As we head into the last weekend of May, it is perhaps time to finally close the book on the 2014-15 season for Kentucky Wildcats basketball and start looking towards next season. There is still the possibility of Jamal Murray joining this team and that could happen at any minute. Or not at all. The latest news on Murray was that he would probably decide “by June”, but that was not a deadline set in stone. With or without Murray, the Kentucky Wildcats are going to be a force to be reckoned with in 2015-2016 and should be the odds on favorites to win the SEC Conference. And the Wildcats will be a Final Four contender once again. Jeff Goodman has them at #6 headed into next season.
"6. Kentucky WildcatsProjected starting lineup: SG Isaiah Briscoe, PG Tyler Ulis, SFAlex Poythress, PF Skal Labissiere, C Marcus LeeThe Wildcats aren’t quite as overpowering and not nearly as deep as they were a year ago, but John Calipari still has plenty of talent. Ulis becomes the full-time point guard, and Labissiere is extremely skilled and talented. UK is still lacking a small forward who can really score."
To be honest, I like this ranking. I think the Wildcats will come in with a bit of a chip on their shoulders and if you look at Goodman’s Top 50, it is a whole new world in college basketball next year. Maryland (!) is Goodman’s number one team while Iowa State is #4, Cal is #8, and Wichita State is #9. The SEC is pretty well represented in Goodman’s Top 50. Vanderbilt comes in at #17, Texas A&M at #21, LSU at #31, Florida at #39 and Georgia at#46. If you were worried, the Dirty Birds came in at #28.
It’s all talk and speculation until October from here on out and a lot can still happen. Adding Jamal Murray and/or Thon Maker probably boosts Kentucky to #4. If Fred Hoiberg goes to the Bulls, you can drop Iowa State a few spots. And you know that Tom Crean is going to Tom Crean himself out of that #11 spot.
Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
I know that John Calipari’s recent NBA comments have rubbed some members of the BBN the wrong way and I can understand that. I really did not comment on the whole faux controversy as to what Calipari’s real goal was headed into the last season. If you don’t think that the man wants to win a title every year, I don’t know what to tell you. Over the past six years, I have learned to dissect “Calipari-speak” pretty well and have learned that even if he is talking directly to you, he is not talking directly at you. Especially if there is a camera involved.
The man is a bona fide recruiting Terminator, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is relentless and never stops recruiting. And pretty much, every single coach in the NCAA will tell kids to come to their school and win a national title. That’s old hat. Calipari has the trump card. The NBA. And that is what this level of recruit is interested in. Yes, they want to win the NCAA. That’s a given. But the NBA is the real prize. And Calipari gets them there.
So to no ones surprise, Calipari was at it again at the SEC Spring meetings.
"“I’m looking at our team right now,” Calipari said. “Why can’t we have five or six of these guys drafted?”"
If anything, Calipari is consistent. However, he is quite excited about next season for this Kentucky Wildcats basketball team. And yes, the man wants to win a title. Make no mistake. This team will have a different vibe than last years.
"“We’re going to be fine,” Calipari said. “We’ll be different, we’ll play different. We’ll probably play pick-and-roll differently, probably press differently, maybe more, because of who he have. But I’m excited about the team. It will be different, but every team I’ve coached has been different.”One of the key players for next year is Poythress, who continues to recover from surgery after tearing his ACL last December. Calipari offered the most recent update on his recovery.“Alex sent me a video of him box jumping,” the coach said Wednesday. “I told him, ‘Wow! It’s great to see.’ But we’re not trying to rush him. It’s going to take time.”The player who Calipari thinks could break out big time is Lee, the slender 6-9 forward.“Marcus could have played for anybody last year,” Calipari said. “So you would ask, ‘Why not more time for Marcus?’ Well, are you going to get time from the No. 1 pick in the draft (Karl-Anthony Towns) or the No. 4 or 5 pick in the draft (Willie Cauley-Stein). Which one are you taking time from?“Marcus was definitely behind those two, but now it’s his time,” Calipari predicted. “I think he’s prepared. He’s a great kid, a hard worker. I want him to play with a smile on his face and go do what he does.”"
. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Next season will also see a different dynamic in the Kentucky Wildcats coaching staff as Tony Barbee is a full-fledged member of the coaching staff after being a special assistant last year. If anyone knows John Calipari well, it is Tony Barbee and he will bring an interesting voice to this coaching staff as well as a dynamic recruiter.
"“It’s exciting for me to be back in the mix,” Barbee said. “Working with the guys is why we do what we do, obviously, to help the kids grow – off the floor as well – but basketball is the passion. It’s what I do and it’s what we do as coaches.”As a special assistant to the head coach, Barbee was not able to participate as a coach in practices or games, nor was he able to recruit.Ultimately, Barbee, who has eight years of head coaching experience at UTEP and Auburn, sees himself as a head coach and wants to get back into that role one day. In the meantime, the Indianapolis native said he will fill his new role to the best of his ability and try to continue UK’s success under Coach Cal.Barbee said Calipari’s demeanor and mentality as a head coach have not changed, but every coach evolves throughout their career in how they are on a day-to-day basis, and during his time as the special assistant to the head coach last season, Barbee said he continued to try to grow and learn, including his studying of Calipari’s approach.“He’s as intense today as he was when I played for him when he was 30 years old – I’m probably dating him,” Barbee said about Coach Cal. “But no, the intensity is still there, the passion is still there, the love and competitive spirit for winning, the passion he has for teaching and helping these young men grow on and off the floor, the love he has for them. I haven’t seen any change. Just a couple more gray hairs.”"
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In case you missed it, I am stepping down from my role as Managing Editor of the Wildcat Blue Nation and this will be my final column. I started this site six years ago with the hopes that maybe 50 people a day would read my stuff and the BBN has more than done that. This site has progressed further than I ever hoped and will continue to grow with the recent news that Time Inc is acquiring Fansided.
I will always have some regret as it is hard to walk away from something that you created. Over the last six years, I have seen sever other Kentucky Wildcats blogs come and go. The BBN is an extremely passionate lot and the landscape is littered with sites that lost momentum and died after a period of time. I am proud that we have remained standing for six years and will continue to bring you news, opinion, and rumors on the Wildcats. Shelby Caudill will be taking over as your editor and I leave you in good hands.
As for me, you will probably see me around, whether on these pages or a new venture. I’m too opinionated to just go away and you can always follow me on Twitter at @PJordan_WBN. Do follow me if you do not. That will be my handle until Monday as May 31 is officially my last day here.
I do want to thank all of you once again for all the support you have given us and to all my writers and staff, past and present. I could not have done it without you.
In the words of the late, great Eric “The Actor” Lynch … bye for now.