LEX18.com - Lexington, KY

Posted: Mar 9, 2010 6:36 PM
Updated: Mar 9, 2010 7:04 PM

DeMarcus Cousins might battle with Cal, but he would be the first to defend him.

When I moved to Lexington in the 1980's, I didn't buy into the anti-UK feeling in the south when it comes to basketball.

It's part of being the NY Yankees of the South.

Recruiting is a big part of coaching. Vandy, South Carolina, Ole Miss, you name it, any one of them had the opportunity to recruit John Wall to their school.

Kevin Stallings is a wonderful coach, but UK, coming off playing in the NIT, is a new team and number two in America.

I like Vandy. I've even told a few of the media who cover them, that I can see them making the Sweet 16. But, giving Kevin Stallings the coach of the year in the SEC is silly.

Cousins couldn't believe that his guy was snubbed.

"John (Wall) was like, what's his name Kevin Stallings." says Cousins.

"He was like who is that. I'm like I don't know who is that. I thought it was the coach of Tennessee, I mean not Tennessee, but like Georgia."

A few times I tried to get Cousins to express his feelings.

"No comment," says the SEC Freshman of the year.

"That's crazy but no comment. "

Wall, who wasn't sure who Stallings was, was more diplomatic.

"Vanderbilt's got a great coach but I just feel like Coach Cal should have got it," says the SEC Player of the year.

"He did a lot of hard work as the first year as the coach for us and bringing in these six freshmen and the seven returning players he had to start from scratch with this whole team."

"I think he did a great job of making us better each day and preparing us for the season and and every game. He's not going to say he's mad about it and we're not going to say we're mad but we just wish he would have got the award."

Cal will tell you he doesn't care.  He will tell you that he's happy for Stallings. In reality, so am I.

But, even Stallings knows that Cal was the Coach of the year.