2024 Roster (Enter Antonio Reeves & Tre Mitchell)

[Lighthouse]

I actually thought he was a pretty good "clubhouse guy" just based on all those players who came out for him at the Hall of Fame thing. And it seems like for many years there Kentucky got a bunch of guys returning to Lexington.

But maybe that was smoke and mirrors. And anyway, it looks like the "old Cal" is long gone at this point.

But the "old Cal" had superior players at every spot who hid his inadequate coaching skills. Now they are glaring at us.

[Spiritof96]

I actually thought he was a pretty good "clubhouse guy" just based on all those players who came out for him at the Hall of Fame thing. And it seems like for many years there Kentucky got a bunch of guys returning to Lexington.

But maybe that was smoke and mirrors. And anyway, it looks like the "old Cal" is long gone at this point.

I think it is one thing to be chummy after you have left the program and gone on to benefit from the time vs. enjoying being around him while you are "In the program".

The narrative for years was that Cal roughs them up and Kenny smooths things over and massages ego.

Years ago I knew a student desk worker from the basketball residence hall who claimed that the players "Hated Cal and bad-mouthed and complained about him all the time." I always took that for blowing off steam in their home rather than being an accurate picture of their baseline feelings. But I wonder...

[KCKUKFan]

But the "old Cal" had superior players at every spot who hid his inadequate coaching skills. Now they are glaring at us.

The old Cal turned UMass and Memphis into Final Four calibre programs.

Has the game passed him by? Likely. But the old Cal is a worthy Hall of Famer.

[DA#23]

Or that Cal has NEVER been the player relationship guy and without Kenny, he can't maintain them.

This is what I think the case is. Heck, Oscar’s been on campus 2.5 years. If Cal hasn’t built a relationship yet…..

This speaks to lack of confidence in the staff to develop players. It’s plug and play…or die here.

[Joneslab]

The old Cal turned UMass and Memphis into Final Four calibre programs.

Has the game passed him by? Likely. But the old Cal is a worthy Hall of Famer.

Yeah, back in the day Cal actually had scrappy teams that weren't known for their talent. He sort of re-imagined his image and philosophy after he came back from the NBA.

[Joneslab]

Yeah, back in the day Cal actually had scrappy teams that weren't known for their talent.

Of course Marcus Camby puts a huge asterisk next to this comment.

[KCKUKFan]

Of course Marcus Camby puts a huge asterisk next to this comment.

This is true, but that UMass team wasn't overloaded with NBA-ready talent otherwise. Just a bunch of good, scrappy college players, and Cal made the most of them.

[Joneslab]

Oscar says he will announce his decision today at 5:00.

[Lighthouse]

The old Cal turned UMass and Memphis into Final Four calibre proghadrams.
Has the game passed him by? Likely. But the old Cal is a worthy Hall of Famer.

You're right to a point. But as I said, he had Superior players. All coaches must have great players playing at their best to get to the Final Four and win Championships, but coaches with flaws don't, like we have been the last several years. I don't like to say this, but if Denny Crum or Pitino had the players Cal has had, we would not be stuck on 8. We have Cal, and here we are. Cal is a great person to meet and talk with, and I have had the pleasure, but a great person is not necessarily a good coach.

[Joneslab]

All coaches must have great players playing at their best to get to the Final Four and win Championships, but coaches with flaws don't, like we have been the last several years.

Well, I'd say there are coaches who can do clever things with under-talented rosters and make them better than they should be. We've seen that. I actually think Cal did that here a couple of times (2011 and 2014).

Coaches can also instill confidence and make guys play at super-high levels who might not otherwise be that good. They can also develop players across a career, taking guys who have flaws and building them into top-shelf performers. Pitino was really good at this (Nazr, etc.).

But just generally you really need talent and a lot of it. That's something you notice in most all championship teams. They'll have guys you see playing in the NBA through the years. Cal isn't alone in that regard.

I actually think last year's team had a roster that pretty much matched its record. Doesn't mean that a great coach *couldn't* have won more games with that team, but they didn't really have a lot of talent. Plus they were fractured to boot. Not a good combo.

[Matt Dillon]

Two words, Robic and Payne.

[Joneslab]

Two words, Robic and Payne.

Of course we also used to hear "Antigua." Then he came back and we're somehow in more uncertain shape than we were before.

I'm not going to discount the assistants or anything but I believe all that might be overblown. Stress "might be."

IMHO these are problems stemming from the very top.

[Matt Dillon]

Oscar says he will announce his decision today at 5:00.

This is something I've often wondered about. Does he actually expect to hear something between now and then that will make a difference? If not, why not just go ahead and make an announcement?

[Joneslab]

This is something I've often wondered about. Does he actually expect to hear something between now and then that will make a difference? If not, why not just go ahead and make an announcement?

They all want to maximize their brand, I think. More eyeballs on them, more potential for exposure, more possibilities to broker deals and so on. Same reason incoming freshmen (most of whom know exactly where they're going) do stuff like, "I'll announce my college destination in three weeks!"

Or at least theoretically that's what's going on. In actuality I'd say setting announcements like that leads to very little.

[lilproUK98]

Sounds like Reeves is the only remote possiblity to return. UK scrambling to convince him there's more nil $ for him here ..but won't guarantee any amount.

Cal with an absolute masterclass on how to run a program into the ground. Bravo. It's been heartbreaking to watch. And a slow, agonizing process, driven by many factors. But the one constant is Cal. Save the excuses, a dude paid like him isn't blessed with excuses.

Save about a 6 week stretch in 2022, UK basketball has been the epitome of mediocre and just floundering since March 2020.