What does it take to get to the top? There really may be no surprises, but it often helps to hear another perspective. So, let's talk about the goal of reaching the top of college basketball officiating.

What do Steve Alford  (New Mexico), Matt Doherty (SMU), and Quin Snyder (formerly Missouri and now NBADL Austin Toros), plus many other top college coaches, have in common?  Consider how hard it is for any of them to become number one in the nation, and then to repeat as a champion.  The three mentioned are attempting to get there. Then there's Lute Olson, Bob Knight, Nolan Richardson: The list goes on and on. The latter are trying to repeat.

To be, or not to be . . . a consistent winner

The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy specifically cited the first three coaches as he discussed the need for patience, a very important ingredient, in building a championship program. Every coach wants as part of his program the ability to recruit, get players to play together, win, continue to win, and go deep into March Madness.

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