Cal made the point that this team has "basketball players" multiple times in his postgame comments. I think he was pointing out (while trying not to disparage anyone) that the last couple teams have had "athletes" but perhaps have been a bit lacking in terms of "basketball players" unfortunately. It made for what was often not the prettiest basketball in the world (with the exception of 2021 up to where TyTy's and Kellen's injuries threw a wrench in the gears). It certainly feels like we're far more loaded with multiple skill sets across the board this year in addition to having a plethora of natural athletic ability to call on. It's beyond early but I think Cal actually has a point here (although he's still responsible for roster construction - tho I'll give him a bit of a pass for 2021 because injury luck is, well... luck). This team looks like it's going to be pretty to watch play, which is nice.
Basketball Players vs Athletes
- Thread starter postmodernprimate
- Start date
Always someone else's fault Lord knows it is not his because he is perfect.
He also mention he did not need to run plays for these guys to get shots, because we all know he does not run plays.
He also mention he did not need to run plays for these guys to get shots, because we all know he does not run plays.
I anticipate 10 losses regardless if the team is stocked with basketball players, athletes, shooters or future NBA stars. For whatever reason, Cal lost his mojo, and until he re-proves himself, I have no reason to believe this season will be any different the the last few.
Sorry.
Sorry.
He’s the one that has prioritized size and athletes over skilled complete basketball players. It also helps that we lack front court depth so we have no choice but to go w a minimum of 4 skilled guys between 6’3-6’8 at alll times. When you run 2 traditional bigs and then a college 4 that wants to play the 3 out there you’re left with 3 athletes/size guys and only 2 complete skilled basketball players.
You can get away w 1 true center and 4 skilled guys around him. You can even get away w a true center and a slashing athletic PF w 3 true skill bball players around them. But once you add that 3rd guy that can’t really shoot outside of 10feet or dribble effectively w both hands or make fluid movements and passes going both directions then you vastly limit yourself.
You can get away w 1 true center and 4 skilled guys around him. You can even get away w a true center and a slashing athletic PF w 3 true skill bball players around them. But once you add that 3rd guy that can’t really shoot outside of 10feet or dribble effectively w both hands or make fluid movements and passes going both directions then you vastly limit yourself.
Well said. His specific reference to "basketball players" caught my ear as well. Hopefully we have a fun ride this year.
This is kind of funny to hear out of Coach Cal mouth.... if he recruited basketball players to supplement his hyper athletes he'd have another two championships no doubt about it
Something us Bennies have been asking for for several years. Too bad our HOF coach was so slow to catch on.
In the game of basketball....it's good to have basketball players. You know....guys who know how to space, shoot, pass, etc.
Doom and gloom nonsense from the hate Cal brigade. Can you at least wait until the season starts before you start posting all of that negativity?
It’s called pattern recognition not negativity. More than half of Cal’s teams here have been a struggle to watch for most of the season. I feel better about this team than I have in several years but I’m in wait and see mode. No more talk. Just produce.
It’s like we get all excited for the new, shiny toys only to realize it’s the same junk we’ve been playing with for years.
Yes, the roster is always on him. And I agree that he's right about what we're seeing with this team. There are a bunch of skilled basketball players on this team, not just elite athletes. I hope it does produce a bunch of wins and some pretty basketball. That would be nice.
We've struggled for 3 years. Many of the top college programs struggle from time to time. It makes no sense whatsoever to be posting all of this doom-and-gloom nonsense before the season has even started. That's especially true when we have such a talented team.
I don't care what anyone says. A lot of the hatred expressed on this forum non-stop 24 hours a day towards the coach is because of things that have nothing to do with basketball.
Well, we have not been very good for three years, true. But Cal has exacerbated it even more by antagonizing the hardcore fans, calling us Bennies; running an archaic offense; being stubborn and refusing to change; not listening to his assistants; burning relationships with big donors and many in the media; letting players sit/opt out while using UK resources, etc.
It's been way more than just wins and losses.
🤦🏻♂️
All the same guys that keep propping up Cal. This is the only time of the year that they can do it. He’s not on the sideline screwing up games in the summertime.
I try not to respond to them because I don’t know if they are trolls. And I try not to put them on ignore because everyone should be accepting of differing opinions. But if these guys aren’t trolls, they are the dumbest collection of people in the history of message boarding. And that includes Planet Red and the IU board.
Call never called you a benny. Cal uses the term benny affectionately when he's talking about someone that really knows basketball. He doesn't use it to describe wannabes and whiners.
We do not run an archaic offense. He does change every season to play how that team needs to play. He does use the assistants more than most coaches. He hasn't burned even the first bridge with any big donor. You can't find even one big donor that doesn't support Cal. Only media he doesn't get along with are the Matt Jones clown show. And rightfully so.
He doesn't let players sit out for any reason other than what's good for the player. And he has said that he will do that from day 1 here.
We were a 2 seed a season ago and a good team this past season. We were awful in '21. That's it.
The transfer portal was not good for us. Cal has gone back to his bread and butter and we are better for it.
So he did change to using the portal. He's now changed back to not.
Seems you have nothing at all to back up your rant.
2021 team was actually pretty damn good. They just completely collapsed in the tournament
You don't respond to facts at all. But I know you have no argument or facts when you resort to personal attacks.
Who is "we all"? The CHC? Everyn that knows anything about basketball knows we run plays. Runs too many sets for my taste. But UK definitely runs plays.
Your entire post is ass backwards
1. If he’s not using the portal any longer with this team….how did Reeves and Mitchell end up at Ky? And they’ll be two pretty important cogs if this team?
2. He absolutely did use the term basketball Benny as a derogatory word and he constantly after a good game condescended i post game
That really got fans buzzing about the “Basketball Benny lineup” — a reference to Calipari often referred to a UK fan as a Basketball Benny — and what it could do.
3. He does not let any kids sit unless it’s good for player. Are you serious? What was shady sharpe all about. Wheeler ring a bell? The he list of cover up for his drama queen kids goes on and on
We may be good this year with a different mix snd that will be fine if it hold true. And cal Will deserve credit if we are good.
But You’re entire post is not based in reality
You're right. I was thinking more about the fact that we have only 1 NCAA tournament win during the last few years. I realize that injuries played a major part in that 2 years ago.
The two seed year turned into a mess because of the mismanagement of the Sharpe situation and obviously melting down against St. Peter’s.
So yeah, pretty good team with some nice highlights in season. But when that’s the best you’ve got in a three year stretch, not up to Kentucky standards.
Worst three year stretch since 2007-2009. And the only other stretch I would compare it to over the past 40+ years was 88-90. And in ‘90, at least things were looking up.
All that being said, I’m liking the collection of talent heading into next season. Cal seems more comfortable, and I think the coaching changes are making an impact. We should be fun to watch and have a chance to develop into something great.
Cal tosses out another bone and fans give chase. You should have learned by now to ignore the garbage that comes out of Cal's mouth?
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A good number of posters have pointed out this very thing many times. Cal saying it is surprising. We may not be as crazy as he makes us out to be
Just because u say your dad does the stuff above doesn’t make it true. We all have been watching since he started here. He has a long way to go.
That's because you never understood why we struggled to start with. Blaming 100% on his ability to coach is bogus.
When we have had guards that drive the ball, we don't lose very many.
