Will it ever end? I'm thinking no ...

by Truzenzuzex on May 23, 2008 5:40 PM EDT in Basketball

New names are appearing on the recruiting and transfer radar with astonishing regularity. We have Matthew Pilgrim. We have Wesley Johnson. We have Hunter McClintock. Now we have Malik Story and Curtis Kelly.

Of the two most recent players, Curtis Kelly would seem to be the best prospect. He has decided to transfer from UConn, and in 2006 when he matriculated there, he was a Rivals 5-star wing forward out of New York's Rice High School, the same high school that former UK skyscraper Shagari Allene went to.

Kelly was recruited by most every big-time program around, including North Carolina, Texas, UConn and Louisville. Kelly is a superior athlete with an NBA body at 6'9" 230#. Out of high school he was projected to be a wing player, but he has obviously turned into a prototypical college 4. Kelly is also said to be a good ballhandler, always a plus. Kelly will be taking visits to Kentucky, Kansas State, UNLV and possibly one other school.

Malik Story, on the other hand, is a former USC commit (a Rivals 3-star) who is said to possess a very nice jump shot, but lack athleticism and lateral movement. Story really isn't able to get his own shot, but can really stroke the ball and has good judgment about what is a good shot and what isn't. He has good size at 6'5" and a solid body, but doesn't have explosive jumping ability or quickness. He is also said to possess some attitude problems, but I have not been able to confirm that.

Just add all that into your calculus, for what it's worth. Me, I'll advise Gillispie to take the big guy if he asks. But I'm betting he won't.

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My K-St Coaching Friend

Thinks Kelly may wind up there. He’s usually pretty cautious.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 23, 2008 6:58 PM EDT 0 recs

I think ...

... he has a good shot at being right. We’ll see.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 23, 2008 8:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

K-St Landed His AAU Teammate

Jordan Henriquez, 6-11 C from Port Chester NY, signed this week. Maybe a clue?

by FortyYearCatFan on May 24, 2008 8:01 AM EDT up 0 recs

The odds of us getting Johnson or Kelly...

are worse than the odds of Gillispie asking for Tru’s advice!
Just kidding Tru!

UK has the greatest fans in the world!

by GoCats on May 23, 2008 9:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Ha Ha!

No one knows for sure.

I hate the suspense with this “wild,wild West ” Coach.

And I have to reference the FJM’s blog at Fire Billy? and Tombstone videos…I thought it was hilarious!

by kykat51 on May 23, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

May not get any of these guys...

But the notoriety that Kentucky is getting by being mentioned so many times with all these recruits/transfers will be a huge boon in years to come when it comes to recruiting and Kentucky returning to its rightful place as a “destination” school.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on May 24, 2008 10:39 AM EDT 0 recs

Like It Was In 2004, 2006, And 2007

Morris, Crawford, Rondo – 3 McDonalds A-A in 2004.

Meeks, Jasper, Stevenson – 3 Top 50 recruits in 2006.

Patterson, Lucas – 2 McDonals A-A in 2007.

Agree that 2008 recruiting was a dropoff but not that much.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 24, 2008 10:50 AM EDT 0 recs

Now there you go again...

Pulling out the early Reagan reference there for you 40. ;-)

In all fairness, you and I can look at those classes and say that they were “top of the line.” However, anyone who turned on a TV just over a year ago knows that the hot topic of conversation amongst basketball talking heads was that recruits didn’t want to go to Kentucky and that none of the 18 year olds cared about the tradition at Kentucky. You also can’t deny that with those lauded recruiting classes that you mention even Dukie V. lamented the drop in talent at Kentucky when he wasn’t bashing us racists for running off Tubby. Every national commentator who did a CBS or ESPN game for UK last year repeatedly said “It’ll take Gillispie a few years to get the talent level back to where it needs to be.”

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on May 24, 2008 9:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Maybe 1996 And 1997 Then

When UK was ANYTHING BUT a destination school of choice. Almost every UK recruit chose another school. UK wound up with Bradley (when he dropped BC), Hogan, Anthony, Magloire (by hiring his HS coach), and Evans (mid-major transfer) those 2 years. Some talent, yes. But hardly UK caliber recruiting classes. And UK never had a higher Buzz than 1996 and 1997 in modern era.

There is a Buzz around UK now, yes. But there WAS talent at UK in 2006 and 2007, too.

I give a (rhymes with map) about Talking Heads or what they say / think.

Gillispie averages 20-12 in 6 seasons as a coach. He must yet show he can average 26-8 as a coach.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 26, 2008 7:51 AM EDT 0 recs

Rhymes with map...

Hmmmm…

Nap?
Snap?
Lap?
Flap?

My expletive dictionary is coming up empty on that.

FWIW. I agree that Pitino had one foot out the door after the 95 season and it showed. I don’t know that I ever recall a national championship program that failed to capitalize on the notoriety of winning more than Kentucky did.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on May 26, 2008 9:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

Rap,lol.

by -Zoso- on May 26, 2008 9:43 AM EDT 0 recs

Ohhhhhh

Okay… I was probably thinking dirtier words than what was intended. Now I’m with ya.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on May 26, 2008 10:02 AM EDT up 0 recs

You Know The Word

Talking Heads are more of the former, less of the latter.

Who cares what they say?

UK won the NCAA title in 1998 then signed Top 5 class that spring (1998) and Top 3 class that fall.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 26, 2008 11:02 AM EDT up 0 recs

results

what were the results of that class?

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on May 26, 2008 4:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

1998 Or 1999?

I’ll do both. 98 class was 97-39 (8-4 in NCAA). SEC co- champs in 2000 and 01. SECT champs in 1999 and 2001. Elite 8 in 99, Sweet 16 in 2001 and 02. Prince was only 2-time A-A at UK since K Walker.

99 class was 101-34 (8-4 in NCAA). SEC co-champs in 2000 and 01, undefeated SEC champs in 2003. SECT champs in 2001 and 03. Sweet 16 in 2001 and 02, Elite 8 in 03. That 03 team led the nation in W-L (%) record and first AP #1 ranked (final poll) UK team since 1978. First UK team to go undefeated vs SEC opponents since 1954.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 26, 2008 7:00 PM EDT 0 recs

so...

...lots of wins, not so many final fours.

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on May 26, 2008 11:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Like 1960's Or 1980's Decades

Lots of W, not so many FF appearances.

If it’s all about FF only, several teams > UK.

UCLA, North Carolina, Duke to name 3.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 27, 2008 6:41 AM EDT 0 recs

final fours

don’t know about the 60s…before my time. and i was still a bit young to remember the 80s. also not sure how they fit into the talk about the 98 and 99 class.

you’re right though that it’s not just about FFs…it’s about final fours and championships. that list grows a little shorter based on championships. and you mention several teams with more FFs, and then named three of them…aren’t they the only 3?

i love winning % and #1 rankings as much as the next guy, but i just want to see the cats win their last 6 games.
IMO, 20-10 + championship (or FF) > 29-1 + elite eight (or S16). but that just might be me

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on May 27, 2008 11:09 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yes

Kansas is tied with UK at 13 FF.

UK has only won their last 6 games a few times. 1933. 1946. 1948. (Not 1949 lost in NIT before NCAA) 1951. 1954. 1958. 1976. 1978. 1996. And 1998.

UK averages 1 NCAA title every 10 years (7 in 70 years) and 1 FF every 5+ years (13 in 70 years).

UK had many talented teams in 1960’s and 1980’s but not many FF (only 2 those 2 decades).

by FortyYearCatFan on May 27, 2008 7:51 PM EDT 0 recs

My (subjective) definition of success at UK

1) Win the SEC every year (allowing other teams to win occaisionally is acceptable)
2) Advance to the Elite 8 (Kentucky should never be lower than the top 10 in the country… but again, the occaisional Sweet 16 exit is acceptable)
3) Every recruiting class should play in one Final Four (i.e. Final Four 1x/four years)
4) Win a title once a decade.

Now that may seem excessive by 40’s stats… but I would say that a coach that meets those benchmarks would have no major gripes from the BBN.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on May 28, 2008 9:06 AM EDT 0 recs

UK History Defines Success As Follows

NCAA title 1x every 10 years. (7 in 70 years of NCAA).

SEC title 1x every 2 years (43 in 76 years of SEC).

SECT championship 1x every 2 years (26 in 51 years that SECT was played).

Win 3 of every 4 games (76% W-L record, all-time).

Win 7 of every 10 NCAA games (69% W-L record in NCAA, all-time).

Kentucky has NEVER been Elite 8 or Top 10 every year. Rather 5x every 10 years (35 Elite 8 in 70 years of NCAA) and 6x every 10 years (38 times in 60 years of AP poll).

UK played in 6 FF (3 NIT, 3 NCAA) in 1940’s. UK won 8 SEC titles in 1940’s. UK won 7 SECT championships in 1940’s. UK won 85% of its games in 1940’s.

The 1940’s are THE decade that made UK a basketball powerhouse. Only the 1990’s comes close to the 40’s, maybe the 1950’s too.

by FortyYearCatFan on May 29, 2008 6:57 AM EDT 0 recs