Kentucky's Wiltjer to transfer, after all.

#1
McCat

McCat

Rent free in your head
Joined
Nov 25, 2005
Messages
9,028
Likes
1,249
#1
Best of luck to Kyle Wiltjer - CoachCal.com

Big Blue Nation,

I would like to take this moment to thank Coach Cal, the entire staff, my teammates and the BBN for a memorable two years thus far.

Heading into college my dream was to win a National Championship and compete with and play against the best players in the country. Without a doubt, I accomplished both of these goals in my two years at Kentucky. Now as I head into my junior year, I recognize that my new and adjusted goals require me to make some very difficult upcoming decisions. Coach Cal has been everything I expected him to be, as I have felt very comfortable talking with him about my situation. I cannot stress enough how supportive Coach has been during this period. He is more than a coach to me, and for that I am forever grateful.

During this next year, I will be working on my body so that I am able to compete the way I know I can. I want to find a situation that will help me do this as well as play a more significant role, wherever that may be. Even though I might physically leave Lexington, I will never forget the support and kindness that everyone has shown my family and me. It is difficult to put into words how hard it is to possibly leave BBN, yet I am confident that whatever I choose, I will give it my all. Regardless, I will always bleed blue and will never forget these amazing last two years at Kentucky.

Thank You,

Kyle Wiltjer
 
#2
#2
In other words...he doesn't wanna bench ride, which he would definitely do this winter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#6
#6
Kind of a smart thing for him to do. There's no way he'd get playing time with all the freshman they got coming in.
 
#9
#9
Glad he decided to leave after all. As much as UK could use his bench play and shooting, he made the right choice.
 
#12
#12
omghulkhands said:
So UK fans all believe that leaving is entirely his decision?
Click to expand...

I think Cal probably told him he should leave.

omghulkhands said:
fix't
Click to expand...

Kyle would have had a spot on the team. He'd be a great bench player but if that's not something he wants, then I don't blame him.

He already won a title and he has a chance to go pro with his kind if shooting. He's no KD but he'll have a shot to find a role.
 
#14
#14
He said he liked playing against the best he chicken $hit out before the little pussy cats got on campus.
 
#15
#15
Brian McCat said:
I think that Cal was honest with Kyle about his role this upcoming season. I'd rather him be honest with the kid than lie to him and waste a year of eligibility.
Click to expand...

Waste a year of eligibility? You mean waste an opportunity to have another open scholarship.

UK basically runs like a pro team and they just cut Kyle Wiltjer.

I am not trying to knock UK, or Cal, or anyone else here because I believe 99% of college programs would operate in this exact fashion (including UT) if they had the opportunity. Kentucky just happens to be about the only place where they can consistently wrangle in this much talent year in and year out and even be presented with situations like this.

Archie Goodwin, Kyle Wiltjer, Ryan Harrow.......none of them were welcomed back at the University of Kentucky this year whether they wanted to be there or not.

I never bought the reduced role and playing time arguments.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 people
#17
#17
No, I meant what I said, and I said what I believe to be the case.

omghulkhands said:
Waste a year of eligibility? You mean waste an opportunity to have another open scholarship.

UK basically runs like a pro team and they just cut Kyle Wiltjer.

I am not trying to knock UK, or Cal, or anyone else here because I believe 99% of college programs would operate in this exact fashion (including UT) if they had the opportunity. Kentucky just happens to be about the only place where they can consistently wrangle in this much talent year in and year out and even be presented with situations like this.

Archie Goodwin, Kyle Wiltjer, Ryan Harrow.......none of them were welcomed back at the University of Kentucky this year whether they wanted to be there or not.

I never bought the reduced role and playing time arguments.
Click to expand...
 
#19
#19
omghulkhands said:
Waste a year of eligibility? You mean waste an opportunity to have another open scholarship.

UK basically runs like a pro team and they just cut Kyle Wiltjer.

I am not trying to knock UK, or Cal, or anyone else here because I believe 99% of college programs would operate in this exact fashion (including UT) if they had the opportunity. Kentucky just happens to be about the only place where they can consistently wrangle in this much talent year in and year out and even be presented with situations like this.

Archie Goodwin, Kyle Wiltjer, Ryan Harrow.......none of them were welcomed back at the University of Kentucky this year whether they wanted to be there or not.

I never bought the reduced role and playing time arguments.
Click to expand...

Goodwin and Harrow made their own choices right after the season. I agree that they left because they knew there would be limited playing time, but they probably had other reasons too. Kyle nearly stayed, but I'm sure Cal told him something along the lines of "you're welcome back but we can't play you as much". I don't believe Cal would shove players out.
 
#20
#20
LittleCat said:
Goodwin and Harrow made their own choices right after the season. I agree that they left because they knew there would be limited playing time, but they probably had other reasons too. Kyle nearly stayed, but I'm sure Cal told him something along the lines of "you're welcome back but we can't play you as much". I don't believe Cal would shove players out.
Click to expand...

I find the first bolded sentence to be believable, but not the second. It's as if Calipari's ethical standards went way up when he took the UK job with the way he is portrayed by UK fans everywhere.
 
#21
#21
ukvols said:
I find the first bolded sentence to be believable, but not the second. It's as if Calipari's ethical standards went way up when he took the UK job with the way he is portrayed by UK fans everywhere.
Click to expand...

Of course, the opposing fan's viewpoint is that he is the lowest, cheating sleazebag that exists. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#22
#22
Brian McCat said:
Of course, the opposing fan's viewpoint is that he is the lowest, cheating sleazebag that exists. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.
Click to expand...

It probably does if that "middle" represents a rather large area.
He left UM in a position where they were both going on to probation and looking for a new coach when he took the UK job. That's really all you need to know about what comes first with Calipari and most other coaches.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#23
#23
Brian McCat said:
Of course, the opposing fan's viewpoint is that he is the lowest, cheating sleazebag that exists. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.
Click to expand...

I don't think he's the lowest, cheating sleazebag that exists, but I don't think these guys had any chance of returning on scholarship. Not with the class UK has coming in next season. I know every fan likes to think that their coach is loyal to the players and gives them all a fair shake. But that's not how it is and Cal is no exception. I don't blame him for it, but I don't want to hear apologist bs from UK fans.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#24
#24
ukvols said:
I find the first bolded sentence to be believable, but not the second. It's as if Calipari's ethical standards went way up when he took the UK job with the way he is portrayed by UK fans everywhere.
Click to expand...

He makes choices for what is best with him. When he feels he has won all he can at UK, i'm sure he'll run off somewhere if it's better.
 
#25
#25
What a bad situation for this kid. Without him, Kentucky doesn't win a lot of ball games last year. He has a sweet shot and is very smart. Likely transferring to a Pac-12 school?
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top