Is Cal pushing them

[willievic]

I know I will catch a lot of crap for this post, but here goes. There is no doubt Cal is the best recruiter in college basketball. Is he the best coach, I don't know. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
What I have a problem with, I think Cal pushes them to the NBA before their ready. OH! I know, several on here will say he doesn't push them to the NBA. I don't believe that. A lot of coaches have big ego's, and Cal is NO different. I keep hearing him tout how many players were sending to the NBA, and saying how it has never been done before. He makes a big deal of it, just as he did last year.
I'm sure a lot of posters will say, but he doesn't make them go, and their right, but he has a big influence on them staying or going. Should Dakari have gone, should Aaron have gone? I don't think so. Aaron wasn't drafted and Dakari is in the "D"league, making $30,000 a year.
If a players is not projected to go in the First round, wouldn't it be better for him to stay in college another year? Basketball is not forever, but a college degree is.
Anyway, this is just an "Old Cat Fan's " opinion. I might be wrong, but I doubt it.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[chattanoogawildcat]

ok

 

[jedwar]

Cal does push them because that's his selling point, the NBA and it's millions. Should he? Some would be better off staying and bettering their postion, like Johnson. But it's what Cal does to get the elite here. Can't really argue against it in the one and done age.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

Cal does push them because that's his selling point, the NBA and it's millions. Should he? Some would be better off staying and bettering their postion, like Johnson. But it's what Cal does to get the elite here. Can't really argue against it in the one and done age.

Agree...our next year's roster will be interesting.

 

[rolaid]

Wow we have some clueless fans who quite honestly don't read the internet or really follow what's going on. If you did follow the team you would know Cal wanted Dakari to stay and was willing to offer advice to DJ & family...Mom says we got that don't need advice and we are going.

 

[jedwar]

Agree...our next year's roster will be interesting.

I think if we will have returning players they will go back to being what they are, backups. And they will look better and actually be better off for it because that's their role. No way Cal platoons again. That is what got us caught short this year imo.

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

I think he does. I also think it has very positive consequences (with recruiting) and very negative consequences (most freshman just aren't that good)

This system gets us the best recruits, which we longed for under the past couple coaches. But it also makes it tough to be consistent. You got nights when things click and we look amazing and then nights you lose to sub .500 teams.

I want to think this team can pull a '11 or '14 and make an unexpected tourney run but then again those teams had weapons this team does not have. As in the entire '11 team would start over these guys.

 

[martinsm30]

Any of our former players come out and state they were pushed out? I haven't seen any articles. Can someone point me to one? I would think a player would be upset if he felt he had been stiffed.

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

Any of our former players come out and state they were pushed out? I haven't seen any articles. Can someone point me to one? I would think a player would be upset if he felt he had been stiffed.

The guys' goals are to go professional. Of course they aren't going to accuse Cal of pushing them out too early, especially publicly enough to be in an article. Surely you can realize how ridiculous your questions are.

 

[LetsHang#9]

*they're

 

[ORCAT]

Any of our former players come out and state they were pushed out? I haven't seen any articles. Can someone point me to one? I would think a player would be upset if he felt he had been stiffed.

I thought we all heard that MKG wanted to come back but Cal wouldn't let him, knowing he would be drafted high. That's the only example I can think of.

 

[martinsm30]

The guys' goals are to go professional. Of course they aren't going to accuse Cal of pushing them out too early, especially publicly enough to be in an article. Surely you can realize how ridiculous your questions are.

You can say "you think he pushes them out the door" all you like but you don't have much to back up that opinion basically you are guessing he does. Meanwhile Cal has stated many times he tells them what he thinks and they make their decision. I appreciate your opinion I just wish we knew something more than opinion.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Agree...our next year's roster will be interesting.

I think this could get ugly if this dosen't pan out on its own...looks like 17 for 13 schollys

 

[martinsm30]

I thought we all heard that MKG wanted to come back but Cal wouldn't let him, knowing he would be drafted high. That's the only example I can think of.

Could be that is one of those tough ones. If he knew he was going number 2 then I can understand that one. If MKG gets injured or has a bad season the next year as a coach that would be tough to deal with.

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

You can say "you think he pushes them out the door" all you like but you don't have much to back up that opinion basically you are guessing he does. Meanwhile Cal has stated many times he tells them what he thinks and they make their decision. I appreciate your opinion I just wish we knew something more than opinion.

I think there's more to it than his one-on-one talks with players after the season. It's the whole culture of the program, things he says at Madness, etc. I'm not saying I have a real problem with it because it brings in the best of the best, and I'd be a fool to not want the best players. I'm just saying that's what happens and the number of barely successful nba players who have left early suggests that he might have something to do with them leaving before they could raise their stock.

 

[martinsm30]

I think there's more to it than his one-on-one talks with players after the season. It's the whole culture of the program, things he says at Madness, etc. I'm not saying I have a real problem with it because it brings in the best of the best, and I'd be a fool to not want the best players. I'm just saying that's what happens and the number of barely successful nba players who have left early suggests that he might have something to do with them leaving before they could raise their stock.

They are adults and they have parents and they make the decision. Bill Self makes them sit the bench. Ol'Roy cries in their arms, begs them stay and gives them free degrees. Who's philosophy is right? Cal has pretty good results.

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

They are adults and they have parents and they make the decision. Bill Self makes them sit the bench. Ol'Roy cries in their arms, begs them stay and gives them free degrees. Who's philosophy is right? Cal has pretty good results.

Trust me, I appreciate the results and wouldn't trade Cal for another coach on the planet. I was just answering the question.

 

[martinsm30]

Trust me, I appreciate the results and wouldn't trade Cal for another coach on the planet. I was just answering the question.

I enjoyed the discussion.

 

[CharlieT71059]

Go CAts!!

 

[W2R]

Lol Cal said just last week he advised a certain player and he and his parents said "we got this". Most assume it was dakari. Cal didn't think it was best for him to leave but support his decision. After that he and his parents thought they could do the rest in their own

 

[4UK]

Wow we have some clueless fans who quite honestly don't read the internet or really follow what's going on. If you did follow the team you would know Cal wanted Dakari to stay and was willing to offer advice to DJ & family...Mom says we got that don't need advice and we are going.

I think that example is really the issue. Cal doesn't push guys out. But there is the belief that every high ranked recruit who comes here is coming for one, at the very most, two years. Anything beyond that is a failure in their minds, so in Dakari's mind it was time to go, no matter what. There's obviously a lot a good that comes with that - we get guys that other schools would kill to get. But there's a downside as well - we have guys leave who wouldn't if they were at virtually any other program.

Guys like Marcus Paige, Kris Dunn, Buddy Hield, Denzell Valentine, would almost certainly not still be in school if they went to UK. At the same time, guys like Dakari, both Harrisons, Teague, Lamb, probably wouldn't have left when they did if they were at other schools. So the "Kentucky Effect" works both ways - but in general, the upside has far outweighed the downside.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I think there's more to it than his one-on-one talks with players after the season. It's the whole culture of the program, things he says at Madness, etc. I'm not saying I have a real problem with it because it brings in the best of the best, and I'd be a fool to not want the best players. I'm just saying that's what happens and the number of barely successful nba players who have left early suggests that he might have something to do with them leaving before they could raise their stock.

Do you think this year isthe best of the best? I don't and that's why we are not getting it done... Cal cannot get this done without THE best of the best...

 

[bigc45157]

Where does this Dakari info come from?

 

[fabcat]

I thought we all heard that MKG wanted to come back but Cal wouldn't let him, knowing he would be drafted high. That's the only example I can think of.

MKG was never going higher than #2 and coming back would have probably dropped him lower in the draft. In a case where a kid is projected to go higher than their talent level is he would be doing them an injustice not telling that player to go. He has told several players they were not ready to go but the players and their families thought different . Teague and Lamb were 2 other players that were not ready and recommended to come back.

 

[willievic]

Wow we have some clueless fans who quite honestly don't read the internet or really follow what's going on. If you did follow the team you would know Cal wanted Dakari to stay and was willing to offer advice to DJ & family...Mom says we got that don't need advice and we are going.

rolaid, you couldn't be more wrong. I've probably been following the CATS and reading about them since you were probably in diapers. I've listened to them at 37,000 feet on and ADF and listened to the Cats and Cardinals on AIR RNIC on the way to Tokyo when it was costing me 40 cents a minute and it went into overtime and the Cardinals won. So YES, I have followed the Cats, and I went to UofK, and my wife and I are Fellows of UofK. I just don't get on here as much as you, just to have something to write.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[brianpoe]

I know I will catch a lot of crap for this post, but here goes. There is no doubt Cal is the best recruiter in college basketball. Is he the best coach, I don't know. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
What I have a problem with, I think Cal pushes them to the NBA before their ready. OH! I know, several on here will say he doesn't push them to the NBA. I don't believe that. A lot of coaches have big ego's, and Cal is NO different. I keep hearing him tout how many players were sending to the NBA, and saying how it has never been done before. He makes a big deal of it, just as he did last year.
I'm sure a lot of posters will say, but he doesn't make them go, and their right, but he has a big influence on them staying or going. Should Dakari have gone, should Aaron have gone? I don't think so. Aaron wasn't drafted and Dakari is in the "D"league, making $30,000 a year.
If a players is not projected to go in the First round, wouldn't it be better for him to stay in college another year? Basketball is not forever, but a college degree is.
Anyway, this is just an "Old Cat Fan's " opinion. I might be wrong, but I doubt it.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

I think he does. I also think it has very positive consequences (with recruiting) and very negative consequences (most freshman just aren't that good)

This system gets us the best recruits, which we longed for under the past couple coaches. But it also makes it tough to be consistent. You got nights when things click and we look amazing and then nights you lose to sub .500 teams.

I want to think this team can pull a '11 or '14 and make an unexpected tourney run but then again those teams had weapons this team does not have. As in the entire '11 team would start over these guys.

Hard to believe that fans do not know the Dakari story.

You could say the same about Teague and Lamb, both were expected to stay. Booker was not considered a OAD when we recruited him.

The only 2 he ever admitted to encouraging were MKG and Cousins, which were best for those kids.


I do agree that the culture is an issue.

But to say Cal pushes a kid out when he is not ready really hasnt kept up with the daily news following the team.

 

[Samwise Ganjee]

I don't know about them, but he's sure pushing me to drink more

 

[rodgerblue]

<yawn>

 

[Hoskins91]

We're getting people who want to get to the pros as quickly as possible, so naturally the circumstances have to be pretty against them for them to decide to come back.

Cal tells them what he thinks they should do. Sometimes that means telling them they'd be crazy to come back. Like MKG and Cousins. Sometimes he says they should come back and they don't. It's the way it is.

 

[Smashcat]

We're getting people who want to get to the pros as quickly as possible, so naturally the circumstances have to be pretty against them for them to decide to come back.

Cal tells them what he thinks they should do. Sometimes that means telling them they'd be crazy to come back. Like MKG and Cousins. Sometimes he says they should come back and they don't. It's the way it is.

Well said.