jmik58's Blog
John Calipari's grand experiment has played out in full color over the past two seasons for Kentucky basketball.
The same program that won the national championship in 2012 couldn't even get out of the first round of the NIT against Robert Morris last night. The analogies and metaphors are raining down on the Wildcats and it's hard to know which one to grab first.
Calipari's approach has been to focus on embracing the inconvenient one-and-done rule in college basketball where players must complete one year post-high school before entering the NBA. Instead of building the stereotypical program, Kentucky has opened its doors to players without so much as a committment beyond one year.
Granted, this attracts some of the best talent in the country who have NBA careers in their sights, but it also turns the Wildcats into a box of chocolates -- you really aren't sure what you'll get.
Once in a while we'll see a season like 2012 where the 'Cats cut down the nets on the backs of Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. But for every one of those, another disjointed year like 2013 is a real possibility. For kids who are focused on the NBA and assume a quick run to an NCAA title en route, little effort came out of this year. The Wildcats had plenty of times to overcome or persevere -- instead they had their cake and ate it too; a little too soon.
Perhaps this year's squad just thought they would roll in and repeat the efforts of the 2012 team. But when things got tough and players went down with injury, no one stepped up. Instead, everyone seemed to step down -- especially against Robert Morris. Were the Wildcats too good to play on the road against such a "lesser" opponent? Their perceived disinterest sure painted a picture as such.
But John Calipari and the grand Kentucky experiment will likely go on. They will probably nab a championship once in a while, but so too will they have to sleep in the bed they made. Unfortuantely for the 'Cats in 2012, it's lights out and bedtime a little too soon.
Sound Off: Will Kentucky be able to repeat their 2012 performance in the future, or is John Calipari's style of running a program unsustainable?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer at Operation Sports. Give him hell in the comments below or on Twitter @long_snapper.
# 2
royals19 @ Mar 20
Kentucky is going to be STACKED next season. Yes, they have a ton of talent coming and and returning but in order for them to be successful, they need to play as a unit. I think that's something they really struggled with this season and it really showed. Kentucky will always have high draft picks coming and going but what will define their time there will be the way they play not as individuals, but as a team.
If you look at KU, they typically aren't loaded down with the 4 and 5 star recruits like Kentucky but they're always in the top 10 and are usually touted for their coachability and teamwork. If KU doesn't play as a team, they don't win... and that's what happened with Kentucky.
But, as fan I love watching the talent that roles through there even if they don't win.
If you look at KU, they typically aren't loaded down with the 4 and 5 star recruits like Kentucky but they're always in the top 10 and are usually touted for their coachability and teamwork. If KU doesn't play as a team, they don't win... and that's what happened with Kentucky.
But, as fan I love watching the talent that roles through there even if they don't win.
# 3
The_Wise_One @ Mar 20
Kentucky's team next year will be similar to the one with Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe etc.
# 4
gausec @ Mar 20
To say that Kentucky is going to hit their demise is ludicrous, I mean Cal had 4 seasons at UK, first year was the elite 8, final four then championship and now a terrible season. But the odds are in his favor that he will be successful, I'm not saying the championship is gonna be in the bag, but they will have a lot of talent coming back, and coming in. I feel this experience will get them to realize you need to put in the work. I will be severely surprised if they falter again this upcoming season.
# 5
tril @ Mar 21
this years team lacked poise and maturity. Last years squad IMO looked more mature on the court. I personally believe this Kentucky bunch need to come back and play another year. These core group of players are not ready for the NBA and it showed on the court.
# 6
DamnYanks2 @ Mar 21
I'm sorry, but this just feels way off. "Kentucky's Grand Experiment" (alluding to the One and Done system) as you call it, is clearly a success. Cal has now coached four teams in his tenure at Kentucky, 2 of those teams made deep runs in the tourney, and were more then successful years. One team won the championship. The other finished in the NIT, but would have very likely made the field with Nerlens healthy. So that's 3 out of 4 very successful years, and I think that proves that Cal's One and Done philosophy is a major success.
To quote you;Instead of building the stereotypical program, Kentucky has opened its doors to players without so much as a committment beyond one year.
I wasn't aware that college basketball coaches could legally get a commitment from their recruits to stay a certain number of years. Coach Cal goes out and recruits players, and if they decide to leave, he can't force them to stay. If that player knows he can get drafted into the league, why wouldn't he go? And Cal can not force him to come back.
You paint this picture that Calipari embraces the One and Done system, he hates it, he said this himself. But, he has to work with what he's got.
So if I look at Cal's resume as coach of Kentucky, and the recruiting class coming in next year, and my reply is; Give me a damn pillow, because I will lay in that bed all day long.
To quote you;Instead of building the stereotypical program, Kentucky has opened its doors to players without so much as a committment beyond one year.
I wasn't aware that college basketball coaches could legally get a commitment from their recruits to stay a certain number of years. Coach Cal goes out and recruits players, and if they decide to leave, he can't force them to stay. If that player knows he can get drafted into the league, why wouldn't he go? And Cal can not force him to come back.
You paint this picture that Calipari embraces the One and Done system, he hates it, he said this himself. But, he has to work with what he's got.
So if I look at Cal's resume as coach of Kentucky, and the recruiting class coming in next year, and my reply is; Give me a damn pillow, because I will lay in that bed all day long.
# 7
DBMcGee3 @ Mar 21
As long as Cal's shellin' out that dough, he'll have great players and they'll be a good to great team year in and year out........until the NCAA starts snooping, at which point Cal will bolt, as usual, and leave the team in probation, as usual. I respect the Kentucky program and all they've accomplished (although some of those win % numbers can be attributed in part to playing in a weaker conference), but if you respect a coach who's twice had wins taken off the board due to illegal recruiting, you don't love college hoops the way I do.
I do love Ashley Judd though.
I do love Ashley Judd though.
# 8
jmik58 @ Mar 22
@Irishwhiskey119... The "comments section" fought an argument that I never made. Most of the defensive comments were feeding off each other without really focusing on my main point: Kentucky basketball embraces the one-and-done which is going to lead to as many disappointing seasons as it is championship seasons. I didn't argue that Kentucky has failed; I said it has "faltered" -- which is a fact.
I don't even recall judging whether Kentucky's method is the right or wrong one to use, I merely pointed out the fact that if the Wildcats continue to grab players who are one-and-done they will find it hard to consistently field good "teams". At the end I even asked "Will Kentucky be able to repeat their 2012 performance in the future, or is John Calipari's style of running a program unsustainable?" This clearly ties in to the main point that Kentucky is likely to face larger ebbs and flows than a traditional powerhouse because of their recruiting philosophy for one-and-done players. I realize that no one is obligated to stay longer than one year, but Calipari (more than anyone else) has fielded teams that have huge turnover on a yearly basis. This is attractive to guys that just want to get their one year (maybe two) out of the way and move on to the NBA.
I don't even recall judging whether Kentucky's method is the right or wrong one to use, I merely pointed out the fact that if the Wildcats continue to grab players who are one-and-done they will find it hard to consistently field good "teams". At the end I even asked "Will Kentucky be able to repeat their 2012 performance in the future, or is John Calipari's style of running a program unsustainable?" This clearly ties in to the main point that Kentucky is likely to face larger ebbs and flows than a traditional powerhouse because of their recruiting philosophy for one-and-done players. I realize that no one is obligated to stay longer than one year, but Calipari (more than anyone else) has fielded teams that have huge turnover on a yearly basis. This is attractive to guys that just want to get their one year (maybe two) out of the way and move on to the NBA.
# 10
Jimbo614 @ Mar 23
OK, the answer to jmik58's question is ...Of course it's sustainable when you have a program that can afford to go All In as the Kentucky program has done for decades. The fact of the matter is that every team out there is playing by the same rules as Kentucky.Get used to it.
It's just that Kentucky has made the conscious decision to make those rules work to their advantage rather than continue the charade of blue chippers staying in school for four years.
That ain't gonna happen no more.. You can either catch the train or get run over by the train. Kentucky has decided to not only ride that train but to be the engineer on that train. Not to sound arrogant but it's because they can.
And that also answers a few posters who are hinting illegal activity involved.
See, Kentucky in this system doesnt have to cheat. Other schools might offer new shoes, or a car, or a few grand. And I'm sure that never happens by any of the posters favorite schools, but KY has established that if you come to Kentucky, next year you're going to be in the NBA, no questions asked. That's in the NBA with maybe 20 million bucks in your pocket.
So you've got new shoes, a new car, a few grand, or 20 million bucks from a legitimate third party. Which one you gonna take?
The only thing Kentucky has done is to break the illusion that College Sports isnt a business. Because it is. Never forget.
Next year Kentucky has six of the top players in the country coming in. Would you rather have that? Or NOT have the top six players?
I think any school out there would obviously choose the former. Ask any coach if he'd like to have six to ten lottery picks playing on his team or not. I'm pretty sure what the answer is going to be.
It's just that Kentucky has made the conscious decision to make those rules work to their advantage rather than continue the charade of blue chippers staying in school for four years.
That ain't gonna happen no more.. You can either catch the train or get run over by the train. Kentucky has decided to not only ride that train but to be the engineer on that train. Not to sound arrogant but it's because they can.
And that also answers a few posters who are hinting illegal activity involved.
See, Kentucky in this system doesnt have to cheat. Other schools might offer new shoes, or a car, or a few grand. And I'm sure that never happens by any of the posters favorite schools, but KY has established that if you come to Kentucky, next year you're going to be in the NBA, no questions asked. That's in the NBA with maybe 20 million bucks in your pocket.
So you've got new shoes, a new car, a few grand, or 20 million bucks from a legitimate third party. Which one you gonna take?
The only thing Kentucky has done is to break the illusion that College Sports isnt a business. Because it is. Never forget.
Next year Kentucky has six of the top players in the country coming in. Would you rather have that? Or NOT have the top six players?
I think any school out there would obviously choose the former. Ask any coach if he'd like to have six to ten lottery picks playing on his team or not. I'm pretty sure what the answer is going to be.
# 11
Real Talk @ Mar 25
God this just seems like another Kentucky ***** Blog. God these are just getting old now. First off John Calipari and his so called
" Program " is not even a program. There just happens to be an influx of one and done players at this moment and instead of thinking about what is best for himself and his school he thinks about what is best for that kid. Some kids that need to go he makes go while others that need to stay stay. Terrance Jones and Doron Lamb were both two year players and dont be surprised if most of this Kentucky team comes back. I might be a little hopeful but I think if Nerlens Noel was smart he would refine his offensive game for another year and the same goes for Willie Cauley-Stein. Also, JC has been doing this since UMASS and his gimmicky system also worked in the nba and the players loved it but when your best player i.e. Drazen Petrovic dies and your team goes on a skid an unproven coach is the first to get the AX. He won his title, let the man breath. I also love how nobody mentions how Coach K took advantage of Austin Rivers and nobody brings that up. I wish AR25 would have just went to Florida like he shoulda or Kentucky. Brad Beal and Austin Rivers in a backcourt woulda gave defenses nightmares lol
" Program " is not even a program. There just happens to be an influx of one and done players at this moment and instead of thinking about what is best for himself and his school he thinks about what is best for that kid. Some kids that need to go he makes go while others that need to stay stay. Terrance Jones and Doron Lamb were both two year players and dont be surprised if most of this Kentucky team comes back. I might be a little hopeful but I think if Nerlens Noel was smart he would refine his offensive game for another year and the same goes for Willie Cauley-Stein. Also, JC has been doing this since UMASS and his gimmicky system also worked in the nba and the players loved it but when your best player i.e. Drazen Petrovic dies and your team goes on a skid an unproven coach is the first to get the AX. He won his title, let the man breath. I also love how nobody mentions how Coach K took advantage of Austin Rivers and nobody brings that up. I wish AR25 would have just went to Florida like he shoulda or Kentucky. Brad Beal and Austin Rivers in a backcourt woulda gave defenses nightmares lol
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Unfortunately for those of you outside Big Blue Nation, the rumors of Kentucky's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Kentucky is the winningest team in the history of Sports, I'll say that again, Kentucky is the winningest team in the HISTORY of Sports.. More than the Yankees, more than the Lakers,More than the Cowboys or the Steelers or any other team you want to name. A 700+ all-time winning Percentage for their ENTIRE history! Not one season, not for one decade, but for an entire century. We hold the record for the most records in NCAA history. In other words.. We got a lot of Laundry hanging from those rafters. A LOT of laundry!
For all you naysayers who celebrate UK's fall to mediocrity, celebrate it well,enjoy it now, because next year the Cats will be back in force. We don't reload, we regenerate.
We are The Cats.. Prepare to be assimulated. Understand?