SB Nation User Blog: FortyYearCatFan

Predict W Total For 2010 Cats

FortyYearCatFan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:30:06 -0000

15 OOC games - 13 W.

Possible L to UConn and UNC.

16 SEC games - 14 W.

Possible L in 2 road games.

3 SECT games - 3 W.

Cats are SECT champs!

4 NCAA games - 3 W.

Maybe more but...

So I predict 33 W.

What say ye? 30 W would be a darn good year but I want (and think UK will get) more.

I keep typing more words so I get to the 75 word minimum, sorry.

Name Those Cats (Basketball Trivia)

FortyYearCatFan — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:23:13 -0000

As a team, we won 34 games by an average margin of 30 points per game.

We had 12 players on our roster who were either drafted by or played in the NBA.

However, we did NOT win a national championship despite most observers considering us the best team in the nation and (at the time) the best UK team ever.

Most of us went on to even bigger fame and glory in subsequent years.

Can you Name Those Cats?

Will Calipari Break The Pattern (Recruiting Class After #1 Class)

FortyYearCatFan — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:55:14 -0000

UK has signed the #1 class in the nation several times since I've followed the Wildcats (starting in 1966).

The first #1 class was signed in 1971 (Grevey, Conner, Flynn, Guyette, et al). The 1972 class consisted of Roger Wood, David Miller, Reggie Warford, Marc Moseley, and Jeff Ray.

The next #1 class was in 1979 (Bowie, Hord, Minniefield, Hurt, et al). The 1980 class was rated almost that high, with Bret Bearup, Jim Master, Melvin Turpin, and Dicky Beal. That's the exception to a trend, I think.

Next #1 class was in 1984 (Davender, Madison, Lock, Jenkins, et al). The 1985 class was Irving Thomas. Period.

Then comes another #1 class in 1988 (Kemp, Mills, Woods, Farmer). The 1989 class was Jeff Brassow and Henry Thomas.

And then, another #1 class is signed in 1992 (Rhodes, Delk, McCarty, Prickett, Dent). The 1993 class was Jeff Sheppard and Anthony Epps, with transfer Mark Pope added in the summer.

The final #1 class (prior to 2009) was signed in 2004 (Morris, Crawford, Bradley, Rondo, Sparks). The 2005 class was Rekalin Sims, Jared Carter, and Adam Williams.

A clear trend is evident above. The year following a #1 recruiting class often sees a big drop-off in recruiting.

Will that pattern get broken by Calipari in 2010? I think so but we'll see what happens.

Brief Tidbit (Reading Athlon & Lindy's Basketball Preview Magazines)

FortyYearCatFan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:15:12 -0000

I am reading these 2 basketball pre-season magazines on my commuter train rides this week.

Saw a tidbit about Billy Donovan that really surprised. He is in his 13th year at Florida this sesaon. Senior Dan Werner is only the 13th player who became a 4th year senior for Billy D and the Gators.

Some went (early) to pro basketball but many transferred. The magzines predict another NIT season for Florida. Billy D has really struggled since 2007.

Top 25 Coaches

FortyYearCatFan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:05:33 -0000

Top 25 Coaches

Calipari 4th.

The 2010's (Decade) What Do You Expect?

FortyYearCatFan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:15:33 -0000

I think John Calipari will have a decade like those that Adolph Rupp had in the 1930's - 40's - 50's. For those who may not know, Coach Rupp won 85% of his games those 30 seasons. He won 75% of his NCAA games (all at Elite 8 or Sweet 16 level). He won 19 (of 27) SEC titles and 13 (of 20) SECT championships.

I think Calipari will EXCEED the 1991-2005 era (when UK won almost 80% of its games and 78% of its NCAA games).

My guess - Calipari's UK teams win 83% (or better) of the games in the decade of the 2010's. I think his UK teams will win 80% of their NCAA games in this decade. And (3) NCAA titles plus (7) SEC titles and SECT championships.

UK landed #1 recruiting classes in 1971, 1979, 1984, 1988, 1992, and 2004 - roughly 15% of the time. I think Calipari will land THREE #1 rated classes (counting 2009 as his first) in 10 years - DOUBLE the UK average.

UK Fell Off A Cliff In 2008 And 2009

FortyYearCatFan — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:19:55 -0000

Let's look back at KenPom www.kenpom.com ratings.

UK was 4th in 1999. 17th in 2000. 7th in 2001. 13th in 2002. 2nd in 2003. 8th in 2004. 11th in 2005. 20th in 2006. 14th in 2007.

Average about 10th. Not good enough. Coaching change.

UK was 55th in 2008. 52nd in 2009. Horrible. Another coaching change.

Memphis coach was hired. Here is how Memphis did (KenPom) under him.

38th in 2001. 35th in 2002. 23rd in 2003. 29th in 2004. 43rd in 2005. (UK better each of those 5 years)

9th in 2006. 9th in 2007. (Better than UK those 2 years)

2nd in 2008. 2nd in 2009. MUCH better than UK those 2 years.

Average about 21st (over those 9 years).

Hoopmasters Top 200

FortyYearCatFan — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:33:19 -0000

Hoopmasters Top 200

UK has 5 on the list.

Sign 'Em In The Spring Or Fall? Basketball Recruiting

FortyYearCatFan — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:56:54 -0000

(Just 20 years, 1990 through 2009 classes)

1990 - 3 in the fall, 1 in the spring.

1991 - 4 in the fall, 0 in the spring.

1992 - 4 in the fall, 1 in the spring.

1993 - 1 in the fall, 2 in the spring.

1994 - 2 in the fall, 3 in the spring.

1995 - 1 in the fall, 3 in the spring.

1996 - 1 in the fall, 2 in the spring.

1997 - 2 in the fall, 2 in the spring.

1998 - 4 in the fall, 1 in the spring.

1999 - 4 in the fall, 1 in the spring.

2000 - 2 in the fall, 2 in the spring and 1 in the summer.

2001 - 3 in the fall, 1 in the spring.

2002 - 3 in the fall, 2 in the spring.

2003 - 2 in the fall, 2 in the spring and 1 in the summer.

2004 - 2 in the fall, 3 in the spring.

2005 - 0 in the fall, 2 in the spring.

2006 - 4 in the fall, 0 in the spring.

2007 - 3 in the fall, 2 in the spring.

2008 - 2 in the fall, 2 in the spring and 1 in the summer.

2009 - 3 in the fall, 4 in the spring.

Baker's Dozen > UK's Best Recruiting Classes (1966 Thru 2009)

FortyYearCatFan — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:41:26 -0000

1. 2009 - Wall, Cousins, Orton, Bledsoe, Hood, Dodson

2. 1979 - Bowie, Hord, Minniefield, Hurt, Heitz

3. 1995 - Mercer, Turner, Mohammed, Simmons

4. 1974 - Givens, Robey, Lee, Phillips, Hall

5. 1992 - Rhodes, Delk, McCarty, Prickett, Dent

6. 1971 - Grevey, Conner, Flynn, Guyette, Smith, Lochmueller, Hale

7. 1966 - Issel, Casey, Pratt, Butler, Pool, Busey, Wheeler, Dinwiddie, Mills, Fraley, Spears

8. 1994 - Walker, Edwards, Padgett, Anderson, Mills

9. 2004 - Morris, Crawford, Rondo, Bradley

10. 1980 - Turpin, Bearup, Master, Beal

11. 1999 - Bogans, Stone, Stewart (Knight), Estill

12. 1988 - Mills, Kemp, Farmer, Woods

13. 1984 - Davender, Madison, Jenkins, Lock, Ziegler, Behnke