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Message: [QUOTE="bballnut90, post: 5101974, member: 2117"] On the men's side, there is ample identity in Duke/UNC/Kentucky being basketball schools and they put forth resources to make sure the program stays relevant and continues to be known as a blue blood basketball school. I don't think the same exists on the women's side aside from Tennessee/Connecticut having strong identities as elite level basketball programs. Tennessee though has not shown commitment to restoring women's basketball to prominence with their last several coaching hires and pay packages. If they were serious about wanting to get the program back to a Final Four and keep attendance high, they would've canned Holly earlier and ponied up a lot more money to find a better coach than Harper and a more proven one than Caldwell. Most often though, once a legendary coach steps down, there usually is a notable drop off in team success and the program is remembered for having a great stretch or decade rather than being known as a women's basketball school or a blue blood in the sport. Even Baylor now I don't think many folks think of as a women's basketball powerhouse, the identity of their women's basketball program was Kim Mulkey rather than the brand of Baylor women's basketball. Once Geno hangs it up it'll be interesting to see if UCONN ponies up money to hire a top coach and if they can stay a top threat, or if they'll follow suit and struggle to get back to a Final Four like most programs have once their legendary coach steps down. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach