futurecoach

A few people have also said if it wasn’t for an injury, he may have been a first or second round pick. Solid pick.

While I expected the pick to be a LB. At the end of the day it has been proven pretty regularly that drafting best player available is usually a better strategy than drafting to fill a need. If the Bengals had Howell higher on their board, then no issues from me with adding more of the pass rush.

Where did you see this? The last update two hours ago, said he is announcing his choice on Monday.

No doubt it could be a risk, and most likely the Bengals won't do it. As the Bengals have passed up on other talent in the past that falls in draft. One of the ones that stings the most is guard Trey Smith. He had a medical issue coming out, even though he was projected as a second round pick. He fell all the way to the 6th round. The Bengals had a chance to pick him, and instead took Trey Hill, and the Chiefs then took Trey Smith and he has been one of the best guards in football. So to me while it is a risk, it could be worth the risk as you are getting a top 10 talent at pick 41. So just truly depends on what people really think on that knee. Besides him, I think one of the edge rushers or obviously linebacker will be where they go.

I think it depends exactly what the medical reports are saying. That is the first I heard of possibly needing another surgery. If that is true, then yeah you can't risk that. However, there was injury concerns last year too for for top corner Will Johnson. He fell to the second round because of it, and ended up being very good. Without seeing the medical records, if the Bengals medical staff does feel comfortable with what they see, then I am all for getting him.

Which once he joined a Big Ten team he only was able to average just 12 minutes a game. 3 points, 2 rebounds. Keep in mind it is not like he was playing on a good team either, and yet he still wasn't getting to see the floor. Maybe he could come in here and actually help, however, there is nothing really there to support that at the moment.

Perfect fit? For his sake it would be awesome being a Ky boy on UK. From UK's perspective, I don't see it being that good of a fit at all. I feel like a smaller school would be the perfect fit for him.

I know medical opinions is the reason he has dropped. However, if he McCoy is still there when the Bengals draft, I want them to take that chance and draft him. He is a top 10 talent, that they could possibly get in round 2.

Nope. I would have been happy with either Bains or Downs. However, they got a guy who is proven and should help them win even more right now.

Dallas had a superstar in Dirk and always made sure they kept him. They had a superstar in Luka and paying him, they just had a GM that made the dumbest trade in history. Teams that has superstars don’t lose their guys after their rookie year.

Ok you lost me here. The KHSAA didn’t approve the success model that was originally talked about moving teams up who were winning a lot. The change they made was doing a multiplier to private schools enrollment. So your example of Raceland is not affected at all. As no school is getting moved up based on how they will do. Now the KHSAA may go that route one day, but that isn’t happening right now and is not currently even a draft proposal anymore.

I definitely get what you are saying. I know for me I believe if they are going to do this multiplier to private schools, the same should be done to public schools who have kids who attend that may technically be out of district. With that said, what all schools do you believe this hurts to where now they won't have a shot at continued success? Obviously Covcath has been successful in 5A before. KCD should continue to have success in 2A. Brossart is joining a district in 2A, where besides Beechwood they have beaten everyone including Walton-Verona the last two years. Cal definitely should be competing just fine in 4A still. St. Henry probably would have the biggest gripe, because they are a new football program. So I would agree that it probably isn't great for them. So while I do think it is unfair to these private schools to get moved up, when they won't do the same to public schools for out of district area kids. I don't see it has that big of a doom and gloom as you painted here, as for most of them they will continue to be successful.

Where is he going to go?

If he is there, then chances are you will be right! If he isn't there, I just hope they don't reach and then pick another linebacker just because they need one. While it may be a second round pick, overall I still want them picking best player available.

Now the big question is does he end up coaching another NBA team next season? If not, he truly would be a candidate for college jobs next year, since teams wouldn't have to wait for his NBA season to finish. If Donovan does end up taking over another NBA team this off season, then I would say any chance of him returning to college one day would be officially closed.

Considering how he has missed on a lot of his top targets, probably not great lol. However, UK at that point may have the most money to offer him, plus would fit the system really well.

If the Iowa State transfer doesn't go pro. Then I think Pope needs to do whatever it takes to get him. As he would be the perfect fit for Pope's offense, and honestly probably a better fit than Freeman would have been. So there are still guys to be had, as you mentioned. However, he needs to make sure he finds the right ones and also then be able to close them and get them here.

Yep. In today’s world the coach and money is what lands recruits, not the name on jersey. In fact even ten to twenty years ago the coach is what landed players not the name on a jersey. Kentucky and fans need to realize that you need a top coach to get the players. The Kentucky name may get a player to consider you, but it’s not going to close the deal. Quite honestly I know fans freaked out about Calipari saying how he wants to help get kids in the NBA more than winning. To me it’s funny how people don’t realize that simply him being a salesman to help recruit. Calipari definitely wants to win, and what gives him the best chance to win is getting top players. So he sells the idea of him getting players into the NBA. Pope is a nice guy and probably to honest. His sales pitch is probably simply talking about UK history, and saying here players need to care more about the name on the front the back. Which is what you want once they are here. However, that isn’t a great sales pitch in closing people.

Coach Pitino and St. John’s came in late, and were able to get Freeman.

Looking at the second round pick. I could see the Bengals doing a trade back in order to add another pick. I expect them to target either a LB or DB in second round. I do think if Peter Woods or Caleb Banks falls to their pick, they also could go with another DT to get younger, as they don’t have any good young player on the interior. DL, LB, DB, WR, OL, and possibly TE all will be in play.

While it sucks giving up pick 10. You have to love the Bengals going for it and actually being aggressive. Rather than wait back and hope one of the top defensive players falls them. They went out and got a top proven guy. That is a win now type of move, instead of waiting and hoping. So I love to see it!

Great story with him being a local guy, and would be amazing for him. However, as a UK fan I wouldn’t be to excited if they got him, as he hasn’t really shown he brings much at the high college level so far.

Agreed! I would love for them to close on Donnie Freeman. Then the dream pickup would be the Iowa State PF transfer who led the country in three point shooting last year.

I must say I really like the two guard pickups coach Pope has gotten so far.

There are still plenty of players left, and still plenty of time to put together a good roster. With that said, it does suck about how Pope does miss out on a lot of his initial targets it seems. Especially in regards to big names/talent. I know there is always a debate on who won the coaching change between UK and Arkansas. However, the same question could be asked about who won the coaching change between UK and BYU.