Angst, angst everywhere ...

by Glenn Logan on Aug 2, 2007 7:01 AM EDT in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

I dropped into The Cats Pause today just for a look around, and what I saw should surprise me. Yet it doesn't.

Yesterday, two of the recruits that had UK on it's list dropped off -- Terrance Jennings and Olek Czyz. One poster on TCP is calling yesterday "Black Wednesday".

First of all, a bit of history surrounding these two guys. Terrance Jennings is a recruit that just appeared on UK's radar back on July 25th. It isn't as if we have been recruiting him for six or even three months, whereas Maryland has been recruiting him since at least February. The fact that we were even considered at all is a testament to the change around this program, and his choice of Maryland really makes a lot of sense to anyone not a UK fan.

As far as Olek Czyz, I said back when we first identified him as a potential recruiting target that the "zyz" thing could be the end of us. If he doesn't wind up playing for Duke, I will be surprised.

We UK fans need to get a grip. We have at most four scholarships available next year with one already filled, and we still have 14 players under recruitment for that year counting Czyz. I'm not taking Czyz off the board until he at least verbals, but even if we do, that leaves 13 recruits to fill 3 slots.

UK fans are well known for obsessing over every recruit, as if we could just manufacture scholarships at will. These players are not acting in a vacuum -- they perfectly well know what each school's needs are, where they are likely to get the most benefit, etc.

It is also quite possible that Coach Gillispie doesn't impress every single human being as much as he has the Big Blue Nation. I know this is a shocking thing to suggest, but it is quite possible some people don't care for the guy. Heck, I have even heard that there are some people who don't care for me, as genuinely stunning and nearly unbelievable as that is.

I suggest the concerned and troubled among us take a deep breath, or a big shot of Maker's Mark or whatever adult beverage you prefer, and relax. Just a bit. We still have a long way to go, and remember, there are always surprising bargains to be had at the end of every year -- Alex Legion comes to mind.

So in closing, to quote Treebeard from The Two Towers, "Now, don't be hasty." It would be nice if we had to turn away recruits every year, but that just isn't how it goes. The effort will be there. We must trust the results.

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Comments

Careful Tru...

...your logic is showing. ;^)

Good post.

by Clandestine on Aug 2, 2007 8:47 AM EDT reply actions

Oh, shoot.

We can't have that. ;-)

by Glenn Logan on Aug 2, 2007 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Cyz

According to CYz? his list is down to UF, U of L and Duke. Hows that for something to rile up a UK fan.

Here is the deal with the disapointment folks. We need a big man in a bad bad way. i think that's the only reason for the panic with this recruiting go around. Once Billy G gets that big man I think everyone will settle down a bit. I like to think that I am a reasonable person. It's really early still yet. The first signing period is still several months away and there has to be some more servicable big men that can have an immediate impact out there that we dont know about that Billy G does. Still,I cant help but feel a little anxious about the lack of a commitment from a big man. It's only natural to be anxious about something your so invested in emotionally, the only problem is people let there emotions carry them away.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Aug 2, 2007 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

blasphemy

just shows the fickle nature of recruiting when you show up in someone's top 3 and a week later he commits to another school.

but tru, this can't really be true, can it?

It is also quite possible that Coach Gillispie doesn't impress every single human being as much as he has the Big Blue Nation.

i refuse to believe it...just the thought of that makes my head hurt. i think i'm going to lay down for a little while.

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Aug 2, 2007 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

I can hardly believe ...

my fingers actually typed it. I had to take an analgesic immediately after for the pain. :-)

by Glenn Logan on Aug 2, 2007 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

It will take some time

for UK to reach the recruiting status of Duke and UNC. Those two schools, and even Florida to a lesser extent, seem to be able to pick and choose the 5 and 4 star players they want and turn away many others. It may take a year or two for coach G to put UK in that recruiting league; Tubby left UK in recruiting mediocrity, I am confident coach G will change that in time!

by Catfan on Aug 2, 2007 11:33 AM EDT reply actions

True

I agree with CatFan. I was surprised by G's early recruiting success as everyone was and I think it got all of us a little carried away. I initially thought that it would take several years to be apble to pull in the 4-5 stars the way UNC and Duke do. I think he attracts point guards so easily becuase he has a proven track record in Deron Williams and Acie Law. Not to say he cant coach bigs at all just that I think it will take a couple years of success to really attract the top bigs in the country.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Aug 2, 2007 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

Um...

Didn't Kentucky just get the best big man on the market in April?

Sure, they need a center, but the 2008 class is widely considered among the weakest, especially in the frontcourt, in years.

I'd rather focus on getting the best talent possible.

And you're right, UK fans have got to chill.

The Online home of Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on Aug 2, 2007 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

Yes ...

And I think another big forward would suffice.

by Glenn Logan on Aug 2, 2007 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Patterson

I don't think Patterson was the best big man in the class of 07. The best available in the spring? Yes. Will he prove to be the best big man in the class of 07? Rupp I hope so.

I am not concerned about landing the big time center as they are only good for one year. The Oden's of the world do not come around very often. I would rather see consistent recruiting of power forwards and formidable centers (not projects) and build DEPTH around the post. While Tubby failed to do that, I believe coach G will bring UK back to the top of the recruiting world.

I don't think we should expect it to take too long. Coach G is self-motivated; he has a great staff in place, tremendous recruiting resources and is backed by the most historic, tradition rich program with the best college basketball facilities in the country. If UK is not in the top 5 of recruiting classes every year I will be shocked (unless there are just no open spots to fill).

by Catfan on Aug 2, 2007 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Angst

Kentucky fans are notorious knee jerk reactionaries. Remember "Black Monday"?

Recruiting is as fluid a situation as war. When dealing with 17-18 year old athletes, with handlers, parents, friends, AAU coaches, HS coaches, teammates, all giving their two cents worth of "advice", it's a wonder decisions are ever forthcoming.

My advice to the angst ridden, teeth gnashing set, is to RELAX, DON'T DO IT. BCG will get the job done. There are a bountiful number of players around the country who have yet to make a decision. Actually, the higher rated players have yet to announce.

I am sure we are in for an eventful signing period.

by Ken Howlett on Aug 2, 2007 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

now THIS....

is exactly why I very rarely venture to the TCP message board. I know this makes me sound like I'm being all elitist, but so very many of the posters there just don't sound all that...mmm, what's the word...smart. Or reasonable, or even really sane. Black Wednesday??! What the hell. I consider myself a rather obsessive Kentucky fan, and I have never even heard of one of those dudes (Jennings) and only vaguely remember hearing of the other (Czyz, and I probably only remember him because of his unpronouncable, vowell-less name). Some people are such drama queens. At least "Black Monday" concerned a player whose name we'd all been hearing for ages--being all bereft about his loss at least made a little bit of sense. I really hope Gillispie's early successes don't lead to ridiulously high expectations among the crazier fringes of our fandom--where people are forseeing the impending demise of the program with every recruit who has the gall to choose another school.

by blue kentucky girl on Aug 2, 2007 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Big men in recent years at UK...

I've gone blank trying to even remember the last serviceable big man we had other than Morris. It doesn't go all the way back to Magloire does it? Surely theres someone in there that I'm forgetting of some size and fortitude...

by chirop1 on Aug 2, 2007 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

Forgetting ...

Marquis Estill?

by Glenn Logan on Aug 2, 2007 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Good Point

I wasnt really thinking of Patterson when I mad that comment but I think he is a different case than these bigs for 08 as he was very familiar with UK and all that goes with being a UK player.

These bigs for 08 arent from Kentucky or a nearby state, with the exception of Zeller who has ties elsewhere so I think my point still stands.
These kids dont really know about UK and I think it will take a couple years of success for G to begin realing in 5 stars the way UNC does.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Aug 2, 2007 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

the cynic is back...

seems to me that there is a "spoiler" out there somewhere. I wonder what things are whispered into the ears of such impressionable young men. I surely hope that there is some substance to the soup that everyone is sharing. Otherwise, they might wake up one morning with a terrible stomach ache.....

by blueblood on Aug 2, 2007 11:23 PM EDT reply actions

on a lighter note...

The situation could be as simple as the "honeymoon phase" is over in the recruiting world. Maybe these young men and their advisors have settled down and went with the logical choice. I know that UK should be a logical choice because we always have been. However, tradition doesn't win championships; a good coach with solid experienced players that have a great team spirit win championships.

If I were an advisor, I would undoubtedly feel the need to express a little emphasis on proven track records. There is alot of money to be made on the stock market with "up-and-coming" start-up companies. You could pick a winner early and end up being a millionaire, but similar odds apply to winning the lottery.

I feel absolutely confident that once the season gets underway and BCG gets a chance to prove his worth, the next few years of recruiting will improve dramatically. I'm just gonna sit back and watch the show. Anyone want some popcorn?

by blueblood on Aug 2, 2007 11:32 PM EDT reply actions