Impact of the practice facility

[catmandoo25]

First of all, I just want to say that I have been reading this site for some time and think it is the best around.

I think that this new facility will have a major (and immediate) impact on the recruiting trail. I remember a couple of years ago, ESPN had a week where they featured facilities on some of the campuses during games they televise (Michigan State comes to mind) and they talked about the facilities "arms race" that has fueled recruiting. I think that until now, recruits would look at our nationally sub par facilities as a major negative when considering schools and now that we have something comparable, maybe even better, we can land those big names that have slipped through the cracks.

Thoughts?

[DCWildcat]

I think it could definately be a big help. We are UK, and our facilities shouldn't lag behind anyone else's.

[BigCat33]

Make no mistake. This new facility is second to none. It will be a huge trump card in our hand when it comes to recruiting.

[abroo588]

Well, ESPN's commentators were just oohing and ahhing over Virginia's new facilities and saying how it now puts them on par for competing with Duke and UNC in the ACC for recruiting, and they didn't shut up about it for the whole game. If it makes that big a difference for them, it should do that much more for UK who has a much bigger tradition than UVA.

[RCS]

The thing is it is not only that we now have better facilities than anyone else, but the the step up from what we had is huge. We apparently had horrible facilities, embarassingly bad in fact. It can't close the deal, but it sure helps.

[boomdaddy]

RCS wrote: The thing is it is not only that we now have better facilities than anyone else, but the the step up from what we had is huge. We apparently had horrible facilities, embarassingly bad in fact. It can't close the deal, but it sure helps.
The fact that UK doesn't get to use Rupp very often to practice in is a big factor. Also, the gym in Memorial had to be shared. The facility is long over due. Yes, it is a big carrot in recruiting. But also, it is a key ingredient in the future success of both the mens and womens hoops teams, giving them a dedicated facility.

[Stretch]

There have been numerous occasions that Memorial Coliseum was occupied with another event and the #1 all-time winning program UK Wildcats were forced to practice in a local high school gym. The locker rooms and weight room at Memorial were very mediocre also, certainly not anything to entice a recruit to chose UK over a school with state of the art practice facilities. We are really quite fortunate that we have recruited as well as we have considering the lack of quality facilities.

[poodoo]

Stretch wrote: There have been numerous occasions that Memorial Coliseum was occupied with another event and the #1 all-time winning program UK Wildcats were forced to practice in a local high school gym. The locker rooms and weight room at Memorial were very mediocre also, certainly not anything to entice a recruit to chose UK over a school with state of the art practice facilities. We are really quite fortunate that we have recruited as well as we have considering the lack of quality facilities.


Well-said, Stretch. Too, it is simply a shame for the UK basketball program to have suffered because Larry Ivy refused to listen to Tubby's pleas, in my humble opinion.

I admire Mitch Barnhart for listening to Tubby and doing something about it. When Barnhart came here, I can remembersome call-in show calls to him, complaining about Tubby and wanting him fired. Barnhart stood up for Tubby and specifically notedhow many other schools were getting aheadof us with nice practice facilities that were impressing recruits.

Too, as I was reading today, our players can now practice individually anytime they want, potentially choosing to improve skills when the time is convenient for them.HURRAH!Too, KUDOS to Barnhart, Mr. Craft,and all who have helped to make this dream come true.

[reggis]

Build it and they will come. Well UK builted it and recruits will come.

[bret1555]

poodoo wrote: Stretch wrote: There have been numerous occasions that Memorial Coliseum was occupied with another event and the #1 all-time winning program UK Wildcats were forced to practice in a local high school gym. The locker rooms and weight room at Memorial were very mediocre also, certainly not anything to entice a recruit to chose UK over a school with state of the art practice facilities. We are really quite fortunate that we have recruited as well as we have considering the lack of quality facilities.


Well-said, Stretch. Too, it is simply a shame for the UK basketball program to have suffered because Larry Ivy refused to listen to Tubby's pleas, in my humble opinion.

I admire Mitch Barnhart for listening to Tubby and doing something about it. When Barnhart came here, I can remembersome call-in show calls to him, complaining about Tubby and wanting him fired. Barnhart stood up for Tubby and specifically notedhow many other schools were getting aheadof us with nice practice facilities that were impressing recruits.

Too, as I was reading today, our players can now practice individually anytime they want, potentially choosing to improve skills when the time is convenient for them.HURRAH!Too, KUDOS to Barnhart, Mr. Craft,and all who have helped to make this dream come true.

Good point on the individual practice time. . . I wonder if that contributed to us shooting 80% from the FT line last night.

[ukwebfan]

They shot very, very well vs. South Carolina With the first practices occurring last week, let's see if the new facilities correlate to better shooting and all-around play for the men and women.
:ggrin:

[freethrow]

I really like what the practice facility brings. It has to be a BIG boost for recruiting. All of those banners hanging on the wall with a first class floor should flat knock a few of them out.

I do admit though, it saddens me a little. We are less likely to get many reports over the summer about how they are doing. It won't be as easy to stroll in there as it was Memorial.:(

[WildcatDan]

I am working hard to get a spy camera put in on those courts so we can have live streaming video of the practices over the summer... I'll either let you know how that works out and set up a link or if something goes wrong one of the other admins can let you all know when I will get out of prison. :ggrin:

Seriously - the pictures of the practice facility (and the walkthrough video that Joe and Ramel did) show how incredible the place is. How could you not be impressed with that locker room? They also did a great job of showcasing the UK baskeball tradition.

[UKONMYMIND]

Patrict Patterson made mention of the facility and came away from his visit saying he was open after having a leader .... the facility has to be a major bonus but we will see the true impact in the next class IMO

[WildFan]

Where is the video of Joe and Ramel giving a tour of the Practice Facility? Is there a link somewhere?

[UKfaninCO]

WildFan wrote: Where is the video of Joe and Ramel giving a tour of the Practice Facility? Is there a link somewhere?

go to Matt's Blog. http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com. You'll have to scroll down some.

Found it. http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=1442

[BigblueDrew]

I don't think it will have the effect many think. Bottom line the kind of kids we want dream of NBA millions. They are going to the schools they think will best put them there. Right, wrong or indifferent the perception nationally is that UK is not the best place to do that, so until these kids percieve us differently they aren't coming even if we build the Taj Mahal.