[outdoorsman43]

How do you know how much these players have improved because of Calipari's coaching? They are getting more playing time and they are a year older. In most cases, getting playing time on top of an additional year's practice results in improved statistics.

Liggins and Miller were always very athletic players who showed flashes of brilliance. Harrellson was never on the court long enough to know how good he might become if given the opportunity.

You are kidding yourself if you believe that Coach Cal's greatest asset is his ability to recruit players who are ready to play at a high level from day one.

I enjoy watching UK play more than I have since Pitino left the program and I was extremely relieved to see Bill Gillispie sent packing. But I am not going to delude myself into thinking that John Calipari is a HOF caliber coach. He needs superior talent to win and he has always managed to recruit that talent.

Did I say that was his greatest ability? His greatest ability is to recruit, no doubt. But to say he hasn't developed them at all is nieve.

Billy Donovan even said it yesterday. "The days that freshmen can't get it done are over." It's the truth and I'm tired of hearing about experience. Show me the best players and that's what Cal does. The best players win championships. If the freshmen just happen to be the best players, so be it. Coach Cal will win a championship with these types of players. It's just a matter of time. Winning a championship is hard people. If you're a great HOF coach, you're lucky to even win just ONE. Calipari was a missed three-pointer from winning one (I don't care if that season was taken away). That game wasn't about a timeout he didn't call either. I watched it. It was about a great shot that Mario Chalmers made.

Back to the freshmen argument: anymore, experienced players in college basketball are what Jay Bilas calls "player that aren't exactly cut for the NBA." Now THAT is the TRUTH.