Will adding Malik Monk give UK the #1 class?

[rabidcatfan]

If Cal lands Malik Monk then wouldn't that give UK the #1 class over Duke since we would then have 3 top 10 players vs. Dukes 2, plus two more top 30 guys to add to the group in Gabriel and Killeya-Jones? Points wise it'd almost have to, but I'm sure ESPN will try to spin it somehow to keep Duke #1.

According to ESPN, Dukes class consists of the #1, #2, #14, and #44 players. Kentucky's current class consists of #6, #7, #23, and #31 (if you don't count Tai Wynyard). Adding Malik Monk would also give us #5. So, does having #5 through #7 equate to being better than #1 & #2 overall? I don't know about you, but I would take 3 top 10 players over 2 top 5 players any day of the week. The 24/7 composite, which I find to be the most accurate ranking system, has Dukes class as #2. #4, #14, and #41, while UK's class is listed as #3, #10, #16, & #26. If we add Monk then that adds #6 according to the composite which would give us 3 top 10 and 5 top 30 players vs. Dukes' 2 top 10 and 3 top 30. The numbers would have to support UK getting the top class over Duke in that situation right?

Whaddya think?

 

[caneintally]

Of coarse. We will have 4 top 10 players then . But ESPN will give it to Duke of coarse.

 

[Tampa_cat54]

Absolutely and it wouldn't even be close.

If you go by average rankings, we even have Duke beat RIGHT NOW.

If you average their 4 commits, the average ranking is 14th.

Average ours together? 13.75

 

[bssparks]

Absolutely and it wouldn't even be close.

If you go by average rankings, we even have Duke beat RIGHT NOW.

If you average their 4 commits, the average ranking is 14th.

Average ours together? 13.75[/QU

ESPN will make a huge deal about Giles and Tatum being 1 and 2 even though most rankings don't have them 1 and 2 lol. I would be very surprised if DUKE wasn't 1. It is just like this year, everybody knows who has the best class.

 

[rabidcatfan]

Well, I'm sure ESPN will refuse to acknowledge that UK has the #1 class, just like they haven't acknowledged it this year. We brought in #2, #13, #42, and #49 against Duke's #3, #11, #17, and #24. Of course, they never added Jamal Murray to the list who should have been EASILY top 5, but I think this was a strategic play by ESPN to keep Dukes class #1 since they added Issac Humphries at #49 and failed to add Murray even though he reclassified before Humphries did.

 

[tommyg4uk]

They will probably get Bolden too...but still, if we get Monk our class is better.

 

[Maubris]

Of coarse. We will have 4 top 10 players then . But ESPN will give it to Duke of coarse.

Must you be so coarse?

 

[true blue1]

You had better believe it.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Well, I'm sure ESPN will refuse to acknowledge that UK has the #1 class, just like they haven't acknowledged it this year. We brought in #2, #13, #42, and #49 against Duke's #3, #11, #17, and #24. Of course, they never added Jamal Murray to the list who should have been EASILY top 5, but I think this was a strategic play by ESPN to keep Dukes class #1 since they added Issac Humphries at #49 and failed to add Murray even though he reclassified before Humphries did.

Better check your math there. If those numbers are accurate, their class is statistically better (for their rankings), but of course that is, as you point out, not counting Murray.

 

[MuEvans]

you funny little conspiracy theorists are hilarious.....yes, ESPN is keeping us down. That's why they televise our practices.

 

[TheDude1]

I think there are several points to consider...

First, it isn't all about ranking numbers. Some guys are a LOT better than others. Think of the LeBron class. IIRC, Luol Deng was #2 in that class. But the gulf between 1 and 2 there is pretty big. Take a look at the 2006 class; I think everyone would agree the difference between 1 and 2 (Oden and Durant) and, say, 6 and 7 (Arthur and Cook) is pretty wide. Or look at 2009; Favors, Wall, and Cousins are obviously WORLDS better than any number of guys in the 6-7-8 area (Sidney/Stephenson/Boynton). 2013? The top three (Wiggins/Randle/Parker) are a good deal better than the guys in the 7 range (Walker/Vonleh/Johnson). Sometimes the very top talent is better than the next guys on the list by more than just a single number or two in an average.

Giles in particular is really considered by many to be head-and-shoulders above many of the other talents (or at least, he was, before the injury.) Tatum is another guy who is considered a talent beyond many others (check out the article in SI about him from last April.) It COULD be that those talents have enough separation, even considering that a guy like Monk is an INSANE talent, that the numerical average doesn't overpower the talent evaluation.

Second, neither class is done. Duke is still looking to get Bolden (although I am not holding my breath at this point.) If they get Bolden I would have to think Duke has the lead? UK certainly might pick up more guys as well... Cal is the master of late impact signings lately!

At the end of the day, class rankings don't mean anything, thankfully. And they aren't always correct; obviously UK has the top class this year, even if ESPN doesn't see Canadians or whatever. What matters is titles, and both Duke and UK will have a GREAT chance to win a title next year, no matter what the class rankings are.

 

[BlueBomb]

you funny little conspiracy theorists are hilarious.....yes, ESPN is keeping us down. That's why they televise our practices.

This

 

[MuEvans]

let me guess, you think fox news is fair and balanced as well.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

They will probably get Bolden too...but still, if we get Monk our class is better.

Kudo's to you for your prediction last nite Tommy.

In your honor I give you:

 

[JerseyCat84]

Not according to 247 class calculator. Only adding Josh Jackson would give us the #1 class.

 

[buckkiller]

We are #1 Right now period!!

 

[zoid1]

Im just excited we pulled Bam outa the state of North Carolina. Cal wasn't joking when he said he was gonna get a monster class this year. Just look at our roster ALREADY next year and im pretty sure were gonna get Monk to top off the class.

Fox 6-3 170 #5
Monk 6-4 185 #6 (were getting him)
Gabriel 6-9 200 #17
Adebayo 6-9 230 #7
SKJ 6-10 207 #26

Returning for sure
SR- Hawkins, Willis, Mulder, Floreal
JR- Pulliam
SO- Matthews, Humphries, Wynyard, David

Dare I say I bet only Skal and Murray are for sure going to the NBA after this year so that means Poythress, Lee, Ulis and Briscoe any or all of them could be back next year...

 

[UK_Johnny24]

Y Hell yeas it will. Come on. And by the time the final rankings come out SKJ may very well be in the top 10. He'll at least be top 15. Fox, Monk, Bam are definitely top 10, but again I think both SKJ could be there as well. He'll end up ranked ahead of guys like Bolden, Isaac, Leaf, etc. And at least be like 12th or 13th.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

I think it would and i wouldn't trade our class for theirs. You talk about Giles being head and shoulders above every other player in this class. That might have been true at some point, but with 2 acl injuries back to back years, i doubt that will be the case anymore. I've watched plenty of Tatum to know he's not head and shoulders above everyone else in the class. Tatum is a good player and talent, but no where near as great as the hype would lead you to believe. That is not sour grapes. Tatum could play for anybody in the country and do well. He's just not a guy that i look at and think i would take him over any of the guys we have in the class. Tatum is the type of kid that is good at everything, but not great at one skillset. He doesn't have the potential as many of the others in this class like Fox and Monk. A kid like Bam has as much upside as any big in this class. Even including a guy like Giles. Bam is the type of big all Nba teams will be drooling over. He has the Nba body right now and will develope more of a post game with Cal's coaching. I love our class and i'm sure you Duke guys love yours as well. We will see what happens but with the guys we're going to have, i hope Kentucky and Duke does match up in the title game and we can let the debate be decided on the court instead of recruiting rankings.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

Im just excited we pulled Bam outa the state of North Carolina. Cal wasn't joking when he said he was gonna get a monster class this year. Just look at our roster ALREADY next year and im pretty sure were gonna get Monk to top off the class.

Fox 6-3 170 #5
Monk 6-4 185 #6 (were getting him)
Gabriel 6-9 200 #17
Adebayo 6-9 230 #7
SKJ 6-10 207 #26

Returning for sure
SR- Hawkins, Willis, Mulder, Floreal
JR- Pulliam
SO- Matthews, Humphries, Wynyard, David

Dare I say I bet only Skal and Murray are for sure going to the NBA after this year so that means Poythress, Lee, Ulis and Briscoe any or all of them could be back next year...

Na man Lee is looking like a 1sr rounder this year, And no way Poy's back. But hey if he did want to come back maybe Bam could show him how a 6'9 freak of nature is supposed to play. But the only guy I think may come back is Ulis and that would just kick ass to the max. Imagine

Ulis
Fox
Monk
Bam
SKJ

Willis
Mathews
Gabriel
Humphries

All you can say is.........Damn

 

[Born and raised Big Blue]

Fox is best player in class.

 

[Stonewall12]

let me guess, you think fox news is fair and balanced as well.

Libs going to Lib.

 

[Ben101er]

If we sign Monk, it may be the best class of all time, but only #2 to Duke, for 2016.

 

[Hoskins91]

If Cal lands Malik Monk then wouldn't that give UK the #1 class over Duke since we would then have 3 top 10 players vs. Dukes 2, plus two more top 30 guys to add to the group in Gabriel and Killeya-Jones? Points wise it'd almost have to, but I'm sure ESPN will try to spin it somehow to keep Duke #1.

According to ESPN, Dukes class consists of the #1, #2, #14, and #44 players. Kentucky's current class consists of #6, #7, #23, and #31 (if you don't count Tai Wynyard). Adding Malik Monk would also give us #5. So, does having #5 through #7 equate to being better than #1 & #2 overall? I don't know about you, but I would take 3 top 10 players over 2 top 5 players any day of the week. The 24/7 composite, which I find to be the most accurate ranking system, has Dukes class as #2. #4, #14, and #41, while UK's class is listed as #3, #10, #16, & #26. If we add Monk then that adds #6 according to the composite which would give us 3 top 10 and 5 top 30 players vs. Dukes' 2 top 10 and 3 top 30. The numbers would have to support UK getting the top class over Duke in that situation right?

Whaddya think?

It depends on how good those top two are. If it's an Oden/Durant situation, then I'd rather have those two, regardless of how many of the rest of the top ten you have. If we're talking some kind of point system then sure, you want quantity over quality.