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Message: [QUOTE="DefenseBB, post: 5302183, member: 7492"] WCBB is a very small circle of active coaches, not only titles but also a fairly small list of coaches with Final Fours on their resumes. Recruiting gets everyone excited as well as one good year of results but the predominant factor is experience and scoring. That said is my assessment of the schools still best positioned to succeed in the NCAAT For everyone's edification, there are 4 active coaches with titles. I have also listed their total FF appearances: UConn Geno Auriemma 12, 24 ([B]He's a lock to return to the FF[/B]) LSU Kim Mulkey 4, 5 ([B]At some point she too will return to the FF[/B]) SCar Dawn Staley 3, 7 ([B]She's a lock to return to the FF[/B]) Brenda Frese 1, 3 ([B]Brenda needs to recruit and retain elite talent if she wants to return[/B] as she seems more like a Bridesmaid, than a Bride at this point) There are 2 coaches who have made multiple Final Fours/title games but not won: Texas Vic Schaefer 3 and 2 title games (both with MSU) and I do think Vic will return over the 3 years. Louisville Jeff Walz 4 and 2 title games. Similar to Brenda, [B]Jeff needs to recruit and retain elite talent if he wants to return [/B] There are 8 other coaches who have made just 1 appearance in a Final Four and 2 lost in the Championship game in their 1st appearance. 2025 Cori Close; 2024 Wes Moore; 2023 Kenny Brooks; 2021 Adia Barnes (lost in Final); 2019 Kelly Graves; 2016 Scott Rueck; 2013 Lindsay Gottlieb and 2001 Krista Curry Cori Close is probably the favorite of the newbies to return to the FF given her roster. Lindsay is probably next but in 2 years when Juju comes back at full strength. Wes and Kenny need to restock their teams, but I do think they are capable. I am not sold on Adia, Scott, Kelly or Krista ever making another FF for any number of reasons. In the last 10 years, 30 of the 40 appearances have been made by a coach who previously has been there. To me, there are 3 coaches who are knocking on the FF door: Jennie Baranczyk (given her strong offensive reputation with Drake and Oklahoma and the results these past two years plus adding Chavez) Kara Lawson (given her improvement the last few years and Elite 8 performance-she needs to get better offensively to truly break through) Kim Caldwell (1 year track record, but she has the resources and offensive philosophy to push this team back into the FF). In reviewing other potential programs with coaches who have not made a final four, I call them "sleepers" and would list: UNC Banghart Michigan Barnes-Arica Vanderbilt Ralph Not sure what to think about Nicki Collen at Baylor-she has all the resources but seems to under perform since replacing Kim Mulkey, so I am dubious on her making a FF. Kevin McGuff falls a bit into this category, he has the resources but something always seems to conspire to cause his ascension to stumble-this year was Cotie McMahon departing. Let me know your thoughts. [/QUOTE]

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