Paul Daugherty (sp?) of the Cincinnati Enquirer had a few interesting questions and comments in one of his columns on nky.com.

 

The following questions were asked:

 

....Do you want a team of good players that stay 2-3-4 years? Or a team of great players that stay a year?

 

....it’s nice to see a collection of players stay and grow.

 

....The idea that a freshman, up to his eyeballs in basketball, with designs on a pro career, can whiz through an institution of higher learning and learn by osmosis seems delusional.

 

On the other hand, a two-, three- or four-year process is far more gratifying.

 

If you’re a UK fan and they’d won, how much would it have mattered that they did it with a core of mercenaries?

 

....How much more pride/joy/whatever might you have felt had Calipari built more from the ground up, instead of bringing in the Yankees of quasi-amateur ball?

 

Thoughts?

 

Link to enitre summary of questions and article

Of course seeing a kid mature into a man over 3 or 4 seasons is more gratifying. Fact is though, you don't turn down 1 and done talent, you simply don't do it. It takes a mixture of both to be competitive in my opinion. You need a guy like Patterson to be the glue and you need guys with the talent of Wall and Cousins to make a run in March.

I like what Coach Cal has done. We had coaches who brought in the 4 year players.

 

We made it to the Elite 8, if we had won the National Title none of this talk would have happened.

Prior to this year, Calipari's only had two "one-and-done" players.

 

I think that is a misconception that he'll only bring in those guys and so on and so forth.

 

This was the first year. He'll start mixing the classes with elite talent and great 3-4 year talent. So, I like Cal's method.

Bottom line is we were 35-3 and not 20-12 or 26-9.

 

I'll take winning and losing players over not winning NCAA Tourny games and keep players who aren't going to help down the road on the bench.

Of course seeing a kid mature into a man over 3 or 4 seasons is more gratifying. Fact is though, you don't turn down 1 and done talent, you simply don't do it. It takes a mixture of both to be competitive in my opinion. You need a guy like Patterson to be the glue and you need guys with the talent of Wall and Cousins to make a run in March.

 

True, but one of the basketball analysts made a very good point the other day.

 

Kansas, who has never had a one and done player, has been one of the elite schools year in and year out.

 

Duke is another school that rarely recruits one and done players and they too have had success over the past ten years.

 

Michigan State has now been to 6 final fours in the past twelve years and they haven't had any one and done players either.

 

Do you really need one and done players to be successful and win national titles?

True, but one of the basketball analysts made a very good point the other day.

 

Kansas, who has never had a one and done player, has been one of the elite schools year in and year out.

 

Duke is another school that rarely recruits one and done players and they too have had success over the past ten years.

 

Michigan State has now been to 6 final fours in the past twelve years and they haven't had any one and done players either.

 

Do you really need one and done players to be successful?

 

In your very first year with the returning players Kentucky had, yes.

 

But like I said, Cal had two one-and-done players prior to Kentucky. It's not like he simply loads his team up with them.

 

Likewise, he also adds in a few pieces that will be here a while (Dodson, Bledsoe, or so we thought, Poole for next year.)

Prior to this year, Calipari's only had two "one-and-done" players.

 

I think that is a misconception that he'll only bring in those guys and so on and so forth.

 

This was the first year. He'll start mixing the classes with elite talent and great 3-4 year talent. So, I like Cal's method.

 

Exactly.. not his fault he hit a home run with Wall/Cousins. He will mix it up. We may get a one and done each year but will cancel it out with a 2-4 year guy. The NBA very well may change it to a 2 year rule here soon anyway. It's only his first class.

True, but one of the basketball analysts made a very good point the other day.

 

Kansas, who has never had a one and done player, has been one of the elite schools year in and year out.

 

Duke is another school that rarely recruits one and done players and they too have had success over the past ten years.

 

Michigan State has now been to 6 final fours in the past twelve years and they haven't had any one and done players either.

 

Do you really need one and done players to be successful and win national titles?

Kansas - I assume Xavier Henry will be one and done.

 

Duke - Luol Deng was one and done. Went to the Final Four in his only season.

 

Michigan State - Zach Randolph was one and done. Went to the Final Four in his only season.

 

There is a big difference in not recruiting one and done players and being able to land one and done players. I would think 99% of coaches would have taken their chances with Wall, Cousins, and Bledsoe... even if it were for only 37 games. You take the best you can.

In your very first year with the returning players Kentucky had, yes.

 

But like I said, Cal had two one-and-done players prior to Kentucky. It's not like he simply loads his team up with them.

 

Likewise, he also adds in a few pieces that will be here a while (Dodson, Bledsoe, or so we thought, Poole for next year.)

 

I'm certainly not questioning Cal's methods. The man is a proven winner and just single handedly turned around UK's program in one year.

 

But when does having to replace a John Wall or Demarcus Cousins year in and year out finally catch up to your program? Cal is a good recruiter but he's not going to be able to get players like that every year.

Cal is one of the most successful coaches in College Basketball. He's a class act off the court and the kids he brought in this year grew up so much this season. I don't care if players stay 1 year or 20 as long as they are wearing the UK blue and white and give it all they have.

But when does having to replace a John Wall or Demarcus Cousins year in and year out finally catch up to your program? Cal is a good recruiter but he's not going to be able to get players like that every year.

He has also shown that he does not rely on Wall or Cousins like talent to succeed. Rose and Evans were the exception, and not the rule at Memphis.

I'm certainly not questioning Cal's methods. The man is a proven winner and just single handedly turned around UK's program in one year.

 

But when does having to replace a John Wall or Demarcus Cousins year in and year out finally catch up to your program? Cal is a good recruiter but he's not going to be able to get players like that every year.

 

Yeah but he will mix it up and add 2-4 year guys. The stars have to go somewhere why not UK? Wall/Cousins will be remembered at UK for as long as Farmer/Ford will be.

True, but one of the basketball analysts made a very good point the other day.

 

Kansas, who has never had a one and done player, has been one of the elite schools year in and year out.

 

Duke is another school that rarely recruits one and done players and they too have had success over the past ten years.

 

Michigan State has now been to 6 final fours in the past twelve years and they haven't had any one and done players either.

 

Do you really need one and done players to be successful and win national titles?

 

I was actually thinking about a few of the teams you mentioned as I typed my orinigal post.

 

Something else to think about is the amount of 1 and done players that are now coming into the college game. I may be wrong ( wouldn't be the first time ) but it seems more and more kids are going to college for 1 year due to the NBA rule. The teams you mentioned may end up having to take these kids to compete year in and year out.

 

Also, wasn't Wall recruited by Coach K ? Again, I could be wrong.

 

A great deal of Kansas' success this season could be due to the fact that Xavier Henry played so well. I would assume he's heading into the league ?

 

As I said earlier, you don't turn down elite talent based on the fact that you'll only have them one year. 9 times out of 10, the 1 and done players are going to make you much more successful.

Cal is one of the most successful coaches in College Basketball. He's a class act off the court and the kids he brought in this year grew up so much this season. I don't care if players stay 1 year or 20 as long as they are wearing the UK blue and white and give it all they have.

 

I agree. :thumb: