In Reply to: Re: New coach in 2026? posted by Cachorro on September 17, 2024 at 08:38:54
While we reached the FF in '21 (with Alford's roster), I'd say we last thrived in '17, the year with Lonzo and Leaf. We were 31-5 overall that year. We beat #1 Kentucky on the road, plus Michigan and Ohio State at Pauley. That team got knocked out in the S16, but to me, it was the last year the program was truly thriving in recruiting and on-court success. Alford was fired too early, imo. He recruited the foundation of our '21 Final Four team: Jaquez, Campbell, Bernard, Riley, and Singleton). Only Juzang was a Cronin recruit.
So to answer your question, 2017. We were on the brink of big things and made a premature coaching change, and the coach we fired may turn out to be better than the one we got.