I get that and all.....but then I see a school like Vandy with a similar handicap - academic standards for them - being successful in spite of it, and in all 3 major sports. Same with Duke before Coach Ratface showed up. I'm just tired of a handicap being an excuse for being a bottom dweller. Not asking to be elite or anything - just to have some decent seasons every now and then. At least we did that under Smith and Ellis. World beaters, no. But they weren't horrible either.
I mean, are other schools that have a better roundball program really getting that many AAU recruits either? There can't be that many AAU guys at Vandy, Iowa State and Miss State. And all of those teams are better.
Goto this site for the telling results:
http://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/team-stat/shooting-defense-categoryAuburn is recently giving up over 50 % to opponents, same for a good Wisconsin squad that won 16 straight before going on a three game skid giving up over 55% in those three loses.
We also were outscored 28-0 by State's bench.
Our defense in the paint resembles a broken windmill on a putt-putt course.
There's a common theme among the better teams- Michigan State, Arizona, Cincinnati then in the SEC with Florida, Kentucky and even LSU-ALL STINGY! And they all regularly hold their opponents below 40 % shooting.
*I haven't searched for the exception to the rule or the roundball equivalent of Auburn football which often employs gimmicks and blind luck to dazzle its opponents.
**Kentucky (with better talent) holds UGA to 33% shooting, wins by 20.