Timing is the essence of comedy. Any seasoned comedian knows this, as do struggling stand-ups who fail not because of poor timing, but simply because they’re not funny. At least they know the basics, though: timing matters.

It was the timing of Dan Dakich’s Gerald Ford-esque tumble from Bowling Green right into the helm of Indiana basketball that almost caused my skull to explode from laughter. The fact that within a year he couldn’t keep  a successful Mid-American Conference basketball team together, then was asked to lead an iconic Big Ten program, emits the smell of a classic Greek comedy. (Or tragedy, depending on your spiritual level of schadenfreude.)

Another recent tragedy in MAC basketball came when UT parted ways with head coach Stan Joplin last weekend after 12 years of service. The shock came because he was fired — indeed, many Rockets fans felt they needed a new coach — but because of the poor, poor timing. Why now? Why this year?

Two years ago, Joplin’s contract was expiring, and after his team’s dismal first half (3-8 in the conference), it looked as if UT would have a new coach the following year. But the team rebounded with nine straight conference victories to improbably reach the championship game, which it lost to Kent State. Many believe this late winning streak to be the reason for Joplin’s three-year extension.

Last year resulted in a MAC West Division title, but the senior-laden squad faltered in the semifinals of the conference tourney, and its NIT auto-bid was quickly laid to rest with a swift loss at Florida State.

Firing Joplin this season would have made a modicum of sense provided he didn’t have time left on his contract.

But this year? The 11-19 year was indeed a painful one, highlighted by the losses of senior point guard Kashif Payne and reserve forward Shane Ross. Oh, and not winning a game on the road until the final game of the regular season? Those were some depressing box scores.

But next year’s team will return four starters and welcome one of the 50 best-ranked point guards out of high school in Larry Bastfield, not to mention perhaps a couple more players who were academically ineligible this season. And it would have been Joplin’s final year in the contract. Heck, UT already paid for the season, it might as well see what it could get out of it. If it wasn’t an NCAA tournament appearance, then athletic director Mike O’Brien would have given himself the perfect opportunity to switch coaches.

Of course, there’s also the timing of Savage Hall 2.0. I guess UT felt it was time to redo both the chalkboard in the locker room and the person who scribbles plays on it. The multi-million dollar renovations will sell tickets, no matter how bad or good the team will be (at least for next year).

But now I question the team’s success beyond that. Will those undergraduates and incoming freshmen want to keep their commitments to the school? Heck, mere rumors that Rice University’s coach might have taken another job was reason enough for St. John’s Jesuit alum Joe Jakubowski to withdraw his commitment to Rice last year and instead play basketball at BGSU.

It’s basically sad and frustrating to see Joplin leave, especially since his legacy is embedded so deeply within the UT record books as a coach and player. Dan Dakich may have been with BGSU for almost as long as Joplin paced the sidelines for UT, but Dakich’s home was Indiana, not BG. Whichever location away from home becomes Joplin’s new home, I’m fairly certain he will succeed.

But next year for UT, the Unnamed Coach-to-Be will be leading an unfamiliar team in front of a lot of new faces. Talk about the worst possible time to make a good first impression.

Visit Matt Sussman’s sports blog at futonreport.net.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 21st, 2008 at 12:00 am and is filed under TFP Version 1.
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