Milt Wagner Hired At UL!

[UK90]

I think a LOT of UK fans failed to realize just how much WWW was helping Cal dominate recruiting in the first half of his UK tenure.

Yep, this is the under-discussed factor in why Cal’s recruiting dropped off. It’s just a hugely noticeable difference in how we recruited during the WWW era compared to after.

WWW was probably the single most influential figure ever in the behind-the-scenes recruiting power broker game. And for years Cal had him in his back pocket. We lost quite an advantage when ole Wes decided to go legit.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

ouch

 

[Kerwinwaltonsafro]

The NCAA added a rule to prevent hiring family members solely to land a recruit. Louisville got real dang creative with that job title to get around the rule.

 

[richbrookstomato]

How exactly does this point to this?

Young energetic assistant coach leaves UK for Duke.
Cal has yet to fill this said assistant coach's position.
Cal's lock of ALL locks recruit DJ Wagner's grandpa has been hired at the MAIN school that could possibly steal him away.
Cal has ONLY a LEGACY recruit committed in this next class when Duke has multiple.
Cal has AVOIDED KSR and the fans in general since the end of the season.
Cal has NOT addressed the Sharpe situation other than to tell the fans not to be critical of the kid and the entire situation.

Sure looks like a coach that IS NOT planning for the future.

 

[BMo643]

People are reading WAY too much into this from all angles.

I don't think Milt was hired just to get DJ. Milt would likely have been hired regardless of if he had a talented grandson. Milt and Kenny were teammates and have been friends for nearly 40 years.

I can't imagine a scenario where the #1 player in the country, who's Dad was also an elite recruit and is well connected to the AAU scene and to Cal - is going to be swayed by where his Grandpa works.

This will come down to 3 things:
- The coaches. All of them, the head coaches and the assistants. Which one DJ feels more comfortable with.
- NIL package. Cal seems to indicate that he doesn't want to make personalized NIL pitches part of the recruiting experience. UofL insiders have mentioned that the NIL department is working on something for DJ that is more than a local NIL deal. I don't know if this is something with Roc Nation but thats the vibe everyone seems to be leaning. No idea what that means, just mentioning what we're being told.
- Is WWW involved in this recruitment? Its been mentioned that he is, but who knows. If so, where does he push DJ?

 

[LowCountryCat]

Tucker is whistling past the graveyard. He doesn't want to mess up his meal ticket.

 

[LowCountryCat]

How exactly does this point to this?

How old are you, 5?

 

[electricat2]

the ncaa putting lville on probation might be the only thing that saves the wagner recruitment....and possibly cals tunure

 

[Catfan2226]

Wagner knows all about UK,we have been after him for awhile.We cant lose recruits that might come here while we wait for him to make up his mind.If we recruit somebody other than him for his position then so be it.Thats how it goes,this waiting and waiting while we lose out on others only to watch whom we were waiting on go to another school is ********.

 

[K_TIME]

I don't know what Cal can do here.. UofL just brought out the "big guns", to which Cal has no answer for. If you don't want to lose recruits like this, then start playing the game.

Either we can sit on our moral high ground and become irrelevant, or make up a damn $100k 1-year job for the kids family member, which will pay for itself if that kid even helps us win just ONE game in the tournament.

jfc.. it feels like were living in the Twilight Zone. These other programs are light years ahead of us and it only took a few years for them to get there.

How about hire his dad or milt as well?

 

[numberonedad]

I told you guys we lost Wagner the day Payne took the Louisville job. Only, as usual, to be told how wrong I was. Unbelievable how some people on here can’t see what’s coming

 

[WeWant9]

People are reading WAY too much into this from all angles.

I don't think Milt was hired just to get DJ. Milt would likely have been hired regardless of if he had a talented grandson. Milt and Kenny were teammates and have been friends for nearly 40 years.

I can't imagine a scenario where the #1 player in the country, who's Dad was also an elite recruit and is well connected to the AAU scene and to Cal - is going to be swayed by where his Grandpa works.

This will come down to 3 things:
- The coaches. All of them, the head coaches and the assistants. Which one DJ feels more comfortable with.
- NIL package. Cal seems to indicate that he doesn't want to make personalized NIL pitches part of the recruiting experience. UofL insiders have mentioned that the NIL department is working on something for DJ that is more than a local NIL deal. I don't know if this is something with Roc Nation but thats the vibe everyone seems to be leaning. No idea what that means, just mentioning what we're being told.
- Is WWW involved in this recruitment? Its been mentioned that he is, but who knows. If so, where does he push DJ?

At this point, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t end up at UL. Or who knows, maybe he doesn’t want to deal with the headache of either fanbase and ends up at a place like Temple. He’s going get good NIL anywhere he goes, but UL seems to be putting the press on him. The family aspect does seem to sway a lot of kids.

 

[TeriKane33]

The NCAA added a rule to prevent hiring family members solely to land a recruit. Louisville got real dang creative with that job title to get around the rule.

I'm pretty sure that rule was created after Cal hired Milt at Memphis just to land Dejuan.

 

[jessieshorts8]

Tucker just posted about possible replacements when Cal leaves on the Athletic.I don't pay so can't read it but it seems strange timing?

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

Will be telling to see how the (compensated) pumper squad spins this development.

 

[AustinTXCat]

As Rafters melts down yet again.....

 

[Jamal Mercer]

Tucker just posted about possible replacements when Cal leaves on the Athletic.I don't pay so can't read it but it seems strange timing?

 

[ck-2]

I told you guys we lost Wagner the day Payne took the Louisville job. Only, as usual, to be told how wrong I was. Unbelievable how some people on here can’t see what’s coming

Same people who believed Sharpe was returning because Cal said so.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Kentucky make some position up and hire dajuan Wagner

 

[TigerMoving]

Cal can still win this, by selling Wagner on being a top 5 pick from sitting on our bench and not playing

 

[senonesy]

I told you guys we lost Wagner the day Payne took the Louisville job. Only, as usual, to be told how wrong I was. Unbelievable how some people on here can’t see what’s coming

Think you will still be wrong. But puff your chest all you want for something that hasn’t happened.

 

[Shaudylo]

So why doesn't Cal hire his dad for the same position at UK?It's time for Cal to get off his *** and fight fire with fire.

His dad might not want to be involved in a coaching role . Just like DJ his dad seems to stay out of the way .

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Tucker just posted about possible replacements when Cal leaves on the Athletic.I don't pay so can't read it but it seems strange timing?

Just said make Scott drew mark few musselman and brad stevens make them say no

 

[ganner918_rivals60369]

Tucker just posted about possible replacements when Cal leaves on the Athletic.I don't pay so can't read it but it seems strange timing?

It was a mailbag Q&A article. He was asked how long he thinks Cal stays, and said 2 more years, then takes his $1M/yr ambassador job. Then, another question:

If Cal retires tomorrow, who are the first 3-to-5 people Mitch calls to gauge interest? — John G.

Scott Drew, Mark Few, Eric Musselman and Brad Stevens. Make every one of them tell you no before considering anyone else. I know that at least two of the names on that list would have serious interest. And I’d say all of them are at least on Mitch Barnhart’s radar if he needs to make a hire in the relatively near future.

 

[LowCountryCat]

Just said make Scott drew mark few musselman and brad stevens make them say no

I would also say Jay Wright. He might come out of retirement.

 

[dcw62]

Yawn...When's football start.

 

[Yardeth]

Yep. I shared this was coming in the "need good news" thread. Had lunch with a very connected UL booster yesterday in Jeffersonville. He flies on the team plane and whatnot. We are going to lose Wagner.

Let’s lose him early, so we can move on, please don’t do the normal and pass on players waiting on a player that doesn’t come to UK.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

I would also say Jay Wright. He might come out of retirement.

Can’t hurt to try jay wright is probably the biggest long shot because he seems to love Villanova and not want to go anywhere else. Scott drew or musselman can be bought

 

[UKhoopCat]

Gotta believe the hammer is going to fall on UL at some point this year, driving a death nail into their hearts, but with Emmert still there, we can’t hold our breath.

 

[TigerMoving]

Always the name calling

Poor Ed, always the victim!

 

[bigsmoothie]

Poor Ed, always the victim!

Because I don’t punch down?

 

[Chris Mallory]

Terrible rule. Cal needs to hire his grandma

 

[LowCountryCat]

There's always a slim chance Billy D could be coaxed back. He's only 56 and he's not exactly lit things up in Chicago.

 

[LowCountryCat]

Always the name calling

You accused me of being bipolar yesterday. Hypocrite much?

 

[TigerMoving]

Because I don’t punch down?

Bc you get in 1000 arguments a day on here and are constantly whining

 

[bigsmoothie]

Bc you get in 1000 arguments a day on here and are constantly whining

It takes 2 to argue.

 

[Kerwinwaltonsafro]

I'm pretty sure that rule was created after Cal hired Milt at Memphis just to land Dejuan.

A quick Google would have told you the rule was created in 2017.

 

[TigerMoving]

It takes 2 to argue.

And yet it is you that's always the victim

 

[rick64]

So does U6 eat first now?

 

[Sparkaces]

Cal has had a tough last 3 years, when you have Wiseman, Sharpe and Wagner in the bag and not one ever plays a game. You literally have one on campus and the other 2 were complete locks except for another team's coach getting fired at exactly the right time.