Possible Tradition Men's BBall Powerhouses Out

UCLA Bruins, UConn Huskies, and Arizona Wildcats.  These school's Men's basketball programs have enough prestige that for each school Disney can adapt a story for any of them and make a movie out of them.  But this year all of them are "down" compared to other years.  Are the kids spreading out else where?  Prestige definitely still matters to kids coming out of high school because Coach K at Duke is still getting the cream of the crop high school recruits.  Is it the coaching this year?  Or maybe the schedules are tough with a lot of road games?  Whatever it is the schools we've been so accustomed to these schools winning and they aren't exactly doing all of that this year. 

UConn has been through a tough season with head coach Jim Calhoun missing 7 games for an illness, that, plus the 2nd hardest schedule in the country can lead to a tough season, but nonetheless, they're UConn, they're supposed to be battling for the Big East title year in and year out.  Although, out of these teams they have the best chance of getting into the NCAA tournament, I'm saying a 8 seed, this isn't your typical "UConn" year.  They have a good squad bringing back a good core from the year before, but loosing Thabeet may be the missing link because it was obvious he was a fixture in the middle of the floor.

It seemed as though the older Lute Olson got the worse the Wildcats of Arizona became.  This is what could have led him to retirement, or maybe the fact that he realized that having a tan as a senior citizen was actually detrimental to his health.  Either way, the Arizona Wildcats, as well as the entire Pac-10 conference (what a joke), are down and out to say the least.  16-14 is not what Arizona basketball is about, they're used to being a top 3 seed in any given region for the NCAA tournament.

As for UCLA, what's your excuse? Come on, this school is supposed to be one of the most storied college basketball programs wiping the floor with the competition when it comes to counting NCAA Championships (11).  This could just be a fluke year for the Bruins because they've been to the Final Four from 2006-2008, but haven't won a national championship since '95.  UCLA at one point had won 7, yes 7, consecutive NCAA championships.  That's the definition of a dynasty, now I'm wondering what happened? 

Now I know that UNC, I'm noting this because of the picture I put in, hasn't had the greatest year ever.  But something about Roy Williams gives me confidence in them to see them in the 64 team field.  Now remember we're looking at a team that graduated one of the best college basketball players ever.  He was comparable to Tim Tebow (imagine hanging out with both of them) with his intensity and winning ability.  Now I get back to the whole point of this topic, can anyone recall a time when UConn, UCLA, or Arizona weren't in the NCAA tournament?  Exactly.  I'm excited to see a new school like BYU, K-State, or Purdue start a new college basketball franchise.