How about this, is one national title every 10 years good enough at UK?

 

In 102 years of college basketball, UK has 7 titles. That is 1 every 14.57 years. The 2 titles in 3 years really pumped those numbers up a little bit. Without the 1998 title, we would only have a paltry 1 title very 17 seasons. Just a bit of trivia!

 

The bottom line of this whole argument is that Tubby was the coach, end of discussion.

 

The facts are as follows:

 

1. Pitino was the first college coach to really do the new math involving the 3 point line which many teams had tried to avoid. He was ahead of the curve when he came to UK coming from the NBA where he realized this and utilized it and applied it at UK.

2. Other coaches are smart enough to see what worked and altered their style of play and caught up and the playing field is much more level across the board now.

3. Pitino put together some terrific recruiting classes, but let's be honest, ... while he did leave UK's cupboard bare, ... the recruiting had dropped off tremendously and they had nowhere near the depth they had in 1995-1996 & 1997.

4. Many were predicting how Pitino would have a similar run at UL. The Cats were in MUCH worse shape then the Cards when Pitino took the reins with the probation and sanctions against UK at the time.

 

These things go in cycles. Noone will ever repeat the cycle that UCLA had and probably won't repeat the mini-cycle that UK during Pitino's final seasons at UK.

 

Rick won a title at UK. Tubby won a title at UK. Those are the facts.

Lots of good posts here and i will agree with one thing and make one comment. Tubby smith is a GREAT College coach. But his recruiting is mediocre. Before this year none of his recruiting classes has been truelystand out. Yet Ky, wins because the man can coach. On side not My fathe works in the travel business and has actually gotten to chat with Lute Olsen in Az. Oddly Olsen states that teh Arizona :vs: UK National Championship game was the MOST Grueling game that he has ever been a part of and one that he feels lucky to have. If i remember correctly wasnt this the game where Nazr couldnt hit the free throw

If Pitino is still at UK they are consistently a top 5 team. IMO

If Pitino is still at UK they are consistently a top 5 team. IMO

And...................if a frog had wings then he wouldn't................................

If Pitino is still at UK they are consistently a top 5 team. IMO

Sounds like to me your still hurt after the breakup!

Lots of good posts here and i will agree with one thing and make one comment. Tubby smith is a GREAT College coach. But his recruiting is mediocre. Before this year none of his recruiting classes has been truelystand out. Yet Ky, wins because the man can coach. On side not My fathe works in the travel business and has actually gotten to chat with Lute Olsen in Az. Oddly Olsen states that teh Arizona :vs: UK National Championship game was the MOST Grueling game that he has ever been a part of and one that he feels lucky to have. If i remember correctly wasnt this the game where Nazr couldnt hit the free throw

I believe you are correct and he put up a goose egg on 10 attempts.

If Pitino is still at UK they are consistently a top 5 team. IMO

Considering he does not have UL consistently in the top 10, that is a big assumption.

I believe you are correct and he put up a goose egg on 10 attempts.

6 attempts... but none-the-less, a goose egg.

In 102 years of college basketball, UK has 7 titles. That is 1 every 14.57 years. The 2 titles in 3 years really pumped those numbers up a little bit. Without the 1998 title, we would only have a paltry 1 title very 17 seasons. Just a bit of trivia!

 

The bottom line of this whole argument is that Tubby was the coach, end of discussion.

 

The facts are as follows:

 

1. Pitino was the first college coach to really do the new math involving the 3 point line which many teams had tried to avoid. He was ahead of the curve when he came to UK coming from the NBA where he realized this and utilized it and applied it at UK.

2. Other coaches are smart enough to see what worked and altered their style of play and caught up and the playing field is much more level across the board now.

3. Pitino put together some terrific recruiting classes, but let's be honest, ... while he did leave UK's cupboard bare, ... the recruiting had dropped off tremendously and they had nowhere near the depth they had in 1995-1996 & 1997.

4. Many were predicting how Pitino would have a similar run at UL. The Cats were in MUCH worse shape then the Cards when Pitino took the reins with the probation and sanctions against UK at the time.

 

These things go in cycles. Noone will ever repeat the cycle that UCLA had and probably won't repeat the mini-cycle that UK during Pitino's final seasons at UK.

 

Rick won a title at UK. Tubby won a title at UK. Those are the facts.

#3 is somewhat accurate and one of the ironic things. The present UK team is struggling because the supposed great recruiting class (Juniors) are not nearly doing what they are supposed to do being top recruits as those who blast Tubby for not being able to bring in. Ironic isn't it that he is blasted for not bringing in top recruits and the class he does is failing and he gets blasted for that. This freshmen class also looks to be a good class.

 

I will agree that the Sr and So class is sorely lacking.

 

#1 I think is a very accurate assessment. Pitino got those players in the 90's because he had the system that they loved to play. Now those systems are all over the place. If not, you would see UL overloaded with talented players once again. As far as his Final 4 run with Louisville, I give Garcia as much credit for that as Pitino. Similar to Mashburn and the run to New Orleans and Wade/Marquette over UK.

6 attempts... but none-the-less, a goose egg.

I have been trying to find a box score, but having no luck. Arizona's website has no real information about that game. And UK's talks about the 7 but not much about the runnerups.

 

I for some reason think it was 10 but a box score would convince me different.

I have been trying to find a box score, but having no luck. Arizona's website has no real information about that game. And UK's talks about the 7 but not much about the runnerups.

 

I for some reason think it was 10 but a box score would convince me different.

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/history/yearbyyear/1997

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/history/yearbyyear/1997

I sit corrected. Thanks for educating me.

 

9 for 17 is not good. Guess it is just not Tubby that has bad FT shooting teams.

 

Also, wow, Arizona had alot more attempts and scored all of their points in OT on the FT line.

I sit corrected. Thanks for educating me.

 

9 for 17 is not good. Guess it is just not Tubby that has bad FT shooting teams.

 

Also, wow, Arizona had alot more attempts and scored all of their points in OT on the FT line.

I know, Miles Simon stayed on the line all night.... 'Zona did not shoot great, but lived on the FT line the entire evening.

In 102 years of college basketball, UK has 7 titles. That is 1 every 14.57 years. The 2 titles in 3 years really pumped those numbers up a little bit. Without the 1998 title, we would only have a paltry 1 title very 17 seasons. Just a bit of trivia!

 

.

 

 

This is a little fallacious. They have been playing basketball for 102 years but there has been an NCAA Tourney only since 1939. Not quite 70 years. If you want to factor in Helms National Championships (as UNC likes to ) Kentucky has two more that aren't the same years as NCAA titles (1933 & 1954). That would be 9 championships.

 

As one who lived through the drought of before '78 and from '78 to '96 I know the desert is vast, and the sun is hot but at some point you do find the oasis.

This is a little fallacious. They have been playing basketball for 102 years but there has been an NCAA Tourney only since 1939. Not quite 70 years. If you want to factor in Helms National Championships (as UNC likes to ) Kentucky has two more that aren't the same years as NCAA titles (1933 & 1954). That would be 9 championships.

 

As one who lived through the drought of before '78 and from '78 to '96 I know the desert is vast, and the sun is hot but at some point you do find the oasis.

You mean the sky isn't falling Chicken Little.

 

You know someone with the resources and marketing needs to get a Chicken Little license, have the years of the 7 titles falling from the sky and a UK mascot running around screaming, the sky is falling, the sky is falling.