should have known he was 1 day past the contact cut off of Oct 5th.  So he's been commenting on how coaches have to work hard NOT to cheat because of pressures of the job.

I asked this of Coach Penders: "@TomPenders Coach - have an opinion on the career of Gary Williams, coaching and recruiting wise?"

And here's his response, one we probably would mostly agree with: @TomPenders @Terptek He was an exceptional, HoF type coach. Great recruiter but refused to cheat & push the envelope. Kids loved him & his style of play."

Of course, we faced Houston in the tourney a few years ago, but Penders and Gary entered the coaching ranks around the same time.  I view them both as up front straight shooters who stuck to their principles, for better or worse.