Sean Miller + Xavier

[BUConn10]

Well Duke and Kentucky missed the tournament last year. Are they elite? Guess not.

Jim Calhoun & UConn missed the tournament in 2010 & 2007 (omg twice in four years what a bum)

Mhmm you found the golden flaw. No one in the sport is “elite” and I’m an idiot. Nice work internet detective.

 

[BUConn10]

So, I didn't ask to be a wise ass or to pull those numbers as a "got ya!" either. I didn't know them before I asked.

I'm as guilty of this as anyone but I think a lot fans here view everything in a very UConn centric lense, primarily shaped by the Calhoun years.

I just think realistically we're not that far behind the "blue bloods" and compared the other programs top 15 or so programs I think we compare pretty favorably even with the Ollie downfall.

It's reasonable to be pissed about the NM State, I was, but laying a first round egg in the scheme of things really isn't that uncommon, even for the blue bloods.

It is when it happens multiple tourney appearances in a row, after not even making multiple and barely being relevant nationally for almost half a decade to begin with before the single “goose egg”. It’s not about looking at us in the scope of a single season but a whole 5 or 10 year stretch, we are not even close to those named programs currently, not even in the same stratosphere in a 10 year window for example, but in a 30 year window we look like the one of the best, that’s where our fans get tricked.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I remember Calhoun being pissed in 2007 cuz some idiot fault campus sports writer suggested we were becoming a football school lol.

Also just heard the stat that Billy Donovan had 5 straight first round exits prior to that first of back to back chips.

Bottom line, college bball success is 99% about getting players. When you have the right ones you’re great. When you don’t you’re not.

Rick Pitino was not keen on Billy taking that job as he thought it was a tough one at a very football centric school and saw it as a dead end.
The money was something he couldn’t turn down.That Billy managed to win there is testimony to him as a coach.
Calhoun came to a school and a state where basketball was king.
Playing in a prestigious then Basketball only conference..
The SEC was Kentucky and it’s little friends.
They have recently been trying to use their immense financial advantage and destruction of the NCAA , to buy a great basketball conference.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

It is when it happens multiple tourney appearances in a row, after not even making multiple and barely being relevant nationally for almost half a decade to begin with before the single “goose egg”. It’s not about looking at us in the scope of a single season but a whole 5 or 10 year stretch, we are not even close to those named programs currently, not even in the same stratosphere in a 10 year window for example, but in a 30 year window we look like the one of the best, that’s where our fans get tricked.

Ultimately you're entitled to your opinion, but I don't think it's realistic to compare ourselves to those programs. We had likely the games greatest coach in that period who elevated us to meet and really exceed those programs from 1990-2014.

I still think we're in the top 15 programs and our expectations should reflect that. I think if you look at programs 5-15 you'll see the fluctuations in nearly everyone aside from places like Nova and Gonzaga who are on their own historic runs.

 

[UofCT]

Mhmm you found the golden flaw. No one in the sport is “elite” and I’m an idiot. Nice work internet detective.

Glad you agree

 

[gtcam]

Let's look from 2011 onward at the pretty much indisputable 4 blue blood programs in America.

UNC: Title x1, final four x2, elite eight x4
Kentucky: Title x1, final four x4, elite eight x6
Duke: title x1, final four x1, elite 8 x4
Kansas: final four x1, elite 8 x5

I appreciate those numbers and they are impressive

since 1990 who has won 4 NCs?
Did any of the 4 programs you mentioned have to switch conferences that was not a result of it being their choice? That makes a huge difference
UConn is a blueblood but the NCAA world does not want to accept it

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Sean Miller has a lot to work with at Xavier. Nunge, Freemantle and Jones are as good as any returning Top 3 in the Big East.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Miller will follow the money

……..and the NCAA will follow accordingly.