Matt Jones and 247's Jerry Meyer says Cal may go O-fer

[JFCats22]

on all top remaining recruits.

Meyer is notorious for picking guys to places other than UK. But, when you look into their decisions/options and the fact Cal is now recruiting a random (mediocre at best) 5th year guy and a 3 star former Bama commit maybe there is more to it.

Would be shocking and hugely disappointing if it were to happen. Especially after watching 7 guys go pro and our best asst. recruiter leave for St. Johns.

[Joneslab]

Would be really odd considering how many minutes there are available, but the field of potential guys has shrunk at this point. It's pretty much down to four unless he makes a run at the Canadian kid or a couple of fifth-year transfers. I think most people have no idea about Newman at this point and that's really problematic as he's the guy they zeroed in on from the beginning. There's no Tyler Ulis out there to fall back on this year.

I will say that I saw Jerry Meyer say we might strike out in the Brandon Knight year. This was before we got Knight, Lamb, and Jones--two of those guys were the foundation of two Final Four teams. So you never know. But it's getting down to the wire now and a person would like to see some pro-UK movement.

[GOCAT15]

This has the bad feeling of a replay of the 2013 season. It's gonna be rough if we don't land at least one big and one guard. I'm not even picky at this point, just any of those top 15 guys I would be happy with.

[Joneslab]

This has the bad feeling of a replay of the 2013 season.

Well, worse in some ways. The '13 team at least had a filled-out roster. This team has ridiculously low numbers at this point.

The good news is that the guys Kentucky has been in on for the longest time are still out there. The bad news is that all those guys are mysteries. This class--much like '13--has been labeled as bizarre from the beginning. But maybe if Kentucky can get one of these guys then the dominoes fall and another one or two commit.

The only advantage this coming team has over '13 is at the point guard position. Put Tyler Ulis on the '13 team and that team looks a whole lot better.

[teamchemistry15]

on all top remaining recruits.

Meyer is notorious for picking guys to places other than UK. But, when you look into their decisions/options and the fact Cal is now recruiting a random (mediocre at best) 5th year guy and a 3 star former Bama commit maybe there is more to it.

Would be shocking and hugely disappointing if it were to happen. Especially after watching 7 guys go pro and our best asst. recruiter leave for St. Johns.

Our best assistant recruiter? I think we have done pretty well in the past without Slice on our staff. We will continue to do fine without him. I dont like losing assistants like that, but I dont see it as big of a loss as others. I will not begin to worry about next year until big blue madness rolls around and we only have the 7 guys we currently have.

[GOCAT15]

Well, worse in some ways. The '13 team at least had a filled-out roster. This team has ridiculously low numbers at this point.

The good news is that the guys Kentucky has been in on for the longest time are still out there. The bad news is that all those guys are mysteries. This class--much like '13--has been labeled as bizarre from the beginning. But maybe if Kentucky can get one of these guys then the dominoes fall and another one or two commit.

The only advantage this coming team has over '13 is at the point guard position. Put Tyler Ulis on the '13 team and that team looks a whole lot better.

No doubt, you put Ulis on that 2013 team and we are a completely different team.

And I truly feel that Briscoe and Skal and much more talented coming in then Goodwin and Poythress(nothing against those guys).

It hasn't been talked about much the last few days but Alex coming back is going to be monumental, especially if Cal does go O'fer on all these recruits.

[JFCats22]

Our best assistant recruiter? I think we have done pretty well in the past without Slice on our staff. We will continue to do fine without him. I dont like losing assistants like that, but I dont see it as big of a loss as others. I will not begin to worry about next year until big blue madness rolls around and we only have the 7 guys we currently have.

I didn't mean he was the best recruiter UK has had. Simply, on the current staff he was the best recruiter and that's why he was brought here.

Nonetheless - a former Bama commit and a 5th year guy from Charlotte do not interest me in the least. I am not betting against Cal but the current roster is a NIT team and I am sure he realizes that.

[teamchemistry15]

I didn't mean he was the best recruiter UK has had. Simply, on the current staff he was the best recruiter and that's why he was brought here.

Nonetheless - a former Bama commit and a 5th year guy from Charlotte do not interest me in the least. I am not betting against Cal but the current roster is a NIT team and I am sure he realizes that.

We sure are in need of another big.

[JFCats22]

I really hope this is a backup to the backup plan....

Adam Zagoria ‏@AdamZagoria
Kentucky has reached out to 6-11 Charlotte transfer Mike Thorne, he tells @SNYtv

[Joneslab]

Probably has nothing to do with the plan.

Going to need numbers and experience. Cal talked after the Knight year that he'd never again be left with so few players. Thorne is likely just a guy that can fill out the roster. May be one more of those before it's done.

Guy's huge and can rebound the basketball. Those guys can generally play for anybody. Duke had a guy in Amille Jefferson who's only duty was to rebound and be a body on defense. He contributed because he could do those two things well.

[JFCats22]

Probably has nothing to do with the plan.

Going to need numbers and experience. Cal talked after the Knight year that he'd never again be left with so few players. Thorne is likely just a guy that can fill out the roster. May be one more of those before it's done.

Guy's huge and can rebound the basketball. Those guys can generally play for anybody. Duke had a guy in Amille Jefferson who's only duty was to rebound and be a body on defense. He contributed because he could do those two things well.

Maybe, but the timing is curious. We hear (whether legit or not) that there may be some issues getting one of these remaining top guys and then all of a sudden this random 5th year transfer plus a former Bama commit are being contacted by UK.

http://zagsblog.com/recruiting/kentucky-reaches-out-to-mike-thorne-dazon-ingram/

[teamchemistry15]

No doubt, you put Ulis on that 2013 team and we are a completely different team.

And I truly feel that Briscoe and Skal and much more talented coming in then Goodwin and Poythress(nothing against those guys).

It hasn't been talked about much the last few days but Alex coming back is going to be monumental, especially if Cal does go O'fer on all these recruits.

I have been very honest about knowing little about this incoming class. But, comparing this team to 2013:

Ulis > Harrow

Briscoe > Goodwin

Matthews > Uncle Julius

Poythress now > Poythress then

Lee and Wiltjer are equal opposites. If Lee can develop a free throw line jumper and one solid post move he can be a very good player.

Skal > Nerlens on offense and equal on defense.

With Hawkins playing some minutes to spare the guards and if we can get anything at all out of Willis we will be a solid team. If we add one more player like Newman, Brown, or Maker then I say watch out. We will be a very athletic and quick team, return some good experience, and have a game changer in Skal. With Ulis running the point I have no worries. We should be able to use Briscoe like we did Andrew when they were on the court together. My one concern is Matthews. Is he a good enough shooter to help keep the defense honest? Even without adding another recruit I can honestly see this being a top 20 team all year. If we add another recruit or a guy like Thorne for depth, I think we are a very solid team with potential like the Brandon Knight year.

[J.Jennings]

Just read this morning that Cal may be in play for a big man from overseas. I don't think Cal is going to miss out even if it's not the top kids in this year's class. Would be nice to grab a couple of elite's but we have two very good ones committed along with Ulis,Poythrees, and experience. Maybe a team with a couple of good McDonald's All Americans along with good role players will get us over the hump?? If it started today, we have enough scorers in place, we just need depth and role playing defenders.......

[J.Jennings]

Now who wishes we had Kyle Wiltjer on the roster???????????? 99.9% of the fan base ran Wiltjer off because of his defense but I don't recall Sam Dekker of Wisconsin being a true lockdown defender either. Of course the story about Wiltjer leaving was the ability go back closer to home but I don't believe that.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I refuse to believe we will ever go through another season like 2013