What Went Wrong?

3bombino96

Redshirt
Jan 18, 2008
725
3
0
A year ago we heard about all the big names in the 2015 class. We knew we'd probably lose 7 guys, after a title run that we didn't get. So, like most I started speculating what kids we would get, cause this class was the next big thing! So, what do you think transpired that we've lost out on some guys? Duke winning it? Some guys we've had that have ended up in the D League? Is it maybe Cal's grinding offense? Something folks has had to transpire, thoughts?
 
Feb 14, 2007
14,667
22,294
113
I think a combination of things. I think the platoon has been in some of the recruits minds. Most players want all the minutes they can get. As bad as I hate to say it, I think Cal's coaching at the end of the Wisconsin game didn't help at all. I think there is beginning to be a perception that he can't close the deal. Duke winning it with OAD sure didn't help either.
 
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BLUEHILLS

Senior
May 17, 2005
5,573
822
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We are still right there with a couple of top guys. Still a top 3 class regardless. I don't understand the concern.
 
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Lumpy 2

All-Conference
Jan 16, 2011
1,944
1,106
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Nothing went wrong. We have a great class so far and it's likely to get better.
 
Jul 28, 2006
11,296
16,072
113
Nothing has "gone wrong"; we're talking about 17-18 year old kids, you simply cannot predict what's in their head at any given time. I do think there's been some negative recruiting against Cal, but hell, that goes on every year, so it's nothing new.

We still have two weeks, let's just see if Cal can work his magic again; I think he will.
 

mashburned

Heisman
Mar 10, 2009
40,283
49,516
0
Everything, imho. Blue Bell is off the shelves. Catpaw is new and weird. Our "future" QB *literally* got worldstar'd. Etc...
 

thebluestripes

All-Conference
Apr 22, 2014
2,145
2,621
0
I wonder how much slice leaving has played into it....It seems like a bad time to transition between recruiting coordinators.
 

minjo

Senior
Jan 7, 2006
6,107
909
0
Nothing has gone wrong.
The only thing that went wrong was we did not win the championship, and it was designed that way as you know.
we have some of the best BB players for 15-16 season, and our coaches are out there trying to recruit some more.
We are spoiled and if some kids for a number of personal reasons prefer to play for other colleges, we think they should only play at UK. That is what is wrong.
 
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blugrazz

Sophomore
Feb 5, 2003
1,075
180
63
I think others have shown that the OAD process can be achieved elsewhere. Cal needs to reinvent himself to stay a step ahead. DDMO>OAD>????
 

Joneslab

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2005
4,219
1,478
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Have to see how it plays out first. If we get just one of these guys it's another #1 class; that's a far cry from "wrong."

Generally I think it's just an odd class. Have to get one kid out of North Carolina, another who's said he will only play for an adidas school, a third from New York City who speaks French, another who's probably going to the school where his dad played, and a fifth who chose the school in his hometown.

Just a quirky class all the way around but I think it's going to work out and we're gonna get at least one of these guys.
 

Poetax

Heisman
Apr 4, 2002
29,410
20,887
0
I think a combination of things. I think the platoon has been in some of the recruits minds. Most players want all the minutes they can get. As bad as I hate to say it, I think Cal's coaching at the end of the Wisconsin game didn't help at all. I think there is beginning to be a perception that he can't close the deal. Duke winning it with OAD sure didn't help either.



I think that is the least of what's on recruits minds, wondering about coaching in a game. Try playing time and staying at home. Plus sometimes you just don't get them all.
 

jb1010

Senior
Nov 8, 2011
2,252
695
0
I think this class just has a different mindset. They all would rather go to crappy schools and be "the man".

Even the other bigger schools are losing out to schools like LSU, California etc ...
 

WildMoon

Heisman
Apr 7, 2009
78,693
11,120
0
LOL,

it's not even over. We have 3 amazing talent already in the class, with already solid foundation staying.

People get mad when we don't have 5 top 10 recruits now a days. Crazy Crazy.
 
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stuway

All-American
Mar 29, 2007
4,543
5,913
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I like our team already. Oh yeah, we get to finish recruiting too!! Why is everyone tripping?? We will be in the picture till the end next year as well. Have faith in Cal
 

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,518
86,519
113
What went wrong? Four Final Fours in five years led a significant, if annoying, minority of the UK fan base to decide they were entitled to every top ten recruit in the country and they are afflicting the rest of us with their dreary hand wringing.
 

MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
11,116
22,565
66
I'm taking a wait and see approach before I proclaim the sky is falling.

And we have the No. 2 class in the country and it isn't complete yet. Damn, we're a spoiled bunch. If we were bringing in this class during Tubby's tenure, we'd be thumping our chests.
 

katwest

Heisman
Feb 16, 2003
39,974
13,970
113
Like some have said on here, we can't get them all, maybe platooning, maybe most of these available are me first players, I don't know why some are choosing to go to other schools because the only thing they can offer is more playing time over Kentucky, but I'm happy with what we already have which is much more than most teams have now. Kentucky isn't for everybody, the competition I'm sure scares some off, you can't finish first every year, yea I want some of those that are still out there too, but it looks like we might not get one or two we thought we might get. The way I feel about it as I have said before to some of those that flirt with Kentucky but go somewhere else, If you can do better than Kentucky, you have my blessing, hopefully we play them later and beat them and make them wish they had come here. I remember we went after Marcus Thornton hard and he picked Georgia and I understand he was staying home which is ok but if he had come to Kentucky he more than likely would have been in the league after a couple of years, I'm sure he thought about it a time or two.
 
Jan 29, 2003
18,120
12,185
0
What went wrong? Four Final Fours in five years led a significant, if annoying, minority of the UK fan base to decide they were entitled to every top ten recruit in the country and they are afflicting the rest of us with their dreary hand wringing.
Yeah. Were I more energetic or gave a rat's behind, I'd compile all the delusional quotes like the first couple in this thread and we could have a nice accounting at some point. Instead, I just roll my eyes....
 

UKfan2151

All-American
Oct 1, 2003
14,456
9,499
113
This is just the nature of the beast today. When you can lose as many as 7 or 8 players to the draft in a single season, some years you just aren't going to be able to replace all of your losses with a single class. This is one of those years, as was 2010 and 2012. When you experience the sort of mass defections we do on a regular basis, sometimes even a #1 recruiting class isn't going to be enough to keep you atop the heap. I pray that someday soon we'll see a 2 year rule. Maybe that way we won't have to bring in more than 3 or 4 players per class and not face a situation where we need to sign 7 or 8 really, really talented kids in one class just to maintain, like the situation we are in right now.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Hall of Famer
Dec 7, 2007
45,667
100,821
113
I'm taking a wait and see approach before I proclaim the sky is falling.

And we have the No. 2 class in the country and it isn't complete yet. Damn, we're a spoiled bunch. If we were bringing in this class during Tubby's tenure, we'd be thumping our chests.


And that's because during the Tubby Era, or at least the end of the Tubby Era, our program sucked. Times have changed, and so have expectations. It's perfectly okay to have expectations.
 

lacocat

Senior
Nov 7, 2007
2,606
501
0
You can win a collegiate title with 3 NBA level players, don't need 7. I'd almost prefer "only" 2 or 3 NBA caliber freshmen revolving door each year, with a mix of 5 or 6 solid career college players. Duke just did it that way, and they always do things the right way. /sarcasm kinda
 

MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
11,116
22,565
66
And that's because during the Tubby Era, or at least the end of the Tubby Era, our program sucked. Times have changed, and so have expectations. It's perfectly okay to have expectations.

Of course it's OK to have expectations, but to expect to land nearly every top recruit and win the title every year is at least somewhat unrealistic and sets up those who have such expectations to get their panties in a bunch more often than not. I just don't get all the panic and handwringing when the 15 class isn't even finalized. If we somehow miss on every target we have, it'll be cause for concern because next year could be a down year (2013) ... or we could take some lumps and wind up in the Final Four (2011). That's why they play the games.

My point about the Tubby classes was: We should be grateful for our position in the current college basketball landscape because runs like the one we've been on for the past 6 years don't last forever, even at UK. We had years where our highest rated prospect was a three star, and now we have people expecting to sign the top guy at every position every year. .
 

Trinity22

Redshirt
Apr 21, 2015
18
2
0
In the sevens years Cal Has been with us,he has the same amount of Championships as six other coaches whom were not signing our type classes . Six other schools have won , why can't we ..
 
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Graves51

Junior
Feb 27, 2014
4,360
277
0
Of course it's OK to have expectations, but to expect to land nearly every top recruit and win the title every year is at least somewhat unrealistic and sets up those who have such expectations to get their panties in a bunch more often than not. I just don't get all the panic and handwringing when the 15 class isn't even finalized. If we somehow miss on every target we have, it'll be cause for concern because next year could be a down year (2013) ... or we could take some lumps and wind up in the Final Four (2011). That's why they play the games.

My point about the Tubby classes was: We should be grateful for our position in the current college basketball landscape because runs like the one we've been on for the past 6 years don't last forever, even at UK. We had years where our highest rated prospect was a three star, and now we have people expecting to sign the top guy at every position every year. .
In the sevens years Cal Has been with us,he has the same amount of Championships as six other coaches whom were not signing our type classes . Six other schools have won , why can't we ..
 

Graves51

Junior
Feb 27, 2014
4,360
277
0
Of course it's OK to have expectations, but to expect to land nearly every top recruit and win the title every year is at least somewhat unrealistic and sets up those who have such expectations to get their panties in a bunch more often than not. I just don't get all the panic and handwringing when the 15 class isn't even finalized. If we somehow miss on every target we have, it'll be cause for concern because next year could be a down year (2013) ... or we could take some lumps and wind up in the Final Four (2011). That's why they play the games.

My point about the Tubby classes was: We should be grateful for our position in the current college basketball landscape because runs like the one we've been on for the past 6 years don't last forever, even at UK. We had years where our highest rated prospect was a three star, and now we have people expecting to sign the top guy at every position every year. .
 

jwheat

Heisman
Aug 21, 2005
97,626
24,206
42
If we get Diallo we go right back to #1.

Does the JUCO kid factor in the rankings?
 

Graves51

Junior
Feb 27, 2014
4,360
277
0
I am happy with our team now, if we can get a few more capable players to blend in, maybe a fifth year player. I believe you can have too many unless you are going to platoon, and Cal won't be doing that! That's when we were at our best last year! Cal went away from it after POYS injury to make sure he sent several to the NBA. He sent several and we lost our dominance and also lost what we should have won, according to everyone!