This is actually the best year for us in recruiting...

[W_Heisenberg]

Once in a while, things need to be reset and kids need to be reminded what's at stake. I've said it all along, if you are an elite HS prospect (meaning top 10-15), and you have offers from an elite program, you take it. You don't mess this up, you have to think of the big picture. Diallo did; Newman, Brown, Zimmerman did not (and don't give me the UNLV and Bennett story, it's rare a team would eff up the top pick like that, plus that draft was incredibly weak).

UK, KU, Duke, UNC...that's the core list, with MSU as a close 5th.

This helps with coaching/development, exposure, branding, and ultimately draft spot. If WCS went to KSU would he be a top 10 pick? No...would we have been an All American? No.

Watch what happens this year as a lot of these kids go from top 5/10/lottery spots and fall. It may only be a few spots, it might be several but it will happen. And after that, things will sway back our way.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Whatever helps you sleep at night bru....Bottom line is UK got 2 big time recruits this yr when we are used to getting 3 or 4...

End of story....

 

[heath4saints]

What's a bru?

 

[W_Heisenberg]

What's a bru?

I think he means "bruh"...

 

[gregbookout]

Matthews is still a very solid recruit. just because he fell from 5* status you right him off. Devin Booker, Eric Bledsoe, Tyler Ulis, WCS.....All these guys were border line 5 or 4's depending on the service and have been tremendous. Marcus Lee was rated top 15, Dakari the same, even top 10 and neither had as much impact as quick as the aforementioned list. just relax

 

[gamalielkid]

Once in a while, things need to be reset and kids need to be reminded what's at stake. I've said it all along, if you are an elite HS prospect (meaning top 10-15), and you have offers from an elite program, you take it. You don't mess this up, you have to think of the big picture. Diallo did; Newman, Brown, Zimmerman did not (and don't give me the UNLV and Bennett story, it's rare a team would eff up the top pick like that, plus that draft was incredibly weak).

UK, KU, Duke, UNC...that's the core list, with MSU as a close 5th.

This helps with coaching/development, exposure, branding, and ultimately draft spot. If WCS went to KSU would he be a top 10 pick? No...would we have been an All American? No.

Watch what happens this year as a lot of these kids go from top 5/10/lottery spots and fall. It may only be a few spots, it might be several but it will happen. And after that, things will sway back our way.

Heisenberg you mention KU as a good place and then you say Willy wouldn't have done well as well at Kansas. I agree I think he wouldn't have done as well, but he may have been their "star" had he gone to Kansas and stayed 3 years.

Go Big Blue!

 

[BigBluePhantom]

I don't think there is anyway you could say it is the "best" year in recruiting but I do get what the OP is saying. He is right that there is a very good chance that some of these guys fall in the NBA draft rankings and that does look good for UK. It also has to potential to help Cal gain a little respect from a coaching aspect. We could have won all 40 games last year by 20+ points and the general consensus would have been that it was because of the talent and anybody could have coached them. This team will allow him to show his stuff. It also gives guys like Lee, Willis and Hawkins a chance to show what they can do. These guys are very good basketball players but have been recruited over every year. We need a few guys like them on the team if we aren't going to platoon. This year they will get their shot.

The best thing about all this is that all the above gets a chance to happen and yet we still should be a top 10 team with a moderate chance to go back to the final 4. Things could be a whole lot worse.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

We had the most returning talent of anyone in the nation. Then we add the #2 or 3 class, including the #1 overall player/NBA draft pick.

If this is what "struggling" looks like under Cal, Ill take it.

 

[IdaCat]

I think he means "bruh"...

What's a "bruh"?

 

[RondoBaller21]

I'd still bet a lot that Cal adds a back-up five, and a back-up wing. At that point, Kentucky will be as deep, and have as much talent, as all but 3-4 teams in the country. That's a fact.

Here's an opinion, based on that fact: The make-up of Kentucky's team will be closer to the teams with which Cal has had great success than last year's team was: Not better. Not nearly as talented. Not as likely on paper to go to the Final Four and beyond. But, yes, closer to the kind of team that Cal has taken a long way, in 1996 and 2008 and 2011 and even, in some respects like depth, 2012.

Backup wing? Who's the starting wing?

 

[musrat59]

Regardless of whether we get anymore players, we will have eleven counting the walk on kid from Pittsburgh.

 

[Emmitt69]

Great post W....you get it, unfortunately not everyone understands. Let's talk in a year - no bridge jumping until then.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

I hate it when people try to do this. This year is B.S. no matter how you look at it. Unless we get Murray.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

Our class is fine and I think we'll be great next year. But this was not a typical Coach Cal recruiting class. He whiffed on a bunch of really good players and we need bodies, hopefully good ball players. The problem as I see it is that we have very limited offense. Ulis is a point guard and he shot well last year but he won't get those open looks next year. Poythress can't shoot unless it's a put back or dunk. Marcus Lee can't shoot nor can he hit free throws. If one or more of the freshman can shoot we'll be fine (and that's where I'm pinning my hopes) but a lot of posters are taking for granted that our incoming class can shoot at a high percentage. I hope that happens but incoming freshmen don't always become good shooters because it's a totally different game than beating up on high school competition where most of the players are short, slow, and don't have the talent to stay with the good recruits. Only a handful (i.e. Devin Booker) carry their stats over to the college game.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

Heisenberg you mention KU as a good place and then you say Willy wouldn't have done well as well at Kansas. I agree I think he wouldn't have done as well, but he may have been their "star" had he gone to Kansas and stayed 3 years.

Go Big Blue!

I said KSU - Kansas State.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

I hate it when people try to do this. This year is B.S. no matter how you look at it. Unless we get Murray.

I'm not forgiving a "down recruiting year" or trying to blow sunshine up your a**....this year hasn't been as good as we needed or usually have, no one is saying that.

But when you look at what these kids are doing, there is a common theme -"I can go where I want and it will have minimal impact on my draft potential". In most cases, that's just not true and they will find out the hard way.

UK and KU were hurt the most by these decisions (we were both chasing Brown and Newman).

 

[W_Heisenberg]

Backup wing? Who's the starting wing?

I'd guess he starts Poythress at the 3...or Matthews at the 3, Poy at the 4, Skal at the 5 and Lee gets minutes at the 4 and 5 spot.

But no clear-cut option for the wing.

 

[dorkmeister]

Don't you think other teams can point to WCS, Poythress, Harrison twins, Lee and Johnson and say that Cal cant get kids to the NBA as well? If you argue this point then others will argue the players I just mentioned as well.

 

[BreckCo.Wildcat]

Choosing to not be challenged or being afraid to have your flaws exposed is a sign of weakness. UK doesn't need those type players. I think this is what Cal means when he says UK isn't for everyone.

Here your flaws will be exposed because you will get everyone's A game and you will be on television; nationally televised for the most part. These guys aren't UK material or they would have accepted the challenge. Having A level talent and choosing to play for a B level school says something about you.

A player like Charles Mathews will end up a better NBA player than the Newman kid because he isn't afraid to work.

 

[DaBossIsBack]

Don't you think other teams can point to WCS, Poythress, Harrison twins, Lee and Johnson and say that Cal cant get kids to the NBA as well? If you argue this point then others will argue the players I just mentioned as well.

Uhhh except for all the other players he has had drafted in the lottery and first round. How many first rounders does Martin have on his resume? Matt Painter? Whoever the heck coaches unlv? You can't argue that at all.

 

[BlueBlood66]

Choosing to not be challenged or being afraid to have your flaws exposed is a sign of weakness. UK doesn't need those type players. I think this is what Cal means when he says UK isn't for everyone.

Here your flaws will be exposed because you will get everyone's A game and you will be on television; nationally televised for the most part. These guys aren't UK material or they would have accepted the challenge. Having A level talent and choosing to play for a B level school says something about you.

A player like Charles Mathews will end up a better NBA player than the Newman kid because he isn't afraid to work.

You don't know any of this, it's something you tell yourself for comfort.

 

[maverick1]

What's a bru?

Dunno for sure, but if you add a couple of "ha"s to it you'll have a fight on your hands.

 

[Emmitt69]

Like Cal says......"I can't hide you at UK". Some don't want the pressure or heat.

 

[coolcat9lives]

While I don't think its the "best" year for recruiting I do think the guys Cal missed out on don't necessarily fit the mentality we are used to seeing from incoming recruits. A strong mind and selfless nature are required. Don't think many of these guys were willing to sacrifice too much of themselves. I still want Cal to grab Vick or Murray. We may become the most talented team in the nation with that roster......again.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

Don't you think other teams can point to WCS, Poythress, Harrison twins, Lee and Johnson and say that Cal cant get kids to the NBA as well? If you argue this point then others will argue the players I just mentioned as well.

LOL, Cal has been crowned by the media as "Mr. One and Done" and has put more kids in the NBA over the past 5 years than any other school (most of whom went first round).

There is no other coach better at getting elite players to the league, period

 

[hootervillearnolds]

We had the most returning talent of anyone in the nation. Then we add the #2 or 3 class, including the #1 overall player/NBA draft pick.

If this is what "struggling" looks like under Cal, Ill take it.

 

[hootervillearnolds]

We had the most returning talent of anyone in the nation. Then we add the #2 or 3 class, including the #1 overall player/NBA draft pick.

If this is what "struggling" looks like under Cal, Ill take it.

Dude I hate to break it to you but 'we had the most returning talent'? This upcoming year?

I try to be fair in my posts but seriously?

There is Lee that played less than ten competitive minutes per game down the stretch. An undersized PG. Good kid but not d rose or j wall. And a guy coming off an ACL whose main upside was athleticism. Plus Hawkins and Willis.

Yes UK is top ten with recruits that are being added. But try to be honest in your appraisal.

 

[BlueSince92]

People have such short memories and the stuff you're talking about OP is so subjective that I don't see it helping us a lot. Though I do think it would help us in a smarter world. But do think this year is poised to leave us with experienced Ulis, Matthews, Mulder, Hawkins, Willis and Lee as a core for '16. Which I think, if we can pull a big out of a hat, will bode really well.

 

[catrecruit]

We are going to be so much better than people think....Skal alone is outrageously talented and will almost instantly carry Karl's place....And as much as I love the twins, their shooting percentages were crap

Tyler and Briscoe as a pair are going to surprise....Bring in a guy like Matthews at the 3 and Poy at the 4 and we have a ton of talent in those 5 guys....Bring Lee off the bench again UNLESS he makes huge strides skill-wise over the summer.....If Willis does like-wise we are gonna be more than fine

Very enthused about next season!

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Dude I hate to break it to you but 'we had the most returning talent'? This upcoming year?

I try to be fair in my posts but seriously?

There is Lee that played less than ten competitive minutes per game down the stretch. An undersized PG. Good kid but not d rose or j wall. And a guy coming off an ACL whose main upside was athleticism. Plus Hawkins and Willis.

Yes UK is top ten with recruits that are being added. But try to be honest in your appraisal.

Compare that to what Duke had returning. Or Kansas. A core of Lee, Poythress, and Ulis was much better than anything they had returning.

Lee has always produced when given a chance. Poythress is really solid. And Ulis is one of the best PG in college. Don't confuse these players' NBA potential with their collegiate ability.

 

[hootervillearnolds]

Compare that to what Duke had returning. Or Kansas. A core of Lee, Poythress, and Ulis was much better than anything they had returning.

Lee has always produced when given a chance. Poythress is really solid. And Ulis is one of the best PG in college. Don't confuse these players' NBA potential with their collegiate ability.

That is true. Ulis can be a great college player (like Yogi). I like Poythress, seems like a good person and bright. I just hope he does OK, and doesn't get fans down on him if he doesn't come thru. An ACL takes more than ten months to get over (unless you are AP - as in Adrian Peterson). Lee... sorry, I don't see it.

 

[fuzz77]

LOL, Cal has been crowned by the media as "Mr. One and Done" and has put more kids in the NBA over the past 5 years than any other school (most of whom went first round).

There is no other coach better at getting elite players to the league, period

How many of those players wouldn't have been drafted out of high school if been allowed?
Be honest, getting Wall, Cousins, Knight, Noel, Davis, MKG, KAT, etc to the league did not take super-human powers.

 

[UKrazycat2]

What's a bru?

Knocker support.....I think.

 

[TrustinCal]

How many of those players wouldn't have been drafted out of high school if been allowed?
Be honest, getting Wall, Cousins, Knight, Noel, Davis, MKG, KAT, etc to the league did not take super-human powers.

Of course not. But the fact that they all got drafted as high as they did was because of Cal and UK. Can you imagine MKG playing on a team where he HAD to shoot it 20x a game? Maybe KAT would be viewed a little differently if he had to play extended minutes on a team that ran a lot and played pressure defense and his fitness wasn't as good as you expect from a player that would go #1. Maybe Boogie plays for a coach that he doesn't respect like he does Cal. Maybe Wall gets buried on the bench by Roy at UNC and has to come back for his sophomore year and gets hurt? Playing for other teams their weaknesses in the NBA would have been more obvious, but Cal not only showcases players' talents, he also works to mask their deficiencies when he can. That's why they call it the Kentucky Effect.

 

[brianpoe]

This thread has become embarrassing.

You guys might not believe this...

Kids that don't choose UK are not necessarily scared of competition or afraid of being exposed.

Kids do develop and get drafted at other schools.

Other schools do have more returning talent and experience than UK. Go on potential all you want. HS McDonalds means nothing by your Junior year.

- Lee and Poythress have plenty to prove.
- Ulis played well as the backup point guard
- Hawkins and Willis are not in the conversation while comparing returning starters from other teams.

- UNC lost one rotation guy
- UVA lost 2 rotation guys
- Maryland lost Dez
- Kansas lost one rotation guy (Alexander was already gone)
- Iowa State has a ton coming back.


Our recruiting class is very good compared to everyone else, with us being in the top 3. Only a teenager can call this year BS until the season has played out.

We are what we are, time to accept and stop crying about it.

Time to stop the gloom and doom if we get no one else.

It is also time that UK fans stop thinking everyone else sucks and that only our guys returning got a year older and a year better.

It would be great to have discussions regarding our team; whether it be discussing our weaknesses or our strengths, as well as our opponents, without the over-the-top posters who can only whine and cry, as well as those that think we are God's gift to humanity. It is like watching the far left and far right in politics.

We will be fine. We have a chance to beat everyone on our schedule, we could also get beat by every top 30 team out there. Intellectual basketball discussion would be nice. Try to envision us having these conversations in person, maybe you won't be so over the top...?

 

[SosaUK]

How many of those players wouldn't have been drafted out of high school if been allowed?
Be honest, getting Wall, Cousins, Knight, Noel, Davis, MKG, KAT, etc to the league did not take super-human powers.

Like Josh Selby?

 

[.S&C.]

Matthews is still a very solid recruit. just because he fell from 5* status you right him off. Devin Booker, Eric Bledsoe, Tyler Ulis, WCS.....All these guys were border line 5 or 4's depending on the service and have been tremendous. Marcus Lee was rated top 15, Dakari the same, even top 10 and neither had as much impact as quick as the aforementioned list. just relax

Not to mention the best shooter in Cals tenure here was also a borderline 5, mr. Doron Lamb; and actually, scout had him as a 4 star.

 

[.S&C.]

Don't you think other teams can point to WCS, Poythress, Harrison twins, Lee and Johnson and say that Cal cant get kids to the NBA as well? If you argue this point then others will argue the players I just mentioned as well.

The Harrison twins were two and done. Johnson was also a two and done. Poy was always more interested in school than the NBA. Anyone that knows his situation clearly knows how he feels about his education. Willie decided on his own to return. He could have EASILY been a two and done but chose not to. He's also a 4 star recruit that cal just sent tip 10. Doesn't help prove your argument at all.

I can go to just about every other team in college ball that gets top talent and show top recruits either losing out on the NBA entirely, or staying in school way past how long my they should. I can bring up UNC and show what happens when you play for a coach like roy Vs. A coach like cal and a school like UK. You don't have to play for UK to make it as a draft pick, but people need to stop acting like he isn't the best at this. He absolutely is.

 

[brianpoe]

Teague, Lamb, Orton, Goodwin, and possibly Young most likely return to school at other places.

However, you may be stretching it a bit pal. Poy, the twins and Johnson have not and still are not guaranteed first round. Willie's injury possibly had more play into his decision than we know.

Overall your premise is correct that Cal and UK are the proven vehicle to being drafted early and usually ahead of where you might be valued.

 

[Bombur]

What's a "bruh"?

Like a broseph, but a little bit less brotastic