Men's Basketball

Former Kentucky Players Speak on John Calipari and Kentucky’s Woes

Published

1 month ago

March 29, 2024

Once the most popular man in the state Kentucky, John Calipari might have become the most divisive amongst the fanbase.

Over the last week, several former Wildcats have given their opinion players on DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, and Antoine Walker spoke out on their opinion on the current situation at Kentucky.

Demarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo

Rondo joined Cousins on his podcast Bully Ball, where the two provided different opinions on John Calipari. Cousins, who played for Calipari’s first Kentucky team took up for his former coach. “How did we get to this place of we’re now disrespecting the guy that created the standard,” Cousins asked.

“He’s brought more positivity to this university and to this fanbase than any negativity. No matter what university, no matter what legendary coach, they all went through a dry spell of losing tournaments, not really meeting the standard for that year. It happens with every program.”

Rondo, a Kentuckian who understands the prestige of the program before Calipari, responded with, “How many (champion)ships Cal got? It’s been over a decade. It’s about what have you done for me lately. Don’t disrespect the University of Kentucky, though. It’s been one of the greatest colleges of all time way before Cal got there.”

“I don’t understand how we get to the point where our next best option is to replace this coach,” Cousins said. “I never said replace him,” Rondo responded. Cousins says UK will take a big hit financially if Calipari were to be replaced. “Everything is going down.” Rondo disagreed, saying, “It’s UK. It is the brand. It’s Duke, North Carolina.”

Not wanting him fired, what is Rondo looking for Calipari to do?

“All I’m saying is, he has to get the guys to buy in. These guys are looking at the damn draft boards every day. Mentally, it’s like, okay, I want to do what’s best for the team, but at the same time my agent is calling me, I got the NIL deal money coming in. So these are just different times that these kids are going through to buy in. …I don’t think they did that completely in understanding, okay, we need to focus on winning versus looking at the draft board. I think that starts with Cal and the staff getting them to buy into that system”

Antoine Walker

Former Wildcat Antoine Walker also spoke about John Calipari on The Zach Gelb Show, where he says he’s still all-in on Calipari.

“I’m definitely still all-in,” Walker said. “I just think we have to understand that the landscape has just changed. He’s one of the best at doing it and bringing in talent, and maximizing and making good runs. But, It’s going to be tough, because you got to play older teams with the transfer portal, and things like that. It’s gonna be tough to win it all, but I’m still all-in on Cal.”

Walker says NIL can help Kentucky a lot to to correct course. “I think so because of the NIL, because guys are now having an opportunity to make money playing. You may be able to get guys to stay two or three years now. It won’t be such an urgency to go to the NBA.”

A large number of players don’t want Calipari gone, but they understand, just as the fanbase does, that he needs to self evaluate and making changes accordingly to adapt to the current landscape of college basketball.

BB Recruiting

Wake Forest Transfer Andrew Carr Commits to Kentucky

Published

16 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr has committed to play for Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats.

David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

After finalizing all but one member of the staff last week, including the official announcements of top recruiters Alvin Brooks and Jason Hart, the Kentucky Wildcats have received their third commitment in as many days.

“BOOM!” Kentucky assistant Cody Fueger tweeted out on Sunday afternoon. Just hours later, Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr announced his commitment to Kentucky.

Carr is ranked as the 75th-best transfer by ESPN.

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A post shared by Andrew Carr (@andrewpcarr)

Carr began his college career at Delaware, where his father and uncle both played. After two seasons, he elected to transfer to Wake Forest, where started in all 68 games. This past season, Carr was the star big man of a Demon Deacon team that won 20+ games for just the second time over the last decade.

This past season, Carr averaged career-highs in points at 13.5 per game, and rebounds at 6.8 per game. Doing so on 53% shooting from the field and 37% from deep. Per KenPom, he played primarily at the 4 spot and occasionally logged minutes at the 5, so he can play alongside Amari Williams as a stretch big. It is worth noting that Kentucky is also hosting Utah State transfer big Great Osobor for a three-day visit, alongside his family.

While Carr is experienced, his NCAA Tournament experience is limited. Playing just one tournament game, a 20-point loss to a 2-seeded Villanova team in 2022.

Watch a breakdown of the newest Wildcat below.

Also posted on A Sea of Blue.

BB Recruiting

Top 25 Transfer Otega Oweh Commits to Kentucky

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Oklahoma Sooners transfer Otega Oweh has comitted to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Following Lamont Butler’s commitment to Kentucky on Friday, the Wildcats have received another commitment less than 24 hours later. This time Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh, he announced on his social media.

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A post shared by To God Be The Glory💕 (@otegaoweh)

This comes after Oweh visited Lexington earlier this week, with reports coming out that his recruitment could be wrapped up quickly after.

Oweh is a top 25 transfer according to 247Sports, 38th by EvanMiya, and 55th by ESPN. Listed at 6-5, 210 pounds, Oweh is a strong and physical guard. His strength and athleticism have been a strength dating back to high school, which allows him to impact the game defensively, and also to get to the rim and thrive in transition opportunities.

In two years at Oklahoma, the area that Oweh has significantly improved in has been his shooting. As a freshman, he shot just 25 percent from three, on just four attempts for the season, to 37.7 percent as a sophomore, making 20 of his 53 attempts. Most of that success comes from catch-and-shoot opportunities, where he rates in the 87th percentile. His ability to shoot off the dribble is the polar opposite, rating in just the 4th percentile.

Oweh is a two-way player with two years of eligibility remaining, while he will bring experience, there is still room for development with NBA upside. While he may not be a primary option, he’s certainly a player that can impact the game.

Oweh is now Kentucky’s third addition from the transfer portal and sixth player overall. A handful of top transfers are visiting, or currently visiting, Kentucky this weekend. The staff is hopeful a few join the roster.

BB Recruiting

REPORT: San Diego State Transfer Lamont Butler Commits to Kentucky

Published

3 days ago

April 26, 2024

Tristan Pharis

San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler has committed to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Amidst anxiety from many of the Big Blue Nation, the Kentucky basketball program has added another player to the roster. On Friday Lamont Butler, a consensus top-60 transfer from San Diego State, committed to Kentucky, reported by On3.

Kentucky has been in contact with Butler since he entered the portal earlier this week. On Friday morning, four members of the Kentucky staff took a visit to Las Vegas, which we know now was to see Butler. It was enough to secure his commitment.

Coming out of a high school as a three-star prospect, Butler has been a true case of development. In four seasons with San Diego State, he improved his numbers year after year. As a three-year starter for the Aztecs, Butler averaged 7.7 points (41.2% FG), 2.6 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. He also received Mountain West All-Defense honors three straight seasons, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award this past year.

Butler was a star for the San Diego State team that made it to the National Championship game in 2023, even hitting the buzzer-beater to send them to the title game. He will provide Kentucky with proven experience and the knowledge of what it takes to win.

As his defensive accolades show, Butler makes his biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball. However, he plays well within a system and is a really good passer for a guard who plays primarily off the ball, with a 21 percent assist rate. He also grades fairly well analytically on spot-up shots and in pick-and-roll situations as the ball handler.

With Butler on the roster, there are still many spots to fill, especially some spots for “dudes”. Fortunately, many big names are expected to be in Lexington this weekend for the visit.