UNC vs UK: The Rush to 2K
I am writing this post not to attack a fan base, but to show that sometimes we do not care enough about what we have and have to look at the other programs. And they do the same to us. It’s a shame that as fans sometimes we just can’t appreciate what is right in front of our own noses. Kentucky right now is in the lead for overall wins over North Carolina by four games. And while the Wildcats love to know that it’s them having the lead, they should also realize that the game of basketball was being played a lot longer in the blue grass state that it has in Chapel Hill. And I am not even going to start up with the fact that if Dean Smith or Roy Williams had the Tar Heels in the SEC the lead would be UNC’s and not by 4, but by probably 200 or so (ok, so 200 might be exagerating a bit). But I am not making this post for sour grapes, I acknowledge that the Kentucky program (which is 106 years old) has won 1988 games (18.75 wins per season), while North Carolina (which is 99 years old) has won 1984 games (20.0 wins per season).
See what I am trying to say here? The number only matters alone for the Kentucky fan base. Because if we begin to add in the rest of the things that go along with those wins and Kentucky is nowhere close to being what North Carolina is. Yes, I know, the winning percentage also favors Kentucky, .758 to .738, but again, switch the two teams around, with UK playing in the ACC and UNC in the SEC and I would say the winning % goes out the window together with the Wildcats’ narrow lead. What I am trying to say here is that this “Rush to 2K” that is becoming somewhat an obsession on several boards I frequent makes no sense whatsoever because it’s not on an even playing field.
Sure UK has seven national championships to UNC’s five, even if in the last fifty years UNC leads 4 to 3. Carolina has more players in the NBA and more appearances to the Final Four than Kentucky. The Tar Heels are 22-10 against the Wildcats. So, which one do you prefer as a measuring stick there? But here is more proof to how meaningless the “Rush for 2K” is. We all remember the UCLA golden days with John Wooden, right? The Bruins are ranked 8th as far as all time wins, with 1,672. You know who is ahead just ahead of them? Temple and St. John’s. Which you can not say are anywhere close to the luster that UCLA has when speaking about basketball. So, all these numbers in my mind mean very little, besides the fact that many universities have had good runs throught their long history when it comes to basketball.
Is being the first to 2,000 wins going to mean anything to Kentucky (if they do it) or North Carolina (if the Wildcats stumble with Calipari as they did with Gillispie)? I say not, and this comes from someone who is in the middle of this race. It only means anything to those, like me, that enjoy checking the past every once in a while. And since I am sure I won’t be blogging when it comes to talking about 3,000 wins, I figured at 2K and see what I drew of it.
First off, three teams Kentucky (1988), North Carolina (1984) and Kansas (1970) should breaks the 2,000 wins mark this season. Coming in fourth for all time wins is Duke (1876) and if the Blue Devils keep winning 27 games or so they should breach that threshold five seasons from now. After that, it’s Syracuse (1753) and that means at least six seasons, and then we are getting to close to 200 wins (or 10%) from 2K wins. So, what does this all mean? To me it’s pretty simple, forget the one on one rivalry, and see what the difference is between the top three teams and the rest of the field.
Lastly, while a lot do not like his ways of doing things, let me give some props to the all time winningest head coach, Bobby Knight, who with over 900 games has won so much compared to whole programs. And to all, be it great or not, long storied or just starting, enjoy what is there for you and do not get caught up with what the “others have”, because it will ruin what you have. As far as the rivalry for the top spot of the winningest program, with Calipari at Kentucky and Williams at Carolina I have a feeling the yearly wins will be pretty close, so it’s going to be who wins more during the post season.
(all the numbers were found on wiki pages and I take no credit in any of the numbers posted here, nor do I take blame if any number is incorrect)
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14 Responses to UNC vs UK: The Rush to 2K
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For someone who thinks the 2 programs shouldn’t be compared to each other, you sure do a heck of a lot of comparing! But, then again, that was your intent. Tell the fans not to compare….but then throw out the comparisons…so that the fans will talk about it. You “journalists” should practice what you preach. Wins and losses leading up to the National Championship mean something, however….what every single team sets out to do is win championships….UK is the leader between your particular schools of comparison! You rave about the ACC…hmmm, seems to me that the ACC is UNC, Duke, and the rest. (the rest is a significant step down). The SEC, take away this past year, is extremely competitive, and UNC wouldn’t be near UK in total wins if they were in the SEC. C’mon, if you are gonna be a journalist, at least be unbiased!!!
You need to quit kidding yourself. The ACC has not historically been as strong as the SEC. We are the kings of college basketball and will always be. UK will be the 1st team to 2000 & 3000 & 4,000….. FEAR THE BIG BLUE NATION!!!
The point of the post, written in the first sentence, is to show both fan bases that we sometimes look too much at what the other has more than at we have ourselves. Say that the two programs win the same game from here on out until UK reaches 2,000, is being 4 games behind in a race to 2K going to be that astronomical? I don’t think so, and that is why we can look at all the numbers we want, and make our own judgement.
AEM
Your argument makes no sense. You cannot argue that average wins per season is more important than winning percentage. Kentucky is 1988 – 635 over a total of 2623 games. North Carolina is 1984 – 703 over a total of 2687 games. Kentucky has four more wins in 64 fewer games. If you factor in UK’s overall winning percentage of 0.75791, UK would have 2036 wins right now if they had played the same number of games as UNC.
That’s a great point Brent, and one that I never thought of looking into. I will say I was narrow minded seeing that UK had more years playing, they would have more games played. Again, this is why I say that each fan base should look at what they have because looking at what the others has isn’t the right way to look at this. You show that as well!
AEM
Kentucky was great way back with Adolph and very good in the mid nineties but it’s over. Maybe Calipari can get them to final four with the one and done players.The heels have to have a team to take out in the finals, why not Kentucky?
Ohh, wow look at the caps! My finger must have slipped.
Opps. Sorry! Seriously, Kentucky is on the way back from a
somewhat dissapointing couple years of basketball.
Without coach Calipari you would not have even written what
you did. Let us rejoice with confidence and watch with glee
as the wildcats win another one for Kentucky.
Uh, if we do go on to “compare” the history of UNC and Kentucky, there really isn’t much of a comparison. And that’s what you look at when you look at 2,000 wins – history. No doubt in the past 5 years, UNC has been superior team. It wasn’t long ago that Kentucky had a healthy lead in overall wins. But looking at their entire history, you cannot argue 7-4. You cannot argue wins or winning percentage. You cannot argue conference championships. Kentucky has dominated for the majority of their college basketball lives. UNC is 3rd behind UK and UCLA.
ok…. this is all a waste of time. of course, this topic of 2000 wins isnt important to you because you are smart enough to realize that kentucky will hit that mark before anyone… including the defending national champions. …although unc has been dominating college bball of late (winning the title this past yr), while uk is busy shoveling out endless disappointment… here is the big idea, and why this is SO VERY IMPORTANT… this represents consistency of greatness. we have lost a big lead toward the race to 2000 in the past few years to unc… going to and losing early in the NIT while unc cut down banners… however, none of that was enough to dent the measure of greatness that kentucky has built over the years.. albeit more years of playtime than unc– but less games
i know that its not easy to take, but deal with it and move on. i think unc fans need to not focus on (OR WRITE) about the 2000 win mark, however insignificant they think they can make it seem to help them sleep better at night. focus on making it to the tournament and winning again… which will not be so easy if wildcat blue finds successes this season, as they are expected to. go wildcats. let’s show everyone that 2000 wins matters to us… we’re not saying that it doesnt to make ourselves feel better… but at the same time we arent facing being 2nd to the goal either. oh yea, let’s not forget about the matchup between these two highly ranked, young, and eager teams on dec. 5th. although neither blue will be playing for their 2000th win at that game, it will definitely draw a nice outline to the remainder of the race.
Wildcats man what are you smoking? The SEC may have been better than the ACC for 1 year. The ACC has always been the basketball conference as for your other out of wack statements you better watch out for Carolina Roy Williams is clearly a better coach than Calipary. Williams has 2 national titles Calipary has 0 and his two final fours were vacated for NCAA violations. I feel sorry for him hes a great recruiter. Anyway UNC is now the Superior program and you have seen that the past 5 years
If UNC did not play on average 10 more regular season games then the SEC they would be a great deal farther down the line….
Oh wow, look now, KU is going to beat North Carolina to 2K. How funny and pathetic.
Jayhawk fan. look who beat kansas to 2000. yeah north carolina. good one genius.
What’s the old saying? Never count your eggs (or wins) before they are hatched (or you get them)?
AEM