[NU Sports] The John Wooden myth

[Dennis W. Brandt]

Let's put to rest this it-took-John-Wooden-forever myth as an excuse for 
Carmody's failure.  The Wizard of Westwood's lifetime record at UCLA was 
620 - 147, an overall winning percentage of .808, and it was .823 in 
conference.  He won 22 and 24 games his first two years at UCLA (1948-1950). 
Prior to his 1964 championship win over Michigan (my freshman year - we blew 
a game to Michigan at home that season, too, when Cazzie Russell took over 
late), he won 20 or more games in six seasons, 19 twice, and 18 three times. 
He never had a losing season at UCLA.  His worst year was 1959-60 when he 
was 14-12.  By the playoff rules of today, he would have been in the NCAAs 
the vast majority of times prior to 1964.  He was even 47 - 14 in the two 
years at Indiana State before he went to UCLA.

We're not asking Carmody to win the NCAA championship at this point, just 
get us the hell into it!  He hasn't even gotten his team into the NIT with 
the also-rans, which makes us never-beens.