Vandy1Fan wrote:...Why do some Vanderbilt fans think we should only compete for championships every 3 or 4 years...that Vanderbilt cannot recruit well enough to be contenders every year?...

Let's parse that question. You use the word 'should', such that you're accusing some of your fellow fans of not wanting greater success. That's pure bogus.

We're all VU fans, we all want as much success as possible.

So what you're describing is not what 'we' -- some fans -- want, it's what we have become accustomed to expect, based upon the VU basketball historical record, & what we perceive as some entirely real limitations on what Vanderbilt & its coach -- whoever that may be -- can accomplish. The UK-type ones-&-dones have never come to VU, & there's actual reasons for that, other than the fact that some on this forum are disgusted with Kevin Stallings. We've had a few shots at stray individual exceptions (perceived or actual) -- Mercer, Harrison, Poythress -- but it hasn't happened, & I'm saying that that is not necessarily merely the faults of VBK & Stallings. Their recruiting efforts do not exist separately from their context, which is everything that VU as a school accepts and requires. At UK, any sufficiently talented HS player is acceptable, & little or nothing is required once they're at UK. That's not Vanderbilt.

And our expectations on this forum will not change those real limitations, if they really are real limitations. Which I firmly believe they are.

All in all, it's a minor point. It's a request that you rearrange your thinking, such that you quit subliminally blaming your fellow VU fans for the failure of VU to be another UK or Duke in basketball. Or at least rearrange your posting, such that it doesn't sound that way.

I think it is more the thinking, by some, that it is okay to spend a couple of years rebuilding, then have a successful team, then repeat again.  Not all fans want this.  There are some that are OK with it and that that is the only way it can be done at Vanderbilt.

I don't think Vandy needs one-and-done players.  But they should be able to recruit solid 4*, top 75 players every year.

They shouldn't have to "settle" for anything less.

Vandy doesn't have to be Duke.  But there is no reason they can't be as successful, year end and year out, as Duke.

I'm just trying to understand why the program as fallen so far after having 3 good years.  I've heard all the reasons but the question remains, why?

Vandy1Fan wrote: I think it is more the think, by some, that it is ok to spend a couple of years rebuilding, then have a successful team, then repeat again. Not all fans want this. There are some that are OK with it and that that is the only way it can be done at Vanderbilt...They shouldn't have to "settle" for anything less.

Nice for you that you "don't want this". All the rest of us, besides you & sportsfan & hoyal & doxito, are just really happy as clams with crappy seasons. [extreme sarcasm alert]

Or is it possible, just possible, that your "don't want this" is a simple refusal to deal with reality? 

You want ones-&-dones, you want the nation's top talent to compete for entry to VU. Get a clue: we all would love to see top talent at VU, but some of us have noticed: A) that this has never happened yet, & B) we suspect that this deficiency, if addressed by firing coaches who can't accomplish it, will result only a string of fired coaches, with zero improvement on our actual level of success.

It's not a case of "wanting it" versus "not wanting it". It's far closer to being a case of reality versus fantasy.

Again, you have the opportunity to ask CKS this very question.  Call the man and ask him on his call in show.  I want to hear his response.

Even Duke has rebuilding years, by Duke standards.  Duke is now expected to to reach the sweet 16 every year and battle for the ACC title.  If that doesn't happen, in the eyes of their fans it is not a success.

As a fan, I want nothing more than to be successful, but I am also a realist.  Let me say this in a way I hope you can understand...Vandy basketball lost it's top 6 players last year and this year's team is very young and inexperienced.  One of the youngest in the country.  Practice a little patience and things will get better in the near future.  If we have another awful year next year, then your argument is much more valid.

Vandy1Fan wrote: I think it is more the thinking, by some, that it is okay to spend a couple of years rebuilding, then have a successful team, then repeat again.  Not all fans want this.  There are some that are OK with it and that that is the only way it can be done at Vanderbilt.

I don't think Vandy needs one-and-done players.  But they should be able to recruit solid 4*, top 75 players every year.

They shouldn't have to "settle" for anything less.

Vandy doesn't have to be Duke.  But there is no reason they can't be as successful, year end and year out, as Duke.

I'm just trying to understand why the program as fallen so far after having 3 good years.  I've heard all the reasons but the question remains, why?

Was told this by a now college coach, in reference to recruiting.  With the exception of a couple of programs, you either recruit to build for a senior class and the start over again, a four year cycle, or you recruit for one and dones.  Of course the dynamics have changed somewhat.  The most damaging to many programs is the AAU circuit.  The AAU coach will take a kid who is 6-3 and plays forward or even the center for his hs team and play him as a 2, because they have a post and pf.  Then the kid comes back to his hs and wants to continue to play 'AAU' ball.