College hoops

[FurdTurgason]

It's so weird to me how a coach can underachieve consistently and then all of a sudden for no particular reason he looks like the best coach in the country.

See:

Jay Wright, whose teams were known for rarely playing up to their seed until they won two titles in three years
Mick Cronin, whose teams never really did anything at all, then this year looked like one of the best coached teams I've ever seen
Roy Williams, believe it or not he was once known as one of the biggest tournament underachievers ever until he won at UNC

Every year there's a new guy to add to the list. You think "Meh, that guy will never amount to anything his style just doesn't work." Then it does.

 

[KingOfBBN]

The March Madness one and done format is super fun but it’s also the absolute worst way to determine a champion in basketball.

Rarely does the best team win because on any given night, shots could just not fall, an injury or foul trouble or officiating just completely take your team out. Or just some random team have a hot night to get an upset and then suck the next round. So we end up judging someone off a tournament and disregard the previous 30 or so games they just played.

Although Roy didn’t win a title until 2005, he took Kansas to the championship in 1991 and 2003 and had Final Fours in 1993 and 2002. That’s pretty awesome. He had two No. 1 teams get upset early in 97 (they were the best team that year and lost to Zona) and then Tyson Wheeler and Cutino Mobley’s Rhode Island team took them out in the next year.

Jay had one of the best teams in 2006 but I think an injury derailed that and they lost in the Elite 8 to eventual back-to-back champ Florida. Then the 2009 team was very good and made a Final Four but then always underachieved until 2016.

With the way college basketball is going and the massive roster turnover occurring, I think you’re going to see veteran type teams with good shooters win championships.

Chemistry, basketball IQ and a little bit of luck is going to add to perception of coaching ability.

 

[katwest]

A lot of it's luck, being in the right place at the right time has something to do with it. All of the final four teams were good teams but most of the bluebloods weren't even in it this year and the ones that were weren't their typical selves, Last nights game was a great game though and fun to watch.

 

[Hypotenoose]

The best NCAA tourney team that year wins the NCAA tourney. I think that’s how most view the winner. The top 25 teams in April playing a round robin tourney might settle the question of best team that year.

 

[FurdTurgason]

The best NCAA tourney team that year wins the NCAA tourney. I think that’s how most view the winner. The top 25 teams in April playing a round robin tourney might settle the question of best team that year.

I definitely don't look at 2017 UNC that way. They needed a God awful call to get past Arkansas in the second round. Then they needed Higgins to get past us, then survived Oregon and Gonzaga thanks in no small part to fortuitous calls late in those games.

 

[cathouse_rivals216755]

I know this is hard to believe, but many coaches learn and grow from their failures.

Any coach worth his salt can analyze game film and determine what caused his team to get beat in any given game.

The great coaches work at correcting their weaknesses and if not correcting them, at least try to figure out a way to minimize the damage that a coach or his teams weaknesses contribute to the outcome of games.

Most coaches and teams improve with each trip to the NCAA tournament.