“We want to win banners in NASHVILLE”

[Jamal Mercer]

Man I loved that line. For so many reasons.

He followed it up with National championship banners also of course.

Shots taken at Cal:

1. Maui
2. Nashville
3. Keeping opponents on their heels with our defense.

Did I miss any?

If you aren’t fired up after that, you aren’t a UK fan.

 

[gharding07]

He is absolutely knocking it out of the park, holy crap.

 

[meow_cat]

Yes, that was awesome. I laughed at that dig.

Man I loved that line. For so many reasons.

He followed it up with National championship banners also of course.

Shots taken at Cal:

1. Maui
2. Nashville
3. Keeping opponents on their heels with our defense.

Did I miss any?

If you aren’t fired up after that, you aren’t a UK fan.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

We'd be sleeping right now if Drew was doing this presser

 

[drew_ukfan]

We'd be sleeping right now if Drew was doing this presser

Nah man, I’m fun. Might’ve juggled for y’all

 

[UKBlueBlood]

What did he say about Maui? I must have missed that.

 

[DraftCat]

Mic Drop

 

[podgejeff_]

What did he say about Maui? I must have missed that.

He asked if anyone would like to go to Maui? Could we get some fans out for that?

*massive cheer*

 

[Princecal]

What's going on. I'm on UK's official site and it's saying it hasn't started yet. Wth?

 

[UKfan215]

What really impresses me is that they truly understand all of the little things about Cal that drove us absolutely mad. And by mentioning them, they are basically publicly acknowledging that they agree with us. We aren't just a bunch of "Basketball Bennies", we know what is up.

BTW, if there could be any way possible, I would freaking love to track down a kid with Benny as either a first or last name and recruit him to join this team. It can even be a walk-on, I don't care. But Mark, please find us a "Benny".

 

[podgejeff_]

What's going on. I'm on UK's official site and it's saying it hasn't started yet. Wth?

Just ended.

 

[podgejeff_]

What really impresses me is that they truly understand all of the little things about Cal that drove us absolutely mad. And by mentioning them, they are basically publicly acknowledging that they agree with us. We aren't just a bunch of "Basketball Bennies", we know what is up.

BTW, if there could be any way possible, I would freaking love to track down a kid with Benny as either a first or last name and recruit him to join this team. It can even be a walk-on, I don't care. But Mark, please find us a "Benny".

If there's one thing that makes me the happiest about the post-Cal era, it's that hopefully people let the term "basketball benny" die a quick death.

 

[CROCAT]

Meanwhile, some 500 miles south, in Fayetteville:

"Nashville? Nah, Little Prairie is on. Go send Bruiser to do the post-game presser, I don't have the time. Tell him to apologize to the Pig Nation for our first round loss or something. Hey Brad, did you walk the dogs?"

 

[CELTICAT]

I’m fired up, that was incredible!

 

[true blue1]

Absolutely Amazing!!!!!!!!!

 

[UK90]

Cal openly declaring that he didn’t care about the SEC tournament was one of the most tone deaf things any coach could ever say. And that attitude showed with the crappy way we non-performed in the SECT in recent years.

I’m so glad those days are done. EVERY game should always matter at UK. And especially ones that are for the friggin conference tournament championship. Thankfully we once again have a coach who gets that.

 

[chroix]

He crushed it. You can tell he gets it.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

That was great and much needed. Amazing our previous coach was allowed to go for years dismissing that importance and respect of the fans that always spent 1000s to go to that tournament.

 

[howitis]

Cal openly declaring that he didn’t care about the SEC tournament was one of the most tone deaf things any coach could ever say. And it showed with the crappy way we non-performed in the SECT in the years after he said it.

I’m so glad those days are done. EVERY game should always matter at UK. And especially ones that are for the friggin conference tournament championship. Thankfully we once again have a coach who gets that.

I don't think cal actually ever believed that. it was more like when a little kid loses and says well i wasn't trying anyway way wait till next time!.

 

[bradscats]

What's going on. I'm on UK's official site and it's saying it hasn't started yet. Wth?

It started you from the beginning I’m sure, which was a good amount of nothing before they arrived. Slide forward.

 

[UK90]

What really impresses me is that they truly understand all of the little things about Cal that drove us absolutely mad. And by mentioning them, they are basically publicly acknowledging that they agree with us. We aren't just a bunch of "Basketball Bennies", we know what is up.

Yep, it almost seems like he must’ve been reading this board every night with how in tune he is with what UK fans have been thinking.

He knows exactly what things we disliked about Cal … and is making it crystal clear that those things are done.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Cal openly declaring that he didn’t care about the SEC tournament was one of the most tone deaf things any coach could ever say. And it showed with the crappy way we non-performed in the SECT in the years after he said it.

I’m so glad those days are done. EVERY game should always matter at UK. And especially ones that are for the friggin conference tournament championship. Thankfully we once again have a coach who gets that.

I agree but think people are in for a rude awakening thinking UK is gonna dominate sec regular season or sec tourney going forward. League has improved too much. We should try to win though.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

Man I loved that line. For so many reasons.

He followed it up with National championship banners also of course.

Shots taken at Cal:

1. Maui
2. Nashville
3. Keeping opponents on their heels with our defense.

Did I miss any?

If you aren’t fired up after that, you aren’t a UK fan.

He mentioned not playing for money or the NBA but instead playing for and appreciating what playing for KY means and how it will change their life.

 

[ukfan1622]

He is absolutely knocking it out of the park, holy crap.

I literally just got finished telling somebody that didn't see it that he hit a home run.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

Yep, it almost seems like he must’ve been reading this board every night with how in tune he is with what UK fans have been thinking.

He knows exactly what things we disliked about Cal … and is making it crystal clear that those things are done.

The thing about that is he didn't have to say those things (although I'm glad he did), it's what he believes anyway!

 

[Jack2936]

Do you think the Cal "gets it" now? I seriously doubt he understood a word Pope said, and if he did...he didn't give a shit. But that's who Cal is. You can't be "part" of this program when it's about you and your own glory.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

That is a man that truly understands everything that matters with Kentucky Basketball. He is driven to win! Can't wait for BBM already!

 

[deplion]

Great line!

An "in your face" to Cal without resorting to getting nasty about it.

 

[bbncal02]

Do you think the Cal "gets it" now? I seriously doubt he understood a word Pope said, and if he did...he didn't give a shit. But that's who Cal is. You can't be "part" of this program when it's about you and your own glory.

He did up until 2012. And then it was like, "Ok, did what BBN wanted. Now it's MINE."

Nope, that's not how it works. EVER.

 

[ukfan1622]

It just shows he knows before taking the job that just making NCAA tournaments and sending guys
to the NBA is not enough for a Kentucky coach. I thought his entire press conference was brilliant
in several ways. The days of our coach getting outsmarted by our opponent's coach are over.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

Cal openly declaring that he didn’t care about the SEC tournament was one of the most tone deaf things any coach could ever say. And that attitude showed with the crappy way we non-performed in the SECT in recent years.

I’m so glad those days are done. EVERY game should always matter at UK. And especially ones that are for the friggin conference tournament championship. Thankfully we once again have a coach who gets that.

That's the thing. Fans pay to go see games to watch their team win THAT game. Thats the payoff, what's fun. Not to watch a practice session meant to prep the team for later in the season.

 

[deep3]

Do you think the Cal "gets it" now? I seriously doubt he understood a word Pope said, and if he did...he didn't give a shit. But that's who Cal is. You can't be "part" of this program when it's about you and your own glory.

He didn’t give a shit that’s why gtfo

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I don't think cal actually ever believed that. it was more like when a little kid loses and says well i wasn't trying anyway way wait till next time!.

Oh he absolutely meant it. At some point it became clear he stopped caring about it. Even if he never said it, it was obvious.

 

[drbubba]

If there's one thing that makes me the happiest about the post-Cal era, it's that hopefully people let the term "basketball benny" die a quick death.

If I ever meet Cal I will tell him I'm Benny.

 

[dl51344]

We'd be sleeping right now if Drew was doing this presser

When I watched BYU playing Baylor on YouTube a few days ago I tried to imagine not knowing either coach's coaching history; just decide which of the two would be better at ky. I seen Pope as being the better choice.

 

[flacat22]

Meanwhile, some 500 miles south, in Fayetteville:

"Nashville? Nah, Little Prairie is on. Go send Bruiser to do the post-game presser, I don't have the time. Tell him to apologize to the Pig Nation for our first round loss or something. Hey Brad, did you walk the dogs?"

Man, he’s gone, move on. You gonna keep that avatar?

 

[Princecal]

It started you from the beginning I’m sure, which was a good amount of nothing before they arrived. Slide forward.

It did, and for whatever reason wouldn't let me navigate. I'm about an hour through now and I feel so much better about the hire, I would rather watch one of our own succeed over an outsider, he said all the right things so far for me to believe he can. I really hope he can talk to Big Z and get him back here. He would kill it in this system.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

I hope Kentucky gets to knock Arkansas out of the SEC Tournament with UK's first game.

 

[RunninRichie]

Nah man, I’m fun. Might’ve juggled for y’all

Don’t forget @kybassfan with the unicycle!

 

[westerncat]

It did, and for whatever reason wouldn't let me navigate. I'm about an hour through now and I feel so much better about the hire, I would rather watch one of our own succeed over an outsider, he said all the right things so far for me to believe he can. I really hope he can talk to Big Z and get him back here. He would kill it in this system.

Said he was talking with the player from last year I think. Said all the right things and I knew he would because he played here.