OP
Pablo
Hall of Famer
- Thread Starter
- #121
Blue bloods UNC, Kansas, Kentucky facing struggles and coaching uncertainty
Three of college basketball's most storied powers -- North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky -- appear at a crossroads. What does it say about the state of college basketball?
"In this era of the transfer portal, revenue sharing and NIL, not to mention the lessened influence of shoe companies in recruiting, is 'blue blood' even still a thing?
And what does it mean when coaching openings potentially loom at UNC (where Hubert Davis was fired after five seasons) and KU (where Bill Self has discussed a potential retirement due to health issues).
While Kentucky's Mark Pope appears safe after two so-so seasons, despite enormous NIL spending, much is expected next season, or the Wildcats will soon be back in the market as well.
These were once the most coveted jobs in the sport. Back in 1983, Larry Brown left an NBA playoff team midseason to take over at Kansas. In 1985, then-Arkansas coach Eddie Sutton said he would have 'crawled to Lexington' for the Wildcats' job. In 2003, Roy Williams left KU to return to Chapel Hill where he had once been an assistant.
There was a perceived pecking order in college basketball, a pyramid where each step up increased your chances of winning a national title.
Does it still matter?
Even UNC, Kansas and Kentucky are dealing with new challenges.
Big Ten and SEC athletic departments are flush with massive football-generated revenue. It's at least partially a reason those two leagues have a combined 10 teams in this season's Sweet 16. There are just four combined from the ACC and Big 12, home to UNC and KU, respectively. (Kentucky is in the SEC.)"
"That doesn't mean the three can't be great or should ever accept not being great. They maintain exceptional power, fan and media attention, and the ability to generate resources.
It's still Carolina. And Kansas. And Kentucky. They can all get back to the top. After all, Duke, among others, is cruising along just fine.
It's why if jobs open, elite coaches from across college basketball and even the NBA will be interested. That said, two years ago, Kentucky was turned down by Dan Hurley (UConn) and Scott Drew (Baylor), decisions that once seemed unfathomable.
If you are Todd Golden (Florida), Dusty May (Michigan) or Tommy Lloyd (Arizona), do you leave places where you are already fielding title-contending teams?
If -- and it's an if -- a North Carolina or a Kansas is a 'better job' than what you have, is it still enough of an upgrade that it's worth leaving what you've built?
Once upon a time, the decision would have been quick and clear. Now, less so.
In an era when everyone can flash green, blue blood isn't so important."
