Bacot returning to UNC

DreadLox

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From my vantage point what turned there entire season around was clearly defined roles. They tried their most talented player Love as a ball dominate play making guard for the first half of the season and it was a disaster. Even in the final 4 Love had some truly horrendous turnovers trying to make plays because he is bad at it. But they got it sorted moved Love to SG and had him focus on scoring only and driving the paint and moved Davis to PG. They only played 6-7 guys and everybody in the rotation thrived at the same time with many less turnovers and slightly better defense.
Was Love the guy who took those 3-4 dud jump shots that let Kansas back in the game.
 

cats#1again

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My point wasn’t that it’s a bad or good thing. Just to respond to the guy saying “well Lordy why would he declare, he’s not even on draft boards!” We have guys that do it all the time.
Yea it's a little silly. Even if these guys get constructive criticism ,and work on everything. It still doesn't mean next year they will get drafted high
 

bigsmoothie

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Sep 7, 2004
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I’m definitely not. I do have enough of a cursory understanding and awareness to know the way we do things is an outlier. Every program has attrition. But it is a matter of degree and the turnover our program goes through is absurd.
Isn’t Duke going to lose 5 freshmen this year?
 

Jont0805

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Well we are on a Kentucky basketball message board I don’t think we have any say in anyones decisions here but I could be wrong.

I was simply asking why on earth you would bring up a player who was drafted number 6 into this discussion of a player and players who are not on any draft boards.

they are not comparable at all, do you have anything to add to the discussion that actually makes sense, because this is a message board not an advisory panel for college basketball players. I think it is a fan website, again I could be wrong though.


What it has to do with the issue? it's their livelihood. Do you want strangers having a say in your decisions?
 

Jont0805

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He did drop to 7 but I don't think he was going No. 1 with Kyrie Irving in the draft. He does probably go No. 2 and 4 at worse. They also had the NBA lockout that year which is what won us a title and kept other guys.

The two biggest drops I can recall ever happening are

Western's Chris Marcus who was considered a lottery pick and then came back and it never happened.

Jouaquin Noah- He would have become the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft no question and came back, won another title but then went 9th.
Yeah I forgot about kyrie but looking at that top I couldn’t see him going anywhere less than 2, heck Kanter was three and Brandon knight 7!

also forgot about the lockout possibly swaying his decision to stay. Worked out well for him I just couldn’t imagine that being a possibility at Kentucky while it seems to be a regular occurrence at UNC
 

Catfan2226

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“Farm team” I remember we said that back in the mid 90’s. Then it was a compliment or a comment on how good we were. Different times.
We had some damn good teams in the 90s.I was thinking how many Pitino players left early for the NBA and I know Mash left after his junior year and Mercer left after his sophomore year but every Pitino team had Senior leadership.Look at the 1996 national title team.Loaded with experience and talent....yes different times indeed.
 

JeepCSC_anon

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Nov 17, 2005
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Of course, absolutely, but who else lost players back then? Alonzo Mourning stayed four years at Georgetown, he came into College when Laettner did. (they faced off in the 89 East Regional Final) Shaq stayed at LSU three years. The UNLV guys stayed. Across the board kids just stayed in school longer and that started changing once Kobe and a couple others skipped College completely in the mid/late 90's.
That don’t make no sense. Kids started skipping college because of Kobe and Garnett for sure, but they’d been leaving college eligibility on the table for decades before Duke was ever affected. Both the 1992 Wolverines and the 1994 Razorbacks never got to see senior version of their stars. LSU should have had 3 seasons of Shaq and Jackson, they got 1. UNC’s first early entry was in 1972. Kentucky’s was 1971. Duke was the outlier for a generation.
 

Neue Regel

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That don’t make no sense. Kids started skipping college because of Kobe and Garnett for sure, but they’d been leaving college eligibility on the table for decades before Duke was ever affected. Both the 1992 Wolverines and the 1994 Razorbacks never got to see senior version of their stars. LSU should have had 3 seasons of Shaq and Jackson, they got 1. UNC’s first early entry was in 1972. Kentucky’s was 1971. Duke was the outlier for a generation.

I never said nobody left early, I clearly said Shaq stayed three years as an example. (which means he left early) Does Shaq stay three years today? Does Shaq stay three years 10 years ago? hell no (unless at unc j/k lol.) And regarding Michigan, Jeep did you forget that four of the so-called Fab Five stayed in College three seasons? You can cherry pick all you want but It's NOTHING like it is now in the sport with early entry. There was no cringeworthy OAD catchphrase trotted out during games.
 
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billCgmx

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Of course, absolutely, but who else lost players back then? Alonzo Mourning stayed four years at Georgetown, he came into College when Laettner did. (they faced off in the 89 East Regional Final) Shaq stayed at LSU three years. The UNLV guys stayed. Across the board kids just stayed in school longer and that started changing once Kobe and a couple others skipped College completely in the mid/late 90's.
Billy Owens and Kenny Anderson both left college early.
 

DreadLox

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Well we are on a Kentucky basketball message board I don’t think we have any say in anyones decisions here but I could be wrong.

I was simply asking why on earth you would bring up a player who was drafted number 6 into this discussion of a player and players who are not on any draft boards.

they are not comparable at all, do you have anything to add to the discussion that actually makes sense, because this is a message board not an advisory panel for college basketball players. I think it is a fan website, again I could be wrong though.

Draft boards are for the Web. Hearing estimates from actual NBA people seems to me to be more valuable. As I said earlier, the NBA has lots of people who never made a draft board or a discussion group. Some clubs may see things in Toppin or Brooks that amateurs don't. And as I said before, since there's no cost to the player in terms of his eligibility, why wouldn't he see what flesh-and-blood people have to say? It baffles me to wonder why people get so exercised about a player wanting to do that. You wouldn't want strangers gossiping -- which is what all this is -- about you.

I suspect that some people just love the feeling of being irate all the time.
 

Neue Regel

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Billy Owens and Kenny Anderson both left college early.

Players left early even back then. Yes, Those two I believe played two years each. But it's nothing like it is now. I was watching back then and I got to see a lot of talent play in College and for more than even a couple years. If you said one and done back then no one knew what that was.
 
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billCgmx

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I believe it comes down to what these coaches tell recruits. If you're presenting a fast track to the NBA then no one should really be upset when these players don't stick around.
 
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Untouchables22

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Was Love the guy who took those 3-4 dud jump shots that let Kansas back in the game.
Yes he was feeling himself after having a great tournament and hitting the dagger 3 against Duke. (Dirty Little Secret neither Davis nor Love are confident ball handlers and you can give them fits with a simple press.)
 

Jont0805

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Draft boards are for the Web. Hearing estimates from actual NBA people seems to me to be more valuable. As I said earlier, the NBA has lots of people who never made a draft board or a discussion group. Some clubs may see things in Toppin or Brooks that amateurs don't. And as I said before, since there's no cost to the player in terms of his eligibility, why wouldn't he see what flesh-and-blood people have to say? It baffles me to wonder why people get so exercised about a player wanting to do that. You wouldn't want strangers gossiping -- which is what all this is -- about you.

I suspect that some people just love the feeling of being irate all the time.
See now if you would have said that the first time it may have made a little bit of sense.

you simply said

would you have advised Dujuan Wagner to come back, which is not comparable at all.

I suppose there is nothing wrong with getting feedback and I wouldn’t say I am angry about that, some may be,

it just seems the hundreds of scouts that have been around the program, the coach who has 57 or whatever players in the nba and the nba workout/tryout thing Kentucky does every season would give them plenty of answers.

To each his own, but like I said this is a discussion message board or gossip as you call it for fans, the question most ask is how many players of toppin/brooks ability bother to go through this process.

I think the frustration is more with Cal and the fact that it is expected for all of our players to be Gone asap, with your tone towards this discussion it seems to me you are a Cal guy, which is fine, just many are soured on his approach when the wins are no longer there.
 

Kerwinwaltonsafro

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I have my reservations like I did with everyone putting UCLA #1 after last years tournament. Do I think they will be a Top 15-20 team yes….but without Manek and also without getting better defensively they have a ceiling.
1. UCLA was the toughest team UNC played until Kansas. If not for Caleb Love's late shots, UCLA would have likely run to the title game themselves.

2. Manek was a career 37% 3pt shooter at OU. He never had a season over 38% until he came to UNC. He didn't even start over Dawson Garcia until Garcia's concussion. If UNC could pull 2 starting caliber stretch 4s last summer, they can get 1 this transfer season.

3. Defensively they were one of the best teams in the country the last month of the season/post season.
 
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JeepCSC_anon

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Nov 17, 2005
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I never said nobody left early, I clearly said Shaq stayed three years as an example. (which means he left early) Does Shaq stay three years today? Does Shaq stay three years 10 years ago? hell no (unless at unc j/k lol.) And regarding Michigan, Jeep did you forget that four of the so-called Fab Five stayed in College three seasons? You can cherry pick all you want but It's NOTHING like it is now in the sport with early entry. There was no cringeworthy OAD catchphrase trotted out during games.
It’s nothing like it is now, but Duke definitely was an outlier in the 1990s in the fact they lost no one. UNC could have had two years of Jamison-Vince-Stack-Sheed if playing with the Duke rules. It was a fun experiment we used to play, building your teams if no one left early. I had two Wake friends convinced they were cutting down the nets in 1994 if Rodgers had stayed. The poor State fans didn’t play with their own team lol. Same as it ever was.
 

saxonburgcat

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The UCLA thing is a very good point, my question would be did the Bruins just get hot for a couple weeks or did it start before that? In the case of Chapel Hill, they were catching fire by the mid-way point or a hair over the mid-way point of the season. They had the 20 point home loss to Duke in early Feb and then their absolute low point of the season was a terrible Pittsburgh team (who finished the season 11-21) coming into chapel hill and beating them. That was about mid-February I believe and after that Carolina changed and got better and better and they did not lose again until the semi's of the ACC Tournament against Va Tech. (VT blows out unc and Duke to win the ACC Tournament then loses in first round of the NCAA'S lol, go figure) and then their next loss was the National Championship game.

UNC also blew some big leads against Baylor, who were not a legit one seed, and against KU. When they were hot, they were hot. When they weren't hot, they were cold as ice. Also, much of their schedule late season was weak. Their most impressive wins were against Duke, of course.
 

JeepCSC_anon

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Nov 17, 2005
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UNC also blew some big leads against Baylor, who were not a legit one seed, and against KU. When they were hot, they were hot. When they weren't hot, they were cold as ice. Also, much of their schedule late season was weak. Their most impressive wins were against Duke, of course.
They lost two of their starters against Baylor, including one of two ballhandlers. They were outmuscled and worked in the KU second half though, and bench depth will need to be rectified through growth and portal.
 
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DreadLox

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I think the frustration is more with Cal and the fact that it is expected for all of our players to be Gone asap, with your tone towards this discussion it seems to me you are a Cal guy, which is fine, just many are soured on his approach when the wins are no longer there.
I have no insight into Calipari's reasons, but I do love the "players first" mentality. I think it's sincere -- but obviously don't know. If my son were playing for him -- and here my flesh and blood would roar with laughter -- I'd want a coach making my kid's future and interests his top priority. Irresistible force (UK fans' howls) meets immovable object (Calipari's contract). What's baffling to me are the hints of outright malice on Calipari's part. If you were coming from generational poverty, you wouldn't want a guy looking out for your kid first?
 

saxonburgcat

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They lost two of their starters against Baylor, including one of two ballhandlers. They were outmuscled and worked in the KU second half though, and bench depth will need to be rectified through growth and portal.
I actually predicted a second half meltdown by UNC in the KU game. They had to be exhausted with only one day of rest after beating Duke. If they strengthen the bench, they can be much stronger next year.
 
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Neue Regel

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It’s nothing like it is now, but Duke definitely was an outlier in the 1990s in the fact they lost no one. UNC could have had two years of Jamison-Vince-Stack-Sheed if playing with the Duke rules. It was a fun experiment we used to play, building your teams if no one left early. I had two Wake friends convinced they were cutting down the nets in 1994 if Rodgers had stayed. The poor State fans didn’t play with their own team lol. Same as it ever was.

Actually they lost three early in the 90s. like K said in 1998/99, if Jamison comes back for his senior year then Elton Brand isn’t on the magazine covers. (But boy “three” years of Jamison was pretty nice wasn’t it?)
 
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Jont0805

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I have no insight into Calipari's reasons, but I do love the "players first" mentality. I think it's sincere -- but obviously don't know. If my son were playing for him -- and here my flesh and blood would roar with laughter -- I'd want a coach making my kid's future and interests his top priority. Irresistible force (UK fans' howls) meets immovable object (Calipari's contract). What's baffling to me are the hints of outright malice on Calipari's part. If you were coming from generational poverty, you wouldn't want a guy looking out for your kid first?
Yes of course I would.

if you were the athletic director for a college would you like your head coach to look out for the program first or generational poverty? I know you may say it goes both ways he can help players while winning but that doesn’t apply with the talent we have been acquiring lately it seems while 2010-2015 it was absolutely true.

and I completely understand the generational poverty thing before NIL, but there is a reason Oscar wants to come back to Kentucky. He will make more money next season at UK than he would as a second round draft pick.

How many past Kentucky players that left would be in better situations had they stayed? Whether they get their degree, become a legend which opens up connections the rest of their lives in this state and also betters their basketball abilities for their over seas career if they want to play basketball longer many would have been better off.


of course the players who are top picks it makes no sense to return even if you want to come back like cousins and MKG, but imagine the players who left.
 
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I believe it comes down to what these coaches tell recruits. If you're presenting a fast track to the NBA then no one should really be upset when these players don't stick around.
Yes, that is the problem. Cal created this one-and-done culture. Cal also won’t dismantle it because he cares more about ‘helping draft the kids’ than success on the court .
 

JoeSwag

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We had some damn good teams in the 90s.I was thinking how many Pitino players left early for the NBA and I know Mash left after his junior year and Mercer left after his sophomore year but every Pitino team had Senior leadership.Look at the 1996 national title team.Loaded with experience and talent....yes different times indeed.
Mercer leaving as a sophomore was a huge “OMG!” Two years later when Duke freshman Corey Maggette left after his frosh year it was beyond unique.
 

Kerwinwaltonsafro

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I actually predicted a second half meltdown by UNC in the KU game. They had to be exhausted with only one day of rest after beating Duke. If they strengthen the bench, they can be much stronger next year.
Bench should be better this season. UNC just had 2 guys who didn't play at all since January enter the portal. Sounds like a 3rd guy might join them. The roster is being reshaped. Hubert's gonna have a few guys on the bench who can actually contribute.
 

sa_hunt

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Solid chance the #1 player in Rivals 2023 class will commit to UNC next week.

Seems like Hubert is going to be similar to Roy. Some elite recruits, some 4 year recruits. But with more transfer portal players, and more 3pt shooters.
I love how everyone thinks your center has to shoot 3s. In a league where Ben Wallace thrived and lasted forever, there will always be room for a guy who can grab rebounds.
Uh No
 

JoeSwag

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He damn sure hasn’t lol. He throws statements like that out all the time and doesn’t even have a clue.
Jesus. Yeah, there’s totally not enough room on a roster for both a big guy who can stretch the floor and shoot threes as well as a big guy who can bring down lots of rebounds. Only one big guy allowed per roster. No one else. You got me. 😂
 
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IUfanBorden

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According to ESPN they are also expecting RJ Davis to return. So 2 guys who average 14 PPG or more returning. The last time we had 2 guys who averaged that and returned? 2011 and it was Lamb and Jones who were key pieces to winning the title.
And thst was because of a potential lockout...Otherwise, they both leave.
 

sa_hunt

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Jesus. Yeah, there’s totally not enough room on a roster for both a big guy who can stretch the floor and shoot threes as well as a big guy who can bring down lots of rebounds. Only one big guy allowed per roster. No one else. You got me. 😂
You’re right, not enough room for a guy that only rebounds, you’re right.