I am deeply troubled ...

by the allegations that Geno verbally baits opposing players.

But if we can agree to define narrowly the criteria for defining an excellent college basketball coach as winning games and winning championships, I think that Geno's decisions on things like minutes distribution and the like should be pretty much beyond question.

If somebody wants to make the argument that his seemingly uncompromising coaching style has a detrimental effect on the psyche of some of the young women entrusted to his care, that's worthy of a separate conversation.

As somewhat of an aside, it seems that the players who stick around for their entire eligibility continue to hold him in very high regard. It's almost as though he made good on Bo's failed promise, "Those who stay will be champions."

If Notre Dame fans have seen anything this season, it's the challenge of navigating a season in which you're the hunted, rather than the hunter. For my money, it's much harder than it looks.

Geno has done it often enough and well enough that I'm of the opinion that he shouldn't be subjected to the Monday-morning quarterbacking of opposing fans on his decisions regarding playing time and the like.