default-cbs-image

Earlier this week, the Eye on College Basketball staff voted on who we thought would be the most successful programs in the sport over the next five years. This is obviously one of those things that is meant to inspire discussion, and overall, that part of it was successful.

In order to further that discussion and explain some of their choices, Gary Parrish, Matt Norlander and Sam Vecenie got together and answered a few of questions that they've been asked since the vote was released, as well as another one that sprang off of that poll. 

1) Which school do you regret leaving off our list of the top 15 programs best positioned to succeed over the next five years?

Parrish: The omission that received the most criticism -- and I sort of expected it -- was UConn because a lot of the things we valued with other programs are also in place at UConn. The Huskies have a national-championship winning coach, a Top-25 roster heading into this season and, at this moment, the second-best recruiting class in the nation, according to 247Sports. Simply put, that's why I placed UConn on my list of the 15 college basketball programs that are best positioned to succeed over the next five years. But you dudes out-voted me. So, please, explain yourselves to the UConn fans who are likely right now posting about you relentlessly on a message board somewhere.

Vecenie: I have very few regrets leaving UConn off of our list, as I mentioned in our podcast this week. For me, the biggest snub on our list was likely UCLA. Steve Alford has turned that program around on the floor already, making back-to-back Sweet 16s after taking over a rough situation from Ben Howland. His defensive schemes have been pretty terrific in the two years he's been there, switching up his coverages and really hammering home the importance of effort on that end. However, that pales in comparison to what he's been able to do off the floor. He's taken back Southern California's fertile recruiting ground in a big way after Arizona and others had come in and planted flags throughout the area. The Ball brothers will be boons to the program, newly committed Jaylen Hands and previously committed Jalen Hill represent massive hits for 2017, and Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh were big grabs over the course of the last two years. This program looks poised to succeed over the next five years.

Norlander: Parrish had UConn, which didn't make it, and Sam had UCLA, which didn't make it. My snub? It was Indiana. The way I see it: Either Tom Crean steadies Indiana and succeeds at a level in which he keeps his job -- which is essentially a Sweet 16 baseline -- or he's replaced in the coming years. If that comes to be, hey, this is Indiana. The candidate who comes in will be stepping into a program, in all likelihood, that is primed to compete to win the Big Ten. That, by definition, would qualify it as top-15.

Mark Turgeon could make a Final Four run this year. (USATSI)
Mark Turgeon could make a Final Four run this year. (USATSI)

2) What was the biggest question mark on the list?

Vecenie: I think it's pretty fair to say that Texas is the biggest question mark, if only because they're the program that has the least momentum out of the 15 on our list. Rick Barnes was just fired, Steve Patterson was just removed, and the talent on the floor this year doesn't necessarily scream top-25 (although I think there's a chance it could get there). However, I think this speaks to how much we all trust new coach Shaka Smart. He's a tireless recruiter that should have absolutely no issues picking up players for his system, and the monetary advantages of working at a school like Texas can't be undersold. Heck, he even already did a pretty terrific job recovering from his late hiring this spring. Smart's going to have every opportunity to succeed there in a big way, and I expect him to do so.

Norlander: Texas is a good call, Sam, but I'm going to say Wichita State. I didn't vote the Shockers in my ballot of top 15, and I'm not sure I'd have them in my top 20, either. Here's why: 1) Gregg Marshall isn't absolutely, for sure, going to stay at Wichita State until the end of his days just because the school stepped up in a huge way in early April and managed to keep him from going to Alabama. He was about as close as you could be to going to Bama without actually making the move. If Wichita State is really good again, and a top-20 job opens up for him, yes, he could take it. If that were to happen, would any of us have Wichita State as a top 30, let alone top 15 school for the next five years? I don't think so. Coaching stability was the biggest component when it came to making this list, and I can't for certain see Marshall staying on for five more years. And even if he does, how about this: Is it a guarantee he gets another couple of guards as good as Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet? I don't think so. The Valley is set to be a challenge in a big way in the next two seasons for Wichita State. Marshall will continue to keep the program relevant, but it's not like Wichita State will have top-25 recruiting classes in the coming seasons.

Parrish: I heard from a handful of coaches (and other figures in college basketball) after our list of 15 posted, and, for the most part, the only school they really questioned is Texas. To be clear, they all believe Shaka Smart is talented and Texas can be great under him. But what they pointed out is that Texas is the only school on our list that isn't coached by a man who already has his current program up and running well, and, in fairness, they make a fine point. So, yeah, Texas might be the biggest question mark on the list. But I'm still comfortable with the Longhorns' inclusion -- mostly because I do genuinely believe Smart will excel, and quickly, thanks to all of the resources UT provides.

3) Sean Miller, Tony Bennett, Mark Few, Mark Turgeon and Mark Gottfried all coach programs that made the list even despite the fact none of those men have made a Final Four. Which one will be the next to join the Final Four club?

Norlander: Well, Turgeon's the choice here, right? Not an easy choice, but he appears to have the best team heading into this season. Man, all of those guys should absolutely have a Final Four, at least one, on their resumes by the time they retire. It's of course very possible two of these guys check that box in the upcoming season; Gonzaga will still be good enough to reach a Final Four, as will Virginia. Arizona, in a "down" year, will still be viable. To expand the question, just for fun, my guess is Sean Miller winds up with four Final Four appearances in his career, besting the other four mentioned.

Parrish: Yeah, I'll go with Turgeon too -- if only because I think he has the best chance, based on preseason rankings, to get it done this season. I love the mix of talent and experience Maryland has on its roster and, fairly regularly, we see at least one team make the Final Four mostly because a couple of borderline first-round picks decided to return to school. Wisconsin is the most recent example thanks to Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker deciding to skip the 2014 NBA Draft even though either could've reasonably entered. And, it's possible, Maryland could be the next example thanks to Melo Trimble and Jake Layman both deciding to skip the 2015 NBA Draft even though either could've reasonably entered. So put me down for Turgeon -- although, like Norlander mentioned, Bennett and Few both have rosters that are, on paper, good enough to also make it this season. And, now that I'm thinking about it, Few also sort of checks the I-have-two-borderline-pros-back box thanks to Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis, like Trimble and Layman, deciding to skip the 2015 NBA Draft. So I guess my double-answer would be Turgeon or Few. But, gun to head, when asked to pick one, I'll go with Turgeon.

Vecenie: I'll go against the grain here and say Miller. For my money, he is the best guy in this group of elite coaches. He's certainly the best recruiter of the bunch, and tactically his defenses have been among the best in the business for a long time. He's also come the closest of the bunch, reaching four Elite Eights and two additional Sweet 16s. This year, his team is pretty young, but it has much more offensive talent than his groups in the past couple of years. If he can get them to defend -- like all of his teams do -- there's enough talent here to make a run this season. And if none of these coaches reach the Final Four this year? Next year's Wildcats will likely be even better than the preseason top-10 group they have returning.