Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program)

Here's Monday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: I see you called Arizona one of the "top 10 programs in America" last week. I'm fairly sure you also stated as much about Indiana when that job was open. So what are the top 10 programs?

-- Brian

What I mean when I describe something as a "top 10 program" is that it should be one of the top 10 programs in America when everything is going the right way. Obviously, that's not the case at Arizona right now. But assuming Jim Livengood makes a great hire I believe Arizona will again establish itself as one of the top 10 programs in America.

Does that make sense?

If not, try to think of it like this: Pretend you are the nation's hottest coaching candidate and attached to no particular school or region. Now pretend every school wants to hire you and then try to determine which 10 jobs would give you the best chance to succeed based upon factors like the level of national prestige, the recruiting advantages (geographic or otherwise), the passion of the fanbase and the commitment from the administration.

That's how you determine a great program.

In that case, my list would probably look like this:

1. North Carolina
2. UCLA
3. Duke
4. Kansas
5. Ohio State
6. Texas
7. Kentucky
8. Arizona
9. Indiana
10. Connecticut

Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program)

Gary Parrish Since: Feb 8, 2007	Posted on: October 27, 2008 1:04 pm Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program) I think I laid out my criteria quite clearly. Here's what I wrote ... What I mean when I describe something as a "top 10 program" is that it should be one of the top 10 programs in America when everything is going the right way. Obviously, that's not the case at Arizona right now. But assuming Jim Livengood makes a great hire I believe Arizona will again establish itself as one of the top 10 programs in America. Does that make sense? If not, try to think of it like this: Pretend you are the nation's hottest coaching candidate and attached to no particular school or region. Now pretend every school wants to hire you and then try to determine which 10 jobs would give you the best chance to succeed based upon factors like the level of national prestige, the recruiting advantages (geographic or otherwise), the passion of the fanbase and the commitment from the administration. That's how you determine a great program. -- gp [ Reply to Comment ]
greggsheel Since: Oct 5, 2007	Posted on: October 27, 2008 1:00 pm Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program) But that's how I would state my case for Texas and Ohio State over Kentucky.Right, but isn't this a list to determine the greatest programs and not the most desireable programs to coach? I'm just sayin'... [ Reply to Comment ]
Gary Parrish Since: Feb 8, 2007	Posted on: October 27, 2008 12:56 pm Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program) When I put together this list this morning, I honestly think I had Louisville at No. 11. [ Reply to Comment ]
Ville4real Since: Nov 27, 2006	Posted on: October 27, 2008 12:41 pm Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program) A little surprised you left off Louisville. Revenue is 3rd in college basketaball. #1 in profit per revenue Top 5 in attendance every year. Louisville gets the best ratings of any city for CBS during March Madness. (Some of that credit goes to UK fans admittedly). [ Reply to Comment ]
Gary Parrish Since: Feb 8, 2007	Posted on: October 27, 2008 12:23 pm Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program) I actually think the tempered passion for basketball at a place like Texas or Ohio State makes the job more attractive. At OSU, you can lose to Gardner-Webb in November and nobody really cares because Beanie Wells is still playing. Try that at Kentucky, and the fans want to kill you. On another note, the natural recruiting bases for Texas and OSU are better than the natural recruiting base for Kentucky. So all things considered, I think I'd rather have the Texas job or the OSU job more than the Kentucky job because even though they are less prestigious they would probably give me the best chance to succeed at a high level (and without the day-to-day pressures I might deal with at Kentucky). Again, this is all subjective, I know. But that's how I would state my case for Texas and Ohio State over Kentucky. [ Reply to Comment ]
OBoile Since: Apr 2, 2007	Posted on: October 27, 2008 12:13 pm Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program) Well Gary, you certainly would have more "inside" knowlege then a fan like myself. But from a fan's perspective I still think Kentucky is far more prestigous than either of those programs. It (Kentucky) certainly is a tougher place to coach (even just considering having to deal with the intense fanbase). Basketball programs at Ohio St. and Texas, while still quite successful, will pretty much always take a back seat to the football team. I can see a coach not wanting to coach there, but if you were to redo the list and make the question "where would a recruit want to play given that they had no ties to any school or region and PT was not an issue?" I'm pretty sure Kentucky would be in the top 5. [ Reply to Comment ]
Gary Parrish Since: Feb 8, 2007	Posted on: October 27, 2008 11:53 am Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program) Ohio State and Texas have endless resources and great recruiting bases. Trust me, in basketball circles, those are now considered "great" jobs. (Why do you think Rick Barnes didn't leave Texas for Kentucky?) [ Reply to Comment ]
greggsheel Since: Oct 5, 2007	Posted on: October 27, 2008 11:26 am Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program) I agree. I loathe Kentucky, but they should be in the top 5. Also, kudos for not putting Florida on there. Good choice. [ Reply to Comment ]
OBoile Since: Apr 2, 2007	Posted on: October 27, 2008 11:20 am Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program) Kentucky should be higher (and no, I'm not a Kentucky fan). I'd put them somewhere around 5 right now. Ohio State and Texas are good because of their coaches. They don't have the tradition or fan bases that Kentucky has. Also, even in a "down" period, Kentucky hasn't fallen that far. [ Reply to Comment ]

I think I laid out my criteria quite clearly.

Here's what I wrote ...

What I mean when I describe something as a "top 10 program" is that it should be one of the top 10 programs in America when everything is going the right way. Obviously, that's not the case at Arizona right now. But assuming Jim Livengood makes a great hire I believe Arizona will again establish itself as one of the top 10 programs in America.

Does that make sense?

That's how you determine a great program.

-- gp

Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program)

I actually think the tempered passion for basketball at a place like Texas or Ohio State makes the job more attractive.

At OSU, you can lose to Gardner-Webb in November and nobody really cares because Beanie Wells is still playing.

Try that at Kentucky, and the fans want to kill you.

On another note, the natural recruiting bases for Texas and OSU are better than the natural recruiting base for Kentucky. So all things considered, I think I'd rather have the Texas job or the OSU job more than the Kentucky job because even though they are less prestigious they would probably give me the best chance to succeed at a high level (and without the day-to-day pressures I might deal with at Kentucky).

Again, this is all subjective, I know.

But that's how I would state my case for Texas and Ohio State over Kentucky.

Dear Gary (on what makes a "top 10" program)

Well Gary, you certainly would have more "inside" knowlege then a fan like myself. But from a fan's perspective I still think Kentucky is far more prestigous than either of those programs. It (Kentucky) certainly is a tougher place to coach (even just considering having to deal with the *intense* fanbase). Basketball programs at Ohio St. and Texas, while still quite successful, will pretty much always take a back seat to the football team. I can see a coach not wanting to coach there, but if you were to redo the list and make the question "where would a recruit want to play given that they had no ties to any school or region and PT was not an issue?" I'm pretty sure Kentucky would be in the top 5.

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