If Cal leaves... Give me Bennett all day long

[BBCatsExile]

Seriously though, let's go down the list, Stevens, Bennett, Miller, Marshall


Stevens

Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - NO
Loves to be on center stage. - NO
Great Leader/Motivator. - YES
Thick Skinned. - MAYBE?
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - MAYBE?
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - YES

Bennett
Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - NO
Loves to be on center stage. - NO
Great Leader/Motivator. - MAYBE?
Thick Skinned. - MAYBE?
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - NO
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - NO

Miller
Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - NO
Loves to be on center stage. - NO
Great Leader/Motivator. - YES
Thick Skinned. - YES
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - NO
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - YES

Marshall
Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - YES
Loves to be on center stage. - YES
Great Leader/Motivator. - YES
Thick Skinned. - YES
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - YES?
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - YES

The answer is clear.

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

Originally posted by Blueworld_3.0:

Not just no but, HELL NO to Shaka Smart. Too big of a gamble. He runs a very hectic, loose style that can pay dividends or it can bit his team in the butt. Plus, no real recruiting success that I'm aware of. Jay Wright is a decent coach but, his teams are rarely balanced. He usually has good guards, average bigs and a thin bench. I'll pass on him as well.
Sean Miller would seem to be the most likely target. If you like Cal and his "give me the best talent available" approach, you'll like Miller. If getting the best talent isn't important then, go after Brad Stevens or Bennett.
I'll get destroyed for this but, I wouldn't mind seeing Gregg Marshall get a look. He does pretty well with only slightly above average talent.

Running and pressing with proven postseason success is hectic and loose? Hopefully it'll be so long before Cal retires that it's someone we haven't heard of, but right now Shaka Smart is 1 of 4-5 guys with undeniable upside and is no where close to a "HELL NO" candidate.

 

[mj2k10]

I was not a huge fan of Brad Stevens at Butler. I respect what he did, but I also think (know) that there was a fluke element to it. There was 0 recruiting pressure there, Stevens wasn't dipping his toe into the pool of players you must access to succeed at UK, and until Butler went to the A10, Butler was a big fish in a small pond, a school putting far more resources into basketball than its conference brethren. UK does that too, I know, but at such a different level that any connection between UK and a school like Butler seemed tenuous.

I am a big fan of Stevens now. He's coaching the Boston Celtics (and though he's been given a big pile of dogsh** to work with, I don't think he's doing a bad job of it at all). That's no small thing. If the timing worked out, and Stevens ever decided he'd rather be the Nick Saban of college basketball than just another pro coach, he'd be in the perfect situation to do it if he wanted to coach UK.

I suspect he wouldn't be interested, though. Stevens is a basketball analytics guy, a thinking-man's coach. That's part of the reason he went to the NBA, where there's waaaaaaaaaaay more chance to test coaching theory and strategy than in college. I suspect Stevens would rather be Popovich/Bill Belichick than Nick Saban. And I also doubt he'd consider any move for at least another 2 years. He has a 6 year contract, and the Celtics have a massive stockpile of draft picks. These first 2 years are basically just prep for Stevens. It's the next few that will show whether he can make a big mark as an NBA coach

 

[TankedCat]

Originally posted by BBCatsExile:
Seriously though, let's go down the list, Stevens, Bennett, Miller, Marshall


Stevens

Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - NO
Loves to be on center stage. - NO
Great Leader/Motivator. - YES
Thick Skinned. - MAYBE?
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - MAYBE?
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - YES

Bennett
Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - NO
Loves to be on center stage. - NO
Great Leader/Motivator. - MAYBE?
Thick Skinned. - MAYBE?
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - NO
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - NO

Miller
Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - NO
Loves to be on center stage. - NO
Great Leader/Motivator. - YES
Thick Skinned. - YES
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - NO
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - YES

Marshall
Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - YES
Loves to be on center stage. - YES
Great Leader/Motivator. - YES
Thick Skinned. - YES
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - YES?
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - YES

The answer is clear.

you left off
"great recruiter"- perhaps the most important facet of being successful at UK

 

[StillBlue83]

Originally posted by TankedCat:

Originally posted by BBCatsExile:
Seriously though, let's go down the list, Stevens, Bennett, Miller, Marshall


Marshall
Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - YES
Loves to be on center stage. - YES
Great Leader/Motivator. - YES
Thick Skinned. - YES
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - YES?
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - YES

The answer is clear.

you left off
"great recruiter"- perhaps the most important facet of being successful at UK

@BBCatsExile I would agree with that, Gregg Marshall could be a good one if he can handle the spot light.


@TankedCat Rupp wouldn't be what you call a great recruiter, a good recruiter becomes a great recruiter at UK. If the coach is driven to win then hes gonna get the players he needs to do that.

 

[Robcatt24]

If you leave, don't leave now
Please don't take my heart away
Promise me just one more night
Then we'll go our separate ways

We always had time on our side
But now it's fading fast
Every second, every moment
We've gotta, we've gotta make it last

I touch you once I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I needed you then
You always said, "We'd still be friends someday"

If you leave I won't cry
I won't waste one single day
But if you leave, no don't look back
I'll be running the other way

Seven years went under the bridge
Like time was standing still
Heaven knows what happens now
You've gotta, you've gotta say you will

I touch you once, I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I needed you then
You always said, "We'd still be friends someday, someday"

I touch you once, I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I needed you then
You always said, "We'd meet again someday"

Oh, if you leave
Oh, if you leave
Oh, if you leave
Oh, if you leave
Please don't leave

 

[TankedCat]

Originally posted by StillBlue83:

Originally posted by TankedCat:

Originally posted by BBCatsExile:
Seriously though, let's go down the list, Stevens, Bennett, Miller, Marshall


Marshall
Big Ego, very confident in their ability, even cocky to a point(and backs it up). - YES
Loves to be on center stage. - YES
Great Leader/Motivator. - YES
Thick Skinned. - YES
High bball IQ and not afraid to try new things. - YES?
Strives for perfection(hates to lose). - YES

The answer is clear.

you left off
"great recruiter"- perhaps the most important facet of being successful at UK

@BBCatsExile I would agree with that, Gregg Marshall could be a good one if he can handle the spot light.


@TankedCat Rupp wouldn't be what you call a great recruiter, a good recruiter becomes a great recruiter at UK. If the coach is driven to win then hes gonna get the players he needs to do that.

I don't see it that way . Rupp was altering how the game was played early in his career - UCLA showed us what recruiting could do against during Rupp's era.

If the coach is driven to win as you say - he's going to be pulling in the players whether he is at UK or not.

If the guy can't get it done before he comes to UK, then don't bet on UK turning him into "elite".

Pitino went to a final four at Providence, Cal was in a title game.

Its really simple , if the guy doesn't have the pedigree, then don't bother talking to him.

I don't understand throwing out names of guys who haven't proved they can't get get to the final four.

There is no on the job training at UK.

 

[BBCatsExile]

Spot on. Great Recruiter is a requirement for Cal. For Marshall, he's done extremely well with 3 stars. Although, as the next coach, his recruiting would bump up to a whole new level (or at least the opportunity for it). But would that damage his current system? Think he does really well with kids who play in the system for 3-4 years. By the time they are seniors, they can manhandle 18 year olds.

I love the one and done superstars. It's like a Lambo.

But there's something nice about a Rolls Royce. When they play 3-4 years, you get to really connect with them as part of the team, not just as a one year rental.

Just saying the next coach shouldn't be held to the same standard as Cal when it comes to recruiting and the type of players they recruit.

 

[DUNNSTILLFREENALIVE]

Apparently I have zero knowledge about who in tha bleep bleep bleep blleeeepppp Bennett is.... Winston Bennet is that who you talking about???

 

[gakat3]

Most of this discussion is a mute point. The coaching carousel will change with new names coming up AFTER Cal leaves. He's not going anywhere for what 3 years, 5 years, 8 years, who knows? Will his son have a bearing on how long he coaches?

A couple more titles and Cal may stay 8 years or 10 to pass ucla. There's not a name mentioned that could fill the shoes now but a few years down the road and new names will appear.

Of course the most crucial change that must be made is FIRE barnhardt soon. So he won't repeat giving one guy a 10 year gift (7 Million $s) to drive us down the tube and then 2 worthless years with a drunken joke. Many of us know how Cal got here and it was almost over barnys dead body. We can't let that happen again.

Then we can begin begin to look at Cals successor those few years down the road. In the meantime just fodder for what ifs.

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

Originally posted by gakat3:
Most of this discussion is a mute point. The coaching carousel will change with new names coming up AFTER Cal leaves. He's not going anywhere for what 3 years, 5 years, 8 years, who knows? Will his son have a bearing on how long he coaches?

A couple more titles and Cal may stay 8 years or 10 to pass ucla. There's not a name mentioned that could fill the shoes now but a few years down the road and new names will appear.

Of course the most crucial change that must be made is FIRE barnhardt soon. So he won't repeat giving one guy a 10 year gift (7 Million $s) to drive us down the tube and then 2 worthless years with a drunken joke. Many of us know how Cal got here and it was almost over barnys dead body. We can't let that happen again.

Then we can begin begin to look at Cals successor those few years down the road. In the meantime just fodder for what ifs.

Yeah, the UK athletic department is really struggling right now. If only we could far that "Barnhardt" feller.

 

[StillBlue83]

Originally posted by TankedCat:

Originally posted by StillBlue83:

@BBCatsExile I would agree with that, Gregg Marshall could be a good one if he can handle the spot light.


@TankedCat Rupp wouldn't be what you call a great recruiter, a good recruiter becomes a great recruiter at UK. If the coach is driven to win then hes gonna get the players he needs to do that.

I don't see it that way . Rupp was altering how the game was played early in his career - UCLA showed us what recruiting could do against during Rupp's era.

If the coach is driven to win as you say - he's going to be pulling in the players whether he is at UK or not.

If the guy can't get it done before he comes to UK, then don't bet on UK turning him into "elite".

Pitino went to a final four at Providence, Cal was in a title game.

Its really simple , if the guy doesn't have the pedigree, then don't bother talking to him.

I don't understand throwing out names of guys who haven't proved they can't get get to the final four.

There is no on the job training at UK.[/QUOTE]Marshall has taken Wichita State to the final four in 2013. Would you consider Pitino a great recruiter when he was at Providence?

Talent doesn't always win, was UConn more talented than UK last year?

You don't have to have 5* players at every position to win games/championships. Cal's recruiting is on historic levels, if you expect all this one and done stuff to continue after Cal leaves then you are in for a surprise. It is possible to get a good coach that can continue to win without depending on the one and done system though. Pitino wasn't on Cal's level when it came to recruiting at UK, but his teams did ok, didn't they?

 

[truebluewildcat]

Originally posted by gakat3:
Most of this discussion is a mute point. The coaching carousel will change with new names coming up AFTER Cal leaves. He's not going anywhere for what 3 years, 5 years, 8 years, who knows? Will his son have a bearing on how long he coaches?

A couple more titles and Cal may stay 8 years or 10 to pass ucla. There's not a name mentioned that could fill the shoes now but a few years down the road and new names will appear.

Of course the most crucial change that must be made is FIRE barnhardt soon. So he won't repeat giving one guy a 10 year gift (7 Million $s) to drive us down the tube and then 2 worthless years with a drunken joke. Many of us know how Cal got here and it was almost over barnys dead body. We can't let that happen again.

Then we can begin begin to look at Cals successor those few years down the road. In the meantime just fodder for what ifs.

Well that is another question that may have to be answered before Cal leaves.

I mean MB has been about 13 years...he's done a lot and seen a lot...had his fair share of ups and downs...is currently on an up with Cal, Stoops, lady Hoops, and some none revenue sports that are doing very well...he is going to see the new CWS and football facilities upgrades...he's had a full career...how much longer is he interested in sticking around?

Does Cal have any desire to be Athletic Director? He's kind of on a trailblazing kick right now with books, and changing the game for the betterment of the athlete...he could continue to do that and more as an AD...most importantly...who would he hire to replace him as HC?

If Cal isn't interested, who takes over our program while its on the rise? Who could perhaps take it even further?

So many questions...not enough answers...

This post was edited on 1/22 8:09 PM by truebluewildcat

 

[Dubyatee]

Cal will give the nba another shot. Just depends on the right situation. Until then just enjoy our team and thank the good lord Dan Gilbert really likes Madonna...Miller will get the first call

 

[MakinMusic]

Originally posted by kycats4383:
The guy is a hell of a coach. Give him some great talent and he is going to be awesome.

Nat saying Cal is going anywhere, just a thought...

Give him some talent??? That's the biggest void when Cal retires. Can Bennett or anyone else for that matter, do what Cal does consistently?

 

[gakat3]

Originally posted by truebluewildcat:

Originally posted by gakat3:
Most of this discussion is a mute point. The coaching carousel will change with new names coming up AFTER Cal leaves. He's not going anywhere for what 3 years, 5 years, 8 years, who knows? Will his son have a bearing on how long he coaches?

A couple more titles and Cal may stay 8 years or 10 to pass ucla. There's not a name mentioned that could fill the shoes now but a few years down the road and new names will appear.

Of course the most crucial change that must be made is FIRE barnhardt soon. So he won't repeat giving one guy a 10 year gift (7 Million $s) to drive us down the tube and then 2 worthless years with a drunken joke. Many of us know how Cal got here and it was almost over barnys dead body. We can't let that happen again.

Then we can begin begin to look at Cals successor those few years down the road. In the meantime just fodder for what ifs.

Well that is another question that may have to be answered before Cal leaves.

I mean MB has been about 13 years...he's done a lot and seen a lot...had his fair share of ups and downs...is currently on an up with Cal, Stoops, lady Hoops, and some none revenue sports that are doing very well...he is going to see the new CWS and football facilities upgrades...he's had a full career...how much longer is he interested in sticking around?

Does Cal have any desire to be Athletic Director? He's kind of on a trailblazing kick right now with books, and changing the game for the betterment of the athlete...he could continue to do that and more as an AD...most importantly...who would he hire to replace him as HC?

If Cal isn't interested, who takes over our program while its on the rise? Who could perhaps take it even further?

So many questions...not enough answers...

This post was edited on 1/22 8:09 PM by truebluewildcat

Understand your point but basketball (both teams, Note: some of the revenues for both men and women are included together, reference an article by Bowman, 2013) and football pay for all other sports. They are mostly for parents and students, and that's fine but
revenue sports is what a leader is judged on. We know how Cal got here and could have been 2 years sooner but barny squelched it, just the facts. Whether Cal has interest in AD job, never heard but he may in time? At least he would make sure we had a winner coming in, no trust for barny

This post was edited on 1/22 8:29 PM by gakat3

 

[runningbears]

I dont think Miller or Stevens would take the job right now.... (Id be happy with either of them)...

So that leaves 2 people in my book.

1) Shaka Smart - highly intelligent student of game who has PROVEN he is a hell of a coach.

2) Gregg Marshall - very good coach with ego.

Honestly, I would be fine with either, but I think Shaka will be at a huge program sooner than later and will win MORE than 1 title...

 

[ZaytovenCat]

I hope Mitch is smarter than those in this thread. Stevens and Smart haven't ever recruiter worth a crap. They can't rely on their Bulter or VCU way of doing things at a school like UK. Bennett, again, hasn't recruited crap.

UK fans should know better than anybody that the name of the game is recruiting. You have to recruit to win consistently. Sean Miller has proven he can do that. I'm praying that Antiqua does well because he's a great recruiter as well. I think Antiqua would try to pick up where Cal left off with continuing the OAD system here which is what I would want 100%. Miller would recruit this way as well. If Payne were to prove he could win as a HC then he'd be ok also.

Tonic will never be the HC here. He's a career assistant and that's actually how he wants it. That's why he's been by Cal's side for 15-20 years.

Bottom line is Cal can't be replaced. There's only a couple of guys that could even come close. There's not many options for a blueblood right now as far as coaches go. All the great coaches are older or are already at their destination school. Miller is really the only proven coach that has shown to recruit at a UK level but is still young and could come here. The rest (Smart/Stevens/Bennett) haven't shown the ability to recruit at this level.

 

[Mojocat]

One benefit of the Clyde experience is now everyone knows with certainty that personality and temperament are crucial aspects of the UK job, arguably as important as recruiting or style of play. Tubby was uncomfortable in the fishbowl, and it made for a strained marriage between school and coach. Gillispie was an intensely private man who was extremely uncomfortable in the fishbowl, and that discomfort became borderline psychosis.

So personality is key. Cal loves the spotlight. Are there any of those in the class of great coaches?

 

[michaeluk26]

Give me Gregg Marshall.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

Originally posted by ~Keyser Soze~:

Originally posted by Blueworld_3.0:

Not just no but, HELL NO to Shaka Smart. Too big of a gamble. He runs a very hectic, loose style that can pay dividends or it can bit his team in the butt. Plus, no real recruiting success that I'm aware of. Jay Wright is a decent coach but, his teams are rarely balanced. He usually has good guards, average bigs and a thin bench. I'll pass on him as well.
Sean Miller would seem to be the most likely target. If you like Cal and his "give me the best talent available" approach, you'll like Miller. If getting the best talent isn't important then, go after Brad Stevens or Bennett.
I'll get destroyed for this but, I wouldn't mind seeing Gregg Marshall get a look. He does pretty well with only slightly above average talent.

Running and pressing with proven postseason success is hectic and loose? Hopefully it'll be so long before Cal retires that it's someone we haven't heard of, but right now Shaka Smart is 1 of 4-5 guys with undeniable upside and is no where close to a "HELL NO" candidate.

I'm not talking about running and pressing. I'm talking about taking bad shots, being out of position on defense and poor rebounding. If you're OK with those issues then, Shaka is your guy. I expect more so, Shaka is definitely a "HELL NO" in my opinion. And besides, Smart was thought to be a very hot commodity after VCU bounced Kansas a couple years ago. Yet he is still at VCU.
In reality, no one will EVER be able to recruit like Calipari has in his short time at UK. So, anyone expecting the next coach to repeatedly bring in #1 classes are in for a very big disappointment.

 

[miracle7s]

few things, John Calipari signed 6 what were considered elite recruits in his entire time at UMass and Memphis combined. Marcus Camby, Donta Bright, Dajuan Wagner, Darius Washington Jr., Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans. That is 6 guys in 18 years of coaching. Would that number have gone up if he had stayed Memphis, yes, would it be anything like it is since he's been at UK absolutely not. Does that mean anyone could duplicate what he has done absolutely not, could anyone even be 3/4 or 1/2 what he has been at UK I doubt it, but the monster recruiting machine that is John Caliapri right now didn't exist until he got to UK. To those questioning what Brad Stevens would do if he were here, he would win and he would win at a giant clip. If you think he wouldn't go out and recruit the best players you are freaking nuts. I find it hilarious that a few, and I mean just a few question that, Zaytoven Cat wrote "I hope Mitch is smarter than those in this thread. Stevens and Smart haven't ever recruiter worth a crap. They can't rely on their Bulter or VCU way of doing things at a school like UK. Bennett, again, hasn't recruited crap." Hey Zay, Brad Stevens took freaking Butler to back to back championship games and is already respected as one of the 5-10 best basketball minds currently alive. That is why the freaking Boston Celtics hired him straight out of college at age 35. He'll never get fired by the Celtics but if he decides to leave them he'll have his pick of any NBA or college job he wants, he's viewed as that good.

 

[Deacon Jim]

Theres a Doctor in Haiti who claims he is only 3or 4 years away from cloning any human being with a money back guarantee .I say when it happens we slip Cal down that way to watch a recruit and get 2 or 3 made up . Hell they owe us big time anyway. Look at all that loot Cal raised for them.We could have 1 coach and one out on the recruiting trail and 1 on deck. We should be good to go for awhile.

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

Originally posted by Blueworld_3.0:

Originally posted by ~Keyser Soze~:

Originally posted by Blueworld_3.0:

Not just no but, HELL NO to Shaka Smart. Too big of a gamble. He runs a very hectic, loose style that can pay dividends or it can bit his team in the butt. Plus, no real recruiting success that I'm aware of. Jay Wright is a decent coach but, his teams are rarely balanced. He usually has good guards, average bigs and a thin bench. I'll pass on him as well.
Sean Miller would seem to be the most likely target. If you like Cal and his "give me the best talent available" approach, you'll like Miller. If getting the best talent isn't important then, go after Brad Stevens or Bennett.
I'll get destroyed for this but, I wouldn't mind seeing Gregg Marshall get a look. He does pretty well with only slightly above average talent.

Running and pressing with proven postseason success is hectic and loose? Hopefully it'll be so long before Cal retires that it's someone we haven't heard of, but right now Shaka Smart is 1 of 4-5 guys with undeniable upside and is no where close to a "HELL NO" candidate.

I'm not talking about running and pressing. I'm talking about taking bad shots, being out of position on defense and poor rebounding. If you're OK with those issues then, Shaka is your guy. I expect more so, Shaka is definitely a "HELL NO" in my opinion. And besides, Smart was thought to be a very hot commodity after VCU bounced Kansas a couple years ago. Yet he is still at VCU.
In reality, no one will EVER be able to recruit like Calipari has in his short time at UK. So, anyone expecting the next coach to repeatedly bring in #1 classes are in for a very big disappointment.

He's still at VCU because he chooses to be at VCU. He has turned down Marquette, Minnesota, Illinois, and UCLA.

 

[Aike]

I agree that Miller is probably pick number 1, based mostly on his recruiting prowess and decent success at a top tier school. Doesn't hurt that he and Cal are connected going way back.

The more I think about it, Jay Wright would have to be on the short list if Cal were to hang it up in the immediate future. Wright is already 53 years old, so I don't think he's the guy you turn to if we are talking 5+ years from now.

Why Wright? Style of play, decent NCAA results, Style in general. Like Cal, he is very comfortable in front of the mic.

Wright has also been through a tough stretch as a coach and has bounced back well. If Cal left in the next season or two and we needed a solid placeholder until the next coaching superstar became available, I would be comfortable with Wright.

 

[TankedCat]

I do agree with whoever said the coaching landscape will change in 3 or 4 years

but some UK fans have a tendency to want the flavor of the month with the misguided thinking that the moment they are named the coach at UK, it somehow makes them more capable than they were at their previous school. Will Marshall or Bennett still be considered up and comers 4 years from now or are they riding a wave of success they can't repeat?

There isn't a John Calipari out there now, but John Calipari definitely had his ish together before he came to UK - not just one lucky group of guys or a recruit that made him (like Gillispie with Acie Law). Yes, Cal struggled to get into his groove when he first arrived at Memphis - but Memphis is the kind of school that will allow that. UK isn't.

Calipari knew he could come into to UK and succeed, he didn't hope he could.

Its the AD's job to find that guy. Barnhart failed miserably with Gillispie but he learned from it.

Hopefully the school will never repeat a mistake like that again.

 

[jgas1984]

I would throw the check book at BILL SELF. He's a winner and can recruit with the best of them. Whatever it takes.

 

[Bank Cat]

Forget recruiting and coaching style/philosophy: it seems to me the only real asset a coach needs to succeed at UK, and by succeed I mean win at least one NT, is temperance. Five of the last 7 coaches have won at least one title. The two that didn't were boozers!

 

[TheOtherGreatOne]

Bennett won at Washington state. Do you know how hard that is? Bennett is an excellent coach,but most people on here would come unglued at his recruiting,because he does not recruit mcdonalds all americans. He recruits players that fit his system. He also has never coached under the kind of pressure that comes with the uk job. I don't know if he could handle the pressure,not very many could. as far as you people who say he hasn't coached enough to people himself don't know anything about him.

 

[TankedCat]

Originally posted by TheOtherGreatOne:
Bennett won at Washington state.

What did he win?

 

[truebluewildcat]

Originally posted by jgas1984:
I would throw the check book at BILL SELF. He's a winner and can recruit with the best of them. Whatever it takes.

He'd be at the top of the list for sure...he may want to may want to ride into the sunset with Kansas...I think we're all fools if we think he shouldn't be considered and at least given a phone call...

Same for Billy D...I know he's said no a couple times...but 2 titles...he can recruit NBA players and develop them...he could come in and win early and often, and probably get to a couple final fours within the first 3-4 years...

I also think Thad Matta would have to be looked at...I know a lot of folks don't hold him in the highest regards, but the dude has a resume...he can recruit elite talent and put kids in the league...

After those guys and Sean Miller are looked into, then we can start going down the list of younger guys and hot names...

Those 4 guys I think could really win and keep things going at a relatively close pace to what Cal has going...not on pace, but close enough...6-8 losses a year, sweet 16 maybe elite 8s initially as they get acclimated...have to think that if Cal bounces, a good chunk of NBA talent on the roster will go ahead and bounce as well, and some top recruits will decide to go somewhere else...

then I think by year 3 and 4 they would be title hunting with no more than 4-5 losses...

Anybody else I'm afraid would take 4 years to get a solid foundation laid and build and develop a roster full of players that fit their "system"...and I don't know that BBN would have the patience for that...

I mean some questioned Cal for hitting a bump after the title season...imagine the pandemonium on here if some guy doesn't get to the final 4 by year 3...we'll be calling for state legislators heads to roll, and for the governor and the president of the university to be sent to the Hague for violating our basic right as humans born and raised in Kentucky...

 

[truebluewildcat]

The first phone calls are probably Self, Donovan, Matta, and Miller...

Those guys are the closest thing to home run hires. They're all at major programs with great expectations. Three of them have been to title games, Miller to the elite 8. They all recruit at the highest of levels, and put players in the pros.

Those are the guys that have the best shot at coming in and keeping a relatively close pace to what Cal has going. They could come in and "Reload" rather than "Rebuild"...

After those guys are looked at and if no one is interested, then we go down the list of names we all know.

However, I think after those 4 guys we start getting to coaches who are going to need some time to rebuild. As we get down the list we start getting to the guys who recruit certain types of players for their "system". Which is fine, but it's going to take about 3-4 years to really get a full roster and develop their guys.

When Cal rolls out, I'm going to assume that most of the pro players on the squad will roll out, and that the top recruits may go elsewhere for a season or two until its clear what UK and whomever the coach is, is doing. So, unless it's one of the top 4 guys, we are going to have to be patient. Which concerns me. BBN for all its greatness, has one flaw, and that is patience.

Cal won a title, then the next season hit a bump in the road, and folks on here wanted him out. Imagine if we go 3-4 years without a final 4. It will be pandemonium. State legislators heads will be called for. We'll all demand that the governor, president of uk, AD, and entire coaching staff be sent to the Hague for crimes against our basic human right as citizens of Kentucky.

and in the rush of it all, I'm afraid a pretty good coach will be run out, and some young unproven skunk who beat IU and got to the elite 8 will be hired....