Quote:
Originally Posted by InstiGATOR1
Well,
1. I posted a link a while back about him having a 4.5 GPA, being class president and an honor student. So clearly if he stayed back at any time it was likely due to health problems or for athletic reasons.
2. I said earlier in this thread, I could not blame him. By that I mean for going to UK to play for a guy he already has played for who runs a successful program. That said Towns did not have the success playing for DR that Randle did playing for USA under Donovan. So Randle has more of a reason in my view to pick UF than Towns did for picking UK.
3. It will be interesting to see if UK can put together a good 2014 class. I do not see their 2013 class being very balanced yet. I think they need a PG and a big in that class assuming say Cauley come back.
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I agree with much of what you said but wanted to give my take on two of your points.
2. No question Randle had more success than Towns did on their respective teams. However, Towns was playing as a 16 year old on the adult squad. In many respects, he was lucky to be on the team. After the Dominican's run was over, Cal contacted Coach K and set up a scrimmage with team USA and made sure to get Towns minutes towards the end of the game - where he matched up against Anthony Davis. I'm not saying Towns had a better experience than Randle, just that its not comparing apples to apples. Also, UK's primary recruiter (like Horford) is Dominican himself. Town's nationality seems to be something he's proud of. I'm not trying to suggest that you were saying he shouldn't have picked UK - just talking about the Randle/Towns comparison.
3. I'm not sure I agree with 2013's class not being balanced. I expect Wiltjer and Cauley to return (obviously Wiltjer). The class also has a project post player (Willis) and a highly rated post player (Lee). Two wings (Aaron Harrison and Young) and the highest rated point guard in the other Harrison twin. Recruiting rankings are one thing, I know, these guys will have to prove it on the court. To me, what this class hinges on and what takes it from a highly rated class to a potentially special one is Wiggins.
Like Gotham said earlier, there's no such thing as a perfect system. Cal's has more turnover
but I don't think it has more risk if you define risk as the chances of having a team that just isn't good enough to compete for a championship. It requires freshmen developing quickly (or stepping onto campus already able to play well, whatever) and enough other pieces still being around. If the freshmen get it, and fit together with the returning players (hopefully some talented ones), then you see an elite team. If only one of those things happen, you see a pretty good team that could still compete for a title. If neither happen, you get what we've seen so far this year.
I honestly think those trying to project reasons to worry about UK's sustainability or future success are really just worrying unnecessarily. Maybe for some its wishful thinking (not saying instigator here btw), maybe for others just thinking Cal has been lucky. I judge a coach or system by looking at how many years a given team went into the tournament with a legit shot at winning and comparing it to how many years the coach/system did not produce a team with a legit shot at winning. I'm not saying What Cal is doing is the best - just that I don't see another system that is obviously better. Who knows, time will tell. If Cal's next 3 teams flop then I might have a different opinion at that point.