Hear me out

[bleedXblue]

I'm so tired of trying to "earn" it. Really "earn" it. While some schools get 4 McDonald's All Americans in a single year, we have never had 1 come to X as a frosh. We do it the right way. We recruit, coach, teach, build and grind it out and still not a single Final 4 to show for it. Am I bitter, you bet your ass I am. And while we lost to another program very similar to ours, I don't see anything changing in the near future. Look at Nova....great year, great performance and they get WI in the 2nd round. Nothing and I mean NOTHING beats great talent year in and year out. As long as the NCAA lets this shit happen we will have the same schools pretty much competing for a title every year. Kansas.....where is the outage over how Self has glossed over all their issues this year? North Carolina....are you fucking kidding me? Nothing has happened with their academic scandal from 3 years ago. Yes, 3 years ago. Hookers in the dorm room? Yeah, Pitino gets slap on the wrist and that's it. The NCAA is a fraudulent organization interested in one thing only. Money and the continued profit of their Ponzi scheme.

Yeah, I know. I'm pissed. Pissed at trying to do it honestly while we have 5-10 schools who have a different set of rules to live by. It ain't right and never will be.

[MHettel]

No idea what you are saying

[AviatorX]

I'm so tired of trying to "earn" it. Really "earn" it. While some schools get 4 McDonald's All Americans in a single year, we have never had 1 come to X as a frosh. We do it the right way. We recruit, coach, teach, build and grind it out and still not a single Final 4 to show for it. Am I bitter, you bet your ass I am. And while we lost to another program very similar to ours, I don't see anything changing in the near future. Look at Nova....great year, great performance and they get WI in the 2nd round. Nothing and I mean NOTHING beats great talent year in and year out. As long as the NCAA lets this shit happen we will have the same schools pretty much competing for a title every year. Kansas.....where is the outage over how Self has glossed over all their issues this year? North Carolina....are you fucking kidding me? Nothing has happened with their academic scandal from 3 years ago. Yes, 3 years ago. Hookers in the dorm room? Yeah, Pitino gets slap on the wrist and that's it. The NCAA is a fraudulent organization interested in one thing only. Money and the continued profit of their Ponzi scheme.

Yeah, I know. I'm pissed. Pissed at trying to do it honestly while we have 5-10 schools who have a different set of rules to live by. It ain't right and never will be.

Is this an "everyone cheats but us" rant? Cmon. The talent is CLEARLY on the upswing. Gotta roll over a couple of classes in a row similar to 2017 and X is right there.

[bleedXblue]

No one is cheating. The NCAA just lets it happen and it gets really, really old.

[Emp]

We lost. Get over it.

No one is entitled to the best recruits or the best results, let alone a final four. . We've done what we have with decent ethical players and coaches. I'm fine with that.

[xeus]

This is a horrible thread, even after 26 Bud Lights.

[drudy23]

Not a horrible thread...look, we all agree we ran into a better team. I think the bigger question is are we ever going to get the recruits that can lead us to the promised land. Will the true blue chips recruits ever land at X, even if it's 1-2 guys.

We've seen it 3 times...at the Elite 8 point, the cream rises to the top. Getting over the hump requires the next step in Xavier basketball's evolution. While I agree this post puts a damper on a team that we never expected this of, it's a legit question moving forward.

The program has another step to take...not a criticism, but just the reality of making the Final Four. I think we can get there.

[SemajParlor]

Lol what?

[X Factor]

Not a horrible thread...look, we all agree we ran into a better team. I think the bigger question is are we ever going to get the recruits that can lead us to the promised land. Will the true blue chips recruits ever land at X, even if it's 1-2 guys.

We've seen it 3 times...at the Elite 8 point, the cream rises to the top. Getting over the hump requires the next step in Xavier basketball's evolution. While I agree this post puts a damper on a team that we never expected this of, it's a legit question moving forward.

The program has another step to take...not a criticism, but just the reality of making the Final Four. I think we can get there.

I agree. The next step is a Final Four. Xavier's been on the doorstep 3 times and hasn't been able to get through.

The biggest thing is that in those three Elite Eight games, Xavier has shot 3-15, 4-19, and 2-16 from three. Hopefully one day, a Xavier team will kick the door down and shoot lights out.

It'll happen, but it's hard to make it even to the Regional Finals.

[waggy]

Elite recruiting takes coaching stability. The previous two E8's springboarded the head coach. Keeping Mack gives the best odds ultimately, but still no guarantee.

[XUGRAD80]

This is a horrible thread, even after 26 Bud Lights.

That someone would choose to actually drink 26 Bud Lights is horrible in its own right. Someday you gotta stop drinking soda pop and start drinking real beer.

[nuts4xu]

No idea what you are saying

This ^^

I heard you out, and your inane ramblings make no friggin sense.

[Masterofreality]

No idea what you are saying


This ^^

I heard you out, and your inane ramblings make no friggin sense.

Here's what *I think* Bleed is saying....similar to what many of us have felt for many years....that the "Platinum Programs" like Carolina, Kansas,etc. get unfair advantages from the allegedly neutral NCAA.

Where really is the outrage over this continual unending "Investigation" into North Carolina's clear Academic Fraud case? When is this going to result in penalties? The evidence is clear, but there was controversy about this at LAST years's NCAA Tourney and yet STILL no action?

Where is the outrage and enforcement from the NCAA against Kansas and their off court mess this year? Again. Crickets.

Louisville? Way to show outrage over a scandal that impugnes the very core of amateurism, clean competition and ethics that are supposed to be the Hallmarks of your organizational Mission Statement, NCAA. Nothing says cleanliness more than Hookers recruiting basketball players. Well done NCAA.

And, Villanova was *Allegedly* given the "Overall Number 1 Seed" which they richly earned. For that award, they were put up against arguably the most experienced Tournament team in their second game- Wisconsin- placed as an 8. How difficult (not at all) would it have been to switch Northwestern, who was given an 8 also, with Wiscy..especially since Wiscy beat NW by Twenty Nine Freaking Points in the Big 10 Tournament? It seems as if the NCAA thought that, despite all of their cred, Villanova was an interloper who was uninvited to the club, and that they crashed it by having the audacity of actually WINNING the whole thing over the Royalty that is North Carolina last year. The NCAA was having none of that this year as much as they could control it.

I believe Bleed's point is that, despite following all the rules, doing things TRULY the right way, generating huge success and contributing big time to the flavor and Image of the NCAA Tournament, the smaller schools get second rate treatment and get way more scrutiny while the Big Schools still get all the breaks, and many of those unfairly. Even though all the metrics and on court performance prove that they are equals to the "Powers", a conference like the Big East is still relegated to second class status. The ongoing "Power 5" narrative, that continues unabated despite last year's results, have a tendency to prove it.

Naysayers to Bleed may point to "Well, the Big East was given 7 bids this year". Well my answer is, "Well, other that Illinois State, who else deserved a bid? And if Illinois State got a bid, why wasn't Wake or KState knocked out rather than a Big East team?"

I get Bleed's point and I'll just say this. If you think that the Big East and schools like Xavier have permanently crashed the party of the "Platimums" for good, #STAYWOKE. Until North Carolina is given a Death Penalty, or at least given some severe sanctions like a 2 year Ban from the Tournament for their clear mid deeds and deception, the favoritism given to the "Power 5" will continue to be a reality...to the detriment of schools like us.

[Drew's Crew]

Elite recruiting takes coaching stability. The previous two E8's springboarded the head coach. Keeping Mack gives the best odds ultimately, but still no guarantee.

We can get upset all we want but this is the most important point. We need coaching stability. We can't keep losing coaches right as they are building a consistent winner and great recruiting momentum only to start over.

If Mack stays (which I believe he will, for a long time) we will become a major power. You think Nova would be what they are if Wright left 8 years ago? It takes coaches a few years to establish themselves then a few more years for their best recruits to grow in the program. We see that with Mack now. We were top ten last year and would've been too 15 this year w Ed and Myles.

That would've been back-to-back fantastic seasons with stud recruits waiting in the wings.

If we keep Mack, the train will keep rolling. Just be patient and trust the process. I know it's hard to see now, but it is undeniably working.

[American X]

Shorter version: Let's Start Cheating!

[xudash]

Here's what *I think* Bleed is saying....similar to what many of us have felt for many years....that the "Platinum Programs" like Carolina, Kansas,etc. get unfair advantages from the allegedly neutral NCAA.

Where really is the outrage over this continual unending "Investigation" into North Carolina's clear Academic Fraud case? When is this going to result in penalties? The evidence is clear, but there was controversy about this at LAST years's NCAA Tourney and yet STILL no action?

Where is the outrage and enforcement from the NCAA against Kansas and their off court mess this year? Again. Crickets.

Louisville? Way to show outrage over a scandal that impugnes the very core of amateurism, clean competition and ethics that are supposed to be the Hallmarks of your organizational Mission Statement, NCAA. Nothing says cleanliness more than Hookers recruiting basketball players. Well done NCAA.

And, Villanova was *Allegedly* given the "Overall Number 1 Seed" which they richly earned. For that award, they were put up against arguably the most experienced Tournament team in their second game- Wisconsin- placed as an 8. How difficult (not at all) would it have been to switch Northwestern, who was given an 8 also, with Wiscy..especially since Wiscy beat NW by Twenty Nine Freaking Points in the Big 10 Tournament? It seems as if the NCAA thought that, despite all of their cred, Villanova was an interloper who was uninvited to the club, and that they crashed it by having the audacity of actually WINNING the whole thing over the Royalty that is North Carolina last year. The NCAA was having none of that this year as much as they could control it.

I believe Bleed's point is that, despite following all the rules, doing things TRULY the right way, generating huge success and contributing big time to the flavor and Image of the NCAA Tournament, the smaller schools get second rate treatment and get way more scrutiny while the Big Schools still get all the breaks, and many of those unfairly. Even though all the metrics and on court performance prove that they are equals to the "Powers", a conference like the Big East is still relegated to second class status. The ongoing "Power 5" narrative, that continues unabated despite last year's results, have a tendency to prove it.

Naysayers to Bleed may point to "Well, the Big East was given 7 bids this year". Well my answer is, "Well, other that Illinois State, who else deserved a bid? And if Illinois State got a bid, why wasn't Wake or KState knocked out rather than a Big East team?"

I get Bleed's point and I'll just say this. If you think that the Big East and schools like Xavier have permanently crashed the party of the "Platimums" for good, #STAYWOKE. Until North Carolina is given a Death Penalty, or at least given some severe sanctions like a 2 year Ban from the Tournament for their clear mid deeds and deception, the favoritism given to the "Power 5" will continue to be a reality...to the detriment of schools like us.

MOR's post, as clarification

PLUS

Deal with it, because it is as it has been, it is as it is now, and it will continue as it is

PLUS

Coaching continuity - with the right coach, and we have him - is key.

We're already there as a program. We will bust down this final door soon.

[Olsingledigit]

X better be ready to pony up the money. Archie got 4 MILLION per year from Indiana. X probably needs to put another $1 Million per year in Mack's pocket right now. If they are not prepared to do that then we will likely slide backwards.

[JTG]

You don't need MCDONALD All Americans to go to the Final Four. George Mason did it, and Butler did it twice. A lot of it is luck. Playing a 5 a 3 a 2 and a 1 is about as difficult as it gets. Butler played some cheese balls on their final four runs, and George Mason had the luck of playing Kansas who has whiffed in 6 elite eight games. We had nothing left in the tank. Play the game against the Zags that we played against FSU, and we're on our way to Phoenix.

[Muskeagle]

X better be ready to pony up the money. Archie got 4 MILLION per year from Indiana. X probably needs to put another $1 Million per year in Mack's pocket right now. If they are not prepared to do that then we will likely slide backwards.

I got fifty bucks. Can we all put $50 out there for a "keep Mack in Cincy" fund?

[waggy]

Also, as Whopper pointed out in another thread, Gonzaga went the transfer route. 3 new starters this year, all from P5 programs. Few: "We held up our end of the bargain, and they held up theirs." I believe we'll continue to see Gonzaga take the mercenary route.

[XU 87]

You don't need MCDONALD All Americans to go to the Final Four. George Mason did it, and Butler did it twice. A lot of it is luck. Playing a 5 a 3 a 2 and a 1 is about as difficult as it gets. Butler played some cheese balls on their final four runs, and George Mason had the luck of playing Kansas who has whiffed in 6 elite eight games. We had nothing left in the tank. Play the game against the Zags that we played against FSU, and we're on our way to Phoenix.

You may not need All-Americans, but it sure helps to have them. Just ask Duke, UK, and North Carolina.

[American X]

George Mason had the luck of playing Kansas who has whiffed in 6 elite eight games.

George Mason in the Elite Eight beat a NBA team named UConn.

[JTG]

George Mason in the Elite Eight beat a NBA team named UConn.

Whatever, they've never been heard from since.

[bleedXblue]

Here's what *I think* Bleed is saying....similar to what many of us have felt for many years....that the "Platinum Programs" like Carolina, Kansas,etc. get unfair advantages from the allegedly neutral NCAA.

Where really is the outrage over this continual unending "Investigation" into North Carolina's clear Academic Fraud case? When is this going to result in penalties? The evidence is clear, but there was controversy about this at LAST years's NCAA Tourney and yet STILL no action?

Where is the outrage and enforcement from the NCAA against Kansas and their off court mess this year? Again. Crickets.

Louisville? Way to show outrage over a scandal that impugnes the very core of amateurism, clean competition and ethics that are supposed to be the Hallmarks of your organizational Mission Statement, NCAA. Nothing says cleanliness more than Hookers recruiting basketball players. Well done NCAA.

And, Villanova was *Allegedly* given the "Overall Number 1 Seed" which they richly earned. For that award, they were put up against arguably the most experienced Tournament team in their second game- Wisconsin- placed as an 8. How difficult (not at all) would it have been to switch Northwestern, who was given an 8 also, with Wiscy..especially since Wiscy beat NW by Twenty Nine Freaking Points in the Big 10 Tournament? It seems as if the NCAA thought that, despite all of their cred, Villanova was an interloper who was uninvited to the club, and that they crashed it by having the audacity of actually WINNING the whole thing over the Royalty that is North Carolina last year. The NCAA was having none of that this year as much as they could control it.

I believe Bleed's point is that, despite following all the rules, doing things TRULY the right way, generating huge success and contributing big time to the flavor and Image of the NCAA Tournament, the smaller schools get second rate treatment and get way more scrutiny while the Big Schools still get all the breaks, and many of those unfairly. Even though all the metrics and on court performance prove that they are equals to the "Powers", a conference like the Big East is still relegated to second class status. The ongoing "Power 5" narrative, that continues unabated despite last year's results, have a tendency to prove it.

Naysayers to Bleed may point to "Well, the Big East was given 7 bids this year". Well my answer is, "Well, other that Illinois State, who else deserved a bid? And if Illinois State got a bid, why wasn't Wake or KState knocked out rather than a Big East team?"

I get Bleed's point and I'll just say this. If you think that the Big East and schools like Xavier have permanently crashed the party of the "Platimums" for good, #STAYWOKE. Until North Carolina is given a Death Penalty, or at least given some severe sanctions like a 2 year Ban from the Tournament for their clear mid deeds and deception, the favoritism given to the "Power 5" will continue to be a reality...to the detriment of schools like us.

Yeah this is a lot of it.......and I am frustrated that a few programs get the vast majority of best players every year. I'm saying that the NCAA ought to try and level this out some. The UK thing is a joke. Nothing that they are doing represents what college is supposed to be about. There should be a minimum number of years kids have to play, or you get a reduction in scholarships. There are so many things that the NCAA could do to make this a more balanced process. And I'm not saying that a kid cant go whenever he wants to pursue a professional career. I'm saying the school(s) who CHOOSE to do this pay the price in fewer scholarships.

[Strange Brew]

Shorter version: Let's Start Cheating!

Doing wonders for UNC....

[Masterofreality]

Nationally syndicated columnist tweet:

@normanchad I thought about going to the University of North Carolina, but every phantom class I wanted to take was already full.

[jhelmes37]

This is a horrible thread, even after 26 Bud Lights.

Who counts that high?

[paulxu]

If Indiana paid Miller $4 million/year, they're nuts.

[JTG]

If Indiana paid Miller $4 million/year, they're nuts.
The BIG tv money is just silly. Bball is the flagship for IU. It's no big deal for them.

[xu82]

Who counts that high?

I think a better question is: who counts ACCURATELY that high?

[sirthought]

I think this thread is totally on the mark -- MOR explained it as well as I could.

If the NCAA doesn't clean things up it's going to implode at some point. The money being spent is getting so out of control compared to other university and state spending that someone is going to eventually make an argument that will hurt all of it.

[xubrew]

I'm so tired of trying to "earn" it. Really "earn" it. While some schools get 4 McDonald's All Americans in a single year, we have never had 1 come to X as a frosh. We do it the right way. We recruit, coach, teach, build and grind it out and still not a single Final 4 to show for it. Am I bitter, you bet your ass I am. And while we lost to another program very similar to ours, I don't see anything changing in the near future. Look at Nova....great year, great performance and they get WI in the 2nd round. Nothing and I mean NOTHING beats great talent year in and year out. As long as the NCAA lets this shit happen we will have the same schools pretty much competing for a title every year. Kansas.....where is the outage over how Self has glossed over all their issues this year? North Carolina....are you fucking kidding me? Nothing has happened with their academic scandal from 3 years ago. Yes, 3 years ago. Hookers in the dorm room? Yeah, Pitino gets slap on the wrist and that's it. The NCAA is a fraudulent organization interested in one thing only. Money and the continued profit of their Ponzi scheme.

Yeah, I know. I'm pissed. Pissed at trying to do it honestly while we have 5-10 schools who have a different set of rules to live by. It ain't right and never will be.

I understand, but I also don't think anything you're ranting about pertains to the team that knocked us out this year, or last year, or that won it all last year.

I also don't know how you managed to not include Baylor or Oregon in your rant. I actually like Dana Altman, but out of all the shenanigans that you mentioned I don't think any of them come close to being as shameful as what's happened at Baylor and Oregon. Xavier won't do it, nor should they do it, but a part of me would feel good if we called up Baylor and told them to forget about coming to Cintas next year. It'd be a bad decision, but also one that would feel kinda good.

To your overall point, college basketball is dirty. I call it "The Sport of Dicks" and it is. In a lot of cases, everyone (players, coaches, recruits, HS coaches, AAU coaches, EVERYONE!!) seems like a dick. Some of the most successful people and programs are the ones that navigate the world of dicks very well, because in a lot of cases that's what they are. Now I'm ranting. I know I'm not always your favorite guy, but maybe one day our paths will cross outside of cyberspace. The conversation should be an interesting one. And...it's not everyone. It just feels that way at times.

And, things aren't that bad, nor are we on the wrong track. We've been to three Elite Eights, and one of those was as a #11 seed after playing nearly the entire season without two key players. Once the sting of the loss wears off I think we'll step back and realize that we're doing things the way that we need to be in order to be as successful as we can be.

[SemajParlor]

Butler played some cheese balls on their final four runs

They absolutely did not.

[SemajParlor]

George Mason in the Elite Eight beat a NBA team named UConn.

LOL, yeah just an absolutely loaded 1 seed. Very lucky to draw them.

[xubrew]

They absolutely did not.

Yeah, they had to beat the #1 and #2 seeds on both of their Final Four runs. It's not like their bracket ever really collapsed. Well, I guess it did, but they were the team that collapsed it. I mean, it wasn't anything like Villanova's run through the tournament last year, but it wasn't like some of the runs Kansas has gone on where they made the Final Four and the highest seeded team they beat along the way was a #9 seed.

What's crazy is that in 2011 (Butler's second run to the final), Kansas was knocked out by VCU in the Elite Eight. Had they won that game, their path to the championship game would have been a #16, #9, #12, #11, and #8 seed. How does that even happen?

[SemajParlor]

Yeah, they had to beat the #1 and #2 seeds on both of their Final Four runs. It's not like their bracket ever really collapsed. Well, I guess it did, but they were the team that collapsed it. I mean, it wasn't anything like Villanova's run through the tournament last year, but it wasn't like some of the runs Kansas has gone on where they made the Final Four and the highest seeded team they beat along the way was a #9 seed.

What's crazy is that in 2011 (Butler's second run to the final), Kansas was knocked out by VCU in the Elite Eight. Had they won that game, their path to the championship game would have been a #16, #9, #12, #11, and #8 seed. How does that even happen?

Beat #1 Syracuse, a good (as we know) #2 Kansas St, a Draymond Green led Michigan St, came within a an inch of beating Duke.

Beat #1 Pittsburgh, a 4 seed Wisconsin, a very good #2 seed Florida (Walker, Parsons, Boynton etc), and then VCU.

[Murph85]

After reading the various post I think the most important item is the coaching continuity. That Xavier can control to a degree. We lost our coaches each time we went to the elite 8 prior, correct? That entails losing a recruiting class and a bit of prestige from the departure.

With Mack staying at least this year, we have a stable of talent for several years and are in a much better position to capitalize on this recent run. One step at a time and we will be fine.

The school 50 miles north just got a taste of what we had to digest with Miller and Matta's departures. They will lose the entire 2017 class and have difficulty finding a replacement. We have a great future.

[xukeith]

I'm so tired of trying to "earn" it. Really "earn" it. While some schools get 4 McDonald's All Americans in a single year, we have never had 1 come to X as a frosh. We do it the right way. We recruit, coach, teach, build and grind it out and still not a single Final 4 to show for it. Am I bitter, you bet your ass I am. And while we lost to another program very similar to ours, I don't see anything changing in the near future. Look at Nova....great year, great performance and they get WI in the 2nd round. Nothing and I mean NOTHING beats great talent year in and year out. As long as the NCAA lets this shit happen we will have the same schools pretty much competing for a title every year. Kansas.....where is the outage over how Self has glossed over all their issues this year? North Carolina....are you fucking kidding me? Nothing has happened with their academic scandal from 3 years ago. Yes, 3 years ago. Hookers in the dorm room? Yeah, Pitino gets slap on the wrist and that's it. The NCAA is a fraudulent organization interested in one thing only. Money and the continued profit of their Ponzi scheme.

Yeah, I know. I'm pissed. Pissed at trying to do it honestly while we have 5-10 schools who have a different set of rules to live by. It ain't right and never will be.

"we do it the right way"???????/

It changes.
The right way 20 years ago was getting 4 year players with high academic standards who played hearts out and graduated. No (2017) it is come in, play and leave to try to play professionally for 1-2 players every 2-3 years.
Oh and ignore the choir boy basketball players as we have some occasional mishaps do knucklehead criminal stuff.

The right way. Come on.

I hope X can get 2 McDonald's All Americans here each year.

[GoMuskies]

As long as the NCAA lets this shit happen we will have the same schools pretty much competing for a title every year.

Note: two Final Four participants are in their first Final Four. One was last there in 1938. So.........

[bleedXblue]

Note: two Final Four participants are in their first Final Four. One was last there in 1938. So.........

True, but go back over the last 10 years and its pretty much the same old suspects with the exception of a Butler, VCU, George mason every now and then.

I hope the trend continues and I am proven wrong, but I highly doubt it.

[casualfan]

Not sure I understand what this thread is trying to accomplish.

If the point is that you can't recruit well without cheating how do you reconcile that with our top 10 class next year?

[ammtd34]

True, but go back over the last 10 years and its pretty much the same old suspects with the exception of a Butler, VCU, George mason every now and then.

I hope the trend continues and I am proven wrong, but I highly doubt it.

"Good programs continue to be good."

[STL_XUfan]

I believe it is advocating for the first ever college basketball draft.....

"And with the first pick of the 2017 NCAA draft, Alabama A&M out of the SWAC chooses Michael Porter, Jr."

[SemajParlor]

Not sure I understand what this thread is trying to accomplish.

If the point is that you can't recruit well without cheating how do you reconcile that with our top 10 class next year?

Yeah, I'm very lost as well.

[mirabilelectu]

Yeah this is a lot of it.......and I am frustrated that a few programs get the vast majority of best players every year. I'm saying that the NCAA ought to try and level this out some. The UK thing is a joke. Nothing that they are doing represents what college is supposed to be about. There should be a minimum number of years kids have to play, or you get a reduction in scholarships. There are so many things that the NCAA could do to make this a more balanced process. And I'm not saying that a kid cant go whenever he wants to pursue a professional career. I'm saying the school(s) who CHOOSE to do this pay the price in fewer scholarships.

I actually applaud UK for their Cal's recruiting philosophy, as it demonstrates how the NCAA's regulations only serve to line its pockets. I used to detest UK for achieving their its success this way, but can you really blame Cal when it's the NCAA that is at fault? I'm not saying you are, I'm just saying that I think it's funny that people challenge UK's success because they consistently get the best players; wouldn't we welcome that?

[GoMuskies]

I think even UK fans are getting a bit annoyed by the annual roster turnover. It's the kind of philosophy that gets pretty tiring when you don't win big pretty much every year. And even though it's kind of early to tell, first indications are that UK isn't likely to be a Final Four team next year, either.

[casualfan]

I think even UK fans are getting a bit annoyed by the annual roster turnover. It's the kind of philosophy that gets pretty tiring when you don't win big pretty much every year. And even though it's kind of early to tell, first indications are that UK isn't likely to be a Final Four team next year, either.

I mean, he's been there 8 years and they've been to the final four 4 times. 2 of the other 4 years they went to the elite 8.

[GoMuskies]

I mean, he's been there 8 years and they've been to the final four 4 times. 2 of the other 4 years they went to the elite 8.

Only one title, though. And it's been two years since a Final Four. This is Kentucky, remember.

[bleedXblue]

Only one title, though. And it's been two years since a Final Four. This is Kentucky, remember.

yeah they're idiots

[xubrew]

I actually applaud UK for their Cal's recruiting philosophy, as it demonstrates how the NCAA's regulations only serve to line its pockets. I used to detest UK for achieving their its success this way, but can you really blame Cal when it's the NCAA that is at fault? I'm not saying you are, I'm just saying that I think it's funny that people challenge UK's success because they consistently get the best players; wouldn't we welcome that?

I'm not a fan of Kentucky or the NCAA.

Having said that, PLEASE understand the following....

Kentucky is not lining the NCAA's pockets in any way, nor is it the NCAA's "fault," nor is it the NCAA's policies. If the NCAA had it their way, everyone would be required to play four seasons before they could play in the NBA. Why wouldn't the NCAA want that?? There is absolutely nothing that the NCAA can do to prohibit the NBA from drafting and signing players when they do. Not one thing. If you think otherwise, then you need to explain what it is you think they can do to change this, because believe me, they would. If you had any ideas that worked, they'd hire you on the spot.

Kentucky is lining Kentucky's pockets by recruiting the best players available, and keeping them for as long as they're able to, which is one season. Hell, I'm sure Kentucky would love to have those guys returning, but like the NCAA, there is nothing they can do to stop the NBA from signing them.

[X-band '01]

Just like MLB requires that you either sign a minor/major league deal right out of high school or wait after 3 years of college.

[mirabilelectu]

I'm not a fan of Kentucky or the NCAA.

Having said that, PLEASE understand the following....

Kentucky is not lining the NCAA's pockets in any way, nor is it the NCAA's "fault," nor is it the NCAA's policies. If the NCAA had it their way, everyone would be required to play four seasons before they could play in the NBA. Why wouldn't the NCAA want that?? There is absolutely nothing that the NCAA can do to prohibit the NBA from drafting and signing players when they do. Not one thing. If you think otherwise, then you need to explain what it is you think they can do to change this, because believe me, they would. If you had any ideas that worked, they'd hire you on the spot.

Kentucky is lining Kentucky's pockets by recruiting the best players available, and keeping them for as long as they're able to, which is one season. Hell, I'm sure Kentucky would love to have those guys returning, but like the NCAA, there is nothing they can do to stop the NBA from signing them.

Thanks, Brew. I misspoke earlier, the NBA dictates the one year requirement! Apologies.

[nuts4xu]

Just like MLB requires that you either sign a minor/major league deal right out of high school or wait after 3 years of college.

Correct, it is MLB...not the NCAA that has this rule. The NBA's rule is that a player must be one year removed from his HS graduating class.

If the NBA changed to mandating a player be 2 or 3 years removed from their graduating class (as they do with MLB and NFL prospects/student athletes), you will see more kids skip college and go to Europe or other countries to earn money while killing time until they can be drafted in the NBA. If they were to this, it would seem helpful to pump more money into the D League, and set the league up to be a better minor league system for the NBA.

[paulxu]

If they were to this, it would seem helpful to pump more money into the D League, and set the league up to be a better minor league system for the NBA.

Why do this when you have a free minor league with the college system?

[Masterofreality]

Not sure I understand what this thread is trying to accomplish.


Yeah, I'm very lost as well.

It's a guy ranting against inequities in NCAA treatment after a Disappointing Xavier loss. Not the first time rants have been posted here....and not the last. Bleed has points. Whether you choose to care is up to you, but the forum to rant is available here.

[xuwin]

You don't need MCDONALD All Americans to go to the Final Four. George Mason did it, and Butler did it twice. A lot of it is luck. Playing a 5 a 3 a 2 and a 1 is about as difficult as it gets. Butler played some cheese balls on their final four runs, and George Mason had the luck of playing Kansas who has whiffed in 6 elite eight games. We had nothing left in the tank. Play the game against the Zags that we played against FSU, and we're on our way to Phoenix.

The goal is not to get to the final four. The goal is to win a national championship.