At LostLettermen.com, former UK star Jeff Sheppard weighs in on the John Wall commitment.
Excerpt:
We have some great parts now at Kentucky, but parts don’t win championships…they may win some games, but they don’t win championships. From Coach Cal’s experience at UMASS, New Jersey, and Memphis, he has great experience and success dealing with big time egos and talent…therefore, we should be ok…but one of the major strengths of UK’s talent loaded teams of the 90′s was that the TEAM was bigger than all of the parts…when that happens, the team gets the chance to make a run towards a championship.
well said, mr sheppard. You are one of my favorite uk players
Coach Cal should put this in the locker room. I know coach Cal is a lot smarter than myself on basketball. I just hope coach Cal and the team understands Jeff\’s point. Teams win championships not one individual.
It\’s time UK\’s basketball progam gets back to take no prisoners attitude.
Coach Cal knows the task ahead. He keeps reminding us and prob. his players that a season begins now with training, and personal improvment. Then practice in Oct-Nov. Then ONE game at a time. The season doesn’t begin in April 2010.
I’m very optimistic that this team will be very good, final four quality, by next April. However, winning chamionships also takes some luck in the draw, no bad nights, no super nights from an opponent playing way over their head, no significant injuries late in the season, etc.
We will hang more banners, maybe this year but certainly in the years to come it will happen. The Wildcat program is back! Fans deserve it after a 10 drought.
I believe Calipari can keep the egos in check. My concern is can he keep the sponges, leaches and hangers-on in check. People like Bledsoes coach can have a lot of influence over a student athlete. Bledsoe is not a one and done deal. His coach should realize the maturity that both Bledsoe and Wall have shown. Both want to be the best so they must compete with the best. My bet is that Bledsoe comes out of this with the better opportunity. I have often found that it is harder to stay on top than knock the person on top off. This is quite a feat that Calipari has pulled off. Not even Pitino could have done this. The expectations will be high but I believe that Cal and the Cats can pull it together and have a magical season.
I believe it was Michael Jordan who said, “There is no “i” in team, but there is in win.” And there are five i’s in “winning a national championship.” Coach Cal will have to bring the i’s together as one. Of course, Jeff is absolutely right, but it’s terrific to have superior parts from which to fashion a team.
As for those who say, “Don’t get too excited.” I say, “Why not?” It’s an emotion that has been in check for way too long. I am excited, and I love it.
I have all the faith my “Wildcat Instincts” are 100% on Coach Calipari & Our Team. He has phenomenal instincts himself,goes with his gut. Can tell it hasn’t failed him yet! He’s at one of THE top B-Ball schools in the nation, & didn’t get there on a wing & a prayer! Ought to tell us alot in itself.
He has pulled off a great recruiting season, most coaches just dream of. As a Big Blue fan, am already proud of him for that. We needed hope for our B-Ball
program. Was looking grim.Whatever he’s doing so far seems to have lit up an awfully lot of Big Blue Nations eyes from where I am sitting.
So any critics out there, you really need to hold off until you see our
“Cali-Cat” show his stuff. Cause I for one think He’s got “Blue Blood” already!
You definitely have to stock the roster with top-notch talent, but Sheppard is correct that everyone has to “buy in”. Coach Cal makes the big bucks for a reason, after all. Step one is the assembly of the parts, and I think we can all agree that the parts are there. Step two will be making sure the parts all work together, and something tells me that is not going to be a big problem for Cal.