There's a great saying that I've found to be almost always true. Nothing ever exceeds its leadership. Maybe in the short run it could happen- but never in the long term.
They are all looking for a coach that will elevate their play - some more than others obviously buy the amount of money they throw at the preceived problem/vacancy and how often. Finding that one person appears more after the fact than by any metric of whats' available at the time a hire is made. And of course, as paraphrased from Semi Tough, "If you ain't got the horses, you'll be workin' at K-Mart".
Yea for it to be sustainable, you have to have a great coach. I think Drew at Baylor and Bennett at Virginia are good coaches, but 2 of the 3 last titles were by first time winners. I do despise Bennetts style of play, hence why they have been bounced in the tourney. Kevin Ollie is the only other random coach to win a title in the modern era. Who knows what would have happened if he stuck around, but since his name wasn't Coach K, or Roy, he got slapped with a show cause order. I predict UCONN to win and Hurley will go on to win multiple titles.
I agree with the luck part, or at least momentum...there are SO many factors in that happening...the right pieces falling into place, key guys not getting injured, key guys performing at or above expectations...then if/once you start winning....then build on that momentum. The problem is these fickle kids living in an NIL world can turn at any moment That said I like the core group of guys we have next year. Golden needs to recruit his ass off this summer, there's no two ways about it. Then we'll see if he can actually COACH.
I am not a big fan of anyone having his ass fall off regardless of whether it’s from recruiting, working or laughing. We don’t need a constipation epidemic in this country. Changing the subject a bit, if TG signs enough players in the portal and/or in spring recruiting, he might be going into the summer with only one available scholarship for 2024. That will limit his summer recruiting.
Not the original but the gold standard. Now he would just be another NIL funder. Wooden was a very good coach but he had way more talent than everyone else and that talent was not like now when it is one and done. Gilbert bought those teams.
The reason I posted this is because Alcindor was heading to St. John’s until St. John’s pushed Lapchick into retirement and replaced him with Lou Carnesecca. That changed the face of college basketball. Wooden is the greatest college coach of all time. Over a 3-year period before Alcindor showed up, he went to 3 Final Fours and won 2 of them while playing a bunch of guys who were 6’5” or shorter.
I think it took both for them to reach, then sustain, that level of play. Sam helped “ incentivize “ the talent acquisition. Wooden could flat-out Coach. He also had an eye for talent and knew HOW to construct his teams. He brought in great complimentary players along with the Jabbars, Waltons, etc. Guys that may not quite NBA level, but who could hold their own on the court. They seldom beat themselves or got out-coached. Talent acquisition + good/great coaching allows a team to sustain success.
Tranfers: Alexis Morris- Rutgers and Texas A&M Angel Reese- Maryland Jasmine Carson-West Virginia LaDazhia Williams-South Carolina and Missouri
