EJ entering draft!

GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
0
The league takes players and eats them up and spits them out. They’ve got so much money they can just throw it around in hopes four years down the road it pays off, they couldn’t give a damn if most players make it or not. Just keep business moving.

Cal has an invested interested to see these guys perform. He’s also emotionally attached, he wants them to have a solid career. He’s also, basically, the minor league authority on what it takes to go, make it, and prosper. Way more so than some scout and GM who nobody even knows their names.

I think you’re slightly off, more or less just applying more to your POV than is really there.

In some cases I think it’s ok. With the players you named? Nah, there’s nothing they need to hear that they won’t already know. Just focus and listen to Cal. Simplify your path as much as possible and stay in the gym. A scout or GM doesn’t have the answer to your issues, that’s found on the court during hours and hours of pounding out your craft. I think it says a lot about Hagans not messing with the nonsense and just returning to work on what he knows he needs to do and trying to win a championship along the way. We need to stop encouraging this kind of thing full steam.

I mean, in a real general sense, I agree. Hagans knows he isn't NBA ready, although I do think it would have been great for him to specifically hear "you do this to your jumper when shooting off the bounce" or "you favor going under the pick and roll when you're screened here or here" so that he can pinpoint his work instead of "just get better."

I also think it's really useful for these guys to get the experience. Go to workouts with other great guys and see how they perform. Stand on one end while another guy stands on the other and shoot against him head to head. Guard each other. Get measured with other guys who are freaks like you. Meet important people and shake their hand. Let an NBA legend or longtime coach/GM tell you that you need to eat better and work on your ballhandling.

There's value in that. And it's not like there's anything going on right now anyway. Really, they'll probably become better players just by doing this than anything they could be doing individually on campus right now.

It doesn't hurt anything or cost anything. I don't know why anyone would pass up free career training and feedback.
 

Dablueman

All-American
Feb 5, 2003
16,981
5,703
0
Cal built a brand that was better at competing for titles than anything we’d seen since the 90s. Now we have just settled back into a more normal range.

Still, it took a lot of good luck to make Final Fours in ‘11 and ‘14 and a little bad luck (or whatever you want to call it) to miss in ‘17 and ‘19. The difference is that we aren’t getting those ‘12 or ‘15 level teams.

And how much of that is on Cal? Elite recruits mysteriously don’t want to come here as much as they did a few years ago.

Solution? Get a few 10-20 type guys who stick around (PJ, Ashton, IQ). Mix in some quality grad transfers (Reid, Sestina). Make a deep run.

It isn’t as much fun as having the stacked hand of ‘12 or ‘15, but what are the alternatives? Cal is far from perfect, but what better ideas do you have?

I’m pretty comfortable with the roster Cal assembles 90% of the time. I’m less energetic about his style of play, but I recognize its effectiveness.

And an equal amount of bad luck and bias to keep us out and win titles. For example I site the good luck that we go there in 11 and 14 but fact is in 11 if Kanter plays we cut down the nets. In 14 if Willy doesn’t get hurt we most likely cut down the nets, hell we probably cut them down if Higgins hadn’t of reffed that 2014 game. In 2015 if Poy doesn’t get hurt and the the same deal with Higgins as well! As for luck to just get to a final 4. In 2016 if Skal turns out like everyone thought he would then. 2016 is a different kinda year. In 2017 once again in March there was no one playing better than us. But of course Higgins happened again and even the media felt that the officiating cost us a final 4. Then 2018 if Vandy and Baker isn’t injured we run a solid shot to have beaten Kstate so who knows. As for this year I would say the refs swallowing their whistle against Auburn’s undersized known for fouling hack and smack defense in a game they were trailing and they managed to go the last 9 min of the game without a foul! Come on that is damn near impossible esp a team who was already in serious foul trouble and in the double bonus with 11 min left. So the reverse argument is true and don’t get me wrong I think we are on the same side of this but truth is A lot of circumstances outside of Cals control happened I mean even if just half of that stuff happens we are most likely looking at at least 2 more titles and at least 1 more final four. What Cal has done here in reality is amazing it things are looked at logically
 

FrankUnderwood

Heisman
May 26, 2017
15,912
27,971
0
My god why in the hell aren't we seeing 50 or so more "all-stars" test the waters in the draft? for *** sake if EJ can then why not 6'10" Joe-Bob down in the holler playing for Bartholomew International Community College in conference USHay?


That colleges doesn’t even exist.
 
Jan 30, 2018
16,155
24,635
0
KJ said he wouldn't go unless he was a lottery pick, but he gone. I worry with these agents that they get a deal done and close enough money wise and players that have no business will leave. Hate that new rule. Agents are always going to say go they don't care about the kids just the money. Cal has always been honest with them and knows the NBA pretty well He definitely knows what players they like because they come here ranked 30-40th and become first-round picks. They should listen to Cal as Ashton did and if it isn't even close like EJ come back or at least don't get mixed up with an agent. Is the NBA trying to destroy college BB?
 
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GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
0
I think a lot of you misunderstand how agents work. These guys don't get paid just to sign a player. They make a portion of what the player makes.

I promise you, very few agents want to represent 10 undrafted guys. They aren't just going to tell a kid to stay in the draft, front them $250,000, and then laugh when the kid goes undrafted. They don't make any money.
 
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Jan 30, 2018
16,155
24,635
0
Ethan Happ, Azibokue, Bone are just a few of the players on the bubble as far as being drafted at all. I have looked at several lists this one does the first 2 rounds and then the bubble of 25 players so 85 in total and EJ isn't in the top 85. Does anyone have a list where he is in the Top 60 or 100? I can't find any list that his him on it, whether it is top 85 or 100. As long as he is true to his word he should be back. As long as the slimy agent doesn't push him into the G league.

http://www.nbadraftroom.com/p/2019-nba-mock-draft.html
 
Jan 30, 2018
16,155
24,635
0
He’s just going through the process. Nobody is drafting him in the 1st round.
I mean he wouldn't even be invited to a combine, would he? So I guess nowadays is just gents seeing where they could land you? How does this **** work now because Ej isn't ranked in the Top 100 prospects.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
Ej is gone he’s not going to be back. You can call me negative but even if undrafted some team is going to pay him like Vanderbilt based on potential alone. Cal has taken our program from OAD elites to OAD who knows type players. The fact that any fan finds this acceptable is hogwash. There should be a total out cry over the types of players who have left the last couple years. Instead apathy sets in and people complain when rupp is silent. Cal has taken the excitement out of uk basketball. This is as simple as others have pointed out with quickley and hagans. This has to be the worst offseason ever as a UK fan and last year was very bad too. It’s only gonna get worse like I’ve mentioned 1000 times the trend since 2016 is in the wrong direction. This just verified my claim further.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
KJ said he wouldn't go unless he was a lottery pick, but he gone. I worry with these agents that they get a deal done and close enough money wise and players that have no business will leave. Hate that new rule. Agents are always going to say go they don't care about the kids just the money. Cal has always been honest with them and knows the NBA pretty well He definitely knows what players they like because they come here ranked 30-40th and become first-round picks. They should listen to Cal as Ashton did and if it isn't even close like EJ come back or at least don't get mixed up with an agent. Is the NBA trying to destroy college BB?

THATs the issue with ej. He says what he feels but when the agent flashes money he will take it. He’s not coming back and even if he does it will be spun as some great thing. A player like ej should be given to be back.
 
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docholiday51

Heisman
Oct 19, 2001
22,011
26,718
0
You can’t be within one shot of the Final Four two out of three years, and also not be good enough to make the Final Four.

We were not lucky last year and we did not have Sweet Sixteen level talent. Wasn’t the case in 2017 either. Both seasons, we were two seeds who were right in the mix for the title.

We always need to remember to judge ourselves against the competition, rather than against our own expectations.
I agree that we should judge the team against the competition vs subjective expectations.My point is that we are getting second tier talent that does not develop to the level it could in one year.If we had gotten the Bagley class and Zion class I think it is more likely we would have 2 more national championships.Cal gets more out of the talent he has than does K,if what we are doing is to work then we have to have that type of talent.

I wasn't disappointed with this year's team,we got about as much mileage out of them as we were going to get.We let 2 titles slip thru our hands (vs UCONN and the 38-1 team) Anthony Davis type talent doesn't walk thru the door every year but we have to get one or two of the top five or six until we do we live in the high rent district but not at the end of the street.
 
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Aike

Heisman
Mar 17, 2002
75,405
46,213
90
Ej is gone he’s not going to be back. You can call me negative but even if undrafted some team is going to pay him like Vanderbilt based on potential alone. Cal has taken our program from OAD elites to OAD who knows type players. The fact that any fan finds this acceptable is hogwash. There should be a total out cry over the types of players who have left the last couple years. Instead apathy sets in and people complain when rupp is silent. Cal has taken the excitement out of uk basketball. This is as simple as others have pointed out with quickley and hagans. This has to be the worst offseason ever as a UK fan and last year was very bad too. It’s only gonna get worse like I’ve mentioned 1000 times the trend since 2016 is in the wrong direction. This just verified my claim further.

Last year was the worst offseason ever? We were one shot away from the Final Four this year. Maybe you sit the offseason out from now on if it gets you this worked up.
 

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
5,768
10,128
108
I haven’t read the Tweet yet. Is he getting/ have an agent? If not, who knows. One thing is for certain (as many here have pointed out), he wasn’t expecting a Sophomore season apparently.
 

JC CATS

Heisman
Jun 18, 2009
23,517
12,221
0
I think he tried, just struggled mentally.

Vanderbilt refused to play when healthy. He gets my least favorite award.
You realize Vanderbilt missed a portion of his rookie year with that same phantom injury?
 

Ben101er

Heisman
Apr 21, 2004
25,541
60,111
103
I’m hopeful it’s just to see where he stands.

And I'm sure that is what is happening. He is just taking advantage of the rules, as they are, and working out at Portsmouth, to get an evaluation. I think it was tough on him being the highest rated recruit we had, and the two below him are leaving. He will be gone next year, for sure.
 

blubo

Heisman
Oct 14, 2014
22,273
85,181
78
THATs the issue with ej. He says what he feels but when the agent flashes money he will take it. He’s not coming back and even if he does it will be spun as some great thing. A player like ej should be given to be back.

If i had a kid and enough money was flashed, and he was projected high in the draft, and if my kid even hinted that he was thinking about staying in school, his *** would be up between his shoulder blades.
 

morgousky

Heisman
Sep 5, 2009
23,959
43,170
0
I mean, in a real general sense, I agree. Hagans knows he isn't NBA ready, although I do think it would have been great for him to specifically hear "you do this to your jumper when shooting off the bounce" or "you favor going under the pick and roll when you're screened here or here" so that he can pinpoint his work instead of "just get better."

I also think it's really useful for these guys to get the experience. Go to workouts with other great guys and see how they perform. Stand on one end while another guy stands on the other and shoot against him head to head. Guard each other. Get measured with other guys who are freaks like you. Meet important people and shake their hand. Let an NBA legend or longtime coach/GM tell you that you need to eat better and work on your ballhandling.

There's value in that. And it's not like there's anything going on right now anyway. Really, they'll probably become better players just by doing this than anything they could be doing individually on campus right now.

It doesn't hurt anything or cost anything. I don't know why anyone would pass up free career training and feedback.

I feel ya to an extent. And in some cases sure, go check it out. It’s an experience, right?

I was mainly suggesting that guys like Hagans are better off by concentrating on the goal and just working the gym. Add those hours up. It’s not that important to hear what a scout or GM has to say over a professional who’s paid hundreds of millions to do that very thing. I’d trust cal before some no name numbers guy GM or a scout paid 90K to evaluate.

In a way, I’m looking for guys like EJ and Hagans to say “I don’t need feedback I know what my problems are because I know what I do. I’m going to focus on winning a national title at UK, and I believe with that kind of effort I’ll be in a better place”......sort of thing.

I absolutely love that Hagans didn’t even need to hear from them. I think it points to mindset. That’s really my only point.
 

fisherscat

All-Conference
Feb 9, 2005
11,283
4,714
0
And I'm sure that is what is happening. He is just taking advantage of the rules, as they are, and working out at Portsmouth, to get an evaluation. I think it was tough on him being the highest rated recruit we had, and the two below him are leaving. He will be gone next year, for sure.
That statement didn't sound like a kid thinking he will be back.

I'll be surprised if EJ returns, but if he does I would expect him to be a significant contributor next year.
 

morgousky

Heisman
Sep 5, 2009
23,959
43,170
0
Last year was the worst offseason ever? We were one shot away from the Final Four this year. Maybe you sit the offseason out from now on if it gets you this worked up.

Cal better get that second ring or Zay and Nets are gonna hold you personally responsible for setting the tone for failure.

And I’m gonna run in, hug Zay and tell’m I know man, I know. But Aike is a good dude, he just didn’t have that type-A.

Now go kill Gonzo. :)
 
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JC CATS

Heisman
Jun 18, 2009
23,517
12,221
0
Ej is gone he’s not going to be back. You can call me negative but even if undrafted some team is going to pay him like Vanderbilt based on potential alone. Cal has taken our program from OAD elites to OAD who knows type players. The fact that any fan finds this acceptable is hogwash. There should be a total out cry over the types of players who have left the last couple years. Instead apathy sets in and people complain when rupp is silent. Cal has taken the excitement out of uk basketball. This is as simple as others have pointed out with quickley and hagans. This has to be the worst offseason ever as a UK fan and last year was very bad too. It’s only gonna get worse like I’ve mentioned 1000 times the trend since 2016 is in the wrong direction. This just verified my claim further.
Can we call you stupid and negative? I think these guys read your posts and say let's test the waters just to f w Wildcats1st
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
Last year was the worst offseason ever? We were one shot away from the Final Four this year. Maybe you sit the offseason out from now on if it gets you this worked up.

Stop it aike. Your argument holds zero water. There’s more to college basketball than elite 8s. Tubby was a shot away here and there too but run off. He never missed the tournament either. The trade is TITLES for OAD not elite 8s and “a shot away”. As a life long fan of uk basketball whether it’s a 1st weekend out or elite 8!it doesn’t matter. No matter the coach we are going to be a sweet sixteen team as long as he’s not an alcoholic. When you make your “one shot away” argument you fail to mention we underachieved and lost to a team we beat by 30 not to mention missing their best player. Yeah I’m gonna unload bc what’s happening is ridiculous and to celebrate last season as a success after we were ranked 1 preseason, and lost to a team we killed missing their best player it’s ludicrous. We are going on the wrong direction. You’re a numbers guy look at the trend line. Forget scores just look at the ultimate results and you will see its going the wrong direction.
 

JC CATS

Heisman
Jun 18, 2009
23,517
12,221
0
Vando refused to play, Diallo added next to nothing to the team, and yet, they both got drafted, I would draft a EJ over either of them any day!
You are a solid poster but I disagree with you on Vandy, he was actually injured and that's why he didn't play. He missed significant time in the NBA
 
Jan 30, 2018
16,155
24,635
0
I feel ya to an extent. And in some cases sure, go check it out. It’s an experience, right?

I was mainly suggesting that guys like Hagans are better off by concentrating on the goal and just working the gym. Add those hours up. It’s not that important to hear what a scout or GM has to say over a professional who’s paid hundreds of millions to do that very thing. I’d trust cal before some no name numbers guy GM or a scout paid 90K to evaluate.

In a way, I’m looking for guys like EJ and Hagans to say “I don’t need feedback I know what my problems are because I know what I do. I’m going to focus on winning a national title at UK, and I believe with that kind of effort I’ll be in a better place”......sort of thing.

I absolutely love that Hagans didn’t even need to hear from them. I think it points to mindset. That’s really my only point.
I mean I can't find a list with EJ in the top 100 prospects for this year's draft. Would he even be invited to the combine? If not what is he going to hear that Cal can't tell him as far as working on? I mean Ashton knew he wasn't a first or second round pick and just was like I'm not where I want to be no need to F around, time to get back to work. EJ should be on the same page even more so not sure why.
 
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Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
If i had a kid and enough money was flashed, and he was projected high in the draft, and if my kid even hinted that he was thinking about staying in school, his *** would be up between his shoulder blades.

Maybe you’re right that would just mean we aren’t recruiting the right types of players. Guys who barely contribute here but get big money and they’re gone.

We are recruiting fringe nba players now who are playing to go to the league. We don’t have a program dedicated and the players aren’t focused on cbb. Most of them have one foot out when they sign.
 

Aike

Heisman
Mar 17, 2002
75,405
46,213
90
Cal better get that second ring or Zay and Nets are gonna hold you personally responsible for setting the tone for failure.

And I’m gonna run in, hug Zay and tell’m I know man, I know. But Aike is a good dude, he just didn’t have that type-A.

Now go kill Gonzo. :)

I’ve just mellowed with age, man. Try not to get too agitated about things over which I have no control. Doesn’t hit everybody the same way. We have a few cranky old-timers around here.
 
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KyFaninNC

Heisman
Mar 14, 2005
195,719
24,518
0
You are a solid poster but I disagree with you on Vandy, he was actually injured and that's why he didn't play. He missed significant time in the NBA
My point, he was drafted anyway. If you had a choice of Vanderbilt, Diallo or EJ, who would you take?
 
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morgousky

Heisman
Sep 5, 2009
23,959
43,170
0
I think it all boils down to (and I remember you mentioning this more than once over the last several months) the complete professionalization of college basketball.

It won’t get any better, and honestly I see it getting worse with the absurd “mUh eXpLoItaTioN” mantra becoming popular.

I mean, I get it to an extent. NCAA: top programs make hundreds of millions off these guys so I understand maybe being able to receive $$$ for your autographs (while still on the team) or jerseys etc but it just opens up a giant slippery slope imo.

It’s honestly kind of depressing.

There are a lot of fans who consider themselves “activist” and it does in fact lead them to find grievance everywhere, and they have found a new grievance in college basketball. And in order to change it they know it must be tore away, and of course these types usually don’t care about conditions of happiness. They just see grievance as they interpret it and tear the institutions down. On the other side you’ve got people saying look, it’s not perfect. But what you want will lead to no man’s land. But again, they just see a grievance.

Parents and players want college basketball professionalized for one reason. It’s easier to earn a check in college ball than the NBA and so they’re fighting for an easy payout. It’s really that simple.

It’s a really scary recipe and I’m afraid they are probably winning.