The Annual Staying vs Leaving Thread

[teamchemistry15]

Is there anything that will make Ulis stay?

I think there is something, but I don't think it will override him leaving. Kind of the ol' one gummy bear for positive and one for negative thing, and him leaving will outweigh staying, IMO. I saw someone on Facebook say he was 50/50 but I don't believe it. What could he possibly accomplish by coming back? His stock won't get any higher, he won't put up better numbers because he wouldn't be playing 35 minutes a game, and he can't get any better than first team AA. I am sure he wants to win a title, I am sure the chances of 40-0 (which would be very good if him and Briscoe return IMO) are on his mind, and there's no doubt he wants every record in the books for UK and college. That's just how competitive he is. But, in order for the records he would have to play two more years which ain't happening. So, it all comes down to his desire to win a title. Other than that he has absolutely nothing to prove.

If it were me? Why not come back? Everyone says the risk of injury. I get that, but at the same time with the developments of medicine and therapy a torn ACL, broken leg, etc keep you out six months tops. When you look at Nerlens, Kevin Ware, Adrian Peterson, Robbie Hummel from Purdue, and all the other athletes who have had serious injuries you see a trend of them coming back just as good. He also has a close friend in Poythress who can verify that a torn ACL doesn't mean the end of a career.

Some say you can always go back to school. You can, but how many do after they have that much money coming in?

I say go back to school, finish your degree, enjoy your youth, and make something special happen. The money will be there. You can't go back to being a kid and enjoying your college years. I know that is easy for me to say because I don't have that much money looking me in the eyes, but I honestly think that's what I would do.

[lilproUK98]

I am 99.9% certain Skal, Ulis, and Murray are gone. The only 2 I see being in question are Lee and Briscoe. Wouldn't be surprised if Matthews transferred. Have not heard that is possible at all, just wouldn't surprise me.

[BobS]

We desperately need Briscoe back.

Could not care less if Lee returns but other than tranferring, where else would he go?

Skal (LOL), Ulis, Murray, Poythress all leave. I think someone will transfer as well.

[teamchemistry15]

I hope Matthews sees the opportunity he has. I think there will be minutes at the 3 next year. He has the athleticism and he hustles. If he gets in the gym and develops a mid range game and at least becomes respectable from beyond the arc he could be a very good role player. I know Willis will get time at the 3 and I have heard Gabriel will as well, but if Matthews works this summer he will see the floor.

[Friendsofcoal]

Just something to think about. If next year's class is as advertised, can you imagine how many we lose to the NBA and graduation after next season.

Kinda laughable in a way. Coach Cal will be pushing for the top 10 picks to be UK guys. 😂😂

[BBNalldayeveryday]

Ullis and Murray are leaving of course. I think Skal is 50/50. I have no doubt Briscoe will be back. I think Lee will be back also.

[Matt Dillon]

I think there is something, but I don't think it will override him leaving. Kind of the ol' one gummy bear for positive and one for negative thing, and him leaving will outweigh staying, IMO. I saw someone on Facebook say he was 50/50 but I don't believe it. What could he possibly accomplish by coming back? His stock won't get any higher, he won't put up better numbers because he wouldn't be playing 35 minutes a game, and he can't get any better than first team AA. I am sure he wants to win a title, I am sure the chances of 40-0 (which would be very good if him and Briscoe return IMO) are on his mind, and there's no doubt he wants every record in the books for UK and college. That's just how competitive he is. But, in order for the records he would have to play two more years which ain't happening. So, it all comes down to his desire to win a title. Other than that he has absolutely nothing to prove.

If it were me? Why not come back? Everyone says the risk of injury. I get that, but at the same time with the developments of medicine and therapy a torn ACL, broken leg, etc keep you out six months tops. When you look at Nerlens, Kevin Ware, Adrian Peterson, Robbie Hummel from Purdue, and all the other athletes who have had serious injuries you see a trend of them coming back just as good. He also has a close friend in Poythress who can verify that a torn ACL doesn't mean the end of a career.

Some say you can always go back to school. You can, but how many do after they have that much money coming in?

I say go back to school, finish your degree, enjoy your youth, and make something special happen. The money will be there. You can't go back to being a kid and enjoying your college years. I know that is easy for me to say because I don't have that much money looking me in the eyes, but I honestly think that's what I would do.

Are you serious teamchemistry15? If you were in Ulis' shoes would you really turn down a NBA contract for college glory and fame?

[teamchemistry15]

Are you serious teamchemistry15? If you were in Ulis' shoes would you really turn down a NBA contract for college glory and fame?

If I had the chance to win a title and possibly break thousands of records it would be a tough decision. That money will be there next year or the year after. It will be there after an injury. I am sure my mind would be in a different place if I were his age, but looking back at it now with my experiences, why not go back and enjoy your youth a little more? So many people are in too big of a hurry to grow up. Go back to school, take a couple of classes in finance, learn how to handle the money when it comes. Again, it's easy to say because it's not me in that situation. But leaving for the money wouldn't be as easy of a decision for me if I had a shot at a title. Especially if I were as competitive as he is.

[Joneslab]

The thing with Ulis is that the money actually might not be there. You could come back, not play as well, and find yourself out of the first round. That's a tough gamble. He's at the pinnacle of his marketability right now and it looks like he played his way into the first round discussion, which was unfathomable just 9 months ago. Have to think he's gone and he deserves it for what he gave this program.

Skal and Murray will go as well. Unlike others I think Lee could do some things as a senior. Needs to work the way WCS did to become a strong defender. He'll never have any offensive game to speak of outside of put-backs and the like, but WCS as a junior was just brute strong and could dominate games on the defensive end. That's the sort of player Lee needs to be.

[George]

The thing with Ulis is that the money actually might not be there. You could come back, not play as well, and find yourself out of the first round. That's a tough gamble. He's at the pinnacle of his marketability right now and it looks like he played his way into the first round discussion, which was unfathomable just 9 months ago. Have to think he's gone and he deserves it for what he gave this program.

Skal and Murray will go as well. Unlike others I think Lee could do some things as a senior. Needs to work the way WCS did to become a strong defender. He'll never have any offensive game to speak of outside of put-backs and the like, but WCS as a junior was just brute strong and could dominate games on the defensive end. That's the sort of player Lee needs to be.

Lee will never be that. He doesn't have the frame to be brute strong. Even as a freshman you could see that WCS had a frame that would sustain some extra mass. Lee doesn't.

And why wouldn't Lee have already made significant improvements? He's three years in and practiced against NBA big-man starters for two of those years, yet this year he regressed, if anything, and failed to capitalize on a veritable bonanza of front line minutes.

I don't see it happening for Lee. Hope I'm wrong, though.

[Matt Dillon]

By all accounts, Lee is a very fine person. Having said that, I wonder if he isn't somewhat like Poythrees. From what I've seen of him, Lee seems to have a casual attitude, on the court. He shows very little emotion.

[Matt Dillon]

Lee will never be that. He doesn't have the frame to be brute strong. Even as a freshman you could see that WCS had a frame that would sustain some extra mass. Lee doesn't.

And why wouldn't Lee have already made significant improvements? He's three years in and practiced against NBA big-man starters for two of those years, yet this year he regressed, if anything, and failed to capitalize on a veritable bonanza of front line minutes.

I don't see it happening for Lee. Hope I'm wrong, though.

I agree Downes.

[Joneslab]

Some guys are on a different timeline. I actually don't see much of a difference in mass in WCS and Lee. WCS was a guy people swore had quit the team as a sophomore; came back as a junior as a first-team AA.

Lee might not become a kind of lockdown defender, but I think their bodies are pretty similar.

One thing about Lee is that he doesn't have great instincts. He fouls rather than blocks shots; even on balls that were right there for him to block he would foul a lot of times. WCS had 200+ blocked shots through three years; Lee has 99.

[George]

Some guys are on a different timeline. I actually don't see much of a difference in mass in WCS and Lee. WCS was a guy people swore had quit the team as a sophomore; came back as a junior as a first-team AA.

Lee might not become a kind of lockdown defender, but I think their bodies are pretty similar.

One thing about Lee is that he doesn't have great instincts. He fouls rather than blocks shots; even on balls that were right there for him to block he would foul a lot of times. WCS had 200+ blocked shots through three years; Lee has 99.

Even when Willie was in a weird head space his second year, he'd still shown improvement over the previous year. The fact that Lee regressed so much as a veteran is concerning.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm working from memory, which is a dangerous thing for me. If I recall correctly, Cal usually only plays six or seven players much, if any at all, when he has the horses to do so. If the incoming class is as advertised, I don't see why anyone other than Briscoe and Willis would return if they have any other options.