It almost worked for Calipari at Memphis, but even if that team had legally gotten to the Championship game, Kansas -- with seasoned players who had been in the system -- denied the One and Done approach.
Now, at Kentucky, Calipari has doubled-down on the approach. At Memphis, his one and done star was Rose. Now, he has two of them to go along with Patterson, Miller, and some two and doners like Bledsoe.
And, I may be wrong, but I don't think Kentucky is even going to make the Final Four this year unless they get the kind of Rupperee help in the Tourney that they have gotten in the SEC.
And, after this year, Kentucky will be looking at Miller, Bledsoe (if he doesn't go pro) and Liggins as the leaders of its team. Don't get me wrong, I like all of those players' games, especially Bledsoe and Miller, but the drop-off in talent and depth will be material. The additional problem with One and Doners is that they spread that virus to their teammates -- guys who have no business leaving early. Bledsoe may be one of those guys on this team. It seems to me that Calipari would have been wise to have redshirted either Ramon Harris or Perry Stevenson, or both.
While Kentucky will add some signees to their 2010 class, right now their top guy is a top 30 player, but not top 25 -- the kind of guy who could come in and be a stud freshman or a guy who might need a year or two. So it appears that Bledsoe, Miller, Orton, Dodson, and Liggins will be KY's top 5 players next season.
Comparatively, the Vols will have Hopson, a guy who would be in the NBA now if he had lived up to the expectations of many fans who tear him down. Instead, he'll be wearing Orange next season, which means we will be returning our top scorer. I bet Florida and KY wishes he had been a One and Done instead of playing in TBA against them this year. We'll also have Tatum, Goins, Hall, McBee, and Williams, all of whom have started for us at some point this season. Add to that perhaps the top player in the country entering college in Tobias Harris, a kid who could be a One and Done but doesn't seem like he is interested in following that path. And 2 other top 60 players in the 2010 class along with transfer Maymon, who was a top 50 player last season. If we can get Cothron or Abraham, that's another top 40 or even top 25 player.
Vanderbilt will return its entire team except for Beal. Likewise, Florida will return all but Werner.
Now, maybe Kentucky adds Brandon Knight, Josh Selby, CJ Leslie, and Terrence Jones to its class. I doubt they get all of them, but even if they do, there isn't a DeMarcus Cousins in that group, nor anyone to replace Patterson. Knight may be as good as Wall, but you still have a bunch of freshmen coming in to lead you, unlike UT, which will have 5 guys in the two-deep who have played significant minutes in the SEC. Vandy and Florida will have even more.
I think KY may eventually have a fan base that must get used to a lot of hype and too few late March victories. When all is said and done, I'll take UT's, Vandy's or Florida's top 5 in 2010-11 over the group that KY puts on the floor, even if Brandon Knight and CJ Leslie are two of them.
Now, at Kentucky, Calipari has doubled-down on the approach. At Memphis, his one and done star was Rose. Now, he has two of them to go along with Patterson, Miller, and some two and doners like Bledsoe.
And, I may be wrong, but I don't think Kentucky is even going to make the Final Four this year unless they get the kind of Rupperee help in the Tourney that they have gotten in the SEC.
And, after this year, Kentucky will be looking at Miller, Bledsoe (if he doesn't go pro) and Liggins as the leaders of its team. Don't get me wrong, I like all of those players' games, especially Bledsoe and Miller, but the drop-off in talent and depth will be material. The additional problem with One and Doners is that they spread that virus to their teammates -- guys who have no business leaving early. Bledsoe may be one of those guys on this team. It seems to me that Calipari would have been wise to have redshirted either Ramon Harris or Perry Stevenson, or both.
While Kentucky will add some signees to their 2010 class, right now their top guy is a top 30 player, but not top 25 -- the kind of guy who could come in and be a stud freshman or a guy who might need a year or two. So it appears that Bledsoe, Miller, Orton, Dodson, and Liggins will be KY's top 5 players next season.
Comparatively, the Vols will have Hopson, a guy who would be in the NBA now if he had lived up to the expectations of many fans who tear him down. Instead, he'll be wearing Orange next season, which means we will be returning our top scorer. I bet Florida and KY wishes he had been a One and Done instead of playing in TBA against them this year. We'll also have Tatum, Goins, Hall, McBee, and Williams, all of whom have started for us at some point this season. Add to that perhaps the top player in the country entering college in Tobias Harris, a kid who could be a One and Done but doesn't seem like he is interested in following that path. And 2 other top 60 players in the 2010 class along with transfer Maymon, who was a top 50 player last season. If we can get Cothron or Abraham, that's another top 40 or even top 25 player.
Vanderbilt will return its entire team except for Beal. Likewise, Florida will return all but Werner.
Now, maybe Kentucky adds Brandon Knight, Josh Selby, CJ Leslie, and Terrence Jones to its class. I doubt they get all of them, but even if they do, there isn't a DeMarcus Cousins in that group, nor anyone to replace Patterson. Knight may be as good as Wall, but you still have a bunch of freshmen coming in to lead you, unlike UT, which will have 5 guys in the two-deep who have played significant minutes in the SEC. Vandy and Florida will have even more.
I think KY may eventually have a fan base that must get used to a lot of hype and too few late March victories. When all is said and done, I'll take UT's, Vandy's or Florida's top 5 in 2010-11 over the group that KY puts on the floor, even if Brandon Knight and CJ Leslie are two of them.
