The entire one and done system was a topic on the sports talk show on WLW a few days ago. A listener sent an email which I thought pretty well summed up how most of UK fans probably feel.
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This sums it up fairly well. Not sure I'm totally in that camp, but this team sure is frustrating.John 3:3
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That pretty much sums up my feelings too. I have said before I enjoy the wins but there is phoniness about it. It's just hard to put into words but overall I don't enjoy as much as I once did. Maybe part of it is getting older. When you are older its harder to come around to change. I miss Senior Day a lot. It was always a great moment for UK when you would see off a few seniors who you had watched for four years grow and mature into grown men. You don't get that at all now. Now you get young guys getting drafted by the NBA and being told this is the greatest day in UK history. (Which total bunk!) Just a constant turnover in players. No doubt it has been successful. Cal's records speaks for itself. But that doesn't mean I totally enjoy it all and have become slowly disillusioned by it all. I truly think the only reason I continue to watch is out of habit. That's a habit I have been slowly breaking too.Kentucky fan since 1971.Comment
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I'm not a fan of the OAD but Cal's model, as the email stated, usually works. Certainly not this year and likely not next year, but you cannot deny the success.
My opinion is that if the model is changed, it needs to change with a new coach. I'm not convinced Cal can win with at the same level without the Freshman superstars. And I have no desire for UK to go back to a Tubby Smith model either.
There will be a day, perhaps pretty soon, when Cal heads out. Fans better hope Barnhart doesn't waste the opportunity to get the right guy like he did before. It's going to be a tough time but I'm convinced Cal is not irreplaceable.Comment
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or, "I hope players can go to the NBA right after high school"Comment
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Don't get me wrong I love senior night as much as anyone.
I would also love to have Fox, Monk and Bam on this years team but that would have been stupid on their part. Do you agree?
With that being said I'm glad I got to enjoy and root for those 3 along with Wall, Cousins, Davis, MKG ect. ect. ect. the year they played for us. Aren't you?
Always remember Rex left early so did Mash, maybe not after 1 season but they didn't stick around for senior night and we all seem alright with that. Why?
I'm not sure if any of our one and done millionaire NBA players give back to the University or not, but I would think there is more of a chance that they do than some of our 4 year guys from back in the 90's do.
I really belive Demarcus Cousins loves the University of KY.
Does Walter McCarty?.......I don't think so.
Although I agree it's hard at the beginning of the season to get to know the players , by the end of the season to me they're Wildcats , and I'm glad for the memories.
Something else i really like is reading stories about UK alums in the NBA having somewhat of a camaraderie because they were Wildcats, when i read these articles i know most of these guys cared about the name on the front of the jersey and us as fans......it just made sense for MOST of them to move on.
Would you rather have a great guy a good player like Bobby Perry for 4 years or a great player who is also a great guy for 1 year? Think about it.
It's funny or maybe even sad on how a tough season can make people feel about a program they supposedly love.
God, Family, Kentucky BasketballComment
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Interesting post.
There's a lot to chew on here. I've made some of these points in the past.
I think when the team loses fans are quick to jump right to "They don't care."
These guys may care. A lot. This might just be an issue of them not being very good basketball players right now.Comment
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All the NBA guys who stay connected to the program are giving back to the program in a big way--whether they donate $ or not. Even if it's just coming back in the summer for some pickup games.
This is one way Cal has outdone any other previous coach. He brought back guys who felt the program had forgotten all about them. For years you may go to a game and never see any former players other than the occasional Sky Walker or Sam Bowie.
Surely the his is one thing Cal's successor will continue. How could you not?Last edited by Catsrock; 02-12-2018, 02:12 PM.Comment
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One thing i can say about UK players is that 9 times out of 10 there eyes all light up when you say "Go Big Blue', at least from my own personal experience. I have been lucky to have met many ex players over the years and having that common love for Kentucky basketball goes along way. From Sam Bowie, Kenny Walker, Winston Bennett, Travis Ford, and many many others whom i have had the chance to speak with, we can all put our differences aside and agree on one thing, Kentucky basketball. When i saw WCS, Fox, and Skal a few weeks ago, all it took was "Go Big Blue" to crack a smile. When i met Terrance Jones a few years ago and told him i was from Kentucky, he treated me as if it was a change of pace from the everyday life of the NBA, almost like he took a step back in time to where it was easier and more calmer. I ran across Wayne Turner a few months ago on a Boston Celtics blog in a conversation and when i sent him a PM telling him that many of us still think that he was perhaps the best overall accomplished POINT GUARD to ever play at Kentucky, he took pride in that and Thanked me a 1000 times...
Anyways, the one and done gets on my nerves but it's the way it is now if you want to get the best players, the game just changed whether we liked it or not. I do think Cal could help himself by running a better offense and adapting to his talent year in and year out but as we all know, he's a old school coach who still believes defense with layups and dunks wins game, plain and simple....Comment
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At age 71, how many more years does Coach K have??Comment
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