Reminds me of Roy Williams. I well remember the 1989-90 KU season, when the Hawks were unranked to start the year and had a longtime assistant coach new to their program (Roy was in his second season). The Hawks didn't have much talent that year but took off, jumped into the top 5, and it was obvious to me (and everyone) that Roy was the real deal. The game when they put 150 on Kentucky that season feels similar to the 116 we put on Texas.
That KU team got to #1 in the country but didn't win the conference (the Big 8 was loaded that year) and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Played out of their minds and over their ability all year, but didn't have the horses yet to finish. All seems very familiar. And exciting for the future.
Just to follow up on the parallels between Roy Williams (1990 KU) and Tang (2023 KSU):
Conference ComparisonDon't know which conference was better: 1989-90 Big Eight or 2022-23 Big XII, but both were amazing. The Big XII this year was arguably tougher in that it was deeper, but the 89-90 conference was pretty good. For example, here are the #1 teams in the country in the 89-90 AP Poll from week 8 to the final poll (week 17):
- Week 8: #1 KU (15-0)
- Week 9: #1 KU
- Week 10: #1 MU (17-1)
- Week 11: #1 MU
- Week 12: #1 MU
- Week 13: #1 KU
- Week 14: #1 MU
- Week 15: #1 KU
- Week 16: #1 OU
- Week 17: #1 OU
Team Comparison2023 KSU- conference finish: 3rd
- NCAA finish: Elite Eight
- preseason AP rank: unranked
- highest AP rank: 5
- final AP rank: TBD -- top 10
- final record: 26-10 (11-7)
- Key players (awards): Markquis Nowell (All-Conf, 3rd team AA)
- Key players (awards): Keyontae Johnson (All-Conf, 3rd team AA)
1990 KU- conference finish: 3rd
- NCAA finish: Rd of 32
- preseason AP rank: unranked
- highest AP rank: 1
- final AP rank: 5
- final record: 30-5 (11-3)
- Key players (awards): Kevin Pritchard (All-Conf, hon. mention AA)
- Key players (awards): Mark Randall (2d team All-Conf)
Roy had a better record and got to #1 during the season but he was also in his second season with the team and his roster, and had only gone 19-12 in his first year at KU. And Tang got KSU further in the tourney. Anyway, some real parallels between the two years (and perhaps the coaches abilities).