Craft's plane left Waco

Blue till I die

All-Conference
Dec 20, 2004
1,642
3,337
113
Insiders have said he and his family are tentative about the lifestyle of being the Kentucky coach (mostly his wife). Someone close to Drew was flown to Lexington today (most likely his wife) to meet some of the donors and have conversations. That person was flown back home tonight. Drew has til 6 pm tomorrow to make his decision. They want to talk it over and pray about it tonight.
 

FrankUnderwoodX

Sophomore
Apr 9, 2024
57
129
0
I've said since the beginning we were striking out on all 3 and it was one of the reasons I was fine with Cal coming back for one more year to see if any potential candidates settle out a bit.

I'd rather take a chance on someone like Golden than hire Drew.


I disagree with preferring Golden over Drew (but can respect it) however I do agree that I’ve thought we could very well strike out on all the “big hires” (Hurley, Donovan, Drew etc)

30+ years ago it would be almost a guarantee that a coach from UConn would come here if offered. Same with Baylor. Bama.

Hurley has made it pretty clear he doesn’t want the job. Technically Oats may not have been offered but he has a great thing going at Bama and is already more successful with Bama the last several years than UK has been. Plus not all the pressure. Why leave a good gig when you will get crucified by UK fans (I get it- we are passionate) for not living up to expectations.

I think, with how much college basketball has changed, simply being Kentucky is NOT enough to pluck whoever we want or enough to “have coaches crawl on broken glass to get here”.

I think a lot of folks still have the mindset that we can get whoever we want/ whenever we want. Or that we are immune from having bouts of being mediocre/ no FF’s which clearly isn’t the case as we’ve seen outside from a 5 year window over the last 26 years.

With NIL and portal you don’t have to be at a bluest of blue blood to be successful or happy.

It’s a reason why I’m open to the idea of hiring a Golden or a Lloyd etc. Even Drew. We’re not just gonna be able to go out and pluck the best coach in America at any given time. Imo at least.

If Drew, Donovan, Hurley (sort of Oats) decline our offer I think that will be kind of an eye opener for all of us.

I grew up watching the 92 cats, 96 cats, 97 cats (D Anderson 😞) and 98 cats. We were larger than life. We still are but it’s not like how it used to be. Not only for us but college basketball as a whole.

That being said I hope we’re all wrong and Hurley surprises us and accepts.
 

jawanabee

Redshirt
May 8, 2023
7
15
0
Insiders have said he and his family are tentative about the lifestyle of being the Kentucky coach (mostly his wife). Someone close to Drew was flown to Lexington today (most likely his wife) to meet some of the donors and have conversations. That person was flown back home tonight. Drew has til 6 pm tomorrow to make his decision. They want to talk it over and pray about it tonight.
Are the insiders in the room with us right now?
 

kb22stang

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2005
10,902
4,384
0
I disagree with preferring Golden over Drew (but can respect it) however I do agree that I’ve thought we could very well strike out on all the “big hires” (Hurley, Donovan, Drew etc)

30+ years ago it would be almost a guarantee that a coach from UConn would come here if offered. Same with Baylor. Bama.

Hurley has made it pretty clear he doesn’t want the job. Technically Oats may not have been offered but he has a great thing going at Bama and is already more successful with Bama the last several years than UK has been. Plus not all the pressure. Why leave a good gig when you will get crucified by UK fans (I get it- we are passionate) for not living up to expectations.

I think, with how much college basketball has changed, simply being Kentucky is NOT enough to pluck whoever we want or enough to “have coaches crawl on broken glass to get here”.

I think a lot of folks still have the mindset that we can get whoever we want/ whenever we want. Or that we are immune from having bouts of being mediocre/ no FF’s which clearly isn’t the case as we’ve seen outside from a 5 year window over the last 26 years.

With NIL and portal you don’t have to be at a bluest of blue blood to be successful or happy.

It’s a reason why I’m open to the idea of hiring a Golden or a Lloyd etc. Even Drew. We’re not just gonna be able to go out and pluck the best coach in America at any given time. Imo at least.

If Drew, Donovan, Hurley (sort of Oats) decline our offer I think that will be kind of an eye opener for all of us.

I grew up watching the 92 cats, 96 cats, 97 cats (D Anderson 😞) and 98 cats. We were larger than life. We still are but it’s not like how it used to be. Not only for us but college basketball as a whole.

That being said I hope we’re all wrong and Hurley surprises us and accepts.
When has UK been able to go out and get whoever they wanted? Maybe Sutton? Rick was third choice. Tubby and BG didn't have the pedigrees of Hurley and Drew. This had been Cal's dream job, but he still hadnt won a title before UK.

UK has never before hired a coach who had previously won a title. It definitely would not be shocking to see Hurley, Drew and BD say no.
 
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Rockfly78

Heisman
Nov 20, 2014
7,927
10,877
0
I'd roll the dice on Golden.
Drew is not rolling the dice at all though. He’d be the most accomplished coach we have ever offered the job to. If the first two guys say no then you have to make Drew say yes. After that it could get ugly.

I suppose golden may be ok one day but let me remind you of the hot young up and comer last season. It was Missouri’s coach. We had posters ready to burn it all down and hire that guy a year ago. How do we feel about that guy now?
 

MidseasonTweak

Heisman
Mar 1, 2020
10,494
18,144
113
Drew is not rolling the dice at all though. He’d be the most accomplished coach we have ever offered the job to. If the first two guys say no then you have to make Drew say yes. After that it could get ugly.

I suppose golden may be ok one day but let me remind you of the hot young up and comer last season. It was Missouri’s coach. We had posters ready to burn it all down and hire that guy a year ago. How do we feel about that guy now?
Fair enough on Gates but then you have coaches who go from nothing to something quick (Hurley).

Doesn't matter regardless as it won't happen
 

tls

Heisman
Nov 7, 2007
7,877
14,478
81
Drew is not rolling the dice at all though. He’d be the most accomplished coach we have ever offered the job to. If the first two guys say no then you have to make Drew say yes. After that it could get ugly.

I suppose golden may be ok one day but let me remind you of the hot young up and comer last season. It was Missouri’s coach. We had posters ready to burn it all down and hire that guy a year ago. How do we feel about that guy now?
Think Golden coached before Florida but wasn’t Mizzou Tang’s first head job
 

UK90

Heisman
Dec 30, 2007
31,460
27,816
0
When has UK been able to go out and get whoever they wanted? Maybe Sutton?
Not even Sutton.

We first offered and got rejected by Lute Olson in that 85 search. After that we turned our attention to Sutton.
 

Rockfly78

Heisman
Nov 20, 2014
7,927
10,877
0
Fair enough on Gates but then you have coaches who go from nothing to something quick (Hurley).

Doesn't matter regardless as it won't happen
Oh it absolutely happens. But you’ve got to catch lightning in a bottle and that’s a high risk move. UConn must have Jesus on their side. They have gotten lucky as hell with their hires. My guess is Hurley will be in the nba within 2 years and they have to try again
 

mebeblue2

Heisman
Dec 20, 2009
98,152
10,574
0
I disagree with preferring Golden over Drew (but can respect it) however I do agree that I’ve thought we could very well strike out on all the “big hires” (Hurley, Donovan, Drew etc)

30+ years ago it would be almost a guarantee that a coach from UConn would come here if offered. Same with Baylor. Bama.

Hurley has made it pretty clear he doesn’t want the job. Technically Oats may not have been offered but he has a great thing going at Bama and is already more successful with Bama the last several years than UK has been. Plus not all the pressure. Why leave a good gig when you will get crucified by UK fans (I get it- we are passionate) for not living up to expectations.

I think, with how much college basketball has changed, simply being Kentucky is NOT enough to pluck whoever we want or enough to “have coaches crawl on broken glass to get here”.

I think a lot of folks still have the mindset that we can get whoever we want/ whenever we want. Or that we are immune from having bouts of being mediocre/ no FF’s which clearly isn’t the case as we’ve seen outside from a 5 year window over the last 26 years.

With NIL and portal you don’t have to be at a bluest of blue blood to be successful or happy.

It’s a reason why I’m open to the idea of hiring a Golden or a Lloyd etc. Even Drew. We’re not just gonna be able to go out and pluck the best coach in America at any given time. Imo at least.

If Drew, Donovan, Hurley (sort of Oats) decline our offer I think that will be kind of an eye opener for all of us.

I grew up watching the 92 cats, 96 cats, 97 cats (D Anderson 😞) and 98 cats. We were larger than life. We still are but it’s not like how it used to be. Not only for us but college basketball as a whole.

That being said I hope we’re all wrong and Hurley surprises us and accepts.
P.J. Carlwsimo turned us down
 

maysvilleky

All-American
Aug 13, 2003
15,769
5,109
0
Drew is not rolling the dice at all though. He’d be the most accomplished coach we have ever offered the job to. If the first two guys say no then you have to make Drew say yes. After that it could get ugly.

I suppose golden may be ok one day but let me remind you of the hot young up and comer last season. It was Missouri’s coach. We had posters ready to burn it all down and hire that guy a year ago. How do we feel about that guy now?
If UK has to take a chance, I want Josh Schertz formerly from Indiana State now at St Louis. The dude can flat out Coach. And has final 4 pedigree (at D2).