What's the best college hoops job in America? The answer, as opined by Mike DeCourcy in The Sporting News, may not surprise you but the order of the top ten list likely will.
DeCourcy thinks that North Carolina is the plum job in the U.S. As he writes, "How many kids in America wouldn't take Carolina's call?" The job has the allure of Michael Jordan, the great unis, and the long-standing consistency of winning--both league championships as well as five national championships.
The remaining rankings, two through ten, are worthy of debate. While I don't necessarily disagree with the schools listed, I do take exception with the order.
Here are DeCourcy's rankings:
1. North Carolina
2. UCLA ("location and tradition")
3. Texas ("so much talent and money...minimal pressure to win it all")
4. Kentucky ("Kentucky makes certain there is life beyond basketball for those who prove themselves to be committed to the Wildcats")
5. Ohio State ("six in-state recruits" on 2011 number one seeded team)
6. Indiana ("the best are starting to join the Hoosiers again")
7. Kansas ("if getting talent weren't such a chore, KU would fight UNC for the top spot")
8. Duke ("...the most powerful program--what will it be when Coach K retires?")
9. Maryland ("D.C./Maryland/Northern Virginia might be the country's richest talent mine.")
10. Arizona ("...a factor with nearly every player west of the Rockies."
My biggest beef here is with UCLA and Texas. Sure, Texas has bucks and the pressure is slight--does that make it a better job than Kansas or Kentucky? And, Ohio State and Indiana in front of Kansas? C'mon! Yes, there may be more talent closer by but that hasn't stopped the Jayhawks from getting top 50 kids, on an annual basis, to come play on James Naismith Court.
Here's my list:
1. Kentucky (How do you argue with the rabid fan base and most winning school in college hoops history?)
2. Kansas (The most tradition-rich school in the country. I mean, the court is named after the game's founder and the Rules of Basketball will soon be permanently enshrined in Lawrence.)
3. North Carolina (They seem to get whatever McDonald's All-American they want. Yet, the fan base is known for their "whine-and-cheese" attitude and the Smith Center isn't ear-splitting loud.)
4. Duke (It is, indeed, the country's most powerful program and they rarely lose recruits, unless it's to in-state rival North Carolina. But, like DeCourcy wrote, what will happen when K retires?)
5. UCLA (It's hard to argue with the Wooden legacy yet there is a troubling lack of consistency here over the past 30 years.)
6. Indiana (The right coach will make this basketball-crazy state rapidly in love with the Hoosiers again. I'm still not convinced that Tom Crean is the right guy.)
7. Arizona (This program always seems to attract the very best L.A. talent.)
8. Texas (Okay--yes, the facilities are first rate and they have more money than places to spend it. However, UT is and always will be a football school.)
9. Ohio State (There's bountiful talent in Ohio and Thad Matta has proven that you can consistently win in Columbus. And, Buckeye fans need something to divert their attention from the current football debacle.)
10. Florida (In a slight nod over Maryland, I go with Florida for many of the same reasons as Texas. Maryland would be #11 on my list.)
There you have it--fire away, campers. Like I said, plenty to debate with this list.
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