futurecoach

This! He is saying what people want to hear, but in terms of players he will get caring more about the name than players Cal got isn’t true either. That’s just not reality in todays world. He is a different voice, will bring a different energy, has put together a good staff. However, at the end of the day none of that will matter if it doesn’t produce great results.

Yet the NBA and competing with stars they grew up watching is the bigger dream than just putting on a college jersey. As even the one and done Cal players have said, UK is home for them. However, the NBA was the dream. So let’s just be fair about this. People acted like Cal recruited kids that cared more about the NBA. Well that is true for basically every kid, including a Ky boy like Sheppard. Sheppard would make millions here with NIL and possibly be a legend, yet the lure of being a lottery pick and playing in the NBA and money is even more of what players want than wearing the jersey. Shoot even though Pope said he wants players that care more about the jersey. Do we actually think all the transfer players he is recruiting care even more about the jersey, than the one and done guys Cal got? Not at all. It’s all the same, the only thing different is Pope is saying what people want to hear, even though it’s not really any different and not getting players that care more about the name than anything else.

Demanding and asking for a trade are two different things. Which he has asked for a trade if the team won’t work out a long term extension for him.

He is filling a non recruiting type role that is going to be more involved with NIL type things. So should be a good hire to go along with the other three that had been reported. Pope has put together a really good staff so far.

I think it just more shows the other schools probably were offering him more money.

Which shows the NBA even more of a dream than playing for UK. Which is the whole thing fans complained about with Cal acting like players care more about the NBA than Ky. If that is the case then have to say the same for Sheppard caring more about playing in the NBA than UK. More to the point that players even Ky boys would care more about the NBA than playing for the name across the chest.

I think some people just don’t understand that the days of truly playing for the name of the front of the jersey is over. It’s always good to say you want players like that, but it’s not reality no matter who the coach is. The NBA is the ultimate dream and will always out weigh any dream of playing for UK. Sheppard made the right decision for him.

Is he running spring practices by himself?

Without having any idea on who actually has applied or interviewed for the job. The two guys that I think would be a good hire is Sam Elsbernd if they want a Holmes guy with head coaching experience. If they want to go with a good up and coming young coach that currently is an assistant elsewhere, but I believe teaches at Holmes is Dan Penick. Which I know I have mentioned before, but I think he would be a great hire. Young coach that would have the energy for the job, and kids would want to play for him too. I have no idea if either applied or interviewed. However, those would be to of my choices that I think would be realistic for this job and good hires.

Orlando is now back at Illinois where he was before he came back to UK this last time. I think it was a smart decision for him as Underwood at Illinois may be positioning himself for a bigger job here soon.

I’m truly asking what would he have to regret? Much more to regret about staying than there is leaving.

What is there to really regret about leaving if you’re are going to be a lottery pick? The only thing that possibly could regret is missing out on possibly being a legendary star. With that said coming back also could have led to injury, and draft stock falling. He is not going to become a better player by staying. He will develop more in the NBA, and now gets closer to that second contract. There is very little to regret about leaving if you are a guarantee lottery pick. The NBA is the ultimate dream for kids. I know Mark Pope has said the right things, in regards to what fans what to hear like getting players that care about the name across the chest more than the NBA. However, this Reed Sheppard decision kind of shows it’s not reality getting players that care more about the name Kentucky across their chest than getting to the NBA. While playing for Kentucky is a dream for Ky kids, having a chance to play in the NBA is even a bigger dream even for Ky kids.

Congrats Austin! Such a great young man and great family! North Carolina has a new football fan in me once he plays there.

Agreed. He was probably leaving either way, but probably didn’t help the chances of him staying since every single teammate he had this year and even coaches are now gone. So if your going to experience something completely new next year, might as well do it as a lottery pick.

I completely agree. I just know people acted like Calipari forced players to go to the NBA. When the reality is the only ones he probably forced were guys who were going to be lottery picks. I guarantee the ones who left early but was not picked until late first round, second round, or even not drafted at all. Were never forced to leave by Cal and would have rather had them back, but he just supported their decisions.