College Basketball Thread

[nepg]

I can't imagine how ridiculous downtown will be tomorrow if Kansas and Mizzou win tonight. It would be such an epic scene.

[JRTPlaya21]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Reports are that Shaka Smart is leaning towards taking the Illinois job. It would be a smart move for him. VCU has probably already peaked, and Illinois is the likely the best job to open up in the next year or two (with the exception of maybe UCLA)

So we have "peaked" by losing four out of five starters off a final four team and then having more wins currently then we had at this state last season not to mention a conference title and only losing one senior off of this seasons team. Like I was saying last season Shaka isn't going anywhere because of the fact that he loves it at VCU, his wife loves it, he and our team have something special going on currently and Illinois isn't really that attractive unless they are about to offer him $5 million plus per year.

[bearsfan_51]

Originally Posted by JRTPlaya21

So we have "peaked" by losing four out of five starters off a final four team and then having more wins currently then we had at this state last season not to mention a conference title and only losing one senior off of this seasons team.

In a word, yes. Where is VCU going to go from there? Are they going to win a national championship? Please.

Like I was saying last season Shaka isn't going anywhere because of the fact that he loves it at VCU, his wife loves it, he and our team have something special going on currently and Illinois isn't really that attractive unless they are about to offer him $5 million plus per year.

VCU plays in an arena that doesn't even sit 8,000 and in a league that has no discernible media coverage or accomplishments. Assembly Hall sits double that, and the Big Ten is one of the best conferences in the country.

Smart will leave eventually. You can mark that down. He's just waiting for the best offer he can get off of his success at VCU. VCU is nobody's destination job.

[yo123]

Go away Tubby.

[yo123]

Go away Tubby.

[JRTPlaya21]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

In a word, yes. Where is VCU going to go from there? Are they going to win a national championship? Please.


VCU plays in an arena that doesn't even sit 8,000 and in a league that has no discernible media coverage or accomplishments. Assembly Hall sits double that, and the Big Ten is one of the best conferences in the country.

Smart will leave eventually. You can mark that down. He's just waiting for the best offer he can get off of his success at VCU. VCU is nobody's destination job.

I'm not saying he will never leave since Capel and Grant did but Shaka is a bit more loyal then that and as great as Assembly Hall is we sold out every home game along with duke kansas gonzaga and michigan state. You say the CAA has no accomplishments but two final fours in five years speaks for itself. We also have a deal with ESPN and NBC in the next year are two. And if Butler can almost win two titles in a row then anybody can.

[yo123]

Illinois is one of the best 15 jobs in the country, great HS talent and a great basketball tradition. I would be shocked if Smart turned them down.

[JRTPlaya21]

All that talent and yet they have made zero noise since the Deron years.

[yo123]

And maybe Shaka thinks he can keep them in state and change that? I've never thought much of Weber as a coach. He's had talent and done nothing with it.

[bearsfan_51]

Originally Posted by JRTPlaya21

All that talent and yet they have made zero noise since the Deron years.

It is so much easier to win at Illinois than it is at VCU. If you can't see that already, it's really not even worth discussing.

[Giantsfan1080]

And I thought Scotty was the biggest college homer on the board.

[JRTPlaya21]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

It is so much easier to win at Illinois than it is at VCU. If you can't see that already, it's really not even worth discussing.

True they get the better talent but beating msu osu wisky indiana and michigan just may be a tad tougher then odu mason drexel etc.

[JRTPlaya21]

If Shaka comes and keeps the Jabari Parker's of the world in state I'll gladly eat crow.

[bearsfan_51]

This got me thinking about what the top 15 jobs in college basketball are. Any disagreements?

1) UNC
2) Duke
3) Kentucky
4) UCLA
5) Syracuse
6) UConn
7) Kansas

These are the no brainers. Then I would go:

8) Michigan State
9) Indiana
10) Louisville
11) Georgetown
12) Illinois
13) Arizona
14) Ohio State
15) Maryland

Disagreements? It gets a little more fluid after 11.

[descendency]

Which would you rather: Make the NCAA but win no games or win the NIT?

[bearsfan_51]

Make the NCAA. The NIT is embarrassing; they should do away with it.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

12) Illinois
13) Arizona

Why? I don't see either as big time basketball programs. Maybe I'm missing something...

[Giantsfan1080]

You think Maryland is really that high?

[yo123]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

This got me thinking about what the top 15 jobs in college basketball are. Any disagreements?

1) UNC
2) Duke
3) Kentucky
4) UCLA
5) Syracuse
6) UConn
7) Kansas

These are the no brainers. Then I would go:

8) Michigan State
9) Indiana
10) Louisville
11) Georgetown
12) Illinois
13) Arizona
14) Ohio State
15) Maryland

Disagreements? It gets a little more fluid after 11.

I don't disagree with the teams you included, but I would bump Indiana up and consider Florida and Texas as well, despite them being football schools.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

You think Maryland is really that high?

I'm having trouble coming up with teams that really belong in the top 15, though.

Many really good teams, perennially, have major football teams that take the limelight, recruiting money, and whatnot.

[yo123]

Originally Posted by descendency

Why? I don't see either as big time basketball programs. Maybe I'm missing something...

Arizona just had a 25 year NCAA tourney streak snapped. And Illinois regularly produces top talent.

[bearsfan_51]

-The only thing Illinois is really missing is a national championship. Illinois is a basketball school first, have great fan support, a great recruiting base, and a history of success (9 elite eights, 5 final fours).

-Lute Olson put Arizona basketball among the elites in the country. And unlike at Illinois, Arizona has won a national championship, and made another championship game (along with many final four and elite eight appearances).

-Maryland is basically the same story as the other two.


I'm not sure what teams have a much stronger argument. Michigan? Purdue? Pitt? Marquette? Villanova? Those were probably my next 5, but I think all have more flaws.

[Docta]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

This got me thinking about what the top 15 jobs in college basketball are. Any disagreements?

1) UNC
2) Duke
3) Kentucky
4) UCLA
5) Syracuse
6) UConn
7) Kansas

These are the no brainers. Then I would go:

8) Michigan State
9) Indiana
10) Louisville
11) Georgetown
12) Illinois
13) Arizona
14) Ohio State
15) Maryland

Disagreements? It gets a little more fluid after 11.

Kansas 7th? It should be in the top 5 just based on history. UConn and Syracuse are products of Boeheim and Calhoun. They wouldn't be that dominate without them. And kids like good weather.

And I'm an Illini fan, but it's not as prestigious as Ohio State and Arizona. I'd put Texas 16th. NC State, Michigan, and Wisconsin are honorable mentions.

[yo123]

Originally Posted by Docta

UConn and Syracuse are products of Boeheim and Calhoun. They wouldn't be that dominate without them.

You could say the same about Duke, they were garbage before coach K. But at this point they are just good programs that could sustain a coaching change.

[bearsfan_51]

They aren't all in order. I would put Kansas above Syracuse and UConn too, that was just my top 7.

Although I do chuckle at the notion that Kansas is desirable because of its weather.