[SamuelMcF]

The bottom line is that the one-and-done system is uniquely disadvantageous to Stanford.

BC

It's inarguable that Stanford is disadvantaged with regard to recruiting one-and-dones. But is this a legitimate excuse for the program's poor performance?

None of last year's final four teams featured a one-and-done. In fact, Virginia (the champion) has never had a player leave after one year.

Villanova won the championship in 2016 and 2018 and has a single one-and-done in its history (Omari Spellman, who was the fourth leading scorer on the 2018 team; Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges were the stars on that team, and Donte DiVincenzo was the Final Four MOP.)

In 2017, North Carolina beat Gonzaga for the title. Tony Bradley was a one-and-done but didn't start a game that season and averaged seven points in 14.6 minutes per game that season for NC. He was the first one-and-done in program history; their 2009 championship team started three juniors and two seniors. Gonzaga also had their first and only one-and-done in program history on that team (Zack Collins) but likewise he didn't start a game that season and was their fifth-leading scorer at 10 points in 17 minutes per game.

The fact is that these are not anomalies. A number of perennially successful programs during the one-and-done era have had very few (or no) one-and-dones:

Florida: 1 (two national championships during one-and-done era, however neither team included a one-and-done)
UConn: 1 (two national championships, however neither team included a one-and-done)
Villanova: 1 (two national championships)
Gonzaga: 1 (national runner-up)
Michigan State: 1 (four final fours)
Michigan: 1 (twice national runner-up, neither team included a one-and-done)
Virginia: 0 (one national championship
Louisville: 0 (one national championship)
Butler: 0 (twice national runner-up)
Wichita State: 0 (one final four, 30+ wins in four of last five seasons)

I would love to see these numbers again, but with transfers this time. I seriously can't believe nobody else in this thread is talking about this more. Stop looking at the one-and-dones for about five damn seconds and look at just how many transfers are on top teams.

And no, the one-and-done phenomenon is not an excuse for Stanford's poor performance. Look at how UCLA ended the season, for instance. It is, however, a structural disadvantage that can (and must) be overcome through player development and "not missing" on recruits. But that's every coach's job. It's just easier when you can plug the holes.

[SamuelMcF]

The bottom line is that the one-and-done system is uniquely disadvantageous to Stanford.

BC

It's inarguable that Stanford is disadvantaged with regard to recruiting one-and-dones. But is this a legitimate excuse for the program's poor performance?

None of last year's final four teams featured a one-and-done. In fact, Virginia (the champion) has never had a player leave after one year.

Villanova won the championship in 2016 and 2018 and has a single one-and-done in its history (Omari Spellman, who was the fourth leading scorer on the 2018 team; Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges were the stars on that team, and Donte DiVincenzo was the Final Four MOP.)

In 2017, North Carolina beat Gonzaga for the title. Tony Bradley was a one-and-done but didn't start a game that season and averaged seven points in 14.6 minutes per game that season for NC. He was the first one-and-done in program history; their 2009 championship team started three juniors and two seniors. Gonzaga also had their first and only one-and-done in program history on that team (Zack Collins) but likewise he didn't start a game that season and was their fifth-leading scorer at 10 points in 17 minutes per game.

The fact is that these are not anomalies. A number of perennially successful programs during the one-and-done era have had very few (or no) one-and-dones:

Florida: 1 (two national championships during one-and-done era, however neither team included a one-and-done)
UConn: 1 (two national championships, however neither team included a one-and-done)
Villanova: 1 (two national championships)
Gonzaga: 1 (national runner-up)
Michigan State: 1 (four final fours)
Michigan: 1 (twice national runner-up, neither team included a one-and-done)
Virginia: 0 (one national championship
Louisville: 0 (one national championship)
Butler: 0 (twice national runner-up)
Wichita State: 0 (one final four, 30+ wins in four of last five seasons)

I would love to see these numbers again, but with transfers this time. I seriously can't believe nobody else in this thread is talking about this more. Stop looking at the one-and-dones for about five damn seconds and look at just how many transfers are on top teams.

And no, the one-and-done phenomenon is not an excuse for Stanford's poor performance. Look at how UCLA ended the season, for instance. It is, however, a structural disadvantage that can (and must) be overcome through player development and "not missing" on recruits. But that's every coach's job. It's just easier when you can plug the holes.