WHO IS STAYING? (ANSWER: Green, Richards, Washington, Baker)

[Joneslab]

Bam's a special case. Horrendous poverty.

I'm not big on the coach demanding that they go, but Bam has been fine. And you know that changed his life in a profound way.

Knox is a little different. I suspect that's why Cal made a run at keeping him back. Terrence Jones was probably in that same boat. These are guys who came from a bit different circumstances.

I don't get ticked at decisions on the front end. If they go then they go. What bothers me is when you get guys going to Estonia or Australia, or when you get players who just flounder around and do nothing in the NBA. Lamb should've come back, Teague should've come back, Dakari probably, and it may even turn out that Knox and Shai have trouble. It's when you see them just not turn into actual bona fide NBA players that you kind of get a little miffed about one-and-dones.

But just on the front end, as I've said, I would make that same decision 7 days a week. I was trying every way in the world to drop out of college when I was there. I thought at one point I had a chance to make some money as a writer and would've done anything I could to make that happen. Loved the college experience, absolutely hated going to class.

[Dwight Schrute]

I agree with that point but I'm not sure Knox is really a fringe guy. Fringe to me is a player more like a Vanderbilt or a Dakari or Teague or somebody like that.

I do agree with what you're saying though and I had the same thought when I heard the Knox news. When Cal starts failing to talk guys into coming back AND he starts failing to bring in the Zions of the world is when things could get really Tubby-like round here.

Note however that I still hold out hope Kentucky can be very good next year. We can't lose any more than Shai and Hami though, and we've got to have some good fortune in terms of player improvement. If we don't get Montgomery (or even if get Montgomery and he's on the slow track) then Nick Richards is essentially going to have to be a different human being for us to be a legit title contender

Agree with this, though I think we actually need Hami back.

[Lighthouse]

He’s done this going back to his Memphis days.

That doesn't make it right. I agree with Kevin, this could be one reason players are going elsewhere.

[Joneslab]

That doesn't make it right. I agree with Kevin, this could be one reason players are going elsewhere.

I think so in some ways.

The last three or four years there've been a few players who have criticized Kentucky for being an NBA factory. A few parents as well have had cutting remarks.

BUT what you notice is that all these guys want to get to the NBA. Duke's had players--and coaches--criticize one-and-dones...and then go on and become one-and-dones themselves.

One-and-dones are really easy to criticize in theory. In actuality almost everybody would do it if given the chance. It's just that the thought of it seems wrong.

[Joneslab]

Agree with this, though I think we actually need Hami back.

Not unless we get a different Hami.

If we could get Buffalo Hami, then sure. If he comes back and still can't shoot and plays selfish, then he might as well go.

Think Keldon Johnson could rip Hami up right now.

[George]

That doesn't make it right. I agree with Kevin, this could be one reason players are going elsewhere.

Where did I say it’s the right thing to do? I was just pointing out that he’s done that for a while.

[Lighthouse]

Where did I say it’s the right thing to do? I was just pointing out that he’s done that for a while.

Wow, settle down. I was just making my point, not criticizing yours.

[Catsrock]

As Cal's recruiting success has changed a bit--particularly regarding Duke getting whomever they want--I still don't get the claim that other programs are now going after the one-and-dones. I've followed recruiting for years and I can assure you there have always been massive recruiting battles for ALL the top players. They didn't all used to leave after one year but everyone always wanted them. Then Cal came along and pretty much got the ones he wanted apparently by selling the quickest route to riches. The change was that he didn't try to keep them in school. I don't recall any rivals/scout top 10 players who were not recruited because coaches assumed they would not stick around 4 years. Cal didn't get Wall, Cousins, Davis, MKG and all the others because he was the only one who wanted them.

I do suspect that Coach K is now having to tell them during recruiting that it is acceptable if they leave after 1 year if they are projected lottery picks. But he, Roy, Self, Donavan and other top coaches were always recruiting the top players.

[Joneslab]

As Cal's recruiting success has changed a bit--particularly regarding Duke getting whomever they want--I still don't get the claim that other programs are now going after the one-and-dones..

I would put in that there's a difference between capital-R Recruiting and recruiting.

Obviously everybody takes a run at the top recruits. I can remember when OJ Mayo was considering Florida Atlantic; there was a brief worry that John Wall may choose Miami; Demarcus Cousins was highly interested in UAB. That's been the case forever.

I think what's happened in the last five to seven years though is that those schools have expended more of their recruiting budgets to actually get those players. Some (NC State, Washington, LSU) have. But I just think it's a difference in how people perceive one-and-dones and whether or not these chancellors want their basketball programs after them.

I remember Dontonio Wingfield at Cincinnati and how dirty it seemed that whole thing was. To play college basketball for one year? It seemed insane. And worse than that: it was kind of on the level of cheating.

I believe most of the college basketball world felt that way probably up until Carmelo, and then it was clear that those players could really do great things for your program. Then Beasley went to Kansas St. and things changed even more. Then Cal started doing it at Kentucky and I think a floodgate opened.

[Dwight Schrute]

Technically Cal started it at Memphis.

[lilproUK98]

This is why maybe it's ok to be excited about next year...

[lilproUK98]

Sacha transferring. Thought this was likely with Montgomery coming in. Matt Jones has mentioned frequently that he heard he was transferring back in February but had maybe changed his mind after his March resurgence....

Good luck Sacha. Don't think losing him is much of a blow at all besides Frontline depth, especially if Wenyen, Vanderbilt, and PJ all stay...

[Joneslab]

Sacha transferring. Thought this was likely with Montgomery coming in. Matt Jones has mentioned frequently that he heard he was transferring back in February but had maybe changed his mind after his March resurgence....

Good luck Sacha. Don't think losing him is much of a blow at all besides Frontline depth, especially if Wenyen, Vanderbilt, and PJ all stay...

It's not a blow unless E.J. Montgomery is a bust.

If Montgomery turns out to be on the Richards track, then Killeya-Jones would be necessary. If Montgomery's top 10 ranking is legit then Killeya-Jones would've likely sat the bench most of the year.

[Lighthouse]

I'm sure, if Richards stays, his summer workouts will consist of the weight room and catching lots of passes.

[Dwight Schrute]

It's not a blow unless E.J. Montgomery is a bust.

If Montgomery turns out to be on the Richards track, then Killeya-Jones would be necessary. If Montgomery's top 10 ranking is legit then Killeya-Jones would've likely sat the bench most of the year.

But what we're not saying here is that if Montgomery is a bust, and Killeya Jones is necessary, we're in a pretty bad way next year.