For a while it had been known that Duren

[STL_Cat]

First and foremost let me just say I do like our current roster as it's constructed and am looking forward to this upcoming season. So before anyone flies off the handle at me ...


This is hilarious. The cadence of the Duren - Cockburn - Duren again -- oh wait, neither again --- is classic rafters. Duren was going to be the answer to "who is our star?", then we didn't need Duren anymore because Cockburn was the answer to that question, then Cal decided he didn't want Cockburn because he was ALL IN ON DUREN ... then "well **** boys it was unlikely we were ever going to get Duren anyway ..."

Classic Rupps Rafters. Thanks boys

 

[Sparky285]

We make fun of Penny a lot but he’s going to land the #1 guy yet again.

And the last time he landed the #1 guy he cost that recruit the chance to play in college.

 

[JwUKFan11]

You are 100% right about that. I've got to believe that for Calipari to turn down a 7'0" 285 pound All-American that's unstoppable within 7 or 8 feet of the basket. For Calipari to turn him down. You've got to think that not only has Duren told Cal he's coming to UK. But he's already signed the scholarship papers. If not then John Calipari is an absolute moron.

Wrong. You don’t bring someone in when nobody on your roster wants them to come in. I learned that on this board. Part of Cals job is to manage how all the players feel.

 

[Lempface]

. im sorry i cant see the non similarity's, not even 1 bit. Not ever!.

Wow, I don’t think he looks smooth or explosive _at all_

Looks more Dakari Johnson than CWebb.

 

[STL_Cat]

Wow, I don’t think he looks smooth or explosive _at all_

Looks more Dakari Johnson than CWebb.

Jalen Duren … looks more like Dakari Johnson? What in the absolute ****?

 

[Lempface]

Jalen Duren … looks more like Dakari Johnson? What in the absolute ****?

Read? I said more like Dakari than CWebb, on a spectrum he is closer to the slow lumbering big than the explosive and smooth CWebb.

 

[UK-Chulo]

Read? I said more like Dakari than CWebb, on a spectrum he is closer to the slow lumbering big than the explosive and smooth CWebb.

He definitely does not move or play like CWebb. How about Derrick Favors?

 

[STL_Cat]

Read? I said more like Dakari than CWebb, on a spectrum he is closer to the slow lumbering big than the explosive and smooth CWebb.

I absolutely read it. I know what you said. I don’t watch a whole hell of a lot of high school mixtapes, but Duren looks pretty damn rangy, bouncy, and athletic to me. I see no semblance of Dakari Johnson whatsoever.

 

[UK-Chulo]

Or Antonio McDyess.

 

[Lempface]

I absolutely read it. I know what you said. I don’t watch a whole hell of a lot of high school mixtapes, but Duren looks pretty damn rangy, bouncy, and athletic to me. I see no semblance of Dakari Johnson whatsoever.

Then you have an aversion to subtlety. I picked Dakari because he is one of the most lumbering big men I’ve ever seen and Chris Webber is one of the smoothest most fluid I’ve ever seen. If you still can’t pick out the point god help you.

 

[STL_Cat]

Then you have an aversion to subtlety. I picked Dakari because he is one of the most lumbering big men I’ve ever seen and Chris Webber is one of the smoothest most fluid I’ve ever seen. If you still can’t pick out the point god help you.

I admit I’m lost on this one, bro.

you could have picked literally anyone other than Dakari.

 

[Lempface]

I admit I’m lost on this one, bro.

you could have picked literally anyone other than Dakari.

Imagine a line, at one end we have Dakari on the left and on the right Webber. In the center there is a vertical hash denoting the midway point. Duren is somewhere to the left of that midway hash and thus closer to Dakari than Webber.

 

[STL_Cat]

Imagine a line, at one end we have Dakari on the left and on the right Webber. In the center there is a vertical hash denoting the midway point. Duren is somewhere to the left of that midway hash and this closer to Dakari than Webber.

And this is why I’m lost. I don’t think I like the Webber comparison either but from what I can tell he’s closer to the bouncy, athletic side than the lumbering, stuck to the floor side.

 

[Lempface]

And this is why I’m lost. I don’t think I like the Webber comparison either but from what I can tell he’s closer to the bouncy, athletic side than the lumbering, stuck to the floor side.

I don’t care if you disagree with that but you were acting like I called him Dakari.

 

[STL_Cat]

It was a stupid thing to say, and now I’ll move on.

 

[Lempface]

Has the time or venue of announcement been revealed?

 

[LowCountryCat]

was probably not UK.
Why then, is this suddenly a massive loss for Calipari?
You guys come out like roaches when anything not positive happens.

How can you really cheer a program, but at the same time be so against the coach?

I mean, I used to rip Stoops a lot; a whole lot...but I always hoped he would turn the program around...

Any post that starts with 'you guys' is baiting, plain and simple.

 

[bookerfan66]

Wrong. You don’t bring someone in when nobody on your roster wants them to come in. I learned that on this board. Part of Cals job is to manage how all the players feel.

The rumor is it was just 2 players in Oscar and Brooks.I guess we can't take away their hearts.It worked well for BJ.

 

[Padsfs07]

The rumor is it was just 2 players in Oscar and Brooks.I guess we can't take away their hearts.It worked well for BJ.

Given the timeline, it would hurt them both to have Kofi on the team as well and they are unable to transfer and still play in 2021/2022. Oscar, specifically, would be most inclined to transfer with Cockburn on the team, while the addition of Duren would really hurt Collins and Brooks most of all when it comes to playing time. Given all five players mentioned were 5-star recruits, I can see where they would be bothered by bringing in players with the same skill set.

 

[villefan76]

Has the time or venue of announcement been revealed?

6:00 is what I heard. Twitter I’m assuming, maybe IG.

 

[bookerfan66]

Given the timeline, it would hurt them both to have Kofi on the team as well and they are unable to transfer and still play in 2021/2022. Oscar, specifically, would be most inclined to transfer with Cockburn on the team, while the addition of Duren would really hurt Collins and Brooks most of all when it comes to playing time. Given all five players mentioned were 5-star recruits, I can see where they would be bothered by bringing in players with the same skill set.

I'm glad Devin Booker didn't have that attitude.Of course it destroyed his career not starting for UK.

 

[Fatboyfat]

Why is it a massive loss for Cal?

Were you in a coma a month ago when Cal completely blew off and turned down an all-american center?

If Cal doesn’t get Duren, that will be viewed as one of the biggest boneheaded *** decisions ever made by a UK coach.

Spare me the drivel about playing back to the basket bigs or didn’t want to recruit over anybody with Kofi (while actively recruiting over everybody with Duren)

Yeah,just like Oliver Sarr! Turned out really well..huh? So Kofi could be Oliver Sarr 2-O!

 

[SmedMoley]

If people are frustrated it’s because just like every other season since ‘15 we weren’t even close to being in a real negotiating position with any of the actual class leaders. Then that situation got a little exacerbated when as usual all kinds of rumors floated around from people saying they knew that we were really the secret leader somehow or secret co-leader.

Why wouldn’t people be frustrated? This is all the result of a staff that was focused on the wrong things for a really long time. The new staff has shown signs of being able to turn that around but it can’t happen overnight. In the meantime you either accept that lots of fans still have some pretty legitimate gripes about the path the old staff left us on or you’re living in your own little fantasy world.

100% right here.

 

[Frankensteiner]

was probably not UK.
Why then, is this suddenly a massive loss for Calipari?
You guys come out like roaches when anything not positive happens.

How can you really cheer a program, but at the same time be so against the coach?

I mean, I used to rip Stoops a lot; a whole lot...but I always hoped he would turn the program around...

Great post. The same old crew has made this site a clown show. They actually search for ways to complain. As you said, none of them are happy people and they come here looking for comapany for their misery. The Duren meltdown is imminent if he doesn’t choose UK and if he does choose UK they’ll immediately either vanish or give the credit all to the new staff. Phonies, all of them. They’ve single-handily made this site a joke.

 

[Dablueman]

Wasn’t UK the leader when Duren was still part of the 2022 recruiting class? Seems like we were. It wasn’t until he decided to reclassify that we fell from that spot. Then again, I could be wrong.

Best as I can tell very early in durens recruitment we were a leader then early on g league or Australian NBA became the leader and he wasn't even mentioned with us until the reclassing rumors started. We jumped back in and became a player again for him. But had to still beat out pro ball and Maimi hiring a coach he was close with. Then Memphis got involved a team who is known to be shady gets involved. Hires Wallace a guy from the same area. Hard to overcome that kinda stuff. I guess we coulda sacrificed OA or Chin to hire someone who would benefit us in recruiting one guy but based on how the 22 recruiting appears to be going I think it was the right decision not to

 

[bookerfan66]

Great post. The same old crew has made this site a clown show. They actually search for ways to complain. As you said, none of them are happy people and they come here looking for comapany for their misery. The Duren meltdown is imminent if he doesn’t choose UK and if he does choose UK they’ll immediately either vanish or give the credit all to the new staff. Phonies, all of them. They’ve single-handily made this site a joke.

You just joined today but already know all of that?Ballercat username number 100.

 

[Frankensteiner]

You just joined today but already know all of that?Ballercat username number 100.

Huh? I’ve viewed this site for 20 years. I used to post but can’t even remember my old account. Lots of old posters won’t say it, but they barely come here anymore because of all the whining.

 

[STL_Cat]

100% chance this guy is Cardsstink, Ballercat

 

[bluecat78]

was probably not UK.
Why then, is this suddenly a massive loss for Calipari?
You guys come out like roaches when anything not positive happens.

How can you really cheer a program, but at the same time be so against the coach?

I mean, I used to rip Stoops a lot; a whole lot...but I always hoped he would turn the program around...

Hey Cakismyhero. Are you not reading and listening. Cal turned down a potential POY to get Duren. Now he is left with nothing, just like his coaching ability.

 

[Frankensteiner]

Hey Cakismyhero. Are you not reading and listening. Cal turned down a potential POY to get Duren. Now he is left with nothing, just like his coaching ability.

Where is your proof that he turned down Kofi to go after Duren? You guys run with anything negative as if it’s true when you don’t even know Jack.

 

[STL_Cat]

Where is your proof that he turned down Kofi to go after Duren? You guys run with anything negative as if it’s true when you do t even know Jack.

I'm not really in this fight but that was the overwhelming sentiment on this board when the Cockburn/Duren saga was going down. I mean pretty much everyone was saying it, whether it's right or wrong. So I can see why someone thinks it was true.

 

[Frankensteiner]

I'm not really in this fight but that was the overwhelming sentiment on this board when the Cockburn/Duren saga was going down. I mean pretty much everyone was saying it, whether it's right or wrong. So I can see why someone thinks it was true.

Like I said, no proof. Just a bunch of boobs cooking up another Calipari conspiracy and then it snowballs into twenty negative threads. But I guess the average poster here is 11 years old these days so it is what it is.

 

[Oboro3_rivals101424]

It was common knowledge that there was not much communication between Kofi and UK which shows that UK did not reaaly go after Kofi. That makes sense since we already have a similiar player in Oscar.

 

[STL_Cat]

Like I said, no proof. Just a bunch of boobs cooking up another Calipari conspiracy and then it snowballs into twenty negative threads. But I guess the average poster here is 11 years old these days so it is what it is.

Let's take a deep breath and have a conversation like a couple adults, okay? I think my point was it's not like it was just the so-called "negative" "boobs" that were talking about Cal passing on Cockburn to go hard after Duren. It was actually the opposite to be honest -- it was the positive leaning optimist posters (and to be clear I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing, okay?) that were doing most of the running with that storyline. I have no clue whether or not it was true but the overwhelming majority were passing that off as a positive spin on not getting Cockburn. So I guess don't be surprised when the other side is like "WTF?" when we get neither. You know?

I'm just trying to level-set here so both sides understand each other.

 

[Oboro3_rivals101424]

The Herald-Leader was told Wednesday morning, however, that while Antigua and Coleman did pursue Cockburn after he put his name in the NCAA transfer portal prior to the July 1 deadline, his interest in transferring to Kentucky never reached the level that many locally and nationally assumed.

Read more here: https://www.kentucky.com/sports/col...ecruiting/article252780468.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Frankensteiner]

Let's take a deep breath and have a conversation like a couple adults, okay? I think my point was it's not like it was just the so-called "negative" "boobs" that were talking about Cal passing on Cockburn to go hard after Duren. It was actually the opposite to be honest -- it was the positive leaning optimist posters (and to be clear I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing, okay?) that were doing most of the running with that storyline. I have no clue whether or not it was true but the overwhelming majority were passing that off as a positive spin on not getting Cockburn. So I guess don't be surprised when the other side is like "WTF?" when we get neither. You know?

I'm just trying to level-set here so both sides understand each other.

I see what you are saying. Blend of negative posters and posters that want to act like they are in the know. Just a mess all around.

 

[Dablueman]

The Herald-Leader was told Wednesday morning, however, that while Antigua and Coleman did pursue Cockburn after he put his name in the NCAA transfer portal prior to the July 1 deadline, his interest in transferring to Kentucky never reached the level that many locally and nationally assumed.

Read more here: https://www.kentucky.com/sports/col...ecruiting/article252780468.html#storylink=cpy

So it was more a situation of Kofi not being as interested as thought. Yet we still had a realistic chance at Duren so we focused on a guy we had a better shot at. Not an either or like some have suggested. From the Herald Leader which is not a publication known to be overly pro UK

 

[crxohio]

I never said identical to webber lol. I said close as we have seen since. Yall act like duren is like Dwight howard. And webber was shaq lol. They are similar. More so than not. Hs vs hs. Howard vs shaq was light years difference. These two not so much.

 

[kyjeff1]

Huh? I’ve viewed this site for 20 years. I used to post but can’t even remember my old account. Lots of old posters won’t say it, but they barely come here anymore because of all the whining.

So, you and all these old posters are whining about others whining is what that boils down to. You get that, right?

You know what this is? It’s a difference of opinion and you and your old buddies can't stand to read opinions that don't line up with yours, so, to make yourselves feel better, you write it off and say the other side is whining.

You guys MIGHT have a point if we didn't just go 9-16 and are in a FF drought while calling ourselves the Gold standard and are continuing to miss all our main recruiting targets.

The way I look at it, you and your fellas just haven't caught on to what's happening yet, but you will and you will probably start another account to post through to save face.

 

[TheJackal]

And that’s why Cal tried to get Penny as an assistant …

and since - Memphis fires Tubby

Penny (shadily) steals James Wiseman & DJ Jeffries


Hires Cal’s mentor Larry Brown

and now - is getting Bates & Duren - taking them from the G League or whatever

Is Penny punking Cal?

Short answer yes. In this day in age having a young black coach who identifies with the players cannot be emphasized enough. Penny has an atmosphere in the program that lets these guys do whatever they want and he plays the social justice stuff up…guys want to go there just like guys wanted to go to Michigan and Georgetown back in the day. Whether he can win or not is yet to be seen…but he will always get players