I keep seeing comments from people, on various boards, who feel like Coach K is far better than TB. Frankly, it's way too early to tell. However, so far, Bennett (at Virginia) has far surpassed the ferret (at Duke) during their first few years at their ACC schools.
It's important to note that Coack K took over a Duke program that was at the absolute top of the NCAA. Two years before he arrived, Duke played Kentucky for the National Championship. Duke was seeded in the top 4 for the 1979 NCAAs. In 1980 he came into a strong program that was at the apex.
But what did he do?
1980- 1981 Overall - 17–13; ACC - 6–8; Conference Rank - T-5th
1981–82 Overall - 10–17; ACC - 4–10; Conference Rank - T-6th
1982–83 Overall - 11–17; ACC - 3–11; Conference Rank - 7th
1983–84 Overall - 24–10; ACC - 7–7; Conference Rank - T-3rd (NCAA Round of 32)
1984–85 Overall - 23–8; ACC - 8–6; Conference Rank - T-4th (NCAA Round of 32)
Bennett arrived at a place that needed rebuilding. UVA basketball was nowhere close to the team that coach K inherited. We all know TB's record of success, which far surpasses Coach K in his initial years, particularly when judged against the task each had.
We are just starting to get looks from top-rated talent. We are not getting elite top 10 players, but we are getting looks from the next tier. We do not have a team stacked with McDonald's All Americans, but even next year, we have will have better-rated talent than in many, many years. Recruiting is on an upward trend.
It's tough to think of how many championships Duke has won and to think any coach could achieve that. However, if TB can keep up what he has done, and if we continue to improve our talent base, it's logical to predict he will be a peer of Coach K and mentioned with all those Hall of Famers as one of the best college coaches.
It's important to note that Coack K took over a Duke program that was at the absolute top of the NCAA. Two years before he arrived, Duke played Kentucky for the National Championship. Duke was seeded in the top 4 for the 1979 NCAAs. In 1980 he came into a strong program that was at the apex.
But what did he do?
1980- 1981 Overall - 17–13; ACC - 6–8; Conference Rank - T-5th
1981–82 Overall - 10–17; ACC - 4–10; Conference Rank - T-6th
1982–83 Overall - 11–17; ACC - 3–11; Conference Rank - 7th
1983–84 Overall - 24–10; ACC - 7–7; Conference Rank - T-3rd (NCAA Round of 32)
1984–85 Overall - 23–8; ACC - 8–6; Conference Rank - T-4th (NCAA Round of 32)
Bennett arrived at a place that needed rebuilding. UVA basketball was nowhere close to the team that coach K inherited. We all know TB's record of success, which far surpasses Coach K in his initial years, particularly when judged against the task each had.
We are just starting to get looks from top-rated talent. We are not getting elite top 10 players, but we are getting looks from the next tier. We do not have a team stacked with McDonald's All Americans, but even next year, we have will have better-rated talent than in many, many years. Recruiting is on an upward trend.
It's tough to think of how many championships Duke has won and to think any coach could achieve that. However, if TB can keep up what he has done, and if we continue to improve our talent base, it's logical to predict he will be a peer of Coach K and mentioned with all those Hall of Famers as one of the best college coaches.
