Is it time to panic yet?

[JFCats22]

And Jones really doesn't say anything in that write-up that we haven't known for weeks (maybe months) except for the tidbit about Booker and Dakari. That's interesting and I can see that playing a role in some of these kids' decisions.

But people said this was a strange class going back probably a year. When you have them signing at places like Mississippi State and LSU and UNLV, you know you're up against a really strange set of circumstances.

Jones' point about one-and-dones being recruited by everybody now is a good point.

This shows how weird of a class it is. But, if you lose 7 guys you still have to figure out a way to replace them.

Ben Roberts @NextCats · Apr 24

So, the top 7 committed players in Scout rankings for 2015 are going to: UK, LSU, Maryland, Cal, Marquette, Miss. State & UNLV. What a mix.

[Joneslab]

This shows how weird of a class it is. But, if you lose 7 guys you still have to figure out a way to replace them.

Can't wave a magic wand. If they don't want to come then there's nothing you can do.

I still think we get one of them at least. But the way the staff went in on Murray and Mulder showed that they were concerned about the perimeter. You don't jump on players like that unless you have some real reservations about getting your main targets.

[ColonelCatFan]

I started this thread and then just sat back. Lots of good discussion here. Maybe panic wasn't the right word, but it's looking kinda bleak at this point. We still have only 9 players and I'm starting to have flashbacks to 2013. I realize that could change radically over the next few weeks or even days. I'm finally realizing that these top players come to college for one reason, to get to the NBA. It appears to have very little to do with the school, and everything to do with minutes and exposure. Makes it even more apparent how special this years UK team was. I love college basketball and I love UK; none of that will ever change. But more and more, I think the kids who are good enough should be allowed to just go pro. Let the rest of them come to college, be college students, and play college basketball. But it won't happen. Oh well......

[BBNalldayeveryday]

I started this thread and then just sat back. Lots of good discussion here. Maybe panic wasn't the right word, but it's looking kinda bleak at this point. We still have only 9 players and I'm starting to have flashbacks to 2013. I realize that could change radically over the next few weeks or even days. I'm finally realizing that these top players come to college for one reason, to get to the NBA. It appears to have very little to do with the school, and everything to do with minutes and exposure. Makes it even more apparent how special this years UK team was. I love college basketball and I love UK; none of that will ever change. But more and more, I think the kids who are good enough should be allowed to just go pro. Let the rest of them come to college, be college students, and play college basketball. But it won't happen. Oh well......

I think even as of right now with the team we have in place for next season is better than the 2013 team..

Skal Labissiere will be better than Nerlens was.

Tyler UIlis is better than Ryan Harrow was.

Isaiah Briscoe is better, and will be better than Archie Goodwin was.

Alex Poythress impact on the team will be greater than that of what Wiltjer's was that year.

Marcus Lee hopefully will show some improvement now that he's going to be depended on more (3rd year), just like Willie was, and ended up doing in his second year.

With that all said I think we all sure your concerns from a standpoint that as of right now we really have no interior depth, and need a shooter or two. Hopefully by the end of the week that'll change

[GOCAT15]

The biggest difference between that NIT team and next years team is Ulis, and that is HUGE. Harrow couldn't handle playing ball at Kentucky and it destroyed that team, at least we have a good floor general, along with briscoe. We are going to be thin but talented, hope these boys are in good shap because they are going to be playing a lot of minutes.

[JFCats22]

May be time to start panicking a little....

[DA#23]

I like to think that Crazzed is beginning to feel Joe Pesci-esque. Look out folks.

[GOCAT15]

I think we are all panicking a little, but we got spoiled last year with all those kids coming back.

Starting Line-up of Ulis, Briscoe, Mulder(I'm guessing), Skal and Alex. With Lee, Mathews, Hawkins, Willis coming off the bench.

I know it's not 9 MCDAA's but it's far from an awful lineup.

The key to next season is without a doubt Skal, he needs to be our next Anthony Davis.

[George]

I think we are all panicking a little, but we got spoiled last year with all those kids coming back.

Starting Line-up of Ulis, Briscoe, Mulder(I'm guessing), Skal and Alex. With Lee, Mathews, Hawkins, Willis coming off the bench.

I know it's not 9 MCDAA's but it's far from an awful lineup.

The key to next season is without a doubt Skal, he needs to be our next Anthony Davis.

You don't get two once-in-a-lifetime players, I'm afraid.

[Joneslab]

You don't get two once-in-a-lifetime players, I'm afraid.

I don't think a guy has to be as good as David to rearrange a team or to have a tremendous impact on the college game in a single season. There've been players who have had similar types of impacts even since Davis. Okafor was one. Tyus Jones, while not great, was about the freakiest clutch player I've seen in college basketball in a long time. D'Angelo Russell.

Not Anthony Davises for sure, but certainly great and if you plugged a player like those guys in, he could singlehandedly do a lot of damage.

Have no idea if Skal is that type or not, but he's going to come in with a ridiculous foundation.

That said, this team is pretty incomplete as it sits unless we get Murray or Brown or Poythress and Lee and a couple of other guys really outdo their expectations.

[J.Jennings]

Well, it looks like no one else really wants to play for Kentuck this season and folks are lining up to jump off the second street bridge into the Ohio River. One things for sure, Cal doesn't have a choice but to play Hawkins and Willis this season and if he doesn't, this kids need to be out by the end of the year and moving on elsewhere in my opinion. The stars will not align more pefectly for the both of them and now it's on them to work, work, work, and work some more over the summer to make some of us Kentucky born UK fans proud this season...................

[DA#23]

The stars will not align more pefectly for the both of them and now it's on them to work, work, work, and work some more over the summer to make some of us Kentucky born UK fans proud this season...................

No one will disagree with you here; go men, get the proverbial man! It might very well be up to two Kentucky Boys to keep this upcoming season from being absolutely painful .

[J.Jennings]

No one will disagree with you here; go men, get the proverbial man! It might very well be up to two Kentucky Boys to keep this upcoming season from being absolutely painful .

Darius Miller was on the verge of becoming a bust and not living up to his ranking his first few years at Kentucky. Then out of nowhere Darius became the silent assassin during our 2012 Championship run. Our one and done's may come and go and love Kentucky like no other but at the same time, i still believe that playing for the Cats from the state of Kentucky still burns a little deeper for those type of kids. We all know that kids growing up here playing basketball live and breathe this 24/7 365 before, during, and after the playing days are over.I am all for Kentucky kids helping our teams along the way..

Speaking of that, hell i talked to Winston Bennett first thing this morning lol lol lol lol lol......

Everybody keeps saying they have a source, but do you really have a source??????????

[DA#23]

A source? My source is common sense And geographic location and the amenities therein.

[teamchemistry15]

Well, it looks like no one else really wants to play for Kentuck this season and folks are lining up to jump off the second street bridge into the Ohio River. One things for sure, Cal doesn't have a choice but to play Hawkins and Willis this season and if he doesn't, this kids need to be out by the end of the year and moving on elsewhere in my opinion. The stars will not align more pefectly for the both of them and now it's on them to work, work, work, and work some more over the summer to make some of us Kentucky born UK fans proud this season...................

But if they don't put in the extra work should they still get playing time? Cal can play 7 without them.