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Message: [QUOTE="PeteCalvin, post: 261899, member: 439"] For all the talent KU has brought in, they have lost some stinkers over the years. Roy could never win one at KU with everything he had. Self won one, but had some help from the bball gods with that. It just goes to show that having the talent isn't everything and sometimes that "talent" really doesn't meet the expectations. UNC should have a bazillion titles based on the "talent" metric. Yet, they don't. Michigan had perhaps one of the best starting Five's in college bball history, and they never brought home the gold. Coach K has 4 NC's, and a boatload of FF appearances to bolster his numbers, so he may be the one coach who has gotten the best runs out of the talent he had...and as well he should have. His cabinets have always been full. Teams with multiple MIckey D's (over 3) should be in the Final Four every other year. Duke is probably the only program that can say that. Maybe Kansas and UNC too. If not for PayCal, UK would be suffering through a very long drought of FF appearances, although Tubby wasn't reeling in the big fish like UK was used to having under Pitino. UK over the past three years is probably the best example of what great talent can and can't accomplish. Three years ago they have John Wall, Cousins, etc., and can't get past a 1 McD in WVA. This season they go all the way. The difference? Balance. They had players who were not only great talents, but complimented each other's strengths and weaknesses. Cal could recruit 5 Micky D's a year for the next decade and never get a team that plays this well together again. The reason the SU teams of 2010 and 2012 were so successful is because they were talented, had balance and played well together. Losing a key player each of those seasons offset that balance (and depth). I guess what I'm trying to say is that having a dearth of Micky AA's on your team will help get you near your goal most of the time, but won't necessarily guarantee that you bring the trophy home. There are so many talented players out there now that the field has changed. Some blossom in college, some regress. It's all a crap shoot. You have to identify the right talent and then blend it. Good coaching is as important as ever. [/QUOTE]

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