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It will be interesting to see how this year affects Self's recruiting strategy going forward. I think he's nuts for going after a bunch of one and done kids simply because his strength as a coach is player development, particularly over the course of several seasons. Whereas Calipari basically puts in a simplified scheme and rolls the ball out on the court relying on talent to overwhelm teams, Self earns his stripes during practices.
When you've got a bunch of one year players, you don't have have time to build them from the ground up, and that neutralizes Self's biggest strength. If Cal is my coach, give me a bunch of five star freshmen over four star seniors. If Self is my coach, give me the seniors every day of the week.
It really makes me wonder if Self enjoys this team the way he obviously loved coaching some of his more veteran-laden teams of the past. I don't get the sense that many college coaches have the stomach for the mercenary approach. So much of coaching is about the relationships with the kids and watching them grow as people and players. Calipari doesn't care about senior night. He cares about the draft...but he's not a college coach at heart. He's an NBA guy. All the rumors over the years notwithstanding, I think Self is a college lifer.
If this team loses in the sweet sixteen or something, do you think he tries to focus on three and four year players for 2016 and beyond?
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Today is not a good day to be a pussy.
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