I come in peace...let's explore this thought.
Isn't it a good thing that Kentucky welcomes back Oscar, an All-American who is not being pushed to the NBA for a OAD freshman?
Isn't it good that Daimion Collins, a physically talented 5 star, isn't being rushed to play big freshman minutes nor is he being pushed out to the pro-world for a OAD freshman, but instead can return as a soph and play a bigger role?
Isn't it good for Calipari to go after experienced transfers who can play roles AND be giddy about putting on that UK jersey?
Isn't it good to go after in-state stars?
Isn't it good to land 1-3 OAD talents every year and mix them in with veterans who know the ropes?
Too many Kentucky fans criticized UNC and pretty much every other college program but especially UNC for keeping players from going to the NBA. Yet, all I'm reading on this site is how Calipari should talk kids into staying, but in the past Roy doing so was bad and selfish. I guess the recruiting losses to Duke and possibly Louisville change perspective (I know about losing recruits to you guys, Duke and others).
Well, I'm here to applaud Calipari if he does recruit kids to stay at Kentucky and not make a player leave like he did with Bam, Fox, Monk. I bet those 3 kids would have come back and won a championship and still make millions if Calipari did sell the idea of staying.
Do you all think Calipari is being disingenuous when he says the greatest day in UK hoops history is that specific NBA draft simply because he thought out-talenting everyone with OAD 5 star players was the ticket to rings? I think so. I think he was thinking by saying that, the indirect sell, would be a perennial flood of 5 man, 5 star starting rosters going to the Final Four. I think he thought the UK brand and the Fab Five approach was a marriage made in heaven.
Reality is that only you and Duke won with OAD freshman. The reality is experienced talent, not even high level NBA talent, gets rings. Zions/Tatum/Randle/Fox/Monk/Bagley....no rings. But Kyle Guy/Justin Jackson/Joel Berry/Kris Jenkins...rings.
If Calipari is "forced" to shift his pitch by not getting 5 stars like DJ Wagner, I think it will pay off for UK. Calipari is a good coach as proven by his win loss record over a long career. Sure, catch lightning with Anthony Davis but I don't think there's another one like that or at least you can't peg those hopes on someone like a DJ Wagner or in Duke's case Dereck Lively.
Looks like how things are shaking out, Oscar and several really good athletic pieces will return (Toppin, Collins) and be joined by great OAD talent. Will Wallace be your PG? But you all look like an actual college team and not just a stop-over for the NBA. Your program AND college basketball will be better off if its run like a college program and not just an unapologetic NBA feeder system.
Isn't it a good thing that Kentucky welcomes back Oscar, an All-American who is not being pushed to the NBA for a OAD freshman?
Isn't it good that Daimion Collins, a physically talented 5 star, isn't being rushed to play big freshman minutes nor is he being pushed out to the pro-world for a OAD freshman, but instead can return as a soph and play a bigger role?
Isn't it good for Calipari to go after experienced transfers who can play roles AND be giddy about putting on that UK jersey?
Isn't it good to go after in-state stars?
Isn't it good to land 1-3 OAD talents every year and mix them in with veterans who know the ropes?
Too many Kentucky fans criticized UNC and pretty much every other college program but especially UNC for keeping players from going to the NBA. Yet, all I'm reading on this site is how Calipari should talk kids into staying, but in the past Roy doing so was bad and selfish. I guess the recruiting losses to Duke and possibly Louisville change perspective (I know about losing recruits to you guys, Duke and others).
Well, I'm here to applaud Calipari if he does recruit kids to stay at Kentucky and not make a player leave like he did with Bam, Fox, Monk. I bet those 3 kids would have come back and won a championship and still make millions if Calipari did sell the idea of staying.
Do you all think Calipari is being disingenuous when he says the greatest day in UK hoops history is that specific NBA draft simply because he thought out-talenting everyone with OAD 5 star players was the ticket to rings? I think so. I think he was thinking by saying that, the indirect sell, would be a perennial flood of 5 man, 5 star starting rosters going to the Final Four. I think he thought the UK brand and the Fab Five approach was a marriage made in heaven.
Reality is that only you and Duke won with OAD freshman. The reality is experienced talent, not even high level NBA talent, gets rings. Zions/Tatum/Randle/Fox/Monk/Bagley....no rings. But Kyle Guy/Justin Jackson/Joel Berry/Kris Jenkins...rings.
If Calipari is "forced" to shift his pitch by not getting 5 stars like DJ Wagner, I think it will pay off for UK. Calipari is a good coach as proven by his win loss record over a long career. Sure, catch lightning with Anthony Davis but I don't think there's another one like that or at least you can't peg those hopes on someone like a DJ Wagner or in Duke's case Dereck Lively.
Looks like how things are shaking out, Oscar and several really good athletic pieces will return (Toppin, Collins) and be joined by great OAD talent. Will Wallace be your PG? But you all look like an actual college team and not just a stop-over for the NBA. Your program AND college basketball will be better off if its run like a college program and not just an unapologetic NBA feeder system.