Mild panic in Kentucky over all-time wins
Apr 17, 2009
One of the first phone calls to John Calipari on his Kentucky radio show last night concerned the dwindling gap the Wildcats enjoy over North Carolina. “Coach,” the caller said. “North Carolina’s within four wins of us-what are we going to do about that?” Calipari offered high praise for UNC. “I was very impressed with North Carolina at the Final Four,” Calipari told the caller. “They have at least eight future pros on their team. That’s the kind of talent we have to get here at the University of Kentucky.”
A couple of points here-Kentucky fans seem obsessed with the all-time victory count. North Carolina actually took the lead in the early 90’s when Kentucky was on probation. Several 30 win seasons under Rick Pitino put Kentucky #1 again. A friend of mine from Kentucky called me. “The stars are back in alignment with the planets,” he said. “UK is number one again.”
The Cats built a comfortable margin over UNC during the Matt Doherty years. But Roy Williams has closed the gap rapidly. First it was 38. Then it was 23. Now Carolina has now cut the margin to four. Kentucky has 1985 wins. North Carolina 1981.
Personally, I think there are other factors that should be looked at, in addition to the all-time victory total. Graduation rate is pretty important, I think. But if wins are the measure of which program is better, let’s look at a couple of other factors.
I grew up in Kentucky- then moved to Wisconsin when I was 12. Only later in life did I have the experience of covering ACC basketball. I have to tell you, winning basketball games in the Southeastern Conference is not the same thing as winning in the ACC. Had North Carolina played in the SEC all these years there is no telling how many victories the Tar Heels would have. It’s worth noting that North Carolina lost just four games this year-all to ACC teams.
Kentucky has won more NCAA Championships-seven to North Carolina’s five. However, Kentucky has won just three championships in the last 50 years. Carolina now has won four.
And how about the head to head competition? North Carolina leads Kentucky 22-10. I don’t have a Kentucky media guide, but I would venture to say there is no other school that maintains that kind of a margin over college basketball’s winningest school.
So what of the future? No doubt John Calipari will recruit better players to Kentucky. He will compete for championships, perhaps within a year or two. Calipari’s Wildcats may even beat North Carolina next year. But there is more to having a great program that just the total number of wins. Kentucky has a great program. Wildcat fans should get a life and stop obsessing about whether Kentucky or North Carolina has more wins.
