What Was The Real Story?

[DA#23]

I want to know how bad Billy Gilliapie’s 3rd season would’ve been. I heard the rumors of there being a mass exodus if he wasn’t fired. Was that true? And what were the conversations between players/families/Mitch Barnhart like?

I've always heard that Patterson would have transferred, obviously Meeks went to the NBA. I can't imagine that Orton would have made it to campus. I don't know any specifics about Harrelson, Liggins, Miller.

[justford]

Why we can’t get post players to come here like we use to

[DA#23]

What really happened with Jared Vanderbilt?

Complete enigma if ever there was one. I assume that his "group" dictated what he did and didn't do while here, and it's interesting that we've gotten to a point where the staff allows that to happen to the degree which it did. In fact I find the last three years to be both eye-opening and disappointing in that regard, because it completely undermines the program and its efforts. Furthermore, why even come to a place like this where the program, its posterity, and benefits are the big selling point if you allow the back-seat-drivers to control how you spend your time here.

Seems like a waste. These talented prospects ALWAYS have had people on the outside, beyond just their parents, influencing them.

In the past it simply led to eventually transferring out of the program, but now I am not sure that coaches can stand their ground quite as much as they used to...if they want to remain in contention for the upper echelon of talent.

I would hope it helps us appreciate the Patrick Pattersons, Brandon Knight, MKG, KAT, etc. that much more. Because to my knowledge those families were viewed as assets to the program while here.

[Joneslab]

^ I think what happened with Vanderbilt was a negative byproduct of running your program like it's an NBA farm team.

There's a lot of good that comes from that. High-level talent, a lot of wins, etc. But when it goes bad you get a peak behind the curtain, and it's sort of like getting a look in the back when they're making your fast food. It isn't pretty.

I will say that the whole "They're all mercenaries at UK!" stuff is absurd, because you can both want to get to the NBA AND be all-in on your UK experience. But I think most of us at this point are under no delusions that if the choice was between the NBA and Kentucky, the answer is very simple for 99% of these players and their families.

[Dwight Schrute]

I've always heard that Patterson would have transferred, obviously Meeks went to the NBA. I can't imagine that Orton would have made it to campus. I don't know any specifics about Harrelson, Liggins, Miller.

My understanding is that everyone of note in that team basically got together and told Mitch they were going to transfer out.

[Blue Heaven]

Why we can’t get post players to come here like we use to

We can. It's just that if they are not 5 star, elite level talents, we don't even give them a sniff.

[DA#23]

In that 2019 class, we targeted 4 elites (Wiseman, Carey, Hurt, and Stewart) as well as many "2nd tier" guys that could have been very good here.

We landed none of them.

[Joneslab]

You've got to think the time we spent on Wiseman hurt us with everybody else.

When you covet one guy for two years and then it falls through, it's hard to go to those others and convince them they weren't fallback options.

The staff sort of fell into the same trap with Trae Young.

[Lighthouse]

You've got to think the time we spent on Wiseman hurt us with everybody else.

When you covet one guy for two years and then it falls through, it's hard to go to those others and convince them they weren't fallback options.

The staff sort of fell into the same trap with Trae Young.

I agree but how do you stay out of that trap? You either focus on one very good player and have others in the back of your mind, or you recruit several and take a chance on having to many commits and having to tell some, sorry but no thanks. Either way, you have egg on your face.

[Jload]

Cal hasn’t recruited a great big man in a while, not last year or this year either. He will not even sniff another title unless he does, it in sn’t gonna be next year if we even play which I am starting to doubt. They say round 2 of Covid 19 will start in December, who will go to Rupp under those conditions. What A-D or University President will be willingnto risk the liability.