Interesting observation that even though fans want Orton and PP to play together, we need the roster spot to even get Orton. Forget first round, I think PP is looking at lottery. Also what’s up with Pilgram? He is on the team but won’t play till next year? Next year will he be a Soph or Jr.?

Opinion or not, your piece is quite objective and perhaps prescient. At this time I think the 2Pat stay or go question is a coin flip: His injury history and the potential millions must be balanced against his parents’ desire for a degree, besides I trust Coach’s insight more than others. As for incoming 2009 freshmen I predict it will be different than Hood, Vilarino and Orton, and, in fact, there will be at least 4. Finally, I differ in the amount of time Galloway will earn at PG, I see substantial.

But 27 or 28 W in 2009 season isn’t.

Gillispie has won 1 championship of any kind (UTEP conference title in 2004).

It’s quite a stretch to 1 or 2 NCAA titles from 2009 through 2013.

Pitino won 1 NC in 8 years (really 22 year career).

Gillispie may win 1 someday but RIGHT NOW it’s a pipedream.

6 years of conference tourney and NIT or NCAA tourney games.

You’ll be surprised that his postseason coaching record is barely .500 so far.

He CAN get there. But his record (so far) in postseason play is pretty ordinary.

Let’s get it out there. As a game motivator/game coach Coach Smith in my opinion was outstanding. It is obvious to me that Coach Smith for whatever reason, became less able to get top talent after the “Big Four” He was able to recruit well from between the 30-65 four star slots and win 22-25 a year.

With the immergence of FL and TN , Vandy and Georgia doing the same, the gap closed between UK and the rest of the league. Soon we were playing a PG who was 6’6" but couldn’t hit FTs and starting small forwards in the PF spot where they just got overpowered.

So now we have Coach G. who is a recruiter and a practice coach. Everything Coach Smith was not. Time will tell whether or not he already has the savy that Coach Smith developed over the years as an assistant and head coach. However, one thing strikes me about Coach G. He does know how to surround himself with talent. I think Coach G. ‘s overall staff is stronger than Coach Smith’s and I think that if Coach G. ever doubts that fact he move to correct it immediately. Different styles but class acts.

Because once the recruiting and practicing is done,, that is what will get us to the next level. I eel good because 90% of coaching is done on the practice floor, not the game floor. Nevertheless, I don’t look forward to playing Coach Smith’s teams.

“As a game motivator/game coach Coach Smith in my opinion was outstanding.”

You would have perhaps had an argument if you had omitted the “motivator” from your description. Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford are living, breathing, playing, exerting, focused examples of Smith’s inability to motivate. As for “game”, I’ll give you benefit of my doubt.

To your question of why any player would want to play 4 years of college basketball and receive a degree, I would direct you to a source who can answer the question directly: Tyler Hansbrough.

Who would every had thought our blog would have migrated to discussion on choices when it comes to money. IMO anyone making the decision to move to the next level needs to be informed. . First, as we all know,money is not everything. In and of itself money cannot give you happiness. There are happy rich people and there are sad rich people. Money is “happiness-neutral”. Money can cause you to think more of yourself than you are really “worth”. We all see sad cases of this point on the local, state and national levels. People believe they are above the law. Drugs, dog fighting and a general celebrity arrogance ocurrs when someone thinks the amount of money in their bank has something to do with their personal “worth”. Because of the amount of money involved, these are questions that not only the student athlete must answer, but even his sons and daughters must consider. That is assuming that the property he has accumulated has not already been divided between lawyers and his exspouse. The happy wealthy take their wealth in stride, are humble and in some cases you would never know they have money. That is hard to do when you are in the NBA.

Secondly, a person must ask themselves now what would be fulfilling for me to do after my time in the NBA, since the NBA will occupy such a short time of their life span? College is a time to experiment with courses that interest you intellectually. A person moving to the nexxt level should ask themselves if they enjoy the work and fulfillment given them in college. Is collegea struggle or fun? They should realize the next level will not be all flun.

Thirdly, of course it all comes down to your perspective. A private person, putting himself out in the public eye under 24 hour scrutiny can be daunting to a teenager. It all depends on your support system.

I am comfortable with PP’s decision because of the support system I feel he has with his family. They really seem to have all of these issues considered. One way or the other it is not an easy call and it is not just about national championships.

Carter has one more year due to the year he red shirted. No one graduates this year. May get 2 scollies next year if Paterson leaves for the NBA and D. Williams give up his. RIGHT?

Carter played a few games (exhbitions too) in Soph and Jr years. Each 1 second of PT = 1 year of eligibility.

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/Players/Carter_Jared.html

He could APPLY for another year and probably get it.

There are 2 types. The Carter version (play another year) counts as 1 of 13 scholarships.

The Henry Thomas (early 1990’s) version doesn’t count. H Thomas remained on UK scholarship but never played again.

I googled it and could not find a confirmation that Carter Redshirted. If he can apply after this year, I doubt that BG will let him. Unless he has a dramatic improvement.

He played in games in 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons.

If you redshirt, you cannot play in games or exhibitions.

He can apply to get 2007 season (eligibility) back because he only played 3 games. Must play less than 30% of games to apply.

Jodie Meeks would have been eligible to get 2008 back but he played in a couple late season games, putting him over 30% limit.

Adolph Rupp never won NC except at UK. Ditto Joe Hall.

Coach K never won NC except at Duke. Bobby Knight only at IU. John Wooden, UCLA.

Both Pitino and Tubby had superior postseason results before they came to UK than Gillispie did. Just a fact. He’s not had much luck in postseason play (9-11 in 6 years).

But the prior coach averaged 26-8 and was 23-9 in NCAA play with 1 NCAA title, 5 SEC titles, and 5 SECT championships in 10 years.

Gillispie has never (yet) shown much postseason success in 6 years. UK Glory comes from postseason results.

With Boston U and Providence (Pitino) or Tulsa and Georgia (Tubby) if you prefer.

Gillispie CAN but hasn’t YET shown he can succeed in postseason play and titles won.

Pitino AT LOUISVILLE has better postseason results than Gillispie.

Like it or not, he (G) has never had success in March. At UK, he simply MUST do so.

Rupp did. Hall did. Pitino did. Tubby did. Even Sutton did.

Wherever he coaches. Period.

Louisville plays Big East teams in March. UTEP and TAMU played much weaker teams.