Shaka coming on strong.
- Thread starter TheAnonymous13
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....Especially considering Allen isn't guaranteed to be a 1st round pick.
However, I have felt like from the beginning that Bamba is a shy, reserved kid and the glare of UK Basketball may be too much for him. Hope I'm wrong, but that is the ONLY reason I could see keeping him from committing to us.
You're 100% right that I've been agenda-driven lately, and you're right about what my agenda is, but it's only because it seems necessary here for some insane reason.
I'm harping on the titles point because it's useless in a discussion where Bamba is considering Texas. If you want to make other points about why we might miss on a given kid, I'm with you, but acting like our failure to win *more* than one title is the reason kids are going anywhere but Duke is just false and dumb.
I think the reason we recruit the way we do is because of perception as much as it is our style. Kids are afraid to be buried here, so they go elsewhere. The only assumed way to fix that is to recruit more guys who aren't one and done, but 1- that's hard to do because they're afraid to be buried, 2- they end up exceeding expectations like Booker and Ulis, or 3- they commit and then think they're "better" than the role they're able to earn here and go elsewhere.
Cal tried to address it with the Succeed and Proceed thing, but that didn't catch on. It's the only chink in our armor when it comes to recruiting, so it feels exaggerated and beaten into the ground, because it's all any opposing program can use. So for the kids we don't get, that's usually the reason. Otherwise, why *wouldnt* you be at UK?
In the long run, there's no perfect pitch. Duke is trying to have it both ways, and we're already seeing that not work either. I think you take your chances with selling the biggest prize in the best way, because the kids enticed by it are the ones who can lead you to glory. If it costs us the Charles Matthews' to get the Anthony Davis' then that's a trade-off I'm willing to make.
To fully answer you, I think we are the modern situation, not adjust to it. It's adjusting to us, and that makes things more difficult. Just like when teams caught up to the Press-and-Threes of Pitino, etc. We were on the forefront, we cleaned up, and now it's reverting a bit more to the mean.
We're still more than getting our share, and I think when that second and third tier of player that Cal keeps targeting (and landing) actually stays, we're looking at another banner. This year is a great foundation for that. It's why I'm not overly worked up about Diallo or Bamba. I don't expect we'll win in this year anyway, but I bet we keep some pieces that make us a favorite in '19.
For the last damn time.
Bamba picking Texas would be the other side of the coin I was referring. That you don't have to come here and play for Cal to position yourself for the pros. Not necessarily for a title in HIS case, although there's nothing necessarily stopping him from thinking they can.
Bamba picking Texas would be the other side of the coin I was referring. That you don't have to come here and play for Cal to position yourself for the pros. Not necessarily for a title in HIS case, although there's nothing necessarily stopping him from thinking they can.
Oh God don't say slipping. They look for certain words to pounce on as a means of discrediting the broader point.
I say "slight dip" because that's all it takes with our young teams to come up short. We need two top 5 NBA studs in our classes if we want to win the title, and 8 years of evidence seem to say it's got some validity.
I think we get Bamba too. When I slow down and take a breath it seems inevitable.
Look I expect Bamba to pick TX. Its who we are now Im thinking. Next we will have a guy show up and not ever play a game, and jump to the NBA. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh sorry we have already had that happen. Nothing shocks me now about UK basketball anymore. Course it only took me 50 years of being a fan to get to this point.
Morgousky why are you being so naughty today? Calm down, take a deep breath. OK I'm out go to it boys.
I think it's fair to say we haven't had as many of the "elite of the elite" players. But that's only because Skal flamed out. We are only 2 years removed from Karl Towns going #1 in the NBA draft.
I hear ya. But we can win the title with Diallo and Bamba. I think it could actually be one of our better teams.
About to have another baby and the woman carries like crap. Its been 5 months.
Yea, I need Bamba to sign for some relief.
Are you serious? We're in everyone's top 5 for next year and now we're going to struggle to make the tournament? Surely you jest.
All I will say to this is that there is no sure fire way to assemble a roster that will guarantee a championship or even make it a 50/50 proposition. Cal brought in 3 top 10 guys last year and it got us to 32-6 and a heartbreaking loss to UNC. dUKe had one of the more talented rosters in a long time last year and they didn't even get out of the 2nd round after winning the ACC tournament getting beat by South Carolina........SOUTH CAROLINA!
If we get Bamba this year and Diallo does indeed return what will you think about our roster next year?
I think it's a good shot at a title. At least a final four.
But if we had a few skilled elite college players coming back with them, we'd be a heavy, heavy favorite.
I too think championships are won by a very thin margin. Just one miss or one guy leaving too early can cost you.
Mohammed Bamba: repeat after me: Jahlil Okafor, Karl Anthony Towns, Texas NBA big man stars, DeMarcus Cousins, Marshal Plumlee, Anthony Davis ,VCU big man NBA stars, Nerlens Noel, Shaka Smart, Kenny Payne, Harry Giles, Willie Cauley Stein, Do you see an emerging pattern here?
Morgousky and Stevie against the world.
BIO bitches!
Whew..it takes it's toll. For real..Coach Cal is a sensitive subject around here. But what I don't get is it is pretty much ONLY on here as far as I know. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc..Rival fans, fans of Cbb in general, and even other UK fans rip Coach Cal apart. Some on this board would flip if they saw some of the things I've seen said about Coach Cal (And I have defended him on, BTW.).
Pioneers are rarely fully appreciated. I don't give Cal a green light on everything. I think he's stubborn to a fault sometimes, but it's his rigidness on certain aspects that eventually gets most of his guys to buy into what he's trying to get them to do and it makes them better players.
I just take offense to when posters say that Cal just wants to have high NBA draft picks and could care less about winning a national championship. And that he pushes kids out the door ready or not. I just don't believe this is the case in either case. These recruits would eventually see through someone that shallow and they don't appear to be doing that. Wall, Cousins, Rose, AD, MKG, Towns, Camby, etc would come to Cal's defense at the drop of a hat. They truly love the man.
Oh I don't go all in on the subject here either. Much different being in Lexington after a game. Cal is a lightening rod. I'd say more than half of the UK fans I've spoken with away from this board absolutely despise the system and hate the OAD. One thing I hear a lot is "appreciate Cal, but won't cry when the system reverts back to a more traditional way."
That's kind of where I am. I am thankful and glad Cal came and has put these pros in the NBA. We're now the place of the pros and UNC can't stand that, don't let them fool you. It used to be them.
We At least got a title and a slew of final fours out of this. I'm just exhausted with the constant turnover and close misses. Cal should retire with no less than 3 titles and maybe he still can, and that's what I judge Cal by. How MANY titles. Most people around here have just fallen back to "we've been close that's all you can ask". Meanwhile UNC has won 3 titles in the last 13 years and Duke has won 2 in the last 7. Cal ends with one title and he helped hurt his own legacy by pure stubbornness imo. Would have been so easy to ease back on the system, get some guys to return, don't allow guys like Kennard to be scared off etc. I mean sometimes we play right into the stereotypes.
I'm just half and half. But around here, that's a straight up troll. Lol. It's fine. To each their own.
Okay. And I get that..but that's the thing..I never said that and was accused of saying it or insinuating or something, I guess. I said I do think his biggest goal is to put guys into the NBA (Which I really do but that's just something I think from things Coach Cal has said.) but I never ONCE have said he doesn't care about winning. I said that being a high draft pick goes hand in hand with winning which it does..and then some clown accused me of saying UK hasn't been winning..and then you jumped all over my reply to him. Ummm..why ?
Dumbest thing I have ever read on this board. For that I have to put this poster on ignore. We still would have Vanderbilt , Richards, PJ , all top 20 picks in next year's draft . Then Green , Alexander and Johnson ( who will be here ) are great to good players and then we have guys like Gabriel with a ton of potential . With all that being said we will get bamba and a good chance Diallo comes back.
We would struggle to be a top 2 seed but would be a 3-4 seed at worst as we would still have top 10 talent .
I certainly don't rememer jumping all over you, if you took it that way then I apologize. I've been following Kentucky basketball for a long time. My grandfather played for Rupp in the early to mid 30's (at the early going of his coaching tenure at UK) and Kentucky basketball has never been this exciting. Yeah it's not all roses but for the most part we are getting to watch some of the best basketball players that have ever worn the UK jersey. They don't stay long, which sucks, but we get a new batch the next year. Everyone is watching us to see what we're doing. Whether we get every recruit we go after or not they all entertain the thought of playing at Kentucky. They all want that Kentucky offer cause they know that certifies them as being the elite of the elite. It hasn't always been this way and it may not stay this way for long. It's just a new way to follow Kentucky basketball. When Cal leaves, we'll get another guy that will come in here and win or he'll be gone. But eventually another guy will come who will win and win a championship and he'll have a different way than Cal. At that time I'll adjust my expectations accordingly. But I'll still be doing the same thing I've always done. Go to a few games a year at Rupp and pull for the Big Blue. That's all it's about for me. I've witnessed 4 NCAA championships so they don't come around very often.
Thanks for bringing up Bolden. Bolden was barely a top 20 recruit when UK was after him. He chose Duke and jumped up to no. 8 or 9 after choosing Duke. He couldn't even set a legal screen, always moving. Not sure what coach Cal was seeing in him! IMHO
I think A LOT of UK fans are stressed the hell out and are on edge. First, we see UK get absolutely screwed by ONE official, John Higgins, then the whole John Higgins fiasco afterward, and then our guys going pro one after another (Even a couple that probably shouldn't.), some "inside info" turning out to be wrong info, and then the Diallo thing..and now some ehhh or possibly bad news in terms of recruiting. It's just been more and more to be pissed off about since late March. Yes, you're right..it is an exciting time overall and I agree with everything you just said but there are still little stretches of very important moments that lead to stressful stretches. This off season has been wild so far.
Even that I'm not sure about.. Fox, Monk, Murray, Skal (wasn't used properly, and a similar injury scenario to Giles).. even Bam was top10.
Christ, if the NCAA would stop hammering us every chance they get come tournament time, this wouldn't be an issue. If we took the UK jersey off when they made their picks, we were good enough for an Elite8 last year and a Final4 this year.. And godforbid we get Duke treatment, both of those teams have a shot of making the title game...
That's ultimately what's hampering us: The NCAA tying one hand behind our back during the most volatile tournament in sports. Our recruiting is fine if you ask me. It dips a little bit, here and there.. but that's to be expected.
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If he has to pick someone other than UK I hope it's Texas not Duke. Texas doesn't worry me at all from a national contender standpoint.
Lmao at Monk not being clutch. Did you see the shots he was making in March in the final minutes of the games? Especially UNC. If he had more shots sooner, we probably win, but his offense and shooting were pure clutch to claw us back into the lead with a chance to win it.
I also think it's hilarious that you cite James Young as being clutch when his teammate, Aaron Harrison, is the single greatest clutch shooter I have seen at U.K. In my lifetime (25 y/o). Do you even watch UK play?
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