Stuck in Neutral

[bigblueroscoe]

What has to change to get the elite of the elite recruits committing to UK again?

Seems like we haven’t been able to get over the hump with the top level recruits. I know this past class has had weird circumstances and probably cheating involved to keep kids closer to home, it’s just been frustrating.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

Well, Cal riding a scooter around town isn't helping. I mean really?

 

[track42]

Cheating going on is a big part of it.

 

[chroix]

IMO we need more trolls. The more the merrier. They are a good omen despite what they might think they are bringing to the table.

 

[bigblueroscoe]

Cheating going on is a big part of it.

I agree. Plus the top recruits for this past class all seemed to have a weird connection to a school or the school they chose was close to home.

 

[CatPhight_rivals65113]

Cal should start hiring family members too, that way the NCAA will fast track the demise of nepotistic hiring.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Cal should start hiring family members too, that way the NCAA will fast track the demise of nepotistic hiring.

Start with hiring Mobley's dad away from Southern Cal and then hire Cunningham's brother away from Ok St.

That's the top two players in the class according to ESPN.

I kid, but just a little.

 

[sk73]

Well, Cal riding a scooter around town isn't helping. I mean really?

How does riding a scooter hurt recruiting?

 

[stuway]

Gtfo here troll

 

[MbergCat]

Honestly, I'm surprised that there aren't more of these idiotic threads tonight.

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

What has to change to get the elite of the elite recruits committing to UK again?

Seems like we haven’t been able to get over the hump with the top level recruits. I know this past class has had weird circumstances and probably cheating involved to keep kids closer to home, it’s just been frustrating.

Dude.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

How does riding a scooter hurt recruiting?

Sarcasm brother.

 

[bigblueroscoe]

Dude.

What’s your point? I’m just pointing out that it’s been frustrating.

 

[bgoad72]

What has to change to get the elite of the elite recruits committing to UK again?

Seems like we haven’t been able to get over the hump with the top level recruits. I know this past class has had weird circumstances and probably cheating involved to keep kids closer to home, it’s just been frustrating.

I’m assuming the number 10,12 ranked prospects in Maxey and Whitney might argue your “elite” recruit scenario. What a joke.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

1. Fire Barbee and get an upgrade.
2. Get back into bed with Nike.
3. Go total war with Duke.
4. Stop being nice and acting like we're above it, because obviously we're not. 0/4 in getting to the Final Four since Nike took our golden sceptre away in 2015 and our only top 5s in that time were Skal and a one-top 5 Fox (who, not coincidentally, was our best player since 2015 and who led us to the most wins in that era with 32 wins in the 2017 season).

 

[Bigblueamyou]

1. Fire Barbee and get an upgrade.
2. Get back into bed with Nike.
3. Go total war with Duke.
4. Stop being nice and acting like we're above it, because obviously we're not. 0/4 in getting to the Final Four since Nike took our golden sceptre away in 2015 and our only top 5s in that time were Skal and a one-top 5 Fox (who, not coincidentally, was our best player since 2015 and who led us to the most wins in that era with 32 wins in the 2017 season).

Getting bed back in with Nike might be cheating,no thank you

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Getting bed back in with Nike might be cheating,no thank you

We were in bed with them from '09 - '15.

Were you adverse to it then when UK was going to the Final Four 67% of the time?

 

[Bigblueamyou]

We were in bed with them from '09 - '15.

Were you adverse to it then when UK was going to the Final Four 67% of the time?

Are you saying we was cheating?maybe the other teams started doing it around the 2015 season.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Are you saying we was cheating?maybe the other teams started doing it around the 2015 season.

I'm suggesting we were the flagship for Nike until around 2014.

Duke took control. I don't think UK cheated anymore than I think Duke cheats now (outside what has been proven with Zion), but I do think Nike helped UK/Duke guys in both cases.

 

[sluggercatfan]

What has to change to get the elite of the elite recruits committing to UK again?

Seems like we haven’t been able to get over the hump with the top level recruits. I know this past class has had weird circumstances and probably cheating involved to keep kids closer to home, it’s just been frustrating.

K retiring will heal recruiting wounds.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

Really lol?

Sarcasm brother. Thought it was a dipshit original post. I responded in kind.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Sarcasm brother. Thought it was a dipshit original post. I responded in kind.

I thought it might be lol, but wanted to be sure

 

[kybassfan]

IMO we need more trolls. The more the merrier. They are a good omen despite what they might think they are bringing to the table.

You mean like the OP?

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Honestly, I'm surprised that there aren't more of these idiotic threads tonight.

We ALL knew they were coming. Had he gone to Tennessee, there would've been more, lots more! What a **** fanbase!

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I'm suggesting we were the flagship for Nike until around 2014.

Duke took control. I don't think UK cheated anymore than I think Duke cheats now (outside what has been proven with Zion), but I do think Nike helped UK/Duke guys in both cases.

I mean, I understand the logic. I just don't see Cal/UK skating by with cheating no matter the circumstances. I just don't see it. Quite frankly, I doubt many UK fans, if any, could see that occurring. JMO.

 

[DelkBowl]

They ironic part of this whole thing is that one crowd complains about the one and done and then complains about not having elite star talent. Another crown complains that we aren’t getting elite talent and need to get more. Another complains that we don’t have experience due to one and done but complains that we don’t have enough talent to win it all.

Crrrraaazyyy

 

[WCW Monday Nitro]

I'm suggesting we were the flagship for Nike until around 2014.

Duke took control. I don't think UK cheated anymore than I think Duke cheats now (outside what has been proven with Zion), but I do think Nike helped UK/Duke guys in both cases.

F Nike, no thanks. F anybody that celebrates kneeling.

 

[kyjeff1]

What has to change to get the elite of the elite recruits committing to UK again?

Seems like we haven’t been able to get over the hump with the top level recruits. I know this past class has had weird circumstances and probably cheating involved to keep kids closer to home, it’s just been frustrating.

In my opinion, Cal is being too honest with these kids.

He seems to really drive home the whole "I'm not guaranteeing you anything, you have to work for everything against other talented players".

I'm not saying he should lie to these kids or mislead them in any way, but while Cal is telling these kids that it's all "earned, not given", everyone else is giving these kids the hard sell.

Kerry Blackshear wanted to believe he was going to be a featured guy and he most likely would have been, but when you tell him that he has to earn everything he gets, well, that's not the warm and fuzzy feeling Kerry wanted.

And no, I don't know exactly what KB was told, but Cal consistently talks about what he tells these guys when they visit. These kids are spoiled. Get them to sign, then run them hard in practice. The cream always rises to the top.

Keep telling these top 5 kids that they are going to have to work hard and nothing will be given and we'll just keep missing on those guys.

 

[Joneslab]

Cal probably needs to start making more promises.

"UK isn't for everyone" and "Anthony Davis took the fifth most shots" are the sort of things you say when you want somebody to buy into a culture. It's becoming clear that the blue chippers don't want that; these guys want to be the man.

Cal said in that opening press conference that he wanted to get UK to a situation where he could walk into a gym and everybody just gave up because Kentucky was there. He had that for about half a decade. In next half it's gone away, in part because I think he's trying to rest on the laurels of what he was doing in the early part of the 2010s. The innovator hasn't innovated fast enough.

 

[kyjeff1]

K retiring will heal recruiting wounds.

Some of them maybe. But we're losing recruits to Indiana, Florida, Mississippi State, Washington, LSU etc…

But yeah, getting K to retire would help. He's not as honest with these kids as Cal is, but it works, Duke is front and center everywhere you look.

Plus, these kids don't care about winnng a title as much as getting bulk minutes, improving their brand and getting guaranteed NBA money.

 

[TheWyldKat_rivals45219]

What has to change to get the elite of the elite recruits committing to UK again?

Seems like we haven’t been able to get over the hump with the top level recruits. I know this past class has had weird circumstances and probably cheating involved to keep kids closer to home, it’s just been frustrating.

Obvious troll. 34 messages.

 

[KYWildCatsFan]

Several people in this thread with their big blue blinders on.

In what way is the OP a troll? He is speaking truths. Cal hasn't gotten the elite of elite recruits to UK like he did pre-2015.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

What has to change to get the elite of the elite recruits committing to UK again?

People whining along with this obvious troll who signed up a few weeks ago just to wait his chance to bait Kentucky fans ought to be embarrassed.

What has to change? Nothing. Kentucky basketball just finished yet another decade as the best in the country, and it is the greatest program of all time. To be here weeping because a transfer from Va. Tech who couldn't cut the NBA draft decided to coast at Florida is ridiculous. Kentucky is a last second shot and an overtime from going to two of the last three Final Fours. If anything has to change, its a bit of March luck, but that's the way it is in a single-elimination tournament. If that makes your life too tough to take, find another sport.

Kentucky will suit up eight 5-star recruits next year. Yeah, I know the fans DESERVE to suit up 13 Top Five recruits, but more kids seem to just want to be 'the man' and take unlimited shots for a regional team until NBA draft night -- and that is harder when a team has eight other 5-stars. Guys who just want to be the focus of a program, or who don't want to share the hard work to forge a tight-knit team don't end up helping anyway. We all could name 10 guys over the past 5 or 6 years that people here were crying about missing out on, who wrecked teams that didn't even make the NCAA tournament or if they did, quickly vanished.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Several people in this thread with their big blue blinders on.

In what way is the OP a troll? He is speaking truths. Cal hasn't gotten the elite of elite recruits to UK like he did pre-2015.

Fox, Monk, Bam, Knox, Murray, Skal and I think you have to add SGA, Herro and PJ since they were lottery picks. I know Maxey is considered elite.

 

[KYWildCatsFan]

Fox, Monk, Bam, Knox, Murray, Skal and I think you have to add SGA, Herro and PJ since they were lottery picks. I know Maxey is considered elite.

All of which you listed with the exception of Maxey were not elite of the elite. and SGA, Herro, and PJ were absolutely not.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

People whining along with this obvious troll who signed up a few weeks ago just to wait his chance to bait Kentucky fans ought to be embarrassed.

What has to change? Nothing. Kentucky basketball just finished yet another decade as the best in the country, and it is the greatest program of all time. To be here weeping because a transfer from Va. Tech who couldn't cut the NBA draft decided to coast at Florida is ridiculous. Kentucky is a last second shot and an overtime from going to two of the last three Final Fours. If anything has to change, its a bit of March luck, but that's the way it is in a single-elimination tournament. If that makes your life too tough to take, find another sport.

Kentucky will suit up eight 5-star recruits next year. Yeah, I know the fans DESERVE to suit up 13 Top Five recruits, but more kids seem to just want to be the man and take unlimited shots for a regional team until NBA draft night and that is harder when a team has eight other 5-stars. Guys who just want to be the focus of a program, or who don't want to share the hard work to forge a tight-knit team don't end up helping anyway. We all could name 10 guys over the past 5 or 6 years that people here were crying about missing out on, who wrecked teams that didn't even make the NCAA tournament or if they did, quickly vanished.

Overall, I agree, but some of us merely want what Calipari wants: more interior help. Losing on Blackshear wasn't the end of the world, but it wasn't an inconsequential event either.

Additionally, Calipari wants elite high school prospects like Jalen Johnson, Zion, Barrett, Wiggins, Bamba, etc. Some of them took money. Some of them didn't. Some of them were head cases. Some of them weren't. What did they have in common? Cal wanted them because he knew they could help the program.

Thus, some of us merely want what Calipari wants. You're an optimistic fan, so it's unlikely you ask "what if" very often, but some of us just think differently when it comes to looking back on seasons. A number of these guys would actually help UK get over the top in seasons decided by a handful of possessions. Dismissing them as cheaters, selfish or too mentally weak to cut it at UK is a broad brush and based on the offers Cal's dished out to many of these kids, he evidently sees things differently as well in that he actually wanted them here.

 

[Joneslab]

Some of them maybe. But we're losing recruits to Indiana, Florida, Mississippi State, Washington, LSU etc.

This is true as well. The recruiting world has flattened out. Used to be one-and-dones were seen as program-destroying rogues. Now everybody's after them. Makes the recruiting game harder when you're up against multiple programs who are all doing aggressive things (offering perks, hiring relatives, recruiting players in their home states) to land these top kids.

That said, Kentucky gets these guys in for visits all the time, he's just had a harder time closing than he was a few years ago. So something about the pitch isn't quite right. That's where our assistant coaching staff might be a significant problem.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

In my opinion, Cal is being too honest with these kids.

He seems to really drive home the whole "I'm not guaranteeing you anything, you have to work for everything against other talented players".

I'm not saying he should lie to these kids or mislead them in any way, but while Cal is telling these kids that it's all "earned, not given", everyone else is giving these kids the hard sell.

Kerry Blackshear wanted to believe he was going to be a featured guy and he most likely would have been, but when you tell him that he has to earn everything he gets, well, that's not the warm and fuzzy feeling Kerry wanted.

And no, I don't know exactly what KB was told, but Cal consistently talks about what he tells these guys when they visit. These kids are spoiled. Get them to sign, then run them hard in practice. The cream always rises to the top.

Keep telling these top 5 kids that they are going to have to work hard and nothing will be given and we'll just keep missing on those guys.

Damn right. This post is spot the **** on.

 

[kyjeff1]

This is true as well. The recruiting world has flattened out. Used to be one-and-dones were seen as program-destroying rogues. Now everybody's after them. Makes the recruiting game harder when you're up against multiple programs who are all doing aggressive things (offering perks, hiring relatives, recruiting players in their home states) to land these top kids.

That said, Kentucky gets these guys in for visits all the time, he's just had a harder time closing than he was a few years ago. So something about the pitch isn't quite right. That's where our assistant coaching staff might be a significant problem.

Yup, something in Cal's pitch is off and I think it's his honesty. I think he is way too honest with these kids and refuses to even come close to being misleading.

That's cool, don't lie to these kids, but do you really have to hammer home the whole "earned, not given" thing?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

This is true as well. The recruiting world has flattened out. Used to be one-and-dones were seen as program-destroying rogues. Now everybody's after them. Makes the recruiting game harder when you're up against multiple programs who are all doing aggressive things (offering perks, hiring relatives, recruiting players in their home states) to land these top kids.

That said, Kentucky gets these guys in for visits all the time, he's just had a harder time closing than he was a few years ago. So something about the pitch isn't quite right. That's where our assistant coaching staff might be a significant problem.

Good post.



I think the 2020 class will be very telling for the following reasons:

1. our assistants have had enough time to build relationships.
2. Duke's wave of elite recruiting has met the sandy beaches of inept tournament play and a series of players being jettisoned from K's overall "playing favorites" scheme: Bolden, Reddish, Thornton, Duval, Giles, etc.
3. The FBI stuff has presumably slowed down some of the widespread illegal recruiting.
4. UK has really distances itself from other programs when it comes to player development.

Got to land at least one big fish in the next class.