CONCERNED FANS FOR
BASKETBALL
Press Release
Concerned Fans For UK Basketball
ConcernedFans4UK@alltel.net
November 1, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Thursday, November 2, 2006 , the University of Kentucky Men 's Basketball Team begins a new season with an exhibition game against Lindsey-Wilson at Rupp Arena.
The anticipation among the Big Blue Nation is high as Kentucky fans across the nation wait to see this year's edition of Cats against real, live opponents. Pre-season interests invariably turn to national rankings, and Concerned Fans have compiled the historical ranking data for University of Kentucky Men 's Basketball from the 1948-49 season through the 2005-06 season based on the data presented by the University of Kentucky Athletics Association 2006-07 Men's Basketball Media Guide, at page 129.
Here are the results:
SUMMARY OF RANKINGS BY COACH 1949 THROUGH 2006 SEASONS, LESS SUTTON |
||||||
Coach's Name |
First Year |
Last Year |
Number of |
Number of |
Percentage |
Percentage of |
Weeks of |
Weeks in |
of Weeks in |
Weeks Not In |
|||
Rankings |
Top 10 |
Top 10 |
Top 10 |
|||
Rupp |
1949 |
1972 |
310 |
223 |
71.9% |
28.1% |
Hall |
1973 |
1985 |
204 |
117 |
57.4% |
42.6% |
Pitino |
1990 |
1997 |
118 |
97 |
82.2% |
17.8% |
Smith |
1998 |
2006 |
160 |
91 |
56.9% |
43.1% |
UK Average |
792 |
528 |
66.7% |
33.3% |
||
Coach Smith has produced top 10 national rankings less frequently than Hall, Rupp, or Pitino, and less frequently than the program overall over the last 57 years. However, when we examine the Pitino and Smith Eras more closely, even more disturbing trends emerge from this data. Everyone should be aware that Pitino and Smith inherited radically different situations upon their arrivals at the University of Kentucky . Pitino took over a program that was in distress, under the weight of NCAA sanctions, and having sustained a major loss of player talent as a result. In contrast, Smith assumed control while the program was at one of its historic pinnacles, with corresponding talent levels.
The rankings data for the first two seasons of each coach reflect these initial conditions. When one factors out the ranking data from the first two years for each of these coaches, the results are even more disparate after each coach implemented his own system using his own recruited players.
ADJUSTED RANKINGS BY PITINO AND SMITH, AFTER FIRST TWO SEASONS |
||||||
Coach's Name |
First Year |
Last Year |
Number of |
Number of |
Percentage |
Percentage of |
Weeks of |
Weeks in |
of Weeks in |
Weeks Not In |
|||
Rankings |
Top 10 |
Top 10 |
Top 10 |
|||
Pitino, Adjusted |
1992 |
1997 |
102 |
91 |
89.2% |
10.8% |
Smith, Adjusted |
2000 |
2006 |
126 |
59 |
46.8% |
53.2% |
Historically, UK has been a top ranked team in 2 out of every 3 weekly rankings over the last 57 years. However, UK has been a “Top 10 Team” barely half the time Coach Smith has been at UK , and less than half the time since Coach Smith has implemented his own program with his own recruited players.
Since the ranking services expanded from Top 20 to Top 25 in 1989-90, Kentucky was unranked only twice before Coach Smith became Kentucky 's coach. This occurred in the first two weeks off probation in the fall of 1990. In contrast, Kentucky fell out of the top 25 rankings in Coach Smith's third year and since has been unranked 25 times.
Finally, in his second season (the first year off probation), Coach Pitino put UK back in the Top 10. In his second season, Coach Smith took UK out of the Top 10 for the first time in 7 years. In week 15 of Coach Pitino's third season (1991-92) UK again reached the Top 10 and remained there continuously for Coach Pitino's remaining 5 years at UK (except for one week ranked 11th). In week 15 of Coach Smith's second season UK fell from the top 10 and remained out of the Top 10 for the next two consecutive seasons. Only once before has UK failed to make the Top 10 for two straight years. That was 45 years ago (1960 and 1961 Seasons).
Concerned Fans believe that Coach Smith has not protected and preserved the long-term interests of the program, has allowed the program to slide from greatness towards mediocrity. These records are yet another illustration of that decline, and provide another reason why Concerned Fans believe it is time for Coach Smith to step aside.
Questions and comments about this Press Release may directed to:
ConcernedFans4UK@alltel.net
See the Reponse to this Press Release by Larry Glover, WVLK, Lexington, KY.
Copyright 2006
SugarHill Communications of Kentucky
All Rights Reserved