re: The Great Debate: Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida….

You’re not wrong with UF playing less games, but Arkansas has 12 more tournament appearances with only two more total wins than UF. We’re not only living off a couple Final Four runs, it’s more so the number of deep runs to the Elite 8 boosting us. Five Elite 8s from 2011-2017 really helps our numbers.

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1. UK
2. UF
3. Arky

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No doubt!

Florida had started playing basketball almost 20 years before Arkansas did.

Also Arkansas basketball existed before Eddie and Nolan.

The father of Arkansas basketball known as Francis Schmidt had a record of 113-22 and with a .837 winning percentage.

Arkansas has been to the final four under four different coaches.

Glen Rose
Eugene Lambert
Eddie Sutton
Nolan Richardson

I hate to do this, but Florida was also winning nattys in football at the same time, so not exactly based strictly on basketball, but I'll go with Florida.

All I know is Arkansas was brought over to challenge Kentucky and those were badass games. My ears still ring. Hate it or love it Arkansas is a huge reason for today's current expansions so that actually kinda pisses me off lol

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You’re not wrong with UF playing less games, but Arkansas has 12 more tournament appearances with only two more total wins than UF. We’re not only living off a couple Final Four runs, it’s more so the number of deep runs to the Elite 8 boosting us. Five Elite 8s from 2011-2017 really helps our numbers.

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Florida between 2000-2017 had 2 Nattys, 1 Runner up, 1 FF, and 5 EE's. That's EIGHT runs to the EE or further. That said:

The luck that Florida had, in terms of opponents' seeds, between 2011-2017 was ridiculous. I think Florida went to 5 EE's and 1 FF, without playing a SINGLE one or two seed. Kentucky between 2010-2015 played NINE top two seeds despite holding a one seed in 2010, 2012, 2015.

2011 - As a two seed, played - 15,7,3, 8 (lost)
2012 - As a seven seed played - 10,15,3,4 (lost)
2013 - As a three seed played - 14,11,15,4 (lost - easiest path to EE in history in terms of seed - only path easier would involve a 16 making the Sweet 16)
2014 - As a one seed, played 16,9,4,11,7 (lost)
2015 - Did not make tournament
2016 - Did not make tournament
2017 - As a four seed played 13,5,8,7 (lost)
2018 - As a six seed played 11.3 (lost)
2019 - As a ten seed played 7,2 (lost)
2021 - As a seven seed played 10,15 (lost)
2022 - Did not make tournament
2023 - Did not make tournament
2024 - As a seven seed played 10 (lost)

This does not include the 1999 Sweet 16 run, where as a 6 seed, got to play three double-digit seeds (11,14,10). Florida also made the Final Four in 1994, and played 9th seeded Boston College in the EE (avoiding North Carolina), but they did beat 2-seed UCONN.

The last time Florida has faced a one seed was in 2007 against Ohio State (!). The last time before 2019 that Florida played a two seed was in 2007 against UCLA. So Florida played ONE top two seed from 2008-2024 (!)

Florida has been an elite program, and Billy D was insane against top three seeds (he went 9-1 in such games - only loss was to Michigan St in 2000). They're gonna win it this year, but their luck in the tourney in terms of seeding is insane (they played THREE 15 seeds outside the first round   ).

If your gonna say without that run Florida would be meh, Florida could say the same thing about Arkansas. Honestly if you take out 1993-1995 for Arkansas and 2005-2007 for Florida the programs are very similar., both pretty good not great

As did Florida before 2005-2007 what's your point?. Actually Florida went deeper pre 2005 than Arkansas did pre 1993.

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Florida had started playing basketball almost 20 years before Arkansas did.

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Florida also didn't hire a full time basketball coach until the 1960's. The school was small and the team was always coached by a football assistant due to financial constraints.

Arkansas has a great history, no doubt. Will say, calling results in the 40's Elite 8's or Final Fours is comparing apples to oranges. There were only 8 teams, by default then a tournament appearance was an E8.

Very different from the modern era.