Buckle up (next year) ...

Sep 27, 2015
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Ok... so Vanderbilit cannot make a team draft him.

Nor can Diallo.

We have never had a freshman leave that wasnt a 1st Round pick.

Richards is 20 years old as a freshman, to think he will transfer and sit out to be a 22 year old sophomore at a lesser program makes zero sense.

PJ has no one sniffing him right now.

Wenyen, who spent most his life in the US is believed to have family living in huts somewhere but never been proven.


Absolutely no basis for any of this conjecture. There is a first time for everything and some kids may go who havent in the past. I say we wait and see, there were many that still look stupid to this day the night Hami decided to stay at UK.

I get it but Cal’s comments that he’s done enough and the context make me think he plans to go
 
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brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
21,825
113
SGA is likely gone. Murray was horrible against Indiana in 2016 and it had no effect on his lottery position.

SGA is a top 20 pick and will likely go as a result. Would be the equivalent of WCS coming back in ’14-15 or Jones coming back in ’11-12 if SGA returned.

Sine you’re a man of trends and stats, I’m sure you would agree that it’s highly unlikely and border on fringe naivety to try to paint a picture of Shai somehow returning.



I never said Shai was returning. I have simply stated that his game doesn’t translate nearly as well at the NBA level.

I have also stated that if he gets a 1st Round guarantee he should go.

Murray is twice the baller than Shai in my opinion.
 

RoyKent

Heisman
Feb 3, 2015
22,855
32,563
66
People on here keep talking about next year’s “loaded” team and I’m just not seeing it.

With what’s likely leaving, what’s returning and what’s coming in, where is the loaded part?

I see a lesser version of this year’s mediocre team.
 

brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
21,825
113
Remember that Diallo tried his hardest to NOT be here this year.
Gone:
Diallo,PJ,Vando,Knox,SGA,,at least one transfer
Result:
Next year dont look any better



Tried his hardest is an odd point. He was eligible to get a look and he did that.

After watching him this season none of us can blame him for trying to sneak in before being exposed.

And every top rated kid wants that opportunity to go as soon as possible, not just Diallo.
 

brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
21,825
113
I understand that MKG wanted to return and Cal said NO. And people on here dont believe that Cal pushes them out the door are blind.


Cal “pushed” Cousins and MKG as he has jokingly admitted.

Who else has Cal pushed?

Who has Cal told to stay?
 

brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
21,825
113
You make a good point with the first-round history.

On the flipside, let’s not act like all of Cal’s kids take his advice. At least four of them have completely blown off his draft advice. Only difference was that some of them got really lucky and made the first round (Goodwin, Teague, Skal, Orton) with the last first round pick or second-to-last.

Also, Cal was expecting the twins to leave after their first year. He was surprised when they returned. Both of them would have been 2nd round picks or undrafted.

The narrative you’re promoting – that kids will be sensible with their draft decisions – is not the full story. Many kids have outright ignored Cal’s draft advice.

The hope is that the fringe kids listen with this current group in much the same way Lamb, Briscoe, Poythress, twins and others did.

There’s no way to tell for sure.

Hopefully the trend you mentioned continues, but history can’t be used as a measurement with this group because Cal’s never had a group like this before (exclusively non-transcendent freshmen/sophomores).


Skal has the Giles reputation going for him as a former #1 recruit, not to mention his great shooting capabilities along with Cal misplaying him all season.

Orton made absolutely the best decision to leave with that knee that still hasn’t recovered.


Again not one freshman has left that wasn’t a 1st Rounder.
 
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Himmels

All-Conference
May 4, 2007
2,194
1,404
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Seriously? We have most of the team coming back with a good class coming in. I have a hard time seeing us not being better. I like Shai and Knox, but it’s not like they were the most reliable guys.
If not for Shai and Knox, we wouldn't have been in the tourney.
 
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420grover

All-American
Mar 26, 2006
7,703
7,860
0
That’s not what he said. You changed the order of what was said. It was obvious what he meant. He meant guys bouncing early who weren’t even projected to do anything yet declared anyway.
That's exactly what he said .I didn't change a thing. Use the words you mean.
 

Fwy_Phantom

All-Conference
Jan 24, 2015
871
1,675
93
I think Knox, Shai and Diallo go pro
I think Richards transfers

Leaving us with this (doesn’t look any better than this years roster):
Quade / Quickly
Herro / Baker
Johnson /
Vanderbilt / Gabriel
Washington / Killeya-Jones

Could be rough next year.
Gonna get that *** kicked by the Vols...again.
 

mrbud

Senior
Jun 12, 2009
1,487
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People on here keep talking about next year’s “loaded” team and I’m just not seeing it.

With what’s likely leaving, what’s returning and what’s coming in, where is the loaded part?

I see a lesser version of this year’s mediocre team.
Agree with you, even if they all came back this team would not win a championship, anyone that knows basketball would agree, only the homers would disagree
 

jeffbuckies

Junior
Oct 15, 2017
373
260
0
No way Diallo and Richards get 1st Round slots, if they leave it will be a first for UK freshmen.

After tonight Shai may come under more scrutiny.

Diallo is NOT a freshman. He's a sophomore, and that is why he's gone. Sticking around after your freshman year at UK is disappointing in the eyes of everyone, sticking around after your sophomore is embarrassing in those same eyes. That is a key thing that Cal needs to fix before he has good players stay multiple years.
 
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Big John Stud

All-American
Jan 14, 2003
23,281
8,876
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Richards is not happy.
Diallo has the Briscoe mindset. It doesn’t matter where he is projected.
How do you know Diallo's mindset? So you're saying he wants to leave and play in Estonia instead of returning, improving, and greatly raising his chances for an NBA career.
 

CincyUKFan

All-American
Dec 1, 2009
4,582
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People on here keep talking about next year’s “loaded” team and I’m just not seeing it.

With what’s likely leaving, what’s returning and what’s coming in, where is the loaded part?

I see a lesser version of this year’s mediocre team.
They are convinced that we will have a new and improved Richards, Gabriel, and Jones, among other things.

Our front court was terrible this season. It will be terrible next season. And we won’t have Shai to single-handedly win a few games.

Next year is going to be brutal.
 

Cats192

Heisman
Apr 22, 2011
14,840
17,647
93
WHY does everyone think Vanderbilt is gone?

As a collective, we've talked about how he's an offensive liability at this point. His best skill so far has been rebounding.
He hasn't showed that he can stay healthy.
The NBA has a lot of long athletic guys that can rebound.

If I'm a GM--I don't look at the tape of a kid that barely played and think he's worth my 1st round pick with his limited offensive upside.
 

Cats192

Heisman
Apr 22, 2011
14,840
17,647
93
Diallo is hard to project--he's obviously wanted to go pro since he got here. He was told he would go in the 20's last year and came back.

Do we think a year later he's ok going in the 20's or 2nd round even?

For one game he looked like the best player in the country.

But at times he looked lost.

I'll be the first to tell you that the NBA drafts based on potential. Hami has it. But his potential was worth a pick in the 20's last year--a year later with even less shine on the diamond--I don't see his stock as having risen.
 
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Oct 17, 2015
568
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Ok... so Vanderbilit cannot make a team draft him.

Nor can Diallo.

We have never had a freshman leave that wasnt a 1st Round pick.

Richards is 20 years old as a freshman, to think he will transfer and sit out to be a 22 year old sophomore at a lesser program makes zero sense.

PJ has no one sniffing him right now.

Wenyen, who spent most his life in the US is believed to have family living in huts somewhere but never been proven.


Absolutely no basis for any of this conjecture. There is a first time for everything and some kids may go who havent in the past. I say we wait and see, there were many that still look stupid to this day the night Hami decided to stay at UK.
Thanks for your post. Not that you care but I do agree with everything you said. I only hope it turns out that way.
 
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brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
21,825
113
So, you're saying that this wan't his second season on UK's team? Do you think everyone forgot about his first year on the team???


He is listed as a freshman everywhere, including the SEC and the NCAA.

He redshirted half the season last year. Worst case he isa RS Freshman, not a Sophomore.

Not sure what battle you are trying to win here?
 

kb22stang

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2005
10,902
4,384
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Sorry for being a realist. It is what it is. We don’t have a top 3 type stud coming in and will be losing several players that just lost 11 games.

You're not being a realist or enlightened, you're just being a whiny ***. Yes, we will probably lose 3-4 guys but we also return 3-4 and bring in some quality players. Will we be the favorite, no, but it should be a better team than this year due to experience.
 

jeffbuckies

Junior
Oct 15, 2017
373
260
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He is listed as a freshman everywhere, including the SEC and the NCAA.

He redshirted half the season last year. Worst case he isa RS Freshman, not a Sophomore.

Not sure what battle you are trying to win here?

Just pointing out that he's been here for two years, and in the eyes of everyone that is a disappointment. Leading to why I think he's gone, regardless of where he thinks he'll been selected in the draft.
 
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brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
21,825
113
Just pointing out that he's been here for two years, and in the eyes of everyone that is a disappointment. Leading to why I think he's gone, regardless of where he thinks he'll been selected in the draft.


Hami does fall into the category of highly ranked recruit that didnt pan out as well... ala the Harrisons, Briscoe and even Dakari to some extent.

I am not saying that Hami is definitley planning to stay, just that no freshmen has left.

I dont disagree that he may see himself as a 2 year player. And he may very well be ok with a 2nd round slot.


I would think the kid could be a beast next year and lock in a mid 1st round selection.
 

Jkwo_rivals113955

All-American
Apr 6, 2007
28,225
7,410
0
I think Knox, Shai and Diallo go pro
I think Richards transfers

Leaving us with this (doesn’t look any better than this years roster):
Quade / Quickly
Herro / Baker
Johnson /
Vanderbilt / Gabriel
Washington / Killeya-Jones

Could be rough next year.
I have no idea who is going where, but if you think that roster is no better, you're out of your mind. The age on that squad would be all the difference.
 

HUSKERUK

Freshman
Jan 13, 2018
76
68
0
Yep. Vanderbilt is gone

I expect SGA, Vanderbilt, Knox,Diallo and at least one of Pj and Gabriel to go.

Looking at 5-6 departures returning maybe Green and Richards. Next year not much different from this year with no elite players inbound
WYD Johnson is an elite playet
 

ubtrapper_rivals103836

All-Conference
Jan 14, 2014
1,519
1,696
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We hope for returnees every year and now it looks like we are going to have several decent players back. PJ, Jones, Gabriel, Greene, Baker and Richards with possibly Vanderbilt. That's a good group coming back with quite a bit of experience.
With what we have coming in, I think we will be right back in the hunt next year.
We're going to have several shooters. If Richards can become what Cal thinks he can, then we will be just fine
 

jb1010

Senior
Nov 8, 2011
2,252
695
0
How do you know Diallo's mindset? So you're saying he wants to leave and play in Estonia instead of returning, improving, and greatly raising his chances for an NBA career.

He wanted to leave last year. Doubt he passes it up twice. Briscoe passed it up one year as well.
 

brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
21,825
113
He wanted to leave last year. Doubt he passes it up twice. Briscoe passed it up one year as well.



They all want to leave.

Briscoe was forced to play out of position for 2 years and hated school.

If Hami isnt given at least a high Round 2 guarantee i wouldnt be shocked if he returned.

He could be an explosive player next season. Of course NBA teams know this as well...
 

BBallin23

All-American
Sep 1, 2009
16,274
7,765
0
UK will be loaded next year, the question is whether or not Cal will screw it up again.