TULSA, Okla. “”mdash; Monday’s semifinal match between UCLA
and Illinois was more than just a battle of two teams attempting to
advance to the NCAA championship. It was a clash of coaching
philosophies, a clash of nationalities, a clash of two teams that
have seemed to develop into bitter rivals in the course of the last
two seasons.
As more international players enter the college ranks, a dispute
arises, and UCLA and Illinois are somewhat symbolic of the two
different opinions on the issue. Of the Bruins’ starting six
singles players, four are foreign-born. Compare that to Illinois,
where coach Craig Tiley says he puts an emphasis on recruiting and
developing talented young Americans. Five of their starting six are
American players.
“The scales have tipped,” Tiley said.
“I’ve been saying it for many years, and maybe people
will start to notice it.”
In today’s final, only three American players will take
the court ““ three for UCLA, and none for Baylor. UCLA coach
Billy Martin has no problem with that, but Tiley continues to
assert that there is a great injustice being made by recruiting
international players over Americans. He said he is happier to
finish as a semifinalist, rather than recruit internationally to be
even more competitive.
“I would rather finish like we did with the team that I
have,” Tiley said.
The 2003 champion Illini have shown that it is possible to stay
domestic and have unprecedented success.
But Martin observes that Illinois is losing three players from
this year’s squad, and they will struggle to compete with the
top teams in the nation next year because they will be so
young.
“It will take him a good couple of years to recharge the
battery,” Martin said. “And if that’s his way of
doing things, that’s great. I respect that.
“I just like to have our school compete every year.
I’ll just try to get the best team I possibly can.”
If that means recruiting international athletes like Luben
Pampoulov, that’s exactly what Martin will do.
Pampoulov, a native Bulgarian, became eligible to play for the
Bruins in April after sitting out a full season. He didn’t
play when UCLA lost to Illinois in the finals of the National
Indoors back in February, but the Bruins haven’t lost with
him in the lineup.
“That was the difference,” Tiley said.
It is a difference Tiley finds frustrating, because he contests
that many European players are actually professionals, having
played in European club tennis leagues. He also has a problem with
international players being older than his players, a fact clearly
apparent in the deciding match Monday. While both are freshman,
UCLA’s Philipp Gruendler is 21 and G.D. Jones is 18.
Though there is clearly some inequity there, everything UCLA has
done is within the rules. And Tiley didn’t really want to
talk much about it.
“I really don’t want to make a comment on that
because I don’t want it to sound like sour grapes,”
Tiley said. “It’s easier for me to make a comment when
we’re winning than when we’re losing.”