I love how the Giles commitment has ESPN bragging about Duke having the number one class three years in a row and how Duke is the first program to get the number one and number two recruit. First of all, our 2015 class takes a big stinky dump on Duke's. ESPN ignoring Jamal Murray in the class rankings is a joke. Second, Wall and Cousins were clearly number one and number two in 2009 to everyone except ESPN. Duke may be dominating recruiting in the ACC, but I would say UK and Duke are pretty much level the last three years or so. Oh yeah, and this great run of Duke recruiting has been the result of Coach K changing his recruiting tactics to imitate Cal's.
Duke's Recruiting Dominance Per ESPN...
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Why do you care? Seriously. I mean, I could see it if Kentucky were in some funk. But merely to get worked up over some ESPN blurb when Kentucky has an exhibition game tonight seems odd.
I forgot about Davis and MKG. Borzello has an insider's article up on ESPN's site claiming that Duke is the only program to sign #1 and #2 while UK has done it twice.
If we add Fox and Monk like I think we are, we will have 3 top 10 players in next years class. We could and may very well end up with the best class next year. ESPN can act like Puke has the best 2015 class, but anyone with a clue knows that is bogus. It's not even debatable. I can't wait until we play them this year.
Avery Bradley is all you need to know about ESPN recruiting rankings.
Are you sure Davis was #1? I'm completely going from memory but I thought he was #5. I believe they also had John Wall #5. Maybe that's what I'm thinking...
I can see some being upset because certain facts are ignored and there clearly is an ESPN slant. However, you do have to give it to Duke that they have had outstanding recruiting and more important two championships during the past 5 years. They continue to be the top of the mountain with getting a recruit like Giles. A lot of fans (and Cal) rationalize about last year's great accomplishment (and it was). But, it was Duke that won the national championship and that hurt then and it hurts now.
Finally, which is better, the number one class that has two top 10 players (the very highest 2) or a class that may have 4 top 10 players?
Finally, which is better, the number one class that has two top 10 players (the very highest 2) or a class that may have 4 top 10 players?
they're also using their ESPN rankings. I think Favors was #1 on ESPN, maybe Avery Bradley in 2009. Davis was #1 in 2011, not sure who they had for #2.
EDIT:
ESPN 2009:
1. Avery Bradley
2. Derrick Favors
3. Xavier Henry
4. DeMarcus Cousins
5. John Wall
2011:
1. Anthony Davis
2. Andre Drummond
3. Austin Rivers
4. MKG
![[laughing]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/laugh.r191677.gif "Laughing [laughing]")
Looking back over ESPN's 2009 recruiting rankings is great comedy. 2011 isn't as bad because Austin Rivers was a beast in high school, but people should have lost jobs over 2009. Avery Bradley and Xavier Henry over John Wall and Boogie? They didn't even have Eric Bledsoe in the top 100.
Well, there's no way Giles should keep his current ranking after tearing his ACL and not playing his senior year. He shouldn't drop far but he sure shouldn't stay at #1.
Yes they are. Just another reason for UK to beat Duke when we meet later this month to at least put a small dent in all the recent Duke slurping.
With all that talent how come they only have one chip in that span?
*things other fans say to us*
*things other fans say to us*
You guys are overlooking one very positive thing about Duke's recent recruiting surge - and that is...
I think Cal loves it. I think he loves the challenge of going head-to-head with a worthy opponent for the top class each year, and then seeing how much he can develop his players games vs. others. I think he enjoys winning that competition almost as much as the one on the floor.
I think it's brought a renewed gusto to his love for the game, and I think it makes it more likely he'll stay at UK for a long time.
I think Cal loves it. I think he loves the challenge of going head-to-head with a worthy opponent for the top class each year, and then seeing how much he can develop his players games vs. others. I think he enjoys winning that competition almost as much as the one on the floor.
I think it's brought a renewed gusto to his love for the game, and I think it makes it more likely he'll stay at UK for a long time.
Because a lot of luck is involved in the NCAA tourney. Duke caught Wisconsin after a brutal payback game against UK that they had been dreaming about since the previous year. Duke pretty much walked through a Michigan State team that had no business even being in the Final Four.
I disagree. Cal really wanted Okafor and Giles and probably gets Giles if K had not started recruiting one and dones.
I still can't figure out why there isn't backlash and a ton of negative press.
When Cal inks a talented cast its spun into underground gangster movie with seedy characters like WWW and tales of 200,000 dollar handouts.
When K does it he is just evolving with the game and sharing his genius with the new generation.
Fact is he's just trying to win. No different than any other coach and he's fortunate enough to have enough cache to match Cal.
When Cal inks a talented cast its spun into underground gangster movie with seedy characters like WWW and tales of 200,000 dollar handouts.
When K does it he is just evolving with the game and sharing his genius with the new generation.
Fact is he's just trying to win. No different than any other coach and he's fortunate enough to have enough cache to match Cal.
I'm so past having to be 1 in recruiting every year. ya it was so sweat those first few years because of where we had been in recruiting. now I know we will get top players from around the world. so a 1 recruiting tag just is not that important.
and duke deserves all the credit for jumping in with one and done guys. like us it got them a title. coach k is the only other coach in America who has the same or maybe even more nba connections then cal. so I'm sure the top talents see him as a path to the nba as well as cal.
I love it that its us and duke and not us and ul,iu,unc on top of the hill. nothing wrong with a legitimate rival.
and duke deserves all the credit for jumping in with one and done guys. like us it got them a title. coach k is the only other coach in America who has the same or maybe even more nba connections then cal. so I'm sure the top talents see him as a path to the nba as well as cal.
I love it that its us and duke and not us and ul,iu,unc on top of the hill. nothing wrong with a legitimate rival.
Coach K and Self are playing "Calipari Ball".
Cal changed the game
Cal changed the game
They were right for 2011. At least as far as MKG was not a top 3 player in that class.they're also using their ESPN rankings. I think Favors was #1 on ESPN, maybe Avery Bradley in 2009. Davis was #1 in 2011, not sure who they had for #2.
EDIT:
ESPN 2009:
1. Avery Bradley
2. Derrick Favors
3. Xavier Henry
4. DeMarcus Cousins
5. John Wall
2011:
1. Anthony Davis
2. Andre Drummond
3. Austin Rivers
4. MKG
This recruiting year is far from being over, plenty of time to add players.
Last season while searching a Duke board I came across a lot of fans that wanted Duke to go under the radar and not get the accolades, they wanted the pressure to build for us and they assumed that it would build so much and we'd falter and they'd sweep in and steal our title.... That's what has hurt so much this year, them getting exactly what they predicted.
Here's to hoping we return the favor this year.
Here's to hoping we return the favor this year.
[QUO. ="MdWIldcat55, post: 2634212, member: 7168"]Why do you care? Seriously. I mean, I could see it if Kentucky were in some funk. But merely to get worked up over some ESPN blurb when Kentucky has an exhibition game tonight seems odd.[/QUOTE]
This. I don't care at all what ESPN or anyone else thinks.
This. I don't care at all what ESPN or anyone else thinks.
duke beat wiscy earlier in the year.....AT wiscy......that game was going the same way if wiscy had two days off..
Exactly, it's more like an agenda
Let's see how long ESPN can ignore the additions of Murray and/or Humphries late in the recruiting season. I'm gonna venture they're going to downplay their contributions for as long as possible.
Based on how things have gone, Cal has proven to be more successful than K in bringing in talent.
Just because you get #1 and #2 before their senior year of 'high school' doesn't mean they're the best in college or future.
Based on how things have gone, Cal has proven to be more successful than K in bringing in talent.
Just because you get #1 and #2 before their senior year of 'high school' doesn't mean they're the best in college or future.
He cooled on Okafor early in 13-14. Giles was a longshot to say the least. I find it comical that Coach Rat gladly recruits one and dones where a few year ago, it was ruining the purity of the game. Ill like our chances with some of the better recruits this year and bet we still wind up #1 at the end of the year.
I didn't say he enjoyed losing Okafor or Giles to Duke, but I think he enjoys going toe-to-toe with Duke on these guys. I guarantee you he is utterly thrilled he beat out K for an incredibly promising player in Wenyan Gabriel that K wanted bad.
I think he also enjoys the fact he got his big - Towns - drafted ahead of K's big - Okafor. It's just one more challenge and motivation to keep going when your pushing 60 and have enough money to retire and live a life of luxury.
After 2013, I think Cal was a little burnt-out, and this push from K has got him engaged and motivated again.
Duke certainly loves catching tough opponents the day they went 12 rounds with us. The same might be true for Kentucky.. but Mercer and Lehigh just aren't quite Final 4 caliber teams.
Meh... I really can't imagine this current Duke team edging out Kentucky, let alone winning the whole thing. Too thin, guards that play ZERO defense, and the fact that ESPN's top college players basically showed us what they REALLY thought about their class, now that they have to evaluate them and not just.. you know.. blindly hand them the #1 class rankings.
That ESPN list from the other day is very eye-opening. Don't think the pundits are really sold on guys like Kennard, Jeter, Thornton and Ingram.
Missing his entire Senior season he'll have to drop. Much like Matthews a couple of years ago.
