Jamal Murray announcing tomorrow (6/24) on TSN at 6 PM

[bevcat]

If the Murray camp has been tight-lipped this long, why let something slip now. Don't believe it. He may go to Oregon, but it's not because of a slip of info.

Plus Oregon is 2700 miles away. That really hampers the Murray's watching their son play ball since Oregon won't be on TV watch. My gut says UK from a Moms standpoint that he's closer to home and he'll be on TV more. Plus UK is the best program to develop his skills. Just makes sense from every level.

 

[Brando Mac]

Rafters, grease your jewels up. They're getting punted one last time for the class of 2015.

No doubt, but I've already braced myself so it won't be an effective punt.

He's going to pick Oregon, for the "close personal bond" and "lifelong friendships" that's going to keep him in Eugene for exactly 1 year before he bolts. Whatever. His loss. UK will be playing deep in the NCAA tournament, Oregon will not. UK will produce a Top 5 (likely #1) draft pick, Oregon will not.

 

[BLUEHILLS]

I bet Dom Papa knows...

 

[ulismyman]

How do you know Oregon won't play deep in tourney...Dana Altman isn't chopped liver

 

[gracetoyou]

Nothing new, and unfortunately I'll be out of pocket when the announcement is made. Going deep sea fishing today.

How do you know Oregon won't play deep in tourney...Dana Altman isn't chopped liver

They won't & he's not John Calipari either.

One name that should sold Murray's on what's best for Jamal: DEVIN BOOKER...AKA the Kentucky effect

Quack, quack

 

[Ryan Lemonds Diary]

The class of 2015 kids are making some of the dumbest decisions ever.

 

[dckala2]

Don't like how he was eating chicken wings. Really a bad sign IMO IIRC FWIW...

 

[preacher_tom]

BETTER THAN DUCK...

 

[dckala2]

Lmao, enjoying a nice duck breast with a fine Pinot from Oregon.

 

[RondoBaller21]

Don't like how he was eating chicken wings. Really a bad sign IMO IIRC FWIW...

Maybe the chicken wings are from KFC lol

 

[bucsrule8872]

That wouldn't surprise me. I'll watch for the sake of curiosity, and the fact that the scouts have been wrong for this entire year more or less. I fully expect him to go to Oregon though.
Rafters, grease your jewels up. They're getting punted one last time for the class of 2015.

Not going to get my hopes up.

I refuse to let anyone else kick me there.

I am ready to roll with the lineup we have. Five 5-stars and three 4-stars give us plenty of talent to win a title.

Duke won the title this past season with five 5-stars (Okafor, Jones, Winslow, Allen, Jefferson) and three 4-stars (Cook, Jones, Plumlee).

 

[weatherbird]

If the Murray camp has been tight-lipped this long, why let something slip now. Don't believe it. He may go to Oregon, but it's not because of a slip of info.

Plus Oregon is 2700 miles away. That really hampers the Murray's watching their son play ball since Oregon won't be on TV watch. My gut says UK from a Moms standpoint that he's closer to home and he'll be on TV more. Plus UK is the best program to develop his skills. Just makes sense from every level.

The problem is that neither is within driving distance, thus they would be hopping on a plane to go see him at either place, therefore negating the whole UK is closer argument. The TV argument to me would hold more weight than the distance, but that would be a mute point if the parents are planning on either attending all the games, or just flat moving to college with him.

 

[bevcat]

Maybe the chicken wings are from KFC lol

 

[Joneslab]

The TV argument only holds weight if the player wants that kind of exposure. Some of these kids don't. See Jaylen Brown. As a Kentucky fan it's hard to understand how that could be the case, but clearly it has been with some of these guys. The fan pressure is too much. The pressure of following up a team like last year's would have to be immense, too.

You want players who not only want that spotlight but can thrive in it. It's usually sour grapes to pull out the ol' "If he doesn't want to be here..." card, but we have had situations where the spotlight became so bright that it leeched out the player's natural instincts. Ryan Harrow jumps immediately to mind.

 

[bevcat]

I would say it would cost a WHOLE LOT MORE to Fly to Oregon than go Ky I would think.

 

[bookerfan66]

The TV argument only holds weight if the player wants that kind of exposure. Some of these kids don't. See Jaylen Brown. As a Kentucky fan it's hard to understand how that could be the case, but clearly it has been with some of these guys. The fan pressure is too much. The pressure of following up a team like last year's would have to be immense, too.

You want players who not only want that spotlight but can thrive in it. It's usually sour grapes to pull out the ol' "If he doesn't want to be here..." card, but we have had situations where the spotlight became so bright that it leeched out the player's natural instincts. Ryan Harrow jumps immediately to mind.

But these players have NBA dreams so if they can't handle pressure at UK I don't see how they can handle the NBA.And Murray has even said he wants to be the number one pick.

 

[dion_james]

Do some of you all still just have rabbit ears on a console television? With sports packages you can catch pretty much any game that you want to watch.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Do some of you all still just have rabbit ears on a console television? With sports packages you can catch pretty much any game that you want to watch.

Not really. I have everything but Full Court ESPN, and there are tons of games I don't get. Some seasons even 1 or 2 games have been on channels almost nobody has. Not the case anymore, but it was. I would imagine it's harder to get many games in Canada, but wouldn't you think it's easier to get UK games there than Oregon's?

 

[madison1329]

Not really. I have everything but Full Court ESPN, and there are tons of games I don't get. Some seasons even 1 or 2 games have been on channels almost nobody has. Not the case anymore, but it was. I would imagine it's harder to get many games in Canada, but wouldn't you think it's easier to get UK games there than Oregon's?

I live in Toronto and get every UK game with the sports package. Very rarely is an Oregon game on. TSN could pick up Oregon games like they did with Kansas when Wiggins was there but I doubt they will do that, considering Murray is nowhere near the big name Wiggins was.

 

[Joneslab]

I also think the TV/exposure thing is secondary to the relationships that are formed months, sometimes years before a player commits. Apparently Oregon has ties with the Murray family, and I would say that's unfortunately going to trump everything else.

Kentucky's late scramble into the Murray sweepstakes put Cal in catch-up mode. The small number of players offered in this class, the Ben Howland hiring, the surprise decision by Zimmerman--all of that was crucial. The good news is that it's changed Cal's recruiting methodology; it looks like he's offering a wide swath of players now instead of a select few.

 

[Supafuzz75]

Not going to get my hopes up.

I refuse to let anyone else kick me there.

I am ready to roll with the lineup we have. Five 5-stars and three 4-stars give us plenty of talent to win a title.

Duke won the title this past season with five 5-stars (Okafor, Jones, Winslow, Allen, Jefferson) and three 4-stars (Cook, Jones, Plumlee).

Cook, Jones and Plumlee were McDonald's guys,, too..

 

[ulismyman]

Unfortunately lots of times the school that has been on recruit longest wins out and that may be the case here...Oregon been there from get go...us not so much

 

[Cats192]

Also, that said, the Murrays have waited this long to retain info on the announcement. I doubt they're gonna let that slip away in the final hours of it, so i don't buy MJ's "source".

Jones said once something along the lines of if someone is coming, the coaches usually have a good vibe, and someone passes that along to him.

But these players have NBA dreams so if they can't handle pressure at UK I don't see how they can handle the NBA.And Murray has even said he wants to be the number one pick.

Well, I didn't want the pressure of being an adult at 18. It's ok to want to be a kid for another year. If they don't want the spotlight at 18, it doesn't mean they can't succeed at 19 or 20.

 

[dion_james]

Not really. I have everything but Full Court ESPN, and there are tons of games I don't get. Some seasons even 1 or 2 games have been on channels almost nobody has. Not the case anymore, but it was. I would imagine it's harder to get many games in Canada, but wouldn't you think it's easier to get UK games there than Oregon's?

I get AT&T U-Verse which carries the Pac-10 network. Between that, Fox Sports, and ESPN you could watch basically all of Oregon's games.
http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=4294&SPID=235&Q_SEASON=2014

While they certainly aren't the prime time match-ups and exposure you get at UK, the games are still available.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

I get AT&T U-Verse which carries the Pac-10 network. Between that, Fox Sports, and ESPN you could watch basically all of Oregon's games.
http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=4294&SPID=235&Q_SEASON=2014

While they certainly aren't the prime time match-ups and exposure you get at UK, the games are still available.

Do you live in Toronto?

 

[ulismyman]

How is this thread not always on top til 6pm

 

[medicusrexx]

Calipari was just on the Rich Eisen radio show..mostly talking about our players and the upcoming draft. He had a little rant about how recruiting is all about business, and he referred to his success at lottery picks. He made a comment about why a family would choose to go with a coach with no track record of creating lottery picks makes no sense to him.

The process of losing recruits to UNLV, Miss St, California, etc. is obviously on his mind. Certainly hope that we break the streak today.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Maybe Cal is going to have to have a backup pitch. Obviously the the one that has been working for 5 yrs didn't work on this group.

 

[ulismyman]

I am going to work...I fully expect a legit leak no later than 5pm when I check back in

 

[KA4Prez]

I do agree with the premise of "Kentucky not for everyone." However, whatever JM decides, it's also counter-intuitive to say you don't want to spotlight with your decision, but want to be the #1 pick in the NBA Draft.

 

[Cats192]

I do agree with the premise of "Kentucky not for everyone." However, whatever JM decides, it's also counter-intuitive to say you don't want to spotlight with your decision, but want to be the #1 pick in the NBA Draft.

There are certainly instances of it.

But also: Some kids just like other coaches. Maybe they like the school, family or friend connections, shoe companies, etc. There are plenty of reasons to go elsewhere. And our message board posters always say--he's scared of the spotlight--which isn't always the case?

 

[tmuck]

Last 16 picks for Oregon on Crystal Ball. I know it's not always accurate, but when it's 16 in a row for one school from recruiting insiders, I think you can pretty much take it to the bank. Guy's, don't even waste your time by watching the press conference.

 

[dion_james]

Do you live in Toronto?

I do not, but I do know Toronto has the internet so residents would have the opportunity to purchase a subscription to the Pac 12 Network on the live streaming Youtube channel which has 24/7 live coverage. My point is, times and technology have changed. There are options to watch basically anything you want to; it's not like he would be playing in some remote village is Siberia.

 

[madison1329]

I get AT&T U-Verse which carries the Pac-10 network. Between that, Fox Sports, and ESPN you could watch basically all of Oregon's games.
http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=4294&SPID=235&Q_SEASON=2014

While they certainly aren't the prime time match-ups and exposure you get at UK, the games are still available.

Can't get any of that in Canada. College games are available through a sports package and Oregon games are very rare.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Cook, Jones and Plumlee were McDonald's guys,, too..

Not all Burger Boys are created equal.

Plumlee was a 4-star ranked in the 60-70 range.

Cook and Jones were in the top 30-40 range.

The McD's AA game is overrated.

The Jordan Brand game is becoming just as prestigious and Matthews was a Jordan Brand selection.

That's why I talk about star ratings and rankings and largely ignore the McD's label. Anthony Davis and Plumlee were both McD's AA's, but would anyone put them in the same category? Nope.

 

[Supafuzz75]

Not all Burger Boys are created equal.

Plumlee was a 4-star ranked in the 60-70 range.

Cook and Jones were in the top 30-40 range.

The McD's AA game is overrated.

The Jordan Brand game is becoming just as prestigious and Matthews was a Jordan Brand selection.

That's why I talk about star ratings and rankings and largely ignore the McD's label. Anthony Davis and Plumlee were both McD's AA's, but would anyone put them in the same category? Nope.

I agree,, especially on Plumlee.. But they were put on the team so they're 5 *s in that regard.. It's the Duke effect..

 

[madison1329]

I do not, but I do know Toronto has the internet so residents would have the opportunity to purchase a subscription to the Pac 12 Network on the live streaming Youtube channel which has 24/7 live coverage. My point is, times and technology have changed. There are options to watch basically anything you want to; it's not like he would be playing in some remote village is Siberia.

I havent looked into the youtube pac 12 channel you speak of but it's not a given that it is available in Canada. Lots of american services are not available to Canadians(like HULU for instance). There are ways around it with hacks etc but that is a hassle.

 

[Drcatfan]

OK just read the majority of this thread and it was a roller coaster of my hopes that is back to a low at this point. Anyone have any good reasons to still have hope? Currently my only hope is that "anything can happen". After the Terrence Jones announcement you have to believe there is always a chance anything can happen.

 

[MethodUK]

To be honest I'm over last years results but it has also put a damper on my hype for KY basketball. If we couldn't win it last year with the team we had nothing else coming down the pipeline really excites me. I will be more interested once half the season is played... Call me debbie downer but I just can't get hype like I used to.

 

[Joneslab]

To be honest I'm over last years results but it has also put a damper on my hype for KY basketball. If we couldn't win it last year with the team we had nothing else coming down the pipeline really excites me. I will be more interested once half the season is played... Call me debbie downer but I just can't get hype like I used to.

We've won four championships in the last four decades. It's hard.

There's a lot more to following the team than winning a title. We were all crushed by what happened last year but if winning a title is the only thing that excites you, might as well tune in for that one game on April 2nd and forget everything else that's involved with this.