Dante

tmuck

All-Conference
Oct 2, 2009
10,982
3,849
0
Just wait until Green picks Memphis. This place will explode as it will continue our trend of striking out on top 5 recruits. Cal's gotta shake up the staff and bring someone else in here. I think it's the entire staff, including Kenny Payne that's slipping big time when it comes to landing the uber elite top 3-5 guys. Get rid of Barbee and bring Orlando Antigua back. Barbee's the dead weight, but the other guys need to be held accountable as well.
 

dcw62

All-Conference
Oct 4, 2005
1,495
2,345
0
Just wait until Green picks Memphis. This place will explode as it will continue our trend of striking out on top 5 recruits. Cal's gotta shake up the staff and bring someone else in here. I think it's the entire staff, including Kenny Payne that's slipping big time when it comes to landing the uber elite top 3-5 guys. Get rid of Barbee and bring Orlando Antigua back. Barbee's the dead weight, but the other guys need to be held accountable as well.
Yeah,I'm no recruiting expert,but that seems to be the buzz with Green either going to Memphis or overseas.5years ago,we would have never lost a recruit to Oregon.I know the landscape of college basketball has changed but I think we need a shakeup of the staff and maybe bring fresh blood in.
 

armchairpg

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2012
2,608
1,736
113
It was nice last year to have pj to get bucket whenever we needed it and we knew travis would rebound and defend. Not knowing how we will fill those gaps is unsettling.

The theme for the summer has been sestina is like travis but maybe not as good, richards did NOT make a leap and the jury is out on how much improvement EJ has made. Given that I don't feel super confident but I can't bring myself to give up. I think Cal will tailor his style to his personnel and he will surprise us that are thinking for this team everything is gravy after the sweet 16.
 
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shutzhund

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2005
29,202
2,619
0
Just wait until Green picks Memphis. This place will explode as it will continue our trend of striking out on top 5 recruits. Cal's gotta shake up the staff and bring someone else in here. I think it's the entire staff, including Kenny Payne that's slipping big time when it comes to landing the uber elite top 3-5 guys. Get rid of Barbee and bring Orlando Antigua back. Barbee's the dead weight, but the other guys need to be held accountable as well.


Can anyone explain why Cal is seemingly unable to successfully recruit a 5? There is something wrong about this and we can only compete so much if it continues.
 
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TheAnonymous13

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2011
3,314
3,391
0
Can anyone explain why Cal is seemingly unable to successfully recruit a 5? There is something wrong about this and we can only compete so much if it continues.

EJ and Nick were 5-star recruits. And despite their deficiencies, they are not players a freshman wants to compete with for playing time.
 
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Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,127
97,968
113
Can anyone explain why Cal is seemingly unable to successfully recruit a 5? There is something wrong about this and we can only compete so much if it continues.

Partly because guys like Bol Bol want to be developed into face-up guys who can shoot threes, work on their midrange game, and not be clogged in the middle. Is it shortsighted? Yes. Does it hurt their overall development? Yes. Do they give a crap? No.

There's a reason our successful recruitment of bigs in the post Skal years has only seen us land one draftable big man in Bam (who, by the way, shocked scouts when he showed he had a high level face-up game because Cal never utilized it consistently).

The "strength" of how Cal used Davis, Cousins, and Towns may not be a strength when one considers that the modern bigs want to spend time outside the paint. Cal's strategy of using them on the low block actually helps them in the long run, but other coaches are telling kids they'll let them "face-up" (Shaka likely did this with Bamba; Oregon likely did this with Bol Bol) and get a green light to take perimeter shots. If you're 17 or 18 years old, doesn't that sound more fun than getting the living hell beat out of you on the low block? I can at least empathize with the differences in recruiting tactics kids are buying into.

Cal screwed the pooch with how he used Skal, who was the ultimate face-up guy. Opposing coaches haven't forgotten. Neither would our fan base had if been Coach K or Roy Williams who had used Skal that way.

We keep referencing Davis, Towns, and Cousins as proof for why we should be landing elite bigs. Opposing coaches keep referencing Skal for why we shouldn't.

Skal is proving to be more convincing for modern finesse bigs.
 

RobJones1978

All-Conference
Sep 1, 2018
814
1,105
0
Dante wasn’t going to drastically change our fortunes this season anyway. Our season hinged on getting Wiseman or Carey, or the development of EJ and/or Nick. Plan A didn’t work out, let’s hope plan A2 does.
 
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AllBall

All-American
May 5, 2015
4,361
5,548
93
Before the FBI scandal broke in 2017, I thought a lot of talk of money for recruits and their handlers was just sour grapes. I don't believe that any more. Really, why would Dante go to Oregon?
Playing time w/ limited competition. Oregon has a depleted roster based on numbers alone.
 

BoulderCat_rivals187983

All-Conference
May 22, 2002
7,871
3,227
0
I’m just glad this summer long saga is over. It is remarkable that a man who helped Boogie, AD, and KAT make it to the NBA in a big way couldn’t get a commit from a single big in this class. Oh well, 16 days and counting to college football season.
 
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UK90

Heisman
Dec 30, 2007
31,460
27,814
0
It is remarkable that a man who helped Boogie, AD, and KAT make it to the NBA in a big way couldn’t get a commit from a single big in this class.

Unfortunately, his recent track record with highly rated bigs is a different story.

We've had a painful string of much-hyped 5 Star bigs who turned out to be really disappointing here (See Skal Labissierre, Nick Richards, Marcus Lee, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Dakari Johnson, etc.). I suspect those recruiting against us may now be using that.
 
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BoulderCat_rivals187983

All-Conference
May 22, 2002
7,871
3,227
0
Unfortunately, his recent track record with highly rated bigs is a different story.

We've had a painful string of much-hyped 5 Star bigs who turned out to be really disappointing here (See Skal Labissierre, Nick Richards, Marcus Lee, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Dakari Johnson, etc.). I suspect those recruiting against us may now be using that.
True enough. The one that gets me was losing Wiseman. He’s pretty much guaranteed to be a success, and I think had Memphis not hired Penny he’d be at UK.
 
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Anon1679859502

All-American
Jun 28, 2015
4,852
9,141
113
Unfortunately, his recent track record with highly rated bigs is a different story.

We've had a painful string of much-hyped 5 Star bigs who turned out to be really disappointing here (See Skal Labissierre, Nick Richards, Marcus Lee, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Dakari Johnson, etc.). I suspect those recruiting against us may now be using that.
I thought Dakari played pretty well for UK that season. Skal was just over hyped and misused but still made it to the NBA, Marcus wasn’t bad and I believe would have been a difference maker on defense if he had stayed. As far as Sacha goes we will never know what was going on with him here or at NC State because it’s none of our business.
 
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dcw62

All-Conference
Oct 4, 2005
1,495
2,345
0
True enough. The one that gets me was losing Wiseman. He’s pretty much guaranteed to be a success, and I think had Memphis not hired Penny he’d be at UK.
I agree,Cal and the staff put so much effort into getting him,it probably cost him in getting the others.Don't know what the answer is but could you imagine if UK had Zion Williamson,another in which they thought they had
 

Ky_Bred_Cat

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2014
2,147
3,995
113
Dante was NOT a game changing big. Get over it. The first two or three '20 bigs MIGHT have been game changers but you know how that goes.

Dante would have had to work hard to come off our bench.
 

FrankUnderwood

Heisman
May 26, 2017
15,912
27,971
0
I'm pessimistic by nature, and I do not buy into conspiracy theories as to why we're losing recruits. Lately I've seen our program slipping a bit both recruiting-wise and on the court, and I get irritated when people seemingly sugarcoat things. I'm results-oriented, that's all. I don't know if jaded would be the right word for me.


Menstruational seems like a better fitting word.

Temper tantrum-y
 
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A

anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y

Guest
Can anyone explain why Cal is seemingly unable to successfully recruit a 5? There is something wrong about this and we can only compete so much if it continues.
2017-2018 NCAA Champions : Villanova
Average Height: 6’6

 

STL_Cat

Heisman
Dec 4, 2011
64,878
57,614
98
2018-2019 NCAA Champions: Virginia
Average Height: 6’5


Okay then bro. I’d say that 5’9” dude brings the average down a bit eh? And also average height of the whole roster isn’t even relevant to what I was laughing at. Dude said the days of tall centers are over. Which is an absolute joke. Give me an Anthony Davis or Karl-Anthony Towns anyday over your 6’8” centers. Then tell me the days of tall centers are “over.”
 

ScrooDook92

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2019
1,772
1,231
0
Can anyone explain why Cal is seemingly unable to successfully recruit a 5? There is something wrong about this and we can only compete so much if it continues.
Many of us have given our opinions on "what changed", but I think that's not what you're looking for.
 

kl40504_rivals

Heisman
Oct 5, 2018
15,258
11,184
0
Just wait until Green picks Memphis. This place will explode as it will continue our trend of striking out on top 5 recruits. Cal's gotta shake up the staff and bring someone else in here. I think it's the entire staff, including Kenny Payne that's slipping big time when it comes to landing the uber elite top 3-5 guys. Get rid of Barbee and bring Orlando Antigua back. Barbee's the dead weight, but the other guys need to be held accountable as well.
What needs a shake up is allowing idiots like you to post on this board.
 
A

anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y

Guest
Okay then bro. I’d say that 5’9” dude brings the average down a bit eh? And also average height of the whole roster isn’t even relevant to what I was laughing at. Dude said the days of tall centers are over. Which is an absolute joke. Give me an Anthony Davis or Karl-Anthony Towns anyday over your 6’8” centers. Then tell me the days of tall centers are “over.”
3 Time NBA Champs Golden State Warriors
(Facts are your friend bro, not the enemy)

 

STL_Cat

Heisman
Dec 4, 2011
64,878
57,614
98
3 Time NBA Champs Golden State Warriors
(Facts are your friend bro, not the enemy)


I’ll give you another fact about those Golden State Warriors, they have the greatest shooter of all-time coupled with Klay Thompson and even Kevin Durant for their latter title. You get Steph Curry and Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, okay. Otherwise I’ll continue to laugh at “the days of tall centers are in the past.” You can have your 6’8” centers and I’ll continue to take my chances with he AD’s and the KAT’s of the world.
 

UK90

Heisman
Dec 30, 2007
31,460
27,814
0
Haha. Come on, man.

I agree with you that big centers ain't going obsolete. BUT it is damn interesting how unimportant the center position has become.

Look at these teams like Villanova and Virginia that keep winning college titles and you can't help but notice "damn, they don't really use any sort of real center at all.." And, of course, the greatest lineup in the entire hoops world over the last decade has been Golden State's "lineup of death" where they play 6'7" Draymond Green at the center spot (I know Dray technically starts at the 4, but he really plays the vast majority of his minutes at the 5).

It's certainly is a huge difference from the old days when we thought you needed that big anchor in the middle to win titles. The modern game has clearly proven that "No, you do not."
 

HagginHall1999

Heisman
Oct 19, 2018
16,008
28,480
113
The AD, Cousins, KAT's of the world are generational.

Ayton, Embid and Drummond are the only other bigs worth a damn in NBA that came from college in the past decade. Seriously, after them it is probably Adams, Kanter and Noel.

The game has changed. I'd love to get a generational big every year but they don't make them like they used to.