Donovan or Not, Kentucky Has To Improve

Donovan or not, Kentucky is going to have to find a coach to re-inspire an offense that has been lacking for quite awhile. The next new head coach at Kentucky is going to have to instill along with that offense a gritty style of in your face full court pressure defense too. At least that's what I'd like to see, that's what I grew up watching, but improvement and change is much needed since Tubby Smith has been driven away like some like to put it, now it's time to answer the fans' call and complete this transition not with the same type coach like Tubby. If change is what a majority cried out for, and if that's what Mitch and his people wanted, then I beg you, lets not replace an apple for another apple.

The 06-07 Wildcats struggled most this season because they just weren't quite sure who they were on offense. Two freshmen stood out, Jasper & Meeks, who, from what I gather, will return next year. Aside from Morris, Kentucky never had that second go-to guy down low and that really hurt them. They were ranked momentarily, but the season for the most part was a disappointment, especially being swept by Florida yet again. That one guy down low could've made the difference, Bobby Perry [and it wasn't just him] was so inconsistent and had the long stretch of poor play after injuring his nose against Indiana, that that became what Kentucky missed on offense to set them apart. Morris became too predictable underneath and opponents new how to defend him.

Just imagine what Kentucky would have been like this season had Azubuike stayed. I firmly believe Azubuike was the difference between Kentucky staying consistently ranked and being not ranked at all this season. But I'm not crying over it, every single university has to deal with their own players leaving early or transferring, but I'm just saying, he was the difference.[Imagine if we had Azubuike AND a mature Rajon Rondo].

In 2004, Kentucky made that great run to the regional finals and met up with MSU. Ramel Bradley and Rajon Rondo were impact freshmen's that year, Rondo was a starter, and Sparks was a starting guard transfer in his first year with Kentucky also opposite of Rondo. The whole season Tubby played between Sparks and Rondo at the point, and they did pretty good, but the difference was Chuck Hayes, and they had Azubuike down low with him while Morris was a freshman. If they didn't have Sparks, who was a junior transfer with experience already, Kentucky would have been on the losing end of many games that year. He made a lot of plays for us.

In 05, Kentucky dealt with Morris trying for the NBA. Going undrafted, he came back, but Kentucky again had a sub-par season. Then in 06-07, Kentucky still struggled to find their identity on offense after Rondo and Azubuike left. So for at least the past 3 years I can say that Kentucky has been one player more or one player short of greatness. Without Sparks in 04, I don't think Kentucky reaches the Elite 8.

So next year, most everyone should return. Out of the starters from this year, Bradley, Crawford, Jasper, return. Throw in Meeks, Porter, and Jared Carter and once again, Kentucky's identity is a blurred vision. Even if Patrick Patterson and Jai Lucas pick Kentucky, the next head coach is still going to have a time not only installing his own system and style, but figuring out the best starting 5 … for what, the 4th year in a row now?

There's no one on Kentucky's roster right now that has shown anyone he can dominate and carry a game consistently enough on his own. That's what Kentucky is missing. That one dominating player other teams fear. Not that Morris wasn't feared or didn't carry a lot of games, but how dominant was he really and how often did he have those great games that led to victories? I'd say not consistently enough, and part of that as I mentioned before was not having talented enough roles players down low to compliment him. That's what Kentucky missed this season. Now, Kentucky desperately needs a Patrick Patterson, and he should know, should he sign with Kentucky, he'll be a starting freshman. He's a guy Kentucky could build around should he stay more than 2 years.

So the future of Kentucky's next head coach is simple. Find the offense some identity with talented recruits. As a fan, I don't wanna have to go through another 4 straight years hearing how our coach is saying our team is still trying to find its identity.

Whoever is our next head coach, I hope he realizes we expect changes that will wake up an offense that's been dormant for the past 4 years, and we expect to have better talented players even if they do stay just a year or two I suppose. A great coach knows how to convince them to stay longer.

Donovan or not, these things have to happen now.