Jim Rome calls Matt Brady a "lifer"

   That's a compliment. I know you may have seen Jim Rome and automatically thought controversy. I, myself do this a lot because let's just say I'm not Rome's biggest fan. This subtle dislike goes back to my first trip to Disney World at around the age of 9. Rome interviewed some Tampa Bay Buccaneer (don't ask who, I don't care for the NFL) on a live taping of his show inside the restaurant we were eating at. To this day I can't stand the man. That is beside the point though.

   Rome said that all people think about in terms of coaches in the NCAA tournament are the normal suspects of: Calapari, K, Williams, Pitino, etc. You don't often hear about mid-major coaches because they never usually get the limelight they deserve. Rome gave that to Brady at the interview referring to him as a lifer of the game with a great story. Brady, if you did not know recruited Jameer Nelson and coached Delonte West during his time as an assistant at St. Joes. Monte Ross, Delaware head coach was the main recruiter of Nelson, according to Brady.

   Thursday's appearance on Rome's show probably marks the most airway fame he has gotten thus in terms of radio talents.

   "It's taken too long," Brady said of the Dukes' 19 year absence from the big dance.

   Rome then wanted to get Brady's take on Rayshawn Goins' 'quote heard round the world' as I dubbed it.

   "Rayshawn's quote is right on," Brady said. "We had some seniors that wanted to do whatever it took to win a championship and hang a banner and quite frankly that's what I promised this administration when I came."

   As I have mentioned before, Brady's time at JMU has, at time been cursed by the basketball gods. Injury after injury plagued many of Brady's teams during his five years. Despite adversity, Brady has put together now three 20+ win seasons to a program who saw a total of 25 wins in the four years prior to the 'Shot Doctor's' arrival in the 'Burg.

   "Nowhere to go, but up," Brady said of the program he inherited. "It was really the case with eight straight losing seasons when I took over the program. I do think it take bounces," he added. "It takes a bounce of the ball and we feel like we had a few of these this weekend.

   Rome wanted to know what Brady's mindset was this time last year. The coach was unaware if he'd be allowed to return for his final year of a five year contract.

      "It's a bottom line business," Brady said. "Rightly or wrongly I was being judged on that team's performance."

   "Going into this year they wanted me to prove that I actually knew my way around the basketball court and that the basketball was round and I think I've done a pretty good."

   Rayshawn Goins, Devon Moore, and A.J. Davis are perfect examples of this:

   "If you recruit some kids with big hearts and big dreams....you can eventually win a championship."

   So how does a coach handle the pressure of knowing who your team will dine with at the big dance?

   "I'm letting my assistants handle, where we're going, who we're playing, and how we play them."

Link to full interview