If you look at the mock drafts and give credence to some rumors, UK will be losing Wall, Patterson, Cousins, Bledsoe, and Orton. That is a ton of talent to replace. Can Calipari do it?

Apparently, he is working hard.

http://bustersports.com/blog/buster-blog/2010/03/31/kentucky-recruits-five-wildcats-will-make-the-jump-to-the-nba/

According to a guy on here, he's the best coach in the game LOL

I'd like to see him coach a team devoid of talent.

He's not going to replace it all at once, but he isn't going to be "devoid of talent". My guess is that a few of the more prominent "undecideds" have been waiting to see what is going to happen there and all of these moves may play in Calipari's favor (at least where recruiting for next season is concerned).

Surely, Orton is just testing the waters and will be back? Actually he and Bledsoe should be back, as they are 2nd round talent.

Bledsoe is projected to be the second point guard drafted, anywhere from twelve to twenty.

I've actually heard some predict Orton and Bledsoe to both be 1st rounders this year. I think Calipari hinted at one point this year how impressive Orton is in practice, but because he's buried in the depth chart not many are hearing about him.

As for the original question, he did it last year on a lot shorter notice. All of those guys you mentioned other than Patterson are freshman, so who is to say he can't do the same thing this year?

Orton is gone.

Cal is quoted in Sporting News, and I am paraphrasing "Ill tell you what, Daniel Orton is going to have some choices after this season, he is that good. Its amazing too, because he commited to a program where he was going to be THAT guy and then he has to play behind DeMarcus Cousins. He hasnt let it get to him at all, it hasnt slowed him on bit. Scouts still love him. They say he is one of the top big men in the game, and he is. I really believe that."

He'll bring in the talent. But i still say he will be hard pressed to put together a team he had this year. He a couple guys leftover like Patterson, then two studs in Wall and Cousins. People knew Cousins was going to be good...but I don't think they thought he would be as good as he turned out.
I personally really like Bledsoe. He has some improving to do, but I think his potential is more then people realize.
And as mentioned above, I think you could see the potential in Orton as well.
The draft this year isn't going to be as deep in talen that it has in the past. So all of these guys could end up going in 1st rd.
If Cal loses all of that, I am sure he'll still field a good team next year...but nothing like he has this year.

He'll bring in the talent. He isn't afraid to play the young guys and he's got the personality and resources to bring them in. He's the best recruiter in the game. He just isn't a top 8 coach IMO. If he was a better coach, that means he'd have a different recruiting philosophy. IMO, of course.

jpake1 wrote: He'll bring in the talent. He isn't afraid to play the young guys and he's got the personality and resources to bring them in. He's the best recruiter in the game. He just isn't a top 8 coach IMO. If he was a better coach, that means he'd have a different recruiting philosophy. IMO, of course.

I'm not saying I don't disagree with you, but who do you rate as the top 8 coaches?

UK won't be as good next year as this year, but in the SEC, they will still contend and will be a tourney team.

Now that I think about it, he might no even be in my top 10. In no order: R. Williams, Izzo, Self, Boeheim, Coach K, Pitino, Howland, Calhoun, and Donovan. I might put Gary Williams ahead of him which would keep him out of the top 10. That isn't taking into account that he's trouble. I would hire another 5 guys, thus he wouldn't even be in my top 15 if I were looking for a coach. Probably out of my top 25 to be honest. I'd give up and coming guys like the coach of Butler a job before I gave him one.

That's an interesting perspective, and I completely understand it. Although I would disagree with you on several of the coaches on that list.

Calipari's never coached at a "Big Boy" job like the others on your list have currently (other than maybe Donovan). But with that said, a lot of the credit of the current programs is because of the coaches in place with Izzo, K and Pitino.

I think that we will learn a lot about Calipari in the next 5 years. If he really is a cheat, he'll get caught at UK. Everyone knows he can recruit, but now he has to prove that he can coach them up (which I personally think he can).

If you disagree with me on several of the coaches does that mean you think Cal is top 3-5 material? He's never coached at a big boy school until now, but he's recruited better than most, if not all of those schools. He's also put Umass and Memphis on probation as well. I think he's a pretty good coach that's a slime ball, and I wouldn't want him around my program. Eventually I think he'll target a stud that'll stay 2-3 years to help him win. But until then, I don't see him winning championships with FR leading the team. Not too many times have then done it when it was needed most.

What does coaching at a big boy school have to do with anything? He had as much talent at Memphis his last 4yrs as anybody in the country did, including the "big boys". Made one cheating final four. He could have left many a time. Hmm, wonder why he didn't?
Again, this year, he has as much if not MORE talent then anyone in the country but maybe Kansas. Yet again, no final four. Let his team burp up 31 threes in a game when they couldn't throw it in the ocean.
Interesting how "some" do nothing but criticize coaches like Matta when his teams do things, or don't play certain players...yet Cal is such a 'great" coach. Just like many, Cal has pulled the wool over many peoples eyes with his smooth bs talk. Guy is an average coach at best.
No matter where you are, big boy, little boy...if you have the talent, get it done at some point. He has had it and hasn't gotten it done. Until he does....cleanly, I don't see him as any better then many other of the good coaches who haven't won a title...maybe even a little less because of the talent he has had.

A lot of that stuff I agree with CBF.

Liggins
Dodson
Miller
Hood
Poole
Kanter
Harrellson

That's enough to at least remain decent.

However, if they add a combo of Knight, Selby, Leslie, Jones, Ross and Lamb (likely 3 of them Knight/Selby, Ross/Lamb, Leslie/Jones) the Cats should still be pretty good.

If Bledsoe and Orton come back and they bring in those recruits, this team can be right back in the hunt for the FF.

I'll admit it if I'm wrong, but I can't see Bledsoe/Orton going anywhere. If they are THAT good, they will increase their draft stock next year to the point it eclipses their current draft stock easily.

Manhattan Buckeye wrote: I'll admit it if I'm wrong, but I can't see Bledsoe/Orton going anywhere. If they are THAT good, they will increase their draft stock next year to the point it eclipses their current draft stock easily.

Your absolutely right. But how often do we see guys bolt when they get the chance to bolt, whether its the right thing or not? They have people / agents in their ear telling them all they want to hear.

He needs to make his players practice free throws more often!

centralbucksfan wrote: What does coaching at a big boy school have to do with anything? He had as much talent at Memphis his last 4yrs as anybody in the country did, including the "big boys". Made one cheating final four. He could have left many a time. Hmm, wonder why he didn't?
Again, this year, he has as much if not MORE talent then anyone in the country but maybe Kansas. Yet again, no final four. Let his team burp up 31 threes in a game when they couldn't throw it in the ocean.
Interesting how "some" do nothing but criticize coaches like Matta when his teams do things, or don't play certain players...yet Cal is such a 'great" coach. Just like many, Cal has pulled the wool over many peoples eyes with his smooth bs talk. Guy is an average coach at best.
No matter where you are, big boy, little boy...if you have the talent, get it done at some point. He has had it and hasn't gotten it done. Until he does....cleanly, I don't see him as any better then many other of the good coaches who haven't won a title...maybe even a little less because of the talent he has had.

I do think where you accomplish things counts for something and being the only coach to take two non-major conference schools to final fours is an accomplishment (vacating those doesn't change history).

The biggest difference is that you can get some top players to go to Memphis and UMass, but it isn't likely you're going to be able to get the depth that the big time established programs can get. I don't know that I agree he had more talent than anyone while at Memphis when you are talking about top-to-bottom of the roster (or a deep rotation).

Mark Few is high on a lot of people's lists as one of the top coaches in the game today. But what has he won? Is the fact he is at Gonzaga an excuse for his failure to even make a Final Four? Was Jim Boeheim a terrible coach until he finally won his title? How crappy are Thad Matta or Ben Howland for having never won titles? Both certainly have had their chances.

I've always thought it'd be interesting to see what he could do at a big time school and I'm happy Kentucky picked him. I'd certainly rather take my chances with him than accept the direction that both coaches that preceded him were going.

Despite some of my disagreements, I do agree with some of the simple points you've made a lot this year. He can't be considered great at the very least until he wins a title. Mark Few is a good coach who still needs to win something significant to ever be considered great, but he'd definitely be worth taking a shot on if you're a big time school. Calipari has accomplished some things, but not enough to be considered great.

And, it isn't a lock that he'll ever get there. It is hard to argue with the examples he's provided the last couple years where his in-game coaching just completely got buried by a better coach. Bob Huggins isn't great either, but he handed Calipari his ass the other night. The terrible free throw shooting bites his teams every single season. It is highly risky to continue to build a roster of freshmen regardless of their talent level.

So like I said, I find him to be worth taking a chance but I'm not definitely not counting a title as a given however long he stays.

enigmaax wrote:

centralbucksfan wrote: What does coaching at a big boy school have to do with anything? He had as much talent at Memphis his last 4yrs as anybody in the country did, including the "big boys". Made one cheating final four. He could have left many a time. Hmm, wonder why he didn't?
Again, this year, he has as much if not MORE talent then anyone in the country but maybe Kansas. Yet again, no final four. Let his team burp up 31 threes in a game when they couldn't throw it in the ocean.
Interesting how "some" do nothing but criticize coaches like Matta when his teams do things, or don't play certain players...yet Cal is such a 'great" coach. Just like many, Cal has pulled the wool over many peoples eyes with his smooth bs talk. Guy is an average coach at best.
No matter where you are, big boy, little boy...if you have the talent, get it done at some point. He has had it and hasn't gotten it done. Until he does....cleanly, I don't see him as any better then many other of the good coaches who haven't won a title...maybe even a little less because of the talent he has had.

I do think where you accomplish things counts for something and being the only coach to take two non-major conference schools to final fours is an accomplishment (vacating those doesn't change history).

The biggest difference is that you can get some top players to go to Memphis and UMass, but it isn't likely you're going to be able to get the depth that the big time established programs can get. I don't know that I agree he had more talent than anyone while at Memphis when you are talking about top-to-bottom of the roster (or a deep rotation).

Mark Few is high on a lot of people's lists as one of the top coaches in the game today. But what has he won? Is the fact he is at Gonzaga an excuse for his failure to even make a Final Four? Was Jim Boeheim a terrible coach until he finally won his title? How crappy are Thad Matta or Ben Howland for having never won titles? Both certainly have had their chances.

I've always thought it'd be interesting to see what he could do at a big time school and I'm happy Kentucky picked him. I'd certainly rather take my chances with him than accept the direction that both coaches that preceded him were going.

Despite some of my disagreements, I do agree with some of the simple points you've made a lot this year. He can't be considered great at the very least until he wins a title. Mark Few is a good coach who still needs to win something significant to ever be considered great, but he'd definitely be worth taking a shot on if you're a big time school. Calipari has accomplished some things, but not enough to be considered great.

And, it isn't a lock that he'll ever get there. It is hard to argue with the examples he's provided the last couple years where his in-game coaching just completely got buried by a better coach. Bob Huggins isn't great either, but he handed Calipari his ass the other night. The terrible free throw shooting bites his teams every single season. It is highly risky to continue to build a roster of freshmen regardless of their talent level.

So like I said, I find him to be worth taking a chance but I'm not definitely not counting a title as a given however long he stays.

Don't disagree with this. Although I think using Few and Matta is a stretch. Matta and Few are both younger and haven't been head coaches as long. Matta brought in a top class, and made it to the finals that year with the pressure of doing so. Cal didn't do that this year. Howland has been there numerous times as well..along with never having any vacated.
And I am not sure I compare Memphis and Gonzaga either. East coast / west coast number one. Number two, Memphis has a bit of history of being success during the days of Dana Kirk.
And again, both of those final fours were vacated. Who is to know if that cheating didn't go on, whether or not Cal was able to take those teams to final fours. Quite a few questions IMO to go giving him all this credit.
As an OSU fan, I don't view their vacated final four as a true final four.
Is Cal worth taking a chance on? That is yet to be determined. IMO, was certainly a risk with the questions that follow him.
We'll wait and see how it all turns out. If I were a fan of UK..I think I'd pretty nervous each and every year something wrong will turn up. Don't know as a fan I'd want to deal with that. I was thoroughly disappointed and upset with Jim O'Brien when that all went down.

cbf - Yeah, I know you're consistent on how you view those things. I know we've discussed before that we are polar opposites in how we view those types of violations. I really don't care and vacating wins or final fours doesn't change history to me. I don't care if someone took money, the games were played on the court. But again, I respect that you apply the same standards to your own school.

I get what you are saying about Matta and Few, but again, if championships are the measurement then it doesn't matter if Matta made a title game. Calipari has done that, too. If Final Fours are what counts, Calipari has still done that twice. Few had teams that were ranked #6 and #3 in the country heading into the tourney and lost to 11 and 10 seeds respectively, not making it past the second round. Gonzaga went just as far the year before Few took over as he has taken them, while Calipari took over two losing programs (yes, Memphis had success prior to that, but the program was still down).

Yes, those guys still have time, but so does Calipari. Strictly based on accomplishments, I put all of those guys in the same class. They win consistently and most places would hire them. But they haven't cemented themselves as great yet. That's all.

As for whether or not something comes up with Calipari. Honestly, if a past team has to forfeit wins later on, but I get to see a title (or even a final four or two) I won't care. I NEVER want to have to watch an NIT game again, though. (Obviously there could be a more crippling effect of violations, but again, I personally thank Eddie Sutton every year because without his nonsense there would've been no Pitino and 90s glory days.)

Manhattan Buckeye wrote: I'll admit it if I'm wrong, but I can't see Bledsoe/Orton going anywhere. If they are THAT good, they will increase their draft stock next year to the point it eclipses their current draft stock easily.

and they may also have a lot of people fooled and should take the money while they can, especially if they have a shot to go anywhere in the 1st round. I wasn't overly impressed with Bledsoe at all this year. There isn't a big demand for 6 ft guards in the NBA who are streaky shooters. We have no idea what kind of pt guard he will be, either, since Wall played the position this year. I'd say take the money and run.

TheMightyGators wrote: and they may also have a lot of people fooled and should take the money while they can, especially if they have a shot to go anywhere in the 1st round. I wasn't overly impressed with Bledsoe at all this year. There isn't a big demand for 6 ft guards in the NBA who are streaky shooters. We have no idea what kind of pt guard he will be, either, since Wall played the position this year. I'd say take the money and run.

For Bledsoe, I originally thought he might stick around another year for that reason - to prove himself as a point guard. But if Knight is coming in, he isn't going to get that opportunity anyway, so might as well not take a chance on hurting his stock.

Azubuike24 wrote: Liggins
Dodson
Miller
Hood
Poole
Kanter
Harrellson

That's enough to at least remain decent.

However, if they add a combo of Knight, Selby, Leslie, Jones, Ross and Lamb (likely 3 of them Knight/Selby, Ross/Lamb, Leslie/Jones) the Cats should still be pretty good.

If Bledsoe and Orton come back and they bring in those recruits, this team can be right back in the hunt for the FF.

Might as well put Leslie and Knight on your list. Leslie "is" coming to UK (close sources and his own twitter account) and Knight (while being interviewed) said "we" as referring to UK. Might not happen, but it appears that it is.

Manhattan Buckeye wrote: I'll admit it if I'm wrong, but I can't see Bledsoe/Orton going anywhere. If they are THAT good, they will increase their draft stock next year to the point it eclipses their current draft stock easily.

I dont watch the thug basketball association, but I read on here that after next season there could be a NBA lockout? That could push Bledsoe and Orton into the NBA.

I wonder if Hood will be used next year?