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Let's play the "What is Bamba waiting on?" Game...

Cat Ballou

Cat Ballou

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So we all know Bamba's finalists - Kentucky, Michigan, Texas, and Duke. We also know that Bamba appears,in no hurry to make a decision.

So why is Bamba waiting? With Bolden returning, situation at Duke seems clear. Situation at Michigan seems clear as well. At UK, you could argue that he's waiting on Bam. At Texas, he could be waiting on Jarrett Allen.

Or is he just delaying his commitment to bump up his stock?
 
Cat Ballou said:
So we all know Bamba's finalists - Kentucky, Michigan, Texas, and Duke. We also know that Bamba appears,in no hurry to make a decision.

So why is Bamba waiting? With Bolden returning, situation at Duke seems clear. Situation at Michigan seems clear as well. At UK, you could argue that he's waiting on Bam. At Texas, he could be waiting on Jarrett Allen.

Or is he just delaying his commitment to bump up his stock?
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He just wants to keep you on the edge of your seat. What does it matter?
 
He wants what every kid wants, lots of playing time with a big time program. He's waiting to see who jumps, wants to make sure he's not competing with a soph or junior PF.
 
i think this is my interpretation.

1. He is very smart kid, and quite frankly he doesn't have "favorite" school. He isn't looking at this with bias like many players do.

2. He wants to let all the team finish their process to understanding exactly what the teams have.

3. Once the roster is set, he will make the best decision based off all the criteria he has.

or

he is just waiting on Bam. :p
 
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WildMoon said:
i think this is my interpretation.

1. He is very smart kid, and quite frankly he doesn't have "favorite" school. He isn't looking at this with bias like many players do.

2. He wants to let all the team finish their process to understanding exactly what the teams have.

3. Once the roster is set, he will make the best decision based off all the criteria he has.

or

he is just waiting on Bam. :p
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I don't think he's waiting on Bam at all, I really don't think he has made up his mind.
 
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He's picked Kentucky but he just wants to mess with our legion of impatient fans.
 
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I think it is the Bam factor as well. They may be able to play together at the 4-5, but UK's frontcourt is already pretty crowded without Bam.

Either he is a Cat or Bam returns as a SO. A win-win for the program, in my opinion.

In my completely worthless opinion as always.
 
Bam almost entirely. When we added green is very likely but then when we added diallo it almost made it a lock. As long as Bam is gone he is a Cat. Not a single person who is in the knows seems to disagree and I will go with those would know these things.
 
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I can't see him believing that Duke will play him and Carter together. Why are they even an option?
 
Looking at our competition, you've got to think Bolden's return and K's unimpressive history with bigs has to rule Duke out. Bamba is smart after all.

Regarding Texas, I suspect he's tempted by Austin, which is an awesome college town, and his relationship with Shaka, but their awful record last year with an almost as good defensive big man in Allen (who I think will stay in the draft) has to give him pause. Bamba and Coleman may not be enough to make them a tourney team.

I guess of all the competition, I'm most concerned about Michigan. The fact that Michigan is even on the list tells me there are people around Bamba that are pushing Michigan. He also seems to really like Beilein, and he has emphasized the importance of his relationship with the coach.

If Michigan was his pick though, what's holding him back? Nothing. What I suspect is that UK is the choice if Bam stays in the draft, otherwise, he might seriously consider Michigan.
 
Has there ever been any hint that Michigan is a serious possibility? Doesn't mean anything if not though. California came out of nowhere with Brown.
 
As long as he don't pull a Bolden like last year. Hopefully he will narrow it down to Duke and UK and on the very last day pick UK, that would be so sweet.
 
i don't think he is waiting on the decision of any player staying or going
if Bam stays Bamba will start beside him with Richards coming off the bench
he is going to get his minutes regardless

i think he is enjoying the process and he still may be torn between the schools
 
I think he's just waiting until he feels completely comfortable with his decision and he should. This is a very intelligent kid and he knows the situation with every program. He has a good friend in Diallo who is at UK and I am sure he is getting very good insight and info from him regarding the things that are very important to him. I know we all want him to go ahead and decide for UK, I definitely do, but this happens almost every year for UK. Let it be friends, let it be.
 
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It's simple, he's a high school senior! His life is about to change drastically and never be the same. Maybe he wants a little time after these all star events to actually rest and make up his mind. He's a very smart kid and he wants to take time to make his long term plans.
 
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HoptownCat93 said:
It's simple, he's a high school senior! His life is about to change drastically and never be the same. Maybe he wants a little time after these all star events to actually rest and make up his mind. He's a very smart kid and he wants to take time to make his long term plans.
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This makes the most sense. He hasn't actually played with some of our other recruits before and hasn't played with Quade Green in a long time. He is getting a feel for them in these Allstar games. And I'm sure he is enjoying the spotlight of being the highest ranked recruit who isn't committed through all of these games. I haven't seen a single interview with Wendell Carter and couldn't pick him out of a lineup. But I've seen a bunch with Bamba.

He might also be waiting to see which coaches and assistant coaches stay and go, in addition to current players.
 
It's the annual "Kentucky fans have no patience" game.

Next week it'll be the "Bamba is overrated and we don't need any attention whores on the team! Let him go to Texas for all I care!" game.

In two weeks, it'll be the "OMG BAMBA COMMITS TO UK HES THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME!" game.
 
Bam's decision really has no impact on Bamba's decision. Bamba is wanting to play the 4 the PF position. That would put Bam at Center and Bamba at PF to go along with Washington or Vanderbilt at the other forward position. Then we have Green, Diallo, Alexander, and the SG that Coach Cal is looking at plus Gabriel, SKJ, and Hump. This is going to be an awesome season. I think most Head Coaches are wanting BAM to play at Center.
 
dave5164 said:
Bam's decision really has no impact on Bamba's decision. Bamba is wanting to play the 4 the PF position. That would put Bam at Center and Bamba at PF to go along with Washington or Vanderbilt at the other forward position. Then we have Green, Diallo, Alexander, and the SG that Coach Cal is looking at plus Gabriel, SKJ, and Hump. This is going to be an awesome season. I think most Head Coaches are wanting BAM to play at Center.
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Bamba is a natural 5.

He wants to play the 4, which is great.

I bet not one NBA team is projecting Bam at center..

Bam is a short 5, who needs more skills to play the 4, which should be his natural position.


If we lose Hump and Bam, and do not sign Bamba it will get interesting...
 
He has verballed & Cal is sticking it the dukies like K had Bolden do to us last year.
 
Bamba could surprise people and go to Texas. Duke already has Bolden on their roster and UK already has Nick Richards.

Mo would be featured completely in Shaka's scheme next year.
 
DevilFan1989 said:
Bamba could surprise people and go to Texas. Duke already has Bolden on their roster and UK already has Nick Richards.

Mo would be featured completely in Shaka's scheme next year.
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By "featured", you mean go to a program that has no talent, misses the tournament, and is forgotten for most of the season?
 
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brianpoe said:
Bamba is a natural 5.

He wants to play the 4, which is great.

I bet not one NBA team is projecting Bam at center..

Bam is a short 5, who needs more skills to play the 4, which should be his natural position.


If we lose Hump and Bam, and do not sign Bamba it will get interesting...
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That means skj will have to be ready
 
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Son_Of_Saul said:
By "featured", you mean go to a program that has no talent, misses the tournament, and is forgotten for most of the season?
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Isn't that essentially what Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz and now Michael Porter Jr. are doing? They are all top 3 draft picks regardless.

Your idealistic premise that these top HS players care more about playing for a program that will contend for a title annually over a program that will offer them unlimited playing time and feature them is flawed.

Mo Bamba will be a top 5 pick whether he goes to Kentucky or Southwest Missouri State.
 
DevilFan1989 said:
Isn't that essentially what Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz and now Michael Porter Jr. are doing? They are all top 3 draft picks regardless.

Your idealistic premise that these top HS players care more about playing for a program that will contend for a title annually over a program that will offer them unlimited playing time and feature them is flawed.

Mo Bamba will be a top 5 pick whether he goes to Kentucky or Southwest Missouri State.
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Yes, I'm operating under the presumption (not a far-fetched one) that *most* of these young men want to win while also getting better and playing with their friends. They are, after all, building a brand while playing a competitive sport. Losing sucks, even if you're Fultz. Just watching his body language this year would illuminate the idea that perhaps he had regrets about his college choice. It was evident all season.

Conversely, your assumption that winning doesn't matter for them - specifically in the case of Bamba - flies in the face of logic and demands evidential support. Can you offer any support that Bamba cares more about being a lone wolf than he does competing at the highest level, while also playing with his friends? I can offer support for the opposite.
 
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DevilFan1989 said:
Isn't that essentially what Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz and now Michael Porter Jr. are doing? They are all top 3 draft picks regardless.

Your idealistic premise that these top HS players care more about playing for a program that will contend for a title annually over a program that will offer them unlimited playing time and feature them is flawed.

Mo Bamba will be a top 5 pick whether he goes to Kentucky or Southwest Missouri State.
Click to expand...

To be fair Simmons went to LSU because of a family connection. We also saw Porter now going to Mizzou because they hired his dad as an assistant. Now Fultz I agree had no real connection . I hope that Diallo and Green sealed the deal and Bamba is just waiting for the dust to settle to announce for UK
 
MJ said that he had been pretty sure about Bamba coming to UK, but recently someone he says he trusts told him it's not happening. Won't name the person though. He said something similar when calling Brown to UK though, and was dead wrong. So.....
 
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