Rise and Fall: SEC Program Review | College Basketball by Collegehoops.net
CHN evaluates the SEC teams' rise and fall.
Interesting. I would definitely quibble with his suggestion that UK's tourney bid wasn't deserved after going 12-4 in the SEC. What was the committee going to do, snub the 'Cats for Virginia Tech?
Not.
over 3 years ago
Glenn Logan
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Peaking In 2003 And 2004?
Did the author sleep through 2005? UK was 28-6 and an eyelash from FF appearance with 2 freshmen starting.
No doubt 2006 and 2007 (44-25) were down years by UK criteria.
The 2007 NCAA bid was surely earned.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 29, 2008 3:04 PM EDT reply actions
To all:
Yeah, maybe a bit of bias creeping in there, who knows. Florida at status quo did cause me a momentary giggle, but then again, he may be right - NIT could be their status quo. :)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Shawn Seigel
I went to law school with Shawn Siegel – I do like his site, and he is usually pretty on, and more power to him for running it while pursuing a law degree.
I did disagree with a lot of what he said last season, though. He gave up on UK after the dismal non-conference start, and I don’t think he ever gave them a chance at the tournament.
I also agree with Forty above – ‘04-’05 was a very good season, and shame on Shawn for not noting that.
Questions
Maybe I’m looking at this a bit differently than some others. I look at it as what direction the program is going; up, down, or staying the same, based on who each team has returning and the recruiting class coming in. Based on that criteria, I would have had the Gators on an upward tick—Donovan had an extremely young team that I thought showed improvement after some middle-season struggles ( they performed well in the NIT after Donovan’s very public tongue lashing ). Couple that with the signing of Vargas and Kadji, two top forty guys, and I think Florida is their way back to the top 10.
Th only other major beef I had with the piece was the fact that he didn’t even mention LSU’s coaching change. Going from Brady to Trent Johnson in itself is reason to have LSU listed as being on the uptick.
Hard To Tell Going Into A Season
UK looked to be on an uptick in 2007 by those criteria. Graduation losses were Rondo and Sparks. Transfers were Sims and Williams. Those were replaced by Jasper, Meeks, Stevenson, and Porter. The 2007 Cats started 15-3 and were playing well in mid January but…we know what happened after that.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 29, 2008 10:23 PM EDT reply actions
Re: FortyYear
You mention the losses of Rondo and Sparks … that was HUGE.
The team had no true point guard, other than a freshman non-phenom ( Jasper ). Not taking care of the basketball is what doomed that team, which in my view, is a direct result of not having a true point.
Another thing to remember about that team is that the last 8 of 9 losses ( not including the Kansas game ) were by an average of 4.4 points. That team was painfully close to being good, but as I stated, they committed too many turnovers to beat good teams consistently.
You’re right. It’s many times very difficult to evaluate a team in the pre pre-season. But, it’s fun.
Rondo Maybe
Sparks, not really. Meeks replaced him easily.
Jasper and Bradley replaced Rondo.
Stevenson was better than Sims.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 30, 2008 6:17 AM EDT reply actions
"Easily?"
Sparks - 120 of 286 for 42% all shots, 69 of 179 for 38.5% on 3’s, 114 assists, 9.7 ppg.
Meeks - 95 of 227 for 41.9% all shots, 44 of 121 for 36.4% on 3’s, 51 assists, 8.7 ppg.
Jasper and Bradley replaced Rondo, but not very well.
Stevenson is/was better than Sims, but Stevenson’s impact his freshman year was negligible.
Sparks assists
I’ll never forget that first year Sparks and Rondo played together… you would have thought they grew up together joined at the hip. All the lobs to Rondo from Sparks and the way they worked off each other defensively… Makes me even more bitter about their second year together sadly.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
Rondo seemed to have a "Kobe to Shaq" jealously issue with Sparks ...
... which I never understood. I naively thought the object of the game was to win.
I Can't Prove It
But someone I met here in Chicago (who knows Sparks) claimed there was “competition” for a girlfriend between those 2 in 2007.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 30, 2008 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Heresay
This is totally heresay but I have always been under the impression that rondo stole sparks’s woman in 07. Totally unfounded but the loudest rumor I have most often heard regrading their chemistry issues in 07.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
I Heard From a Close Friend Of Sparks
He worked as an intern up here in Chicago a couple years ago. He rode downtown in my commuter train (same car) that summer. No way to prove it but I believe him.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 30, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Easily, Yes
Jasper and Bradley played PG for Rondo.
Meeks at SG instead of Sparks.
Stevenson as a frosh (2007) was better than Sims as a junior (2006).
by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 30, 2008 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
how is that easily?
all you did was mention who took whose spot until you got to sims and stevenson.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Jul 31, 2008 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions
2006 And 2007 Stats
http://bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/stat2005-06.html Rondo (and Stockton) were PG.
http://bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/stat2006-07.html Jasper (and Bradley) were PG.
The PG in 2007 replaced the PG in 2006 in terms of offensive impact to those teams.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 31, 2008 6:54 AM EDT reply actions
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