Quiet period? Come now, recruiting dreams never end

It's why Tubby Smith was pushed out at Kentucky and why Billy Gillispie is already a star who can do no wrong. Smith might've gone to 10 consecutive NCAA Tournaments but he wasn't signing top 10 recruiting classes, and top 10 recruiting classes are what get folks excited these days.

"Recruiting gives fans an opportunity to brag and say 'Look what our program is able to do,'" said Oklahoma's Jeff Capel. "Fans are able to brag and get on message boards and pick on other fans. It's very, very odd. It really is. But I'd rather have a top 10 team than a top 10 recruiting class."

Note Capel is a coach, not a fan.

That's an important fact to remember.

Because while a top 10 team is great, it can still lose to Tennessee and Florida. On the other hand, a top 10 recruiting class never loses, never gives anybody any reason to be upset, and in turn compels otherwise reasonable men -- mostly professionals sitting at their computers all day -- to go to Rivals.com or Scout.com and post declarative statements about some 18-year-old prospect whom he's never seen practice or play.

It doesn't matter, though.

That kid is going to be the difference because he's a difference-maker, and when teamed with three other difference-makers he'll lead his school to a Final Four next season.

Go ahead, test this theory yourself. If you've got the time and lack of brain cells you can find 30 posts on 30 message boards from 30 different schools about some fan thinking some recruit who still hasn't enrolled is going to help his team to the Final Four, and never mind that only four teams actually make the Final Four.

Again, it doesn't matter.

I think we'll be a top 5 team

That was a post on the Kentucky message board, and it's a perfect example. Truth is Kentucky won't be a top five team next season even if Gillispie lures every currently available recruit to Rupp Arena. It's just not happening that quickly, nor should it.

That doesn't matter to good old BenUUK, because he's figuring Jai Lucas is the next Mike Conley and Patrick Patterson is the next Kevin Durant (and that UK is getting both), and there will be no convincing him those recruits or any others aren't taking Kentucky into the top five next season until his Wildcats start 10-4.

But by then, BenUUK will already be talking about next season. You know, the one after the one he's supposed to be enjoying. Because by then, Gillispie will have already secured a 2008 class that's off the charts. And when those guys are sophomores, Kentucky should win the 2010 national title, which would really open doors with the Class of 2011, and the Non-Quiet Period continues, that yearn for tomorrow always overshadowing today.