Kentucky

[BCHoopster]

After watching the game today against South Carolina, I would not want to be a GM taking these Kentucky kids.  Very unimpressed.  Cauley-Stein, Poytgress, the twins, the other frosh not even close to playing in the NBA.  They do not even play together, there own agenda.  Calipari should get back and recruit 4 year players with maybe 1 or 2 one and dones.  Not impressed, not sure they improve under this system.  He is really selling a lie to these kids, they may make the NBA after one year but how long do they play in the NBA.  Mathews is making a mistake.  The earlier players from MU who have said have done pretty good.  Hopefully, this will be the last year that all the reporters stop making Kentucky #1 every year, these kids are way over
hyped.

[brandx]

After watching the game today against South Carolina, I would not want to be a GM taking these Kentucky kids.  Very unimpressed.  Cauley-Stein, Poytgress, the twins, the other frosh not even close to playing in the NBA.  They do not even play together, there own agenda.  Calipari should get back and recruit 4 year players with maybe 1 or 2 one and dones.  Not impressed, not sure they improve under this system.  He is really selling a lie to these kids, they may make the NBA after one year but how long do they play in the NBA.  Mathews is making a mistake.  The earlier players from MU who have said have done pretty good.  Hopefully, this will be the last year that all the reporters stop making Kentucky #1 every year, these kids are way over
hyped.

I noticed that the other night when they lost to Arkansas. Like you said, it was just 5 guys - each playing for themselves. Nothing resembling a team. Look for them to be an early casualty in the tournament.

[forgetful]

I agree.  Honestly if I was an elite player I would be looking at Kansas (and Bill Self) or Duke (and Coach K) way before thinking about UK. 

For a guy like Matthews he would have been better off at MU. 

[jesmu84]

Superbar..

I'm pretty sure Cauley-Stein is a 4 year player. Or at least not a freshman.

[PGsHeroes32]

Exellent points. I know it's easy to say in hindsight but the fact they were #1 to start the year is idiotic. They had proven NOTHING as a team.

Poythress is a bust. That guy doesn't even start on this squad and was supposed to be a 1 and done. He's a worse version of Kidd-Gilchrist.

I said this back in non conference time to a friend...I don't understand how Andrew Harrison is considered the better twin prospect. I know he is the PG but cmon. Watch them play. Ironically Andrew actually shoots better from 3 right now but ud think SG Aaron's 3 shot will come around. Andrew is completely underwhelming as a top 10 PG. Cuse got a steal with Ennis.

Randle is a beast cuz he can get to the line all the time but even he isn't full on ready yet.

I'm starthing to think this freshman class and draft was overrated in general and Bill Russell may be onto something. Even Wiggins has a lot to work on.

[BCHoopster]

Superbar..

I'm pretty sure Cauley-Stein is a 4 year player. Or at least not a freshman.

Cauley-Stein and the other guy I mentioned are sophomores realizing they were not ready for the NBA, neither are ready as sophomores.  Both do not even start.  These kids agenda is one thing, get me to the NBA.  Both those soph's have no offensive game and have not improved one bit as sophomores.  Calipari is really doing an injustice to most of these kids.  Sure they get to
the NBA, but other than Anthony Davis are any real stars at the next level.  

[forgetful]

Exellent points. I know it's easy to say in hindsight but the fact they were #1 to start the year is idiotic. They had proven NOTHING as a team.

Poythress is a bust. That guy doesn't even start on this squad and was supposed to be a 1 and done. He's a worse version of Kidd-Gilchrist.

I said this back in non conference time to a friend...I don't understand how Andrew Harrison is considered the better twin prospect. I know he is the PG but cmon. Watch them play. Ironically Andrew actually shoots better from 3 right now but ud think SG Aaron's 3 shot will come around. Andrew is completely underwhelming as a top 10 PG. Cuse got a steal with Ennis.

Randle is a beast cuz he can get to the line all the time but even he isn't full on ready yet.

I'm starthing to think this freshman class and draft was overrated in general and Bill Russell may be onto something. Even Wiggins has a lot to work on.

This is also exactly why the NBA doesn't want these guys going there right away and everyone's talk about them being worth millions already is ridiculous.  They haven't proven themselves yet.

[jesmu84]

Cauley-Stein and the other guy I mentioned are sophomores realizing they were not ready for the NBA, neither are ready as sophomores.  Both do not even start.  These kids agenda is one thing, get me to the NBA.  Both those soph's have no offensive game and have not improved one bit as sophomores.  Calipari is really doing an injustice to most of these kids.  Sure they get to
the NBA, but other than Anthony Davis are any real stars at the next level.  

As sad as it is, Calipari is doing exactly what he should be doing. Why should he stop what's working for him and his career? The problem doesn't begin or end with Cal, he's just the result of the system.

[brandx]

This is also exactly why the NBA doesn't want these guys going there right away and everyone's talk about them being worth millions already is ridiculous.  They haven't proven themselves yet.

NBA wants to change the rule to two-and-done. But probably won't be able to do it for a couple years when the next contract talks with the union come up.

[willie warrior]

Kuck Fentucky and Coach Calslime.

[jesmu84]

yeesh...

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/you-made-your-bed-john-calipari--now-lie-in-it-233738456-ncaab.html

[Galway Eagle]

Cauley-Stein and the other guy I mentioned are sophomores realizing they were not ready for the NBA, neither are ready as sophomores.  Both do not even start.  These kids agenda is one thing, get me to the NBA.  Both those soph's have no offensive game and have not improved one bit as sophomores.  Calipari is really doing an injustice to most of these kids.  Sure they get to
the NBA, but other than Anthony Davis are any real stars at the next level.  

John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins I personally think are bigger than Davis.  Brandon Knight is made the transition fine he's just on the go nowhere Bucks.  So I'd say three stars one good player and a ton of busts and projects. 

yeesh...

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/you-made-your-bed-john-calipari--now-lie-in-it-233738456-ncaab.html

This article to me makes it seem like he wants to be an NBA coach where he just comes up with the system and doesn't really need to control anything else. 

[We R Final Four]

Dan Needles at CH 12 in Milwaukee still won't let it go that Buzz stayed in the locker room for 90 min after the S Hall game a few years back and didn't come out and answer questions. Still talks about it. These sports writers get all high and mighty and it seems to always come back to an intentionally missed post game press conference. Get over yourself--your story isn't as important as you think it is.

[Dawson Rental]

Kuck Fentucky and Coach Calslime.

We'll considered and thought through commentary with a view to seeing all angles per usual.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Didn't many folks here write off Wisconsin years ago?  Villanova a few years ago?  A certain coach has been killed and buried many times over here as well.  Plenty of folks burying Creighton after this year, just as fans elsewhere buried MU prior to the start of the Big East season in 2005.

Kentucky is still going to be Kentucky.  This is all expectations driven, much of it of their own doing and certainly their wildly ridiculous fans.  They'll be back, they'll adjust and adapt. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

As much as I hate Coach Cal, you can't really say he's doing a disservice to these kids. He's gotten 18 kids to the association in 4 years. That's more than 4 a year. Of the 18, 17 are still on an NBA roster. 3 of them I would consider superstars. An additional 4 I would consider pretty solid players. There are only really 2 true busts. Now would they have developed more and been better on other teams? Perhaps. But we can't possibly know that.

The only kids who have been disserviced are the ones who didn't get drafted and now need to survive on the "degrees" that they "earned."

Superstars
John Wall
Demarcus Cousins
Anthony Davis

Solid Players
Eric Bledsoe
Enes Kanter
Brandon Knight
Terrence Jones

Role Players
Patrick Patterson
Josh Harrellson
DeAndre Liggins
Marquis Teague
Doron Lamb
Darius Miller
Archie Goodwin

Busts
Daniel Orton
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Unknown
Nerlens Noel

[Eldon]

Dan Needles at CH 12 in Milwaukee still won't let it go that Buzz stayed in the locker room for 90 min after the S Hall game a few years back and didn't come out and answer questions. Still talks about it. These sports writers get all high and mighty and it seems to always come back to an intentionally missed post game press conference. Get over yourself--your story isn't as important as you think it is.

The only guy in the Wisconsin to ever "stump the schwab" he has a RIGHT to be high and mighty; he earned it!  Buzz should have shown some respect!!

[jesmu84]

As much as I hate Coach Cal, you can't really say he's doing a disservice to these kids. He's gotten 18 kids to the association in 4 years. That's more than 4 a year. Of the 18, 17 are still on an NBA roster. 3 of them I would consider superstars. An additional 4 I would consider pretty solid players. There are only really 2 true busts. Now would they have developed more and been better on other teams? Perhaps. But we can't possibly know that.

The only kids who have been disserviced are the ones who didn't get drafted and now need to survive on the "degrees" that they "earned."

Superstars
John Wall
Demarcus Cousins
Anthony Davis

Solid Players
Eric Bledsoe
Enes Kanter
Brandon Knight
Terrence Jones

Role Players
Patrick Patterson
Josh Harrellson
DeAndre Liggins
Marquis Teague
Doron Lamb
Darius Miller
Archie Goodwin

Busts
Daniel Orton
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Unknown
Nerlens Noel

How many of those would still be on teams if not for their guaranteed contracts?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

How many of those would still be on teams if not for their guaranteed contracts?

Fair question. I would argue that all of the superstars and solid players would definitely still be there. As far as I know, the only role players who have guaranteed contracts are Marquis Teague and Archie Goodwin (I could be wrong). Teague has been getting playing time since being traded to the Sixers. Goodwin will probably be cut.

[brandx]

As much as I hate Coach Cal, you can't really say he's doing a disservice to these kids. He's gotten 18 kids to the association in 4 years. That's more than 4 a year. Of the 18, 17 are still on an NBA roster. 3 of them I would consider superstars. An additional 4 I would consider pretty solid players. There are only really 2 true busts. Now would they have developed more and been better on other teams? Perhaps. But we can't possibly know that.

The only kids who have been disserviced are the ones who didn't get drafted and now need to survive on the "degrees" that they "earned."

Superstars
John Wall
Demarcus Cousins
Anthony Davis

Solid Players
Eric Bledsoe
Enes Kanter
Brandon Knight
Terrence Jones

Role Players
Patrick Patterson
Josh Harrellson
DeAndre Liggins
Marquis Teague
Doron Lamb
Darius Miller
Archie Goodwin

Busts
Daniel Orton
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Unknown
Nerlens Noel

Good post. And, while I realize you are talking about what they have accomplished in the NBA, Kidd-Gilchrist is doing what he has wanted to do his whole life and will probably make more money doing it in his lifetime than anyone that posts on this board will make, so that is hardly being a bust.

And as far as the ones who were dis-serviced - do we even know that they were did-serviced. I would bet that Cal and the NBA scouts  told them they weren't ready for the NBA, but went anyway.

[brandx]

Fair question. I would argue that all of the superstars and solid players would definitely still be there. As far as I know, the only role players who have guaranteed contracts are Marquis Teague and Archie Goodwin (I could be wrong). Teague has been getting playing time since being traded to the Sixers. Goodwin will probably be cut.

But even if Goodwin found a job that paid him $250,000 a year after graduation (highly unlikely), He still would have made more money from the NBA as a bust than he would have in 20 years of working at a very good salary. Teague, meanwhile will have to struggle by on $3+ mil even if he never re-signs with another team (highly unlucky).

Point being  - being a bust sure isn't what it used to be.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

But even if Goodwin found a job that paid him $250,000 a year after graduation (highly unlikely), He still would have made more money from the NBA as a bust than he would have in 20 years of working at a very good salary. Teague, meanwhile will have to struggle by on $3+ mil even if he never re-signs with another team (highly unlucky).

Point being  - being a bust sure isn't what it used to be.

I agree. Coach Cal is doing the top kids in his program a ton of favors.

[PGsHeroes32]

How in gods name is Kidd-Gilchrist a bust?

[GoldenWarrior11]

I forget which coach, but someone said that the NCAA should consider switching to the MLB-style way of drafting.  A player can choose to go the NBA after high school, going through the D-League for several years before being called up, or he can choose to attend college for a minimum of 3 years and enter the draft then.

I think that would be a fantastic idea.  There are only so many high school players that could play in the NBA as an 18-year old.  This year, Embiid, Parker and maybe Wiggins would classify into that group.  It would force kids to attend college (and probably graduate), and would eliminate this one and done nonsense.

[brandx]

How in gods name is Kidd-Gilchrist a bust?

Based on what he has accomplished. 8 points a game through his first 2 years, terrible shooter. As a 2nd round pick, that would be good - for a high lottery pick, not so much.