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Post by tophb21 on Mar 31, 2009 8:38:47 GMT -5
I don't see UK as a step up in terms of winning national championships, but you can't deny that kind of money. He has a lot of great recruits coming into Memphis (so I hear), I wonder if he takes any of them to UK. Its not about the National Championships at this point. He will have as good of a chance if not better at Kentucky... its about become a legend. If he continues to dominate in Conference USA, he'll be considered great, but why didn't he go to a major program that plays teams throughout the year. At Kentucky, he is going to the school with one of the top 3 history in the sport, if not the top (hard to argue against UCLA). This will give him the opportunity to be named with the likes of Roy Williams, Dean Smith, Coach K... if he is successful there. I personally think this is a great fit and am very happy about it. Brings some talent back to the SEC and may very well help UT and others in the SEC. Congrats to Bama on a great hire too!!! Interesting that you mention Coach K there. Was Duke a national power and household name before he went there? No. They had some modest success in their history. I'm not sold that you have to go to a historical power to become a legend. See Jim Calhoun and his championships, John Thompson, etc. Granted CUSA is a drawback, but none of those schools were preeminent powers prior to those coaches taking over. Jes Sayin.
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Post by Bradimous1 on Mar 31, 2009 8:50:34 GMT -5
Its not about the National Championships at this point. He will have as good of a chance if not better at Kentucky... its about become a legend. If he continues to dominate in Conference USA, he'll be considered great, but why didn't he go to a major program that plays teams throughout the year. At Kentucky, he is going to the school with one of the top 3 history in the sport, if not the top (hard to argue against UCLA). This will give him the opportunity to be named with the likes of Roy Williams, Dean Smith, Coach K... if he is successful there. I personally think this is a great fit and am very happy about it. Brings some talent back to the SEC and may very well help UT and others in the SEC. Congrats to Bama on a great hire too!!! Interesting that you mention Coach K there. Was Duke a national power and household name before he went there? No. They had some modest success in their history. I'm not sold that you have to go to a historical power to become a legend. See Jim Calhoun and his championships, John Thompson, etc. Granted CUSA is a drawback, but none of those schools were preeminent powers prior to those coaches taking over. Jes Sayin. You are correct about Coach K and you did mention that Conference USA is a bit of a drawback, and that is the major part of why this is better. Also, it is much easier to take a program like Kentucky and turn it around, than it would be to take an Ole Miss (just an example, nothing against Ole Miss) and make it a perennial power house. This is why I think this in a great opportunity to become a legend. Plus, he could legitimately make them a Final Four team next year if things fall correctly... say, Meaks stays and his recruits come with him.
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Post by tophb21 on Mar 31, 2009 8:52:58 GMT -5
[quote You are correct about Coach K and you did mention that Conference USA is a bit of a drawback, and that is the major part of why this is better. Also, it is much easier to take a program like Kentucky and turn it around, than it would be to take an Ole Miss (just an example, nothing against Ole Miss) and make it a perennial power house. This is why I think this in a great opportunity to become a legend. Plus, he could legitimately make them a Final Four team next year if things fall correctly... say, Meaks stays and his recruits come with him.[/quote]
One thing I will say about Calipari is I do think that he has the ego that he wants to be mentioned in the same sentence as Rupp and Pitino. In that regard, I'm sure it makes a lot of sense to him.
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Post by Bradimous1 on Mar 31, 2009 8:54:06 GMT -5
I forgot to mention about Calhoun and Coach K... they are both in major conferences where it is possible to bring a team from the ground and create that legendary coaching status... but its much harder to do than to turn a Kentucky around.
Also, please note that there are no facts to support my thesis... just an opinion and I'm sure there are some examples of this being incorrect, but probably for the most part is legit... Chaney at Temple -- A-10 not exactly power house conference, but not sure he would be considered legendary on a national scale.
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Post by tophb21 on Mar 31, 2009 8:57:09 GMT -5
I forgot to mention about Calhoun and Coach K... they are both in major conferences where it is possible to bring a team from the ground and create that legendary coaching status... but its much harder to do than to turn a Kentucky around. Also, please note that there are no facts to support my thesis... just an opinion and I'm sure there are some examples of this being incorrect, but probably for the most part is legit... Chaney at Temple -- A-10 not exactly power house conference, but not sure he would be considered legendary on a national scale. Actually, I do agree with you about conference issue. However, I don't think that you need to be at the preeminent power teams. In fact, I think if you want to be truly legendary and stand on your own two feet then building programs like UConn and Duke say more than just ressurrecting a program like Kentucky that everyone knows will give their last dollar to rebuild the tradition.
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Post by Bradimous1 on Mar 31, 2009 9:08:27 GMT -5
I guess my thought process is Petino vs. Coach K or Calhoun. I would never look at him different than either of those two and got to that status at Kentucky and has only helped himself at Louisville, who has no slouch history.
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Post by tophb21 on Mar 31, 2009 9:11:31 GMT -5
I guess my thought process is Petino vs. Coach K or Calhoun. I would never look at him different than either of those two and got to that status at Kentucky and has only helped himself at Louisville, who has no slouch history. I agree, but Pitino is also the only coach in history to take 3 teams to the Final 4 and his first one was Providence. I would look at Pitino and Calipari about the same if Calipari wins one in Kentucky. Pitino is that nomad type coach, jumping from gig to gig, whereas the others are a different breedm, laying down their roots. I don't think one is better than the other. All are great coaches.
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Post by Bradimous1 on Mar 31, 2009 9:17:05 GMT -5
agreed... now I think we just killed this thread by agreeing.
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Post by tophb21 on Mar 31, 2009 9:25:08 GMT -5
agreed... now I think we just killed this thread by agreeing. I have nothing more to add to that...other than to pad a post. ;D
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Post by 96Ag on Apr 1, 2009 22:51:11 GMT -5
agreed... now I think we just killed this thread by agreeing. I have nothing more to add to that...other than to pad a post. ;D rr has taught you well
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