No one ever talks about defense. Our last 6 years of defensive rankings and record.
2019- 67 6-8
2018- 152 4-14
2017- 22 11-7
2016- 163 2-16
2015- 90 6-12
2014- 78 8-12
There is a direct connect to success from defense and there is zero chance to be a program that is consistently a top 30 program without being a top 25 defense. Nor is their any reason to not be a top 25 defense. As for recruiting, the programs i track every metric and every recruit what stands out is the awesome care that the winners take in over emphasizing of the intangibles in recruiting. Character, great hands (critical to always catch and pass and handle without error. Can the player play with his head up at all times, what kind of awareness does he have, reaction time, preprioception, How unselfish, conditioning, Grades ! Charity work. Anyone can see how big they are, how fast, how high they jump, how easily they dunk. I want to know how quick they are, not how fast they are. Basketball is played in a small space, plays made in even smaller spaces. The best coaches (not counting blue bloods because they select the best talent ) implement all of this starting at a pre scout. They find guys that outplay 90 % of the 5 stars, especially when molded into a team. They have a better eye, better message, a better plan and better execution. They are simply better and super hard to find. Winning is really tough but i have studied how it gets done in a power conference at a non blue blood. It is all based on hard facts. You find guys before they blow up, before they have the 4th star and you get them early. Then after you touch success you get better players, still not varying from your non negotiables. Find pieces, find your shooters, find your screeners, your hedgers, your reps on the floor, off the floor. Run away from pushy parents who think they have a say. Run away from truants. I can list so many guys who were low stars when first offered then moved up after committing .Then kept getting better, then won conference titles and more. Finding those special coaches is so rare and you know when you see it right away. When they are not you can tell damn soon. The special ones have command of a presence , a charisma that comes from a authentic connection to all that they are. Every single one believes in stopping other people from scoring, working for good shots and not turning the ball over.