I just assume Pope is going to play guys that earn playing time in practice. I also assume guys didn't come to Kentucky because they were just expecting to start without having to earn it.
This is a real good point and it gives me an idea. Why not give kids structured contracts.
Contracts, caps, team-based incentives, actual sharing in revenue, etc. They need to figure out a framework but the ncaa appears to falling apart.
I only want a young reclass if they stay two years. I don’t know how that expectation plays out anymore in this climate.
Returning to their original class still brings them here younger than they could be. We're better off if they are older.
With the roster build I’ve had that same question . Gonna be hard for most freshmen to impress in practice out of the gate against a team full of upperclassmen.
I'm with you. The exception would be if you have one of those generational type freshman like Wall, Davis, KAT ect. Someone that you know will make an immediate impact as a freshman and can take you to the next level. Otherwise, if you get freshman, I would lean more towards the guys you think may stay 2 or 3 years so you have some experienced system guys. High 3 star and 4 star players. The portal is where it's at in my opinion.
The issue is viewing this as if Cal is still coaching. The downfall was never because he recruited 5 star 1 and done type players. The issue is that Cal fostered a culture of being 1 and done as the ultimate goal. On top of that, he tried to fill his roster with those types to the point that everybody that came to UK under Cal expected to leave after 1 year, even if they weren't really ready.
I may not have been very clear in my post because I think we mostly agree. So my mistake. I don't want to bring in a complete team of portal guys every year like we did this year. Actually the way Hurley has been going about it is what I believe is the sweet spot. So if you like his method I'm with you. I think the biggest thing we need to avoid is bring in players who only want to get to the NBA as quick as possible and give us nothing in return.
Isn't it crazy that Edwards is actually be talked about as a late first rounder. I just don't see it
He reportably didn't like being told the truth, that he would be unlikely to play much at UK as a freshman. Maybe he will play a lot at Texas or maybe he prefers being lied to. Time will tell us the answer.
I think the two things are, number one, having at least a few players back for possibly two or three years as a base for the roster does not put as much pressure finding a portal guy for every position. You have a more experienced player with this system to start the season off with without every player having to learn on the fly. And second, it looks like Pope will be having a few Kentucky kids on the roster every year and they would have a tendency to stay here longer on average. JMO
That was the problem for Cal, that was the only type of player he recruited at the end. Basically, he didn't change, but he created a monstar he just wasn't able to feed. His first couple of years here he used the pitch of winning and going to the league, and it worked. But even the high end guys were interested in being here and winning at a high level. John Wall on his podcast mentions that he was in culture shock when he got to the NBA, and wanted to go back to college because he hated losing. Cousins was the same way. But slowly that trait started disappearing in the guys Cal was recruiting, and it was less of a mutual partnership between UK and the player, and more of players just using the university as a stepping stone.
Sure - and then he can go to the draft after his Redshirt season. Sounds like a good fit for Arkansas.
It will probably start looking a lot more like those 90s practices soon, where the best players play, regardless of high school accolades.
