My biggest worry

Rupp'sRunt

Heisman
Apr 19, 2008
14,675
20,094
0
Ok I think its fair to call this a lost season at this point. It is what it is. But my biggest worry at this point is recruiting. We got absolutely destroyed on the recruiting trail after a 38-1 season with negative recruiting due to platoon and not featuring kids with enough minutes. How bad is it going to be when BJ Boston and T Clarke draft stock absolutely plummets? These kids were top 5/10 recruits in most rankings. The negative recruiting is about to ramp up to 10. I hope Jai is really good at his job bc I don't trust Joel or Bruiser to pull in any one.

Edit: For everyone say the biggest problem with UK is Cal, its impossible to buy out Cal. Only way he leaves is if he willingly walks out on the biggest contract in NCAAB. His ego is to big to miss out on his pay day.
 
Last edited:

Rupp'sRunt

Heisman
Apr 19, 2008
14,675
20,094
0
My biggest worry is that we keep doing what we’ve been doing : new young team every year trying to beat good teams with 3 and 4 year players who can shoot and make mature decisions.
Fair point. I believe a mix of OAD and players that will stick around is key to the future of UK. If were just washing our team every year with OAD we will never sniff another championship unless another AD comes along.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,581
68,218
113
You remind me of when Hogan flipped to NWO....haha.

Cal is no fraud. It is a bad season.

I am sticking to my sentiments from early on...if we lose more than 4 guys of this team I will be done with it. He will have one season but I will have lost faith in the "system".
Haha. Yep you're about where I was last off season. I can't sit here and watch UK basketball turn into a laughing stock
 
  • Like
Reactions: ManitouDan

Bluesbrother

All-American
May 23, 2002
4,603
6,534
113
Ok I think its fair to call this a lost season at this point. It is what it is. But my biggest worry at this point is recruiting. We got absolutely destroyed on the recruiting trail after a 38-1 season with negative recruiting due to platoon and not featuring kids with enough minutes. How bad is it going to be when BJ Boston and T Clarke draft stock absolutely plummets? These kids were top 5/10 recruits in most rankings. The negative recruiting is about to ramp up to 10. I hope Jai is really good at his job bc I don't trust Joel or Bruiser to pull in any one.
Your biggest worry should be how do we get rid of Cal. That's it.
 

HagginHall1999

Heisman
Oct 19, 2018
16,009
28,480
113
You remind me of when Hogan flipped to NWO....haha.

Cal is no fraud. It is a bad season.

I am sticking to my sentiments from early on...if we lose more than 4 guys off this team I will be done with it. He will have one season but I will have lost faith in the "system".

I should have added that Sarr and Mintz are two of those guys. Boston and Clarke should not be going anywhere. Jackson I could see to an extent. Buck stops there as we stand now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RunninRichie

bgoad72

All-Conference
Apr 6, 2009
711
1,599
87
Im not saying Cade would solve this teams problems, but hes doing very well in Ok St and would far and away be our best player, not that thats a bold statement.
He wouldn’t solve our problems, but sub cade for askew, Clark, or Boston and where are we? Probably 7-3 or maybe 8-2. He’s that good. Huge difference maker. He would get his shots and get others open shots. Def beat ND. don’t lose a close game to Kansas. Who knows. He’s on a different level than the three we got instead of him
 

Rupp'sRunt

Heisman
Apr 19, 2008
14,675
20,094
0
He wouldn’t solve our problems, but sub cade for askew, Clark, or Boston and where are we? Probably 7-3 or maybe 8-2. He’s that good. Huge difference maker. He would get his shots and get others open shots. Def beat ND. don’t lose a close game to Kansas. Who knows. He’s on a different level than the three we got instead of him
Hiring bruiser over Cades brother was a criminal Act and a very huge mistake by Cal. I will not disagree with you
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,581
68,218
113
Hiring bruiser over Cades brother was a criminal Act and a very huge mistake by Cal. I will not disagree with you
. So now they’re playing for themselves and Keion was that extra jolt of life and you can see it. It’s infectious, I can feel it, I got emotional watching it because I know what’s about to happen. I love EVERY UK fan but a lot of us really don’t appreciate what we have. Buckle up people it’s about to get real now!
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,880
60,946
113
I think if that were to happen.. and at least part of it is already (their stock dropping).. then Cal really won't have many options. He'll have to go deeper in the recruiting rankings, thereby getting more multi year players.. or he will back himself into a spot where he may have to move on.

The good news, if any, is that were going to have a much more experienced team next year. Allen, Toppin, Askew, Oscar, Ware at the minimum (although someone is bound to transfer). Then you still have possibilities in a guy like Jackson coming back. That goes along with a recruiting class that isn't really 1AD heavy.. Hickman, Hopkins, maybe even Collins. Were going towards more experience teams, one way or another. I personally don't think you'll see a team even close to being this inexperienced again.

Unfortunately, its looking like its going to be a total loss of a season this year.
 

NoDef

All-American
Sep 1, 2001
5,148
7,091
113
Ok I think its fair to call this a lost season at this point. It is what it is. But my biggest worry at this point is recruiting. We got absolutely destroyed on the recruiting trail after a 38-1 season with negative recruiting due to platoon and not featuring kids with enough minutes. How bad is it going to be when BJ Boston and T Clarke draft stock absolutely plummets? These kids were top 5/10 recruits in most rankings. The negative recruiting is about to ramp up to 10. I hope Jai is really good at his job bc I don't trust Joel or Bruiser to pull in any one.

Edit: For everyone say the biggest problem with UK is Cal, its impossible to buy out Cal. Only way he leaves is if he willingly walks out on the biggest contract in NCAAB. His ego is to big to miss out on his pay day.
Platoon isn't the problem. The problem is the kids have figured out they can play at Georgia and still be the number one pick.
 

HagginHall1999

Heisman
Oct 19, 2018
16,009
28,480
113
Haha. Yep you're about where I was last off season. I can't sit here and watch UK basketball turn into a laughing stock

We were solid last season. In theory last year was the year and it was cut short. Since the title year we have basically been up and down.

2013 down
2014 down and a run
2015 up
2016 down
2017 up
2018 down
2019 up
2020 trending up
2021 down

It is all about getting guys back. Look at those years, it tells the story.

There is no way Keion, Boston, Clarke, Askew, Ware, Fletcher, Allen, Toppin should be going anywhere.

I can live with Mintz, Sarr and either two draft departures or one draft and one transfer....that is it.
 

KyCatFan1

Heisman
May 6, 2002
30,867
31,594
113
The only way Cal leaves is if he gets a lump sum paycheck and is told to hit the road or the environment prevents him from being successful. With a lot of upset fans, the school losing money (which means no lump sum), and fans and players against each other, the environment is getting really toxic for success. One more year like this and Cal won't want to be here anymore. He will have reporters chasing him around and for sale signs in his yard.
 

Rupp'sRunt

Heisman
Apr 19, 2008
14,675
20,094
0
I think if that were to happen.. and at least part of it is already (their stock dropping).. then Cal really won't have many options. He'll have to go deeper in the recruiting rankings, thereby getting more multi year players.. or he will back himself into a spot where he may have to move on.

The good news, if any, is that were going to have a much more experienced team next year. Allen, Toppin, Askew, Oscar, Ware at the minimum (although someone is bound to transfer). Then you still have possibilities in a guy like Jackson coming back. That goes along with a recruiting class that isn't really 1AD heavy.. Hickman, Hopkins, maybe even Collins. Were going towards more experience teams, one way or another. I personally don't think you'll see a team even close to being this inexperienced again.

Unfortunately, its looking like its going to be a total loss of a season this year.
1) can cal develop 4 year players and keep them without transfer? remains to be seen
2)I expect Askew to transfer
3) Cal will live and die by the strength of the recruiting class. Thats how its always been
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,581
68,218
113
We were solid last season. In theory last year was the year and it was cut short. Since the title year we have basically be up and down.

2013 down
2014 down and a run
2015 up
2016 down
2017 up
2018 down
2019 up
2020 trending up
2021 down

It is all about getting guys back. Look at those years, it tells the story.

There is no way Keion, Boston, Clarke, Askew, Ware, Fletcher, Allen, Toppin should be going anywhere.

I can live with Mintz, Sarr and either two draft departures or one draft and one transfer....that is it.
Yep I made a thread about this in December but go roasted for it. Now they see.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
You got a spare 60M to buy him out? Bc if not we got *checks notes* at least 7 more years. Recruiting is our only hope.

there is some sort of escape clause for perpetually losing. If not then UK is in danger of being a ruined program.
 

OmahaCats

All-Conference
Apr 10, 2020
2,209
2,740
0
You remind me of when Hogan flipped to NWO....haha.

Cal is no fraud. It is a bad season.

I am sticking to my sentiments from early on...if we lose more than 4 guys off this team I will be done with it. He will have one season but I will have lost faith in the "system".
Well they’ll certainly lose more than 4. They won’t return more than 4. But I’d be ok with that.
 

Rupp'sRunt

Heisman
Apr 19, 2008
14,675
20,094
0
First of all you guys need to stop worrying. I’m sick of this culture where we’re scared of our own shadow. This is KENTUCKY BASKETBALL. we don’t take a back seat to a MF’r. Calipari is not even a top 3 coach in our history and over the next season that won’t even be debatable. To even suggest he’s done as good of a job as Joe B is a slap in the face of a good man which Hall is and Cal is not.

Don’t worry about how we replace the roster if he leaves, worry how you’re going to replace the roster if he STAYS.

The longer we play this game the worse it’s going to get. Calipari is not who you guys think he is and never was. If you hold on to him he will sink this program on purpose. He’s a megalomaniac that cares about nothing but himself. Force him out or pay the consequences. That’s where we are.

And btw, buying him out will be cheaper than dealing WITH those consequences. Don’t believe me? Get ready for the show.
Morg.... I mean Baytown you really think Barnhart has the balls to muster up Cals buyout? And even if he did he would probably end up hiring a bust. We are UK but we are currently tied to Cal. He'd have to walk on his own accord.
 

Runnin'Ramel

Heisman
Jan 19, 2005
35,658
13,504
113
I really, really, really don't want to wind up like IU. And it's a legit fear; numerous fans on this board echo many things I've heard from IU fans over the years.
UConn is the more potentially analogous situation. They won two titles during Cal’s era and look where they are.
 

NoDef

All-American
Sep 1, 2001
5,148
7,091
113
Cal was done when the top high school players figured out that they didn't have to play at a blueblood and get drafted. Heck, they don't even have to play in the NCAA tournament. His strategy would still work if 95 percent of his roster didn't go pro or transfer before they were ready.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rupp'sRunt

HagginHall1999

Heisman
Oct 19, 2018
16,009
28,480
113
I really, really, really don't want to wind up like IU. And it's a legit fear; numerous fans on this board echo many things I've heard from IU fans over the years.

It is 100% a fear. If you push Cal out with no concrete plan in place (not reality btw) you have one miss-hire to work with.

I don't think some of our fans realize how close to irrelevancy we were when we hired Cal. The safe bet is Cal turns this around. Stubborn as hell but competitive as hell too. To an extent MB played with fire, sold his soul to the devil, all those analogies....we needed Cal and Cal needed us. You don't replace Cal with a random college guy...you go big or go home. Spoelstra, Stevens, etc...probably not realistic.

For me I would rather roll the dice with Cal than some unproven coach...ala Chris Beard....lightning in a bottle type. I could be wrong. Why? Put the keys to the castle in his hand if it goes south where do you turn? That is your one chance, miss there, game over...especially with the current state of CBB.

Cal is what, 61? I will take my chances on 9 more years and hopefully I more title at least.

JMHO