End of the World? What Kentucky's Victory Means for College Basketball

When we woke up tired last Tuesday after staying up entirely too late watching Kentucky beat Kansas in a game that was never as close as the score indicated, we expected the worst.  We expected the first National Championship for the almost universally hated John Calipari (if you believe the NCAA, it came in his first Final Four appearance) to lead to massive earthquakes, fiery rain and "Snooki for President" signs.  We expected the end of the world.  Or the end of college basketball at least.  But it didn't. The sun shined as much as it always does during a New Jersey April and we went to work just the same.  So what does Kentucky's victory, on the backs of another of Coach Cal's vaunted/reviled "one-and-done" classes, mean for the future of college basketball?

Nada.  Zip.  Naught.  Love.  Zilch.  Zip.  Smashing Pumpkins song.  Coke that doesn't taste quite like Coke.

Nothing.

While it is tempting to see this as a change in the way elite programs build their teams.  Just like we imagined the Heat would start a trend of player-GM's coalescing in major markets.  But that hasn't worked out exactly as planned.  And Coach K won't start recruiting groups of elite one year prospects, starting an arms race ending with something resembling the early 2000's AL East with a few teams dominating and everyone else just happy to be on the field (or the court in this case).  Kentucky's "system" isn't going to take hold and leave us with an even more defined upper class that "shares the best 25 players each year."      

Putting aside for a moment that fact that all of these elite programs already target and heavily recruit the one-and-doners.  And any team would have bent over backwards for a chance to sign one of both of Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Marquis Teague, just like they did when they had chances at Carmelo Anthony, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant.  Even Duke (yes, Duke) happily recruited players guys like Kyrie Irving and Austin Rivers who they could not have expected to stay for any longer than a semester.  Even this year, Duke was in on this year's #2 prospect Shabazz Muhammad who could be a Top 5 draft pick in 2013.

The more important reason is that the demise of college hoops is overstated is because, quite simply, it doesn't work.  Expecting to win titles with 18-year old kids, no matter how talented, just doesn't work.  No, we haven't forgotten what happened last week.  But what made this year's UK squad so special was that they were just that - special.  The genius of Coach Cal's performance wasn't getting all that talent to campus. It was getting a group of teenagers, fresh out of high school to play together.  To not be distracted by their NBA dreams and imminent riches, and the effect that not getting enough shots could have on both, to defend, share the ball and compete at an elite level.  To play to win about all else.  That's nearly impossible.  Despite what we think we know, the most talented team doesn't always win in basketball.  The best Team does.  Especially in a single elimination tournament. (though sometimes this devolves into the hottest team).

For as talented as this year's team was (with the potential top two NBA draft picks as long as MKG shoots well in workouts and doesn't get passed by Beal, Robinson or Drummond), it's not like the talent was significantly better then the two prior versions.  Cal's first team featured 5 lottery picks (John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton and Patrick Patterson).  Just like this year, that team had the consensus #1 player  in John Wall and maybe the second most talented player in DeMarcus Cousins.  Despite that overwhelming talent and even with a veteran presence like Patrick Patterson, the team lost in the Elite 8.  The next year, while not as good, still featured top level recruits Brandon Knight, Terrance Jones and Deron Lamb and players such as Darius Miller, DeAndre Liggins and Josh Harrelson (Jones, Lamb and Miller all formed major pats of the core of this year's team) and managed to reach the Final Four.

Both teams were successful but neither could execute enough when it counted.  Kentucky needed two transcendent freshman and a bunch of excellent complimentary parts to do what they did.  So enjoy it, don't lament it, it's something we're unlikely to see again for awhile.   

The more interesting question is where this team fits in the hierarchy of the best title squads from the last decade or so.  After all is said and done, we might look back I'm amazement at how Davis/MKG/Jones/Teague all shared a college court together.  But from a pure college prospective as it stands now, we can think of four teams on their level.

2001 Duke 

Key Players:  Jay Williams, Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Nate James, Chris Duhon

Breakdown;  Kentucky's advantage lies with Davis and MKG over James and Boozer (particularly in the college game) but we'd much rather have the college versions of Battier, Williams and Dunleavy over Jones/Teague/Lamb.

Edge:  Duke, barely.

2004 North Carolina

Key Players:  Sean May, Rashad McCants, Jawad Williams, Raymond Felton, Jackie Manuel, Marvin Williams

Breakdown:  May was a double-double machine and the UNC starting five were the darlings of their time.  But Davis' size and agility would be too much for them, just like it was for everyone this year.  MKG  takes McCants out of the game on the wing and UNC can't score enough to win.

Edge:  Kentucky by 8.

2006-2007 Florida

Key Players:  Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, Lee Humphrey, Taurean

Breakdown:  This game would be epic.  The back-to-back champs had the continuity and togetherness of Kentucky but with an extra year or two of experience.  The front lines play to a standstill with each guy feeling like he's looking at a bizarro version of himself.  In a game decided by the backcourts, Doron Lamb could be the difference.

Edge:  Push.

2008 North Carolina 

Key Players:  Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, Danny Green, Deon Thompson, Ed Davis

Breakdown:  Hanbrough was fantastic in leading UNC to the title and Ty Lawson has proved to be underrated.  But even if Lawson controlled the tempo, Jones would guard Psycho T while Davis lurked behind looking for swats.  Unless his kamikaze style could get them both in early foul trouble, UNC would be in trouble.

Edge:  Kentucky by 8.

Kentucky was a fun team to watch, one that made even the biggest UK or Coach Cal haters give respect.  They played hard, played to win and did everything that the purists want a team to do (except, we guess, be 21 years old).  And that's how they'll be remembered.  Not quite the best.  And certainly not the end of the sport.