OT: UK machine backfiring

[AZHuskiePop]

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.

This guy should be reminded of 2011 and 2014 . Seems we stopped them pretty cold.
2013 we weren't 't needed to bounce them as they were in the NIT loosing to a low mid-major

 

[champs99and04]

Obviously, from Kentucky's standpoint, it's an awesome problem to have. But look at all the talent they have at the four and five alone: Lyles (five star power forward), Towns Jr. (five star center), Johnson (five star center), Lee (four star power forward), Cauley-Stein (first round pick who returned to school). That doesn't even consider Alex Poythress, a five star who played predominantly the four last season and hasn't really shown the skills to play the three.

This is going to be the toughest coaching job of Calipari's career. It's one thing to get guys to buy in to the team concept when they all have defined roles. It's completely another when some of them aren't even seeing the court. I mean, the fact that Karl Towns is going to be the third best center on their depth chart is absolutely obscene, and frankly, a colossal waste of talent. I don't begrudge Calipari for recruiting him, but man, if I were him, I'd be looking for a way out of my LOI.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

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.

They've been to 3 of 4 final fours. Do you know how silly you sound?

 

[husky91]

It has nothing to do with the current performance, it has to do with future and they won't be getting the elite talent they have been. Kids will be scared off by the fact they thought they were going to a D league team and would get an invitation to the 1st round and that is suspect and now you have kids (who want to play immediate large minutes) piling up.

So an elite PG going in with the Harrison's there probably thought "they're gone" and now not so much and now have to compete with them and likely play behind.

Point is, it will make college basketball college basketball again, as much as possible and not so one-sided.

They've been to 3 of 4 final fours. Do you know how silly you sound?

 

[sportsart]

They've been to 3 of 4 final fours. Do you know how silly you sound?

First off Francis...I was giving a hard time to Fishy...second...my point still stands. We count championships at UConn...isn't it about titles? Experienced and talented teams with good coaching wins far more often than teams loaded with first year AA's. Let me be clear since you seem to have problems with my wording.

More often, not always, but more often.

 

[temery]

Calipari is in a great position to say, "do what I want or sit down and stfu." His bench will be as good as his starters, and he'll be able to sit players who cop an attitude.

 

[Stinger92860]

Each year they will F4 favorites. Every once in a while they will throw up a stinker, like year year, but there will not be many.

 

[mauconnfan]

There's no doubt it's not backfiring look at the obvious success……

I guess the biggest question is despite knowing you are putting the best team on the floor night in-night out can you make that team's chemistry strong enough to throw away the obvious ego's? I mean they did lose 10 games last year with those kids which when you come right down to it, shouldn't happen. And they didn't win the one that counts against a team they should hammer on paper………

So while it's working, there are still things that aren't!

 

[SixRings]

There are many reasons that UK could win a NC every year with their one and done model. IMO, the biggest factor missing from it, and why they don't win it with the most talent, is leadership. This cannot be forced from a young recruit and is essential for every NC team. It comes from juniors and seniors who have fought through adversity. UK might get every once in a while but chances are less with the more that leave early.

 

[willie99]

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

just like our 11/12 team

as UConn fans, we cal all appreciate just how important chemistry is, we've seen both extremes

I'll take chemistry >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>talent each and every year

 

[uconnfan68]

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.

Well they could audit the transcripts to see the kids actually take classes.

 

[uconnfan68]

There are many reasons that KU could win a NC every year with their one and done model. IMO, the biggest factor missing from it, and why they don't win it with the most talent, is leadership. This cannot be forced from a young recruit and is essential for every NC team. It comes from juniors and seniors who have fought through adversity. KU might get every once in a while but chances are less with the more that leave early.

UK=Kentucky, KU=Kansas.

 

[BoatShow]

If they have a 5star power forward who was hoping to play right away...

 

[intlzncster]

There are many reasons that KU could win a NC every year with their one and done model. IMO, the biggest factor missing from it, and why they don't win it with the most talent, is leadership. This cannot be forced from a young recruit and is essential for every NC team. It comes from juniors and seniors who have fought through adversity. KU might get every once in a while but chances are less with the more that leave early.

They'll have that next year. A team that's been close to the top and lost. Two Juniors and 4 sophomores. The sophomores are five star players who played a ton of minutes as frosh in the biggest of games. You might as well count them as upperclassmen.

 

[willie99]

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.

we have more rings than UK in the Squid era, and he has a higher rated class each and every year without exception

 

[huskyharry]

They obviously will have a ton of talent next year, but will again have the problem that it will not be distributed like a typical team.

This past season, they lacked a true point guard and although they had a ton of height, athleticism and bulk, they had no one who could stay in front of quick, smaller guards. Because of this they struggled until March when it all came together. But, as the commentators said James Young was their best player against us and throughout the NCAA tourny. Randall was also very skilled at contorting his body to score on the inside.

The overall height and depth that they will have at the 4 and 5 next year is truly impressive, reminiscent of the UCLA teams during the dynasty. However, among their bigs coming back/being added, only the incoming frosh Lyles has much skill as an offensive post player. It will also be very hard from a spacing perspective to play with 3 of those players at once, particularly on the offensive end. The ESPN article suggests that they will have to play zone on defense but the Squid has never been a zone coach and I doubt that this the route that they take, which will mean that they will be vulnerable to penetration.

For offensive balance, they will also need perimeter play to balance all the size inside. Ulis is a very good PG and Booker is purportedly an excellent shooter. But giving them minutes means less minutes for the twins.

In short, ton of talent but it will take a very good coaching job to get them to play well as a team...does the Squid have that ability?
More likely you will see the same dribble-drive, chuck it up style with a bunch of bigs hitting the O boards hard as the strategy...so UK will be good but not unbeatable.

 

[CL82]

just like our 11/12 team

as UConn fans, we cal all appreciate just how important chemistry is, we've seen both extremes

I'll take chemistry >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>talent each and every year

I'd take an immensely talented team with the little chemistry over an untalented team with great chemistry 10 times out of 10. It's all in the mix of things. Calipari just has to get 5 or 6 of his 9 AAs to buy in. They are going to be the team to beat...of course they were this year as well.

 

[DogMania]

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.

Does anyone know when was the last time someone won the NC without a burger AA on the roster? I'm very proud that we just did that very thing. We had at least one on the other 3.

Back to your point, it's not about the AA label. Having a team stacked with talent regardless if they are or aren't all Americans isn't a bad thing. With that said, experience and talent usually is what it takes to cut down the nets. There haven't been many teams that have been able to win without a key upper classman or two.

 

[willie99]

I'd take an immensely talented team with the little chemistry over an untalented team with great chemistry 10 times out of 10. It's all in the mix of things. Calipari just has to get 5 or 6 of his 9 AAs to buy in. They are going to be the team to beat...of course they were this year as well.

sure, just go ahead and make the team with chemistry "untalented" and youse win

I'm not thinking that's what this debate is about

way to rig the game

 

[SixRings]

UK=Kentucky, KU=Kansas.

I know that. I'm sleepy. Thanks though.