Tony Barbee

[SilentsAreGolden]

Unless I missed it, he has still not been announced as the new assistant, has he? He and Cal go way back, so it's a little puzzling that this still has not taken place. I don't think you can blame this year's misses on Barbee at all, but he did come into a rough situation where he had to try to nail down a bunch of guys who initially dealt with Antigua, and then Slice. I just wonder if Cal is thinking about making some changes to the recruiting side, and is waiting to make the announcement of Barbee until all of that is sorted out.

 

[Poetax]

Unless I missed it, he has still not been announced as the new assistant, has he? He and Cal go way back, so it's a little puzzling that this still has not taken place. I don't think you can blame this year's misses on Barbee at all, but he did come into a rough situation where he had to try to nail down a bunch of guys who initially dealt with Antigua, and then Slice. I just wonder if Cal is thinking about making some changes to the recruiting side, and is waiting to make the announcement of Barbee until all of that is sorted out.

Yeah by the time Slice left there was nothing that Barbee could be blamed for, he couldn't even recruit back then.

 

[kyfan606]

Still no replacement I have no idea what is going on.

 

[Pope John Wall II]

I'd almost prefer that Cal entertain the notion of bringing on Jalen Rose. Even then, the 'sex appeal' aspect of having a member of the Fab Five on your coaching staff may be fleeting: we're soon going to be recruiting kids who weren't even born before 9/11, I'd guess a lot of the recruits don't know of Rose's importance.

 

[miracle7s]

Jalen being part of the Fab 5 means nothing to kids he'd be recruiting at UK. His presence on ESPN as the predominant hip hop culture basketball guru would mean everything. Any school that hired Jalen would get an immediate impact guy in every way.

 

[wild mandu]

The whole situation is a bit puzzling.

 

[Drudis]

I remember before Slice was announced, everyone knew he was an assistant coach, but they chose not to officially announce it. If I remember correctly, he could contact recruits a bit longer or something like that if he wasn't officially on staff?

 

[WildMoon]

I think Jay Bilas would be perfect (I know he's not interested).

With time he would be great coach, recruiter, and great person that doesn't do shady shit like other coaches.

 

[Lumpy 2]

I didn't think Barbee was allowed to recruit last year and wouldn't be recruiting unless/until he gets the job

 

[Poetax]

I didn't think Barbee was allowed to recruit last year and wouldn't be recruiting unless/until he gets the job

If you have a recruiting assistant leave, you can make someone on your staff a temporary recruiting coach. At least that is what is being said.

 

[Lumpy 2]

If you have a recruiting assistant leave, you can make someone on your staff a temporary recruiting coach. At least that is what is being said.

Thanks, I didn't know that. I was at the EYBL for 2 days and Coach Cal and Coach Payne were the only coaches I saw there. I assumed they were the only ones allowed to recruit.

 

[ORCAT]

Jalen being part of the Fab 5 means nothing to kids he'd be recruiting at UK. His presence on ESPN as the predominant hip hop culture basketball guru would mean everything. Any school that hired Jalen would get an immediate impact guy in every way.

His popularity with today's coach from his work on ESPN is exactly what would give him instant recognition and value in college coaching so your statement is 100% right on. Fab 5 stuff would mean very little, if anything, to them.

 

[roysbarbq]

need to get it done

 

[Blue Decade]

If you have a recruiting assistant leave, you can make someone on your staff a temporary recruiting coach. At least that is what is being said.

That is the correct explanation. Once Slice left for NY, Calipari was allowed under the rules to use Barbee temporarily in that role until a permanent replacement for Slice is named. Best guess around town now is that Barbee is probably the guy, with an announcement pending. Kenny Payne is high on the list of assistant coaches who are liked around the country when HC jobs open up. It looks like Coach Payne will probably stay at Kentucky for at least 1 more year. But still no sure thing how next year's staff will fill out. If Barbee is the guy, we will be getting a better and more vocal technique coach than Slice, but not as good of a recruiter as Slice. Barbee and Slice have similar coaching resumes. But Slice had connections in the business that Barbee does not yet have. Barbee played for Calipari, and considers Calipari his mentor. That counts for a lot in this business. Barbee would be a solid hire. Maybe not a home run hire, but Barbee is likely to stick around for a long time with Calipari. That's a plus. I am probably in the minority, but Rose does not look like a good fit to me. I don't think Calipari would hire an ESPN commentator who has never coached college players before. Most players don't have to be convinced that Calipari understands them.

 

[Chico&TheMan]

Promoting Barbee's title to assistant coach does nothing for the program. Most of Barbee's "success" as an assistant coach was a product of being under Calipari. He brings little-to-no added value as a recruiter. Who has he landed since leaving Memphis/Calipari? His recruiting connections are not that strong.

We can use this opportunity to bring in a sexier name.

Read this about Barbee's recruiting at Auburn: http://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/index.ssf/2015/03/tony_barbee_had_top_5_recruiti.html

 

[GonzoCat90]

Promoting Barbee's title to assistant coach does nothing for the program. Most of Barbee's "success" as an assistant coach was a product of being under Calipari. He brings little-to-no added value as a recruiter. Who has he landed since leaving Memphis/Calipari? His recruiting connections are not that strong.

We can use this opportunity to bring in a sexier name.

Read this about Barbee's recruiting at Auburn: http://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/index.ssf/2015/03/tony_barbee_had_top_5_recruiti.html

Thankfully, his success as an assistant coach here would be a product of being under Calipari.

 

[Chico&TheMan]

Thankfully, his success as an assistant coach here would be a product of being under Calipari.

Why make Calipari's job harder by bringing on an assistant who can't handle it himself? The assistant coach needs to carry their own weight.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Why make Calipari's job harder by bringing on an assistant who can't handle it himself? The assistant coach needs to carry their own weight.

And if Barbee is the guy, he will. Comparing someone's results at Auburn to being an assistant under the best recruiter in the history of the sport is a flawed process, particularly when the job up for debate would be under that same coach.

 

[Chico&TheMan]

Historically, Barbee has not proven that he can do it on his own. Several have ridden Calipari's coattails over the years and you should notice that Cal's coaching tree really isn't that impressive.

Just like we saw on the football side for assistants, we needed younger coaches with something to prove for a better opportunity ahead. That is how successful recruiting works in all sports. These are the ones who bring an added punch in the recruiting game. Someone who is content with their place, like Barbee, who will not get another high level head coaching job anytime soon, will be disappointing and mediocre as far as potential hires go.

 

[miracle7s]

Cal is a fantastic recruiter probably the best ever, but outside of Marcus Camby, Dajun Wagner(hired his dad to get him), Shawne Williams(from Memphis), and Derrick Rose Cal never got anyone of any real note without Orlando or Kenny Payne. Tyreke Evans and every player he got at UK was because of those guys. Cal is good at closing but it was O and KP who did all the heavy lifting for every recruit. Why is Duke recruiting so good right now? Jeff Capel is back after failing at Oklahoma. When did Kansas start getting the superstar 1 and dones? When Jerrance Howard came in 2013. Those outside of the game have no idea how important these assistants are, hiring Tony Barbee would be an enormous mistake. It's like Pitino rehiring Willard brings nothing to the staff. Kevin Keatts was a superstar for Pitino if UL doesn't replace him somehow they are going back to losing Cal and Murrary St. in the 1st round. I'd love for Cal to see if Bacari Alexander would have interest in leaving Michigan or Book Richardson leaving Arizona. Those are the hires we need.