"Who's Coming to Kentucky?" Thread (UPDATE: Kentucky Lands Jaxson Robinson!)

[DA#23]

^ The supposed NIL money that was going to be offered to Reed, as well as Oscar when he returned, to me suggests that they were appreciated despite the relative disappointment each of their teams earned.

I think it’s possible to be in vehement disapproval of what’s happening here, over and over, while still appreciating the relatively great individual efforts we’ve seen. I mean Reeves holds the season scoring average record during the Calipari era…that’s amazing. Oscar was the NPOY and a rebounding machine, who returned for year two…that happens only rarely.

Shoot, how much did you hear fans complaining about not having the 3 elite guards on the floor together? They’re appreciated but I don’t think that means that the fans can’t express their displeasure with the totality of the situation.

After all, we’re Basketball Bennies. We can balance these thoughts.

[Joneslab]

I think they're appreciated...but Oscar in particular got a lot of unncessary grief simply by dint of him being the best player on two teams that did nothing. (Not his fault the first time. Second time...a little bit of his fault, a lot of Cal's fault.)

That's always been going on, really. I remember my dad cussing Rob Lock back in the day. Then Rhodes. A few more. It's definitely more amplified now because of social media and everybody's airing their thoughts constantly.

It's also worse now simply because the vibe around the program is worse. This last team however was beloved until the end in a way probably no other Cal team has been since 2017, but I'm not sure fans really went all-in for them the way we used to in Cal's early days. A lot of folks were waiting for the other shoe to drop, and then of course it did. Again: I blame Cal for all of that. When the program is on stable ground and you're coaching the talent to max out, fans aren't put in situations where they walk around in the world mad all the time.*

* Some fans are just mad period. It's been a constant theme on this board and others for years of these guys who show up and complain...and then when the team wins, they don't show up. That's a different animal altogether and not what 40bill is talking about, I don't think.

[DA#23]

Hmm, I think I’m missing the point here, despite re-reading the posts from the prior page.

What’s unnatural or unexpected here? Cal’s getting the brunt of the complaints, not Reed Sheppard or even Tre Mitchell.

The best players have expectations and that’s part of the game , “to whom much is given, much is required” or whichever phrasing you prefer is an underlying truth here.

Just ask Richard Madison, Brett Bearup (I mean that figuratively and not literally, I know he’s deceased) , Sam Bowie , Rod Rhodes, Archie Goodwin, etc

This has always happened. The players are appreciated and their NIL undeniably illustrates that.

More interesting to me is the bravado a guy like Dan Hurley shows in outwardly saying what so many people think, that he expects to win and he coaches very hard and you can’t cry about it because you’re no longer amateurs. Not exactly how he phrased it, but that is the gist, and I admire it because he still has to recruit more players.

Instead, at least publicly, our coach asks us to leave the team alone and criticize him…before he ducks out to go pet the dogs and watch LHOTP.

I appreciate the players, but the truth is that this is a different set of circumstances. We outwardly loan Porsches to guys who play not even ONE SECOND here now.

Rondo? Shoot, he has ole Jerry Tipton hiding in the bushes for photos of him getting the Yukon XL Derek Anderson loaned him.

Different times.

[Joneslab]

I think we should appreciate them but not worship them. But what we definitely shouldn't do is just put them on blast all the time. Not many fans do that but some do. The sports betting landscape is gonna make that much worse as we go on.

[DA#23]

^ Definitely a good point, unfortunately.

[40bill]

Sports betting definitely will have an effect, if nothing else than guys claiming someone threw a game. (Although EVERY article I've read from so called fixers states a college kid is the riskiest possible target...they would much prefer the refs).

I know....free society, times change, happened for years...but it does take a lot of the pleasure out of the game.

[largebluej]

I think they're appreciated...but Oscar in particular got a lot of unncessary grief simply by dint of him being the best player on two teams that did nothing. (Not his fault the first time. Second time...a little bit of his fault, a lot of Cal's fault.)

That's always been going on, really. I remember my dad cussing Rob Lock back in the day......

Your Dad wad right to cuss Rob Lock. I did, and still do. If the 1988 team had a decent center they could have at least made the Final Four. Instead, Rob Lock made Will Perdue a lot of money.

[KCKUKFan]

John Calipari is leaving Kentucky. So there's that.

[TrueblueCATfan]

John Calipari is leaving Kentucky. So there's that.

WOW...I'm shocked....Arkansas really?????

[TrueblueCATfan]

Oh Lord...Rick Pitino was in Lexington at Keeneland this past Saturday ðŸ¤

[PadCatFan]

How did UNC get Bacot to keep coming back

Why every year do our players leave after year one

Because Ky became just a gateway to the NBA, and Call promoted that.

[dcaudle68]

Well our entire number 2 recruiting class is lost now to Arkansas.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Well our entire number 2 recruiting class is lost now to Arkansas.

Is that for sure

[dcaudle68]

Is that for sure

Well no, but remember how many rerouted and came to Kentucky the year Cal came here. You know most if not all will follow him to Arkansas.

[Joneslab]

I'd probably count on almost all the recruiting class to leave. Might be able to keep Perry.

As for the returners conventional wisdom tells you they'll leave too...but making the right hire might change a couple players' minds.

Generally when coaches leave they take players with them and the program they leave has just two or three scholarship players left behind. Happens virtually everywhere these days with the portal being what it is. The upshot is that the next guy will be able to use the portal as well, and if he's a current college coach he can bring guys with him that have committed at his old school.

We'll be fine. It'll all work out in the long run.