http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26411800/how-2019-final-four-teams-were-built

Interesting that 3 of the 4 teams are loaded with ESPN 100 recruits, but not a single top 15 recruit among all the teams. The 4th team, Texas Tech, has no ESPN 100 recruits but is stocked with transfers.

Another interesting factoid about Final Four teams:

The highest scoring freshman in the Final Four field is Michigan State's Aaron Henry, who averages 5.9 PPG. Only 14.3% of the Spartans' scoring comes from freshmen, which is the highest of the Final Four teams. Other 3: Texas Tech (8.1%), Virginia (7.9%), Auburn (0.6%).

Cal this year got 38% of its scoring from freshmen.

PtownBear1 said:

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http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26411800/how-2019-final-four-teams-were-built

Interesting that 3 of the 4 teams are loaded with ESPN 100 recruits, but not a single top 15 recruit among all the teams. The 4th team, Texas Tech, has no ESPN 100 recruits but is stocked with transfers.

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Interesting counterpoint to Duke, which hasn't made a Final Four since their 2015 championship, despite having 11 first-round picks in the NBA draft (assuming 3 go this year). That 2015 win was their only Final Four since they started going heavy on one and dones, and that year they had a senior point guard with none of their guard rotation having less than a year's experience to start the season.

I think the evidence is pretty mixed and suggests that there is ultimately multiple paths to getting to the Final Four and winning the tournament.

There have been 16 teams (including the 2019 Duke team) with two or more OAD players from 5 schools (Duke, Kentucky, Ohio State, Texas and Kansas)

Their tourney results: two titles, two championship game losses, a Final Four loss, five elite 8 losses, a sweet 16 loss, four second round losses, and one missed tournament (kind of an outlier when the #1 recruit, Nerlens Noel, blew out his knee mid season).

The OADs clearly don't guarantee you anything but the results have been pretty decent. The same is true with having a upperclassman oriented roster as well though it didn't help Nevada. You can certainly make an argument on both sides.

PtownBear1 said:

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http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26411800/how-2019-final-four-teams-were-built

Interesting that 3 of the 4 teams are loaded with ESPN 100 recruits, but not a single top 15 recruit among all the teams. The 4th team, Texas Tech, has no ESPN 100 recruits but is stocked with transfers.

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Curious how this looks at the E8 and sweet16 levels.

PtownBear1 said:

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http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26411800/how-2019-final-four-teams-were-built

Interesting that 3 of the 4 teams are loaded with ESPN 100 recruits, but not a single top 15 recruit among all the teams. The 4th team, Texas Tech, has no ESPN 100 recruits but is stocked with transfers.

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Experience definitely has value.

TheSouseFamily said:

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I think the evidence is pretty mixed and suggests that there is ultimately multiple paths to getting to the Final Four and winning the tournament.

There have been 16 teams (including the 2019 Duke team) with two or more OAD players from 5 schools (Duke, Kentucky, Ohio State, Texas and Kansas)

Their tourney results: two titles, two championship game losses, a Final Four loss, five elite 8 losses, a sweet 16 loss, four second round losses, and one missed tournament (kind of an outlier when the #1 recruit, Nerlens Noel, blew out his knee mid season).

The OADs clearly don't guarantee you anything but the results have been pretty decent. The same is true with having a upperclassman oriented roster as well though it didn't help Nevada. You can certainly make an argument on both sides.

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No doubt. For one thing, that level of talent will get you into a position to compete for a Final Four. But it's got to be hard to have to reload every year and it makes it difficult to develop upperclassmen because the ones who don't jump get recruited over and leave. The motivation for going that route is pretty clear, but personally I'd prefer to watch guys play at my school for a few years, not one. And the entire model is at risk right now, with the NBA considering a change to their age requirement.

Too lazy to look it up myself but I wonder how many Final 4 teams have a junior or senior point guard that is in the top 2 on their team in scoring?