Ohio Athletic Director Jim Schaus introduced former Ohio State assistant John Groce as Ohio’s new basketball coach today at a news conference. Groce, 36, will get a five-year contract worth about $250,000 a year, Schaus said. $50,000 of that will be for for media obligations like post-game interviews and weekly radio shows.

“It’s a dream come true to be a head coach at a prestigious university like Ohio University," Groce told The Post.

“This is a perfect fit – this is a perfect match.”

The move to hire Groce came quickly after Tim O’Shea accepted the head coaching position at Bryant University last week. Groce was the first to admit that this past week has been a “whirlwind” and the next 90 days will likely be the same.

In 2001, Groce went to Butler University. This marked the beginning of the eight years he spent with Thad Matta, current head coach at Ohio State. A year later he followed Matta to Xavier University where he spent three seasons before his last stop in Columbus.

Groce spent the last two seasons as Matta’s associate head coach at Ohio State. Matta was the one who told Groce about the opening at Ohio and urged him to consider it.

“He told me, ‘it’s not why would you take the job, it’s why wouldn’t you,’” Groce said.

Dan Wetzel, Yahoo.com breaks down Thursday's NBA Draft:

WINNER

CHICAGO
The Bulls took hometown star Derrick Rose with the No. 1 pick. Yes, they have a glut of backcourt players but none as good as the Simeon High product. He’s a monster talent, a winner (he led Memphis to the NCAA title game) and while not a vocal leader he is the kind of player guys love playing with.

At the end of the day when a franchise can get the best player in the draft, who is a franchise point guard that is already popular in town, it’s a good night.


LOSER

MINNESOTA and MEMPHIS
Two of the most puzzling front offices in the NBA were cited for creating the NBA Finals this year. Minnesota gave Boston Kevin Garnett while Memphis handed over Pau Gasol to Los Angeles.

So when they make a trade, let alone a late-night, draft-night, eight-player swap, oh the potential humanity. Can there really be a winner?

Generally the team that gets the best player wins a deal and Memphis got that, even if they may not have needed him. What do you expect from a trade between these two?

COMPLETE ARTICLE

I still am disappointed that horse racing didn't celebrate its 30th Anniversary of the industry's last Triple Crown winner with a Triple Crown horse.  The highly unpopular trainer, Richard Dutrow has offered up a variety of execues, but this past week some solid information was uncovered.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux finally speaks about Big Brown's Belmont race with ESPN's Jeannine Edwards.