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
- Start date
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?
Last edited:
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.
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.
Similar threads
