Bamba decision now a "coin flip"

[MrsTylerUlis]

Some kids don't want the scrutiny that comes with being a UK basketball player.

If that's the case, then these kids certainly shouldn't dream about being NBA stars.. A lot of scrutiny comes along with that. Probably more than at Kentucky. If that's their thought process, then I don't see them having much success in their basketball careers. Kentucky is without a doubt the best place for kids to come out of high school. Makes them grow up fast.

 

[UKCats2000]

Heads I win, tails you lose?

 

[UK_fan_41102]

If Bamba goes to Texas and we lose Diallo, next year will be... interesting. Oh well, we won the draft title and that's what matters most.

Just think if BCG was still coaching here, you wouldn't have to worry about Bamba's decision at all.

 

[IndyCat1995]

If Bamba goes to Texas and we lose Diallo, next year will be... interesting. Oh well, we won the draft title and that's what matters most.

jack ass

 

[villefan76]

He is a top 5 pick regardless of his destination.

So the decision may come down to where does he want to hang out for the next 6-9 months.

No offense, but so was Carlton Bragg and look at where he's at now. Kid should clearly be in the NBA & now he's headed to another school.

 

[JwUKFan11]

I don't think he's a lottery lock regardless of what happens in College. 1st round yeah barring any injury.

 

[oldsports_]

Can someone who is close to this situation tell us which side of the coin is UK. This is huge, as indicated by some math nerds. here is what they found to be true,
"(If it starts out as heads, there's a 51% chance it will end as heads). If the coin is spun, rather than tossed, it can have a much-larger-than-50% chance of ending with the heavier side down. Spun coins can exhibit "huge bias" (some spun coins will fall tails-up 80% of the time)"

 

[gossie21]

It seems like, and I am probably wrong, but it seems like we lose recruits like this, that take forever. I'm sure we have got some but it sure feels like we don't.

In the Calipari era, the following players have committed after May 4th.

2009: Eric Bledsoe (5/6) John Wall (5/26)
2010: Eloy Vargas (5/17) Terrence Jones (5/20)
2015: Jamal Murray (6/25) Isaac Humphries (8/20)

And there are plenty more that were March/April commits. The only 2 recruiting classes that were wrapped up in the fall was 2011 (Davis' class) and 2014 (Towns' class).

 

[chevyman 50]

If he picks Tex BB life goes on, just have to deal with it..

 

[CatCall]

In the Calipari era, the following players have committed after May 4th.

2009: Eric Bledsoe (5/6) John Wall (5/26)
2010: Eloy Vargas (5/17) Terrence Jones (5/20)
2015: Jamal Murray (6/25) Isaac Humphries (8/20)

And there are plenty more that were March/April commits. The only 2 recruiting classes that were wrapped up in the fall was 2011 (Davis' class) and 2014 (Towns' class).

Shouldn't that read "Terrence Jones (5/18) and (5/20)?

 

[Blueaz]

You need to come up with a new "joke"

it's his and titles running joke...it gets funnier and more logical every time they post it...

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Personally, I think Bamba is just waiting because he wants to be the last big dog standing. A simple ego thing. Once Knox declares then Bamba will have the full spotlight. I can't imagine him going to Texas but stranger things have happened

 

[UKWildcats#8]

it's his and titles running joke...it gets funnier and more logical every time they post it...

Titles creature is a troll. I thought this other guy was a uk fan. People seem to our forget but uk did win the title in 2012.

Also uk has 4 titles in last 60 years roughly so let's stop pretending uk won a ton before calipari.

 

[G-PIP]

So now Kyle Tucker is a source??? Please

Let’s think about this. Tucker is a sports writer for the State’s biggest (?) newspaper. So, I expect a lot of people close to a sports story will take his call. They may avoid or deflect some of his questions, but he has a better chance than about anybody else to get his foot in the door and at least ask the questions. So, yeah - I think you could say he’s a source.

Of course, you could just choose to rely on “a poster who shall remain nameless” to tell you “lol, he ain’t going to Texas” and then proceed to inform you that he is a lock for UK (along with every other recruit ever mentioned in the same breath as UK).

 

[ManitouDan]

He is a top 5 pick regardless of his destination.

So the decision may come down to where does he want to hang out for the next 6-9 months.

And I hate that about the system that is now in place , almost rent a player like. Not cool but its reality.

 

[armchairpg]

Losing out to Duke would be one thing but Texas.....

 

[Wallins creek Cat]

Someone get him a double sided UK coin before the flip

 

[KySpringCat]

Nobody knows anything except Bamba. Not one single expert has a clue. All information is pure speculation. Even those of us looking at signs and logical explanations are guessing. Thats ok. He will pick who he picks and UK basketball will live on with or without him.

 

[TheBlueDisciple]

Good lord.If the kid is really torn between Texas and UK I don't know what to say.

Look at Allen last year. Stupid Texas has this thing about Texas. Doesn't seem to matter how bad they are.

 

[csrupp]

If Bamba goes to Texas and we lose Diallo, next year will be... interesting. Oh well, we won the draft title and that's what matters most.

Yeah let's call BCG and see if we can get him back. Bad fans come in all shapes and sizes but the ungrateful, spoiled, whiny little wench is by far the worst.

 

[Blueaz]

 

[GonzoCat90]

You're not very bright. We're going to win the "draft title" this year with 4 first rounders (Diallo will be a first round pick if he goes) and being the first school with a "none and done" and we'll have nothing to show for it. Will also be great when we're a 5 seed next year and we lose 6 players to the draft, several of whom aren't projected to be first round...

Your implication is that "winning the draft title" is this awful thing to do. Therefore, it would stand to reason that you wouldn't want Bamba or Diallo, since they'll go high in the draft and help us win the draft title next year and that would be awful.

It's almost as if you don't see the relationship between elite NBA talent and college success, but you still understand that we won't be as good as you'd like without those two guys. So how can you have it both ways?

Either winning the draft title is a good thing for overall team and program success OR we're better off without two guys who will go high in the draft.

 

[kydmb99]

Yeah let's call BCG and see if we can get him back. Bad fans come in all shapes and sizes but the ungrateful, spoiled, whiny little wench is by far the worst.

Yeah, the only options are losing our entire roster every year or recruiting 7th graders. There is no middle ground. Think before you post.

 

[morgousky]

This is typical. He likes Shaka and wants to put him in the conversation.

I'll be totally shocked if Bamba doesn't come to UK now.

 

[kydmb99]

Your implication is that "winning the draft title" is this awful thing to do. Therefore, it would stand to reason that you wouldn't want Bamba or Diallo, since they'll go high in the draft and help us win the draft title next year and that would be awful.

It's almost as if you don't see the relationship between elite NBA talent and college success, but you still understand that we won't be as good as you'd like without those two guys. So how can you have it both ways?

Either winning the draft title is a good thing for overall team and program success OR we're better off without two guys who will go high in the draft.

No, I'm saying that seems to be the entire purpose of our program now... A pitstop for players (a decent number of them not even NBA caliber) to play for a year, two at the most and then get the hell out ASAP. It's not a coincidence that the only title Cal has here featured talented veterans. He will never win another title with this level of turnover every year.

 

[gossie21]

No, I'm saying that seems to be the entire purpose of our program now... A pitstop for players (a decent number of them not even NBA caliber) to play for a year, two at the most and then get the hell out ASAP. It's not a coincidence that the only title Cal has here featured talented veterans. He will never win another title with this level of turnover every year.

Air-tight logic there. Unassailable arguments on all counts.

I believe the only logical conclusions is for you to go follow some other program.

 

[CoachX11]

Bamba has great reasons to go to Texas. He's close with Smart who has coached him before last summer. So if he goes to Texas, then good for him if that is what he wants... It's not a bad choice.

Still, until I hear different I think UK.

Also, his AAU team and school coaches aren't great sources for predicting where he will go. There are a few more influential with him, and I think those are more pro-UK.

Things being quiet on his front is good for UK.

Tie goes to Quade...

 

[GonzoCat90]

No, I'm saying that seems to be the entire purpose of our program now... A pitstop for players (a decent number of them not even NBA caliber) to play for a year, two at the most and then get the hell out ASAP. It's not a coincidence that the only title Cal has here featured talented veterans. He will never win another title with this level of turnover every year.

Are you sure it isn't a coincidence though? In such a small sample size, and with fluke-type things like this season's officiating or UCONN's 2014 run (plus Randle's cramps), it's entirely possible that a "freshman only" team could have won a title. Just like the veterans in 2015 didn't stop us from losing a close game to a good team.

There's no perfect formula, and even if there were, folks would argue forever about the definition of "Talented veteran." Was Hawkins a talented veteran? Poythress? Briscoe? The Harrisons? Miller? Jorts? What about all the years we've had those guys but didn't win it?

It's too random to speak in certainties like that. You could easily argue that this year was missing a Jarrett Allen at center as much as it needed another Derek Willis.

I don't understand the bitterness about guys going pro, and I especially don't get it in a thread about a top 5 draft pick potentially *not* picking Kentucky. It sounds like you're just whining about the same concept in every thread, regardless of whether it applies.

 

[kydmb99]

Air-tight logic there. Unassailable arguments on all counts.

I believe the only logical conclusions is for you to go follow some other program.

My logic was so bad you couldn't come up with anything other than "follow another program".

 

[lennyd250cat]

I hate the NBA. Never watch a single game now. I'm happy for the kids but could care less what teams they play for after UK. I'm sure the majority of UK fans feel the same way.

 

[gossie21]

My logic was so bad you couldn't come up with anything other than "follow another program".

You misread. I inferred that you are a genius. We are all blessed to receive counsel from someone such as yourself.

 

[Mike-D]

I don't give a rats ass about what Kyle Tucker is hearing.

 

[rickscot]

Really looking forward to watching Bamba in Blue..

 

[Ky-troutbum]

between UK and Texas apparently.

I was nervous the longer this went on the worse it was for UK. Would be a big blow if Cal can't get him.

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If he picks UT over Kentucky, he wasn't smart enough to come here anyway!

 

[thebluestripes]

"Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives."

 

[KyFaninNC]

Hey no big deal. We most likely are the home of "NONE AND DONES" going forward so this is not that big of a deal.

Exactly. He can sign with us, refuse to play the whole year, practice with the guys then go in the draft next year.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

No offense, but why would Bamba care about the future of Texas basketball? It's not like the kid will stick around long enough to care about what happens after his one year in college. Bamba is a freak and a lock to be a one and done player. If you want to sell the kid on talent, you better be talking about the talent level of the roster the year he is playing. I'm sure Bamba has a great relationship with Shaka, but with as long as we have been recruiting the kid, i'm pretty sure Bamba also has a nice relationship with Cal. This is a smart kid. He will eventually figure out and decide what is best for his basketball future. Once that happens, the clear choice is Kentucky. We need Bamba if we want a chance to become a title contender next year. Cal knows this better than us and won't let this kid go elsewhere.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

No offense, but so was Carlton Bragg and look at where he's at now. Kid should clearly be in the NBA & now he's headed to another school.

The same can be said for so many. Bragg was a high school center trapped in a 6'7" body. His game does not translate to the NBA. There are several players you can look at and simply say the same thing.
Look at a player like Caleb Swannigan. He is a force in college, but his game does not translate over to the NBA.
It can be said the same about Orton, Young, Teague, Johnson, Aa. Harrisson (although An. Harrisson is doing well now) and others. If Gabriel, Wynyard, Briscoe, Lee miss the NBA, is it really that surprising. These are all 5 stars that are have yet to make a mark.
Bottom line: Elite players will make it (Davis, Wall, Cousins, Towns). Those that have improved their game can make it (Bledsoe, Booker, MKG, WCS).
But staying status quo will get you passed up.
This true for every team, not just here.

 

[Wall2Boogie]

Honestly idgaf anymore. I'm done with the bamba ass kissing. If he wants to come here great if not go live in obscurity in Texas for a yr and maybe get 12 wins. Same with Knox. Regardless I think our team will be solid next yr with or without diallo. As we saw in 2014 anything can happen in the tournament

 

[Cawood86]

I don't give a rats ass about what Kyle Tucker is hearing.

Saucy....