Quade Green to Transfer

[Ratt]

Let me just point something out about this.

What you're saying here really doesn't tell a complete story. I agree that Cal wants pros, but he thinks getting pros is the best way to win college basketball games.

And he's right. I don't care who the coach is at Kentucky, that guy has to bring in NBA players. He'll have to do at least some lip service to the NBA and he'll have to have these pro days and so on. That's completely non-negotiable. If you aren't getting pros with all the amenities UK has then you might as well not even field a team. The whole thing that has irked Kentucky fans about players talking about their NBA dreams and so on--that has to continue. That isn't a Cal thing, that's a cultural thing. We can maybe recruit the state of Kentucky better and we can definitely put more emphasis on staying in school for an entire four-year career, but the core of this program needs to be players who have an extremely high ceiling that will take them on to professional basketball.

Cal's problem is that he oversells the NBA and I think it has started to hurt him even with players who want to be one-and-done. It's almost like he went too far with it and families--many of whom really do value education; we know that because they often talk about once their son has signed somewhere--started to kind of sour on UK. Cal became way too one dimensional. The NBA thing was the only tool in the toolbox.

But if Cal left tomorrow whoever the next guy is better recruit toward the NBA and keep building UK as a brand that will entice elite players.

This is soooo true... Imagine telling Alabama not to recruit the best of the best football players because "we need them to stay for 4 years"... Wished some of the Twitter idiots would understand this...

[Ratt]

Do you want to get jacked as a basketball player? Seems like lean muscularity and litheness are "in" these days.

Obviously you need to be strong but length and agility can't be understated. I've sat in a ton of gyms just over the last two weeks watching my son play; long-armed skinny guys dominate basketball games.

With Quade I think they saw his footspeed as a major problem and tried to get him to cut weight to help him. Maybe helped a little but not much. He just doesn't have the juice.

I think they saw Quade and he was a piece to attempt to get Mo Bamba and it didn't work.

[Ratt]

Every once in a while I think about how Shaq would fare in today's NBA where the players are more Anthony Davis like. Shaq was huge in his time - when the NBA was much more of a half court game was one thing, but today's NBA is a completely different ballgame.

On the same token, it's interesting to think about how Rick Pitino's offense would do in the NBA of today.

I know how he would fare. He would dominate like he did in his time. He was a rare athlete. I think people forget how big and athletic he was when he was in his early 20s.

[Ratt]

In regards to the game, player size, etc... That's tough to discuss in a way... The game has stretched out a lot in the NBA. There are not lot of back to the basket players anymore but let's not get side-tracked and think that skinny is the way. These guys in the NBA are as big and strong as ever - just like every other facet along the way. Same way down to the HS levels. On average - HS kids are just bigger, stronger, faster than 30 years ago (of course - not in all cases)... Guys like KD, Davis, Zion, LeBron - their freaks and would translate regardless. KD is a 7ft player shooting 30-footers with ease - unheard of.

Keeping with Quade - He's small, not overly quick, a terrible passer, not a strong defender, and a streaky shooter. I really liked him and thought that in time, he would be a solid player but he's not an NBA player regardless of where he was ranked coming out of HS... It happens.

Same with Richards - very athletic big man, terrible hands, not a smart basketball player, gets lost on D, inconsistent shooter that sometimes looks great with that little turn around hook, and I haven't seen a guy in a while that was supposed to be good that can't time his jump or know when to jump for a rebound. My frustration with guys like this is that these are things you should be able to see scouting. Cal is getting these higher recruits yet they just aren't that good at basketball. I see this same thing in baseball at the HS/College level. Everyone wants a guy that throws 90+ regardless if he can throw a strike or even know how to pitch or play the game.

[Dwight Schrute]

I know how he would fare. He would dominate like he did in his time. He was a rare athlete. I think people forget how big and athletic he was when he was in his early 20s.

He was big and athletic, but he was also a guy who couldn't do much away from the basket. It's not really an apt statement because by this time he was well past his prime, but watching him play for the Suns was painful.

[Spiritof96]

He was big and athletic, but he was also a guy who couldn't do much away from the basket. It's not really an apt statement because by this time he was well past his prime, but watching him play for the Suns was painful.

Shaq was relatively lazy and played half to most of his career carry too much weight and often out of shape. College Shaq would DOMINATE in today's college game. He would face A LOT more pressure as a rookie in today's league to develop his basketball skill, but he could at least be a MUCH MUCH better Willie Cauley Stein. The NBA still needs rim protecting, rebounding, and dunking in the pick and roll. He still wouldn't have worked as hard at his craft as say Kevin Durant, but he would still be a top 10 player in the league.

[Dwight Schrute]

Shaq was relatively lazy and played half to most of his career carry too much weight and often out of shape. College Shaq would DOMINATE in today's college game. He would face A LOT more pressure as a rookie in today's league to develop his basketball skill, but he could at least be a MUCH MUCH better Willie Cauley Stein. The NBA still needs rim protecting, rebounding, and dunking in the pick and roll. He still wouldn't have worked as hard at his craft as say Kevin Durant, but he would still be a top 10 player in the league.

It's fun to think about. I tend to think the game today would be too fast for him to be as dominant - he'd be quite good I think but I don't know if he'd have been the force he was.

Jordan only being 6'6" I kinda think would be a bit of a hamper too, but he was so good and so fiercely competitive that I think maybe he'd still manage quite well.

[Spiritof96]

It's fun to think about. I tend to think the game today would be too fast for him to be as dominant - he'd be quite good I think but I don't know if he'd have been the force he was.

Jordan only being 6'6" I kinda think would be a bit of a hamper too, but he was so good and so fiercely competitive that I think maybe he'd still manage quite well.

If James Hardin or Russel Westbrook can dominate a game in today's NBA, so could Jordan. Young Shaq, (like first three NBA years Shaq) was fast enough to play today. The FAT Shaq we all remember, not so much.

[ndnbob]

May be that Quade tired of watching the freshmen jacking up wayward 3s (especially Herro) and not losing any minutes. He missed his share but usually found his way to the bench sooner than most. This team is definitely out of whack and I'm sure Louisville is liking their chances.

[Joneslab]

May be that Quade tired of watching the freshmen jacking up wayward 3s (especially Herro) and not losing any minutes. He missed his share but usually found his way to the bench sooner than most. This team is definitely out of whack and I'm sure Louisville is liking their chances.

The thing with Herro though is he'll go out there and fight. Chases down loose balls. Gets his nose in there. Plays with intensity.

If Quade wasn't hitting shots he wasn't helping you at all, and in fact he would often hurt you. Herro will usually find ways to help, though in the Seton Hall game that wasn't the case at the end. But all those last three against Seton Hall were good, wide open shots.

I see Herro as just a different caliber of player but you're right that he has to start hitting shots or this team is doomed. With Quade out of the picture we just don't have many options in terms of guys who can put the ball in the basket from the perimeter. Herro has to get better.

[Dwight Schrute]

If James Hardin or Russel Westbrook can dominate a game in today's NBA, so could Jordan. Young Shaq, (like first three NBA years Shaq) was fast enough to play today. The FAT Shaq we all remember, not so much.

Are those guys dominating though? I agree they're very, very good players and are as good as about anyone not named KD or Lebron, but are they dominant?

I agree though that Jordan would probably dominate.

[Joneslab]

Oh yeah, Harden and Wesbrook are dominant.

Harden got 50 last night. He's averaging 31 a game. The Thunder are third in the West, and that's a testament to what a force of nature Russell Wesbrook is.

I think there are probably six or eight players who are truly dominant in the NBA. In the '80s it was probably closer to 12 or 14. In the early 2000s it dropped to maybe just two or three.

[JFCats22]

Are those guys dominating though? I agree they're very, very good players and are as good as about anyone not named KD or Lebron, but are they dominant?

I agree though that Jordan would probably dominate.

Is this a real question? Westbrook averaged a triple double for an entire season. Harden is one of the best pure scorers in the NBA in 30+ years.

If they aren't dominant maybe I don't know the correct definition of the word.

[Dwight Schrute]

Oh yeah, Harden and Wesbrook are dominant.

Harden got 50 last night. He's averaging 31 a game. The Thunder are third in the West, and that's a testament to what a force of nature Russell Wesbrook is.

I think there are probably six or eight players who are truly dominant in the NBA. In the '80s it was probably closer to 12 or 14. In the early 2000s it dropped to maybe just two or three.

Yeah I was way off base there. I hadn't realized Harden was having that kind of season.

[Catsrock]

Never thought of MJ as undersized @ 6'6" for the position he played. Quite sure he'd dominate in any era.