I'm not exactly a M. M. apologist, but I'm certainly in his corner.
It takes a lot to win any sort of championship, often a lot of good luck too. Although this team sometimes plays down to their competition, rarely are they ever out of a game, and there are myriad reasons to be optomistic about the future.
Just an FYI, note how long Wooden coached before he achieved his success. Would he have been afforded the same grace period today? Cowher got 14 years before he won.
Indiana State (Indiana Intercollegiate Conference) (19461948)
19461947 Indiana State 178 52 1 NAIB Invitation declined 19471948 Indiana State 277 70 1 NAIB National Finalist
Indiana State: 4415 142
UCLA[37] (Pacific Coast Conference) (19481959)
19481949 UCLA 227 102 1 (South)
19491950 UCLA 247 102 1 (S&Overall) NCAA Regional 4th Place
19501951 UCLA 1910 94 T1 (South)
19511952 UCLA 1912 84 1 (South) NCAA Regional 4th Place
19521953 UCLA 168 66 3 (South)
19531954 UCLA 187 75 2 (South)
19541955 UCLA 215 111 1 (South)
19551956 UCLA 226 160 1 NCAA Regional 3rd Place
19561957 UCLA 224 133 T2
19571958 UCLA 1610 106 3
19581959 UCLA 169 106 T3
UCLA[37] (Pacific-8 Conference) (19591975)
19591960 UCLA 1412 75 2
19601961 UCLA 188 75 2
19611962 UCLA 1811 102 1 NCAA 4th Place
19621963 UCLA 209 85 T1 NCAA Regional 4th Place
19631964 UCLA 300 150 1 NCAA Champions 19641965 UCLA 282 140 1 NCAA Champions
19651966 UCLA 188 104 2
19661967 UCLA 300 140 1 NCAA Champions
19671968 UCLA 291 140 1 NCAA Champions
19681969 UCLA 291 131 1 NCAA Champions
19691970 UCLA 282 122 1 NCAA Champions
19701971 UCLA 291 140 1 NCAA Champions
19711972 UCLA 300 140 1 NCAA Champions
19721973 UCLA 300 140 1 NCAA Champions
19731974 UCLA 264 122 1 NCAA 3rd Place
19741975 UCLA 283 122 1 NCAA Champions