I still disagree, respectfully of course, on the putting on the map. Before and after Texas made the final four, rick had really created one of the best “basketball programs at a football school” in the country. Between kd and the 03 season, 2 of those seasons Texas went to the sweet 16, once the elite 8, and were 3 and 2 seeds those years iirc.
Texas was certainly on the map before kd showed up, which is part of the reason he chose us over unc.
I will say however that kd was far and away the best player in the country on a team that was probably better than the 4 seed they were given and definitely better than their tournament performance that season.
Going to the elite 8 and having all 5 starters leave by getting drafted or graduating, and then starting 4 freshman and a sophomore like we did in 06 and 07 is supposed to be a rebuilding year. We rebuilt for like a month and a half and then started whoopin ass again in what was a very salty big 12 that year. Adding more to the ridiculousness of @Vic Mackey‘s posts. That guy clearly doesn’t watch basketball all year until the final four and nba conference finals