Bruiser just confirmed why Big Z is on the bench...

[Mike-McD]

"[Big Z] was in the wrong spot, he just made shots." Diminishing his debut against UGA.

So Cal has no intention of playing him that way. That's why he's riding the bench, guys. Couple that with Cal's pregame comment about not trying to get Big Z baskets but to look inside for lobs to him.

Bruiser went on to say that he is "down the road" in terms of development.

Clearly Big Z embarrassed Cal by making all those shots and now he's being punished.

EDIT:

Notice what Cal is doing in the huddle. He draws up a play for Z to back screen and then post up in the paint. Z ignores this and hits 4 straight threes (yes he had a toe on the line for one) and Cal ain't having it!

 

[SemperFiCat]

Cal is a freaking moron.

 

[WeWant9]

I’m glad we got to see Z all of about 10 minutes in Lexington, best of luck to wherever he ends up next year.

 

[TankedCat]

sounds about like the stupid -ish we've come to expect from this program as of late.

 

[westerncat]

So i guess we will not see Big Z play at Vandy.

 

[AGEE11]

He feels like he goes pro and blows up or transfers to Gonzaga and becomes POTY

 

[TankedCat]

Z has the potential to break a game open and Cal wants him to stand under the goal and spin around with his arms stretched out.

 

[legalbeagle123]

The coaching staff is a joke.

 

[CROCAT]

Cow is the worst bench coach in Division I and it isn't particularly close.

If he were coaching Kevin Durant, he'd probably tell him to get his lanky ass in the paint and fight for rebounds instead of handling the ball...Poor Z never had a chance

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

Next year will begin without Z or Burks on the team as well as the usual 5 star exodus. Terrific.

 

[Mike-McD]

Cow is the worst bench coach in Division I and it isn't particularly close.

If he were coaching Kevin Durant, he'd probably tell him to get his lanky ass in the paint and fight for rebounds instead of handling the ball...Poor Z never had a chance

I wish I could like this post 100 times.

 

[TankedCat]

Next year will begin without Z or Burks on the team as well as the usual 5 star exodus. Terrific.

I'd bet on Thiero too

 

[March 22]

Any other decent coach would be falling over themselves to get the talent Z has. John has become a total laughing stock buffoon. The whole staff won't challenge him, so they all need to leave with him. Trash!

 

[Pulaski Cat Fan]

Any other decent coach would be falling over themselves to get the talent Z has. John has become a total laughing stock buffoon. The whole staff won't challenge him, so they all need to leave with him. Trash!

Kentucky has been turned into a pussified program by a damn NBA wannabe.

 

[UK90]

Well, sure seemed like he was not in the “wrong spot” when he was totally kicking ass in the one and only game where he played that spot.

But, what do I know, I’m just another schmuck on a message board, Cal’s the one who got the $86 million contract extension.

 

[Bluesbrother]

"[Big Z] was in the wrong spot, he just made shots." Diminishing his debut against UGA.

So Cal has no intention of playing him that way. That's why he's riding the bench, guys. Couple that with Cal's pregame comment about not trying to get Big Z baskets but to look inside for lobs to him.

Bruiser went on to say that he is "down the road" in terms of development.

Clearly Big Z embarrassed Cal by making all those shots and now he's being punished.

Cal is mental ... just not well ... filled with vitriol and resentment for ****ing stupid reasons. These assistant coaches just toe the line and look like idiots with him. Ain't UK basketball fun!!

 

[Cawood86]

"[Big Z] was in the wrong spot, he just made shots." Diminishing his debut against UGA.

So Cal has no intention of playing him that way. That's why he's riding the bench, guys. Couple that with Cal's pregame comment about not trying to get Big Z baskets but to look inside for lobs to him.

Bruiser went on to say that he is "down the road" in terms of development.

Clearly Big Z embarrassed Cal by making all those shots and now he's being punished.

Please tell me this isn't true

 

[UKortho]

The problem is that Cal thought he was in the wrong spot.

 

[rick64]

Do the coaches not watch the modern NBA game these days??!! It's a shooters league!!!! Big guys shooting 3s all over the place.

 

[MissingWCC]

"[Big Z] was in the wrong spot, he just made shots." Diminishing his debut against UGA.

So Cal has no intention of playing him that way. That's why he's riding the bench, guys. Couple that with Cal's pregame comment about not trying to get Big Z baskets but to look inside for lobs to him.

Bruiser went on to say that he is "down the road" in terms of development.

Clearly Big Z embarrassed Cal by making all those shots and now he's being punished.

I could see this rationale maybe if everyone else is in the right positions all the time. Hell every player on the team is behind on defense but they still get to play. Put them all on the bench and let the coaching staff get out there and show them how it's done.

This happens every year with someone who ends up leaving. EVERY YEAR.

 

[catben]

So Cal is going to keep pushing Bradshaw on us when he can’t get a FREAKIN rebound at 7’ tall!!!! That’s not even mentioning how he gets ABUSED defending the Post or fouls because he brings his hands down when trying to block a shot. And he was billed as a Big that could shoot, but since the first UF game, he has been horrible shooting the ball.

Big Z moves better, can block shots, rebounds, shoots anywhere on the floor and is just as strong as Bradshaw. But he isn’t a Klutch kid so we won’t see him and the coaching staff will continue to downplay his ability.

Contrast the way the coaches talk about Edwards and Bradshaw as opposed to Big Z and Adou. It’s SICKENING!!!

 

[catben]

Lol, only UK fans could see a player all of 34 minutes over 4 games (16 of them against a medicre UGA team) and convince themselves they know exactly what level of player he is and what they can expect his contributions to be if just given the chance.

Lol, you guys are a riot!

No, we’ve seen the kids that play in front of him and reach the conclusion that he couldn’t be any worse and as a whole has played much better!!!

If you can’t see that, you are the “riot”.

 

[CBBCrazy]

Z is what we thought Edwards would be, that is the reason Cal is embarrassed. What an idiot we have as a couch.

 

[UK90]

Do the coaches not watch the modern NBA game these days??!! It's a shooters league!!!! Big guys shooting 3s all over the place.

Almost seems like Cal’s head and understanding of the game is forever stuck the early 2000s basketball world.

All of the game’s developments and changes that occurred after around 2010 seem largely lost on him.

 

[CatPhight]

Lol, only UK fans could see a player all of 34 minutes over 4 games (16 of them against a medicre UGA team) and convince themselves they know exactly what level of player he is and what they can expect his contributions to be if just given the chance.

Lol, you guys are a riot!

Hello sock...why not post your defense of Cal under your own account?

Embarrassed?

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

Wow, talk about Mad Cow Disease.

 

[Coach Marrow]

I love this game

 

[NociHTTP]

Z has the potential to break a game open and Cal wants him to stand under the goal and spin around with his arms stretched out.

Cal is one those guys who encourages the minimal effort needed to get to the NBA. He thinks all Z needs to do is just hang out for lobs, because he imagined that's what Z would do in the NBA. It's not about teaching guys to do what's necessary to win games for UK.

 

[TankedCat]

Lol, only UK fans could see a player all of 34 minutes over 4 games (16 of them against a medicre UGA team) and convince themselves they know exactly what level of player he is and what they can expect his contributions to be if just given the chance.

Lol, you guys are a riot!

I don't have to be a great coach, or even talent evaluator to know the score of a game.

 

[NociHTTP]

So Cal is going to keep pushing Bradshaw on us when he can’t get a FREAKIN rebound at 7’ tall!!!! That’s not even mentioning how he gets ABUSED defending the Post or fouls because he brings his hands down when trying to block a shot. And he was billed as a Big that could shoot, but since the first UF game, he has been horrible shooting the ball.

Big Z moves better, can block shots, rebounds, shoots anywhere on the floor and is just as strong as Bradshaw. But he isn’t a Klutch kid so we won’t see him and the coaching staff will continue to downplay his ability.

Contrast the way the coaches talk about Edwards and Bradshaw as opposed to Big Z and Adou. It’s SICKENING!!!

He's trying to diminish Z so he can justify playing Bradshaw.

 

[cats2010]

Lol, only UK fans could see a player all of 34 minutes over 4 games (16 of them against a medicre UGA team) and convince themselves they know exactly what level of player he is and what they can expect his contributions to be if just given the chance.

Lol, you guys are a riot!

And only cal can watch a debut like Z had against Georgia and decide he’s not ready yet 😂. Now that’s a riot!!!!

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Almost seems like Cal’s head and understanding of the game is forever stuck the early 2000s basketball world.

All of the game’s developments and changes that occurred after around 2010 seem largely lost on him.

Had he started at UCONN or Villanova at the same time, he would be averaging 10-15 per game.

Cal is an ostrich.

 

[UK90]

He's trying to diminish Z so he can justify playing Bradshaw.

I think there’s probably a lot of truth to this.

He’s got recruiting promises that he feels obligated to keep regarding Bradshaw’s playing time. Promises that have suddenly become a lot harder to keep given Ugo’s recent emergence as our best center and Big Z joining the team as a highly skilled third center option.

He’s got to come up with some explanation/excuse to justify Bradshaws minutes.

 

[Wonky]

If Cal were simply inept, that would be grounds enough for his dismissal. But he has to be inept and also a giant dick, too. Never in my wildest dreams did I think his tenure would completely fall apart the way it has. Truly bizarre and sad.

 

[Mike-McD]

Lol, only UK fans could see a player all of 34 minutes over 4 games (16 of them against a medicre UGA team) and convince themselves they know exactly what level of player he is and what they can expect his contributions to be if just given the chance.

I remember you very astute basketball minded people all saying similar about Dontaie Allen. He can't even get much PT at Western now.

Lol, you guys are a riot! Don't ever change!

He scored 13 points in 10 minutes and stuffed the stat sheet. You're a joke.

 

[ukfan1622]

He's trying to diminish Z so he can justify playing Bradshaw.

yep

 

[know1]

Can the fans that donated to the billboard sue? 😁

 

[Fox2monk]

Cal is a freaking moron.

I don’t know how you could watch him play that opening game and then say, well gotta bench you because I want you to catch lobs. You can’t make this shit up.

 

[ib4ky]

EFFIN UK basketball program is on the verge of going over the cliff of NO return this season and JVC sends out this knob-slopper to be #BaghdadBob for him and spew these lies to the UK fanbase of bennies to not believe their own eyes but to trust in Cal!!!!!!!!

So Bradshaw can be in the RIGHT SPOT and MISS shots and this d*mb*ss staff is happy about their execution???????

Z needs on the floor and Bruiser needs out the door with Cal carrying his EFFIN baggage!!!!!!!!!

 

[FilsonCat]

I dunno. Big Z looked like he was open and ready to ball in a pace and space offense. He was playing loose and wasn't forcing bad shots.

It is a damn shame that Reed and Big Z have to play under the clown show circus that is Cal's Kentucky program.

Bruiser is not helping matters by drawing attention to just how inept our coaches really are.