A quick look at the last 7 seasons through 22 games

[WACB]

2009-10

Started: 21-1
Ended: 14-2
Result: Elite Eight​

2010-11

Started: 16-6
Ended: 13-3
Result: Final Four​

2011-12

Started: 21-1
Ended: 17-1
Result: Champions​

2012-13

Started: 16-6
Ended: 5-6
Result: NIT​

2013-14

Started: 17-5
Ended: 12-6
Result: Runner-Up​

2014-15

Started: 22-0
Ended: 16-1
Result: Final Four​

2015-16

Started: 16-6
Ended: ???
Result: ???​

 

[JeffGoodmansVestigialTwin]

So by the associative property it's either FF or NIT? Here's hoping it's the former and not the latter.

 

[mdlUK.1]

We wouldn't have gone to the nit had Nerlens not been injured. Just bad luck that season.

 

[throatpoker]

Heart and soul of the team has to go down with a season ending injury for it to be nit

 

[AnarchoNeoLuddite]

NIT or not were closer to 13 than than the BK team

 

[The_Godfather]

NIT or not were closer to 13 than than the BK team

Why? Was it the stellar losses to teams like Ole Miss and a Arkansas that made it so?

There is this fairly tale that exists amongst fans that want to imply that we had any notion of how far that 2011 team could grow from the terrible road performances we saw in SEC play to what they became in March. Same with 2014.

As horrible as this team has looked at times, they also clearly have the potential to beat anyone we might face in the NCAA tournament. That simply wasn't the case in 2013. Any potential that team had was killed when Noel blew out his knee.

 

[Mojocat]

Why? Was it the stellar losses to teams like Ole Miss and a Arkansas that made it so?

There is this fairly tale that exists amongst fans that want to imply that we had any notion of how far that 2011 team could grow from the terrible road performances we saw in SEC play to what they became in March. Same with 2014.

As horrible as this team has looked at times, they also clearly have the potential to beat anyone we might face in the NCAA tournament. That simply wasn't the case in 2013. Any potential that team had was killed when Noel blew out his knee.

Yep. Good. All of it.

 

[brianpoe]

Why? Was it the stellar losses to teams like Ole Miss and a Arkansas that made it so?

There is this fairly tale that exists amongst fans that want to imply that we had any notion of how far that 2011 team could grow from the terrible road performances we saw in SEC play to what they became in March. Same with 2014.

As horrible as this team has looked at times, they also clearly have the potential to beat anyone we might face in the NCAA tournament. That simply wasn't the case in 2013. Any potential that team had was killed when Noel blew out his knee.

Yep. Good. All of it.

The main reason we have a chance to beat anyone is that there are no powerhouses this year.

Lack of post play, lack of shooting, lack of leadership are the biggest differences in these two teams.

2011 had pieces that didnt play well at times, very frustrating. 2016 has certain pieces that havent played well all season.

The 2 point loss at Ole Miss and the 1 point loss in OT at Arkansas are not close to as awful as some of the losses this year. Other notable losses in 2011 @UNC by 2, @Florida by 2, @Bama by 2. This team's closest loss is 5 points once.

The real fairy tale is that just because the records are the same that the teams are equal in talent.

Every season is different and so are the opponents, these cats could make a good run or go out early, wouldn't be many of us surprised if either happened.

 

[AnarchoNeoLuddite]

Why? Was it the stellar losses to teams like Ole Miss and a Arkansas that made it so?

There is this fairly tale that exists amongst fans that want to imply that we had any notion of how far that 2011 team could grow from the terrible road performances we saw in SEC play to what they became in March. Same with 2014.

As horrible as this team has looked at times, they also clearly have the potential to beat anyone we might face in the NCAA tournament. That simply wasn't the case in 2013. Any potential that team had was killed when Noel blew out his knee.

As a team closer to Harrows team than Knights, weve gone over it, no bigs close to Jones and Harrelson and Lamb is the best all time shooter at UK. Hell id take Eloy Vargas over anyone aside from AP.

 

[mbc82584]

As a team closer to Harrows team than Knights, weve gone over it, no bigs close to Jones and Harrelson and Lamb is the best all time shooter at UK. Hell id take Eloy Vargas over anyone aside from AP.

 

[Mojocat]

As a team closer to Harrows team than Knights, .....

No. Just no. Did Harrow's team ever look like this team did in wins against Duke and Louisville, and in it's close loss at the Phog? I haven't looked back at the schedule, but I don't recall it.

Look, no one has a crystal ball. There's a chance that this team just doesn't come together, that Cal isn't able to mold them and get them playing their best in March like he's done every year he's been there when there were no season ending injuries to key players, a chance they get a bad draw and are done early. There's a chance they come together and get on a run. But like Godfather says, I think everyone is remembering that 2011 team from the way they finished - when you think of that team, you're thinking of the way they won the SECT, trashing Florida in the final, beating OSU and Carolina. No one is recalling the losses in February, Cal screaming the obscenity at Bama with a thousand posts saying "Cal has lost this team!!", all the gloom and doom. Which is what this fan base does - emotional rollercoaster. Saturday night after Kansas, we had it going, no one scared us, we're on our way! A few days later, this team is suddenly closer to the NIT. Sheesh.

 

[The_Godfather]

As a team closer to Harrows team than Knights, weve gone over it, no bigs close to Jones and Harrelson and Lamb is the best all time shooter at UK. Hell id take Eloy Vargas over anyone aside from AP.

Christ. I give up.

 

[Mojocat]

No. Just no. Did Harrow's team ever look like this team did in wins against Duke and Louisville, and in it's close loss at the Phog? I haven't looked back at the schedule, but I don't recall it.

I'm looking at the 2013 schedule, and as I suspected, nothing like this team. No really impressive wins, not even any impressive losses like this team's close loss at KU. That team had home losses to unranked Baylor and unranked A&M. Just looking at results to date, this team looks much more like '11 than '13. Again, it's not predictive, but more similar to one than the other.

By the way, everyone trashes that '13 team, and it was by no means great. But.....it looked to have finally turned a corner of sorts, winning 5 straight, getting back to the rankings, when Noel - clearly not only the best player but the heart of that team, went down. If he doesn't go down, they very likely get in as a 6,7,8,9 seed something like that. Definitely no NIT. And while I suspect that would have been a quick tournament for them, it's not smart to bet against a Calipari team in the NCAAT.

 

[UKGrad93]

This team lacks a consistently good big. Look at all of the teams that Cal has had here and you will see that they had MEN that could play the paint.

2010 - Cousins, Orten, & Patterson
2011 - Jones & Jorts (late in season, final 4 run doesn't happen wo Jorts taking big steps)
2012 - Jones & Davis
2013 - Noel (until he went down, & the team went down)
2014 - Randle & Johnson
2015 - Towns, Johnson, Lyles
2016 -Inconsistency from the front line (unless you count consistently bad)

I say that this team goes as our front line goes. If we can start getting consistent effort from 2 on the front line, we have a chance to do something.

Can our front line find its inner Jorts & become the second coming of the 2011 team? Or will they go down like the 2013 team that ended up without a good front line? If I'm betting, I think it will be closer to the 2013 season. Willis & Lee are limited, Poythress is inconsistent, Skal has maturing to do.

 

[wldktz8]

NIT or not were closer to 13 than than the BK team

Yeah we lost to UT but we didn't get pounded by 30 like we did in 2013.

 

[brianpoe]

No. Just no. Did Harrow's team ever look like this team did in wins against Duke and Louisville, and in it's close loss at the Phog? I haven't looked back at the schedule, but I don't recall it.

Look, no one has a crystal ball. There's a chance that this team just doesn't come together, that Cal isn't able to mold them and get them playing their best in March like he's done every year he's been there when there were no season ending injuries to key players, a chance they get a bad draw and are done early. There's a chance they come together and get on a run. But like Godfather says, I think everyone is remembering that 2011 team from the way they finished - when you think of that team, you're thinking of the way they won the SECT, trashing Florida in the final, beating OSU and Carolina. No one is recalling the losses in February, Cal screaming the obscenity at Bama with a thousand posts saying "Cal has lost this team!!", all the gloom and doom. Which is what this fan base does - emotional rollercoaster. Saturday night after Kansas, we had it going, no one scared us, we're on our way! A few days later, this team is suddenly closer to the NIT. Sheesh.

Mojo,

Duke has proven to be down and UL is a 2 man team. Everybody is down this year.

No reasonable poster has said Cal has lost this team. It is just an unfortunate roster. Booker and Dakari left, Brown and Zimmerman went elsewhere. Our older bigs simply never reached potential we had hoped and Skal and Briscoe are not as advertised. That's it.

It is so arrogant of people to tell others what they are remembering. I was at a bunch of these games in 2011.

The ONLY things similar between the two teams:
Same coach.
The current records of these two teams.
Fans frustration level.


2011 had 4 away losses by 2 pts to UNC and Florida, and a 1 point loss to Arkansas in OT.

This team has had terrible losses by double digits.

2011 wasnt soft.
2011 had 2 interior players.
2011 shot the ball 1000x better - FG, FT, and 3pt.
2011 played much better defense.
2011 had upperclassmen in Miller, Liggins and Jorts who played in a lead by example way. This team only has Tyler.
2011 had a much higher IQ.
2011 showed much more intensity.
2011 had better talent at every position. Yes I take Knight > Tyler for now and Lamb > Murray's inconsistency and poor defense at this time - no doubts Murray will be the better pro)



I love you guys, Mojo and Godfather. Don't confuse my opinion of the disparities in talent of 2011 and 2013 to mean that this team cannot make a run. With college bball being down anything could happen.

Don't disagree on much but we are far apart on this one.

 

[Mojocat]

Mojo,

Duke has proven to be down and UL is a 2 man team. Everybody is down this year.

No reasonable poster has said Cal has lost this team. It is just an unfortunate roster. Booker and Dakari left, Brown and Zimmerman went elsewhere. Our older bigs simply never reached potential we had hoped and Skal and Briscoe are not as advertised. That's it.

It is so arrogant of people to tell others what they are remembering. I was at a bunch of these games in 2011.

The ONLY things similar between the two teams:
Same coach.
The current records of these two teams.
Fans frustration level.


2011 had 4 away losses by 2 pts to UNC and Florida, and a 1 point loss to Arkansas in OT.

This team has had terrible losses by double digits.

2011 wasnt soft.
2011 had 2 interior players.
2011 shot the ball 1000x better - FG, FT, and 3pt.
2011 played much better defense.
2011 had upperclassmen in Miller, Liggins and Jorts who played in a lead by example way. This team only has Tyler.
2011 had a much higher IQ.
2011 showed much more intensity.
2011 had better talent at every position. Yes I take Knight > Tyler for now and Lamb > Murray's inconsistency and poor defense at this time - no doubts Murray will be the better pro)



I love you guys, Mojo and Godfather. Don't confuse my opinion of the disparities in talent of 2011 and 2013 to mean that this team cannot make a run. With college bball being down anything could happen.

Don't disagree on much but we are far apart on this one.

That's fair. By the way, my reference to the posts about Cal having lost the team wasn't about what's going on now, but rather just remembering the 2011 season - it's easy for us all to forget just how bleak things looked in February of that year. My only point is that 2016 to me is closer to 2011 than it is 2013 - but you know what, that doesn't mean anything. Each season has its own story, and this team will either turn it around and finish strong or it won't, and in the end whether it resembles some other team or not won't matter.

Besides, right now, I'm just enjoying all the hand-wringing in Louisville about this 1:30 press conference!

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

This is a diffrent team than Cal's others in that its guard oriented.
3 guards and 2 bigs.
We dont necessarily have to have 2 AAs down low to make the FF this yr.

The keys are Ulis and Murray.....they have the potential to get UK to the FF.

 

[brianpoe]

That's fair. By the way, my reference to the posts about Cal having lost the team wasn't about what's going on now, but rather just remembering the 2011 season - it's easy for us all to forget just how bleak things looked in February of that year. My only point is that 2016 to me is closer to 2011 than it is 2013 - but you know what, that doesn't mean anything. Each season has its own story, and this team will either turn it around and finish strong or it won't, and in the end whether it resembles some other team or not won't matter.

Besides, right now, I'm just enjoying all the hand-wringing in Louisville about this 1:30 press conference!

Totally agree pal.

 

[jrpross]

This team lacks a consistently good big. Look at all of the teams that Cal has had here and you will see that they had MEN that could play the paint.

2010 - Cousins, Orten, & Patterson
2011 - Jones & Jorts (late in season, final 4 run doesn't happen wo Jorts taking big steps)
2012 - Jones & Davis
2013 - Noel (until he went down, & the team went down)
2014 - Randle & Johnson
2015 - Towns, Johnson, Lyles
2016 -Inconsistency from the front line (unless you count consistently bad)

I say that this team goes as our front line goes. If we can start getting consistent effort from 2 on the front line, we have a chance to do something.

Can our front line find its inner Jorts & become the second coming of the 2011 team? Or will they go down like the 2013 team that ended up without a good front line? If I'm betting, I think it will be closer to the 2013 season. Willis & Lee are limited, Poythress is inconsistent, Skal has maturing to do.

Some of this is true but the same could be said about the consistency of the backcourt. Compare the 2013 guards to this one. Ulis & Murray are WORLDS better than Harrow & Goodwin. If we make a run this year it will be because of them.

Overall I'd say this team is somewhere in between 11 & 13. I still say we've seen a lot more promise than the 13 team showed us. My hope is that with it being a down year overall, that our results will be more like 2011.