February 4, 20215 yr I think most have listed the ones worthy of consideration. I would also submit Rollie Massamino and maybe Jud Heathcote (sp?). I also think Jim Boeheim gets an honorable mention since he has coached at Syracuse for 200 years. He averages a Final Four once a decade but finally struck gold with Melo.
February 4, 20215 yr I think the easier thing would have been to start a thread asking "Why didn't UK play zone against UConn in the 2014 Finals?" I don't think UK fans would trade anything about that three weekend stretch from an excitement standpoint (aside from playing zone, apparently). That was the pinnacle of excitement.
February 4, 20215 yr Future, if memory serves me correctly in the second half of the title game with UConn UK was trailing by around 10 points and then switched to a zone and the two guards that had been hurting them with one on one drives the entire game were suddenly shut down and the Cats crept to within 1 or 2 points of the lead. Then for some reason Cal went back to the man defense and the two UConn guards went back to their driving and scoring and the results were UConn hanging a national Championship banner that could have possibly been hanging in Rupp Arena.
February 4, 20215 yr 52 minutes ago, The Professor said: Future, if memory serves me correctly in the second half of the title game with UConn UK was trailing by around 10 points and then switched to a zone and the two guards that had been hurting them with one on one drives the entire game were suddenly shut down and the Cats crept to within 1 or 2 points of the lead. Then for some reason Cal went back to the man defense and the two UConn guards went back to their driving and scoring and the results were UConn hanging a national Championship banner that could have possibly been hanging in Rupp Arena. They may have played zone for a couple of minutes in that game. I won’t lie I was a few beverages in while watching that game down in Lexington. With that said, when people talk about that game. I don’t know how people really say anything about the defense, and what should have been different. UConn only scored 60 points in that game. I think anyone would take only giving up 60 points in a game. They didn’t lose that game because of defense or not playing more zone. They lost because their offense couldn’t do much against UConn defense. Plus couldn’t make free throws in that game. The offense and poor shooting is the main reason they lost, it was not UConn killing them on offense. UK tied for holding UConn to their lowest scoring output in that tournament by holding them to 60. UK defense did its part, the offense did not. Which it was the same same in the lost to UConn in 2011 in the final four.
February 5, 20215 yr 13 hours ago, Randy Parker said: While I thought it was time for Tubby to go, UK did get him at his best. Won 76% of his games here. That said, he was on a downhill trajectory when he left, as evidenced by his 53.9% win percentage since leaving. I think if you're looking from the 1990's on, I think your candidates are Kevin Ollie, Gary Williams, Tubby Smith, & Jim Harrick. I thought about Gary Williams too. But when you consider the state of the program when he took the job, just to have them in back to back final fours was an amazing feat.
February 5, 20215 yr 1 hour ago, The Raven said: I thought about Gary Williams too. But when you consider the state of the program when he took the job, just to have them in back to back final fours was an amazing feat. That's a fair point.
February 5, 20215 yr It is hard to hammer on many of the coaches that have won a title. Aside from Ollie, most had success. Now there have been a lot of duds finish in the runner-up spot.
February 5, 20215 yr After a very cursory glance at records it appears Harold E. Foster, head coach of Wisconsin's 1941 national champions, is the only NCAA Tournament winning coach to finish with a losing record. Foster was 265-267 as head coach of the Badgers from 1934-1959. Other than the 1941 championship season, his Wisconsin teams made only one more NCAA Tournament, losing to CCNY in the 1947 first round.
February 5, 20215 yr 1 hour ago, gchs_uk9 said: After a very cursory glance at records it appears Harold E. Foster, head coach of Wisconsin's 1941 national champions, is the only NCAA Tournament winning coach to finish with a losing record. Foster was 265-267 as head coach of the Badgers from 1934-1959. Other than the 1941 championship season, his Wisconsin teams made only one more NCAA Tournament, losing to CCNY in the 1947 first round. Obviously not a good coach if he could not beat CCNY in 1947. ?
February 5, 20215 yr 9 minutes ago, cincyswords said: Obviously not a good coach if he could not beat CCNY in 1947. ? CCNY was the real deal in the 1940s and early 50s. National champions in 1950 before they got in trouble in the huge point shaving scandal. For anyone interested, this is an awesome book about that time period:
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