The proper question would probably be how many returning starters returned
for the next season.
Its easier to understand when you have key players or you lose most of your
starting five.
Gotta give Brady credit, he only lost 2 players from last year!:lol:

dont know how many the 86 UL team lost, but they returned possibly the best college player ever---i'll leave you to think who that is. total they returned two starters---not so different from returning 3 starters. and dont forget youre comparing the 86 NC with last years lsu team. oh, and one of the best programs and coaches ever to LSU and cjb.

I actually wasn't comparing LSU or Brady to North Carolina, wasn't trying to either.
Just pointing out that when you list teams that were in the final four and didn't return to the playoffs the next year you have to take into account
the players lost.
For example some teams love their entire starting five while others don't.
There is a little more to it than team a making the final four or the playoffs
and not making it the next year, I think!

ummm NC referred to natl champ not no. carolina. this years lsu looks less bad perhaps when you realize louisville was in a similar situation. the main differences however are that louisville was champ (should be held to higher standard than ff lsu), ellison was likely better college player than davis, it is difficult to hold cjb and lsu up to the standard of crum and UL, and LSU returned one more starter. certainly there are many other differences but i dont want to spend the time finding them.