I've been watching college basketball since 1975, which means that this year's tournament was the 49th one I have seen. If you analyze all 49 tournaments, and you do the following for each school:
Give it 1 point for making the Regional Semi-Finals
Give it 2 points for making the Regional Finals
Give it 4 points for making the National Semi-Finals
Give it 8 points for making the National Final
Give it 16 points for winning the Title.
Then Kentucky, for example has:
28 points for reaching the Regional Semi-Finals 28 times in 49 tournaments.
44 points for reaching the Regional Finals 22 times.
44 points for reaching the National Semi-Finals 11 times.
56 points for reaching the National Finals 7 times.
64 points for winning the Title 4 times.
That's a total of 236 points over 49 tournaments. If you do this for every team in the NCAA, here is your top 10 from 1975 through 2024:
1. N. Carolina: 287
2. Duke: 285
3. Kentucky: 236
4. Connecticut: 213
5. Kansas: 192
6. Louisville: 149
7. U.C.L.A.: 141
8. Michigan St: 135
9. Indiana: 133
10. Villanova: 125
By the way, since 1975 there are only six schools that have played for the National Championship at least six times. Here are their records in the final game:
Connecticut: 6-0
N. Carolina: 5-4
Duke: 5-5
Kentucky: 4-3
Kansas: 3-3
Michigan: 1-5
Since 1999, UConn has played four games against either Duke or Kentucky in the National Semi-Final or the National Final. The Huskies are 4-0 in those games.
And that's all for now. It will be a long time before my favorite sport returns. But Winter Is Coming.
Eleven losses in the Regional Finals. These are the ones that hurt the most:
ReplyDelete1977 (N. Carolina)
1983 (Louisville) (overtime)
1986 (LSU)
1992 (Duke)(overtime)
1995 (N. Carolina)
1999 (Michigan St.)
2003 (Marquette)
2005 (Michigan St.) (double overtime)
2010 (W. Virginia)
2017 (N. Carolina) (buzzer beater)
2019 (Auburn) (overtime)
I can still remember when the 2019 game went to overtime, thinking "Well, we are due to win one of these." But we were not.
Here were Billy Gillispie's five years before he came to UK:
ReplyDelete2003: UTEP: 5-24 (296 on Ken Pom)
2004: UTEP: 24-8 (41 on Ken Pom) (NCAA 1st Round)
2005: Texas A & M: 21-10 (46 on Ken Pom)
2006: Texas A & M: 22-9 (31 on Ken Pom) (NCAA 2d Round)
2007: Texas A & M: 27-7 (7 on Ken Pom) (NCAA Regional Semi-Final)
UK's three big guys have made their decisions:
ReplyDeleteAaron Bradshaw is going to Ohio State
Big Z is going to Arkansas
Ugonna Onyenso is hiring an agent and declaring for the NBA Draft
Collin Chandler, a 6' 4" guard from Farmington H.S. in Farmington, Utah, has been released from his pledge to play for B.Y.U. and will be playing basketball for the University of Kentucky.
ReplyDeleteKentucky might just win the whole thing!
DeleteG-Travis Perry
ReplyDeleteG-Collin Chandler
F-
F-
C-
That's where we probably stand right now, correct?
That is correct, assuming that Travis Perry is still coming.
DeleteReed Sheppard has declared for the NBA Draft.
ReplyDeleteJordan Burks has entered the transfer portal.
ReplyDeleteG-Travis Perry (apparently)
ReplyDeleteG-Collin Chandler
F-
F-
C-Amari Williams (unless he goes to the NBA)
G-Travis Perry
ReplyDeleteG-Collin Chandler
F-
F-
C-Amari Williams (unless he goes to the NBA)
As Eric correctly notes, Travis Perry has confirmed that he is, indeed, going to play for UK next year.
DeleteMark Fox, who used to coach Georgia, has joined the UK Staff as an associate coach. I always thought his teams were well-coached, and that his problem was a lack of talent. In nine seasons at Georgia, he went 77-79 in the SEC.
ReplyDeleteG-LaMont Butler
ReplyDeleteG-Travis Perry
G-Collin Chandler
F-
C-Amari Williams (unless he goes to the NBA)
G-LaMont Butler (6-2), Travis Perry (6-2)
ReplyDeleteG-Collin Chandler (6-4)
G-Otega Oweh (6-5)
F-Andrew Carr (6-10)
C-Amari Williams (6-10) (unless he goes to the NBA)
Cal had five freshmen who had committed to Kentucky for the 2024-25 season. Now, of course, none of them will be in Lexington. Here is where they are going:
ReplyDeleteJayden Quaintance: Arizona St.
Karter Knox: Arkansas
Billy Richmond: Arkansas
Boogie Fland: Arkansas
Somto Cyril: Georgia
At least we'll get to see four of them play against Kentucky next year.
This also means that DeMarcus Cousins will remain the only "Boogie" in Wildcat history.
Six with Travis Perry, who is following through with the Wildcats.
DeleteG-LaMont Butler (6-2), Travis Perry (6-2)
ReplyDeleteG-Collin Chandler (6-4)
G-Otega Oweh (6-5)
F-Andrew Carr (6-10)
C-Amari Williams (6-10) (unless he goes to the NBA), Brandon Garrison (6-11)
G-LaMont Butler (6-2) (unless he goes to the NBA), Travis Perry (6-2)
ReplyDeleteG-Collin Chandler (6-4)
G-Otega Oweh (6-5)
F-Andrew Carr (6-10) (unless he goes to the NBA)
C-Amari Williams (6-10) (unless he goes to the NBA), Brandon Garrison (6-11)
G-LaMont Butler (6-2) (unless he goes to the NBA), Travis Perry (6-2)
ReplyDeleteG-Koby Brea (6-5) (unless he goes to the NBA), Collin Chandler (6-4)
G-Otega Oweh (6-5)
F-Andrew Carr (6-10) (unless he goes to the NBA)
C-Amari Williams (6-10) (unless he goes to the NBA), Brandon Garrison (6-11)
Here are the SEC teams that Jon Rothstein has in his preseason top 45 for next year:
ReplyDelete3. Alabama
11. Auburn
12. Texas A & M
17. Florida
18. Tennessee
28. Texas
31. Arkansas
38. Mississippi St.
41. Georgia
42. Kentucky
43. Mississippi
This list has been updated to include the effects of all player signings through today.
DeleteG-LaMont Butler (6-2) (unless he goes to the NBA), Travis Perry (6-2)
ReplyDeleteG-Koby Brea (6-5) (unless he goes to the NBA), Kerr Kriisa (6-3)
G-Otega Oweh (6-5), Collin Chandler (6-4)
F-Andrew Carr (6-10) (unless he goes to the NBA)
C-Amari Williams (6-10) (unless he goes to the NBA), Brandon Garrison (6-11)