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losing Coach Antigua ..

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ArmyWildcat81

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Jul 18, 2012
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Losing Coach O is the primary reason our recruiting has fallen off IMO. The guy really connected to recruits and players. People blame the platoon system, etc etc but losing O really stung our recruiting.

Thoughts, opinions?
 
I do think that's a big factor. But I also don't think it can be overstated about the negative recruiting against Cal and UK. The platoon IMO gave them new ammo this year even though all smart enough folks realizes that was an anomaly and not the norm.
 
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ArmyWildcat81 said:
Losing Coach O is the primary reason our recruiting has fallen off IMO. The guy really connected to recruits and players. People blame the platoon system, etc etc but losing O really stung our recruiting.

Thoughts, opinions?
Click to expand...


If this post is in reference to VJ King committing to Louisville you have to keep in my that he never had an offer from UK.
 
If that was the case, Coach O would be tearing it up down at USF.

What was his recruiting class rated this year?

He is a great guy and and has a great personality for connecting with kids, but Cal is the main reason most big time recruits comes here to play.
 
Jerry.Edwards said:
I do think that's a big factor. But I also don't think it can be overstated about the negative recruiting against Cal and UK. The platoon IMO gave them new ammo this year even though all smart enough folks realizes that was an anomaly and not the norm.
Click to expand...

These recruits are on to something. It sucks to play on a good team, and get drafted.
 
I am not convinced that there has been a dropoff in recruiting that could be labeled a trend. This years recruiting season has been far from a bust. About the only thing you can say bad about it is we didn't fill a couple of slots that we might have with high school kids that are in high regard. However, the class is still rated very high. I think it would be a stretch to even call this year's recruiting slightly problematic.

Remember high school geometry. It takes two points to define a line. We might have a small "bump" and Coach A might be one contributing factor. If we see several spots go unfilled over the next 2 - 3 years, then we might have a trend worthy of discussion. This year? Naw, that's just media looking for a story in a slow season. We still have a bright year to look forward to.
 
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I think had Orlando Antigua been around Kentucky would have had a shot at the consensus overall No. 1 player in this class and would have had a decent chance to land the guy many consider the class's best point guard. Orlando likely would have found the nation's top JUCO player who may be the class's best overall shooter to plug a hole, and would have had UK in the hunt for a late blossoming potential star if one chose to reclassify after blowing up in the Nike game. No doubt in my mind with OA the Cats haul a Top Five recruiting class. So I guess I'm agreeing with the OP.
 
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I know this year we missed on some of the guys we wanted but we still have a top two class and may end up 1 in the end. IMO the past six years recruiting is some of,the most remarkable recruiting ever not linked to Sam Gilbert.

Just because some of the big names decided to go to non traditional powers doesn't mean it's a down year. Like,some have said, the logjam of minutes we had this year go hand in hand with the negative recruiting that no doubt happens every time KY is mentioned. One thing I don't worry about with Cal and staff is recruiting. After missing out on so many over the decade before he got here. Not to mention getting pumped about 8th graders and kids CBG recruited. Calipari is killing it
 
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BostonCat2001 said:
losing in the final four has caused some uk fans to actually get dumber. thats my thought.
Click to expand...
That might be, or maybe it has to do with going to the Final Four four times in five years. Now, a class with the No. 1 overall player, arguably the best point guard, the nation's best JUCO scorer and a guy who was once rated in the Top 12 and is still i the upper 4-star range has people whining and crying that it isn't good enough.

This year's class compares with, and maybe exceeds, the 2010 class of Jones, Knight, Lamb, Poole and Vargas, especially if you expect to get 8-10 good minutes a game out of Wynyard beginning in December, as I do. And yet people act like its the Michael Porter, Morikyno Williams, Rekalin Sims, Sheray Thomas days all over again.
 
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has more to do with having 7 players get drafted than losing antigua. a lot of spots were taken and recruits didn't know what would happen. look for cal to recruit the 2016 class quickly and in dominating fashion.
 
catben said:
If that was the case, Coach O would be tearing it up down at USF.

What was his recruiting class rated this year?

He is a great guy and and has a great personality for connecting with kids, but Cal is the main reason most big time recruits comes here to play.
Click to expand...

Kentucky and South Florida are apples and oranges.
 
WildcatfaninOhio said:
Players don't choose UK because of an assistant coach. They choose UK because of Coach Cal. The end!
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Agree and disagree at the same time. Cal is certainly the head figure, but assistants play a far larger role than you seem to realize.

If Calipari had tubbys last staff at UK, and you think we'd be landing top 10 classes, you are out of your mind.
 
Recruiting is going to be fine. What we need to worry about is winning more titles with the absurd amount of talent we bring in here. Not winning it in 2010 and last year concerns me more than Antigua no longer being here. Cal still has plenty of connections.
 
ArmyWildcat81 said:
I'll let you know when we've been turned down by every target we've offered since November... Now.
Click to expand...

When you get your best players early you are sure to miss on later players. Plus with recruiting Slice never filled the void left by Coach O leaving.
 
ArmyWildcat81 said:
Losing Coach O is the primary reason our recruiting has fallen off IMO. The guy really connected to recruits and players. People blame the platoon system, etc etc but losing O really stung our recruiting.

Thoughts, opinions?
Click to expand...
You think recruiting has fallen off? How spoiled have we gotten? Kentucky's class is ranked anywhere from #1 to #3 in the nation, depending on the source. Labissiere and Briscoe are the best high school players in the country at their positions. Mulder is a juco AA. Kentucky is probably the leader for Jamal Murray, and Tony Barbee has recently done everything but buy billboard advertising to say we will add another player to this class. O was a very good assistant coach. But Kenny Payne is every bit as valuable. Calipari himself is the best recruiter in the country. Do you really think a recruit like Brown or Swanigan is thinking to himself, damn, I would have signed with Kentucky if only Antigua was still there? LOL!
 
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Blue Decade said:
You think recruiting has fallen off? How spoiled have we gotten? Kentucky's class is ranked anywhere from #1 to #3 in the nation, depending on the source. Labissiere and Briscoe are the best high school players in the country at their positions. Mulder is a juco AA. Kentucky is probably the leader for Jamal Murray, and Tony Barbee has recently done everything but buy billboard advertising to say we will add another player to this class. O was a very good assistant coach. But Kenny Payne is every bit as valuable. Calipari himself is the best recruiter in the country. Do you really think a recruit like Brown or Swanigan is thinking to himself, damn, I would have signed with Kentucky if only Antigua was still there? LOL!
Click to expand...

Best post in the thread so far. What more can be said to convince people that our current class isn't pretty dang good and could get way better if we should add Murray and maybe one more. Great post, Blue Decade, could not agree with you more, just wish the OP and other doubters would pay attention to the facts you have given.
 
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Blue Decade said:
Do you really think a recruit like Brown or Swanigan is thinking to himself, damn, I would have signed with Kentucky if only Antigua was still there? LOL!
Click to expand...

What you would ideally want is Antigua to develop a relationship with a recruit to where he feels a close bond. Someone he trusts and believes has his best interests in mind. When he isn't getting playing time, someone he is comfortable enough to talk to and will be on his side with the good cop/bad cop routine Cal will often do. The assistant will be the coach who will pat you on the shoulder just after Cal yells at you like a madman going into a timeout. Tell you after the game he believes in you, etc. One thing about Cal is he is going to be extremely demanding of you in a matter-of-fact manner. Stray from that and he yanks the leash and has no problem scolding you. The assistant coaches are there to be keep your chin up.
 
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Jerry.Edwards said:
I do think that's a big factor. But I also don't think it can be overstated about the negative recruiting against Cal and UK. The platoon IMO gave them new ammo this year even though all smart enough folks realizes that was an anomaly and not the norm.
Click to expand...
Honestly, UK is better off without any kid stupid enough to be unable to recognize that as a unique situation which clearly won't be repeated this year.
 
TrustinCal said:
What you would ideally want is Antigua to develop a relationship with a recruit to where he feels a close bond. Someone he trusts and believes has his best interests in mind. When he isn't getting playing time, someone he is comfortable enough to talk to and will be on his side with the good cop/bad cop routine Cal will often do. The assistant will be the coach who will pat you on the shoulder just after Cal yells at you like a madman going into a timeout. Tell you after the game he believes in you, etc. One thing about Cal is he is going to be extremely demanding of you in a matter-of-fact manner. Stray from that and he yanks the leash and has no problem scolding you. The assistant coaches are there to be keep your chin up.
Click to expand...
Do you believe Kenny Payne doesn't do this? I loved O, but I think Kenny is 1 of the best assistant coaches we have ever had. I would take Kenny over any other assistant coach in the country.
 
UK till Death said:
Honestly, UK is better off without any kid stupid enough to be unable to recognize that as a unique situation which clearly won't be repeated this year.
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Which, I guess, means we are better off with the players we have, or will have. I have never seen any point in speculating how good our team might have been with players who sign at other schools.
 
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IndyUKFan121 said:
If this post is in reference to VJ King committing to Louisville you have to keep in my that he never had an offer from UK.
Click to expand...


You're 100% wrong, he had an offer from UK.. Where in God's name people make random statements with ansolutely no clue what they're talking about is amazing. You're wrong
 
ORCAT said:
Best post in the thread so far. What more can be said to convince people that our current class isn't pretty dang good and could get way better if we should add Murray and maybe one more. Great post, Blue Decade, could not agree with you more, just wish the OP and other doubters would pay attention to the facts you have given.
Click to expand...


Bud, nobody said our current class wasnt great.
 
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