2013 recruiting chatter

• ironman02

  Azubuike24;1410184 wrote:There's still a whole year between now and next year's title, but I'll say this. Expectations from UK fans will be a title. Anything less will be a disappointment.
  
  This is only heightened with any of the current guys staying and/or Wiggins coming.
  
  As of now, Cauley-Stein, Goodwin and Poythress have all made it known they want to stay. Same with Wiltjer and Harrow. Just given the numbers game though, I can't see all 5 staying in any way. I think Calipari learned something this year. Chemistry is paramount and trumps talent and depth any day. This year's team had no chemistry and I can't see him keeping 5 guys from that roster (+ Hood and Polson) around.

  Which of those guys supposedly attempted to "hijack" this year's team? I know Calipari was unhappy with some of the guys throughout the season for not being "coachable", but I wasn't exactly sure if there were any other problems. Also, is there any truth to the rumor that Wiltjer may transfer out West at the urging of his father?
• Azubuike24

  

  Has to be Poythress, Harrow or Wiltjer...less likely the latter. Who knows...Cal was pretty blunt last night after the game.
• reclegend22

  

  Azubuike24;1410184 wrote:There's still a whole year between now and next year's title, but I'll say this. Expectations from UK fans will be a title. Anything less will be a disappointment.
  
  This is only heightened with any of the current guys staying and/or Wiggins coming.
  
  As of now, Cauley-Stein, Goodwin and Poythress have all made it known they want to stay. Same with Wiltjer and Harrow. Just given the numbers game though, I can't see all 5 staying in any way. I think Calipari learned something this year. Chemistry is paramount and trumps talent and depth any day. This year's team had no chemistry and I can't see him keeping 5 guys from that roster (+ Hood and Polson) around.

  So Wiltjer decided against the transfer already? Or are you basing that off of what he said heading into the season?
  
  I am very interested in where he ends up. If he went to Gonzaga or, say, Butler, similar to Micah Downs (who I believe transferred from Kansas?), Wiltjer could make a big splash.
• Azubuike24

  

  I'm just basing this on what was said to the media and on Twitter by the players last evening. All expressed the desire to come back, put in the work and join the incoming class.
  
  As others have said though...that would mean quite a few mouths to feed. I mean, a recruiting class already at 7...6 returning scholarship guys (7 if you counted Noel) and a walk-on who saw minutes. That's already with 3 other walk-ons and at least 1 other confirmed walk-on for next year.
  
  I'd bet you my life that Calipari won't have a roster of nearly 20 players. There will be multiple casualties...that's a given.
• cats gone wild

  quote:
  [HR][/HR]Jerry Meyer?@jerrymeyer2473h
  @ctmayo90 heard talk Kyle Wiltjer will transfer. Never understood his UK pick. Horrible fit. Have heard Gonzaga as possible/logical spot
• Azubuike24

  

  cats gone wild;1410273 wrote:quote:
  [HR][/HR]Jerry Meyer?@jerrymeyer2473h
  @ctmayo90 heard talk Kyle Wiltjer will transfer. Never understood his UK pick. Horrible fit. Have heard Gonzaga as possible/logical spot

  Haha, I posted this a few pages back. He's another Micah Downs...would be a great snag for the Zags.
• cats gone wild

  This is the first day Ive been on this forum in along time. Sorry, didnt go back and look at pages from awhile back. It was new news on rupp rafters and the sec rant.
• Azubuike24

  

  Oh, I wasn't implying it was my idea either. It's been thrown around for a few months. People always speculated Gonzaga because he played with Kevin Pangos on team Canada for a few years. And, it's much closer to Portland.
• reclegend22

  

  Yeah, Az mentioned that before I did. It's a good comparison. Downs probably never would have done much at Kansas, but he excelled for what he was -- a three-point specialist -- at Gonzaga and played a key role on that team. I think Wiltjer could do the same there or at a place like Gonzaga or Butler. Not sure how he'd fit as a big man defensively for Brad Stevens, though. The "cuddly" and "lovable" Bulldogs aren't so cuddly. They are actually an extremely physical team that thrives on lots of contact (what might even be called dirty at a different program).
• SportsAndLady

  

  Micah Downs is from Kansas, yes.
  
  Ill always remember him for getting fouled with no time left on the clock, tie game. Just has to make 1 of 2 free throws. Misses both, KU loses in OT.
  
  Pissed me off.
• Azubuike24

  

  It sounds crazy, but since the Randle commit, some have stated that they think UK's chances of landing Andrew Wiggins has actually increased. He's stated before, and his HS coach echoed it the other day. Andrew doesn't need to be "the man" and he wants to win over anything. He also stated Andrew has known where he wants to go for a while.
  
  I've seen a few people say they actually felt Randle and Wiggins would play together, and whether it's UK or KU, they can't see them going 1 and 1. Randle obviously committed to UK...so does that mean KU is out on Wiggins? Does this favor UNC?
  
  I refuse to believe FSU is a major player only because if that was his school why wait? Is he just keeping them in the mix because of the connection? It's the same with the Harrison twins and Maryland. Why wait if you're going to follow tradition?
  
  I have to think it's Kentucky or North Carolina for Wiggins. Might be wrong, but just can't see enough to keep either KU or FSU alive in the race.
• ironman02

  If Wiggins joins the rest of those guys at Kentucky, they're going 40-0. I know that chemistry is always a big factor, and the fact that it's just tough to bring your "A" game every night, but that team would be unbeatable. The talent and depth at every position, top to bottom, would basically be unmatched.
  
  Obviously I'd like to see Wiggins go to Carolina. It's possible that the Heels could have as many as three players leave early, plus they'll lose Strickland to graduation. However, if they return even two of McAdoo, Bullock, and Hairston, plus add Wiggins, they could be unbelievable as well. Hopefully Wiggins can't turn down the chance to whip Jabari Parker two or three times next season head-to-head. lol
• sleeper

  

  If Wiggins goes to Kentucky, they will miss the tournament and lose to Robert Morris in the NIT. LOL :thumbup:
• ironman02

  Can you imagine these two rosters...
  
  North Carolina
  
  Paige/Britt
  Hairston/McDonald
  Bullock/Tokoto
  Wiggins/Hicks/Johnson
  McAdoo/James/Meeks/Hubert
  
  Kentucky
  
  Harrison/Harrow
  Goodwin/Harrison/Young/Hood
  Poythress/Wiltjer
  Randle/Lee/Willis
  WCS/Johnson
  
  Unlikely that there won't be early entrants or transfers, but that would be a crazy game in Chapel Hill.
• reclegend22

  

  Lol. I think we all need to step out of this thread for awhile and cool down.
  
  We are talking as if Kentucky just signed Paul Bunyon, God and Moses Malone. I assure you they did not. With Noel and Cauley-Stein, Goodwin, Harrow and Wiltjer all possibly gone due to early entry, transfer or loss of scholarship, there might not be any real "experience" returning to Lexington, and, as we've seen, that doesn't always translate to great success in the postseason for freshmen-laden teams (read: all freshmen). When UK won in 2012, there was a good mixture of proven players returning in Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Millers and elite new talent.
  
  Perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part not wanting UK to be dominant next year, but we should probably wait and see what they look like as college players before denoting them as the first undefeated team since 1976 Indiana.
• wildcats20

  

  ironman02;1411446 wrote:If Wiggins joins the rest of those guys at Kentucky, they're going 40-0. I know that chemistry is always a big factor, and the fact that it's just tough to bring your "A" game every night, but that team would be unbeatable. The talent and depth at every position, top to bottom, would basically be unmatched.
  
  Obviously I'd like to see Wiggins go to Carolina. It's possible that the Heels could have as many as three players leave early, plus they'll lose Strickland to graduation. However, if they return even two of McAdoo, Bullock, and Hairston, plus add Wiggins, they could be unbelievable as well. Hopefully Wiggins can't turn down the chance to whip Jabari Parker two or three times next season head-to-head. lol

  I don't see anyone leaving from Carolina, not even JMM.
• ironman02

  reclegend22;1411458 wrote:Lol. I think we all need to step out of this thread for awhile and cool down.
  
  We are talking as if Kentucky just signed Paul Bunyon, God and Moses Malone. I assure you they did not. With Noel and Cauley-Stein, Goodwin, Harrow and Wiltjer all possibly gone due to early entry, transfer or loss of scholarship, there might not be any real "experience" returning to Lexington, and, as we've seen, that doesn't always translate to great success in the postseason for freshmen-laden teams (read: all freshmen). When UK won in 2012, there was a good mixture of proven players returning in Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Millers and elite new talent.
  
  Perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part not wanting UK to be dominant next year, but we should probably wait and see what they look like as college players before denoting them as the first undefeated team since 1976 Indiana.

  Pretty sure I qualified all of those scenarios with quite a few "ifs", and then said that it's unlikely that there won't be early entrants or transfers.
• ironman02

  wildcats20;1411459 wrote:I don't see anyone leaving from Carolina, not even JMM.

  I hope you're right. That would be amazing!
• reclegend22

  

  ironman02;1411466 wrote:Pretty sure I qualified all of those scenarios with quite a few "ifs", and then said that it's unlikely that there won't be early entrants or transfers.

  Pretty sure that you made it sound as if Wiggins signs they are going to go 72-10, and I think that's way premature.
  
  We will see what happens.
• ironman02

  reclegend22;1411475 wrote:Pretty sure that you made it sound as if Wiggins signs they are going to go 72-10, and I think that's way premature.
  
  We will see what happens.

  Well, damn me for my hyperbole! Pipe down, dookie! lol
• SportsAndLady

  

  Nothing set in stone but there's a lot of talk on KU's pay boards that Wiggins will commit to FSU soon. Hope not.
• reclegend22

  

  That'd be crazy to me, but maybe he likes the climate, the family tradition, the coach and traveling his own path and it's as simple as that. Could be.
• ironman02

  Seems like all the schools still in contention each have inside sources saying that Wiggins is going to their respective school.
  
  He plays things very close to the vest, so I would imagine no one truly has anything concrete. Personally, I think he's waiting to see who enters the draft and who stays. Once those decisions are made, then he'll use that information to make a final decision.
  
  He very well could opt to go to his parents' alma mater and play with his high school teammate. I've heard very encouraging things about Carolina from some sources that are pretty highly respected, but in the end, I'm afraid it's gonna be Kentucky. He likes Randle, and they're clearly going to have the most young talent.
• reclegend22

  

  Maybe Calipari will go to UCLA lol
• Azubuike24

  

  While things can certainly change, I haven't seen any indicators that Cauley-Stein or Goodwin will leave. Poythress and Noel seem more likely, and both Wiltjer and Harrow are also up in the air.
  
  It's early, but unlikely everyone had fully gotten their reports back from scouts and agents (not until after the Tournament), but with the guys last year, there wasn't any direct evidence about anyone returning, and everyone left. Just from following Goodwin and Cauley-Stein on Twitter and listening to their recent interviews, I'd be surprised if either opt for the pros.