Shepherd is a projected top 7 pick. Even as of a week ago.
He would be not wise to turn down $20+ million dollars to come play for a coach who admittedly didn’t start him in order to not hurt the feelings of other players.
The only way Cal shows us he's seriously wanting to change is that he needs to load up on the portal.
- Thread starter Son_Of_Saul
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Shepherd is a projected top 7 pick. Even as of a week ago.
He would be not wise to turn down $20+ million dollars to come play for a coach who admittedly didn’t start him in order to not hurt the feelings of other players.
I don't disagree, but if Cal gave the portal as much attention as he does HS Frosh, it would mitigate some of the damage his coaching causes and enhance our ability to make deeper runs in March.
Because he went with and favored mid tier 5 stars to load up his team.
Plus I mean he’s not a good coach. But loading up on portal guys instead of random freshman will lead to more success. Just look up the makeup of each and every Elite 8 team this year.
I’ll wait.
Good point.
A lot of people who aren't good coaches make the Final Four. Just look at NC State this year.
Experienced players can help overcome bad coaching. It's MUCH more difficult to do with a team full of Frosh.
The solution isn't the Transfer Portal and it certainly isn't freshmen. If winning games and championships is the goal (never has been Cal), you have to pay players. That is not where we are currently, but it's where we will be quickly. It's free agency with no salary cap.
What is a Championship worth to to UK/Capilouto/Barnhart/Cal?
A starting 5 at $6 million each... is a bargain.
What is a Championship worth to to UK/Capilouto/Barnhart/Cal?
A starting 5 at $6 million each... is a bargain.
Uh...who you paying to come join us if it ain't FR and ain't Transfers?
Do you mean pay our potential returnees to they all return?
We still need to replace Reeves, and maybe Dillingham, and a stronger interior pressence, and a shutdown wing defender.
I think the only significant change Cal will ever make is his coat or tie.
It sucks being put out in the damn first round. We had the best guards in the country this year and Cal blew it!
But “wanting to change “ and “being capable of change “ are different things anyway.
“It is everybody who does not shoot, rebound, pass, or defends fault including Cal, his assistants, the trainers, the AD, the equipment staff.” - y’all goofies
Yeah, couldn't be Cal. You've had 4 years of shit results, new teams each season, but it's the kids.
Nvm the fact that 2 teams in the elite-8 were starting 1 Freshman. And most of the teams were composed of grad transfers.
Man that was just lip service. Cal ain't changing crap. An assistant or two will get canned for different buddies and business as usual. Cal will be back to taking shots at fans abd being his snarky ass self. Probably even more with all the criticism.
Whether they come or are any good, I think we’ve had a few new reported contacts today with a couple VT players(probably don’t scream defense) and Meechie.
The Arkansas method is silly of contacting everyone(obviously didn’t work this year) but there are tons of players worth reaching out to for the right role.
I would love to let Somto go elsewhere and free up even more portal opportunity.
The Arkansas method is silly of contacting everyone(obviously didn’t work this year) but there are tons of players worth reaching out to for the right role.
I would love to let Somto go elsewhere and free up even more portal opportunity.
If Cal starts more than one freshman he will be conceding we are not serious about competing in the NCAA in March and will be giving a huge middle finger to our fans, donors and administration.
Well the kids do play the basketball. But I’m sure your right, Cal tells them to miss layups, dunks, and let players blow by them.
Considering that'll be half the roster there's a good chance he starts 2-3 freshmen.
he needs to get some heavyweight centers from where ever. i’m tired of seeing our lightweight stickmen getting pushed around under the basket.
You dont think Q and Knox are starting? and depending who returns Fland as well.
This is a problem and this is why nothing will change. It doesn’t matter which way Cal goes if he goes experience like he’s done in the past he will still go no where it’s been proven a couple of seasons ago. We are doomed either way as long as jack@ss is still the coach.
True that, we have been old and lose and young and lost. We have had big men and shooters. I’d prefer to take my chances with older players though. At least they may be able to overcome Cal on the court when it matters.
We don’t have any roster spots, so many guys to make a decision on returning or transferring, and 6 freshman. We won’t have the slots to nab anyone.
Cal isn’t going to land the guys from the portal we need he will land second third 4th choices. And to offset those OT and kellen cal brought friggin wheeler because he couldn’t land any of the top portal guards. Also by your logic he’s already using the portal and failing miserably
Not going to happen because, as some others have stated, no one wants to come here to play behind an inexperienced freshman, just not happening.
Cal is still the coach, so expect more suckage this season, regardless who is on the roster.
Cal is still the coach, so expect more suckage this season, regardless who is on the roster.
Talent can cover up deficiencies if allowed to.
It appears a lot of poor coaching and or management skills are augmented by those that choose to micromanage.
An example would be Jerry Jones the Cowboys owner.
BTW: micromanagers seldom change because they can't think outside the box. Thus they are their own worst enemy.
Great coaches are glorified CEO's.
They let the ability of those under them flow like a brand new spigot.
I enjoy reading most of the posts in this thread, and agree with a lot of them. However. What in the world makes you guys imagine Cal thinks he needs to show fans or prove anything to us? His contempt for the critics in the fan base is evident. His power play with Mitch was brilliant and if he coached half as well as he tossed the bull crap, we would still be playing for a shot at the championship. He doesn’t believe he owes us anything and is delusional about his floor coaching ability.
There are other factors he will consider other than money. Some of those factors are bigger than money.
Also, Sheppard came to Cal’s defense after the last game, so he still believes in Cal or at least that is what he is saying. I doubt Sheppard bolts to get away from a coach he still trusts and believes in (even though we don’t feel that way as fans).
Bottom line, Sheppard has a big decision to make and it’s bigger than just getting paid.
I hope he returns, but I am expecting him to leave. The NBA dream might just be too much to postpone. But as a kid who grew up bleeding blue, I know it would be hard to give up that uniform, especially after the way this season ended. And my parents didn’t play at UK It’s got to be a tough decision.
