Calipari....Why

[Netboy Extraordinaire]

I agree with most of what you said. I even agree that he is a better x and o coach than he gets credit for. Where I disagree is "He's a master player developer."

I think that is something he and his homies (see what I did there?) try and convince people of, but I really don't see it. Outside of the big white kid, who has he developed? Everyone else was already a lock for the NBA or was drafted on potential during a weak draft. Going back over his career, I have rarely seen him develop a player, but I have seen some stall in improvement under him.

The big white kid, Josh Harrelson, was a nobody before Cal showed up. 2009/2010 season he averaged 1.0 points per game and 3 minutes played per game. He ended his career with a 17 point, 10 rebound, 3 block game against Ohio State and Jared Sullinger and then 12 points, 8 rebound, 4 assist game against Zeller from UNC. Drafted in the second round and made the New York Knicks team. That is taking no talent to the NBA. As far as a master player developer, part of that definition has to be getting players to all play defense and share the ball on offense. People can say what they want about getting the best of the best, but these kids are used to shooting 20 times a game every game and being the first choice when a basket is needed. Cal gets these kids to buy into a system and develop their team skills plus defensive skills. Not sure if that is classified as a master player developer or not but is classifies as something.

What is easier to coach-5 McDonalds All americans to gel into one team with one purpose or 5 slightly better than average players to gel into one team with one purpose? They both have their advantages and disadvantages. What Cal lacks in player developing skills he makes up for by recruiting talent. What a coach like Stevens at Butler, for instance, he coached his butt off to a group of lesser talented players. I guess if Calipari was the recruiter and the best player developing x's and o's coach teamed up together then they would never get beaten

[Tim_T]

The big white kid, Josh Harrelson, was a nobody before Cal showed up. 2009/2010 season he averaged 1.0 points per game and 3 minutes played per game. He ended his career with a 17 point, 10 rebound, 3 block game against Ohio State and Jared Sullinger and then 12 points, 8 rebound, 4 assist game against Zeller from UNC. Drafted in the second round and made the New York Knicks team. That is taking no talent to the NBA. As far as a master player developer, part of that definition has to be getting players to all play defense and share the ball on offense. People can say what they want about getting the best of the best, but these kids are used to shooting 20 times a game every game and being the first choice when a basket is needed. Cal gets these kids to buy into a system and develop their team skills plus defensive skills. Not sure if that is classified as a master player developer or not but is classifies as something.

What is easier to coach-5 McDonalds All americans to gel into one team with one purpose or 5 slightly better than average players to gel into one team with one purpose? They both have their advantages and disadvantages. What Cal lacks in player developing skills he makes up for by recruiting talent. What a coach like Stevens at Butler, for instance, he coached his butt off to a group of lesser talented players. I guess if Calipari was the recruiter and the best player developing x's and o's coach teamed up together then they would never get beaten

The bolded part above, I gave him credit for that.