Coach K & John Wooden

[HammerDown]

Can we pleeease keep things in perspective here? The Wizard of Westwood was in a class of his own, never to be approached again.

 

[podsox]

both were/are weasels

 

[gordontrue]

This might be an unpopular opinion... but to me Coach Wooden is sort of like the Geno Auriemma of mens basketball.

What his teams accomplished was incredible... but what he did was much more possible when he did it. Back then the number of highly competitive programs was much lower. Much less parity.

What Geno is doing and what Wooden did are ridiculously impressive and they both deserve the title of best coach in their sport. I just think a little perspective on how much more difficult it is to do that today is necessary.

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

Can we pleeease keep things in perspective here? The Wizard of Westwood was in a class of his own, never to be approached again.

Not so sure.

Back in Wooden's day, all you had to do was win 2 and you were in the Final Four. No one and dones with players jumping to the NBA. And there were not as many good programs back in the day.

 

[HammerDown]

Not so sure.

Back in Wooden's day, all you had to do was win 2 and you were in the Final Four. No one and dones with players jumping to the NBA. And there were not as many good programs back in the day.

You had to win your conference title game to even get in the tournament!!!

How can you possibly compare 10-to-5 when considering that fact? They had to win TWO championship games!

88 straight wins!!!

 

[UK Cowboy]

This might be an unpopular opinion... but to me Coach Wooden is sort of like the Geno Auriemma of mens basketball.

What his teams accomplished was incredible... but what he did was much more possible when he did it. Back then the number of highly competitive programs was much lower. Much less parity.

What Geno is doing and what Wooden did are ridiculously impressive and they both deserve the title of best coach in their sport. I just think a little perspective on how much more difficult it is to do that today is necessary.

Agree with you totally. Wooden was basically recruiting the way Cal does now, but he got to keep all his kids 4 years.

 

[Tharvot]

I don't understand how or why so many people dislike Coach K.

Is it just the association with Duke that makes everyone turn on him?

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Wooden was great, but he has essentially the dirtiest program in history.
His bagman, Sam Gilbert literally handed players cash like an ATM.

Their wheelbarrows of cash assured that UCLA always had the best players.
And UCLA paid them well enough to make sure they never considered anything other than college hoops.

None of those title would exist had the NCAA not been afraid of Wooden.
And the investigations are far more thorough today.

Coach K has seemingly run a clean program in fairness.

 

[UK Cowboy]

I don't understand how or why so many people dislike Coach K.

Is it just the association with Duke that makes everyone turn on him?

I think Coach K is a class act off the court. He's obviously a great coach. I do hate the way his teams play defense though. Not the handchecking Ryan was crying about, IMO thats just ''letting them play''. The flopping......fake flops. Hate it

 

[tducey]

Coach K for me.

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

You had to win your conference title game to even get in the tournament!!!

How can you possibly compare 10-to-5 when considering that fact? They had to win TWO championship games!

88 straight wins!!!

Again, not as many good teams back then. And K has done it longer and has had to change with the times. First championship team only one freshman got time. Last night, 60 of 68 points by freshmen.

 

[Tharvot]

I don't like Duke...in fact, I really kinda hate them. I really hated Duke back in the Laettner days and have not really warmed up to the program since.

I DO respect the hell out of Coach K though. I think he does things the right way and I do appreciate the fact that he always seems to recruit and develop good, heady kids.

 

[podsox]

I don't understand how or why so many people dislike Coach K.

Is it just the association with Duke that makes everyone turn on him?

It is because he is fake, arrogant, full of shit, and protected. he is obsessed with his public image. going into the mercer locker room and the paul george hospital picture. he uses the words "classroom" and "student athletes" all the time yet he sold out quickly when he saw the success calipari was having. he refers to himself as a professor and leader who just happens to coach basketball but gets real quiet when pressed to be asked a real quesion. the whole Rasheed Saliumon case has yet to be released but when it does coach k will have a lot of explaining to do. he cant hide behind the private university forever.

 

[GNG]

both were/are weasels

Both coaches recruited great players.

 

[GNG]

I don't understand how or why so many people dislike Coach K.

Is it just the association with Duke that makes everyone turn on him?

He's just a condescending prick.

 

[podsox]

Both coaches recruited great players.

type in sam gilbert ucla into google

 

[williewilliejuan]

Wooden was great, but he has essentially the dirtiest program in history.
His bagman, Sam Gilbert literally handed players cash like an ATM.

Their wheelbarrows of cash assured that UCLA always had the best players.
And UCLA paid them well enough to make sure they never considered anything other than college hoops.

None of those title would exist had the NCAA not been afraid of Wooden.
And the investigations are far more thorough today.

Coach K has seemingly run a clean program in fairness.

So, if I may paraphrase what you're saying, the secret to Wooden's success was superior recruiting and retention strategies.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Not at all

He was still a fantastic game coach and motivator

But, you cannot look at Wooden without understanding Sam Gilbert's role

I just wanted to point out that slight diffrence in Coach K vs. Coach Wooden.

 

[kramer1]

Fuck Duke. Never liked them.

Fuck all of this politically correct bullshit too. I don't like it. I'm gonna say it. I don't have to have a "but" after I say I hate Duke. No, fuck that. I hate them and I hate coach K.

 

[douggie]

It is because he is fake, arrogant, full of shit, and protected. he is obsessed with his public image. going into the mercer locker room and the paul george hospital picture. he uses the words "classroom" and "student athletes" all the time yet he sold out quickly when he saw the success calipari was having. he refers to himself as a professor and leader who just happens to coach basketball but gets real quiet when pressed to be asked a real quesion. the whole Rasheed Saliumon case has yet to be released but when it does coach k will have a lot of explaining to do. he cant hide behind the private university forever.