Great recruiter, great coach, or both?

The best recruiter ever bar none. A very good coach, borderline great. Not all time great coach

ccrunner609;1366824 wrote:his recruiting habits are making his coaching look bad. if this crop of freshman go pro he is in big trouble.

Except he's got the greatest recruiting class ever signed with the #1 and #3 players still with UK in the mix. I think we're seeing what many said before this year. The 2012 class was extremely weak compared to the last few years.

I think the biggest UNDERRATED quality of Calipari has been bringing 3 brand new teams together right away and developing chemistry and cohesiveness all while mixing great talent. It's not happening this year nor is it the norm at the college level.

I do think the rest of the country is praying that this year's class leaves early though. I can't imagine next year's class if they keep a few players...

gport_tennis;1366823 wrote:The best recruiter ever bar none. A very good coach, borderline great. Not all time great coach

I agree with all of this.

Azubuike24;1366830 wrote:I do think the rest of the country is praying that this year's class leaves early though. I can't imagine next year's class if they keep a few players...

I don't think anyone in the country is afraid of anyone on UK's current team.

And why the hell is Calipari doing an interview with 7 min left in the half?

SportsAndLady;1366835 wrote:I don't think anyone in the country is afraid of anyone on UK's current team.

Not at all. However, if they return say 3-4 players from this team and add Randle or Wiggins, then next year becomes scary. It's pretty evident that Calipari is really struggling with a team that has no leader, no experience, etc. His past 2 teams had that.

Azubuike24;1366839 wrote:Not at all. However, if they return say 3-4 players from this team and add Randle or Wiggins, then next year becomes scary. It's pretty evident that Calipari is really struggling with a team that has no leader, no experience, etc. His past 2 teams had that.

His past two teams had ridiculous talent. This one doesn't. That's what he's struggling with.

Their team next year is going to be scary, whether these guys return or not.

Now Cuonzo is doing an interview..is this (interviews in the middle of the half) something that I have just entirely missed my whole life?

As great as UK may be next year as an all-freshmen juggernaut, as long as the "old school" model of building really good teams around veterans while mixing in one or two elite freshmen each year is still sustainable, as programs like Duke and Kansas and Michigan State operate pretty much year in and year out, I'd rather construct a team that way than risk a potentially horrible year every two or three years.

Calipari is the best recruiter of the last five years hands down. Ever? There have been some incredibly gifted recruiters throughout history. Wooden, Lute Olson, Dean Smith, K, Pitino, Tark the Shark, Roy Williams, etc. Each are/were great in their own way. It's definitely not a runaway contest, as some here might believe.

SportsAndLady;1366842 wrote:Now Cuonzo is doing an interview..is this (interviews in the middle of the half) something that I have just entirely missed my whole life?

SEC on ESPN. They started it a few years ago.

It's stupid. What's funny is neither coach was at all interested in talking mid-game.

S&L, I think you have to define talent. Last year's team, no doubt. It was the perfect blend of everything. The team 2 years ago did NOT have more talent than this team. This team has 6 future NBA players and likely 4 guys who will go in the top 20 of the draft. The team 2 years ago Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones, and then 4 other role players who all have seen time in the NBA (Liggins, Lamb, Harrellson and Miller) but to say more talent than this one would be inaccurate. That team was also ONLY 6 deep while this UK team is a bit deeper.

Again, the issue is instead of 3 veterans like that 2011 team had (1 Senior, 2 Juniors who were 2-year starters), this team is 4 Freshman, 2 transfers, a returning Sophomore who saw 7 MPG last year and 2 other role players who also really never saw any time before.

BTW, I don't disagree with you because talent is more than just NBA potential and skills. I happen to think Brandon Knight is maybe the most undervalued player to play for Cal at UK thus far and the BEST of his point guards. His all-around skills, intelligence and leadership carried the 2011 team to a Final Four they probably did not have the talent to make it to.

..and to be fair...lets say somehow in March UK is in the thick of contending for another Final Four. You will hear some people stating "it's all because of the talent, not Cal's coaching skills."

Azubuike24;1366877 wrote:S&L, I think you have to define talent. Last year's team, no doubt. It was the perfect blend of everything. The team 2 years ago did NOT have more talent than this team. This team has 6 future NBA players and likely 4 guys who will go in the top 20 of the draft. The team 2 years ago Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones, and then 4 other role players who all have seen time in the NBA (Liggins, Lamb, Harrellson and Miller) but to say more talent than this one would be inaccurate. That team was also ONLY 6 deep while this UK team is a bit deeper.

Yeah but Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones are wayyyyyyy better than anyone on this UK team.

On paper, UK has talent...but if you watch the games, you'll see it was just that--on paper.

You won't get an argument from me. It's the same in college basektball as a whole. At least with the really young kids, for the most part.

My opinion:
great recruiter, above average coach. not great. I think he looks better than he really is because of the talent he has to work with.

I thought this thread was about him getting sanctioned. UK is due for their time. The guy is a cheating scumbag and I wouldn't be surprised if all his wins are vacated.

Not a fan of his, but regardless of how he does it, he wins games--and 'ships.

vball10set;1367241 wrote:Not a fan of his, but regardless of how he does it, he wins games--and 'ship.

Fify.

wildcats20;1367247 wrote:Fify.