Will YOU Miss the Twins?

[jrpross]

Will I miss them? Absolutely. Aaron's heroics were absolutely epic. And their leadership this past year was invaluable.

Will we be an inferior team this year without them? I don't think so. Murray and Briscoe I believe are more skilled and Ulis will do awesome as the main point. They may or may not have the same postseason success, but that is not always an indication of a superior or inferior team. Time will tell the results that this guard tandem seas.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

Yes, I will miss them.

I fear they will be treated like Tubby on this board moving forward. They came in with unbelievable hype (thanks to KSR, which has a tendency to do that, see Drew "The Savior" Barker), that no player could have lived up to.

 

[stenchymouse]

They were OUR players and I will be rooting hard for them to succeed in the NBA or wherever they play.

Now I'm excited to see our new guys...

 

[Bluegrass79]

hell no I wont miss them

 

[StubbornPenny]

I'm very grateful we had them. Their play helped us to two banners, and I would have liked to see them grow even more. However, with their NBA dreams and our glut of new players, I think it's really worked out for the best for everyone to move on now. They'll always be true blue blooded wildcats!

 

[ukfan041]

Love those guys! 2 Final Fours, multiple memorable shots, class kids, and they represented the university well!

 

[MWes11]

I wish them nothing but success and I hope they both have long NBA careers. They took us on an incredible 2 year run.

 

[ZZZZCat]

Thank you Aaron for one of the most exciting tournament runs of my life. You too Andrew.

 

[Smashcat]

Wildcats for life.
Jonathan Dunn ‏@jonathandunn20 Aug 1

Andrew Harrison and EJ Floreal are getting in on the action at the John Calipari Pro Camp @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/P1cOkHRUha

 

[Macy's socks]

Absolutely!

 

[Kycatspaws]

 

[CELTICAT]

I'll stick my neck out solely for the purpose of creating respectful discussion.

What's wrong with being ambivalent about the twins? Didn't they both have good and bad moments? Didn't they both do things that made you jump for joy, and do things that made you upset (often in the same game)?

Can't Aaron's 2014 heroics be considered along with the late game management disaster that derailed a perfect season? Can't Andrew's sophomore progression be contrasted with his freshman body language issues?

As Md pointed out, they have a hell of a legacy as far as accomplishments go. But don't those same accomplishments white wash the frustration of their maturation that a lot of fans felt?

I will agree that discounting the good they did, and saying "I won't miss them" is not polite and not an even tempered response. However, I don't think putting their Kentucky careers in a proper context, while looking forward to other players getting to run the team makes anyone a bad fan.

 

[LexCatnOhio]

They will be missed for a variety of reasons. Both great competitors and very personable and friendly if you talked to them. Wish them the best.

 

[Bluemamba]

Saw two camps on the board last 2 years; those that blamed them, and those that defended them.

Loved the Twins , both excellent players, sad to see them leave.

 

[Chuckinden]

Not really. I thank them for what they did here, but I like the guards we have now. Ullis is a "true" point guard that will flourish in Cal's program.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Saw two camps on the board last 2 years; those that blamed them, and those that defended them.

The Harrison's are fine young men. I love them, I praise them, I blame them; however, I wish we could sign two more just like them tomorrow.

 

[BBUK]

I will miss them playing for the BBN. I'd take them this coming season in a heart beat. I cannot bash them in any way. Say what you will, they never played to lose. They gave it their best. That's good enough.

I will also say this. I may start watching a little more NBA games now since there are so many Cats in the NBA. I quit watching a lot of the NBA games when Mike hung them up. (Mostly just the play-offs now.)

 

[JustthefaxMa'am]

I don't miss any player that leaves.....I just watch them on Sundays instead of Saturdays.

 

[rickscot]

Quality young men who are good players, but not great. We will probably have a much better set of guards moving forward. Let's go......

 

[UKCATSFREAK]

Here's my honest answer. No. Because Murray and Briscoe will be better than the twins. I know the twins helped us get to 2 FF's and Aaron was clutch with the 3 big 3 pointers. But the bottom line is the Harrison twins didn't live up to their expectations. If they had they would have just both went top 10 or 20 in the draft. We were expecting Derrick Rose and John Wall type players. Not just two really good college players.

If you were expecting John Wall and Derrick Rose when the twins came, that's your fault for having too high expectations and not doing any homework to see what kind of players they were. That comparison is no where near legit.

 

[UKDUNK]

IU has kids smoking weed, getting drunk and running each other over with cars and we"re debating whether the backcourt that led us to two straight Final Fours will be missed.

 

[5iveStarRecruit]

I will miss Andrew so much.

 

[Bigblueforever]

Not really. I thank them for what they did here, but I like the guards we have now. Ullis is a "true" point guard that will flourish in Cal's program.

 

[michaeluk26]

I'll stick my neck out solely for the purpose of creating respectful discussion.

What's wrong with being ambivalent about the twins? Didn't they both have good and bad moments? Didn't they both do things that made you jump for joy, and do things that made you upset (often in the same game)?

Can't Aaron's 2014 heroics be considered along with the late game management disaster that derailed a perfect season? Can't Andrew's sophomore progression be contrasted with his freshman body language issues?

As Md pointed out, they have a hell of a legacy as far as accomplishments go. But don't those same accomplishments white wash the frustration of their maturation that a lot of fans felt?

I will agree that discounting the good they did, and saying "I won't miss them" is not polite and not an even tempered response. However, I don't think putting their Kentucky careers in a proper context, while looking forward to other players getting to run the team makes anyone a bad fan.

Its just that they were blasted for the most minor things while certain fans conveniently ignored when other players did the same exact things. Even when they had good games people would nitpick them.

I find it amazing people continue to blame them for the Wisconsin game when them and Towns were the only players to show up. They kept us in that game period. Rebounding is why we lost that game.

Yes I will miss them. 2 of the most clutch players ever. Early in the season next year their absence will be felt.

 

[wildcatwelder]

They could have went to practically any big time program out of high school, yet they chose UK. They played their hearts out; they wanted to win; had the will to win.

They represented our university with class.

Yep, I'll sure miss them, and they'll always be Wildcats.

 

[TopCatCal]

2 years, - 67 wins, 2 Final Fours including a national runner up, a perfect 3 & 0 record against Louisville & zero off the courts problems. I'll take that any time.

 

[HICATFAN]

Yes. I don't think either one of them get the credit they deserve but they were both tough, hard-nosed guards that carried us at times during their 2 years.

I'm glad they chose to play at Kentucky and I hope they both have great success in the future.

Right on.....well said !!!

AlohaCat

 

[KYFOSSIL]

7 players left yet the OP only asks if we miss the twins?
How is that not an agenda driven question?

 

[.S&C.]

I will miss Andrew so much.

Snicker.....

 

[MdWIldcat55]

I'll stick my neck out solely for the purpose of creating respectful discussion.

What's wrong with being ambivalent about the twins? Didn't they both have good and bad moments? Didn't they both do things that made you jump for joy, and do things that made you upset (often in the same game)?

Can't Aaron's 2014 heroics be considered along with the late game management disaster that derailed a perfect season? Can't Andrew's sophomore progression be contrasted with his freshman body language issues?

As Md pointed out, they have a hell of a legacy as far as accomplishments go. But don't those same accomplishments white wash the frustration of their maturation that a lot of fans felt?

I will agree that discounting the good they did, and saying "I won't miss them" is not polite and not an even tempered response. However, I don't think putting their Kentucky careers in a proper context, while looking forward to other players getting to run the team makes anyone a bad fan.

Yes, they had good moments and bad, like every other Kentucky player -- and every human being for that matter.
If the standard for being worthy of being missed by the fans is perfection, as manifested by NCAA Championships, then you can get down to parsing how much blame they should carry for the Wisconsin game (less than people remember) or the UConn game of 2014.

But if that is the standard, then you have to apply it honestly. Can we miss Dan Issel, who failed three times to even reach the Final Four, including in 1970 on the No. 1 team in the country? Can we miss John Wall, after an abysmal shooting performance against West Virginia? Can we miss Jamal Mashburn, who fouled out in overtime of the 1993 Final Four when a championship was there for the taking?

If you seek the "proper context" in which to hold Kentucky basketball players, and judge which ones of them are worthy of being missed, as the OP asked, I suggest it has to be broader than "he helped us win it all." I've missed Pat Riley and Louie Dampier and Dan Issel and Jimmy Dan Connor and Sam Bowie and Kenny Walker and Jamal Mashburn and Tayshaun Prince and DeMarcus Cousins and 100 other Wildcats who had good and bad moments, who ultimately failed to deliver a title, but who were an indelible part of the rich history of Kentucky basketball.

 

[TyCatPrice14]

Absolutely. The twins were pretty much wildcats since they first visited for the madness campout during their sophomore years of high school. I've never seen more glowing remarks after a visit.

They took us to 2 final fours, at times carrying the team.

I just wish it had all equated to more draft night success. Though they both did get signed in the end there's no question their draft stock slipped a great deal in their 2 seasons here.

That said I felt bad for them. They played their butts off and took as much criticism while they were here as any wildcat I can remember.

They didn't win it all but they hung a banner every year they were here and not many wildcats can say that.

Speaking of which, has UK hung the banner for the 2015 final four yet?

 

[CELTICAT]

Yes, they had good moments and bad, like every other Kentucky player -- and every human being for that matter.
If the standard for being worthy of being missed by the fans is perfection, as manifested by NCAA Championships, then you can get down to parsing how much blame they should carry for the Wisconsin game (less than people remember) or the UConn game of 2014.

But if that is the standard, then you have to apply it honestly. Can we miss Dan Issel, who failed three times to even reach the Final Four, including in 1970 on the No. 1 team in the country? Can we miss John Wall, after an abysmal shooting performance against West Virginia? Can we miss Jamal Mashburn, who fouled out in overtime of the 1993 Final Four when a championship was there for the taking?

If you seek the "proper context" in which to hold Kentucky basketball players, and judge which ones of them are worthy of being missed, as the OP asked, I suggest it has to be broader than "he helped us win it all." I've missed Pat Riley and Louie Dampier and Dan Issel and Jimmy Dan Connor and Sam Bowie and Kenny Walker and Jamal Mashburn and Tayshaun Prince and DeMarcus Cousins and 100 other Wildcats who had good and bad moments, who ultimately failed to deliver a title, but who were an indelible part of the rich history of Kentucky basketball.

I get all of that, and nothing you said is wrong, but I do think you've mischaracterized my argument (which is probably my own fault more than anything). Primarily because winning it all isn't something I mentioned. Maybe that's another poster's standard, but I don't recall bringing it up. I certainly don't hold perfection as the standard either.

I would consider every single player you mentioned an All Timer. I don't hold the twins in that high esteem.

I'll use two examples to help illustrate my point (or further obfuscate it):
Rod Rhodes and Cliff Hawkins

Rod has really impressive numbers for his career. But wasn't he frustrating as hell for three years? Didn't he disappear in three consecutive NCAA tourneys? Didn't his issues with Pitino belie both his individual talent, as well as team success?

Cliff Hawkins was very popular (I wasn't high on the guy personally), but were we missing him when Rondo was doing his basketball savant routine just a few months after the UAB fiasco? I wasn't.

Again, I'm not interested in bashing any of these guys. Some players you connect with, some you don't. Would we ever talk about Jeff Sheppard had he not become a human supernova the last four weeks of the '98 season? Chuck Hayes never made a final four, and may not even be one of the top 20 most talented guys in our history, but goddamn wasn't he a joy to watch?

I'm just Joe Blow Kentucky fan at the end of the day. I can't take anything away from Aaron or Andrew. However, my excitement to see Ulis, Briscoe and Murray outweighs missing the Twins.

 

[IL Wildcat]

Saw two camps on the board last 2 years; those that blamed them, and those that defended them.

Of course I'll miss them. I miss them already and the season hasn't started yet. Having Ulis returning with key minutes under his belt helps a ton. Having Murray and Briscoe coming in, along with Matthews and Mulder, means our backcourt is in good hands. But who wouldn't love to have the twins back? You know what they say: "A bird in the hand..." Well, with the twins we had a known commodity. That's why I'm missing them today. I "think" Ulis can carry the load. I "think" Murray may be as good today as any guard in the nation. I "think" Briscoe has a killer instinct that will make him an excellent leader and that Mulder can hit the three at 45% and that Matthews will slash and finish very well. But I don't "know" these things are true YET. Until then, I'm missing the twins. And even if I find out these guards are as good or better, I will still miss them. I love my Cats and they've brought us two Final Fours. They'll be loved for that reason forever.

 

[KYtotheCore]

7 players left yet the OP only asks if we miss the twins?
How is that not an agenda driven question?

Name one player from last season that drew the ire of as many fans . . . I challenge you.

 

[Xception]

Divisive thread that has no redeeming quality , credit goes to the majority who stood up for twins . There are better ways to get attention .

 

[Xception]

Name one player from last season that drew the ire of as many fans . . . I challenge you.

So why dredge up more potential hatred from the group that did that , you set the stage or created a platform for them to spew their bile yet again . You seem to think that needs to be revisited for some reason , they're gone , give them a break .

 

[KYtotheCore]

Divisive thread that has no redeeming quality , credit goes to the majority who stood up for twins . There are better ways to get attention .

I neither agree nor disagree with you. I'm not as passionate about as you are. It's merely a question.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Name one player from last season that drew the ire of as many fans . . . I challenge you.

Dakari and pretty much the whole team when they lost even though I felt it was unjust. I actually think Cal caught more crap than the twins. Just no need to start this kind of thread when BBN and the team are looking toward a bright future.

 

[83Cat]

Yes. Without them we would have lost a lot of big games. I loved them, their close bond, their parents were cool. I'll miss them.

 

[Hoskins91]

I wouldn't say I miss them. I think a lot of people were too hard on them, but to be honest, I am not a big fan of D1 players who can't at least hit 40% of their shots from the field. As two top five players in what was supposed to be a great class, one can't help but feel a little disappointed. They had their up and down moments. They were a part of some fun times and some frustrating ones.