If you want to count any player that was on the team that eventually made the NBA, like J Rich, most teams ranked that year have a couple on NBA rosters. We have one. We did not have top 25 talent that year. I did also just as talented or more. I know for a fact there were around 20 teams with more talent. Then another 10 or so about even.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...oll-2013-complete-preseason-rankings-released
Rank Team
1 Kentucky
2 Michigan State
3 Louisville
4 Duke
5 Kansas
6 Arizona
7 Michigan
8 Oklahoma State
8 Syracuse
10 Florida
11 Ohio State
12 North Carolina
13 Memphis
14 VCU
15 Gonzaga
16 Wichita State
17 Marquette
18 Connecticut
19 Oregon
20 Wisconsin
21 Notre Dame
22 UCLA
23 New Mexico
24 Virginia
25 Baylor
Every team except New Mexico and Marquette had more NBA talent than UT.
We overachieved period.
UVA was a great team that year. We beat them. Can't change that.
When I say anti-Zo it doesn't mean race. I know many of you just hate his personality and style of play. You are trying to make up stuff I haven't said and don't think.
No we were not going to miss the tourney. I knew we would win big after we got on the same page with a new pg and people on the team playing new roles. But if were going to miss or weren't is a moot point. Its just an opinion. We made it and in basketball that is what counts. Going by talent and expectations, not unrealistic fan expectations, we overachieved.