[Colonel Kill]

Not a bad choice, but why would Jay Wright leave after seeing what happened to 2nd level coaches like Tubby and BCG. Will any 2nd tier prospect that is in alocation that they already can win, take this job. Money's not worth that much in vlaue of the job.

What people can't seem to grasp, is this in not UK of it's prided history. People think that is the best job in the county??? If it's the best, then why in the world would a Billy D or a John C not jump right away to get a chance to come here? Why did these guys turn it down before?

Does UK get the best players like they used to no. Before, the lore of "KENTUCKY" across the front of the Jersey was the draw. It was where you came to that the most money, and the best facilities in the country to play at.
It used to be that UK and their alumni sunk more money into the UK Basketball team, than some entire confences basketball team budgets. That's no longer the case. Now Basketball across the nation, with the advent of television, is a National Marketing dream. So, Money has been pumped into college basketball programs all across the country. No longer does UK stand at the top as the dream place to play or coach at.

Now look at the Basketball side of this. The SEC is now balanced. There is no automatic SEC championship for UK, because there are a lot of very good teams in the conference. When we were racking up SEC titles, the best athletes at the other schools were football players. Now the SEC is a major basketball conference (EXCEPT THIS YEAR ALONE). Now the SEC has a new team and POY type player from another school at the top virtually every year. To expect to win the SEC championship is obviously the goal, but is it realistic. Anyone who thinks so has no real grasp of reality. Every team in the NFL goes to Camp with expectations to play in the Super Bowl, but that does not happen any longer due to balance. NEVER again will UK rule the SEC like they did in years of glory. Will they be at the top, absolutely, but have a stanglehold, sorry UK Nation, it's not going to happen.

I agree with most of what you are saying but there is a reason UK is not THE ELITE program it was and it's called Tubby Smith. It took him ten years but he ran this program in the ground with his boring basketball and lack of recruiting skills. It was just in the mid 90's UK was a dynasty in the making. UK did win SEC titles, get the best recruits and competted and won national titles. UK was Derek Anderson away from winnin 3 straight NCAA Titles and then Tubby took over. I think the right coach can put this program back at the top. WE are still the winningest program in the nation.

I agree the SEC is balanced but look at what it was when Pitino was at UK. Not only did they send 6 to the NCAA not 3 like now but all six competed and the SEC would have 2 in the final four not 3 in the whole thing. The SEC is down and UK still couldn't be in the top 2 or 3.