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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 10-15-2016, 09:31 AM:

Not once has John Calipari ever tried to hide his belief that getting players drafted to help them secure their financial future is his primary focus.

During Thursday’s Media Day, Calipari risked infuriating Kentucky fans again by saying the draft was more important to him than a national title.

“If you want to pin that on me, I’ll take it. We all know it’s not true because we’ve won more games than any team in the country the last seven years, we’ve been to more Final Fours than any team in the country,” said Calipari. “We won one national title. Probably should have won three or four, but we won a national title.

“In our league, we’ve done what we’ve done every year.   I’m happy with what’s happening on the basketball court, but I’m more happy about what’s happening for these kids. If my team won a national title and no one got drafted, I’d be disappointed.

“Oh, that will just rifle through our state. I would be disappointed.”

Boom. That’s not what UK fans wanted to hear a few years ago and certainly not what most will want to hear now.

That’s why I asked Calipari if he wanted to clarify his disappointment about a national title and if he really would be totally disappointed if UK won a national title and nobody got drafted,

“The question is would I be totally disappointed?  ” Calipari asked.

I said it was just to let him clarify what he meant.

“Now you’re mincing words. You’re putting words … Look, I would enjoy the fact that I had a team that won a national title, but I would be disappointed that none of the kids got drafted because that’s not how it’s supposed to work,” Calipari said.

“Everybody should benefit by the success of this program — everybody. The fans, the university, the athletic department, the assistant coaches — everybody should benefit when things like that happen. And then not the players? No, they should benefit just as well." 
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Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 10-15-2016, 06:53 PM:

Of course we all know that is a poor example of a "WHAT IF" question. I know it would be possible to win the championship and not get a player drafted (not really) but the chances of that happening is almost as bad as my chances of winning the lottery. So I wish people would quit asking a dumb question. Just let Calipari say his #1 priority is getting kids drafted, cause the more kids that get drafted, the bigger chance we have at winning it all.

[ 10-15-2016, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: Bama Cat ]

Posted by WildcatFanatic (Member # 2932) on 10-17-2016, 09:56 AM:

I read where Duke has bought into the "One and Done" but NC is going the other direction - looking for 3 and 4 year players.

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 10-17-2016, 11:21 AM:

Was a bye week in football and it's still a long way before round ball starts. This a fluff article. But, what do you expect, when there are no real story lines happening.

I think Kentucky has as a great shot to win it all this year. They have veteran players to handle pressure situations and this years class of freshman are a cut above what is usually out there. If UK wins it all this year, he will take over coach K's crown as the it guy for a year. After that, it will be up for grabs again.

As for Championships, Cal has been short a single player that cost him a few titles. His first year he had the talent, but lacked an outside shooter/ zone buster. Had Jodie Meeks stayed they would have hung a banner. Had Dakari Johnson stayed at Kentucky and played, last season, they would have hung another banner. Dakari would have went in the first round, had he stayed and Skal would have went higher as well, because he would have been able to shine more on the perimeter.

I think Dakari saw all the players leaving and thought that he needed to go when he did or he was going to get left behind. (just my guess)

The year Calipari had a team that was sub par for what he usually puts out there was when Marques Teague left after on year and he thought he was at best a two year guy. Cal did not go after a premier PG, because he had that role covered. Teague made a mistake and should have stayed at Kentucky and developed into a higher pick.

I do think that a team made up of soley 4 year players can not win a title. There will be star players on other teams that will be too much of a mismatch and they will come up short. A team full of one and done that has a few veterans is what UK seems to have each year. It is hard to keep the veterans, because they get tired of not getting enough playing time, while having to sit for a freshman to get his time.

[ 10-17-2016, 11:24 AM: Message edited by: boomdaddy ]

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 11-01-2016, 10:21 AM:

By the way, barring any serious injuries, I think this team will win it all this season. I am not a basketball guru or expert. I see size, speed, length, strength, and depth.

Last season, if UK had Dakari, they would have had another banner.

They won't get pushed around this season. I also think they will run teams out of the gym. Those teams that make their living by dictating the pace of the game, will be routed, because they will get behind early and not be able to milk the clock. I have no idea how many games they will lose this season, but they will be the number one over all seed by tourney time.