USD Men's Basketball 1996-1997

ARCHIJICJURf 101 Continued

in recruiting efforts and practice facilities, the more the team wins. Got it? When a school like Indiana can attract thou– sands of graduates- and even some hoops junkies who have no connection to the school!-to join the Varsity Club, it goes a long way toward underwri ting the costs of first-rate training facilities, tutoring help and even a private plane. These are the same alumni who provide the players with summer jobs, promise them employmen t after graduation, and attend away games. Backing from the students is important as well. At best, every athlete worth his high-tops wants to play in front of the bi ggest crowd possible, in front of peers who appreciate his talents. At worst, the top-notch player who fashions himself a Big Man on Campus will shy away the school that doesn't lionize its athletes. Continued

Titanic," he maintai ns. Others are less sure.

"Now," says one rival coach, "UMass will be lucky to make the NCAA Tournament. They'll struggle for a while, because they're really starting from scratch." Did Calipari put in place a foundation strong enough to withstand the magnitude of last sum– mer's shake-up at UMass? The performance of the Minutemen in the next few seasons will define his legacy and the arc of his contribu– tions. Meanwhile the fate of UMass begs the ques– tion: "What sets apart the pretenders from dynasty programs like Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, and Duke, which have each won at least two titles in past 20 years and invariably fi eld top teams?" Here are five key ingredients for the next Calipari-esque upstart who wants to elevate his team to college bas– ketball's highest status. AN NBA PRESENCE Let's face it: more often than not,

NORTH CAROLINA CEMENTED ITS DYNASTIC STATUS WITH AN ALUMNI

UST THAT INCLUDES SO MANY PLAYERS ONE ALMOST f ORGHS ABOUT WHAJ'S-HIS– f ACE JORDAN.

the goal of top high school prospects these days is to make it to the NBA. Therefore, at least to some extent, he will consider a school based on its ability to put alumni in the pros– and shy away from those with lesser track records. The University of Michigan is a prime example. In the past decade, the Wolverines have gone from being a respectable pro– gram to ensconcing themselves with the very elite. With NBA connec– tions that include Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson, Sean Higgins, Loy Vaught, Terry Mills, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard and Jimmy King, what McDonald's All-American wouldn't want to spend a few years in Ann Arbor? So too, North Carolina, which cemented its dynastic status with an alumni list that includes James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Eric Montross, J.R. Reid, Scott Williams, George Lynch, Hubert Davis, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace...so many players one almost forgets about What's-his– face Jordan . ASUPPORT NETWORK In the self-perpetuating world of college sports, the more the team wins, the more the alumni con– tribute, the more the team can invest