Update: back to March 23: Keeping Cal because of the recruiting class is fools gold

[DrH. Lecter]

A top recruiting class does nothing to guarantee victory in the NCAAT. In fact if you look back to 2016 you will see that the annual kings of the recruiting wars, UK and Duke, have combined for exactly ONE final four and no titles. This year you will only find Texas inside the 2022 top 20 recruiting classes in the E8. And they are doing it with Seniors and a "temporary" coach. Their top Frosh is avg just 11 minutes per game. And lets not even bring up K-ST.

Winning the recruiting wars simply builds Cal's ego and importance to the NBA who will actually develop the players later. It does nothing for our program.

We all know that Cal's system is flawed and broken. He also is a horrible coach. Keeping him because we don't want to lose this class is just going to bring more agony when we are eliminated by a more experienced team with a better coach. Yank off the bandage. End the suffering now.

Am I wrong?

 

[Cefiro]

It doesn’t matter……Not going to pay Cal $50 million to leave. All this is on Mitch as much as it’s on Cal, terrible contract.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

Yes

 

[JonathanW]

It doesn’t matter……Not going to pay Cal $50 million to leave. All this is on Mitch as much as it’s on Cal, terrible contract.

Wasn’t there a story recently that the Cal extension came from the President, not Barnhart?

 

[jgraf_1]

While I get the argument and don't disagree I would much rather have that loaded class in Lexington.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Wasn’t there a story recently that the Cal extension came from the President, not Barnhart?

It had to be signed on by someone with a lot more authority than the AD. There isn't and AD in the country who could grant life time contracts on their own.

 

[Cefiro]

Wasn’t there a story recently that the Cal extension came from the President, not Barnhart?

I didn’t see that, link?

 

[Greatestalltime]

Yep. I’ll take the team we have next year.

 

[UKNothinButNet]

A top recruiting class does nothing to guarantee victory in the NCAAT. In fact if you look back to 2016 you will see that the annual kings of the recruiting wars, UK and Duke, have combined for exactly ONE final four and no titles. This year you will only find Texas inside the 2022 top 20 recruiting classes in the E8. And they are doing it with Seniors and a "temporary" coach. Their top Frosh is avg just 11 minutes per game. And lets not even bring up K-ST.

Winning the recruiting wars simply builds Cal's ego and importance to the NBA who will actually develop the players later. It does nothing for our program.

We all know that Cal's system is flawed and broken. He also is a horrible coach. Keeping him because we don't want to lose this class is just going to bring more agony when we are eliminated by a more experienced team with a better coach. Yank off the bandage. End the suffering now.

Am I wrong?

Of course you’re not wrong. I can’t believe that there are still people hooked on big-blue hopium in 2023.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

UK is not keeping Cal because of the recruiting class.

UK is not keeping Cal because of any buyout fears.

UK has no intentions of getting rid of Cal and have had no discussions about getting rid of Cal.

But yes, it would be stupid to keep Cal just for the recruiting class if that’s the only reason to keep him.

It’s not the reason though.

 

[cats#1again]

Why did op start in 2016????
Because 2015 was a title of freshman

 

[Ron Mehico]

No one is keeping Cal because of the recruiting class, he’s being kept because of his contract.

 

[CELTICAT]

Does OP think that’s the actual bargain at hand?

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Does OP think that’s the actual bargain at hand?

That is the reason from many of the fans who I speak with.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Yep. I’ll take the team we have next year.

The team we'll have next year is already looking like it's going to be a letdown. Livingston is unlikely to return and Dillingham might not even be here. All these non-NBA-level seniors are going to leave anyway. That's what we do here. We lose our NBA guys and our non-NBA guys alike.

Cal's "salvation super team" roster will be just another 22 to 25 win squad that bleeds to death before the Elite Eight.

Cal's lost it, and I used to be a Cal fan. No more. He's a charlatan.

 

[cats#1again]

That is the reason from many of the fans who I speak with.

Lol as if the fans have a say in who the coach is

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Lol as if the fans have a say in who the coach is

You're not a UK fan so why do you keep writing about our fans or our coach?

 

[cats#1again]

You're not a UK fan so why do you keep writing about our fans or our coach?

Life long UK fan

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Lol as if the fans have a say in who the coach is

Stop being ignorant. That discussion goes on here daily.

 

[cats#1again]

The

You're not a UK fan so why do you keep writing about our fans or our coach?

Theres just make believe
And reality

Make believe is " your opinion matters"

Reality is ..... He will be here until he decides to leave

 

[DrH. Lecter]

The team we'll have next year is already looking like its going to be a letdown. Livingston is unlikely to return and Dillingham might not even be here. All these non-NBA-level seniors are going to leave anyway. That's what we do here. We lose our NBA guys and our non-NBA guys alike.

Cal's "salvation super team" roster will be just another 22 to 25 win squad that bleeds to death before the Elite Eight.

Cal's lost it, and I used to be a Cal fan. No more. He's a charlatan.

His way is a death spiral. It does nothing but assuage his ego. Always a message of....wait until next years class. It will be different. And it NEVER is.

 

[Jjohnb5393]

I didn’t see that, link?

The extension was wanted & initiated by the prez. Some in the know say Barnhart wouldve let him walk. It was Alan Cutler’s show …Roger Harden was a guest and knew someone behind the scenes. I also saw it reported somewhere else

 

[Aike]

A UK coach performing at this level who wasn’t under contract would be shown the exit. Cal has spent his banked goodwill. Hoping he comes to his senses and makes next year his last.

 

[cats#1again]

I was outed? Lol wrong

 

[cat_in_the_hat]

I didn’t see that, link?

There was a story about it in another thread. I think Roger Harden said the President came up with the contract and Mitch was not involved. We will never know the truth about the situation between Cal and Mitch. Some say Mitch never wanted him and was forced to hire him. They say Mitch was removed from managing him because they don't like each other. All meant to be criticisms of Mitch. Now some of those same people say Mitch gave him this contract as if it makes sense for man to give this kind of contract to a coach he was forced to hire and doesn't like. I will also throw in that if any of that is true, the people who want Cal fired should be praising Mitch because he was right all along. And yet you don't ever see that. What it all means is that people will run with any rumor or say anything to attack someone they don't like. You can't believe a tenth of what you read on these boards. It's no different than politics, just one side trashing the other side. So, we as fans, will probably never get the true story of happened.

 

[Jjohnb5393]

The team we'll have next year is already looking like its going to be a letdown. Livingston is unlikely to return and Dillingham might not even be here. All these non-NBA-level seniors are going to leave anyway. That's what we do here. We lose our NBA guys and our non-NBA guys alike.

Cal's "salvation super team" roster will be just another 22 to 25 win squad that bleeds to death before the Elite Eight.

Cal's lost it, and I used to be a Cal fan. No more. He's a charlatan.

It’s worth seeing what the transfer portal brings ..if they can keep Reeves , have the class and add a couple good guys it could work out

 

[dl51344]

A top recruiting class does nothing to guarantee victory in the NCAAT. In fact if you look back to 2016 you will see that the annual kings of the recruiting wars, UK and Duke, have combined for exactly ONE final four and no titles. This year you will only find Texas inside the 2022 top 20 recruiting classes in the E8. And they are doing it with Seniors and a "temporary" coach. Their top Frosh is avg just 11 minutes per game. And lets not even bring up K-ST.

Winning the recruiting wars simply builds Cal's ego and importance to the NBA who will actually develop the players later. It does nothing for our program.

We all know that Cal's system is flawed and broken. He also is a horrible coach. Keeping him because we don't want to lose this class is just going to bring more agony when we are eliminated by a more experienced team with a better coach. Yank off the bandage. End the suffering now.

Am I wrong?

Totally agree.

 

[kyjeff1]

Wasn’t there a story recently that the Cal extension came from the President, not Barnhart?

I have to believe Mitch didn’t just create that contract in his own. I have to believe there was a meeting of the minds and it might have even included some high end donors.
Mitch is getting the blame, but there's no way he created that on his own, it's too one sided for me to believe Capaluto wasn’t involved.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

A top recruiting class does nothing to guarantee victory in the NCAAT. In fact if you look back to 2016 you will see that the annual kings of the recruiting wars, UK and Duke, have combined for exactly ONE final four and no titles. This year you will only find Texas inside the 2022 top 20 recruiting classes in the E8. And they are doing it with Seniors and a "temporary" coach. Their top Frosh is avg just 11 minutes per game. And lets not even bring up K-ST.

Winning the recruiting wars simply builds Cal's ego and importance to the NBA who will actually develop the players later. It does nothing for our program.

We all know that Cal's system is flawed and broken. He also is a horrible coach. Keeping him because we don't want to lose this class is just going to bring more agony when we are eliminated by a more experienced team with a better coach. Yank off the bandage. End the suffering now.

Am I wrong?

He isnt being kept due to the recruiting class. He is being kept because he has barnies balls in his safe.

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

March is all about the X’s and O’s. There aren’t many AD’s out there so it almost always comes down to scheme and adjustments. Cal couldn’t win it all with the 2015 squad and somehow he is going to get it done with next years class? Not happening!!

 

[bippus]

If you saw San Diego State play, and the muscular bodies of their players there is no way our 5 star freshmen can compete with that. Look what TN did to Duke with it's four 5 star frshmen.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Keeping cal because of a ridiculous contract on the other hand....

The shine is off the apple though. Anyone think in 2015 that we would be in this bad of shape by now?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Keeping cal because of a ridiculous contract on the other hand....

The shine is off the apple though. Anyone think in 2015 that we would be in this bad of shape by now?

I'm hoping UK and Cal part ways amicably after next year's team loses before the Elite Eight.

Maybe give Cal $15 million to ride off into the sunset. Edwards will go top 10 in the draft and will give Cal his final future NBA All-Star to join the other ten he's helped pave the way for.

Lots of former UK/Memphis guys who made the All-Star game and who also lost to inferior teams in the NCAA tourney under Calipari:

Derrick Rose
John Wall
DeMarcus Cousins
Julius Randle
Karl Towns
De'Aaron Fox
SGA
Devin Booker
Bam
*

*(doesn't count Davis, the only one who's won a title).

Soon, Justin Edwards joins this list.

 

[Ocornett]

A top recruiting class does nothing to guarantee victory in the NCAAT. In fact if you look back to 2016 you will see that the annual kings of the recruiting wars, UK and Duke, have combined for exactly ONE final four and no titles. This year you will only find Texas inside the 2022 top 20 recruiting classes in the E8. And they are doing it with Seniors and a "temporary" coach. Their top Frosh is avg just 11 minutes per game. And lets not even bring up K-ST.

Winning the recruiting wars simply builds Cal's ego and importance to the NBA who will actually develop the players later. It does nothing for our program.

We all know that Cal's system is flawed and broken. He also is a horrible coach. Keeping him because we don't want to lose this class is just going to bring more agony when we are eliminated by a more experienced team with a better coach. Yank off the bandage. End the suffering now.

Am I wrong?

You’re not wrong but you’re never right, so it evens out in the end.

 

[know1]

Fool's gold is over valuing it.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

There was a story about it in another thread. I think Roger Harden said the President came up with the contract and Mitch was not involved. We will never know the truth about the situation between Cal and Mitch. Some say Mitch never wanted him and was forced to hire him. They say Mitch was removed from managing him because they don't like each other. All meant to be criticisms of Mitch. Now some of those same people say Mitch gave him this contract as if it makes sense for man to give this kind of contract to a coach he was forced to hire and doesn't like. I will also throw in that if any of that is true, the people who want Cal fired should be praising Mitch because he was right all along. And yet you don't ever see that. What it all means is that people will run with any rumor or say anything to attack someone they don't like. You can't believe a tenth of what you read on these boards. It's no different than politics, just one side trashing the other side. So, we as fans, will probably never get the true story of happened.

Yep. They say Mitch was forced to hire him and say Cal is responsible for a fake news Lifetime contract. Blame him for BCG but not for dumping him in 2. Blame him for Joker but no credit for Stoops or Brooks. The internet is great for giving clowns a forum.

 

[Kyhoward]

I'm hoping UK and Cal part ways amicably after next year's team loses before the Elite Eight.

Maybe give Cal $15 million to ride off into the sunset. Edwards will go top 10 in the draft and will give Cal his final future NBA All-Star to join the other ten he's helped pave the way for.

Lots of former UK/Memphis guys who made the All-Star game and who also lost to inferior teams in the NCAA tourney under Calipari:

Derrick Rose
John Wall
DeMarcus Cousins
Julius Randle
Karl Towns
De'Aaron Fox
SGA
Devin Booker
Bam
*

*(doesn't count Davis, the only one who's won a title).

Soon, Justin Edwards joins this list.

I agree that UK will not reach the NIT Elite Eight next year.

 

[Oboro3]

It is scaring some of you that he is bringing in talent and bona fide NBA talent next year. The argument is that Coach Cal lacks talent. Well, look who we have coming in. Another argument is that he needs NBA caliber guards to be successful and then go on to show how successful he was when he had those types of teams. Well, look who we have coming in. Yet others argue that we need to change our offensive mindset and implement an up-tempo offense. Well, look who we have coming in next year.

 

[kyjeff1]

It is scaring some of you that he is bringing in talent and bona fide NBA talent next year. The argument is that Coach Cal lacks talent. Well, look who we have coming in. Another argument is that he needs NBA caliber guards to be successful and then go on to show how successful he was when he had those types of teams. Well, look who we have coming in. Yet others argue that we need to change our offensive mindset and implement an up-tempo offense. Well, look who we have coming in next year.

LOL, aren't you tired of this? We say this every year, then, one month into the season we're talking about how all our players were overrated and we don't have enough talent.

 

[BC_Wader]

It is scaring some of you that he is bringing in talent and bona fide NBA talent next year. The argument is that Coach Cal lacks talent. Well, look who we have coming in. Another argument is that he needs NBA caliber guards to be successful and then go on to show how successful he was when he had those types of teams. Well, look who we have coming in. Yet others argue that we need to change our offensive mindset and implement an up-tempo offense. Well, look who we have coming in next year.

Look who we have coming in? Guys who haven't played at this level, that's who. I'm excited like you are but we need to pump the brakes. We don't know yet how Cal's "Go! RUN!" offense and substitution patterns will cripple this team.