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Posted by jerseycat (Member # 9) on 03-27-2023, 11:50 AM:

Two times today I heard (Seth Greenberg and Jay Williams) refer to UConn as a Blue Blood. No doubt if they win it this year, 5 titles in 24 years is very impressive, but not sure they are Blue Bloods. They are probably at or near the top of the second tier behind the true Blue Bloods: Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas and Duke (and maybe UCLA).

Everyone has their own definition, what is yours?

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 03-27-2023, 12:28 PM:

Win or lose I just keep pulling for the Cats and always will. I do think however we are going to have a tough time this season but only time will tell.

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 03-28-2023, 11:26 AM:

Well, I define a blueblood as a program with demonstrated, sustained success over many coaches and many decades.

UConn has four titles, but they have all been since 1999. A potential blueblood, but check back with me in 30-40 years.

UCLA has 11 titles, more than any other program. But 10 of those titles came in the span of 12 years, under one coach. That screams cheating, and evidence has emerged that indeed, whether Wooden knew it or not, boosters were essentially buying players for the program. So, UCLA doesn't belong in the blueblood category, but instead, the orange jumpsuit category.

An Kansas, almost undisputedly a member of the blueblood fraternity, has only 4 championships.

So, my definition of bluebloods would cover UK, Duke, UNC, and Kansas, with UConn and Villanova as potential future bluebloods, and IU a "fading" blueblood.

The rest of the teams with a lot of championships are either teams with a good run under a single coach (UCLA*, Florida, Cincinnatti), or not quite there yet (Villanova, 3 titles under 2 coaches, UConn, 4 titles under 2 coaches, all in a 15 year span).

[ 03-28-2023, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: Tiptree ]

Posted by ukman (Member # 3032) on 04-03-2023, 10:10 PM:

Looks like UCONN is about to have their 4th title of the 2000's, and 3rd in last 12 years. That is really impressive. Sure would like a championship every 4 years.

UNC and Duke have 3, UF 2, Villanova 2, and Kansas 2. UK with our one and only in 2012. I think we all agree we should have at least 2, probably 3 or 4.

Posted by ukman (Member # 3032) on 04-04-2023, 09:52 AM:

Actually their 5th since 99. Hard to not say they are the program of the 2000's.

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 04-04-2023, 11:27 AM:

You can't say they are not more of a blue blood than we are after last night. We have 1 in the past 25 years. And how many final 4's have we been to in that time? Some who probably think we have the best UK coach of all time I believe are sadly mistaken. His ability to recruit and sign the best freshmen may have to take another look at his results. He has been here for close to half of that 25 years.

[ 04-04-2023, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: Bama Cat ]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 04-04-2023, 05:51 PM:

My opinion is, they've replaced IU in the Blueblood category. Indiana has 5 titles but haven't sniffed a championship in 37 years. Zero titles in the 21st century.

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 04-04-2023, 09:05 PM:

I have to agree with that assessment. We better be doing something pretty soon. 25 years is a long time.

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 04-04-2023, 09:14 PM:

I found this but was unable to copy and paste, probably due to my lack of computer skills. Soooo column’s are a mess, probably some typing errors etc. Anyway I thought it was interesting if you’re able to decipher it.

UK UCLA. UNC KU. Duke. IU. UCONN

NCAA. 8. 6. 11. 4. 5. 5. 5
Titles

Title
Games. 12. 12. 12. 10. 11. 6. 5

Final
Fours. 17. 21. 18. 16. 17. 8. 6

Tourney
Wins. 132. 131. 114. 116. 119. 71. 64

Tourney
Appears. 60. 52. 50. 51. 43. 41. 36

Total
Wins. 2375 2343. 1986. 2385 2373. 1913 1798

Elite
Eights. 38. 29. 22. 23. 23. 11. 11

Sweet
Sixteens. 45. 35. 35. 31. 32. 22. 18

[ 04-04-2023, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: handycat ]

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 04-05-2023, 08:55 AM:

By the logic of "its been a long time", UK went 18 years without a title between Hall and Pitino.

I try to resist putting "who is hot lately" into the blueblood category. That is like putting a guy who made billions in a startup in the same category as the Rockefellers. UConn would DEFINITELY fit that bill, as "new money". A dynasty in the making. If Villanova picks up another couple in the next decade, they would be there too.

But UK is "old money", with a long history of sustained excellence. It has titles in the 40s, the 50s, the 70s, the 90's and the 10's. that is at least one title in every decacde except the 60s and the 80s and the 00s.

I still think the 2005 team and the 1984 team were derailed on the way to almost certain championships. 1984 by Georgetown (or rather, by UK's 11% shooting percentage), and 2005 by a turned ankle and a hot player taking full advantage of that.

Had those two juggernauts made it, along with the 2015 squad that was just LOADED, we would mostly be happier. Not entirely happy, mind you, but mostly happier.

The question in all of our minds is whether Cal can ever deliver another championship, given his reliance on raw talent, one-and-dones, and old-school offenses. It seems odd to me that he tries to mesh the young superstars with a 1970s-vintage offense.

[ 04-05-2023, 08:58 AM: Message edited by: Tiptree ]

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 04-05-2023, 02:27 PM:

By definition, we r probably a blueblood as that shows we can win in any era - except we r now in the modern era and Coach hasnt a clue as to how to win. With his incoming class - can 18 yr olds win? - He will probably get dickinson fm Mich which will go a long way in helping win but unless he understands modern basketball (see ala) another season like the pass few will be the result!

Now tell me - how many of you are satisfied with the Cal era? The num one or two class every since he has been here and one national title? Unless u r big on how many players r n the NBA ky has been a huge disappointment under his brand!

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 04-05-2023, 04:30 PM:

“Count ESPN analyst and former Duke guard Jay Williams, the 2002 Wooden Award winner, among those low on Kentucky as Connecticut's national championship has sparked a discussion of which programs qualify for the most exclusive club in college hoops.
Appearing on his show with fellow ESPN analyst Max Kellerman and guest host Chris Canty, Williams declared the Huskies part of a Mount Rushmore of the sport with Kansas, North Carolina and the Blue Devils. Kentucky, which has just one national championship—2012—since 1998 did not make the list.”

- c/o Sports Illustrated

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 04-05-2023, 07:04 PM:

I would expect that from a Dookie. Let's just say that he chose a very convenient starting point.

Agree that those programs are the best in the last 25 years. No arguement on that. But you can't just ignore the prior 50 years to make your point.

[ 04-05-2023, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: Tiptree ]