Kentucky name has never guaranteed recruiting success

[howitis_rivals115807]

There is this crazy excuse going around that the Kentucky name has lost its luster and that is why Pope cannot recruit, but the Kentucky name has never automatically brought in five star recruits.


Tubby Smith won a championship his first year, and we went to three straight championship games, yet he still mostly landed three and four star recruits. He had one year where Morris and Crawford basically fell into his lap, but throughout his entire career at UK, we complained about his recruiting. Guess what happened when he went to Minnesota? It got far far worse. Billy Gillispie was out there signing sophomores. If you are terrible at what you do, you will still be terrible at UK. At most, the UK name gives you a slight bump. It gets you in the door, but simply being Kentucky has never guaranteed elite recruits.
In the end, you have to be good at what you do.


Pope is seen as a bad coach who could be fired next year, and when you meet him, he comes off as kind of kooky. He even told the media he thought about killing himself after a loss. He is the issue.


Kentucky is what it has always been. It has never handed coaches top recruits. They have always had to go out and get them.
Pope simply cannot.

 

[Hamslam1]

There is this crazy excuse going around that the Kentucky name has lost its luster and that is why Pope cannot recruit, but the Kentucky name has never automatically brought in five star recruits.


Tubby Smith won a championship his first year, and we went to three straight championship games, yet he still mostly landed three and four star recruits. He had one year where Morris and Crawford basically fell into his lap, but throughout his entire career at UK, we complained about his recruiting. Guess what happened when he went to Minnesota? It got far far worse. Billy Gillispie was out there signing sophomores. If you are terrible at what you do, you will still be terrible at UK. At most, the UK name gives you a slight bump. It gets you in the door, but simply being Kentucky has never guaranteed elite recruits.
In the end, you have to be good at what you do.


Pope is seen as a bad coach who could be fired next year, and when you meet him, he comes off as kind of kooky. He even told the media he thought about killing himself after a loss. He is the issue.


Kentucky is what it has always been. It has never handed coaches top recruits. They have always had to go out and get them.
Pop simply cannot.

The brand the last 15 years has not been Kentucky, it's been Coach Cal. Like it or not, you're living it now.

 

[RationalKentuckyFan]

It's crazy that people actually debated whether it was Calipari or Kentucky that the top recruits were coming to. I believe that is completely settled now. For all the negative things you can say about Calipari as a coach its clear that our great recruiting was because of him and had very little to do with the school.

 

[UK BasketballFan]

Being the coach at UK helps but the coach is the engine in recruiting. Coach Stein said in the NIL era it is still about recruiting and relationships.

 

[BlueBomb]

A basic tenet of sales is that the salesperson is the key, not the product or brand. People often buy from the person they like, regardless of the brand they're purchasing. That certainly holds true in recruiting.

Young players like Cal. It doesn't matter if he's selling the Kentucky brand or the Arkansas brand.

 

[Rosie66]

With all the hate on here before the players even play a game why in the world would anyone want to come here.You think these other coaches don't show recruits all this stupid stuff to them ? The more of this hate and other stuff that you put on is hurting the program, and a lot of you are to stupid to realise it.

 

[BigBlue1992]

The fact is other than Rupp, Pitino and Cal were absolutely perfect for UK. Both winners with alpha personalities who didn’t answer to nobody. Gillespie and Pope just didn’t have the right personalities for the job. I love Tubby and I won’t say he didn’t have the personality but then again maybe he didn’t. Sorry I just can’t say anything bad about the man lol.

 

[UK BasketballFan]

The fact is other than Rupp, Pitino and Cal were absolutely perfect for UK. Both winners with alpha personalities who didn’t answer to nobody. Gillespie and Pope just didn’t have the right personalities for the job. I love Tubby and I won’t say he didn’t have the personality but then again maybe he didn’t. Sorry I just can’t say anything bad about the man lol.

Joe Hall was an excellent recruiter too. At the end of Coach Rupp’s career when his recruiting was spiraling downward Coach Hall recruited Issel and company. Also he recruited Kevin Grevey’s class. Coach Hall also had the foresight to fully integrate UK and was aided by hiring Leonard Hamilton.

 

[OGtruebluewildcat]

Cal and the OAD era changed things.

He was incredible at hyping and “winning” the media, emotion, pomp and circumstance…

Regardless of whether it was a great season, okay season, less than expectations season Cal was going to win all the other seasons.

Draft combine, talking, and eventual night of picking. Cal won. Recruiting class and pre-season rankings. Cal won.

A large majority of this fan base got punch drunk off it.

First two years of major P4, blue blood basketball Pope has gotten to won and advanced in the tourney…and the SEC has never been tougher. Something that isn’t talked about enough.

No UK coach has ever played in a league that had 4-5 teams that could be playing late in March.

This year he lost his two most talented players to injury.

Folks acting like he is coming off consecutive NIT Rob Morris years.

No he’s just not winning all the ego stroke seasons.

Then you throw in portal/NIL and the playing field evening out. Folks are holding Pope to the standards of by gone eras of totally different games and structures.

Same in football. Sorry Bama, OSU, etc fans…Vandy and IU can beat you now…maybe sooner rather than later UK will too.

 

[FinalF]

The brand the last 15 years has not been Kentucky, it's been Coach Cal. Like it or not, you're living it now.

I love how people look back through rose tinted glasses. Yes Cal can recruit no doubt, that was never the issue. Pope has won as many tournament games in 2 years as Cal did in 5. He also beat more ranked teams with less talent.

It’s obvious Pope isn’t the answer but neither was Cal. Whatever Cal does at Arkansas he wasn’t doing it at UK. However bad this Stokes drama was the Sharpe fiasco was worse. How about starting DJ and Edwards over Shepherd and Dillingham. How about starting freaking Quade Green over SGA for half a season?

Trash Pope all you want ….frankly he’s earned it but can we please stop with the Cal crap? His last 6 or 7 years here were abysmal. The only caveat I’ll give is the Covid year with Maxey that team could have made a run.

 

[ala_kat2]

There is this crazy excuse going around that the Kentucky name has lost its luster and that is why Pope cannot recruit, but the Kentucky name has never automatically brought in five star recruits.


Tubby Smith won a championship his first year, and we went to three straight championship games, yet he still mostly landed three and four star recruits. He had one year where Morris and Crawford basically fell into his lap, but throughout his entire career at UK, we complained about his recruiting. Guess what happened when he went to Minnesota? It got far far worse. Billy Gillispie was out there signing sophomores. If you are terrible at what you do, you will still be terrible at UK. At most, the UK name gives you a slight bump. It gets you in the door, but simply being Kentucky has never guaranteed elite recruits.
In the end, you have to be good at what you do.


Pope is seen as a bad coach who could be fired next year, and when you meet him, he comes off as kind of kooky. He even told the media he thought about killing himself after a loss. He is the issue.


Kentucky is what it has always been. It has never handed coaches top recruits. They have always had to go out and get them.
Pope simply cannot.

The 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s star players came to UK because of Kentucky’s tradition of winning. Issel. Dampier. Riley, Pratt, Bowie, Grevey, Patterson, Mashburn, just to name a few. Your thread is probably true since Cal got here and since players are now paid and allowed to choose the highest bidder, but it hasn’t always been that way. You may not be old enough to remember the glory days.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

The brand the last 15 years has not been Kentucky, it's been Coach Cal. Like it or not, you're living it now.

Welcome to our world, Arkansas is the same thing.

 

[Crestcat]

The 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s star players came to UK because of Kentucky’s tradition of winning. Issel. Dampier. Riley, Pratt, Bowie, Grevey, Patterson, Mashburn, just to name a few. Your thread is probably true since Cal got here and since players are now paid and allowed to choose the highest bidder, but it hasn’t always been that way. You may not be old enough to remember the glory days.

I don't know about the others but Mash came to UK to play for the Knicks coach.

 

[megablue]

Dusty May is an amazing story, I think. Prior to being hired by Michigan, his only head coaching experience was five (5) years at Florida Atlantic.
He was 126-49 there, for a 64.6% winning percentage. Decent, but certainly not overwhelming, although his last two (2) years he was 70-13.
He now only has seven (7) years of head coaching experience, including a National Championship.

His first two (2) years at Michigan were:
27-10, Sweet 16
37-3, National Championship ... with four (4) new players on campus via the transfer portal !!

Whoever interviewed him and gave him the opportunity to step up certainly looks like a genius right now.
Coaching can definitely make a HUGE difference ... no question, it seems !!

Dusty May - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Bigbluegoo]

If tubby can get #1 classes at Kentucky anyone can. Well, except pope maybe lol

 

[howitis_rivals115807]

If tubby can get #1 classes at Kentucky anyone can. Well, except pope maybe lol

Tubby was a terrible recruiter here.

 

[The Nightman2]

The 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s star players came to UK because of Kentucky’s tradition of winning. Issel. Dampier. Riley, Pratt, Bowie, Grevey, Patterson, Mashburn, just to name a few. Your thread is probably true since Cal got here and since players are now paid and allowed to choose the highest bidder, but it hasn’t always been that way. You may not be old enough to remember the glory days.

Mashburn came because of Pitino.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Cal and the OAD era changed things.

He was incredible at hyping and “winning” the media, emotion, pomp and circumstance…

Regardless of whether it was a great season, okay season, less than expectations season Cal was going to win all the other seasons.

Draft combine, talking, and eventual night of picking. Cal won. Recruiting class and pre-season rankings. Cal won.

A large majority of this fan base got punch drunk off it.

First two years of major P4, blue blood basketball Pope has gotten to won and advanced in the tourney…and the SEC has never been tougher. Something that isn’t talked about enough.

No UK coach has ever played in a league that had 4-5 teams that could be playing late in March.

This year he lost his two most talented players to injury.

Folks acting like he is coming off consecutive NIT Rob Morris years.

No he’s just not winning all the ego stroke seasons.

Then you throw in portal/NIL and the playing field evening out. Folks are holding Pope to the standards of by gone eras of totally different games and structures.

Same in football. Sorry Bama, OSU, etc fans…Vandy and IU can beat you now…maybe sooner rather than later UK will too.

That doesn’t excuse the quitting.

 

[Bigbluegoo]

Tubby was a terrible recruiter here.

 

[Catphright23]

cal wasn't like Pitino. cal last 5 years of Kentucky was almost a piss poor coach. pope appears to be a bad recruiter and too nice meaning he gives people playing time who don't deserve it and is stubborn. the stubbornness and not hiring a real GM will probably be downfall.

 

[CatBearPig]

There is this crazy excuse going around that the Kentucky name has lost its luster and that is why Pope cannot recruit, but the Kentucky name has never automatically brought in five star recruits.


Tubby Smith won a championship his first year, and we went to three straight championship games, yet he still mostly landed three and four star recruits. He had one year where Morris and Crawford basically fell into his lap, but throughout his entire career at UK, we complained about his recruiting. Guess what happened when he went to Minnesota? It got far far worse. Billy Gillispie was out there signing sophomores. If you are terrible at what you do, you will still be terrible at UK. At most, the UK name gives you a slight bump. It gets you in the door, but simply being Kentucky has never guaranteed elite recruits.
In the end, you have to be good at what you do.


Pope is seen as a bad coach who could be fired next year, and when you meet him, he comes off as kind of kooky. He even told the media he thought about killing himself after a loss. He is the issue.


Kentucky is what it has always been. It has never handed coaches top recruits. They have always had to go out and get them.
Pope simply cannot.

Tubby Smith had the #1 recruiting class twice at Kentucky in his first 6 seasons by one service or another. Once with Bogans, Marvin Stone, Marquis Estill and Nate Knight and again with Rondo, Crawford, Morris and Bradley. Tubby was a good recruiter until AAU and Shoe companies started dominating recruiting and Tubby wouldn’t deal with handlers and people outside the families.

 

[Damage_inc]

The brand the last 15 years has not been Kentucky, it's been Coach Cal. Like it or not, you're living it now.

Kentucky owns a record in college basketball that solidifies them as the top program of all time. It’s a record that may never be matched. Kentucky has won titles with 5 different coaches. It’s always been the program. Kentucky is the brand.

Kentucky’s marriage to Cal was perfect. They were made for each other. But it couldn’t last forever. When cal is long retired, Kentucky will still be here and will still be the top blue blood. We have the data to prove it.

 

[Skyguyb27]

With all the hate on here before the players even play a game why in the world would anyone want to come here.You think these other coaches don't show recruits all this stupid stuff to them ? The more of this hate and other stuff that you put on is hurting the program, and a lot of you are to stupid to realise it.

Can you provide undeniable proof that players look into fan forums to decide their futures?

 

[Anon1774274437]

There is this crazy excuse going around that the Kentucky name has lost its luster and that is why Pope cannot recruit, but the Kentucky name has never automatically brought in five star recruits.


Tubby Smith won a championship his first year, and we went to three straight championship games, yet he still mostly landed three and four star recruits. He had one year where Morris and Crawford basically fell into his lap, but throughout his entire career at UK, we complained about his recruiting. Guess what happened when he went to Minnesota? It got far far worse. Billy Gillispie was out there signing sophomores. If you are terrible at what you do, you will still be terrible at UK. At most, the UK name gives you a slight bump. It gets you in the door, but simply being Kentucky has never guaranteed elite recruits.
In the end, you have to be good at what you do.


Pope is seen as a bad coach who could be fired next year, and when you meet him, he comes off as kind of kooky. He even told the media he thought about killing himself after a loss. He is the issue.


Kentucky is what it has always been. It has never handed coaches top recruits. They have always had to go out and get them.
Pope simply cannot.

There is this crazy excuse going around that the Kentucky name has lost its luster and that is why Pope cannot recruit, but the Kentucky name has never automatically brought in five star recruits.


Tubby Smith won a championship his first year, and we went to three straight championship games, yet he still mostly landed three and four star recruits. He had one year where Morris and Crawford basically fell into his lap, but throughout his entire career at UK, we complained about his recruiting. Guess what happened when he went to Minnesota? It got far far worse. Billy Gillispie was out there signing sophomores. If you are terrible at what you do, you will still be terrible at UK. At most, the UK name gives you a slight bump. It gets you in the door, but simply being Kentucky has never guaranteed elite recruits.
In the end, you have to be good at what you do.


Pope is seen as a bad coach who could be fired next year, and when you meet him, he comes off as kind of kooky. He even told the media he thought about killing himself after a loss. He is the issue.


Kentucky is what it has always been. It has never handed coaches top recruits. They have always had to go out and get them.
Pope simply cannot.

If you can't recruit at Kentucky then you can't coach at Kentucky period.

 

[Tim0808]

I love how people look back through rose tinted glasses. Yes Cal can recruit no doubt, that was never the issue. Pope has won as many tournament games in 2 years as Cal did in 5. He also beat more ranked teams with less talent.

It’s obvious Pope isn’t the answer but neither was Cal. Whatever Cal does at Arkansas he wasn’t doing it at UK. However bad this Stokes drama was the Sharpe fiasco was worse. How about starting DJ and Edwards over Shepherd and Dillingham. How about starting freaking Quade Green over SGA for half a season?

Trash Pope all you want ….frankly he’s earned it but can we please stop with the Cal crap? His last 6 or 7 years here were abysmal. The only caveat I’ll give is the Covid year with Maxey that team could have made a run.

You will never be happy. Pope is constantly getting ran out of the gym. Cal rarely was not competitive in any of his games. Yes it happened every now and then, but Pope and Kentucky getting blown out is the standard now, not the exception. I do not care if Pope went to the sweet sixteen (where he got trashed by Tennessee) or that someone hit a miracle shot to beat Santa Clara. I would take Cal's success during the season his last 4 years over and over and over again to stop this nightmare of a train wreck that we have going on with Pope.

 

[Tim0808]

Tubby was a terrible recruiter here.

Maybe his last 3 years, but before that he signed studs!!!

 

[Tim0808]

Tubby Smith had the #1 recruiting class twice at Kentucky in his first 6 seasons by one service or another. Once with Bogans, Marvin Stone, Marquis Estill and Nate Knight and again with Rondo, Crawford, Morris and Bradley. Tubby was a good recruiter until AAU and Shoe companies started dominating recruiting and Tubby wouldn’t deal with handlers and people outside the families.

Bingo! We have a winner.