Wednesday, August 26, 2009

FIU-UNC still the likely scenario

Florida International still is expected to open the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament against North Carolina on Nov. 9, said Rick Giles, president of the company that set the match-up.

But if the Golden Panthers opt to pull out of the season-opening basketball tourney because they don't want to play the defending national champion Tar Heels, it sounds as if the Gazelle Group will have quite a few other options.

"We've had a number of calls today from teams willing to step into FIU's shoes,'' Giles said. "…But we're not at that point in the process."

Giles said he is perplexed by FIU's angst over playing the Tar Heels at the Smith Center. He said the contract, signed in 2008, well before Isiah Thomas was named head coach, is clear that the Gazelle Group has "sole authority" to choose, among other things, opponents during the tournament.

"The contract was clear that FIU's first-round opponent would be either UNC or Ohio State,'' he said.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

To be the Man You Got to Beat the Man Wooooooooo! and Right Now the Heels are Champs Just Go and take your whipping Like a man Zeke.

Matt Privett said...

Looks like Isiah is already building quite the little legacy there at FIU.