(Vicky Graff Photo)
Could this be a “golden era” for Kentucky? Not long after Kentucky’s win over LSU lifted coach Mark Stoops’ team to 6-0 — a record UK has not matched since 1950 — that is what ESPN/SEC Network announcer Tom Hart pondered.
Obviously, Kentucky football is in rare air even after going 10-3 just three years ago. John Calipari’s basketball team is still a work in progress and coming off a 9-16 season but Hart believes a lot better times are coming.
“This is a hoops team with a ton of depth,” Hart said after watching UK practice twice over the weekend. “John Calipari’s use of the one-and-done was trendsetting. Now his use of Power Five transfers could be just as trend setting.”
Calipari added Oscar Tshiebwe (West Virginia), Kellan Grady (Davidson), Sahvir Wheeler (Georgia) and C.J. Fredrick (Iowa) to this year’s roster to go from having a traditionally young team to one of the nation’s oldest teams.
“C.J. has played and delivered in big games against big schools. Same for Oscar,” Hart said. “Wheeler played in the SEC but Georgia did not have the success Iowa and West Virginia did. Grady played at Davidson but played well when he got a chance against big-name schools. You take the guesswork out of recruiting with veteran guys.
“I think you will see a lot of peaks and not many valleys with the team this year. Cal has 12 guys who could start and play significant minutes. I don’t think he will platoon, but he could.
“I think his second team could probably win the SEC. That’s how good they are.”
After last year, Kentucky fans will be glad if the 12-man team can win the SEC and get back in the NCAA Tournament.
5 Responses
Win the SEC and get into the NCAA tournament are synonymous. Win the SEC and reach the final four is what is required from this coach and this team.
Any thing less, and his 5 year slide will be continuing for a 6th unacceptable year.
It is time for this coach to produce for the program and let the NBA prospects of his players take care of themselves, which they will do.
The Program first, not players first.
The program has taken a back seat for too many years.
They are not mutually exclusive. "Players first" reputation garners interest from players that can advance the program. See who you can recruit with your "program first, players take a back seat" philosophy. Heck, NIL is recognized by all in college sports as a crucial component to attracting the best players and it is the epitome of players first.
You are right about that Pat
You speak wholly for the fan base from the golden years of basketball. Senior day is pretty much a miss and not one retired jersey through out this coaches career.
There’s a lot a really good teams out there to beat so good luck with it.
Players/transfers will always have issues with playing time with his scheme. EJ Montgomery would have been a superb fit last year and let’s not forget about the guy playing for a national title at UCLA
College basketball needs a major overhaul.
Go to G or stay in college an develop your game. Look all the injuries that pile up with these guys.
He’s not focused on a championship. If he was he wouldn’t be Mr. 1/done. Gloating and bragging about how much his players make in the NBA is not a good take on the fan base.
Other teams have much better transfers imo. Good luck with parity, 1/done, zero chemistry to find that next banner.
And scheduling is weak. Got alot of fans not renewing tickets. *Ouch*