$32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

[fsquid]

At least the sno-cone machine will still be in Lexington two months from now.

[hvgill]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

Yeah, and Calipari still doesn't get that you need a mix between the long athletic guys with guys that can actually shoot. I remember the same types of games happening in Memphis when he reached the elite eight against UCLA and Ohio State. The better teams and coaches can ugly up any game, and with his coaching skills and lack of a pure shooter he's almost always at a disadvantage in those games. Bob Huggins being 8-1 against him just makes me chuckle.

The sad thing is that he'll eventually get lucky and win a championship and all will be forgotten about the bad things he did at UMASS and Memphis. He'll sign his typical late number 1 class this year and guys with academic and other problems will magically get into school.He'll never have more talent then he had this year by basically combining 2 school's classes and bringing back a player like Patterson.

[Sting]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

Here comes the bitter Calipari haters.

[Cebby]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

Here comes the bitter Calipari haters.

Yup

I remember Auburn fans using the whole "LOL Alabama spent 40 million for a 7-6 season LOL!!!!!"

Calipari stepped in his first year and had Kentucky's best season in 13 years. Then again, I can understand Memphis fans' anger. Instead of getting their fourth Final Four and possibly first championship, they're vacating their most recent Final Four..

[jetercanoturn2]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

Can we rename this thread to "I hate Calipari"

[Pitfighter87]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

Can we rename this thread to "I hate Calipari"

You got that right

[fsquid]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

NOt bitter, simply making fun that Kentucky paid $32 million to get a recruiting class that was paid for by Memphis (time, travel, etc.) Let's be honest, when UK's big boosters who paid for this made the move, they were not thinking Elite 8. Now that the recruiting class will be the pros, UK will be indifferent to me.

Still think it is funny that after we didn't hire Barbee, he took the sno-cone machine, had his wife use the rest of the clothing allowance at Oak Hall, told Taggart to go pro, and tried to convince Sallie, Wetherspoon, and Garcia to transfer.

The man is a tad bitter.

[jake44np]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

Not sure I would be bitter if I was now coaching UK instead of Memphis.

[Cebby]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

NOt bitter, simply making fun that Kentucky paid $32 million to get a recruiting class that was paid for by Memphis (time, travel, etc.) Let's be honest, when UK's big boosters who paid for this made the move, they were not thinking Elite 8. Now that the recruiting class will be the pros, UK will be indifferent to me.

Again, go read Auburn fans making fun of Nick Saban in 2007.

UK wasn't thinking Elite 8 this year, but Calipari did not sign a 1 year $32 million contract. There will be more years.

[ehh]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

The difference is that Saban can actually build something in college football over the course of 2 or 3 year cycle.

Calipari's program is always a revolving door of one-n-done's for the most part. It's not like he's gonna have Wall, Cousins & company back next year to build on this year's experience. Saban & Alabama can do that because their best players aren't leaving after one year.

Kentucky will end up being fine next year somehow, I imagine two of the remaining stud HS point guards will end up at Kentucky. Brandon Knight is a lock IMO and one of the others will go there as well. Then they'll leave after next year and it'll be the same old story with Calipari - ridiculously talented teams but not quite good enough in the present to win a title.

[Cebby]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

The difference is that Saban can actually build something in college football over the course of 2 or 3 year cycle.

Calipari's program is always a revolving door of one-n-done's for the most part. It's not like he's gonna have Wall, Cousins & company back next year to build on this year's experience. Saban & Alabama can do that because their best players aren't leaving after one year.

While that holds true to an extent, outside of the freshmen and Patterson, the rest of the team was awful. Obviously Wall and Cousins are gone, but even if Patterson leaves Orton and Bledsoe staying would already increase the talent level relative to last year.

After Rose, Evans, and Wall, I think we'll see Kentucky grabbing the #1 or #2 PG every year and once the Bledsoe, Orton, and Patterson guys who stay an extra year start adding up on the bench instead of the crap he had this year they'll win a chip or two. I don't think this Kentucky croot class is quite as fluky as it's being made out to be.

[Sting]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

The difference is that Saban can actually build something in college football over the course of 2 or 3 year cycle.

Calipari's program is always a revolving door of one-n-done's for the most part. It's not like he's gonna have Wall, Cousins & company back next year to build on this year's experience. Saban & Alabama can do that because their best players aren't leaving after one year.

Kentucky will end up being fine next year somehow, I imagine two of the remaining stud HS point guards will end up at Kentucky. Brandon Knight is a lock IMO and one of the others will go there as well. Then they'll leave after next year and it'll be the same old story with Calipari - ridiculously talented teams but not quite good enough in the present to win a title.

and the next year, and the next year, and the next year, as long as he's there.

You guys are making no sense.

[ehh]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

and the next year, and the next year, and the next year, as long as he's there.

You guys are making no sense.

Nah, you were just taking a different definition of "fine" than I was implying.

I meant that even though UK is losing so many players to this year's draft they will be able to recovery more quickly than any other programs because Calipari will bring in Knight, etc. But they still won't win a title.

And that's the cycle that is typical, unless he gets another perfect storm like he had at Memphis in 2008. They won't have an awful year next year despite losing so much talent but they also aren't going to be cutting the nets down next year either - that's what I meant by "fine". UK won't have seasons like UNC and UConn had this year, the almost guaranteed "down year" that hits even the best programs once a decade or so.

Cebby, I do agree with what you are saying about better depth but I also think that's a lot easier said than done. What he had at Memphis two years ago was pretty special, I'm not sure it's going to be that easy to repeat it very often.

[MassNole]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

Thing is at Memphis he had a conference schedule they could sleepwalk through and go whatever and 0. Although the SEC isn't the ACC or Big East it is worlds above CUSA, especially in the SEC East with Florida, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. I don't know that Calipari's strategy of always bringing in a "1 & done" PG will be able to produce a NC in today's game.

[Sting]

Re: $32 million is the going rate for an Elite Eight

Thing is at Memphis he had a conference schedule they could sleepwalk through and go whatever and 0. Although the SEC isn't the ACC or Big East it is worlds above CUSA, especially in the SEC East with Florida, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. I don't know that Calipari's strategy of always bringing in a "1 & done" PG will be able to produce a NC in today's game.

So it's good enough to reach the Elite 8, the Final 4, and the Nat'l Championship game, but it's just not good enough to win a championship?