Comparing the Blue Bloods in the Calipari Era

 

 

I think one of the things that has slipped through the cracks in the aftermath of the national championship game is the question as to where to put UConn historically. They’ve got four national championships, five Final Fours, 11 Elite Eights, and 29 conference championships. All in all, that’s a pretty good resume. But are they as good as the traditional six? Well, I still say no. In order to be considered a blue blood in my eyes you have to have sustained excellence for at least twenty-five years. UConn didn’t make their first Final Four until 1999 so they’ve got a little ways yet to go before I include a benefactor of a couple of fluke runs.

With that said, we all understand that under Calipari, UK has become the “it” school in college basketball. But do they have the resume to back it up? Let’s take a look at the five years under Cal compared to the other “Blue Bloods” (plus, it’s always fun to mock Indiana who, by the way, should have their status as a Blue Blood reexamined at a later date).

 

Kentucky:

Record: 152-37 (80.4%)

Postseason Record: 18-3 (85.7%)

Conference Titles: 2009, 2012

Conference Tournament Titles: 2010, 2011

Final Fours: 2011, 2012, 2014

National Championships: 2012

 

Kansas: 

Record: 156-29 (84.3%)

Postseason Record: 12-5 (70.5%)

Conference Titles: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Conference Tournament Titles: 2010, 2011, 2013

Final Fours: 2012

National Championships: None

 

Duke: 

Record: 150-32 (82.4%)

Postseason Record: 11-4 (73.3%)

Conference Titles: 2010

Conference Tournament Titles: 2010, 2011

Final Fours: 2010

National Championships: 2010

 

North Carolina:

Record: 130-52 (71.4%)

Postseason Record: 8-4 (66.7%)

Conference Titles: 2011, 2012

Conference Tournament Titles: None

Final Fours: None

National Championships: None

 

UCLA:

Record: 109-62 (63.7%)

Postseason Record: 3-3 (50%)

Conference Titles: 2013

Conference Tournament Titles: 2014

Final Fours: None

National Championships: None

 

Indiana: 

Record: 95-72 (56.9%)

Postseason Record: 4-2 (66.7%)

Conference Titles: 2013

Conference Tournament Titles: None

Final Fours: None

National Championships: None

 

Based on these resumes, I think there are a bunch of obvious conclusions that can be drawn. First, as good as the other coaches have been during this time, none have been as good as Calipari in March. Not even the beloved Coach K. Second, Kansas absolutely dominates the Big 12. Ten straight regular season championships is stupid no matter what conference you’re in. And last, but certainly-not-least-unless-you-consider-Indiana-the-least-in-which-you-would-be-correct-because-Indiana-sucks, Tom Crean should be fired. That is just an awful resume he has acquired over there at Indiana, I mean 17-15 in year 5? C’mon Hoosiers, have some dignity.

 

@BWardKSR