X #22 in final USA Today/Coaches poll

[XUOWNSUC]

It seems like this happens every year - Xavier is not ranked throughout the year but ends up ranked in the final poll. Here it is:

http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa.../coaches-poll/

[X-band '01]

UAB did wind up getting one vote in that poll. Somehow LSU and Murray State got votes but Georgia State did not.

[xu82]

Where's BYU?

[GoMuskies]

Where's BYU?

Provo, UT

[XUOWNSUC]

Two coaches voted Kentucky #1.

[LadyMuskie]

Where's BYU?

#1 in the Fun To Watch Poll!

[paulxu]

I was looking for a place to post something, and this seems as good a thread as any rather than start one.
And this thread reminded me that I'm spoiled by our success, and allow it to ramp my expectations up every year.
And I still want to see us soon in a Final Four.

But, Christi Mack posted something from Xavier Nation last month:

christi mack retweeted
Xavier Nation @XUNation · Mar 15
With 13 tourney appearances since 2001 #Xavier has more than UCLA, UNC, Indiana, UC, Syracuse, UConn, OSU, Florida & Louisville! #XMarchesOn

And that got me thinking about just how fortunate we have been. I tried to do a little research and came up with this (may have missed some teams):

Since the beginning of this century, there have been 15 NCAA tournaments.
Kansas, Duke, MSU, Wisconsin and Gonzaga have been to all 15
Texas has been to 14
Xavier and Kentucky have been to 13

That's it, I think. That is damn elite company.

Here's the kicker. Think about what the expectations are with Smart leaving VCU, or the dips other schools have taken when changing coaches.
Most of the schools on that list above have had the same coach all that time, or one change.
Xavier has had 4 different coaches. That's some consistency.

[xudash]

I was looking for a place to post something, and this seems as good a thread as any rather than start one.
And this thread reminded me that I'm spoiled by our success, and allow it to ramp my expectations up every year.
And I still want to see us soon in a Final Four.

But, Christi Mack posted something from Xavier Nation last month:



And that got me thinking about just how fortunate we have been. I tried to do a little research and came up with this (may have missed some teams):

Since the beginning of this century, there have been 15 NCAA tournaments.
Kansas, Duke, MSU, Wisconsin and Gonzaga have been to all 15
Texas has been to 14
Xavier and Duke have been to 13

That's it, I think. That is damn elite company.

Here's the kicker. Think about what the expectations are with Smart leaving VCU, or the dips other schools have taken when changing coaches.
Most of the schools on that list above have had the same coach all that time, or one change.
Xavier has had 4 different coaches. That's some consistency.

Excellent post Paul.

One thing: you have Duke listed twice above.

Otherwise, I absolutely believe its our turn to retain an excellent coach for a long time now.

[xubrew]

That is some pretty awesome trivia!

I do think VCU will be okay. I think there are a lot of good coaches out there that would want that job, and I think VCU is good at identifying who those good coaches are. Having said that, Will Wade would not have been my top choice, but he would have at least been on the list. And, the guys at VCU know more about that than I do, so it's probably a very good hire.

But, to your point, to have that kind of consistency for that long, you either have to hold on to your coach, or be good at identifying and hiring other good coaches. I believe that VCU is. George Mason....not so much.

[paulxu]

Excellent post Paul.

One thing: you have Duke listed twice above.

Otherwise, I absolutely believe its our turn to retain an excellent coach for a long time now.

Ack. Should have been Kentucky listed with us. Corrected.