The buzz name on the lips of the coaching civilization that migrated here in flocks Friday night from all over the country and helped raise over $1 million for cancer research at the sixth annual Dick Vitale Gala — picking up where Jimmy Valvano left off 18 years ago — was not those being honored.
In due course, John Calipari, Roy Williams and Nick Bollettieri certainly received their appropriate respect from the 850 people that packed the Ritz Carlton hall. However, the most talked about guy before and after the five-hour plus affair was Scott Brooks.
Conversations with Larry Brown, Stan Van Gundy, Billy Donovan, Jay Wright, Mike Fratello, Richie and Scott Adubato and Matt Doherty inevitably led to the chutzpah Brooks demonstrated by keeping Russell Westbrook buckled to the bench for the final 12:28 of the Thunder's Game 2 upset of the Mavericks.