By ERIC BAILEY Sports Writer on Apr 19, 2012, at 3:54 PM Updated on 4/19 at 3:54 PM
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Danny Manning is excited that his former college coach is returning to the bench.
Larry Brown, who has been an important figure in Manning’s life, was announced as SMU’s next head coach on Thursday.
At age 71, there are plenty of skeptics about Brown’s hiring. Manning definitely isn’t one of them.
“Coach Brown’s love and thirst for the game is unmatched,” said Manning, Tulsa’s first-year coach. “People talk about him being away from the game for the last few years. He just hasn’t been a head coach. He hasn’t been away from the game. He’s been at practices at Villanova, Kentucky and Kansas. He’s been to NBA practices. Coach Brown, in the game of basketball, will always be connected.”
What impresses Manning the most about Brown?
“It’s his understanding of the game,” said Manning, who played for Brown at Kansas. “I’ve never been around a coach with a better feel for the game of basketball. Mind you, I’ve been around him a lot of years, as a player and a person, and it’s really affected me and the way I look at things. But it’s something that will always be a part of me, as a player and a coach.”
Manning is guaranteed to have two Conference USA games against Brown and his SMU squad in the upcoming season.
“It’ll be fun and I’ll enjoy it,” Manning said. “At the end of the game, there will be a winner and a loser ... when I see Coach Brown, he’s going to have a lot of love and pride for me and I’m going to have the same for him.”
Then, Manning added a smile, “Hopefully, we’ll find a way to beat his team.”
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