Phlorida Phear

by Truzenzuzex on May 3, 2007 3:07 PM EDT in Basketball Comment 25 comments

Ok, this is likely to look like a rant. Sorry for that but sometimes this stuff just gets to me.

A look at our most recent poll shows that our readers believe that Patrick Patterson is the least likely recruit to show up at Kentucky next year. In other words, the guy that two high-quality coaches have spent innumerable hours recruiting is less likely to come to Kentucky than Michael Sanchez + The Player to be Named Later. A staggering 58% say Beas Hamga, a player who has never set foot in Kentucky as a UK recruit and whom Billy Gillispie has spent less time on than any other recruit is more likely to be here than any of the rest combined.

This just blows my mind. I understand that some of this is caused by the recent burst of favorable news regarding Hamga, and the fact that Patterson has been holding out for so long. But why are so many people so sure that Billy Donovan is going to obtain the services of Patterson and/or Lucas? We have been recruiting these guys far longer, have far more to offer in almost every respect, yet ...

I have come to the conclusion that it is an irrational fear of Florida. Yes, Florida has owned us the last two years. There is simply no other way to put it. But they are still a football school, and if Billy Donovan had Dean Smith as his assistant coach, it wouldn't change that fact. Is it that we believe Smith screwed up our school so bad that it is no longer a viable destination for 5-star recruits? Is Florida, by dint of two national championships suddenly one of the Great Powers of college basketball?

I just don't get the pessimism. UK has been in front of these guys longer than any recruit in memory, and yet people seem to think that just because Billy D. says, "I want you", all these players are going to matriculate to Florida like zombies under the influence of a mad sorcerer.

So help me here. Help me understand the pessimism, the defeatism, the outright fear of Florida that seems to be manifesting itself in the Big Blue Nation. Are we Kentucky, or aren't we? For God's sake, how about a little friggin' arrogance here? We just hired a new, aggressive, successful coach who is going to run rings around Donovan, or so many have professed to believe.

Well, what do you believe?

This is astonishing. Florida apparently lost money winning two national championships. Sorry, that just sounds wrong.

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Fantastic...

Entry TRU! We are UK and we dont have to take a backseat to anyone.

by tiger85 on May 3, 2007 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn skippy.

Look, I'm not trying to knock Donovan or Florida. But I remember a time only a couple of years ago when you could have counted the people who would have picked Florida over UK in a recruiting contest on the fingers of Captain Hook's left hand.

Now, it seems defeatism is bubbling up everywhere. It makes me a little unstable.

by Truzenzuzex on May 3, 2007 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why not?

Knock those turds all you want.

Since when did "thoughtful fan" and "hating your rivals" become antithetical?

Florida sucks. It's the one place with more mullets than Kentucky and fewer good things than West Virginia.

Winning doesn't make you special, it makes you famous. Florida is still the place that brought you Brett Nelson and Matt Walsh, and which features a "chomp."

Please, bash away.

The Online home of Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on May 3, 2007 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Phlorida Phear.....

There is a reason for the loss of arrogance. He is now coaching where they say the fishing is pretty good. Brr......

by ukfan4sure on May 4, 2007 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Patterson...

is a mystery...so I think the poll represents Big Blue Nations emphasis that they want great players, but they want great players that want to be here. Besides only two scholarships left and BG is recruiting hard - if Patterson wants to be the last recruit to commit, we might not have a spot for him (I know there are always ways around this)

As of UF - yes they are a football school, BUT with Billy D there - they wil be a force until he leaves. All good programs have to start somewhere. Now 2 Titles an 2 F4's is a good start, plus many kids now, play for the coach rather than the University.

You keep referring to UF the "school", you should look at Billy D - because that's what these recruits are looking at for their ticket to the NBA - The coach/ playin style and time and tv exposure are the what these kids need.

UKNation96

by UKNation96 on May 3, 2007 3:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tv exposure...

is likely to be little to none next year for UF while starting all Freshman level experienced kids. I don't see UF beating Arkansas next year with or without PP and JaiL.

by blueblood on May 3, 2007 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

i think it boils down to two things. first and foremost, UF has won two championships in a row and has tons of playing time available. patterson seems to be a bit of an attention whore (i could be way off base here). He will get loads of attention from the national media if he goes to UF and makes them at least decent next year. you can just read the headlines now..."big-time diaper dandy makes gator nation forget about 04's..." second, the HC change hurt us. by most accounts, tubby was pretty tight with the family. when he left, that made pat's thought wander a bit. now, he seems to be impressed with billy clyde, but he had to learn about a new coach all over again late in the game.

i would just prefer the whole saga be over with. i have to do some work.

by small balls on May 3, 2007 4:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe you're just having

a little fun, or maybe you slept on the couch last night, I don't know. But, I certainly don't think you should get so upset about a fan poll. I mean, I picked "all of the above," which isn't even possible. Anyway, I don't think the lack of votes for PP represents fans defeatism that Florida is getting him, but rather I think it represents fans dissatisfaction with the way PP has handled his choice of school. Nobody likes to get strung along, and PPs attitude certainly seems like he's stringing along several schools, who they are we don't know. Think of it like not asking out that beautiful girl (or guy, [pc]) so that you won't get hurt if (s)he rejects you.

by senowen on May 3, 2007 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Upset ...

is kind of a stretch. More like annoyed. I have seen negative post after negative post on many boards regarding Patterson's recruitment, and it just doesn't seem justified.

And of course, there is no science in the poll, but it does give a directional indication that just baffles me.

by Truzenzuzex on May 3, 2007 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

All of these are...

good reasons to argue the case. IMO the main reasons that I would anticipate the UF choice are that BD has proven that he is a championship caliber coach and he has a good start on the next team with the talent already on the bench.
From the same perspective, BG hasn't proven himself a championship coach. This is NOT to say that he isn't, it just hasn't been proven yet. By all accounts, I think he will prove that while at UK.
However, I think that if Patpat were able to trust that BG is capable of bringing home the Ring of Power, then I think UK is closer to that feat with the addition of PP, Jai Lucas, and Hamgas because they have 3 starters returning with plenty of experience to lead their team and the talent to fill in the holes. That experience is exactly what UF lacks. All the talent in the world can't lead them to NCAA champs without the mental stability of experience.
Which is why I think that PatPat should chose UK, but I don't think he will. I think the BlingBling of that recent championship is going to overpower this kids' reasoning ability.

by blueblood on May 3, 2007 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not going to be Patterson's decision.

I don't think patterson will be at UK, but not because I am afraid of Florida or has feel automatically defeated. I think PP would decide to come to UK, but I also belive sanchez and Hamga will accept the offers before PP or Lucas get their heads out of the clouds and make a decision.

I think we have to take the first two of these for that accept the offers and I don't think PP will be one of those two.

"how about a little friggin' arrogance here"

How about we don't NEED to wait for PP. We can win without him or Lucas. PP is not the coming of the savior, he's just one of the few GOOD players left and that is all.

by charlie1 on May 3, 2007 4:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah ...

but we have invested too much. I want them all. Find a way.

by Truzenzuzex on May 3, 2007 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Attitude

Is a big factor in the poll, I think. I think we see a guy who is seemingly stringing everyone along and we may tend to view him as a cancer. We have been hard bitten before by guys who were possible all-American candidates and who tended to kill team chemistry. (Jason Parker, Rashaad Carruth and Rajon Rondo to name a few.) I think their is a part of us who fear Patterson because he seams somewhat surly. We can't get a read on him, we don't know what is going through his head and that puts us off alittle. It maybe as simple though as just not wanting to get our hopes up again. If you don't get your hopes up, then you don't get as hurt when he says no. (I call this the Billy Donovan effect.) I have seen alot of negative posts( on other sites) If Patrick doesn't come some can say, I never cared for him anyway. I do believe however that the vast majority(including myself want Patrick to come and will be overwhelming pleased when he does.) He will get true basketball love here. The last thing I would like to say is we have seen so many great players pass us over recently (call it slow down ball, ball line defense or just Tubby.) We have gotten accustomed to not getting the player we truly want and I have been guilty of that myself(I voted for Beas!) In the end, I grow more confident in Coach Billy G's ability (and more confident in getting star players as I write.) We are Kentucky, By God! It is time again to be the Bully's of the SEC! It is time again to be the smugest bastards in college basketball! Come on down Patrick, if you want to win and be smug with us; as I know you will come! Time to fear the BBN again! Hell hath no fury, like a wildcat scorned! We will get Pat and we will be back on top, WE ARE KENTUCKY!!! (man that felt good!)

Go Cats!

by Blueman2000 on May 3, 2007 4:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rondo

The story that Rondo was somehow the clubhouse cancer that destroyed that team has always struck me as extremely convenient and unlikely.

Who the hell was he supposed to pas the ball to, Sheray Thomas? Woo? A fatter-n-hell Patrick Sparks with Arby's sauce dripping from his fingers?

Never bought it.

The Online home of Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on May 3, 2007 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rondo

I like Rondo and wish him the best. But it did more than often get overexposed and leaked to the media his lack of confidence in Tubby.

Also - rumor mill was that him and Sparks didn't get along because of a girl - (that's putting it as nice as a can)

UKNation96

by UKNation96 on May 3, 2007 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rumor mill

The Kentucky rumor mill is about as accurate as Digger Phelps' Final Four picks. I.E., not at all.

The Online home of Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on May 4, 2007 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

i agree that this might be an overreaction. I think, given an even playing field, billy clyde at UK could probably outrecruit anybody -- coach k, roy williams, ben howland, bill self, thad matta, rick barnes, billy donovan. I truly mean that.

But he is at a disadvantage when it comes to pat. pat's family was tight with tubby, and he was a big reason pat liked uk. now he's only been exposed to billy for a few weeks, and all the other suitors have presumably much better relationships with him.

But that doesnt mean that pat wont still sign with uk. i think he might, if there were room -- and i would love to have him. but perception is important too, and billy knows that. it will look bad if he outright loses pat to florida or duke. if billy sees the writing on the wall, i dont think he'll waste any time signing hamga and forgetting about the pat patterson sweepstakes. i dont think that is an inferior position at all. billy clyde has made me a more arrogant UK fan than ever.

by boobs on May 3, 2007 5:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Patterson

We just do not care about Patterson and Lucas anymore. Also, I heard Hamga has a younger brother at Kentucky so should commit as soon as he is cleared. Patterson is likely to wish wash around so long that the free ride is gone by the time he makes up his mind.

by oldkentucky on May 3, 2007 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hamga does not have...

a younger brother at UK. Hamga's host parents have a son at UK. Also, if he were younger than Hamga, how would he already be at UK?

by blueblood on May 3, 2007 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hamga's 19

so that's actually possible

by boobs on May 3, 2007 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll eat my crow...

by blueblood on May 3, 2007 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

attitude

I think PP is enjoying the limelight....and I am also reluctant to just wish on him....since he might be another Randolph Morris. I want the upcoming season to be positive and not have any player that takes the oxygen out of the room so to speak. I do not think that Donovan has any edge on BG....the players are very easily swayed with glitter....and glitz....and two championships do that. I cannot think that TS had PP in his pocket...so I do not think BG has lost him. PP and JL are playing this for all it is worth. As I think Donovan played KY....for his own advantage. Remember the posting recently of the oddities in TS behaviors as he left the state....many just look out for number one....with little regard to other influences. I am not one who wanted Donovan to come to the Blue Nation....I know he can coach....but I have not been able to see his talent as overwhelming. Five years ago where was he? Sometimes you are just in the right place....and that combination of players was just right. Individually, with the exception of Humphreys I could not watch them....and I love college basketball. I can watch anybody play....and love the talent many players bring to the game...but not that Fla group. I also have to tell you that my family calls me the original Blue Nation "homer" but I tried to imagine Noah in a KY uniform....and could not do it. Something about the boy. And I despise Fla football. I have been to the Swamp and that is not a classy crowd. So can we be arrogant....we certainly can. We are classy....and we are Kentucky.

by CAWebb on May 3, 2007 6:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Common sense

I think your poll reflects common sense more than fear. Hamga seems itching to sign with the Blue in recent days, thus he gets the highest number of votes. Lucas has always had a favorable opinion of UK and seems to favor us over Florida, thus he is listed 2nd. Sanchez, people can't exactly figure out, because as UK fans we would expect any high school player to choose us over prep school. But Sanchez just doesn't seem as interested...combine that with the fact that there has been little news out of the Sanchez camp in the last 2 weeks, and he places 3rd, over the highly enigmatic Patterson. I am not sure any school can say Patterson is "in their corner" without showing tremendous bias. All 800 Duke fans think "We're Duke, he obviously wants to play for the best." UK fans say the same, and Florida fans likewise. Remember, each person voting on your poll could pick only 1 player, thus there are at least 2 more recruits that have spoken more highly of our school than Patterson. That is why he is the lowest. No UK fan fears Florida. We are UK, they will be nothing but a blip in history.

by T Svoboda on May 3, 2007 7:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hear, Hear....

Most likely explanation!

by blueblood on May 3, 2007 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What have you done for me lately?

There's no fear of Florida. Some of us just do not have the faith that today's recuits have the necessary knowledge of basketball history to know that they should go to UK.....in their own little worlds, they only see 'what have you done for me lately?'and they see that Florida is the two time defending national champions. In other words, some of us think that some recruits think that it's 'cool' to be playing at Florida right now. Patterson seems to be that kind of recruit.

by busterqbundy on May 3, 2007 9:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs