I didn't intend to imply you're wrong.
I'm asking how do we have a perennially balanced team while signing the best of the best?
Or do we stop hunting the elite?
What's your answer to the "problem?"
2017-18 College Basketball Preseason Top 25 Read it and weep.
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I'm asking how do we have a perennially balanced team while signing the best of the best?
Or do we stop hunting the elite?
What's your answer to the "problem?"
This is the only thing that needs to be said about this article. Those rankings and remarks are full of holes.
My answer to the problem is stop letting 2nd rounders/D-Leaguers jump ship every year so we can build a good base of veterans.
The early to do that is stop telling everyone "don't come here if you plan on staying 3 or 4 years". Why can't the message be "your goal should be getting to the NBA via a 1st round contract, but it's on you to do the right things to accomplish that, I'll give you the stage and the instruction, but it's up to you to put in the work. But it's okay if you have to stay at UK to improve". You don't lose recruits by saying that.
My point is valid, show me a freshman dominated team like what we are going to have, that didn't suffer a large amount of regular season losses. The Fab 5 had a lot more losses than people think, 13/14 UK had what, 10?
Don't expect a 5 loss (or less) season with this team. They are filled with studs, but no veterans.
People are bringing up Gabriel as some dude that is going to be a key veteran, but I don't get the impression that he has that type of personality.
Sorry, I hate these early departures when the players are D league quality. It's ridiculous. NBA or bust, either way they leave.
Never did I say we should not recruit the best. Not one time.
Bit of straw man here.
Name the players that have left early for the 2nd round.
Also, it's obviously helpful to recruit the elite when it's players first all the way.
I get your point, and I'm not even arguing, but too many think it's a simple fix to keep 4star elites for 3/4 years while bringing in the top class. It's never been done but our fans seem to feel entitled to it.
You think it's hard to hang on to talented players? Take a look at UNC, they somehow manage to hang on to 5* guys for 3 or 4 years (while we point and laugh for some reason).
Look at duke and KU, the other two "one and done" schools, they return key players every year.
So I need to name the guys that left without being first rounders to prove my point? You're a regular poster here, so I'm sure you already know, but here goes:
Dakari Johnson
Daniel Orton
Andrew Harrison
Marquise Teague
Briscoe
Aaron Harrison
Poythress (could have really helped in 17)
Humphries
Lamb
That's just off the top of my head, I'm sure you'll give me reasons why each had to go, but the bottom line is everyone else is returning those types of players.
Those guys aren't scaring off the studs that we are bringing in, so save that argument.
Put some veterans with next years studs and you have 2015 all over again.
And none of those teams are bringing in back to back #1 recruiting classes.
We are spoiled brats as a fanbase.
And yet, UNC needed help to survive at least 3 different games to win their lone title since Cal has been at UK. KU still doesn't have one since Cal has been here, and while Duke does have 2, the first of those 2 came in Cal's first season. And, with all those returning players you are touting, none of those schools have more wins, not one. None have more tournament wins. KU and Duke both play in the same champions classic, one of those early season games where experience matters, right? Only UK is the only team playing in the classic that has a winning record. In fact, there is no statistical evidence that experience matters at all. But what does exist are plays that people point to, and blame on inexperienced players, even though experienced players often make the same mistakes. UK didn't lose to West Virginia because of experience, they lost because once every ten games or so they go ice cold from beyond the arc. This past UK team didn't lose to UNC because they weren't experienced enough, but rather a bunch of reasons, none of which are due to experience. In fact, take Meeks and Bam for example, one a freshman, and one a senior, and they basically cancelled each other out in both games this year. The problem was that Bam was our only inside guy of note, and UNC kept 2 on the floor at all times. We could have negated that if our Senior PF Willis could have made shots, but he didn't. We didn't lose because of the freshman, we lost because the freshman didn't get much help outside of Hawkins, and one flurry from an 18 year old Sophomore.
Because they don't need #1 recruiting classes. That's what happens when you retain players.
I stopped reading after the first paragraph, not because it wasn't interesting, I just don't have much time right now. But I'll address what I read.
UNC won the title, that's all that needs to be said. You can say the "had help" all you want, but they won the title, blaming officials is being a sore loser, the title went to UNC, that's it. Also, they were in the title game the year prior, that's 2 title game appearances in a row. Don't care how you slice it, they were there and they won one of them.
To me, Cal is a better coach and motivator, give him those players for 3 or 4 years and he would have won more titles. So you helped me prove my point.
You said duke won two titles since Cal has been here, not sure why you said: "Duke has 2 (titles) the first of those was in Cal's first season". Yeah, it certainly was, not sure what point you were trying to make, but, again, you made my point. Duke won the title with a veteran team in 2010, we lost with one and done players.
Kansas hasn't won with veteran players, yup, you're right, but Cal>>Self, he gets more out of his players. Give Cal the team that KU had last year and they don't lose to Oregon.
You can argue it all you want, but returning good players for their Sophomore or……………… .GASP… ...........their Junior year, is a better recipe for success deep in March.
Which is exactly my point. UK has been to 4 final fours in 8 years under Cal. The next closest is 2 Final fours in that same period. Yet we have been the youngest team every year. That is exactly my point. UNC didn't just start doing this 2 years ago, they have been returning top players for years, yet in the last 8 years, they have been to 2 less final fours. For all the experience people harp that it takes, they should virtually be in the final four every year. And they don't have more championships, nor have they been to more championship games. They just happen to have been to the 2 most recent. And yes, returning good players does in fact scare off other good players. One of the reasons we get a top 2 class every year is because so many leave. If they don't leave, we don't get the classes. So keeping good players is good in theory, but is virtually impossible if you get the best of the best in recruiting. Roy has done it mostly by getting lower ranked players that, wait for it, eventually develop to the point they can compete with the more talented freshmen.
Ever wonder why we weren't able to get a SF/PF 2 years ago?? A likely reason was because Poythress and Lee were still on the roster. The problem with guys like that, is that if they don't develop as much, maybe because they aren't willing to work as hard, they are too good to keep on the bench, but not good enough to leave early for the NBA. Thus competition for real playing time.
This is a pretty dicey list. He says "if Graham returns" for Kansas even though he's already said he would and he lists Svi in our starting lineup even though he's declared - same for Diallo for you guys. I believe his educated guesses are only one of those things.
