Good coach and I would definitely support him but it would be just like Mitch to lock us into another decade-plus nightmare of a contract making a B-tier guy like this "an offer he can't refuse" without even offering ANY of the A-tier guys. Not a single one. Hope this is all a hoax or empty rumor, but I wouldn't put it past Mitch at all.
Drew to UK?
- Thread starter RunninRichie
- Start date
Speaking on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Thamel called Donovan Kentucky’s “Hail Mary hire, the home run hire” and the candidate “Kentucky is going to make say no.” Thamel also placed Hurley and retired Villanova coach Jay Wright in the “aspirational” category for the Wildcats.
We have people thinking this is a great hire,lol.I get being glad Cal is gone but this guy is a lot like him.
I have no problem with Drew or Oats. They both have done well in their regular seasons and the tourney but most importantly they understand that supporting the players is important but the university comes FIRST.
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I agree it is not exciting and sexy. But I think it is reality of where we are. I'm willing to give whoever is next a chance. I'm so weary of disliking the UK coach; tired of the condescending Cal speak; tired of the poor bench decisions. Let Drew have his shot and we will see.
I will say this.
1 seed projected
1 seed (title winning year)
1 seed
3 seed
3 seed
So you're talking last five years pretty good seasons to have that. We didn't have that stretch at any point in the 15 years under Cal. Cal's biggest issue was the revolving door that he created. There was never any consistency. Drew has been somewhat consistent at least even tho the NCAA tournament results have been subpar at best.
1 seed projected
1 seed (title winning year)
1 seed
3 seed
3 seed
So you're talking last five years pretty good seasons to have that. We didn't have that stretch at any point in the 15 years under Cal. Cal's biggest issue was the revolving door that he created. There was never any consistency. Drew has been somewhat consistent at least even tho the NCAA tournament results have been subpar at best.
That's why this makes no sense. You could probably make this hire a week from now after you've exhausted the other big options.
Like I understand this has to happen quickly but it doesn't have to happen to the point where you aren't even considering all options.
Wait you're comparing Rick's one down year here when the stables were empty because of probation and he hadn't even been able to recruit his own for-probation guys yet to what Drew did over a period of 21 years? Rick's first year was 14-14 and if most of Rick's other years here had been like that Rick would have SUCKED.
Drew is a huge upgrade over Calpari
He’s a normal guy
We can play multiple defenses
Great offense.
Very good recruiter
Speaks in complete sentences
Won a title with in 5 years
Good land he coached in Waco Tx
We can play in Maui and Nike event
He won’t embarrass us at halftime interview
He’s a normal guy
We can play multiple defenses
Great offense.
Very good recruiter
Speaks in complete sentences
Won a title with in 5 years
Good land he coached in Waco Tx
We can play in Maui and Nike event
He won’t embarrass us at halftime interview
I have a feeling that Oats said no AFTER he realized he wasn’t on Mitch’s list.
Shaka Smart has lived off of one miraculous run forever.
After that crazy 2011 Final Four run, he has a total of four NCAA Tournament victories.
Zero tourney wins at Texas
2012-2023
TWO TOTAL NCAA TOURNAMENT WINS
2024
Went back to the Sweet 16 and got bounced by an 11 seed
I agree. If it is Drew then this has had to have been in the works. A call made a while back to gauge interest and once it became clear that interest was there then discussions about pay and longevity brings us to now.
Yep. The ink hasn't even dried on the contract with Cal and Arkansas and this news is breaking. I agree. Either this has been discussed wayyyyyy before to gauge interest or I'm calling BS on this lol.
We never required a coach in the past to have already won a title before being hired. Why now?
Yes I do, do you? I thought we were wanting to get rid of Cal for 1st weekend exits from the tourney? Are you ok with not making it past the first weekend for 7 of 10 years? Enlighten us.
It's because people seem to think that a coach coming from another program will get a "UK bump" once he's here in Lexington lol.
Yeah but he did that...............AT BAYLOR.
I have no doubts being at UK offers a coach more benefits, but it's not some magic bullet.
That being said, he could work out.
Could’ve been years. “If Cal ever leaves” type agreements.
A year to find a better coach.
It's not a requirement.
I'm just saying he clearly can coach or he wouldn't have a title.
All the so called big shots aren't interested so it is what it is. I'm gonna support him if hired.
Totally disagree with this assertion. The program and the brand means more than people realize. It typically takes both to sustain yourself long haul, this is why the best programs make up the most success. Great coaches and players are attracted to great programs.
It’s not really magic, it’s just how it works. Coaching for Baylor basketball and UK basketball? The difference would be incredibly huge.
The program Drew took over at Baylor was far, far worse than UK when Pitino took over. I would much rather have others over Drew but to discredit the turnaround he's done is baffling.
A “turnaround” that takes 20 years is not a turnaround. In far less than 20 years we will be Indiana.
Drew's winning percentage at Baylor is 64.6% (446-244). He took over a program that was on it death bed and went 36-69 his first 4 seasons (34.2%). He's not the flashy hire but he is a solid coach. Whoever we hire I think as a fanbase we need to support them until they give us a reason not to. Go Cats!
You really think Donovan needs to fly to Lexington on a game day to "check out the place"??? He's lived and coached here. And reportedly has owned a horse farm here since 2007 (LOL just kidding)....
Zoom meeting would probably work. And I suspect Mitch would fly to Chicago. I believe thats where they met with Calipari.
At Baylor.....AT BAYLOR. He's not my first pick....but he won a title.....AT BAYLOR
Ignorant take. He made it further than the program had ever been since 1948 in his 5th year there. They had made the post season a total of 3 times in their history before 2003.
Different yes.
But does it guarantee success or that the coach will be better at UK than where he was previously? Absolutely not.
We hired Billy G based on what he did at Texas AM. He sure as heck did not get a UK bump.