In case you didn't know, college basketball started the other week and we here at Boosh have already put down our pigskins and picked up our whatever the hell animal they skin to make basketballs. Watching a few of the pre-conference games, we couldn't help but notice that these coaches just looked right on the sideline. They looked at home, yelling and screaming obsenities at their players. EA Sports thought they belonged there too, that's why NCAA Basketball '09 has coaches in the game for the first time in the history of the popular game series (not to mention Erin Andrews rocking the sidelines).

But some coaches just looked too comfortable. Almost like they were born to coach at their respective schools. Much like some pet owners seem to take after their furry companions, we noticed several of NCAA's finest suit wearing sideline screamers looked eerily similar to their program's mascots. We did some hardcore Google research and came up with the best Coach-Mascot look alikes that you are sure to see side-by-side on the court all season long.

John Thompson III :: Jack the Bulldog

We'll start our list of look-alikes off down in D.C. Son of legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson, John Thompson III (or JT3 as I like to call him) was born to rock the Hoya courtside. Like the mascot Jack the Bulldog, JT3 has a big ol' round face, a perpetual menacing brow, and a tiny little nose. Isn't he precious! While he doesn't have a killer underbite like his mascot companion, he sure as hell has the same chin bone structure - we're guessing with canines to match.

 Bo Ryan :: Bucky Badger

It was hard to pick just which badger Bo Ryan was most akin to: Bucky or the real thing. We chose Bucky to tie in collegiate athletics, but Google "badger pictures" and Bo is a dead on ringer for a snarling wilderness critter. I don't know if it's the wide head or the receeding hairline, but both of them coupled with that streamlined widow's peak is basically the human variation of Bucky's V-fur forehead. And like the real animal, both are volatile if provoked.

 Ben Howland :: Joe Bruin

Aside from the huge foreheads and large, curved eyebrows - there is a glaring similarity between UCLA head coach Ben Howland and bear mascot Joe Bruin: the complete lack of emotion. Hey, you just went to Final Four!!!! Yay us. While Howland can get a little fired up during games, the similarities between these two photos are pretty ridiculous. And for Joe Bruin to look as apathetic as he does, I hope someone in the athletic department got fired for the decision to make a mascot that has about as much enthusiasm for his occupation as a Postal employee.

 Coach K :: The Blue Devil

It wasn't until doing this post that I realize how similar Mr. Krzyzewski and the Devil himself look. Both have that elongated nose, menacing small mouth grin, and high foreheads. While Coach K lacks the Blue Devil goatee, we think that double chin he's sporting can fill in just fine. I tried to find other pictures and it really didn't matter, Mike Krzyzewski looks like a devil. At all times. Coach K is the antichrist. There, I said it.

Tim Floyd :: Tommy Trojan

Before someone says hey man, the mascot isn't Tommy the Trojan, blah blah blah I'm aware. But here's the deal. Your school doesn't get like 8 mascots, so I picked for you. Dude's name is Tommy. End of story. While Tim Floyd isn't of Greek origin, neither are any of the students at USC, so already the two are similar by account of their non-heritage. As seen in the picture, Floyd has some impressive sword skills and his white dress shirts resemble the white stallion prancing around at football games. But what really drives the similarity home is the hair. Like the Trojan helmet, Floyd is one of the only coaches on here rocking a full head of hair. That's impressive in his line of work and worth noting.

Gene Keady :: Purdue Pete

Even though he retired as Purdue's head coach in 2005, we couldn't leave him off the list. Aside from the common physical chest size, both Keady and Pete sport some impressive helmets. Of course, Pete's is a hard hat and Keady's is a the worst comb-over known to man, but the head gear is what connects the two so well. In fact, Gene Keady is so old, we're pretty sure he was the basis for the original Purdue Pete sketch. 

Oliver Purnell :: Clemson Tiger

Oliver Purnell has been steadily building a legacy down in Clemson since taking over as head coach back in 2003. I don't know if it's the bald head or the little bunch of hair over his top lip, but there is something about Oliver that just screams 'tigre'. That bright orange jacked doesn't help separate the two either. Also in this picture, is it just me, or do both figures look like deer in headlights?

Missed Their Calling 

While researching for this post, we came across a couple coaches who seemed to be out of place at their current place of employment. Here are three coaches who, going off of their aesthetic appearance, would be better suited at alternative collegiate facilities.

 Mark Mangino :: Otto the Orange

Aside from the fact that Mangino would've probably devoured the citrus-y mascot by halftime, the Jayhawk football coach really missed his mark by not driving his career to up-state New York. I mean, just imagine how many variations of this picture could take place. The possibilities are endless. I'm moving for a "Send Mangino to 'Cuse" campaign this off season. Thanks to Gibbs for the photo.

Mike Brey :: New Jersey

As some of you may know, the main Boosh offices are in Chicago and while the Windy City is a great sports town there is one glaring athletic problem: a citywide obsession with Notre Dame. I don't get it, and I don't care, but because their games are always on I have sat thru many a ND basketball match. And I can safely say, with that slicked backed hair, the only place Mike Brey belongs is in Jersey. He just looks out of place in the middle of Indiana.

Joe Paterno :: Oski the Bear

It is uncanny, isn't it? It's like looking into a mirror. A really old, decrepit mirror. The big eyes, the hunched shoulders, even the hair is similar. This truly is the creepiest thing ever. Maybe it's for the best that JoePa didn't go to Cal, the confusion on the field would've been far too great.

I mean seriously, are they twins?