Cam Johnson commits to UNC

[Rupp'sRunt]

He said Roy told him gen would play next year. It's likely Pitt lifts the restriction and they should. Cam is a grade transfer with good grades, for all the talk about people wanting the kids to be student athletes and do things "for the kids" schools are making millions, NCAA making billions and at every turn they are trying to out some type of ristriction or block them from transferring


If you have to play a former player, WHO CARES. If you have to play against a former coach in a tournament is there a restriction on it? Restriction on coaches coaching some where if they get out of heir contract? Add the pressure Pitt is going to get and how it will affect future recruits I see the restriction getting lifted.

As far as the team, UNC will be good again (like I said last year when many try to act like they would suck because Johnson and Paige graduated)

I can guarantee you Kevin stallings isn't releasing him

 

[Cat78Scot]

No my opinion would not be proven inaccurate. Had Higgins not interfered I think UK wins it. And this past season's team had that mix of talented freshmen and talented upper classmen.

Next season's team does not because everyone left.

Look I don't think I'm pointing out some outrageous belief. My belief is that it takes a combination of both talented underclassmen and talented upperclassmen. I don't think that can be argued or denied based on history. My fear is that, with Cal's penchant for sending kids to the pros by the masses, we will never, or very very rarely, field a team consisting of those components. I know it offends many on here, but I think there is merit to the point.

In regard to Cam Johnson, it's just another example of taking youth over experience. I'm thrilled to get Diallo back, but one has to wonder what a veteran, talented player like Johnson could bring to this UK team chalk full of talented freshmen.

Disagree your current opinion would still be valid. Multiple Championships and what do you have to bitch about? Not much.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Bird in the hand...

Or are you suggesting Cal should have advised Diallo remain in the draft? Cause that contradicts most of your other posts.

You mean to tell me he's being contradictory in order to stay consistently negative? No way.

 

[BBUK]

No matter how you slice it, it's a great get for UNC. We boast about a kid (Diallo) who has never played a college minute, can't shoot, and will inevitably wilt away under the intense pressure of the NCAA tournament all the while not having a single teammate to look to for wisdom and experience. Conversely, we poke fun at UNC getting a player with great size, 40%+ from beyond the arc, 3 years of college experience (that means 3 years of weights, practice, road games, and overall maturing). It's incredible how clueless some of you are. Or as I've said.....brainwashed. But hey, Cats will represent on draft night. I've got my calendar marked for that.

Bits and pieces..11 points a game average on Pitt. (other stats didn't stand out. FT % good but never shot them.) I guess that average is going up now at unc. I'll stick with HD every day. A unc get is an automatic never UK player in my book.

I will state again that some UK? posters spend a WHOLE lot of energy defending other teams. It's not natural and whether you are, or you are not a UK fan it doesn't look good. jmusao

 

[BoxterS]

Bird in the hand...

Or are you suggesting Cal should have advised Diallo remain in the draft? Cause that contradicts most of your other posts.

Not at all. First of all, let's get something straight....Diallo is going to be a first year player...just like all the freshmen coming in. Let's not act like he's a player that played an entire season and decided to come back. He's not. He has "practice" experience.

Diallo is a talented player, clearly. I'm thrilled to have him back. What I'm suggesting is that for the make-up of this team (all freshmen for the most part) maybe Johnson would better fill our needs. I'm not going to complain about getting back a star like Diallo, I'm merely suggesting that maybe Johnson would better fill our needs (veteran talented player)

 

[BoxterS]

You mean to tell me he's being contradictory in order to stay consistently negative? No way.

Didn't know you could post without the aide of a moderator. Shall I tag some moderators in my post too?

Johnson is a good get for UNC. Diallo is a helluva get for UK. Who better filled their needs?

 

[MWes11]

Last season was a great mix, the perfect recipe. Last season's team had what it took to win it. I thought Higgins cost us the title? Isn't that what all of you were saying?

Our perfect team was 2015 and they didn't even get to the championship game.. But by your logic, they were perfect and I agree they were talented. Yet our 2014 Freshman led team got to the championship game and had a chance to win that. It takes a lot of luck, and a lot of talent to win it. And if you are UNC, a lot of referee corruption. Every year is different and there is no special recipe or potion.

 

[StubbornPenny]

Johnson is not an NBA player. The only reason taht would make sense is if he is actually going to use his degree and UNC is the best place to obtain it.

In everything I read, he said his reason for transferring was to get a better shot at the NBA. Sitting a year wouldn't help that. It's fine to not have NBA aspirations, but then why say that you do if you don't?

 

[Ben101er]

Hope he enjoys watch the post-season from his dorm room next season.

Along with the rest of the team.

 

[MWes11]

Not at all. First of all, let's get something straight....Diallo is going to be a first year player...just like all the freshmen coming in. Let's not act like he's a player that played an entire season and decided to come back. He's not. He has "practice" experience.

Diallo is a talented player, clearly. I'm thrilled to have him back. What I'm suggesting is that for the make-up of this team (all freshmen for the most part) maybe Johnson would better fill our needs. I'm not going to complain about getting back a star like Diallo, I'm merely suggesting that maybe Johnson would better fill our needs (veteran talented player)

So what you are essentially saying is that you would rather have a Julius Mays than a sure fire lottery pick on next year's team?

 

[BoxterS]

Disagree your current opinion would still be valid. Multiple Championships and what do you have to bitch about? Not much.

You're exactly correct. Multiple championships and it's hard to find areas of growth/improvement.

My hope is that Cal is on to something with kids like Baker. But we need some of these kids to stick around, especially if they're not first round picks.

That way we have veteran players (like Cam Johnson @GonzoCat90) to go along with talented freshmen.

 

[weatherbird]

No my opinion would not be proven inaccurate. Had Higgins not interfered I think UK wins it. And this past season's team had that mix of talented freshmen and talented upper classmen.

Next season's team does not because everyone left.

Look I don't think I'm pointing out some outrageous belief. My belief is that it takes a combination of both talented underclassmen and talented upperclassmen. I don't think that can be argued or denied based on history. My fear is that, with Cal's penchant for sending kids to the pros by the masses, we will never, or very very rarely, field a team consisting of those components. I know it offends many on here, but I think there is merit to the point.

In regard to Cam Johnson, it's just another example of taking youth over experience. I'm thrilled to get Diallo back, but one has to wonder what a veteran, talented player like Johnson could bring to this UK team chalk full of talented freshmen.

The problem is you are connecting 2 dots that only connect because you want them to. If what you were saying were in fact true, then UK wins it all without question in 2015. But they didn't. They returned all the relevant players from a team that went to the title game, minus JR and JY. They replaced them with 3 lottery pick freshmen. Then went on to lose to the exact same team that the previous team full of freshmen beat. The exact same team.

It doesn't take experience, it takes 6-7 steady contributors, along with a little luck to win a title. It doesn't matter if those 6-7 contributors are freshmen or seniors. Ours happen to mostly be freshmen, but during this freshmen era with Cal, he has been on point with the historical averages of the best basketball program in the country. UNC won the game this past year because they had more contributors than we had. Our big 3 of Fox, Monk, and Bam was a wash with UNC's Meeks, Berry, Jackson. However, UNC got more contributions from the rest of their team than UK got from theirs.

 

[BoxterS]

So what you are essentially saying is that you would rather have a Julius Mays than a sure fire lottery pick on next year's team?

If we already have 6 freshmen that are all projected as lottery picks? Then yes, I'll take Mays because he fills a need.

 

[weatherbird]

I guess the question is, based on history, what would you rather have? A team with a mix of talented lower and upper classmen? Or a team of talented freshmen?

Depends on how talented the freshmen are, and who the coach is.

 

[BoxterS]

The problem is you are connecting 2 dots that only connect because you want them to. If what you were saying were in fact true, then UK wins it all without question in 2015. But they didn't. They returned all the relevant players from a team that went to the title game, minus JR and JY. They replaced them with 3 lottery pick freshmen. Then went on to lose to the exact same team that the previous team full of freshmen beat. The exact same team.

It doesn't take experience, it takes 6-7 steady contributors, along with a little luck to win a title. It doesn't matter if those 6-7 contributors are freshmen or seniors. Ours happen to mostly be freshmen, but during this freshmen era with Cal, he has been on point with the historical averages of the best basketball program in the country. UNC won the game this past year because they had more contributors than we had. Our big 3 of Fox, Monk, and Bam was a wash with UNC's Meeks, Berry, Jackson. However, UNC got more contributions from the rest of their team than UK got from theirs.

Yes 2015 was built to win it all.

You won't win it all if your 6-7 contributors are all freshmen. You won't.

 

[BoxterS]

Depends on how talented the freshmen are, and who the coach is.

Super talented. Cal is the coach

 

[Blueaz]

4 yr role players win national titles.

 

[weatherbird]

Super talented. Cal is the coach

Then give me the freshmen all day long and twice on Championship Monday. Talented upperclassmen are talented upperclassmen because they were not good enough to leave. Sure an occasional player comes back that could have left, but more often than not they are back because they had nowhere to go. And a super talented freshman will be the better player.

 

[MWes11]

Yes 2015 was built to win it all.

You won't win it all if your 6-7 contributors are all freshmen. You won't.

2015 was built to win it all yet failed to beat a team that our freshman dominated team beat the year before to get to the championship? Doesn't make sense. So how does that freshman led team beat a team that our 2015, couldn't? . Every single year is different. Give me talent. Don't care if they are freshman. If we are lucky enough to return a sophormore/junior that contributes, that is just a cherry on top.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Didn't know you could post without the aide of a moderator. Shall I tag some moderators in my post too?

Johnson is a good get for UNC. Diallo is a helluva get for UK. Who better filled their needs?

Please do, then give us a heads up about what your next username will be so we can ignore it in advance.

And Kentucky did, because Diallo is the better player and we didn't need another SF.

 

[BoxterS]

Then give me the freshmen all day long and twice on Championship Monday. Talented upperclassmen are talented upperclassmen because they were not good enough to leave. Sure an occasional player comes back that could have left, but more often than not they are back because they had nowhere to go. And a super talented freshman will be the better player.

So no "talented" upperclassmen is as good as a talented freshmen?

So because a player becomes a junior or senior means that they weren't very talented and therefore couldn't leave sooner? They can't develop, grow, hone their game, improve their weaknesses, get stronger? Wow man wow. Your mentality is exactly what's wrong with many of our fans. So Buddy Heild was just a bum huh.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

That one poster is not a real UK fan. The mods won't do jack about it though because he pays money and they can't ban a clown who pays the whopping 8 bucks a month to be a super awesome upper class member. Annoying those types can troll every thread and mods do nothing, but I digress. Love you mods, I know it isn't your call.

 

[uk78]

I like how Roy Williams is put down. Guy has 3 national championships and almost a 4th last year losing on a last second shot.

 

[bookerfan66]

I like how Roy Williams is put down. Guy has 3 national championships and almost a 4th last year losing on a last second shot.

Yes if you just overlook that tiny little cheating problem.

 

[Primedfor9]

Seriously, anyone who thinks he shouldn't have to sit out a year can eafd, haven't bothered reading the thread.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I like how Roy Williams is put down. Guy has 3 national championships and almost a 4th last year losing on a last second shot.

Guy's a great coach...but also a big time cheater.

 

[skcatfan]

I like how Roy Williams is put down. Guy has 3 national championships and almost a 4th last year losing on a last second shot.

Like everybody else just said. He's a cheater!!

 

[BBUK]

In any event I will take a winner freshman in HD that is a proven winner versus a 16-17, 20-12, 19-15 proven loser. (At least he has proven he knows how to lose. He picked unc didn't he? Case in point and "nuff said".) I will pass on that experience every day of the week and take my chances with a freshman.) jmuo

 

[topps coach]

Who in their right mind would leave a school after sitting out without playing a game?!

He issued a statement saying NCAA rules do not prohibit him from playing next year and will sue if the ACC tries to stop him

 

[JFCats22]

Johnson writes a letter arguing his case.

 

[TheOtherGreatOne]

Odd decision for someone who has already sat out one season. Makes me think UNC has found a loophole or something so he can play. I will be shocked if he sits out a year.

If it stands and he has to sit out, does he still have two years of eligiblity?

If so he is going to have six years of college completed when he uses up his eligiblity. That's crazy for a non-injured player.

roy williams is politically intertwined with the head honchoes of the acc, kevin stallings is not, thus Pitt's denial will be overridden by the league and he will play next year.
This will be like last year a duke player was allowed to play even though he played to many games to red shirt the year before. this would have been bad enough but this was his a 6th year. They just said the heck with the ncaa's 5 years to play 4 rule. Oh I forgot that was duke and this is north Carolina. The rules don't count when it comes to them.

 

[MWes11]

So no "talented" upperclassmen is as good as a talented freshmen?

So because a player becomes a junior or senior means that they weren't very talented and therefore couldn't leave sooner? They can't develop, grow, hone their game, improve their weaknesses, get stronger? Wow man wow. Your mentality is exactly what's wrong with many of our fans. So Buddy Heild was just a bum huh.

And what exactly did the Senior Buddy Hield led Sooners do in the Final Four? They got their doors kicked in by 44 points. The largest margin in FF history. All that talent and senior leadership. How could that happen?

 

[GonzoCat90]

Looks like that multi-million dollar UNC PR firm is still earning their check.

I mean, the rule is the rule. Should be it changed? Sure. But you sure as hell don't make an exception for a graduate transfer to go "further his education" at a school under academic fraud investigation.

Just be honest. Say "I'm transferring from Pitt because they suck and I want to go to a big program with lots of playing time. Carolina is desperate and I don't want to have to sit because they're going to be awful after next year."

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Looks like it's inevitable. According to CJ's letter the NCAA already said the rule to sit out if going to an in-conference school does not apply to graduate transfers. Is this a new rule the NCAA came up with to let the cheaters get their way?

 

[TankedCat]

Bilas did everything he could to pimp this kid to UNC.

I'm tired of Bilas' nose stuck up UNC's butt

 

[katwest]

UNCheat.

You forgot something, UNCHEAT*

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Tried reading the rules, but I think I need a law degree to understand it. From what I could understand, I think maybe Pitt has to either deny the transfer outright, or he gets to play immediately. Wouldn't doubt it if Stallings and Williams worked it out so that Pitt would publicly stick to their guns, only to be tripped up by this exception. If so, Stallings can suck it.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

None of us know the truth of what Cal tells these players in regard to going and staying so don't act like you do. That's the most over-used talking point on here "Cal doesn't make them leave, he gives them feedback and let's them make their own decisions" blah blah blah. None of us know. None.

All we have are results. We don't know what he tells them. All we know is that an astronomical amount of players are leaving. All we know is that many are leaving without first round guarantees. Hell, some are leaving early without any NBA possibility at all. Why? Why did Bam leave when he didn't even have (at the time) 1st round projections?

You can get behind the system all you want and get behind Cal's main agenda of "changing lives" and getting kids to the pros. Does it work for winning titles? I don't know. My opinion is that it can get you close but it won't win the big one. I think that opinion is being proven accurate over and over again. Unfortunate

Proven? Clearly it DID get the big one. And then a runner-up. And final fours. Weird post.

Why does it sound so butt-hurt whiney? Are you a UK fan?

 

[kydmb99]

I understand rules are rules, even if the rules are awful, but sometimes it's better to just do the right thing and not be a dick. The kid graduated, he wasn't recruited by Stallings, Pitt basketball is a dumpster fire, this is a free society. Not worth the PR hit.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

Think about the difference between his title team and the teams he's fielding lately. His title team had one VERY talented senior in Darius Miller. It had two very talented sophomores in Lamb and Jones. Oh and it just happened to have arguably the greatest freshmen to ever lace them up at the collegiate level in Anthony Davis. So again, talented freshmen to go along with talented veteran players. Again, last year's UNC national title team; talented lower classmen and talented upperclassmen.

This year's UK team? All freshmen. Yes a couple of returning sophomores, one that never played and another that was bi-polar.

Again, not a championship caliber team because so many players left.

Look at pre-season top rated teams for this coming season. What do they all have in common with the exception of UK? They all returned good players. Arizona, UNC, UL, Witchita St, Duke, Kansas. Obviously it's pretty important.

Wow. This year's team lost on a last second shot to the eventual NC. Many commentators stated the winner of the UK/UNC game would win it all. LOL