Even if it went well, most guys are going stick with the staff they know vs a coach they just meet. Oh well, UK just needs to start landing some guys.
Z to Arkansas
- Thread starter LXWildcat
- Start date
I agree with you. No respect for that at all.
Best of luck to him, but bless his heart if that's what he really thinks.Z said he did meet with Pope and it went good but after he told them he wouldn’t be back. Said he’s going with Cal because he wants to win a championship and go to the league. According to Z nobody does those two things better than Cal lol
The Cal holdovers are likely just wasting Popes time. Hopefully he isn’t dedicated much time and effort trying to keep them that could be focused toward portal guys.
Stupid decision...between Pope’s system and fanbase love, it's his loss
That’s what I mentioned in a previous thread. That poor kid was misused from the word eligible last year I just can’t see why his handlers can’t see that.
One less cal first round mercenary gone
Don’t think he’ll sit the bench but he will have his back to the basket and won’t be allowed out past the arc unless it’s to set a screen.
I really liked Z but I prefer the gratitude over entitlement approach.
Like I said, shocked by another other outcome. Some of y’all gotta chill and remember Cal and his staff brought him here from Croatia. That will mean everything to him for the rest of his life. Probably promised to play him more without Bradshaw and Ugo around, blah blah …
Was hoping we’d get Z back, but assumed he was going to Arkansas once he started following Arkansas basketball on his socials hours after it was announced Cal was leaving.
None of these guys are coming back. They didn’t come here to play for Kentucky. They came here to play for Cal. We care about our tradition. They do not. Please everyone, get this into your heads. We are rebuilding from square 1.
We knew this would happen whenever Cal left, but at least we can use the portal to put together a team faster than we could’ve 5-10 years ago.
None of these guys are coming back. They didn’t come here to play for Kentucky. They came here to play for Cal. We care about our tradition. They do not. Please everyone, get this into your heads. We are rebuilding from square 1.
We knew this would happen whenever Cal left, but at least we can use the portal to put together a team faster than we could’ve 5-10 years ago.
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Win a Championship…… I can name a lot of people that do that better than Calipari….Z said he did meet with Pope and it went good but after he told them he wouldn’t be back. Said he’s going with Cal because he wants to win a championship and go to the league. According to Z nobody does those two things better than Cal lol
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anon_ti5odz7vdiluy
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I don’t really expect Pope to get anyone for next year. Too big of an unknown for the top recruits/transfers right now. Bigger question for me though is can Pope sell or not…so far no
That’s code for “I’m going with the guy who has the rep for getting guys the fastest into the league.” Winning a champ will be great, but it’s secondary to getting into NBA.
I don’t fault Z or any recruit for this decision.
But, I don’t think that’s the best way to win championships. I don’t know what next year will look like, but I do believe MP will set us on a Hurley type path where we get 1-2 good recruits a year, retain 3-4 good role players from previous year, then get our top producers out of the portal.
I’m not upset with Z. He signed up for the fastest possible pipeline to NBA. That’s Cal’s forte and I’m fine letting him take that with him to Ark.
Exactly something I said other than Reed and Perry I’d go straight to the portal and let the rest of the guys just go on to Arkansas.
You can tell his natural instinct is to play like the other Euro bigs, and Cal's instinct is the exact opposite. This makes perfect sense.
That goes for most players. They play for coaches, not just programs, or at least they did once upon a time.
Why is it entitlement for a guy to make a decision he feels is best for him? Because fans supported him and took at a billboard he's supposed to stay here even if he doesn't think it's the best thing for his future? Seems foolish to me. And what about gratitude for the staff that recruited him? There's literally nothing wrong with this decision.
Also got to think that even IF Cal doesn’t want a player or plan on using them, he’s still going to take them. NO WAY he’s letting anyone stay here and thrive in Popes system.
The kid is from Croatia, he probably couldn't find Kentucky on a map a year ago. No crap he came for the NBA and Calipari.
The saltiness is over the top.
Cal has loyalty of his players (most players), see Aaron Bradshaw (one example). He will take the players he wants and maybe one he really does not want (Burks) if he can to be a thorn in the side of UK fans.
Hopefully Pope hits the portal really hard and gets the guys he knows will be awesome in his system here. Also hopefully he can bring in a surprise youngun or two. Not sure if he can get Reed to come back but he will probably not pressure him being friends of the family. I would expect Reed to be in NBA this fall. Hart (maybe Pope will like what he sees there and gets him back, probably not), same for Burks. Adou will probably be anywhere but Kentucky (nothing against fans or anything like that) just change of place to start over.
Hopefully Pope hits the portal really hard and gets the guys he knows will be awesome in his system here. Also hopefully he can bring in a surprise youngun or two. Not sure if he can get Reed to come back but he will probably not pressure him being friends of the family. I would expect Reed to be in NBA this fall. Hart (maybe Pope will like what he sees there and gets him back, probably not), same for Burks. Adou will probably be anywhere but Kentucky (nothing against fans or anything like that) just change of place to start over.
The University of Calipari
But he's been here long enough to learn what this fanbase is about, and it wasn't good enough. Maybe he should repay those folks who bought a billboard for him. Or maybe he just never gave a sheet about UK and was looking to hop anywhere else.
Sucks.
Watch Wagner, Fland, and Z all play like all-conference level players next season for Arkansas. Quaintance as well.
Cal will be reinvigorated.
Watch Wagner, Fland, and Z all play like all-conference level players next season for Arkansas. Quaintance as well.
Cal will be reinvigorated.
Didn't you all say that if they just sit down and talk with coach Pope to see what he may say to them about coming back? Well he listened. But decided to go another way. So, take it as that!
I get that for sure but these guys are over 18 and getting paid now as professionals. I’m ready to move on from the “kids” talk.
Cal is the only coach that can get players to the NBA. Literally the only coach to accomplish that task. It’s amazing on how he brainwashes these athletes.
Best of luck, personally I think it is a mistake, because Cal will force him back into the paint, but it is his decision not mine.
All these parents are like “ cals been like a father to our kid “ and I’m sure he has….. but come on, you know it’s all about the money/promises that were made. Even cal knows he’s not winning a championship lol. Hell! He ain’t tryin to lmao.
So disappointed. Why play for a clown that won't help you improve?
Maybe too much $ to turn down
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Yeah,grow up! When I was a child,I did childish things. But when I became a man,I put away childish things!