OT: UK machine backfiring

[husky91]

So several of the supposed 1-and-dones not leaving and now these kids who committed thinking they'd be the man now have to compete for minutes all over. I doubt Karl Towns would have gone there if he thought Johnson was staying or the PGs with Harrison twins staying.

 

[Sportsman5]

chemistry could be a huge problem for them next year. Cal is going to have to deal with a lot of ego after promising a lot of these players big time minutes

 

[CL82]

Meh, it's a happy problem to have. That team is going to very, very talented.

 

[UConnDad]

But will they play together?

 

[ASweet3781]

But will they play together?

Doesn't matter, they've already been declared the best Kentucky team since last years. And the year before. And the year before that.

 

[HooperScooper]

Yeah, I thought the same. There are going to be a lot of unhappy campers on that team next year. All these kids go to UK thinking they'll play a lot right away and be one or two and done. I wonder if guys like Alex Poythress are second guessing their decision to go to UK. Then again Poythress isn't transferring so maybe he's happy.

 

[nym410]

Does Calipari pay Rothstein for the hype? Good lord at this tweet.

UK has become more than a basketball program under @UKCoachCalipari -- it's become an empire. And there is nothing anyone can do to stop it.

 

[Peacefrog]

I suppose it could affect recruiting from the class of 2015. Those that expected to be this year's one-and-dones will be seeing a lot of bench time and are likely to be around another year. It may be a deterrent to the next round of hot-shots, a little back-up in the revolving door.

 

[ASweet3781]

Does Calipari pay Rothstein for the hype? Good lord at this tweet.

UK has become more than a basketball program under @UKCoachCalipari -- it's become an empire. And there is nothing anyone can do to stop it.

Hope Jonny brought a change of underwear to work. He had a fever today and the only cure was more squid.

What would this do if he was covering this sport in the 80s when players like Patrick Ewing were staying for 4 years? The 5 KY frosh who weren't good enough to succeed and flee uhh proceed are coming back! Cancel the season! Hand them the trophy! Best team ever! That's the level of sophistication from today's college hoops talking heads. Than they acted surprised when the Final Four has 2-3 teams every year they didn't pay any attention to.

 

[CL82]

Does Calipari pay Rothstein for the hype? Good lord at this tweet.

UK has become more than a basketball program under @UKCoachCalipari -- it's become an empire. And there is nothing anyone can do to stop it.

Really? Because it sure didn't seem that way a couple of weeks ago.

 

[mauconnfan]

Rothstein liked the Huskies all year too…….he has some rope!

 

[uconNYC]

UConn stopped the UK empire in 2011 and 2014. Wouldn't trade our success for theirs.

 

[Inyatkin]

In fairness their best Calipari team in 2012 mixed some holdovers (Jones, Lamb) with the next batch of one-and-dones. But as far as I know Anthony Davis is not walking through that door.

 

[mauconnfan]

In fairness their best Calipari team in 2012 mixed some holdovers (Jones, Lamb) with the next batch of one-and-dones. But as far as I know Anthony Davis is not walking through that door.

Good point but there is a difference as a few of the holdovers were part time players and not as coveted as these AA's………but if they DO buy in and play together to create a good chemistry, yikes!

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Well, Kentucky can always pull out the 2013/2014 40 & 0 t-shirts, use some blue marker, and re-sell them for 2014/5.

 

[husky91]

Exactly. Unless you have an elite future all NBA player like Davis @ that time the 1 and done model guarantees nothing. Very few of those types at 19, one every 3-5 years max, if that. Was same with Melo and DRose.

In fairness their best Calipari team in 2012 mixed some holdovers (Jones, Lamb) with the next batch of one-and-dones. But as far as I know Anthony Davis is not walking through that door.

 

[Fishy]

I don't know how Kentucky will ever survive the crippling overabundance of talent they have. Nobody has ever tried to win a basketball game with nine McDonald's All-Americans! Who knows if it can even be done!

The Boneyard.

Pinging the outer limits of stupid on a daily basis.

 

[DogMania]

I don't know how Kentucky will ever survive the crippling overabundance of talent they have. Nobody has ever tried to win a basketball game with nine McDonald's All-Americans! Who knows if it can even be done!

The Boneyard.

Pinging the outer limits of stupid on a daily basis.

LOL Fishy, you never cease to entertain me.

 

[husky91]

Fishy, the point is the machine isn't working and it will impede their future ability to get 5 of the top 25 kids every year, it'll spread the wealth in a sense. Their model was to get the kids for a year and push the out at least 4 of the 5 for the new batch. If that stalls they will recruit in the same mode as everyone else (KU, Zona, Puke, UNC, MSU, UCLA, Ville, Cuse, UConn, etc.). Kids will go where they can get immediate minutes.

I don't know how Kentucky will ever survive the crippling overabundance of talent they have. Nobody has ever tried to win a basketball game with nine McDonald's All-Americans! Who knows if it can even be done!

The Boneyard.

Pinging the outer limits of stupid on a daily basis.

 

[61cygni]

So they'll have to settle for 5 star sophomores and 4 star freshman. Oh no.

 

[Fishy]

In all seriousness, they just made it to the title game and they're loaded for next year.

They won the whole thing in 2012 and if it wasn't for UConn throwing sand in their gears, they'd be celebrating their third title in four years right now.

Things are working fine for 'em.

 

[intlzncster]

Fishy, the point is the machine isn't working and it will impede their future ability to get 5 of the top 25 kids every year, it'll spread the wealth in a sense. Their model was to get the kids for a year and push the out at least 4 of the 5 for the new batch. If that stalls they will recruit in the same mode as everyone else (KU, Zona, Puke, UNC, MSU, UCLA, Ville, Cuse, UConn, etc.). Kids will go where they can get immediate minutes.

It is working though. 3 out of the last 4 Final Fours. And have great odds of making another one next year. That is a well oiled machine. If you knock enough times, you eventually get through the door. Next year, they'll have talent AND experience. Tough out*.

*We'd beat them again.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

If this is what it looks like when the model is backfiring, I don't want to see it when it works.

 

[selles]

In all seriousness, they just made it to the title game and they're loaded for next year.

They won the whole thing in 2012 and if it wasn't for UConn throwing sand in their gears, they'd be celebrating their third title in four years right now.

Things are working fine for 'em.

That's all true, but I think the fact the Harrisons aren't going pro is a bit of a blow to the Calipari/Kentucky brand, or at least what they were trying to grow the brand into. When they signed last year it was a given it would be a 1 year showcase and then off to riches in the NBA, hence the 40-0 and all that garbage.

Seems to me Devin Booker is the key to their season next year. If he's a deadeye they're going to be excellent, if not they could have some issues.

 

[sportsart]

In all seriousness, they just made it to the title game and they're loaded for next year.

They won the whole thing in 2012 and if it wasn't for UConn throwing sand in their gears, they'd be celebrating their third title in four years right now.

Things are working fine for 'em.

They made the title game because one kid thought he was MJ and hit 3 game winners. Stop buying the McD AA crap. We got 4 NC's in the past 16 years and it was done mainly without a plethora of AA's.

If you look at the teams that make deep runs in the tourney they are senior laden teams with 2 or three go to guys, i.e., the Butlers, the Daytons and even UVA this year.

If it was all about AA's Duke would have 30 NC's.

The one thing that will win almost every time over young AA's is experienced talent and coaching. Like this year.

F- UK. F the Squid. Don't you ever stand up for them again.