The University of Kentucky made history on Tuesday night by having 5 players drafted in the 1st round of the NBA Draft. In addition, the Cats had the #1 pick for the first time in school history!
Congrats to them. As a Cardinal fan, I was excited for both T-Will and Earl Clark last year as they both got drafted in the lottery.
However, the responses I heard from non-Card fans revolved around how neither would succeed in the league, as well as how U of L severely underachieved by not making it to the Final Four with two lottery picks.
So, here I am, asking this question: If U of L severely underachieved last year with two lottery picks, how bad did UK blow it with FIVE 1st round draft picks?
Additionally, there are not 5 guys on UK's roster next year that will match this year's draft night success, so how does UK expect to improve on last year's early flame-out?
I have said the same thing. Also, as Boogie pointed out, their current coach who seems to be all about promoting himself made the comment that the draft night was the "biggest night in the history of the program." I would be offended as a Cat fan, and I think Boogie pointed it out well, without hating on the coach too much. You can't blast your own coach, but Cal DOES deserve some criticism I think. Any of the 7 titles the cats have would be bigger, as would that 2,000th win that CALIPARI helped WIN! How could he not recognize that?!
ReplyDeleteI get it, he was caught up in the moment, but give me a break...that is nowhere near the biggest moment for a college program. I'm not demeaning the achievement, because it is very impressive...however when comparing a college program's success, I think it is best to compare things like wins, win percentage, titles, etc...which are things UK is at or near the top in all categories. THAT is what makes the program special...and it pains me to say all of that, haha.
I never said he was about promoting himself. I said that the comment he made was hyperbole. I'm not mad as a Cat's fan because it was a huge night for recruiting and a landmark for the history if the NCAA and the NBA.
ReplyDeleteThere hasn't been a coach that has taken away more from his program due to his personal promotion, sexual or otherwise, than Rick Pitino. He was the main reason that last season went into the toliet bowl. He couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper bag last year and even you have to admit that.
I didn't say that you said he (Cal) was about promoting himself, I said that. I was saying you mentioned his comment about it being the biggest night in the history of the program, I just also threw the part about him promoting himself in that same sentence. He most definitely IS about promoting himself over the University, have you seen the recruiting stuff he sends out? It's a huge picture of him with his accomplishments...look online for the picture that Hinds has of all his recruiting stuff going in the trash, and the most noticeable one is the UK one.
ReplyDeleteI'm not diminishing the turnaround he had at Kentucky, because he did a fabulous job, however I'm wondering at what cost it will be at. As you pointed out, Bledsoe's high school district has hired an outside source to investigate his eligibility...hopefully for UK it comes out clean, and everyone can quit talking about it.
It's just my point of view but I would be upset at Pitino if he said something like that about UL on draft night...and he's been here 9 years. Cal strolls in after one year and chokes out in the Elite 8 (he did choke, with that roster, a Final 4 at LEAST was in order...5 1st rounders? come on) and then proclaims kids going to the NBA is the BIGGEST night in the HISTORY of such a storied program?? Give me a break. That clearly shows he's all about himself.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100628/COLUMNISTS02/6280308/1002/SPORTS/Eric+Crawford+%7C+Like+it+or+not++Kentucky+is+becoming+an+NBA+farm+system
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