Sweet 16
- Thread starter Laettner
- Start date
The tourney is impossible to predict. Amazing that K has done it 5 times with all the things that could go wrong.
Bill Self has been a 1 seed 7 times and been to the final 4 twice. Think about how lucky we are.
I'd like to get back to what K teams do best: insane defense and clever passing. That's my brand of basketball and we've only been able to pull it off in spurts lately.
Exactly, Denver.
It is very difficult to win a natty in division 1 men's basketball. So, it's easy to pick K apart and say he's had some flameouts (which is true), doesn't play bench as deep as he should (which most of us, including me, probably agree), recruits too many OAD's (which I don't have a problem with), uses too much hair dye (does he, or doesn't he), takes off too much time with back injuries (a THR standby), but here is one thing that is a fact, he has 5 NCAA championships, 2 in the last 7 years. Just take the last 7 years...who has more? I'm waiting, if anyone can think of a name throw it out there. Just to show how big that number is there are only 8 or maybe 10 division 1 basketball programs that have more than 2 championships in the entire history of their programs...which is like around 100 years. Yeah, puts it all in perspective doesn't it?
Would we as fans like to see a few more FF's, or elite 8's instead of losing early? Obviously the answer is yes. But I remember when Coach K had been to 4 Final Fours and hadn't won a championship, including a 30 point blow out loss to UNLV. And prior to that Duke had lost I believe 3 or 4 FF's before Coach K. So, until Duke (and K) broke through with a championship in '92 (EDIT, thanks VaBlue
...meant '91), the Blue Devils had lost 7 or 8 FF's (the most ever for a school without a championship). And before the championship in '92 (EDIT-'91) I was almost to the point of believing it just wasn't ever going to happen. So, yes, it's great being in Final Fours, but if you never win any of the damn things, then it's not too much fun. K doesn't get to as many as he once did, but when he does he wins them (3 titles in last 4 FF's). I'll take that any day over getting there and losing.OFC
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May not agree with a few things he does but he is the best. Well said OAD
Coaching a team to a title these days is about getting your players to play like their lives depend on it, or at least by getting top classes to play like mature adults with a few scrappers mixed in. Then luck can play a role if you run up against a team that's doing all of those things too. Our team this year rarely played like brothers. Had we developed a common purpose, we'd still be in it. I don't blame K. You can't always script team chemistry. I'm happy with the position he gets us in as each season starts. That's all we can ask for.
Just think. K has been to the final four 12 times. That's awesome!!
I thought we won one in 1991 lol....just messing with ya
Hole Crap on a cracker! Bill Self never played Bragg the entire game, a 5* McDonald's All American! I have never heard of such a thing!
Hahaha, yep, i screwed that up (meant '91 instead of '92)...but you know, I am old, and that 30 point loss in '90 took a lot out of me!
Hole Crap on a cracker! Bill Self never played Bragg the entire game, a 5* McDonald's All American! I have never heard of such a thing!
Yeah, Self is getting creamed by some of his own right now. I didn't realize until I just saw the graphic, but Self is now 2-6 in the Elite Eight since he's been at Kansas. That's not very good, but I'm impressed with eight Elite Eight appearances in 14 years. That's really good. Duke has been to four by comparison, but we're 3-1 with a couple national championships.
Remember he plays in a league that is not even close to the competition day in and day out that the ACC would provide him over the years. That gives him an inflated W/L record that overseeds him many years. Hence the explanation of why he has not met expectations in the elite 8.
It's just difficult. Self is a good one, just like Roy is a good one, and if Roy doesn't win a title, to go along with the last second loss last year, those true blue faithful tar babies will be ready to roast his rear...and the Duke fan that I am...will love it, even if it is unfair.
OFC
You will even supply the lighter fluid and match
I get that, but the Big 12 is still pretty good and Kansas has had some really good teams in that time. I'll maintain so much comes down to matchups, getting a key break at a crucial time, being on the right side of a 50-50 call late in a game, injuries, etc. Not to rehash bad memories from last April for you, but it seemed every 50-50 call late against Nova went their way, or take this season for us....South Carolina is exactly the kind of team we needed to avoid. Winning in the NCAAT is an absolute grind, even for the greatest coaches....especially with as much parity as in today's game.
Agreed. You have to be good and lucky to win the NC. There are lots of examples of the best team not even playing in the final four. One little injury over the course of this tournament and your team can go home prematurely (hello 2012 and Kendall Mashall). I love the tournament but having 64 teams allows for so many pitfalls along the way. Still, the greatest show on earth maybe just because so many teams actually have a chance.
Last night was a great example. Oregon shot lights out and every single bounce went their way. In a one game scenario that can happen and you can be sent packing. Happened to us this year, happened to KU last night.
True but it happens and life goes on...its just a basketball game and more important things than a game