Coach Cal abandons platoon sytsem

[netman99]

You think Cal coming out publicly and saying he will never try the platoon system again has anything to do with him missing out on some of his top recruiting targets this year?

After this years Kentucky players declared for NBA, it was expected the remaining top recruits would jump on Kentucky.
None did. IMO a lot of these top notch recruits do not want to be limited to 20 minutes a game.

I think Cal blew a toe off in his bragging about his platoon system during this season.

 

[PeteCalvin]

His recruiting method is feast or famine. There is no in between. If he's going to do that, he has to be consistent and keep creating spots every year. Two seasons ago, after they lost in the tourney, and Dakari, the Harrison's, etc, were exposed as not NBA ready, he couldn't just go out and grab everyone from the next class, even though he still signed some heavy hitters. I think players caught on that they better have other options because what if this next class doesn't leave? Also, I don't think players want to be considered the villains of college basketball, which UK essentially became last year.

Not to mention, going to UK in a "super" recruiting class is no guarantee of a championship. Cal's experiment has proved that more than disproved it.

UK created their own monster, and now pitchforks are starting to come out.

 

[reedny]

The cash is still platooning.

 

[realorange]

I think Cal realized the platoon system may have cost him the national championship.

 

[orangefan13]

I thought Kentuckys perimeter defense was overated and they really didn't have a good outside shot either. Their strengths were rebounding and blocking and help defense in the paint, and attacking the paint off the dribble and a post up big on the offense end. Sounds alot like many of our Syracuse teams bread and butter.

For long periods they were outscored at times this last year.I think more should be said about what they were lacking as a team then what they had.

The platoon system didn't slow down wisky or notre dame with 10 men how do they plan to do it with 7? Either way his bench will be loaded so it really doesn't matter now does it?

 

[orangefog]

Cal is a salesman. His crop of one and dones were bad and the majority had to come back. Anyone with half a brain would realize that this was totally against what he had been selling kids for years. Plenty of playing time and then out the door to the NBA. I will get you there. Since that was blown out of the water, he changed the game with the whole platoon BS. And the national media ate it up, mindless sheep. He won the championship with one VERY special group, but for as much talent as he has had, he really hasn't done much. Hopefully kids are seeing through his crap and continue to go elsewhere.

 

[OrangeFair44]

He won the championship with one VERY special group, but for as much talent as he has had, he really hasn't done much

4 final fours, 1 runner up and 1 NC in 5 yrs? You can argue he should have more titles but it just proves how hard it is top win it and to do it with a bunch of freshman. Look at the gold standard ucla. Both alcinador and then walton both stayed for 3 yrs as all Americans (among other great players they had).

I despise cal but he has accomplished something. Oh and I'm with ya, I hate how the media gushes about them.

 

[jordoo]

I think the announcement is a direct result of losing guys he thought he could get. As always he will try to spin anything into gold. He did it so well with the platoon but it also backfired somewhat because most of these top recruits do not want to come off the bench or play just 20 minutes a game. It is weird that having an underachieving crop one season hurt them so much. The problem is it showed all these 1 and done guys what could happen if everyone stays at UK, crowded. Then this season they had pretty much everyone that could leave go so they are a little light and also missed on 3-5 guys they really wanted late in the game. Murray is still out there and if they git him watch out. I hope he winds up at Oregon.

 

[Hoo's That]

Wait a minute! I thought the platoon system was the "Wave of the Future"?:noidea:

 

[RF2044]

I think the announcement is a direct result of losing guys he thought he could get. As always he will try to spin anything into gold. He did it so well with the platoon but it also backfired somewhat because most of these top recruits do not want to come off the bench or play just 20 minutes a game. It is weird that having an underachieving crop one season hurt them so much. The problem is it showed all these 1 and done guys what could happen if everyone stays at UK, crowded. Then this season they had pretty much everyone that could leave go so they are a little light and also missed on 3-5 guys they really wanted late in the game. Murray is still out there and if they git him watch out. I hope he winds up at Oregon.

It doesn't seem weird--it was always a boom or bust recruiting philosophy--especially given that he has to rely upon top prospects not signing early and waiting to see who bails from the current roster before he can bring them in. It was bound to backfire at some point. Doesn't mean that the sky is falling for UK, that they won't get back on track next season, etc. But when you play with fire, every once in awhile you get burned.