The program as a whole has been. That doesn't mean the top recruits care about that. You are kidding yourself if you believe all those players come here if he wasn't the coach. I'm glad it's over and I hope they go to Arkansas.
WCS says Cal drew recruits not UK.
- Thread starter Skyguyb27
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The answer, like most things in life, is somewhere in the middle.
When you're making a PB&J Sandwich--if you want the ultimate sandwich--you get your favorite bread, favorite peanut butter, and favorite jelly. No one gets bad bread and expects the PB to carry it. No one gets bad PB and expects the bread to carry it.
Calipari wanted Kentucky because he knew the brand mattered. The resources mattered. Kentucky wanted Calipari because he was one of the best coaches in the country at time. That mattered.
Cal will continue having success at Arkansas. That doesn't mean the Kentucky brand never mattered. Cal has a ton of NIL at Arkansas. NIL has changed things. If you aren't a big brand, money can help your ability to recruit.
So does the brand really matter in the world of NIL? Yes.
Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, UNC will be very competitive in NIL. Once the offers are the same or close enough, kids are going to pick the schools that give them the best exposure.
When you're making a PB&J Sandwich--if you want the ultimate sandwich--you get your favorite bread, favorite peanut butter, and favorite jelly. No one gets bad bread and expects the PB to carry it. No one gets bad PB and expects the bread to carry it.
Calipari wanted Kentucky because he knew the brand mattered. The resources mattered. Kentucky wanted Calipari because he was one of the best coaches in the country at time. That mattered.
Cal will continue having success at Arkansas. That doesn't mean the Kentucky brand never mattered. Cal has a ton of NIL at Arkansas. NIL has changed things. If you aren't a big brand, money can help your ability to recruit.
So does the brand really matter in the world of NIL? Yes.
Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, UNC will be very competitive in NIL. Once the offers are the same or close enough, kids are going to pick the schools that give them the best exposure.
Prior to Calipari, UK's success wasn't built primarily by future NBA All-Stars. Willie was born in 1993. What were "some of the greats" that he would have seen play?
Duke is still getting most guys they want. Hopefully they try and keep the one&done thing going. Cal also lost guys to teams like Oklahoma state and Georgia. Guys he REALLY wanted. He was getting those guys in his early UK years .
Gold Standard and Camelot are their words, not mine. We'll all see Cal's team when he drags is sorry ass back into Rupp, running his mouth along the way. Let's just play the game and see who wins. He has nothing at Arkansas that he didn't have at Kentucky. At the end of the day, we all have their own insight and opinion and we all should be happy with that. Who's delusional?
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We're not talking about their words. We are talking about their actions. Which are we told to watch and which to ignore? You are certainly within your right to be delusional. But I'm within mine for pointing it out.
The only thing delusional is believing a conversation with you is worthwhile. Does it surprise you that I don't really care what you think? Truly, I don't care if you disagree, it's OK with me, and I can do that without lobbing pejoratives at you. If you're still upset, get some counseling. If my opinions upset your frail sensitivities, just use the ignore feature herein. Have yourself a good day and celebrate CMP.
Yet you replied. Come on man. You may think that I'm a fool, but I'm not a fool. You just didn't like that you weren't winning the argument. Every time I come on this site I see that I have likes on stuff I've posted before. You may not care what I think. But that doesn't bother me at all because I'm posting for the benefit of those who do.
What the hell are you talking about? Rick wasn't considered. He's too old and the juice isn't worth the squeeze. But his a$$ would have dropped St. Johns in a NY minute had Mitch called with serious interest.
As far as Cal, you haven't been listening. Dude is sad and embarrassed. He's making the best of the situation but no one would leave UK bball willingly for Arkansas. He bluffed and was out foxed by Mitch fricken Barnhart.
You should be very proud of yourself. Posting for the benefit of others. Next chance I get ... I'll toss you a "like". Everyone needs a hobby, I suppose.
Seems he has the same ole shit concept to me find a bunch of talent that doesn’t mix well and see what happens and screw the fans if they wanna win. He all but said he didn’t wanna leave UK. Get out of here with your shit talk you have been exposed plenty of times.
Exposed as what? You aren't winning debates by making shit up. I don't know what is wrong with any of you who try to throw this crap at me. The only thing that's been exposed is that I can handle myself vs. any of you.
You're confusing what a blue blood means to a coach vs. what it means to a player. Guys like Cal and Pitino cared about the status of Kentucky. That doesn't mean players did or do. In the '90s and before, sure, a blue blood program had a huge draw. But once the one and done train got rolling players didn't care.
The proof is simple. If Cal did not come to Kentucky where do you honestly think Wall and Cousins would have played? What about Brandon Knight? Anthony Davis, MKG, and Teague? If the answer is anywhere but "wherever Cal was coaching" you're 100% mistaken.
This board has spent the last 15 years complaining about how they were sick of players coming here for Cal and his one and done system and now you're all trying to convince yourself they came here to play for Kentucky instead of Cal. Kentucky may have helped land some of the fringe one and dones, but 95% of them came here for Cal.
A legend in your own mind right? I bet you are fun to be married to.
Brother, the evidence to what I am saying is all over this board. I don't have to make shit up.
Not to overcomplicate the discussion but if Cal was a better coach, more banners would be hanging in Rupp. Cal sold out the Program and pissed on the Tradition for his own benefit, while claiming it was all for the "kids". In the end, what was the benefit of Cal at Kentucky ... what did he win? One banner, with all that talent over 15 years. That was an embarrassment for Calipari and the University but it did expose Cal for the fraud he is. The wholesale OAD experiment has been shown to be flawed and UK paid an unwanted price. Barnhart couldn't wait to rid the University of Calipari. Like Pitino, Calipari's brand was enhanced for having been the coach at Kentucky, as he was recruiting all his uber-talented players. Let's see how bright his brand shines at Arkansas.
The coach is integral to the package that attracts recruits.
Cal, in particular, tailored the whole program around acquiring and playing top prospects out of high school.
How many coaches did that? Duke and Kansas reeled some in, with Kansas falling off in the latter years of Cal's tenure in that regard. Unless Coach K or maybe Self were coming here, we weren't going to approach Cal's penchant for highly rated prospects with a coaching change.
Pope is bringing his own style that has it's own preferences and priorities. Cal and K account for 2 titles while loading up on highly rated single year players in the last 15 seasons. There are many other paths to success.
Cal, in particular, tailored the whole program around acquiring and playing top prospects out of high school.
How many coaches did that? Duke and Kansas reeled some in, with Kansas falling off in the latter years of Cal's tenure in that regard. Unless Coach K or maybe Self were coming here, we weren't going to approach Cal's penchant for highly rated prospects with a coaching change.
Pope is bringing his own style that has it's own preferences and priorities. Cal and K account for 2 titles while loading up on highly rated single year players in the last 15 seasons. There are many other paths to success.
There’s no evidence of what you say. You live in a trolling fantasy world. It’s clear Cal didn’t want to leave, he moreless said it himself and everyone with verified ties has verified this. You want Can’t Coach Cal in Arkansas you got him. Not sure why you feel the need to come here and validate him to us. We all felt it was time to kick him out. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Arkanass is playing the odds Cal will return to his old ways and be a terror in the basketball world. I don’t believe he is capable personally but someone at Arkansas did.
Edwards proved that if you are good enough you can play pretty much anywhere and still be the number 1 pick. I don't know why a kid that is only going to stay one year wouldn't want to go and compete for a title. He might could of pushed us over the top. He is that good. Was that COVID shutdown year when he was at UGA?
I am not an Arkansas fan. I'm not even a Cal fan. I'm not a fan of any college basketball team. I grew up a Kentucky fan but y'all don't seem to understand how someone can do that and decide one day he's no longer going to spend his money on something that only brings him misery. It's okay. Each of you who does this is confessing.
So your admitting your not a UK fan but think your better than those that are, got it. Good thing you’re not narcissistic or anything. You’ll be on ignore from now on I don’t really have any desire to hear what you have to say.
I'm pretty confident it was a combination of both. In a few years we will know for certain though.
I don't think a single thing about anyone until they prove it to me. I have lots of peers that I respect tremendously. But don't expect that same level of respect after you JUST demonstrated to me you do not deserve it. Kindly screw off.
Cal never won a Natty before KY and he will not win one after Kentucky. His early model was good for deep runs, but game changed and he did not adapt even though 80% of those years he had good talent. Cal did less with more than any Coach in recent history.
Tubby was just as successful as Cal. One Natty each, Tubby never had a losing season or NIT. Give Tubby Cal's talent he has 3 NC. Cal was a recruiter and a sorry Coach.
He took more than he ever gave here. His 15 years here with the talent he had can’t be labeled as anything other than a disappointment in a lot of ways. Helen Keller could have coached that 2015 team to the title. His refusal to have his players practice free throw shooting cost us another title. His complete lack of preparation led us to suffer back to back humiliating losses on the last two years. It’s Kentucky, great players came here before and after him. He didn’t make Kentucky. Kentucky made him. So while I admire his former players being loyal to him, spare me the belief that he created Kentucky Basketball.
Calipari didn’t create UK basketball, but he basically did for guys around Willie's age and younger. Calipari’s coaching success didn’t get him players, his track record of getting guys to the league ASAP did. Most kids aren't huge college basketball fans. The NBA is much more appealing to them.
Do not forget poor freethrow shooting cost him the NC at Memphis. Most people learn from mistakes and failures with the exception of Cal.
Yes, he gets credit for that. But, he gets credit for pushing many out the door when they had reasons to stay and make this program really excel while Cal was its coach. His unbelievable zest to reverse generational poverty, as if he himself was some kind of savior that couldn't manage to stay in his lane, cost us probably 10-15% per year in victories. How he seemingly unwittingly screwed up his time here, particular these last five or so years, was almost inconceivable and almost unbelievable if you wrote the story yourself. Players being players, they will support him forever...no qualms with that, but he and he alone squandered a golden opportunity here. For some players it worked what he did for them, but for many it was an unmitigated failure.
Cauley-Stein Explains Why It's Calipari, Not Kentucky That Drew Recruits
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A one-on-one interview with former Kentucky star Willie Cauley-Stein shows exactly why Wildcats fans were wrong when...www.si.com
I mean, they followed Cal because he was a great recruiter, but he also had a great name behind em.
Cal recruited at the level he did because he had that swagger, and also because he had UK behind 'em. His Mempiss classes were nothing like at Kentucky.
Cal recruited at the level he did because he had that swagger, and also because he had UK behind 'em. His Mempiss classes were nothing like at Kentucky.
Who said he created Kentucky basketball. You clearly have a hatred that prevents you from reading anything and actually understanding what you are looking at. I clearly said that any coach can come here and put together good teams with good players. What is also true is that there has never been another coach that recruits at his level, here or anywhere else. K was the closest for a few years.
Your opinion is your opinion just like mine is mine. I knew after 2015 that he would never win another title here. I should have realized that after 2012. His focus and message were never in agreement with fan expectations which led to a parting of the ways last year, thank God. Coach K outrecruited him most years. His message of recruit and develop was also an abject failure and he rushed players in and out of here, some of whom weren’t ready for the next level from a maturity standpoint. He was condescending, arrogant and thought he was infallible. I don’t miss him, I’m glad he’s gone and I look forward to a return to glory doing things the right way.
Well said and I couldn't be happier that he's gone and even happier with CMP.
Being an IU fan, I have no dog in this fight but Cal (for all his warts as a coach) recruited at a level I'm not sure we've ever seen before and may not see again. Is UK an elite basketball school? Of course but each year, Cal was bringing in close to 5 Burger Boys PER CLASS. That is outright ridiculous. I don't believe Mark Pope is going to recruit at the same level Cal did, but Pope might end up being a better team builder which is more important. UK will still get top tier talent, but I don't think it's going to be at the same level Cal was reeling in.
Just my opinion.
Just my opinion.
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