Unfortunately, I do agree with you on one point. Many marquee players don’t want to play for a new coach. He is unproven and they don’t want to risk their potential NBA careers with an unproven coach. Pastner needs to get a season under his belt which demonstrates that he plays a style they desire and that he is able to get them to the next level. And we both know that most of the guys getting division 1 scholarships think they will be pros. We also know that this isn’t the case, but you could never tell these guys that. He’ll have to prove he is a winner and that he is a guy worth playing for.

About the investigations: I think we will have no sanctions. I don’t know that and cannot say as a fact that we won’t. A young recruit thinks the same way. Why risk signing with Memphis when you might have sanctions when you can go to another top program that isn’t having these problems. These guys watch Sportscenter.

Calipari’s gone. I don’t have good things to say about him due to the way he left Memphis. He is irrelevant anyway. The past is the past. The future is Josh Pastner. I think he will do very well. He’s locked down one huge recruit (Barton) and a top 20 in Lat Williams. I don’t know if he’ll qualify or not. Memphis really needs him to qualify or they are very weak in the PF and C positions. Whether he qualifies or not, they have what they have and will have to make the best of the situation at hand. I’m a realist. This isn’t a NC caliber team. Being a realist doesn’t mean you aren’t a fan. I’ll be a fan if they are 19-14 and NIT bound. I see them as better than that, but neither of us know until the season is played. They could gel into a very good team, but with last year’s four best players gone, it certainly will be a mystery.

Also, the name is Nolan Dennis. He and his mom decided to go elsewhere before a coach was named. Cousins and Dodson had already been contacted by Calipari when he was going through his incredibly difficult decision. They were gone. Xavier Henry still can’t make up his mind, and his dad controls them anyway. He is one and done and Kansas was a good place to be. They have the best shot at a championship run, and there is no doubt what a good tournament can do for your stock. Just ask Tyreke Evans, and particularly Derrick Rose.

Memphis did over reach when they mentioned their “wow” hire. They couldn’t get anyone to come into this situation. No recruits, lost four starter. You are coming into a team that had been winning and had to start over. Even with the huge sums of money offered, they couldn’t get their hire. In my opinion, Mike Anderson would have been the man. With Calipari stalling so he can line up his new team, we lost our shot at him. I think the would have gone to Memphis with an annual 1.5 million dollar raise. They did have to settle with someone other than a wow hire, and it was Josh Pastner.

I had my doubts and was disappointed. But his optimism, enthusiasm, and work ethic sold me. I am very excited about our program and I see very good things for us. You don’t and that’s OK, it is your opinion.

Why the big deal on Joe Jackson. He is a very good player, but he isn’t a Derrick Rose or Tyreke Evans. He is smaller and will be a very good point guard, but will not control games. Will Barton can take over games and we have him signed. The number one SG in the country! Not a bad pick up! I think Jackson will sign with us, but you are right, he may in Kentucky. I won’t say a bad thing about him just like every other possible recruit that signed elsewhere. If he likes the opportunity elsewhere, I wish him luck.

My expectations for next year are limited. I see us as an NCAA tourney team and not much more. Anything else would be incredible overachieving. I’m not happy with those expectations, but if you think this team can win the NCAA tourney, I’d say you are high. And, yes I am saying poor Josh. He came in late in the game, had to find players to fill a team and deal with the dark cloud of an NCAA investigation that made national news. While Calipari isn’t “under investigation”, he was in charge of the program. It may be his vacated second final four. If you don’t see a trend here, you are blind. Calipari is old news. Pastner is the new head coach. He has picked up an elite recruit for 2010, one that Calipari wanted very badly. No excuses for 2010, he has a full year to recruit and we’ll just have to see how he does. It looks like a good start to me….

We may go 19-14 and the NIT. I think we will be a NCAA tourney team, but not much more. I wouldn’t blame it on Pastner, since he had one recruit in 2009 and inherited an NCAA investigation under Calipari. I’ll bet we do better then USC which faced similar turmoil. Your boy didn’t do us any favors when he left. He left a bare cupboard and an investigation, and we should be grateful…..

OK State is a very good program. Maryland is too. I think Pilgrim was an insurance policy, and he only was going to be on property for two years. I liked him better than signing Derrick Williams who would have tied up a scholarship for four years. He would have been a good pick up, if he will be cleared to play this year by the NCAA. Since neither one signed, it is a moot point. I don’t think anyone decent is left unless someone else bails. I think you can put an end to 2009 recruits….