Massimino Is Still in the Game Because It's Still in Him

"A while," Massimino said. "You need to talk?"

White nodded his head. Massimino stood up and put his arm around White's neck.

"Don't get too upset about this," he said. "You've had a great year. Last night [the league's awards banquet] was a big night for you and maybe you got a little sidetracked. It's one game."

"But Coach, look at my stats."

Massimino looked. "You got 15 rebounds," he said. "You kept at it on a night when you were struggling with your shot."

White was still frowning. "I'll call you later," Massimino said.

As White left, Massimino smiled.

"People can say what they want about the past or about why I wanted to come back or needed to come back," he said. "Right there is why I came back. I've always loved the kids; I really have. The level of play here is a lot different than Villanova, but the coaching isn't all that different. I still get after them in practice, I still want to win and when it's over they all come to my house and Mary Jane still cooks for them on Thanksgiving and Christmas and I love being with them. I hope I'm giving them something because I know they're giving me something. Even with the ups and downs at Vegas and Cleveland State, I never stopped loving working with the kids and having them in my life."

He has 17 grandchildren now -- "I can name almost all of them," he joked -- and he looked very tired in the aftermath of a loss. He can go back to playing golf tomorrow if he wants.

But he won't.

"I'll do it another year," he said. Pause. "Maybe two." Pause. "I don't know, we'll see."

Count on another year, maybe two, maybe more. Some guys really are lifers -- not because they need the money or the limelight but because they need DeSean White coming into their office and asking if there's time to talk later that night.

It doesn't matter if it's Villanova or Northwood, Massimino has time to talk -- probably for a long time to come.