http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney06/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=2378395

I don't understand the comparison. The only thing this tells me is Duke is incredibly consistent. While it's a nice streak exactly what does it mean when during this streak 2 1 (sorry I though UK had 2 but it was '95 and '97 -- my fault) other team has won MORE national championships then Duke?

Not to take anything away from Duke because it is a remarkable string of consistency but to put it up there with Wooden's UCLA teams is a JOKE.

[Edited on March 22, 2006 at 9:16 AM. Reason : damn UK]

3/22/2006 9:14:27 AM

to be fair, their run is the closest thing to UCLA right now. It's probably impossible to win NCs today like he did back them.


parity in the modern era

3/22/2006 9:19:06 AM

No, I agree and I'm really not trying to downplay how consistently good Duke has been.

But fact is they have been to 9 straight Sweet 16's and won only ONE NC. This is being compared to Wooden's run of SEVEN straight championships..

3/22/2006 9:21:36 AM

to be more fair, talent is more evenly distributed now than when ucla got all the best players and ANYONE who was anyone in california due to the lack of national recruiting...

i agree about the national championships, but there wasn't as much parity then and the tournament was MUCH different...

[Edited on March 22, 2006 at 9:22 AM. Reason : /]

3/22/2006 9:21:40 AM

I think its a pretty good comparison. I agree, its hard to put sweet 16's on equal footing with NC's but I think this day in age, consistency like that is impressive. If they hadnt been to some final fours and won a NC during that streak i would tend to downplay the overall streak. But all in all, its pretty impressive but i see your point.

3/22/2006 9:42:29 AM

How many teams were in the NCAA tournament back then??

Wasn't it something like 32??

I guess that makes the sweet 16 run a little better. Add the fact that the talent now across the board is a lot closer...you don't have just a couple programs hoarding the best players.

I guess I can see how it's somewhat close. Then you have to add in that UCLA paid for all of their players.

3/22/2006 10:52:39 AM

^
http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/story/9033549

Quote :

"1953: The bracket expanded from 16 teams to 22 and fluctuated between 22 and 25 teams until 1974."

the tournament didn't expand to 32 teams until 1975.

[Edited on March 22, 2006 at 11:18 AM. Reason : *link]

3/22/2006 11:16:15 AM

IMO Duke's sweet sixteen run is like the Braves run in MLB. Both have just one title during that time and Duke has been to several final fours, just as the Braves have been to several world series. It does not deserve comparison to UCLA though because that streak was just amazing and will never be duplicated again...

3/22/2006 12:52:44 PM

still not as good as UNC's 27 straight NCAA tournament appearences...

3/22/2006 12:59:47 PM

what ever happened to that?

3/22/2006 1:41:26 PM

Doh!

3/22/2006 2:34:23 PM

New question.

If it were to happen which is more impressive in this day and age?

Duke S16 9 straight years or UConn 3 National Championships in 7 years?

[Edited on March 24, 2006 at 9:46 AM. Reason : answer honestly and don't just troll me assfaces.]

3/24/2006 9:46:24 AM

90s Buffalo Bills vs. 70s Steelers.

3/24/2006 9:40:30 PM

^^ UConn if they won a third NC. no doubt. State took 9 years to get two. UNC took 11 years from 82 to 93, and then took 12 from 93 to 05.

3/24/2006 9:53:41 PM

Didn't UNC go to the Sweet 16 for like 20 straight years or something under Dean Smith? I remmember they talked about it when BC upset them about 10 years ago.

3/25/2006 10:09:39 PM

13 straight, I think.

3/25/2006 10:39:09 PM

I'd give the nod to UConn's 3 NCs if it happened.

There's a four-year window you're given in college basketball, and that's if everyone stays the whole time (which doesn't even happen at Duke anymore). It shows that even with the turnover rate for players, he consistently gets top players that fit well into his system and produce well on the court.

3/25/2006 11:40:15 PM

guess we dont have to worry about uconn

3/26/2006 5:10:05 PM