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

[BBNalldayeveryday]

The guys who have decided so far to go elsewhere didn't want to go to UK. I know that's simplifying it but that's the end result. It is what it is

We must not forget that a lot of people out there don't like UK and Cal. In my opinion over the last so many years we've become the most disliked program in America, a lot of that obviously being because we've been very successful. With that said you just can't expect every kid out there to want to come to UK. In my opinion it takes a certain kind of player, person to come play at the University of Kentucky knowing all that comes with it.

That being a good thing as the ones who have decided to come here have transformed into us becoming what we are known for, winning. So I wouldn't have it any other way

[teamchemistry15]

Depends on what you define by "early". Top 5 guys - yeah, probably. After that I disagree...look at Booker, he is projected around 15-17. If he was at any other school he would be returning for a second season.

Also, one thing you are forgetting - it's not just about getting drafted, the even bigger money is in sponsorships. Wall, Davis, etc...players that come from big time programs who are featured all throughout the year get HUGE money. Wall got something like a $25 million deal with Reebok when he was drafted #1. Anthony Bennett from UNLV who nobody watched or cared about got like $6 million. Nobody is going to throw huge money at guys who played at Cal, UNLV, Miss St, Oregon, etc...unless they end up being a total superstar even if they are a top 5-10 pick.

I think Booker would still be right where he is. If he goes to any other school he averages 30 minutes per game and probably close to 25 points. That wouldn't force a second year at school.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

I think Booker would still be right where he is. If he goes to any other school he averages 30 minutes per game and probably close to 25 points. That wouldn't force a second year at school.

I think that you think Booker was/is a lot better than he is. He may get to that point someday, but he wasn't/isn't all that yet.

[Joneslab]

Not sure if Booker could average 25 a game wherever he went, but if he were the focal point of an offense he could put up a ton of points. He should've been more of a focal point of UK's offense.

Like a lot of freshmen he hit a wall and I think it had to do with physicality more than anything. Booker's young. These 18-year-olds usually just hit a lull at some point. Even John Wall did. When Booker hit his lull he never was able to get it back.

Still think he's an elite player. Great speed and plays with a kind of fearlessness that a lot of guys just don't have. If this were 1996 he would've come back and been a star next season, but alas.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

Now see that's just it, he looked slow to me. Not stuck in quick sand slow, but not fast either. On quite a few occasions last year, especially in the tournament his footwork wasn't good on the offensive and defensive end. He couldn't get past guys going to hoop very often and on defense he did a few James Young imitations.

[Joneslab]

Now see that's just it, he looked slow to me. Not stuck in quick sand slow, but not fast either. On quite a few occasions last year, especially in the tournament his footwork wasn't good on the offensive and defensive end. He couldn't get past guys going to hoop very often and on defense he did a few James Young imitations.

Booker is far from slow. One of the better open-court players I've seen in the Cal era. There's a reason that guy got so many breakaway baskets this year: speed.

Wasn't a guy who could get to the basket in halfcourt situations, but that had more to do with his strength. As we saw in the Wisconsin game he needs to add a lot of muscle and I actually thought that may be a reason he came back.

But he's a better athlete than I would've ever imagined when he signed on. Like a lot of freshmen though, he tended to use his athleticism the most when he thought he could get an easy two.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

Booker is far from slow. One of the better open-court players I've seen in the Cal era. There's a reason that guy got so many breakaway baskets this year: speed.

Wasn't a guy who could get to the basket in halfcourt situations, but that had more to do with his strength. As we saw in the Wisconsin game he needs to add a lot of muscle and I actually thought that may be a reason he came back.

But he's a better athlete than I would've ever imagined when he signed on. Like a lot of freshmen though, he tended to use his athleticism the most when he thought he could get an easy two.

See, I don't think he was fast, I just think he knew how to run the floor well. I was surprised he left, but the way these kids see it is well, I can stay and improve here, or go to the NBA and improve in practice each and everyday while I make a few million in the process.

[Joneslab]

See, I don't think he was fast, I just think he knew how to run the floor well.

Either way, it's a hugely marketable attribute.

Probably has to do partly with body control, end-to-end quickness, attitude--those are all things you see when you watch NBA games.

Those guys in the NBA are ridiculous when they get up a head of steam to the basket. Watched Jamal Crawford yesterday--good Lord that guy knows no fear when he got it on the break. Devin Booker got more run-out baskets in his first 10 games in a UK uniform than Aaron Harrison did in two years.

Whether that's his athleticism or just a desire to score I don't know. Either way it's part of why you see him projected at the edge of the lottery.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

Either way, it's a hugely marketable attribute.

Probably has to do partly with body control, end-to-end quickness, attitude--those are all things you see when you watch NBA games.

Those guys in the NBA are ridiculous when they get up a head of steam to the basket. Watched Jamal Crawford yesterday--good Lord that guy knows no fear when he got it on the break. Devin Booker got more run-out baskets in his first 10 games in a UK uniform than Aaron Harrison did in two years.

Whether that's his athleticism or just a desire to score I don't know. Either way it's part of why you see him projected at the edge of the lottery.

"Booker got more run-out baskets in his first 10 games in a UK uniform than Aaron Harrison did in two years"

lol..

[Vinnie]

We might as well face it we are living in the brave new world of "one and done" and that is just NOT Cal but all major college coaches including everyone's beloved Coach K. I personally think Cal is one heck of a recruiter and does a good job getting those four star players to come to UK. It is true not every good basketball player is going to like UK or perhaps they don't like Cal and choose lets say Duke. Sometime it happens but I am banking on Cal to come up with a good team for us.

It will be years before we have a team like last season as no one not even Cal I think realized all those seasoned players who went to the final four the year before would come back. We may never see that at UK again but I will enjoy the ride this year and it is not a bad thing to fly under the radar. As matter of fact I kind of like it that we will be overlooked this year.

[Joneslab]

As matter of fact I kind of like it that we will be overlooked this year.

Oh we'll not be overlooked. We're still going to be a preseason top 10 team simply because we have a couple of main parts coming back and the #1 overall in Skal.

And Kentucky will get a lot of preseason hype just because we're UK and we'll have these 5-star players.

But it's one thing to be overlooked like the 2014 team was in the postseason, and it's another thing to be overlooked like the 2013 team was. You have to have the horses to make a run regardless of what the public consensus is about the team.

2014 had the horses, they just didn't have the cohesion until the end. 2013 obviously didn't have the horses.

It's hard to say with this team, but I truly feel that this Kentucky team is incomplete as it stands unless a couple of guys--Poythress and Lee specifically, but also Willis and Hawkins--really play far better than everybody expects them to.

[JFCats22]

Unfortunately I think Meyer and MJ are going to end up being correct and Cal will miss on all of these guys (how is that possible?).

I was told this morning that Murray is likely not making a visit to UK this weekend as Cal had tried to push for and they do not believe that he will end up at UK.