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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 05-15-2015, 09:43 PM:

Cal "really" must want this guy bad as he rarely will keep on a recruit who has shown so little interest in Kentucky at all. It looks like now we have a legitimate chance to sign him.

Jon RothsteinVerified account
‏@JonRothstein Kentucky has emerged as a legitimate landing spot for 2015 big man Caleb Swanigan, source told @CBSSports. #BBN

It has, without a doubt, been the weirdest college basketball recruitment for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats since Terrence Jones If we recall, Jones committed to Washington and ended up becoming a Wildcat shortly thereafter. Swanigan committed to Michigan State, but that vow to Sparty lasted only about a week or so, but Kentucky was considered out of the running and an afterthought. Just a couple of days ago, Swanigan seemed set on joining the Cal Bears and playing with Ivan Rabb and Jaylen Brown but was just waiting on a spot to open up.

The Kentucky Wildcats could certainly use Swanigan. Swanigan, at 6’9 is the #13 prospect in the class but he does seem to have a lot of baggage. Apparently he has his list of demands that Tom Izzo would not meet and I don’t think that John Calipari is going to guarantee playing time either. However, the speculation abounds as to what went wrong with Sparty.

Link

Posted by Old Norm (Member # 1482) on 05-15-2015, 10:40 PM:

Really, really nervous about this guy. Red flags all over the place.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 05-15-2015, 10:52 PM:

It is risky especially with the baggage his guardian has however in Cal we trust.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 05-16-2015, 06:31 AM:

What kind of red flags are we seeing? Details please.

Posted by Old Norm (Member # 1482) on 05-16-2015, 10:26 AM:

Actually, it's just rumors, but sometimes these things are based in some form of reality.

Swanigan Rumor

Posted by WildcatFanatic (Member # 2932) on 05-16-2015, 02:44 PM:

"Personal chef and separate living quarters" Not sure he'd get many takers on that one - if it were true which it's probably not. What's next a maid and a butler? Must be nice to be a star these days. [Big Grin]

Posted by WHO?UK (Member # 2286) on 05-16-2015, 04:27 PM:

I'm not buying this one bit. This is a fan base getting riled up because they lost a big recruit out of nowhere. I'm sure similar rumors would circulate if it happened to us. In reality the way I see it... This kid decommited and now he has UK, KU and every other school foaming out of the mouth and he is enjoying it.

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 05-19-2015, 09:12 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by catmandoo:
It is risky especially with the baggage his guardian has however in Cal we trust.

Maybe I am biased or blind since I am acquaintances with his guardian, but what "baggage" are you referring too. I'm not saying that he doesn't have any, just none that I am aware of.

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 05-19-2015, 12:05 PM:

Just got a text from a friend that he is going to Purdue

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 05-19-2015, 12:23 PM:

He was apparently never ours to lose so no gain/no loss. We could certainly have used him next year but there are going to be years like we just had where we have some recruiting setbacks. Fortunately for us, they are few and far between since Cal came to Kentucky.

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 05-19-2015, 02:18 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by SCWC:
He was apparently never ours to lose so no gain/no loss. We could certainly have used him next year but there are going to be years like we just had where we have some recruiting setbacks. Fortunately for us, they are few and far between since Cal came to Kentucky.

Well said

Posted by blue hoot (Member # 398) on 05-19-2015, 03:09 PM:

With Swanigan committed to Purdue, something is serious wrong with our recruiting. This isn't funny anymore, we can’t buy a recruit. Ridiculous!

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 05-19-2015, 03:33 PM:

quote:
With Swanigan committed to Purdue, something is serious wrong with our recruiting. This isn't funny anymore, we can’t buy a recruit. Ridiculous!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I have to disagree. By most accounts we have the #1 and #8 recruits in the nation. While this may be somewhat of a down year for recruiting by recent UK standards, most would be thrilled to have this incoming class.

[ 05-19-2015, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: handycat ]

Posted by blue hoot (Member # 398) on 05-19-2015, 04:33 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by handycat:
[QUOTE]Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I have to disagree. By most accounts we have the #1 and #8 recruits in the nation. While this may be somewhat of a down year for recruiting by recent UK standards, most would be thrilled to have this incoming class.

True, but to strike out on a half dozen recruits for a huge program like Kentucky is a concern. I'm still wondering if its the final four loss.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 05-20-2015, 06:26 AM:

Or maybe the opposing coaches are saying Cal is going to take one of th evacant NBA jobs. Wether he is or isn't!

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 05-20-2015, 08:28 AM:

It could be several things but one thing is for sure, Cal does not have the imposing power he has had in the past over these Mickey Ds. Somebodies somewhere are saying the right things that is swaying these kids in a different direction. The power he has had back in the fall to get these top two recruits has disappeared here in the spring. When you look at the fact that we had 7 kids leave for the draft and all be considered draft choices, the kids in this springs class are not too impressed. Whether they don't want to be a team member like we had this past season or other coaches are spreading rumors that Cal will leave, something is going on that has changed these kids mind about UK. But we can wait till next fall and see how he does with the next class before we pronounce that there is a problem or not. Right now we can't even win 3-4 star players let alone a 5 star like Swanigan.

Posted by WildcatFanatic (Member # 2932) on 05-20-2015, 09:10 AM:

Part of it could be the opposition is offering them more playing time. They may be pointing to Cal's platoon system and spinning that against him i.e. their stats will be low and they won't get to showcase their talents to the max. Even though that was an unusual situation to have that much talent I'm sure opposing coaches would use it against us to the kids they're trying to recruit.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 05-20-2015, 10:26 AM:

WF, you nailed it about other coachs saying anything it takes, true or not to get a recruiting advantage on us. I do think however Cal is good enough of a coach to keep us more than competitive even if the quantity of good players is not as deep as previous classes.

I think this years team even though not as deep as others has the players and talent to make a long run in the NCAA tournament

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 05-20-2015, 11:16 AM:

I think you guys are giving these kids WAAAY too much credit for being rational. This year, a whole bunch of them decided to go somewhere else. What's new? These are pampered, self-centered high school kings who don't have the wisdom or the perspective to always make good choices.

Next year we might land all 12 McDonald's All-Americans. Who knows?

I like our team, but last year kind of spoiled me on the amazing amount of depth we had. We have enough talent to go 7 or 8 deep, which is fine. I think we should be in the hunt for another deep tourney run by March.

Posted by WildcatFanatic (Member # 2932) on 05-20-2015, 11:28 AM:

I don't see much to be concerned about either. Our program is still very attractive for the talent we need and the type players Cal likes to coach to make strong runs year after year.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 05-20-2015, 12:09 PM:

Tip, your last paragraph:

I like our team, but last year kind of spoiled me on the amazing amount of depth we had. We have enough talent to go 7 or 8 deep, which is fine. I think we should be in the hunt for another deep tourney run by March.

My last paragraph:

I think this years team even though not as deep as others has the players and talent to make a long run in the NCAA tournament.

Where do you see much if any difference between or our chances? We have plenty of talent this year and could win the NCAA championship if things go right as we have plenty of talent to make it happen just like we "both" point out. In fact this years team "probably" has a better chance of winning as our starting 8 or so players will "more than likely" have more minutes playing together than did last years top 8 or so players. Bottom line it's our top 8 or so players that is by far the most important factor in winning a NCAA tournament. IMO

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 05-20-2015, 02:03 PM:

This team is just as competitive as most of Cal's teams except last season. But it just appears it's 1 big guy short of being as good as the 2012 team. If some of our returning players can provide more this year we will do ok.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 05-21-2015, 09:42 AM:

If we get Murray I can see Cal using a 3 guard line-up a lot with Skal and Poy. What do you think?

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 05-21-2015, 12:50 PM:

Agree. Murray is big enough to play the SF and he can handle the ball. Out of the five of Labissiere, Briscoe, Ulis, Murray and Poythress, Poythress would be the worst ball handler.