This is not a knock on RMK, as I think he is one of the best ever and I was lucky to be at IU during his glory years, but I disagree in regards to him not needing or caring about highly recruited players when he was coach. In 29 years at IU he was in 4 FF's winning, of course, three. The FF years were:
'75-76 - team was LOADED with talent with Buckner, Benson and May being among the most coveted recruits in the country.
'80-'81 - team was LOADED with 3/5 starters being McDonalds All Americans plus Wittman who played in the NBA for a decade.
'86'--'87 - in my opinion his best NC coaching job as IU's talent did not compare to other top tier teams.
'91-'92 - team was LOADED with 4 McDonalds All Americans, plus a Parade All American plus Calbert who was (even though many call him an unknown) top 50 player that was hurt his senior year in HS.
Yes, in every year you can find 5 stars that bombed and 3 stars that surprise but the odds of success are much higher, but not guaranteed, if you have class after class of highly rated recruits rather than hoping diamonds in the rough work out.
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