Kentucky or Arizona: Where's the Better Place To Coach?

Arizona has a recent history of winning thanks to an extended stay at the university by Lute Olson.

Since Olson started coaching the Wildcats in 1983, Arizona failed to make the tournament only once, in his first rebuilding year.

Overall, the Wildcats have accumulated one National Championship (1997) and four Final Four appearances (1988, 1994, 1997, 2001).

That's a good history of winning. Now for a great one.

Since Rick Pitino pulled Kentucky out of its latest basketball probation, the Wildcats have been one of the country's premiere teams.

The 90s were a golden era of basketball sparked by Pitino.

Kentucky won the NCAA Tournament in 1996 (Pitino) and 1998 (Tubby Smith) and visited the Final Four four times (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998).

And yes, Wildcat fans won't forget to boast about seven National Championships and their position as all-time wins leader.

If the photo above isn't enough to tell you, perpetually warm Sierra Vista, Arizona steals the top spot in the locale category.

Kentucky has the Derby and Louisville's entertainment right down the road, but unpredictable weather and lengthy winters are harder to recruit through and live through.

With so many teams rising to the top, the Kentucky name is no longer enough to attract good players (See Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson as the only two worth anything).

Plus there's the whole west coast thing...brand new Desperate Housewives over dinner and a new SportsCenter in prime time. What student-athlete doesn't want that?

A wide array of coaches have been thrown around the rumor mill for these two schools.

The final destination could depend purely upon the pressure situations a perspective job would bring.

Kentucky has a lasting, rich history, and let's admit it: They need to start performing to live up to the name or it will soon mean nothing.

Arizona, meanwhile, is a comparatively low-pressure situation. That's only because you just can't match the intensity and lifestyle of Kentucky basketball.

The only coach in modern times to balance family and coaching at Kentucky was Pitino.

Smith failed and Gillespie faltered despite throwing everything they had at the job.

Olson, meanwhile, lasted seemingly forever at Arizona. Weathering the ups and downs that high-turnover college basketball brings, fans were patient with a trusted coach.

It's all up to the challenge and lifestyle perspective candidates want.