Watched Villanova today

[irishcat1965]

Not cherry picking at all. His record sucks in the NCAA tournament. You guys are the ones cherry picking.
3 NITs
1 year didn’t make it to any post season (2012)
7 years where he couldn’t make it out of first weekend of NCAA tournament.
2 sweet 16s
1 Elite 8
2 final fours and a title.
So 11 years he either didn’t make the tournament or make it out of the first weekend in 16 years. I don’t know what you guys are smoking thinking he is some great tournament coach. He isn’t and isn’t in the same galaxy as Cal.

 

[irishcat1965]

so i guess that was a imaginary sweet 16 in 2005 and regional final in 2006 and final 4 in 2009 that wright teams made it too, sorry to troll guy, not really my style.

if your going question wright ncaa record, wich is fair to do, dont just talk about the bad. in 17 years hes done a lot at nova, there i got it off my chest. good day!

See above. His record sucks in the NCAA tournament.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Not cherry picking at all. His record sucks in the NCAA tournament. You guys are the ones cherry picking.
3 NITs
1 year didn’t make it to any post season (2012)
7 years where he couldn’t make it out of first weekend of NCAA tournament.
2 sweet 16s
1 Elite 8
2 final fours and a title.
So 11 years he either didn’t make the tournament or make it out of the first weekend in 16 years. I don’t know what you guys are smoking thinking he is some great tournament coach. He isn’t and isn’t in the same galaxy as Cal.

Outside of Cal and maybe Izzo.............who is a great tournament coach?

 

[irishcat1965]

Outside of Cal and maybe Izzo.............who is a great tournament coach?

Some would argue Coach K because of his two titles recently. I happen to disagree with that because he has been subpar over the last ten years except for those years. A case can be made for Izzo. A case can be made for Roy, but he and the heels are cheating bastards. Cal is the top NCAA tournament coach in the game today imo. Stevens was but he is gone. So was Calhoun but he retired. So to be honest, there aren’t that many out there right now and their records reflect that.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Some would argue Coach K because of his two titles recently. I happen to disagree with that because he has been subpar over the last ten years except for those years. A case can be made for Izzo. A case can be made for Roy, but he and the heels are cheating bastards. Cal is the top NCAA tournament coach in the game today imo. Stevens was but he is gone. So was Calhoun but he retired. So to be honest, there aren’t that many out there right now and their records reflect that.

This is why I wouldn't trade Cal for anyone at this point.

There just isn't really anyone out there that's consistently good in March.

That's why when I look at this year......you've got Nova, Virginia, Purdue........I think that's pretty much the consensus three best teams currently. Wright's NCAA record is mixed, Bennet never made a final four, and Painter hasn't made it past the S16.

But having said that, I can't really look at that as evidence it won't happen this year. Villanova has one of the best offenses EVER, Virginia is doing the same thing on the defensive side and Purdue while not having the offense of Nova or the defense of Virginia, is the most balanced of the three.

Despite the lack of success by their coaches, I would be surprised if one of them didn't break through this season.

 

[YouKay]

A luck shot was hit before that "luck" set play shot. And the game was tied.

Nova led by 10 pretty late in that game. A couple of unusual turnovers by Arcidiacono and a couple of threes by UNC made it close at the end.

And it was far from a luck shot that won it, Nova had that play in its bag and practiced it every day. They executed it perfectly and won the game.

 

[YouKay]

And Wright’s almost total failure in the NCAA tournament besides that year is easily googled. In fact, the last four years he has averaged 32 wins a year and only made it out the first weekend of the tournament once. That’s pathetic.

And you don't think it's possible that he got better at recruiting better point guards? Better at recruiting overall? Spellman and Brunson were McDonalds All Americans. His only other one before this run was Kyle Lowery who got him to a Final Four (and that team beat Duke BTW, and lost to the eventual champ UNC, while all of its players went to real classes.)

He has figured out that he needed better point guards and a couple of guys who could score from anywhere. His earlier teams were live/die by the three and they came up short in the tournament when the threes didn't fall.

You just cannot say Wright can't coach in the tournament when his 2016 team beat Kansas in a regional final that was in Kansas, beat Oklahoma with Buddy Hield (and held Hield to a season low 9 points) and beat UNC in the championship game. That run was not luck, it was great coaching!

 

[irishcat1965]

And you don't think it's possible that he got better at recruiting better point guards? Better at recruiting overall? Spellman and Brunson were McDonalds All Americans. His only other one before this run was Kyle Lowery who got him to a Final Four (and that team beat Duke BTW, and lost to the eventual champ UNC, while all of its players went to real classes.)

He has figured out that he needed better point guards and a couple of guys who could score from anywhere. His earlier teams were live/die by the three and they came up short in the tournament when the threes didn't fall.

You just cannot say Wright can't coach in the tournament when his 2016 team beat Kansas in a regional final that was in Kansas, beat Oklahoma with Buddy Hield (and held Hield to a season low 9 points) and beat UNC in the championship game. That run was not luck, it was great coaching!

He hasn’t made it past the first weekend of the tournament three out the past four years despite averaging 32 wins a year. Cal would be roasted if that happened here.

 

[irishcat1965]

This is why I wouldn't trade Cal for anyone at this point.

There just isn't really anyone out there that's consistently good in March.

That's why when I look at this year......you've got Nova, Virginia, Purdue........I think that's pretty much the consensus three best teams currently. Wright's NCAA record is mixed, Bennet never made a final four, and Painter hasn't made it past the S16.

But having said that, I can't really look at that as evidence it won't happen this year. Villanova has one of the best offenses EVER, Virginia is doing the same thing on the defensive side and Purdue while not having the offense of Nova or the defense of Virginia, is the most balanced of the three.

Despite the lack of success by their coaches, I would be surprised if one of them didn't break through this season.

I am not saying Wright is a bad coach. At all. But his results wouldn’t be accepted at UK under any circumstances.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

I am not saying Wright is a bad coach. At all. But his results wouldn’t be accepted at UK under any circumstances.

Honestly.......it probably wouldn't.

That's why it kills me when people bring up the whole 1 title in 9 year thing.

Cals tournament record is better than basically anyone during this run.

 

[irishcat1965]

Honestly.......it probably wouldn't.

That's why it kills me when people bring up the whole 1 title in 9 year thing.

Cals tournament record is better than basically anyone during this run.

We are on the same page. Once again, Wright is a good coach. But he would have been run out of town with his results here. And when you asked who is an outstanding NCAA tournament coach right now, the number is less than 4 who are currently coaching. And that is why anyone wanting to get rid of Cal is a lunatic. He or Coach K are the best current coaches in the tournament since Cal has been here. I don’t include Roy because they cheated for 20 years but if u did include him, that’s a total of 3.

 

[Joshhart03]

I'm not going to go back and forth with the original poster who said something about Jay rights record the last 17 years it is what it is cal is a good coach especially in the tournament, he's great.

But if I wanted to nic pic and be a hater I can say that he's a big-time underachiever only winning one Championship with all those five stars recruits, see what I did there!!!!

So no need to make yourself seem like insecure bitter blue blood. I was just talking to the one posted on that the rest of you guys.

 

[irishcat1965]

In general as far as Nova and Jay Wright, I have nothing against either. I would much rather Nova and Wright win the NCAA title this year over Duke, Kansas etc if UK can’t win it.
And if they do, obviously Wright moves into an elite group of coaches, deservedly so.

 

[Primedfor9]

Some of you put way too much relevance on coaches history, Cal didn't have a great record for a long time neither did Roy Williams. The only team Wright has had that could challenge his team this year is his title team from two years ago and I think this Nova team is a little better, doesn't meant they'll win it all of course.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Some of you put way too much relevance on coaches history, Cal didn't have a great record for a long time neither did Roy Williams. The only team Wright has had that could challenge his team this year is his title team from two years ago and I think this Nova team is a little better, doesn't meant they'll win it all of course.

Exactly

 

[brianpoe]

I'm not going to go back and forth with the original poster who said something about Jay rights record the last 17 years it is what it is cal is a good coach especially in the tournament, he's great.

But if I wanted to nic pic and be a hater I can say that he's a big-time underachiever only winning one Championship with all those five stars recruits, see what I did there!!!!

So no need to make yourself seem like insecure bitter blue blood. I was just talking to the one posted on that the rest of you guys.

That's stupid.

Should you do better in the tournament because of freshmen recruits or a 30 win regular season heading into the tournament?

At least you recognize who the true blue blood is, and if you havent noticed Wright is not an enemy here nor are Nova fans.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

To answer your question about 5 stars for Nova...without looking it up Im pretty sure Spellman and and Brunson were in the 18-24 range or "low end 5 star". I dont think either were ever considered one and done. I think Spellman actually had to sit last year because of academics, but if I remember correctly he's an undersized but very skilled Center. I seem to remember him being a prep school teammate of one Brad Calipari.

Ive always loved Brunson's game. He strikes me as Briscoe with a decent jump shot. Same body type and similar level of athleticism with Brunson being far more skilled.

I dont know where Mikal Bridges was ranked but Jay Wright sure is good at finding these unheralded wing guys like Kris Jenkins who arent considered big time draft prospects (although Bridges is getting serious looks). Wright also seems to have a white guard who is just a freakin gamer. They have that with Divincenzo, and before that they had 4 years of that hard nosed kid Ryan Arcidiacano. And over a decade back they had a kid named Mike Nardi who balled.

If Jay Wright isnt at the top of your post-Cal wish list right now he probably should be. The one and done recruiting was super exciting when Cal was getting the best of the best. I still wouldnt trade Cal for anyone else, but Jay Wright's recruiting and development model is basically what most of this board has been yearning for of late.

Wright isn't leaving Nova, he is like Mark Few, he has found his Camelot. Face it, he has it made in Philly.

 

[kmill14]

This is a fun thread but needs context. Jay Wright runs a system that works great with veteran players. It's predicated defensive switching and communication of interchangeable parts. Offensively it's precision passing and ball movement until they get a good look. Not a lot of iso or dribble drive anymore. It's moneyball for college hoops. But since they don't get elite playmakers willing to stay multiple years, they are susceptible to droughts that UK and Duke can overcome more frequently because of those rare athletes.

This year though they have Brunson and really good surrounding talent. Defense is a concern though. If they go real cold that is trouble. 2016 they never went real cold plus their defense with a senior Ochefu was excellent.

 

[Blue_2_the_bone_rivals]

The tourney is 1 and done and there are no great teams this year. It should be an exciting tourney.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

This is a fun thread but needs context. Jay Wright runs a system that works great with veteran players. It's predicated defensive switching and communication of interchangeable parts. Offensively it's precision passing and ball movement until they get a good look. Not a lot of iso or dribble drive anymore. It's moneyball for college hoops. But since they don't get elite playmakers willing to stay multiple years, they are susceptible to droughts that UK and Duke can overcome more frequently because of those rare athletes.

This year though they have Brunson and really good surrounding talent. Defense is a concern though. If they go real cold that is trouble. 2016 they never went real cold plus their defense with a senior Ochefu was excellent.

They certainly haven't had a drought all season long.

It took Butler 15 3s and shooting 68% from deep to knock them off.

It would take a similar effort to beat them in the tournament.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

If there needs to be a comparison between the two (and there doesn't )
the real question would be what would be the results had Cal had Wright's players and vice versa.

Some would say that Wright couldn't get the players Cal does but that doesn't mean he couldn't get better players as a UK coach.

He's not going to be offered or come to UK so it's all theoretical anyway.

Some day UK will have a new coach and his tourney record won't be as good as Cal's day 1 no matter who it is.