NCAA Basketball betting

Isiah Thomas FIU debut likely at Ohio State

The next chapter of Isiah Thomas coaching career will start amid familiar territory for the Hall of Famer: the Big 10.

FIUs new coach is prepping to debut Nov. 9 at Ohio State in the opening round of a Coaches vs. Cancer tournament. The matchup has been in the works for months and is expected to be formally announced later this summer. Thomas – a Chicago native who grew up watching and eventually playing in the Big 10 – says itll add extra significance to his first night with the Golden Panthers.

Big 10 country, Thomas said Thursday, as he played in a charity golf tournament hosted by Alonzo Mourning and Dwyane Wade, taking a rare break from his FIU workload. If at some point and time youre going to be able to compete with the big boys, you might as well just jump right into the fire and get started.

Well take our lumps during the season, Thomas added. But if we can be ready by March, thats what youre really peaking for.

Thomas went 1-1 at Columbus during his two seasons playing for Indiana. He knows that record probably wont improve this fall, not with the Buckeyes widely expected to start the season as contenders for a Big 10 championship and FIU simply looking for a new beginning after three 20-loss seasons in the last four years.

It could be a bad night, Thomas said. But its good to go back and start there.

Not even three months have passed since Thomas made the surprising move to FIU, eager to restore a reputation tarnished during his tenure as coach and president of the New York Knicks. That stint was marred by a sexual harassment claim, Fire Isiah chants greeting him at Madison Square Garden, and an incident where rescue workers were summoned to his home after he took sleeping pills.

Its been a hectic 90 days, for certain.

Thomas took the FIU job on signing day, putting him in a huge recruiting hole. Still, he signed enough players to fill the current roster (landing several highly regarded junior-college transfers), is making big strides on the 2010-11 recruiting class and, without even playing a game yet, is getting some prospects who would have never considered the Golden Panthers in the past to give FIU a serious look.

All of us, as alums and former players there, are pretty excited about what he can bring to the program, said former FIU star and Charlotte Bobcats guard Raja Bell, another player in the charity field Thursday. Its up to him to get in there and do what hes supposed to do, but I think were all pretty excited about what he could bring to FIU.

Thomas still isnt totally settled in Miami, since the job hasnt given him much time to come up for air.

His coaching staff remains incomplete. It seems like one of FIUs best incumbent players, Freddy Asprilla, will not be part of the program going forward, even though the school is still rebuffing his attempts to get released from his scholarship. And he acknowledges, moving at warp speed isnt always easy.

Were definitely still in transition, because the bulk of the time has really been spent on recruiting and chasing, Thomas said. Its almost like youve had to cram two years of work into three months. Were piecing it all together.

Thomas goals are both high and realistic. FIU wont be tabbed as a contender for anything next season, even though the guy on their sideline won championships as a player at the NCAA and NBA levels.

For now, hes fine with that.

Who likes losing? Losings not a good thing, Thomas said. Losing, its ugly. Im used to winning. Ive had my taste of losing and I dont like how losing tastes.