Bamba to Texas
- Thread starter christian28
- Start date
Yes you need talent but you also need experience if you're chasing greatness.
We don't have to go with someone else's system, all cal needs to do is "tweak" his.
The Longhorn fans are probably more excited who the 3rd string punter for their JV football team is, than they are about getting Bamba.
Last year we had Hawkins, Mulder, Willis as Seniors. We had Briscoe and and Issac. We had experience last season. We also had an Elite 8 (ie. not a title)
Guys have come back under Cal.
When people talk about needing experience tho, the only way that has a major impact is if big time talent comes back. Then you have 2015 where the influx of new mixes with the big time recruits from the previous year. You get so many good players you platoon to play them all.
The thing is it's just not very realistic to think that the stars are coming back to school. Occasionally it'll happen. Lamb comes back. Jones comes back. The twins come back. But we went into this off season knowing that Monk, Fox and Bam were gone.
The biggest issue is whether or not fans feel Cal should push them back. I don't think it works that way. I think his system completely collapses if he starts doing that. A huge reason why Cal gets players is because the players trust him. The second he losses that trust among recruits is the day he starts losing out on the majority of the top guys.
I don't think there's some secret formula on winning national championships. All a coach can do is assemble the best talent available and coach them. Most years, there won't be some huge gap between the team that one the title and 7-10 other teams in contention. The smaller the gap in talent and the more teams involved, the harder it is to win championships. But in 6 of his 8 seasons, Cal has gotten us Elite 8 or better. We have been in the mix. If that continues, then stick with the system he has and I like our chances for another title or two down the road.
Guys have come back under Cal.
When people talk about needing experience tho, the only way that has a major impact is if big time talent comes back. Then you have 2015 where the influx of new mixes with the big time recruits from the previous year. You get so many good players you platoon to play them all.
The thing is it's just not very realistic to think that the stars are coming back to school. Occasionally it'll happen. Lamb comes back. Jones comes back. The twins come back. But we went into this off season knowing that Monk, Fox and Bam were gone.
The biggest issue is whether or not fans feel Cal should push them back. I don't think it works that way. I think his system completely collapses if he starts doing that. A huge reason why Cal gets players is because the players trust him. The second he losses that trust among recruits is the day he starts losing out on the majority of the top guys.
I don't think there's some secret formula on winning national championships. All a coach can do is assemble the best talent available and coach them. Most years, there won't be some huge gap between the team that one the title and 7-10 other teams in contention. The smaller the gap in talent and the more teams involved, the harder it is to win championships. But in 6 of his 8 seasons, Cal has gotten us Elite 8 or better. We have been in the mix. If that continues, then stick with the system he has and I like our chances for another title or two down the road.
Wiggins is the reason I don't let myself get upset over the choices of these kids anymore.. Invested too much into that and felt we got burned.
This roster is full of multi year players. We can't have it both ways. This roster I believe will be the core for Championships in 19, 20, & 21.
Cal is going away from having multiple OAD to players who will be here a couple yrs.
Let Cal focus on the Best players, maybe 3 OAD per yr with a core of 4 players from yr before.
This roster with the addition of Bagley and Zion, we would be set for the year.
Bamba puts off that he is intelligent...he probably is, but to cite his decision on Smart's only OAD(Allen) vs the multiple OAD of Cal's is ludicrous. I believe he wanted to be the feature on both offense and defense. No source for this, he stresses his development as a 4. He cited the longevity of PF length of careers vs a C. It's too physical day in and day out to play Center in NBA. We all know if he came here, Cal would of forced him to be back to basket player. Good luck, now let's get Richards drafted higher...
Cal is going away from having multiple OAD to players who will be here a couple yrs.
Let Cal focus on the Best players, maybe 3 OAD per yr with a core of 4 players from yr before.
This roster with the addition of Bagley and Zion, we would be set for the year.
Bamba puts off that he is intelligent...he probably is, but to cite his decision on Smart's only OAD(Allen) vs the multiple OAD of Cal's is ludicrous. I believe he wanted to be the feature on both offense and defense. No source for this, he stresses his development as a 4. He cited the longevity of PF length of careers vs a C. It's too physical day in and day out to play Center in NBA. We all know if he came here, Cal would of forced him to be back to basket player. Good luck, now let's get Richards drafted higher...
I'm just glad it's not Duke, UL, IU, UNC, UCLA or any SEC team.
He does realize he went to a football school? They could care less about basketball, how do you think Barnes stuck around so long?
You're gonna get fooled into believing there will be tons of multi-year players? We just had a guy declare who averaged 2 ppg. We had another one who isn't even projected to be drafted go.
We will have multiple one and dones
This board melted down when Tubby missed on recruits. This board melted down when Billy Gillispie offered recruits.
Simply going after a few more players that maybe a few steps below the sure 1 and done. Go after both of course, but
Start going after a few more guys that may be a step below the sure fire oad's. Sure go get the absolute best you can get, but save a few schollies for kids who will probably hang around a few years.
My friend lives there and has season tickets and says the games are rarely more than half full. Bamba wants the easy route.
So I guess we shouldn't have gotten The football recruits that turned down the big fball schools
So ... what kind of talent do you think Cal would get if he started representing the college game the way he should? Would he be able to hide himself? Obviously I don't think he's a great in-game coach, but I'd like to know what you think about him.
FOr real, he built UMASS from the ground up, bascially same thing at Memphis and did so at both places with what 5 dudes maybe that had any real NBA run?
The kid made his decision and I hope it works out for him. As long as he isn't going to Puke,UNCheat or Loserville, it's all good...
Good luck to him, but I'd be more than fine if I never heard his name again
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
It's done, let it go. Anyone that picks a school that won 11 games the prior season doesn't belong at UK to begin with.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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After he committed Thursday I was talking to some UT fans at work and they had no clue who he was or what had happened. One thought I was talking about football and another remarked that "Barnes brings in some good talent at times". When I told him that Barnes had been gone for a couple of years he was clueless. This is the face of UT basketball.
No good luck. No bad luck. No well wishes here. He just doesn't exist anymore
That will probably be true most of this upcoming season, too
That will probably be true most of this upcoming season, too
Yea I'm dying to see the millionaire become super rich and ride Texas to 15 wins. Hope he buys cars and big house and mamma that kitchen she always wanted and stuff......
Oh yea and that Kentucky team hope they do ok don't hate them or Anything.
Well wishes to Zimmerman too!
And aaaaaaaalllllllllllll the millionaires of the world!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!
Oh yea and that Kentucky team hope they do ok don't hate them or Anything.
Well wishes to Zimmerman too!
And aaaaaaaalllllllllllll the millionaires of the world!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!
At the end of the day, I think Bamba found the idea of being the Big Man on Campus and perhaps the star recruit that could turn the Texas program around and save Shaka's career very appealing.
It's a huge risk though. If he can't turn Texas around, what could be ahead for him is the grind of another 15-20 loss season, zero national attention for a kid that always talked about his "brand", sitting on the side lines watching his friends play in the NCAA tournament, and the very real prospect of seeing his coach being fired at the end of season.
That's an awful lot to take on very a kid who you'd think would just want to enjoy his one college season.
It's a huge risk though. If he can't turn Texas around, what could be ahead for him is the grind of another 15-20 loss season, zero national attention for a kid that always talked about his "brand", sitting on the side lines watching his friends play in the NCAA tournament, and the very real prospect of seeing his coach being fired at the end of season.
That's an awful lot to take on very a kid who you'd think would just want to enjoy his one college season.
Maybe that's what he wants. He has a great relationship with Smart and maybe feels more comfortable about the whole situation.
I wish he had come here, but I still hope he has a great future.
Each year during the Cal era, there has been one outstanding recruit that for whatever reason ends up going elsewhere. The stats on the outcome of those decisions for those players are not good. But, the real shame is often that one player could have been the difference maker for the team to go from great to all time greatest.
Cal will say the program is not for everyone, but it is for the very elite who likely are one and done (unless they are selfish styled and won't fit into a team concept).
The experience of playing at Kentucky, the fan base, the national attention, national following, the best viewed television games (can anyone debate the best 2 games were Kentucky vs. UNC last season?), the facilities, NBA attention, the visiting dignitaries from Lebron to Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Roberts, and on and on, the former Kentucky players, the permanent bond, did he not watch that ESPN 30 for 30, the University of Kentucky itself, and endless other descriptions of the once in a lifetime opportunity that he just missed.
Sure he will be a great college player most likely, and will have a nice local fan base, but nothing even remote to what his fellow recruits get to experience. I never wish those players well when they passed all of this up so they could be king of the hill rather than work at their craft against talented players everyday. If Kentucky and Cal offer you and you don't accept, shame on you and no I don't wish that player anything positive. You could have chosen greatness and didn't.
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Cal will say the program is not for everyone, but it is for the very elite who likely are one and done (unless they are selfish styled and won't fit into a team concept).
The experience of playing at Kentucky, the fan base, the national attention, national following, the best viewed television games (can anyone debate the best 2 games were Kentucky vs. UNC last season?), the facilities, NBA attention, the visiting dignitaries from Lebron to Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Roberts, and on and on, the former Kentucky players, the permanent bond, did he not watch that ESPN 30 for 30, the University of Kentucky itself, and endless other descriptions of the once in a lifetime opportunity that he just missed.
Sure he will be a great college player most likely, and will have a nice local fan base, but nothing even remote to what his fellow recruits get to experience. I never wish those players well when they passed all of this up so they could be king of the hill rather than work at their craft against talented players everyday. If Kentucky and Cal offer you and you don't accept, shame on you and no I don't wish that player anything positive. You could have chosen greatness and didn't.
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And in summary, 78, how in the world could a kid of his ability ever think that he would benefit by going to a notable non-basketball school over the pinnacle of college basketball? Our constant and recurring notoriety, the largest and certainly most vocal fan base of any school, the facilities, Cal and his ability and willingness to assist in the NBA transition, and the numerous records in basketball owned by UK.
There absolutely has to be something else in play. Have no way to read the emotions or rationale of a 17-18 year old, but I just don't believe that a pseudo-relationship with Shaka can explain his decision. We may never know or understand, but my questions about his decision will always be there.
And to quote one of our other posters, he just no longer exists for me.
It's not as if we haven't had our fair share of players who come back.
Second, it's not possible to know before who will be one and dones. Who is to say that Cal DOES that and people still go to the NBA. So not only do you lose guys after year 1 but your also not getting the best of the best. Even if they did come back, 2 sure fire one and done guys in years 1 and 2 >>>> a fringe one and done guy for 2 years.
I just don't understand tho how people don't think we don't already do this tho. Who in this class is a sure fire one and done?
All you have to do is look at what he did while he didn't have these super teams. He took a Umass team to a final four. Even at UK......the years we were seeded low going into the tournament (ie 11 and 14) we had some of our best runs in the tournament. In the 8 years he's gotten us playing our best ball in March in each of those teams except for the NIT year when Noel went down. He's a great in game coach.
interesting thread to look back on after 3, going on 4 years.