That takes care of the coaching problem, but you still have recruits to deal with. Even if we woke up the day after our NIT life ends and its all over ESPN that Kentucky has a deal in place with Jamie Dixon, Jeff Capel, whoever and Gillispie is on his way out, it is still going to be disastrous keeping recruits in check.
Unless you get another name coach to succeed him. Think of it this way: John Calipari agrees, after contacting Atheltic Director Barhardt, to a 10-year, $50 million contract. (Plus shoe, television, and radio boosters.) (Why? I don't know. Perhaps he wants to be on the biggest stage in college basketball. Perhaps he's tired of winning 30 games a year and being considered a second tier program. Perhaps he knows he probably won't win a NCAA championship without the perfect storm of talent, luck, and overall mediocrity that was present two years ago and that Memphis needs more luck than others. Perhaps he likes horses and wants to become a Kentucky Derby media darling, complete with mint julep, cool straw hat, and seer sucker linen suit on the first Saturday of May. Regardless, assume the interest.)
Think Hood wouldn't be interested? Sure he would. So would Wall, BTW. As would others.
Recruiting is about the coach, sure. But it's also about the school. And Kentucky has gotten (and lost) many, many recruits simply because of the perception and reality of the university itself.
Fact or fiction: there was no bracket printed in today's Lexington Herald-Leader?
When all is said and done more is said than done.
Here's an NIT pickem contest. Yes,it's true there actually is one but no money to be won.
http://thedirtroad.net/nit/
Reds Fan Since 1971
Kentucky has gone 30 years in-between NIT appearances. I wonder if that's a record?
I don't remember the players, but yes, it was the year after the title. Only 40 teams made up the NCAA field that year, so I don't know if UK would have made a 64-team field or not.
UK won the NIT in 1976, when only 32 teams made the NCAA. Weren't there only like six or eight at-large bids at that time? I'm thinking that you had to either win your conference or be ranked Top 20 (it was a Top 20 at that time) to get in the NCAA tournament.
Memorial Coliseum blows Rupp Arena away in terms of loudness and atmosphere.
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