Team success vs, Individual sucess?

[Goose]

I heard a great segment on ESPN radio a couple of weeks ago discussing how hard team success is in college basketball. It went into detail discussing Cal at UK and the success his players have had in the NBA and why that is not a bad thing. Cal has not been a great success in regard to banners, but has made a lot of guys an awful lot of money.

It got me thinking about Shaka and his desire to get guys to wherever their goals may take them. IMO, Omax being a first round draft pick last season does somewhat take the sting out of the MSU loss. We all want MU to have great team success, but I think we sometimes forget these kids are there because they have individual goals as well.

I am curious what others think on the topic because I thought it was an interesting discussion on ESPN. Winning at the highest level is extremely hard and probably unrealistic for most fans to think it is going to happen on a regular basis. I want MU to win it all and I also hope every kid reaches his post MU goal, whatever that is.

[Herman Cain]

I heard a great segment on ESPN radio a couple of weeks ago discussing how hard team success is in college basketball. It went into detail discussing Cal at UK and the success his players have had in the NBA and why that is not a bad thing. Cal has not been a great success in regard to banners, but has made a lot of guys an awful lot of money.

It got me thinking about Shaka and his desire to get guys to wherever their goals may take them. IMO, Omax being a first round draft pick last season does somewhat take the sting out of the MSU loss. We all want MU to have great team success, but I think we sometimes forget these kids are there because they have individual goals as well.

I am curious what others think on the topic because I thought it was an interesting discussion on ESPN. Winning at the highest level is extremely hard and probably unrealistic for most fans to think it is going to happen on a regular basis. I want MU to win it all and I also hope every kid reaches his post MU goal, whatever that is.

I have always believed that it is in MUs best long term interest to support kids in their desire to turn professional. More MU alum in NBA better off the program is going to be long run.

[Scoop Snoop]

 Simple arithmetic should be sufficient to make fans understand the chances of a natty. For some, anything less than a FF is a failure, and the reason that their team did not advance to the championship game is that the refs gave the game to the team that beat them. Many years ago, the tourney had the losers in the FF play each other for a champion plus designated 2nd through 4th place teams. I would like to see that resurrected.

I think your question is how we define success. If the natty is it, does every other team fail? I doubt that players, after leaving their schools, obsess over not winning the natty. They probably reminisce about games won that they were not expected to win. their relationships with their teammates and their coaches, I think fans should be open to learning from them about "the big picture".

[Galway Eagle]

If we had half as many recent final four banners as Cal I'd be happy.

6 Final Fours (3 @ UK)
6 SEC tournament titles
6 SEC regular championships
9 A10 & CUSA Tournament titles
10 A10 & CUSA regular championships

Assuming Kentucky's not too cool for FF & Conference banners I'd say he's done fine in the banner department at his current job and certainly over all.

[romey]

Coincidentally, I was thinking similarly this past week.  During Al's tenure, he put a player into the NBA almost every year.  AND we were in the top 25 regularly during that stint.  So, the two can certainly go hand in hand.  In fact, when they won the national championship in 77, I believe 6 of those players were drafted.  Not all in one year, but as they became eligible.  I know the draft was deeper (in fact I have a very old Sporting News "NBA Official Guide" 1971-72 and teams drafted until they didn't want to pick any more.In 1971 there were 19 rounds,San Diego was the only team that picked in that round. Three teams picked in the 18th.  Dean the Dream was the 16th pick by the Knicks that year FYI

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

If we had half as many final four banners as Cal I'd be happy.

6 Final Fours (3 @ UK)

Uh. We do.

[Galway Eagle]

Uh. We do.

Hah sorry I meant to write in the past decade or so.

[BLWarrior91]

Cal also has a Naty at UK.