Cal

[SoonerinNC]

I really believe that he is cheating to get those recruits. It is just in his and Kentucky's DNA.

Having said that he may be in a similar spot to what Billy Tubbs was when he got ahead of the curve by recruiting JUCO's when most were ignoring the potential talent. Billy had some great years by creaming off the best JUCO's around when those like Knight were strongly against them.

Then the other teams started recruiting them and Billy's party was somewhat spoiled.

Cal may be one of the few coaches that encourage the one and doners to come on down. Most coaches probably want more continuity in their programs. Cal welcomes them with open arms and makes it clear that he will be happy to see them go on to the league when they want.

 

[sperry]

He doesn't need to cheat to convince them to come. He recruited some talented guys that other coaches shied away from at his less desirable locations and established a track record as a guy who would put players in the NBA. THen, he got a top 5 hoops job and has established it as a legitimate NBA factory. Plus he seems like a legitimately fun guy to play for, not some raging doosh like Coach K.

 

[MsProudSooner]

He doesn't need to cheat to convince them to come. He recruited some talented guys that other coaches shied away from at his less desirable locations and established a track record as a guy who would put players in the NBA. THen, he got a top 5 hoops job and has established it as a legitimate NBA factory. Plus he seems like a legitimately fun guy to play for, not some raging doosh like Coach K.

On the other hand, he's gotten every other school he coached at on probation, so why not Kentucky?

 

[Mac]

I really believe that he is cheating to get those recruits. It is just in his and Kentucky's DNA.

Having said that he may be in a similar spot to what Billy Tubbs was when he got ahead of the curve by recruiting JUCO's when most were ignoring the potential talent. Billy had some great years by creaming off the best JUCO's around when those like Knight were strongly against them.

Then the other teams started recruiting them and Billy's party was somewhat spoiled.

Cal may be one of the few coaches that encourage the one and doners to come on down. Most coaches probably want more continuity in their programs. Cal welcomes them with open arms and makes it clear that he will be happy to see them go on to the league when they want.

what's wrong with this?

 

[Sawyer]

He doesn't need to cheat to convince them to come. He recruited some talented guys that other coaches shied away from at his less desirable locations and established a track record as a guy who would put players in the NBA. THen, he got a top 5 hoops job and has established it as a legitimate NBA factory. Plus he seems like a legitimately fun guy to play for, not some raging doosh like Coach K.

I tend to agree with this.

He seems to genuinely enjoy working with these kids, and they genuinely enjoy playing for him. He's found a way to convince elite players to come play together and help each other reach their goals, and it seems to be working for him.

 

[campbest]

On the other hand, he's gotten every other school he coached at on probation, so why not Kentucky?

Not true, in both cases he was cleared.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Not true, in both cases he was cleared.

Then why were their FF vacated?

I guess it depends on what you consider cheating. Is there Chris Weber level cheating going on? Probaly not. Chris Mills level? Possibly. I think all he has to do for recruits is to play that press conference the other night to convince recruits what he can do for them.

So since UCLA got a great recruiting class are they cheating too?

 

[campbest]

Then why were their FF vacated?

Rose was ineligible before he ever set foot on campus, never qualified. Marcus Camby received money from an agent at UMASS.

Do I think Calipari is a saint? Absolutely not, he is in that grey area of college basketball...but so are 90% of all coaches.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I don't think that he has to cheat at this point: Come to my program for a year or two, be successful and go on to the NBA. Pretty easy sell if you ask me.

 

[sdcloud9]

I don't think that he has to cheat at this point: Come to my program for a year or two, be successful and go on to the NBA. Pretty easy sell if you ask me.

Agreed, he doesn't have to cheat at Kentucky. I can't stand the guy but he has done a great job of getting those high profile kids to play together. They defend and share the ball, can't argue with what he's done at Kentucky.

Someone else may know better but as I understand it, the NCAA graduation criteria doesn't affect them as long as their players are in good standing when they leave.

 

[bocabull]

I think it's pretty funny hearing OU fans call other schools/coaches cheaters. We wrote the book on cheating.

 

[AdaSooner]

I think it's pretty funny hearing OU fans call other schools/coaches cheaters. We wrote the book on cheating.

Actually, we wrote the book on how not to cheat, unless you don't mind if you get caught.

 

[campbest]

"If you're not cheating, you're not trying."

 

[MsProudSooner]

I think it's pretty funny hearing OU fans call other schools/coaches cheaters. We wrote the book on cheating.

We are amateurs, compared to others.

 

[jerry]

I think it's pretty funny hearing OU fans call other schools/coaches cheaters. We wrote the book on cheating.

Agree Sampson and Capel both cheated and couldn't win it all!!!

 

[bocabull]

Agree Sampson and Capel both cheated and couldn't win it all!!!

I'm mainly talking about football but you're right we can't stay off probation in hoops either.

Ada said it best that OU wrote the book how to get caught. Lol. To be fair a good portion of the rules we have broke were to help out kids who needed help. Then there was Bomar, probably our most egregious violation. The NCAA really cut us a break there. They could have hammered us.