When Sharpe declares...

[know1]

"Kentucky's not for everyone".

 

[JwUKFan11]

Why would Cal knowingly bring him in if he knew he wasn’t going to ever play and then publicly lobby for him to come back so he can coach him. I’m fine with disliking Cal for coaching and his actual flaws but at some point I can’t get on board with nonsense.

 

[track42]

Why would Cal knowingly bring him in if he knew he wasn’t going to ever play and then publicly lobby for him to come back so he can coach him. I’m fine with disliking Cal for coaching and his actual flaws but at some point I can’t get on board with nonsense.

Honestly that makes things worse to have to beg a player who signed with you to actually play 1 game.

 

[Lempface]

Isn't declaring at all a walkback, though? Cal all but swore Sharpe would play next year. It will cause a meltdown on this board.

Cal did not, he said things like that was the plan to not play and lead next year. But he also said things like if he would be taken top 5 then that is something they'd have to consider and he knows that who ever guaranteed it would do it or he'd never let them in the gym to scout again.

 

[kentuckycriedfricken]

If Sharpe had gone to Duke or UNC or Kansas, you would have said damn Cal should have taken him just so they couldn’t and that Cal can’t get thebest anymore. Again, criticize Cal for boneheaded on the court decisions, but Cal’s in a no win here. Its easy to Monday morning qb. I would be more concerned with Sharpe’s lack of competitiveness if he chose not to play which is apparently how this went down.

Baloney. This is just so much absurd nonsense. First of all, there's no way K or Self would have taken a NONE AND DONE player. So Cal doing that just advertised to the world how desperate he is. Second, if they DID get Sharpe to play, that means they have something Cal doesn't, because for whatever reason Cal can't put the kid on the floor. So in reality we would have lost NOTHING if Sharpe went elsewhere and the fanbase would have reacted like they USUALLY do when Cal passes on a recruit that he has in the bag - assuming there was an issue. And by now everyone would have noticed that Sharpe hasn't played the whole season and would have realized that we dodged a bullet.

Meanwhile, back to reality - Cal is desperate and trying to remain relevant, so much so that he's taking flyers on benchriders who want to use UK for the notoriety but not actually log a minute of playing time. That's a bad look for Cal and he should be held accountable.

And when Sharpe bolts this summer, every other fanbase will be laughing at us.

 

[kentuckycriedfricken]

Cal did not, he said things like that was the plan to not play and lead next year. But he also said things like if he would be taken top 5 then that is something they'd have to consider and he knows that who ever guaranteed it would do it or he'd never let them in the gym to scout again.

He's also said recently that Sharpe will likely test the waters. THAT is a walkback.

 

[track42]

Cal did not, he said things like that was the plan to not play and lead next year. But he also said things like if he would be taken top 5 then that is something they'd have to consider and he knows that who ever guaranteed it would do it or he'd never let them in the gym to scout again.

So he's speaking out of both sides of his mouth.I thought Cal said he would never let a player hold him hostage again?

 

[jwheat]

Ran Grady and Mintz to death while a top ten pick sat and watched. Put him in the game. If the kid had played a few games for us and then decided to go pro and get selected top ten I don’t think you’d have quite the negative sentiment

 

[Kats meow]

The part of this that really doesn't make sense is the "he didn't think he was eligible, and then found out he was!"

There was obviously some work going on behind the scenes, paperwork, lots of phone calls, meetings, something happening to ensure that he was going to be eligible. And he had to have known that work was being done behind the scenes to try and make him eligible. A fairy didn't fly in and sprinkle magic draft dust on him and make him eligible overnight without any work being done to make that happen. Saying he just "found out he was eligible!" is nonsensical.

All Cal supporters need to read that post.

 

[Lempface]

So he's speaking out of both sides of his mouth.I thought Cal said he would never let a player hold him hostage again?

He's not, see my first post ITT. What exactly would you have like for him to do differently based on the actual publicly available knowledge?

 

[Lempface]

All Cal supporters need to read that post.

Already gave a reasonable answer for this. He was hedging his bets, seeking eligiblity but if that fell through having a path in college was lined up. Since he was seeking eligiblity should he just have assumed it came through and then if it didn't sit around for a year?

 

[JwUKFan11]

Honestly that makes things worse to have to beg a player who signed with you to actually play 1 game.

Wait so we now don’t want Cal to try and convince these for sure Millionaire players to stay and play for UK? Man these goal posts are flying everywhere

 

[track42]

Wait so we now don’t want Cal to try and convince these for sure Millionaire players to stay and play for UK? Man these goal posts are flying everywhere

Seriously?You don't find it troubling that a coach has to beg a kid to play after he already signed to play for him?

 

[zannmann]

As soon as kid refused to play, he should have told him to leave.

 

[STL_Cat]

Already gave a reasonable answer for this. He was hedging his bets, seeking eligiblity but if that fell through having a path in college was lined up. Since he was seeking eligiblity should he just have assumed it came through and then if it didn't sit around for a year?

Fine, I can buy that. So he knew there was a chance and there was work being done to get him draft eligible. That makes more sense than the first way you described it which was "he didn't know he was, and then he was!" He knew there was a chance he would be eligible. Cal brought him in knowing there was a chance he'd be eligible for the draft as well. They both knew. You keep saying "knowledge that was publicly available", I think you and I would agree that Cal probably knows more than what is publicly available information.

I believe Cal brought him in hoping if he was eligible for the draft that he would agree to play this year. Then Cal got neutered by Sharpe's people. No matter how you slice it, it's not a good look for Cal here.

 

[ukmelanie]

The new normal under Cal at UK.A player comes here but never actually plays but none of it is Cal's fault.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Seriously?You don't find it troubling that a coach has to beg a kid to play after he already signed to play for him?

Beg? It’s not begging to say he wants to coach him and he thinks he could be the #1 pick.

 

[bookerfan66]

Already gave a reasonable answer for this. He was hedging his bets, seeking eligiblity but if that fell through having a path in college was lined up. Since he was seeking eligiblity should he just have assumed it came through and then if it didn't sit around for a year?

So UK was the fallback plan?I can agree with that.

 

[sluggercatfan]

What's your top 5 excuse list for Cal?

Here's mine:

Top 5 Sharpe Draft excuses

5. Cal didn't know

4. Sharpe wasn't good enough to play here

3. Team Chemistry

2. DRAFT DAY IS WHAT MATTERS, NOT WINS!

1. Shut up Fake Fan

I'll take 1&2 fot a 100

 

[Kats meow]

what a sad state of affairs:

To quote Cason Wallace circa the 3 minute mark, “we just want to make a run deep into the season and get out of there as soon as possible.”

 

[Lempface]

Fine, I can buy that. So he knew there was a chance and there was work being done to get him draft eligible. That makes more sense than the first way you described it which was "he didn't know he was, and then he was!" He knew there was a chance he would be eligible. Cal brought him in knowing there was a chance he'd be eligible for the draft as well. They both knew. You keep saying "knowledge that was publicly available", I think you and I would agree that Cal probably knows more than what is publicly available information.

I believe Cal brought him in hoping if he was eligible for the draft that he would agree to play this year. Then Cal got neutered by Sharpe's people. No matter how you slice it, it's not a good look for Cal here.

You said "he didn't know he was, and then he was!" Well yeah that's exactly how unknown outcomes transpire. He wasn't eligible and cleared based on actual info we have, some stuff went on behind the scenes, then he found out he was eligible.

It's not a bad look for Cal. I think Cal knew he was trying to get eligibility and Cal had a decision to make. Allow him to come in, he's eligible and he tries to get him to play, or he's not eligible and he gets him to play or prep like O did last year. He was trying to get some use out of the kid before he bolted. Again, what exactly would you have liked him to do differently?

 

[UKNothinButNet]

"Kentucky's not for everyone".

Beat me to it... or how 'bout: "I can't hide you here (any more)"

 

[Lempface]

So UK was the fallback plan?I can agree with that.

And you don't think other top players would like to go make millions right out of high school? It's the current cultural landscape of big time high school basketball. I will never fault someone for using any skill they have to strike while the iron is hot.

 

[Yardeth]

Mintz said he is the Real Deal, so we know he could have helped us this year. We have to wait and see what happens next and if he hires an agent.

 

[Urolex]

This comes back to 2 possible scenarios…. Let’s just ignore the whole draft eligibility issue and look at the REAL big picture:

1. Cal let a player on the team who refused to play, thus the player “held the team hostage” as Cal would say dating back to 2013…something he vowed at that time that he wouldn’t allow to happen again. Or…

2. Cal himself decided not to play Sharpe, which means that Cal actively chose to NOT put his best available team on the floor (especially during injuries)…meaning he wasn’t prioritizing his #1 job at UK: WIN GAMES.

So which is worse????

 

[bookerfan66]

And you don't think other top players would like to go make millions right out of high school? It's the current cultural landscape of big time high school basketball. I will never fault someone for using any skill they have to strike while the iron is hot.

I'm not okay with UK being used.He could have worked with a trainer to get ready for the draft and not wasted UK's time.Now our recruiting class for the upcoming season is in a mess and we could have had a guy like Nick Smith.I hope it was worth it to Cal because we will now have a big hole next season to fill and the portal won't save that loss.

 

[Lempface]

I'm not okay with UK being used.He could have worked with a trainer to get ready for the draft and not wasted UK's time.Now our recruiting class for the upcoming season is in a mess and we could have had a guy like Nick Smith.I hope it was worth it to Cal because we will now have a big whole next season to fill and the portal won't save that loss.

So you think he should have told him to go fly a kite and not take a chance on the top player?

So go with that, we either didn't get the top player, or we didn't get the top player.

 

[STL_Cat]

You said "he didn't know he was, and then he was!" Well yeah that's exactly how unknown outcomes transpire. He wasn't eligible and cleared based on actual info we have, some stuff went on behind the scenes, then he found out he was eligible.

It's not a bad look for Cal. I think Cal knew he was trying to get eligibility and Cal had a decision to make. Allow him to come in, he's eligible and he tries to get him to play, or he's not eligible and he gets him to play or prep like O did last year. He was trying to get some use out of the kid before he bolted. Again, what exactly would you have liked him to do differently?

I would have liked Cal to have told Sharpe up front, you can join the team now in January if you would like, but if you come now, I expect you to be ready to go to battle with your teammates if I call your number. If you come now, assume you will play if I need you to or ask you to. If you are not willing to play now, I will see you in the summer when you join the class I originally recruited you for.

 

[BigBlueNole_rivals168901]

Some of you guys lead sad, sad lives

 

[jessieshorts8]

I do wonder about the message being sent to the team.Tyty out there playing when he could barely walk and looks over at a guy who won't even make an effort to help.

 

[Lempface]

I would have liked Cal to have told Sharpe up front, you can join the team now in January if you would like, but if you come now, I expect you to be ready to go to battle with your teammates if I call your number. If you come now, assume you will play if I need you to or ask you to. If you are not willing to play now, I will see you in the summer when you join the class I originally recruited you for.

So if the original plan was to train and not play like O did last year, you assume Cal should have known the outcome of whatever efforts they were making to become draft eligible? Then he should have based his decision on him coming in on an unknown?

If Cal had thought he would eventually become draft eligible then you've got a few options you try as coach, bring him in, get him settled in, show him how you do things, get him some NIL deals and hope you can get him to play this year or convince him to stay or you just give up and say he's gone good luck,

The fact is no scenario would satisfy most of you.

Cal either missed on a top recruit again or he was stupid for taking him and trying to get some use out of his commitment.

 

[STL_Cat]

So if the original plan was to train and not play like O did last year, you assume Cal should have known the outcome of whatever efforts they were making to become draft eligible? Then he should have based his decision on him coming in on an unknown?

If Cal had thought he would eventually become draft eligible then you've got a few options you try as coach, bring him in, get him settled in, show him how you do things, get him some NIL deals and hope you can get him to play this year or convince him to stay or you just give up and say he's gone good luck,

The fact is no scenario would satisfy most of you.

Cal either missed on a top recruit again or he was stupid for taking him and trying to get some use out of his commitment.

You're not even addressing what I said. All I said was Cal should have told him up front if you come now, be prepared to play if I call your number. I say that without regard to whatever his draft status was.

There is absolutely nothing unreasonable about telling a guy, if you come now, be ready to play if I call your number. You tell him that up front regardless of whether or not he's eligible for the draft. If you aren't willing to play now if I ask you to, then come in the summer and again, join the class I originally recruited you for. You're acting like I'm suggesting something unreasonable by telling a MEMBER OF THE TEAM he should be willing to play, lol.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

What's your top 5 excuse list for Cal?

Here's mine:

Top 5 Sharpe Draft excuses

5. Cal didn't know

4. Sharpe wasn't good enough to play here

3. Team Chemistry

2. DRAFT DAY IS WHAT MATTERS, NOT WINS!

1. Shut up Fake Fan

The word “idiot” will be used against anyone evenly remotely upset by the Sharpe situation. Along with “fake fan”.

 

[VA/UK]

The only scenario that makes sense to me:

Sharpe didn't think he was eligible, wanted to get a head start on next season. Got on campus, found out he was eligible, his inner circle advised him not to play once mock drafts came out that showed he was in the lottery, in some cases top half of the lottery.

At that point Cal couldn't really do anything that the fans would have liked.

Can't make a guy play who doesn't want to.
Cal already told him he could prep for next year w/o playing. Would look badly on a coach to renege on something like that.
Kicking him off the team because of refusal to play looks even worse.
So you accept the only positive thing that can come from it, a slight association w/ a possible NBA star.

Yeah, sucks, I don't expect him back either, but I can't come up with a reasonable scenario where Cal wanted it to play out like this. I think most people who aren't pitchforks and torches can see this reasonable angle.


If it comes out that Sharpe knew all along he was eligible and knew he'd never play, well that's a different story, but we have no evidence of that.

Stop being logical and reasonable. No room for that in the Cuckoo’s Nest.

 

[Lempface]

You're not even addressing what I said. All I said was Cal should have told him up front if you come now, be prepared to play if I call your number. I say that without regard to whatever his draft status was.

There is absolutely nothing unreasonable about telling a guy, if you come now, be ready to play if I call your number. You tell him that up front regardless of whether or not he's eligible for the draft. If you aren't willing to play now if I ask you to, then come in the summer and again, join the class I originally recruited you for. You're acting like I'm suggesting something unreasonable by telling a MEMBER OF THE TEAM he should be willing to play, lol.

So it's unreasonable for a player to come in early with expectation to train for the following season just like transfers had to do up until recently?

You seem to think Cal should have prognosticated the outcome and disallowed him from attending based on a hunch, and I guess for the benefit of fans who would be irritated?

IMO you still take a chance a guy might play or comeback when he's of Sharpe's supposed caliber even if you might look a little foolish if it falls through and he never plays. The alternative is he never plays so you might as well roll the dice.

I bet you'd have a different tune if Cal told him what you suggest and he just left for the draft. Something along the lines of he should have let him come and maybe he would have played, at least we'd have a chance of it, now that Cal said no we just get nothing.

If he leaves nothing is different than if Cal told him to kick rocks up front.

 

[Tubbyfan78]

Why, and let other teams use that to recruit against us? Seriously?

I don’t know about you but when someone lies and screws me, my employer, and supporters over, I’m generally not on national TV shaking their hand and smiling like a trained circus animal.

 

[STL_Cat]

So it's unreasonable for a player to come in early with expectation to train for the following season just like transfers had to do up until recently?

You seem to think Cal should have prognosticated the outcome and disallowed him from attending based on a bunch, and I guess for the benefit of fans who would be irritated?

IMO you still take a chance a guy might play or comeback when he's of Sharpe's supposed caliber even if you might look a little foolish if it falls through and he never plays. The alternative is he never plays so you might as well roll the dice.

I bet you'd have a different tune if Cal told him what you suggest and he just left for the draft. Something along the lines of he should have let him come and maybe he would have played, at least we'd have a chance of it, now that Cal said no we just get nothing.

If he leaves nothing is different than if Cak told him to kick rocks up front.

You're not listening to what I am saying, like at all. You're not going to hear it for some reason. I don't know why.

I bet I wouldn't have a different tune. If a guy never shows up and then enters the draft, what the hell do I care? He was never here. If he's eligible to enter the draft, it's not like he was going to show up anyway. My point is not that hard to understand, you tell the guy you can join the team now and if I call your number, be ready to play. You tell him that regardless of the draft status (but knowing there IS a chance he could be eligible for the draft). Even if he's not eligible, then you have him as an option to play and contribute down the stretch and he has some game action under his belt for the next season. Literally no downside. If you are not willing to help the team this year, we will see you next year. It's not even that complicated.

 

[Lempface]

You're not listening to what I am saying, like at all. You're not going to hear it for some reason. I don't know why.

I bet I wouldn't have a different tune. If a guy never shows up and then enters the draft, what the hell do I care? He was never here. If he's eligible to enter the draft, it's not like he was going to show up anyway. My point is not that hard to understand, you tell the guy you can join the team now and if I call your number, be ready to play. You tell him that regardless of the draft status (but knowing there IS a chance he could be eligible for the draft). Even if he's not eligible, then you have him as an option to play and contribute down the stretch and he has some game action under his belt for the next season. Literally no downside. If you are not willing to help the team this year, we will see you next year. It's not even that complicated.

It is more complex than you're saying, you're assuming there is no reasonable case a player would come in midseason to get a head start but plan not to play for whatever reason.

 

[TheJuddDome]

I don’t know about you but when someone lies and screws me, my employer, and supporters over, I’m generally not on national TV shaking their hand and smiling like a trained circus animal.

You would not last long as a recruiter.

 

[know1]

Why would Cal knowingly bring him in if he knew he wasn’t going to ever play and then publicly lobby for him to come back so he can coach him. I’m fine with disliking Cal for coaching and his actual flaws but at some point I can’t get on board with nonsense.

Why would Cal be the head coach of a major basketball program yet refuse to game plan for opponents, run any inbounds plays or make adjustments during the games? You can't figure it using traditional logic.