The point of what I was saying with "actually hope for the best" is that I really don't believe many of the people who say they hope for the best for Cal. I think they actually hope he fails and leaves.
I would also add, and I'm sure folks have heard this one before, I do believe we all actually hope for the best for the program. I actually believe the majority of those who are ready for Cal to be gone actually believe it is what is best for the program. I just don't think many (I'm sure this doesn't apply to all) realize what they really want is to just win right now. I want that too, by the way, of course. But I think most haven't fully thought through what Cal being fired or immediately resigning would do to this program. I think most folks calling for Cal's head are just angry people swinging blindly at the air, having experienced a very humbling and frustrating season- and one for the ages, for sure. What would happen if they got their wish today? They'd be thrilled for ONE DAY and then they'd have to put on a happy face while they watched the whole thing fall apart, almost instantaneously.
Consider... if you think we've had some bad years with players leaving, how about an entire roster? If Cal was fired today or if he was forced to resign or even if he voluntarily left without demanding his buyout, what would the immediate impact be? The entire team would leave. The 2 transfers we've signed for next season would immediately re-enter the transfer portal. The guys who might declare, would declare, and sign with an agent. Chances of getting Jackson back, now zero. Chances of Mintz or Sarr returning, now zero. Brooks, certainly gone. Toppin, gone. The incoming freshmen would ask out of their LOI's and those waivers would be granted. Whoever we got to coach would have to start from scratch.
Further, the chances of bouncing back next season (from our worst season in 100 years), or even the next 2 seasons, would be nil. We are talking about jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. And if you hate Cal's recruiting, just try dealing with the recruiting of whoever follows the hall of fame coach we just ran out of town.
And if you want those 3 and 4 year players at UK, guess how long it will take before those guys become the cohesive unit that Gonzaga and Baylor had this season? Yep, 3 or 4 years. What are we until then? Average. We would probably be looking at a minimum of 2 more seasons of mediocrity and listening to those national analysts say, "this is not the kind of talent we're used to seeing in a Kentucky uniform." (do we have that kind of patience?) And what about that 3rd season? We might be a top 25 team that season, with an outside chance of getting to a Sweet 16 with some breaks. If those guys stayed the full 4 years (what are the chances of that these days? the best would likely declare no matter what), we'd get to have a huge senior day and maybe have a shot at a Final Four if all the team stayed and if the guys are truly talented enough to make that kind of run. And then what? We start all over again, recruiting 3 and 4-year players, and it's like the days of Tubby again, who had lots of great senior days and a good team about once every 3 or 4 seasons.
Truth is, whoever came in would have to hit the transfer portal hard, since recruiting is basically done for this year. They'd have to sign a bunch of transfers from wherever they could find them just to put a team on the floor next year. But who would come? The power is all in the hands of the players right now. We'd lose the ones we have and then we'd be looking at 2nd and 3rd tier transfers. He'd be piecing together a makeshift team for next season and then hitting the 2022 class hard for 3 and 4-star kids guaranteed to stick around for 3 years minimum.
I'm sure I paint a dim picture, but I remember the days of Tubby when we couldn't compete nationally and were rarely in the conversation for top recruits, when we had great senior days but not a snowflake's chance to actually make a Final Four, and forget a title. I remember hearing Dick Vitale wonder aloud on a UK broadcast how our talent level had sunk so far, and having to begrudgingly agree with him. I remember saying to whoever would listen "if Tubby could just get someone else to recruit for him, he could probably coach them up." You can't squeeze orange juice out of lemons.
Whoo!! That's a lot to digest.
Based on what you just wrote, when will it be a GOOD time for Cal to leave the program. And he WILL leave at some point, just like Rupp,
Hall, Pitino.....and all the rest.
Cal is actually holding a portion of the fanbase hostage for fear of the program collapsing as he walks out the door, leaving the program in ruins.
Again, that day will come, also. And it will be no different than when the others left. There will be a 2-3 maybe even 4 year time period to rebuild the program.
Cal faced the same problem you speak of when he followed BCG, but he was able to rob Memphis of their entire recruiting class and reload with talent immediately.
It still took him until 2012 to win a title, so it didn't happen overnight with Cal and all that talent.
It sounds like many assume that last year was an anomaly for Cal and that he will immediately get us back in the hunt next year.
So, you are also assuming that Cal can take a whole new group of players, mold them into a team, and get them to buy into his Stars eat first system.
Based on the trend since 2015, Cal has not been able to do that for whatever reason.
What do you think Cal will do different this year that he did not try last year?
Will the Transfers be more talented? Hopefully.
Will Cal play them ahead of his 5 stars?
Will Cal play them ahead of returning players? If there are any left.
Some folks better get mentally prepared for Cal leaving if next year turns out like last year.
Looking at UT, Arkansas, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, and Florida's potential for next year, it could be another rough season for UK and Cal.
If it is another bad year, then what?
How many bad years before something HAS to change?