Blackshear

[teamchemistry15]

I didn't know that, after 46 years i suppose you learn something new everyday.

I guess if you play 3 to 4 years for a team and learn the system, it's easier to play a role, much easier than learning a complete new system on the fly in one year...

Without Darius Miller and Doron Lamb we don't win the title in 2012. How were their pro careers?

[Lighthouse]

Without Darius Miller and Doron Lamb we don't win the title in 2012. How were their pro careers?

You have to add AD to that list, because without him we don't win the title either. I get your point on Miller and Lamb and their Pro careers.

[teamchemistry15]

You have to add AD to that list, because without him we don't win the title either. I get your point on Miller and Lamb and their Pro careers.

Of course not. My point is that Jworld puts entirely too much emphasis on professional potential when speaking of the players we need. The bottom line is every great college team has had very good role players who helped win the title.

[Joneslab]

Blackshear could be a Cat very soon. Which means UK could officially be preseason favorite very soon....

Very good news.

I hope Kentucky can get a commitment on the visit and not let him get to TAMU.

I really doubt that TAMU gets him--particularly after his comment that he wants to play for a team with a shot at a championship--but you never know what will happen on a visit, particularly when the kid's old coach is involved.

[Catsrock]

Without Darius Miller and Doron Lamb we don't win the title in 2012. How were their pro careers?

He may not be a star but 7 years and counting in the NBA is a pretty good gig for Miller.

[Dwight Schrute]

A better example of your point would be Terrence Jones. He’s getting dinged in the nuts in a league somewhere overseas right now.

But he was instrumental in that 2012 title.

[teamchemistry15]

He may not be a star but 7 years and counting in the NBA is a pretty good gig for Miller.

No doubt. But, Jworld seems to feel someone can't contribute and be a star on the college level without being an NBA star.

[Joneslab]

Generally I agree with Jworld in that players need to at least have NBA ability. Your better players obviously have to get into the league, but if you're a role guy you need to be one of these players who at least gets a cup of coffee in the league.

For years one of the main problems with Kentucky basketball is that we just didn't have enough pros. It's one of the themes of the Tubby Smith (and Gillispie) years.

But with that said, there are certain players who are not NBA stock for whatever reason but who are really good college players. This is particularly true in this day and age, where you've got so many young players because of the early-entry thing. If you can get a big man who's 22/23, and who's performed at the ACC level, you have something regardless of whether that guy will be a pro or not.

[Joneslab]

Jake‏Verified account @jakeweingarten 8m8 minutes ago
Update on KBJ: He will arrive in Lexington later today, close towards night time, i’m being told. More news, UK has hope that he could commit on the visit. Very important two days here for John Calipari.

[Joneslab]

This visit will tell the tale on whether UK can compete for a championship, IMO.

[J.Jennings]

Of course not. My point is that Jworld puts entirely too much emphasis on professional potential when speaking of the players we need. The bottom line is every great college team has had very good role players who helped win the title.

Professional potential? Tell me how many players Cal has actually played that DID NOT HAVE professional potential? You can name a few because Cal missed out on recruits and had no choice but for the most part, if you are not pro material you are not playing any meaningful minutes for Coach Cal, just the way it is, the bar has been set, he would rather play and develop a player than give someone clock because they had experience....

[J.Jennings]

Tell Booker, KAT, Lyles, etc that PT is important in being a lottery pick...

KAT could have sat out and skipped college and still been top 5....

[J.Jennings]

This visit will tell the tale on whether UK can compete for a championship, IMO.

We can still compete with or without him, season doesn't rely on Blackshear. I agree it helps can't hurt but if we do miss then i guess our lifetime 10 million dollar a year coach will just have to earn his pay. I can tell you one thing, about 98% of college coaches would love to have the roster we have now.....

[J.Jennings]

No doubt. But, Jworld seems to feel someone can't contribute and be a star on the college level without being an NBA star.

That's bs, many great college players never saw the floor of the NBA. Still most of these guys played 3 to 4 years with a core in place and everyone had a role, you didn't see the first few months of junk basketball at the start of a season, you see a well oiled machine. Blackshear may have proven himself in college but it will be a learning curve, new team, new system, new coach, new everything, who's to say he can handle the pressure of playing at Kentucky?

Anyways we get this dude great if not oh well, if he really don't want to be here no since of wasting time, go to Memphis so we can watch the Penny fail to manage all the ego's.....

[Dwight Schrute]

Professional potential? Tell me how many players Cal has actually played that DID NOT HAVE professional potential? You can name a few because Cal missed out on recruits and had no choice but for the most part, if you are not pro material you are not playing any meaningful minutes for Coach Cal, just the way it is, the bar has been set, he would rather play and develop a player than give someone clock because they had experience....

That's just not true. Wenyen Gabriel, Derek Willis, Dom Hawkins, Josh Harrelson (that's your own example), all played significant roles on teams. Hell, Reid Travis was arguably the most important player on our team this past year and he has a pretty uphill battle to make it in the NBA. If you're saying Cal recruits guys who are athletic and skilled, well no shhhhoot. I mean, even Tyler Herro wasn't thought of as a one and done and future pro.