re: I still love Will Wade

quote:

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with zero research at all, Bobby Knight, Rick Pitino, and Brad Stevens jump to mind.

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Bobby Knight

1965–66 Army 18–8 NIT Fourth Place
1966–67 Army 13–8
1967–68 Army 20–5 NIT First Round
1968–69 Army 18–10 NIT Fourth Place
1969–70 Army 22–6 NIT Third Place
1970–71 Army 11–13

1971–72 Indiana 17–8 9–5 T–3rd NIT First Round
1972–73 Indiana 22–6 11–3 1st NCAA Division I Final Four
1973–74 Indiana 23–5 12–2 T–1st CCAT Champion

Bobby Knight's trajectory closely resembles Wade's, with a stronger later years, reaching Final Four in year 8 and winning the Collegiate Commissioners Association Tournament in year 9. His better performance with the Hoosiers was possibly due to Indiana being a bigger name and not having the NCAA looking over his shoulder.

Rick Pitino

1978–79 Boston University 17–9
1979–80 Boston University 21–9 19–7 T–1st NIT Second Round
1980–81 Boston University 13–14 13–13 T–4th
1981–82 Boston University 19–9 6–2 4th
1982–83 Boston University 21–10 8–2 T–1st NCAA Division I Preliminary Round

1985–86 Providence 17–14 7–9 5th NIT Semifinal
1986–87 Providence 25–9 10–6 4th NCAA Division I Final Four

1989–90 Kentucky 14–14 10–8 T–4th* Ineligible*
1990–91 Kentucky 22–6 14–4 1st** Ineligible*

Pitino's trajectory is slightly better, as he reached Final Four with Providence in year 7 and making a famously sanctioned Kentucky team really good.

Brad Stevens

2007–08 Butler 30–4 16–2 1st NCAA Division I Round of 32
2008–09 Butler 26–6 15–3 1st NCAA Division I Round of 64
2009–10 Butler 33–5 18–0 1st NCAA Division I Runner-up
2010–11 Butler 28–10 13–5 T–1st NCAA Division I Runner-up
2011–12 Butler 22–15 11–7 T–3rd CBI Semifinal
2012–13 Butler 27–9 11–5 T–3rd NCAA Division I Round of 32

Well, no comparison here: six total years as a CBB coach and years 3 & 4 were losses in NCAAT final (and about an inch from winning in year 3.) That's one of the most impressive starts one can imagine.