Anyone Listening to KSR Right Now? Hagans and Cal Fight?

[sambowieshin]

Most of us that pay attention have known something has been going on with Hagans. It could be family or girlfriend issues, but I’ll bet it’s the fact that his poor play is causing panic about his draft status. He seems to be checking out a bit. That’s probably why Cal has gone out of his way to praise rather than criticize him. Doesn’t appear to be working if this stuff is true.

He was obviously choking under the pressure of senior night in Rupp. He wanted last night to be his farewell game....but the more he wants it, the more he presses and the worse he plays. This has been going on for the better part of two months. The more he tries to "get his" and showcase his skills, the worse he looks. It's fairly obvious what is happening. His defense isn't even looking good lately. He has gone rogue.

 

[Drcatfan]

I noticed about 80% of the way through the game Hagans came in and his facial expression was like he was trying to frown and show no emotion. I wondered at that time if something was wrong because his is normally energetic and smiling. Hopefully Cal can work his magic.

The loss certainly came at a bad time. The home loss to an unranked opponent wipes out any chance for a 2 seed.

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

Entitlement. That’s today’s youth in a nutshell.

Well it’s the Boomers’ fault for raising them that way

 

[KyFaninNC]

Well it’s the Boomers’ fault for raising them that way

Wait, what? Boomers didn’t raise this generation. Our kids raised them.

 

[HagginHall1999]

I want to say I’m shocked we have some here acting like this back and forth between Cal and Hagans is “just heat of god moment back and forth stuff” and no big deal. This IS a big deal if what’s being reported is true. You have a guy who has not been playing well and Cal has been handling him with kid gloves for a month and a half it seems, and even with all that Ashton refuses to go into the game when he gets sat down for a bit? Great teammate dude. GREAT teammate. Exactly the kind of leadership we need from our 2nd year point guard.

We have no idea if it is true...that is the problem.

 

[STL_Cat]

We have no idea if it is true...that is the problem.

I’m saying IF it’s true it’s a big problem. It sounds to me like it’s been confirmed by some pretty good sources.

 

[WeWant9]

I stayed away from the board last night, so this is a bit disheartening to read. Arguments happen, so we’ll see how this one ends. Does it bring people together, or do the wheels fall off? Not a great time for all this with tournaments right around the corner.

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

Wait, what? Boomers didn’t raise this generation. Our kids raised them.

Millennials are largely the boomers off spring.

 

[Deli owl]

As a Millennial I can attest. But it has to to with our parents raising us with a “Trophy for everybody” mentality.

I liked my generation when parents held us accountable. The belt works no matter what the nut jobs say.

 

[ULisnotmyman]

Hagans is soft. And not very good at basketball.

 

[jojohn]

Ashton is the only point guard we have.
.....
Tweak then win streak for title.
.....
Gobigblue.

 

[CincyUKFan]

Ashton is the only point guard we have.
.....
Tweak then win streak for title.
.....
Gobigblue.

Really?

Have you noticed Maxey’s play making abilities? His assist numbers in some games lately where Hagans is in foul trouble?

 

[seccats04]

Saw Hagans at one point with the hoodie over his head on the bench. I thought it was odd while seeing it but now that this has come to light it makes sense.

 

[Creed Bratton]

Hagans should expect to be benched after bad plays. Just like everybody else.

Nobody on this team has a bigger leash than him. He made a turnover last night and Cal started yelling at Tyrese.

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

We have no idea if it is true...that is the problem.

 

[UK90]

Hagans also had this odd exchange last night:
And also that weird moment where he tried to steal the ball from his own teammate. The dude's head was in a bad place last night.

 

[weatherbird]

Really?

Have you noticed Maxey’s play making abilities? His assist numbers in some games lately where Hagans is in foul trouble?

You mean like last night when he had exactly 1 assists in his 14 minutes of running PG? I love Maxey, but he cannot really create for others. He is great with the ball in his hands, but he isn't a great distributor. The best case scenario is that somehow Hagans finds it within himself to return to the guy he was early in the season, and these 3 guards mesh together. If you run Maxey at PG, it will be more of a Brandon Knight style PG. In other words, Maxey is a score first type PG who needs the other players around him to get their own shots.

But if Hagans is a problem, then that is the route they should take.

 

[Baller Cal]

You called people who said that last week haters and trolls. C'mon Baller, only 100% positivity is acceptable.

I 100% DID NOT. I know you love to fight with people here, but it won't happen with me. Get your facts straight before going after me. I've stayed out of the Hagans conversations for the most part. I'm not sure why you are allowed to act the way you do here, but you're always butthurt about something.

 

[bigblue1971]

The Whitney mess and now Hagans imploding. Win or lose just get this damn season over with already. Oh and recruit more than 6 players next season. Calipari in a familiar position being "held hostage" by a player.

 

[Girthang]

Another thing I noticed tonight with Ashton is that there were several times where he had an opportunity to pass the ball to Maxey and he didn't. I don't know if that was intentional or just me.

Also, he forced shots when he could have passed it to Nick on the base line or at the rim. Nick just wasn't the same tonight in the second half and I don't know if was because of Ashton, but something was amiss with him too.

He shouldn't have put him in. I would've sent him to the locker room for the rest of the game, if he didn't want to be a team player.

Cal has had a hard time lately with some of the players, like a lot of coaches seem to. I don't know how coaches do it. A lot of kids these days are so sensitive and demanding with no discipline at all. You have to counsel them more than coach at times.

Part of this is still the young team thing. Young teams play down to their competition and immature teams take their foot off the gas when they have a lead. He has to find a balance of older players that know the system and can play at a fairly high level. Don't know if it is possible if the older guys don't get playing time. Ugly loss all the way around

 

[kyjeff1]

This right here will hurt Hagans on draft night. I guarantee it.

Nothing will hurt him more than the fact that he can't shoot. The NBA really doesn't need a 6'3" guard that can't hit shots and can't make layups.

 

[Mashburned]

Never disliked a player more than Hagans. 2 years now and he’s never been the best PG on his team. He completely self destructed down the stretch last year. Those complaints don’t even address his biggest issue - the kid is a big whiny baby, most selfish player we’ve had recently. Every single game he has those “ok my turn to score” moments, and our team suffers while he attempts to look good for the scouts.

 

[Girthang]

Cal always said he would never be handcuffed again...but will he play Juzang instead? Can he? Can we win that way?

Gotta try

 

[Bill Withers]

Wait, what? Boomers didn’t raise this generation. Our kids raised them.

Yep, the boomers screwed up with the Gen Xers, and it snowballed to the millennials

 

[Titpwhami2014]

Hard to believe this is the same kid who flat out whipped Coby White last year in a must-win game.

 

[Bill Withers]

I stayed away from the board last night, so this is a bit disheartening to read. Arguments happen, so we’ll see how this one ends. Does it bring people together, or do the wheels fall off? Not a great time for all this with tournaments right around the corner.

Excellent questions. Excellent post, in general.

 

[blubo]

Unusual that cal didn’t do the post game show—kenny payne instead. bad look after a loss like this one, unless there’s a legit reason why he didn’t.

 

[Creed Bratton]

Yep, the boomers screwed up with the Gen Xers, and it snowballed to the millennials

Kind of like the Michael Keaton movie Multiplicity...each generation gets worse.

 

[Creed Bratton]

Unusual that cal didn’t do the post game show—kenny payne instead. bad look after a loss like this one, unless there’s a legit reason why he didn’t.

I have to agree. We would give Coach K crap for doing the same thing.

 

[Bill Withers]

I have to agree. We would give Coach K crap for doing the same thing.

And rightfully so. This is a terrible development, especially on March 3rd.

 

[kyjeff1]

He’s here because we struck out on our other recruiting targets. We had him reclassify to fill a void.

Because Cal recruits by the seat of his pants. This one and done stuff requires so many things to fall into place to work and even then, it's not a recipe for winning titles.
This type of recruiting relies on the decisions of 17 and 18 year olds that are trying to be deceiving up until the last second.
BUUUUT, without NBA talent, I don't see how Cal's offense and defense would work. You need elite athletesism and length to pull it off.
Oh well

 

[TheBlueDisciple]

He’s Cal’s guy. Control him or sit him. He did neither. That’s on Cal

Agreed. Hagans is certainly to blame for his piss poor, me first attitude, but the fact Cal actually played him again after that is awful. Any self respecting coach would have benched him and sent the message that Kentucky is bigger than any one player. Instead he worried more about winning a game, even if the wrong way, and sent the exact opposite message. So disappointing.

 

[Lovebaskelball]

I'll never be held hostage by a player until the next time Im held hostage by a player.

Also, I know a lot of Boomers that are just like Hagans.

 

[HagginHall1999]

Well there ya go, thanks for sharing.

Something was certainly amiss, that's for sure.

 

[rolaid]

Hold on we are SEC champs with a limited roster and unskilled point guard - we had a bad second half last night but the seasons not over. UT Fulkerson just destroyed Nick - Nick looked like first two years Nick- fumbling everything- seconds behind - Quickley is struggling from the floor
Maxey played the whole game and got zero rebounds
Blame everywhere

 

[rick64]

WTH!!! Worst time of the season for something like this. Cal needs to put this fire out NOW!!!

 

[LineSkiCat14]

If thats the case.. where maybe Cal was having a bad nighr, then it's hard to pin this all on Hagans. Seems to me, from the quote above, the entire TEAM was in the doghouse with Cal.

Hagans needs to play better, absolutely.. but the blowup and attitute might not be entirely his fault.

 

[DanCat17]

You mean like last night when he had exactly 1 assists in his 14 minutes of running PG? I love Maxey, but he cannot really create for others. He is great with the ball in his hands, but he isn't a great distributor. The best case scenario is that somehow Hagans finds it within himself to return to the guy he was early in the season, and these 3 guards mesh together. If you run Maxey at PG, it will be more of a Brandon Knight style PG. In other words, Maxey is a score first type PG who needs the other players around him to get their own shots.

But if Hagans is a problem, then that is the route they should take.

Well, Brandon Knight got us to the final four. So I'm not sure what your point is.

 

[StevieJFTW07]

Hagans also had this odd exchange last night:

View embedded media

And also that weird moment where he appeared to be trying to steal the ball from his own teammate. The dude's head was in a bad place last night.

God, that looks so terrible. Hagans might as well have "ME ! ME ! ME !" and "I'm a selfish and immature punk !" tattooed on his forehead. Yikes.

 

[HagginHall1999]

If thats the case.. where maybe Cal was having a bad nighr, then it's hard to pin this all on Hagans. Seems to me, from the quote above, the entire TEAM was in the doghouse with Cal.

Hagans needs to play better, absolutely.. but the blowup and attitute might not be entirely his fault.

They'd be in my dog house too if I was the coach and they blew a 17 point 2nd half lead.

Whatever, better last night than 2 weeks from now. Still time to turn it back around. Thank god season done at Rupp too...