Did Ulis Make a Mistake Going to Kentucky?

[iowalaw]

Sure, Ulis got to play a decent amount of minutes on Kentucky's historic run as a true freshmen...but pretty much every teammate he played with quit going to school after 1 semester and is entering the NBA draft. So Ulis gets no continuity or friendship with his "buddies." On top of that, Cal recruited over Ulis and has a 5 star PG coming in next year named Isiah Briscoe. In addition, it sounds like Cal is in the final 2 for landing a second 5 star PG who is petitioning to be eligible to play next year even though he's only going into the 12th grade.

Ulis could have been the man on a team that made the final 32 last year and could have gone so much further with steady PG play. Next year, he and Uthoff could be men among boys for the hawks. Instead, Ulis will be part of a platoon where he plays 1/2 the game with a bunch of studs who are out for one thing, going pro and putting up mega stats.

 

[RocknRollface]

C'mon man. It's way past time to be talking about this.

 

[burky247]

Uh...Ulis already said he was heading to MSU had the Kentucky offer not come. Mentioned during the Final 4 media day.

Hopefully that news provides ya with some closure.

 

[SteveGarvey]

Uh...Ulis already said he was heading to MSU had the Kentucky offer not come. Mentioned during the Final 4 media day.

Hopefully that news provides ya with some closure.

And yet if he asked Fran if he could transfer, he'd welcome Ulis with open arms most likely. Course, don't expect that to happen.

 

[Tierney]

And yet if he asked Fran if he could transfer, he'd welcome Ulis with open arms most likely. Course, don't expect that to happen.

The Iowa coaching staff has developed relationships with other point guards since then. I doubt they would welcome Ulis with open arms unless they aren't sure where they stand with the ones they are after. I don't think Ulis would want to transfer to Iowa either. There are a lot of good point guards they are in on.

 

[lightning1]

Ulis was looking a little pudgy in late March. In case you were wondering.

 

[Hawknick]

huge mistake

 

[Linesetter]

Sure, Ulis got to play a decent amount of minutes on Kentucky's historic run as a true freshmen...but pretty much every teammate he played with quit going to school after 1 semester and is entering the NBA draft. So Ulis gets no continuity or friendship with his "buddies." On top of that, Cal recruited over Ulis and has a 5 star PG coming in next year named Isiah Briscoe. In addition, it sounds like Cal is in the final 2 for landing a second 5 star PG who is petitioning to be eligible to play next year even though he's only going into the 12th grade.

Ulis could have been the man on a team that made the final 32 last year and could have gone so much further with steady PG play. Next year, he and Uthoff could be men among boys for the hawks. Instead, Ulis will be part of a platoon where he plays 1/2 the game with a bunch of studs who are out for one thing, going pro and putting up mega stats.

Not a can of worms that should be opened up. He won 38 straight games and went to the final four.

what about Uthoff? He could have been in back-to-back Final Fours at Wisky

 

[Thawki]

Sure, Ulis got to play a decent amount of minutes on Kentucky's historic run as a true freshmen...but pretty much every teammate he played with quit going to school after 1 semester and is entering the NBA draft. So Ulis gets no continuity or friendship with his "buddies." On top of that, Cal recruited over Ulis and has a 5 star PG coming in next year named Isiah Briscoe. In addition, it sounds like Cal is in the final 2 for landing a second 5 star PG who is petitioning to be eligible to play next year even though he's only going into the 12th grade.

Ulis could have been the man on a team that made the final 32 last year and could have gone so much further with steady PG play. Next year, he and Uthoff could be men among boys for the hawks. Instead, Ulis will be part of a platoon where he plays 1/2 the game with a bunch of studs who are out for one thing, going pro and putting up mega stats.

No.

I find it laughable when people that are Iowa fans on this board try to make a case as to why it would have to be the best place for ANY guy to go no matter what his options are.

The dude was a freshman and he played significant minutes on one of the best teams in the country that would have been considered one of the best teams of all time had they finished differently in the Final Four and then won the next game. And it isn't very far fetched to think that could have happened.

And they might go to the Final Four every year he is there or certainly would be much more likely to do so than Iowa, even if he were at Iowa. If he was good enough to play that many minutes at UK his freshman year, why should he worry about a little competition going forward?

This is just a really weak post man. I am almost sorry I took the time to respond.

 

[ColumbusHawk]

Sure, Ulis got to play a decent amount of minutes on Kentucky's historic run as a true freshmen...but pretty much every teammate he played with quit going to school after 1 semester and is entering the NBA draft. So Ulis gets no continuity or friendship with his "buddies." On top of that, Cal recruited over Ulis and has a 5 star PG coming in next year named Isiah Briscoe. In addition, it sounds like Cal is in the final 2 for landing a second 5 star PG who is petitioning to be eligible to play next year even though he's only going into the 12th grade.

Ulis could have been the man on a team that made the final 32 last year and could have gone so much further with steady PG play. Next year, he and Uthoff could be men among boys for the hawks. Instead, Ulis will be part of a platoon where he plays 1/2 the game with a bunch of studs who are out for one thing, going pro and putting up mega stats.

If you were that good, would you go to Iowa? Kentucky is Kate Upton. Iowa is Phyllis Diller.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Not a weak post at all. He is making a great point. You can make the NBA playing at Iowa as well as Kentucky. There are many examples of that happening. Some kids take 3 or 4 years to develop fully. Ulis should have come to Iowa. Oh, and by the way, Uthoff made the right choice. He is "the man" at Iowa....he wouldn't have been that guy at Wisconsin. Playing time is the key if a player wants to develop. Uthoff is developing into a fabulous player.....

 

[ChosenChildren]

Also, this crap about "poor old Iowa" in basketball is getting really old. Iowa historically has been a very strong basketball school....Don Nelson; Fred Brown; John Johnson; Ronnie Lester; Kevin Kunnert; BJ Armstrong; Reggie Evans....ever heard of those guys? They all did very well in the NBA. Iowa doesn't have to take a back seat to anybody....Fran is going to build a big winner at Iowa....his style is perfect for the NBA

 

[FRANAMANIAC]

Also, this crap about "poor old Iowa" in basketball is getting really old. Iowa historically has been a very strong basketball school....Don Nelson; Fred Brown; John Johnson; Ronnie Lester; Kevin Kunnert; BJ Armstrong; Reggie Evans....ever heard of those guys? They all did very well in the NBA. Iowa doesn't have to take a back seat to anybody....Fran is going to build a big winner at Iowa....his style is perfect for the NBA

How many recruits were even alive/able to watch during those players? I'm 22 and the only reason I know about them is because I'm a huge Iowa fan. Ask people outside the program and young kids today if they know who any of those folks are. Historically strong is not as good of marketing as strong now. Also Fran has nothing to do with those players you listed, so I'm not sure how that would sway recruits on coaching. Historically, many schools have strong programs in many sports. Doesn't really weigh in on a 17 year old kid's mind.

 

[Linesetter]

Not a weak post at all. He is making a great point. You can make the NBA playing at Iowa as well as Kentucky. There are many examples of that happening. Some kids take 3 or 4 years to develop fully. Ulis should have come to Iowa. Oh, and by the way, Uthoff made the right choice. He is "the man" at Iowa....he wouldn't have been that guy at Wisconsin. Playing time is the key if a player wants to develop. Uthoff is developing into a fabulous player.....

Yeah because Frank Kaminsky didn't develop at Wisconsin....and go to 2 Final Fours.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

It's all up to him.... I'm sure he thought ahead when he first decided to go there. With the Harrison twins coming back this last yr his playing time wasn't guaranteed by any means either. So he doesn't seem to be too worried about that. Look him going to KY and all the perks of being apart of that program will be a great experience. So speaking of looking ahead, I think him going there instead of Iowa will only help him with whatever his goals may be after college. And is that not the end all be all? I mean sure you want the best experience you can have while your there but the end game is for it to spring board you to whatever you'd like to do after it? That's Caliparis calling card when it comes to recruiting. Now granted I don't think Ulis is ever going to be a lottery pick. But where ever basketball takes him after college having gone to KY will only give him a leg up on it than if he'd have came to Iowa... Let's call a spade a spade...

 

[NEIChawk]

 

[Tierney]

Kentucky just got their second five star point guard for 2015 today. He is a guy from Canada and is rated the number 5 player. It looks like Ullis will have a tough time next year.

 

[SteveGarvey]

He gawn. But to where?

 

[iowalaw]

Imagine, Ulis could be the third best point guard on his team, and at the very best, getting 50% of the pt. Or he could be the very best player on 90% of the teams in the country. Cray cray. I say he made a mistake. Cal will bring in another 5 star pt guard next year.