I'm sorry many will hate me for this thread but it's true. 5 #1 classes and 1 championship. Who knows for next year but I'm not optimistic. To win title you must have some seasoned STRONG unpperclassmen. We went and got Cal to win championships. Not regular season games, not SEC titles, and certainly not to be known as the NBA farm club. 25 or whatever pros under Cal and again 1 championship! You can't win 38 straight then lose that should never, ever happen! I love Cal as a coach and as our ambassador but I do not like his recruiting and retainment practices. I've been all for them until now. No one cares if you get to elite 8, final four or the NC game, they care if you win it all. That's what people hang their hat on. Cal man you are here for the fans ever much as you are here for the athletes.
If you're not going to win championships with the one and done philosophy I encourage a change for the fans. it is frustrating for our fans to not get to know these kids. To have guys 1 or 2 years and watch them leave is honestly getting old. Its time for a change. It's time to bring in more 3 and 4 year players. It's time to encourage a kid like Tyler to stay and graduate as a hedge against the wall he may be up against in the NBA. Life is not all about money, yet the message Cal is sending to kids like my son is, college is good for a year or two then go out and get yours. K, Ole Roy even Clappy get kids of the caliber of the guys we lose to stay. What happened to the value of the college experience? 10 years ago all of these guys would not have left the way they have from UK. Cal shoves them out the door for the next group and us the fans who pay the cost of the program do not get to see a 3-4 year progression of the player. We see nothing. Murray and skal bam all of 9 mos. and likely gone.
As a lifelong fan I remember getting my cats pause yearbook every year and reading and getting to know the players. this solidified my love for the cats, not championships at the time "early mid 80s" but the experience of opening that yearbook every year and then letting the season play out feeling like I knew who I was rooting for. That is gone. Last night my son was very bummed after the loss he's 12. I thought it was because we lost...he was in part but what bummed him out the most was that it was Tyler Ulis last game and he only got to see him at UK for 2 yrs. a 5'9" player. 5 #1 recruiting classes, 1 championship and we don't get a chance to see team progression. A reboot rather every season. I don't like it
Here is why I think you are off base.
The other 3 years you believe we should have won the title have ZERO to do with the roster.
By the end of the following seasons, 2010-2014-2015, we had just as good, if not a better, team than anyone.
2010 - You didnt like Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, and Orton teamed with Miller and Patterson?
Put the WVU game blame where it belongs.. On Cal or terrible shooting or both.
I go with both. Cal is a good enough Coach to have his guys stop shooting 3's regardless of the defense. He had two dynamite guards who could penetrate and the 2 strongest block players.
Cal should have intervened and coached better.
2014 - A bunch of freshmen and WCS evolved over the season into a very good team.
Put the UConn game blame where it belongs.. On Cal or WCS injury.
I go with both, WCS for obvious reasons, and again Cali is a better defensive coach than what he showed that game.
2015 - Superstar roster with youth and experience.
Put the Wisconsin game blame where it belongs.. On Cal
I watched Tyler and Booker struggle on defense that game, no issue with the twins in at the end.
Cal slowing it up way early and not calling a TO during the 3 possession stretch of horrible offense did us in.
Love Cal, he is perfect for UK. He is the best recruiter of all time. He is a fantastic coach, but not infallible.
Our lack of titles has zero to do with the rosters.
Terrible shooting nights, injuries, and Cal had way more impact than who was playing.
Keep in mind, because of Cal we were actually in those games to begin with...