ADVERTISEMENT

Cal and his defense of Andrew Harrison.....

W

Wildcats4EverandEver

Freshman
Mar 9, 2013
849
5
18
I wish he would let sleeping dogs lie, the so called clutter is minor until Cal brings it up, and there's no need to disparage Ulis in the process.

Andrew is pressing right now, he will be fine if everybody, just chills....
 
Cal has never disparaged Ulis that I know of.

The only thing I've heard him say is that Ulis won't start. And there's no need for Ulis to start. It's just unnecessary.

Cal takes up for his players. It's not just Andrew but all of them. When T. Jones was going through his stuff Cal stuck by him. When his guys at Memphis got in trouble he did the same. Just how the guy's built. He isn't like fans; we see these guys through the distance of a TV screen. They may as well be avatars. Cal is coming at it from a totally different perspective, and one of the reasons he's had so much success is because he seems to have a genuine love for his players.
 
Coach Cal is the coach of the team. He can say and do whatever he wants.

And unlike our fans, Cal calls it like he sees it with all his players. Here on this forum, certain players get a pass every game, while others are targeted every off game they have. I do not need to name which players I'm talking about on each list.
 
I don't think UK fans or media have been hard on Andrew or any player, maybe there is stuff behind the scenes that concerns Cal, he has such a platform, Sometimes calling attention to something might not be the best option.......he decides who plays, so who cares what anybody thinks or says....
 
A lot of our fans have a major sense of entitlement. They think these kids are to preform at the highest level every time they step on the court and if they don't, well we have seen plenty of what goes on after nearly every game
 
Originally posted by Wildcats4EverandEver:
I don't think UK fans or media have been hard on Andrew or any player...
Click to expand...
Depends on what you define as "hard."

Kentucky fans have ripped the Harrisons pretty good for two years, Andrew in particular. Most of it is just what fans do, but some of it is a little petty.

But I usually thik Cal's comments are aimed at the media, not fans. Cal always has a running feud going with the media. Most of it is done with tongue planted firmly in cheek, but Cal loves nothing more than to be sparring with somebody.
 
Why we even think that we know more than Coach Cal or what he should say or do is amazing to me.

He came into a once proud program that had been brought to its knees by mediocre coaching and bad coaching hires.

He is personally responsible for resurrecting UK Basketball and bringing Kentucky basketball back to the notoriety it once experienced in its glory days.

Not saying that he is always right, but he has earned the right to bring up just about anything he pleases in my book.

Ranked #1 in all of Men's Division 1 Basketball... undefeated... the talk of the town in NCAA basketball circles...

Remember, Tubby and Billy weren't here that long ago.

KYJamm
Go WILDCATS!!!!!!!!!
 
Actually he didn't stick up for all his guys at Memphis and he has lots of problems on those rosters. But that comes with the territory at a place like Memphis. It's hard to stick up for soliciting of prostitution, inciting riots, and assaults.

Cal, because of this program, has been able to recruit different kinds of players now. Guys like Anthnony Davis make it easier than it seems. Cal and Kentucky were truly a perfect match.
 
Unlike many on here , Cal is not going to throw players under the bus ! Most on here do not qualify basketball skill wise to carry Andrew Harrison ' s jock. For some reason , constant critique of players and coaching make many feel they are very knowledgable basketball fans. But to those who are truly knowledgable, they appear quite inept in their basketball intelligence.
 
Originally posted by Wildcats4EverandEver:
I don't think UK fans or media have been hard on Andrew or any player, maybe there is stuff behind the scenes that concerns Cal, he has such a platform, Sometimes calling attention to something might not be the best option.......he decides who plays, so who cares what anybody thinks or says....
Click to expand...
Yeah, who cares??? Stop making threads about it. You're just adding to the clutter.
 
Originally posted by UKWildcats#8:
Coach Cal is the coach of the team. He can say and do whatever he wants.

And unlike our fans, Cal calls it like he sees it with all his players. Here on this forum, certain players get a pass every game, while others are targeted every off game they have. I do not need to name which players I'm talking about on each list.
Click to expand...
great post.
 
Originally posted by Wildcats4EverandEver:
there's no need to disparage Ulis in the process.
Click to expand...
rolleyes.r191677.gif


Weak.

Cal is simply defending his starting PG who is being blasted by the usual suspects along with some of his own fan base.

You can accuse Cal of a lot of things, but the idea that he is "disparaging" any of his kids in his "players first" program is ridiculous.
 
Originally posted by Joneslab:
Cal has never disparaged Ulis that I know of.

The only thing I've heard him say is that Ulis won't start. And there's no need for Ulis to start. It's just unnecessary.

Cal takes up for his players. It's not just Andrew but all of them. When T. Jones was going through his stuff Cal stuck by him. When his guys at Memphis got in trouble he did the same. Just how the guy's built. He isn't like fans; we see these guys through the distance of a TV screen. They may as well be avatars. Cal is coming at it from a totally different perspective, and one of the reasons he's had so much success is because he seems to have a genuine love for his players.
Click to expand...
Good post, the best on the thread.
 
Psychologically, Cal understands better than anyone else what his players need to hear.

Just like last season, when just prior to tourney time Cal knew that he had to take the blame for not coaching Andrew correctly all season. He knew it was what Andrew needed to hear to play his best.

Cal needs Andrew playing his best for this team to be the best in March. Cal knows exactly what he's doing and he is very intentional in his actions.
 
Exactly right S&C. Cal can pick and choose the type of player that he thinks will have good character as well as good basketball skills while coaching at UK. Not all programs have that ability, and not all coaches can recruit that way and win big. Cal and UK; perfect fit.
 
Cal is sticking up for andrew like that stupid Espn story that andrew will still star over Ulis despite poor play. It's stupid crap like that from the media that makes Cal be defensive of his players. I would do the same. There is no reason for crap like that. Andrew drove the bus all the way to the championship last season and he will be the leader this year
 
Originally posted by W2R:
Cal is sticking up for andrew like that stupid Espn story that andrew will still star over Ulis despite poor play. It's stupid crap like that from the media that makes Cal be defensive of his players. I would do the same. There is no reason for crap like that. Andrew drove the bus all the way to the championship last season and he will be the leader this year
Click to expand...
not just the media
we see that same stupid crap on this board

not 1 person that talks that crap is in the inner circle of these kids, and they have no clue what the kids need or are going through
 
Originally posted by mebeblue2:
Originally posted by W2R:
Cal is sticking up for andrew like that stupid Espn story that andrew will still star over Ulis despite poor play. It's stupid crap like that from the media that makes Cal be defensive of his players. I would do the same. There is no reason for crap like that. Andrew drove the bus all the way to the championship last season and he will be the leader this year
Click to expand...
not just the media
we see that same stupid crap on this board

not 1 person that talks that crap is in the inner circle of these kids, and they have no clue what the kids need or are going through
Click to expand...
I agree
 
Cal doesn't do things without a reason. If I had to guess, I'd say he's taking up for Andrew because Andrew was feeling down on himself; probably paying too much attention to the noise. Coming out in public defending his starting PG is a good way to bolster the team mentality.
 
Originally posted by KYJamm:
Why we even think that we know more than Coach Cal or what he should say or do is amazing to me.

He came into a once proud program that had been brought to its knees by mediocre coaching and bad coaching hires.

He is personally responsible for resurrecting UK Basketball and bringing Kentucky basketball back to the notoriety it once experienced in its glory days.

Not saying that he is always right, but he has earned the right to bring up just about anything he pleases in my book.

Ranked #1 in all of Men's Division 1 Basketball... undefeated... the talk of the town in NCAA basketball circles...

Remember, Tubby and Billy weren't here that long ago.

KYJamm
Go WILDCATS!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
AMEN !!! Good points.
 
Cal isn't stupid...Even if someone doesn't ask him about this directly, you think he doesn't know there's a headline on ESPN.com about it? Of course he does. He would never admit to it, but he knows. He's got a finger on the pulse of virtually everything regarding this program. And it's exactly the kind of thing he's been talking about since August.

People only seem to focus on Andrew when he doesn't have a great game...The thing is, he's not played THAT badly. In fact, he was outstanding through the first 8-10 games or so...He's pressed recently, and it's showing. And Ulis has been really good too, but he's not been perfect. Ole Miss abused Ulis, which Cal alluded to, and that is going to happen from time to time. Not only is he a freshman, but in some matchups, he's greatly undersized. Just like Andrew's size is a disadvantage sometimes against smaller guards.

If you look at their minutes and production, statistically they're virtually even. Andrew will have his games, and Ulis will too. But we will not reach the expectations we all have unless both of them play well.
 
Do I think Ulis should be utilized more? absolutely

Do I think Cal needs to defend or even talk about why he is starting Harrison? no - that's absurd.

I can't believe its even a topic on ESPN.
 
Cal will always defend these kids and that's one of things I really like about him. He knows the temperament of the team better than anybody. How would it look to the team and future recruits if he didn't do this?
 
Andrew Harrison needs no defending. He is the starting point guard and leader of this team. Everyone knows it, including Ulis. His day is coming, but it won't be this year. Andrew, much like Teague was, is inconsistent, but will put it all together as the season progresses. Teague was not really tearing it up much in 2012, at least not until midseason. Andrew has a lot of new pieces to work with and he will improve as he gets comfortable with his team. No worries.
 
Originally posted by Jazzycat:
Andrew Harrison needs no defending. He is the starting point guard and leader of this team. Everyone knows it, including Ulis. His day is coming, but it won't be this year. Andrew, much like Teague was, is inconsistent, but will put it all together as the season progresses. Teague was not really tearing it up much in 2012, at least not until midseason. Andrew has a lot of new pieces to work with and he will improve as he gets comfortable with his team. No worries.
Click to expand...
One huge difference between Teague and Andrew, Teague was a freshman.
 
Originally posted by blueblood32:
Unlike many on here , Cal is not going to throw players under the bus ! Most on here do not qualify basketball skill wise to carry Andrew Harrison ' s jock. For some reason , constant critique of players and coaching make many feel they are very knowledgable basketball fans. But to those who are truly knowledgable, they appear quite inept in their basketball intelligence.
Click to expand...
Oh good Lord, get over yourself. I'm not a guy that particularly goes for specific "player bashing", but as long as it's on a message board and not directly at them, I don't have an issue. But I also hate these "you can't hold (X) players jock, so you can't criticize or don't have basketball knowledge" posts either.
 
Originally posted by weused2luvhim2:

Originally posted by Jazzycat:
Andrew Harrison needs no defending. He is the starting point guard and leader of this team. Everyone knows it, including Ulis. His day is coming, but it won't be this year. Andrew, much like Teague was, is inconsistent, but will put it all together as the season progresses. Teague was not really tearing it up much in 2012, at least not until midseason. Andrew has a lot of new pieces to work with and he will improve as he gets comfortable with his team. No worries.
Click to expand...
One huge difference between Teague and Andrew, Teague was a freshman.
Click to expand...
Andrew has always been a better game manager than Teague, but overall I think the two players are similar.

Teague when he got into problems was always in this "between" mode. Between pass and shoot. Indecisive. Andrew's the same way: a lot of times when he drives he seems torn between setting guys up and just putting the ball in.

When Andrew is on he seems to know exactly what he wants to do. He does things with a purpose. One of his best games was last year at UNC. He played in a way that was completely designed to get himself fouled.

A lot of the time though he doesn't play like that and is rather torn between this image of himself as a pass-first or a scoring point guard.
 
Originally posted by Joneslab:
Originally posted by Wildcats4EverandEver:
I don't think UK fans or media have been hard on Andrew or any player...
Click to expand...
Depends on what you define as "hard."

Kentucky fans have ripped the Harrisons pretty good for two years, Andrew in particular. Most of it is just what fans do, but some of it is a little petty.
Click to expand...
I agree with this. We're 15-0 and until the last two games, we have dominated most teams. Yet SOME of our "fans" continue to run down the twins.

15-0 and SOME "fans" are still miserable. I can barely imagine how they will react if we do lose a game.
rolleyes.r191677.gif
 
I think CAL knows what he is doing. It's a good thing he is in charge.
 
It's just message board talk. It's not like we are the quintessential element for what happens with the Cats.
 
Originally posted by N.I.N.E.:



Originally posted by Wildcats4EverandEver:
I don't think UK fans or media have been hard on Andrew or any player, maybe there is stuff behind the scenes that concerns Cal, he has such a platform, Sometimes calling attention to something might not be the best option.......he decides who plays, so who cares what anybody thinks or says....
Click to expand...
Yeah, who cares??? Stop making threads about it. You're just adding to the clutter.
Click to expand...
True dat! Enter the strawman. There ALWAYS has to be a negative explanation for something that looks out of place. So will somebody please explain 64 assists and only 31 turnovers as a sophomore? Of course not. That's complimentary and an improvement!! lol
This post was edited on 1/13 11:49 AM by jameslee32
 
Originally posted by KYJamm:
Why we even think that we know more than Coach Cal or what he should say or do is amazing to me.

He came into a once proud program that had been brought to its knees by mediocre coaching and bad coaching hires.

He is personally responsible for resurrecting UK Basketball and bringing Kentucky basketball back to the notoriety it once experienced in its glory days.

Not saying that he is always right, but he has earned the right to bring up just about anything he pleases in my book.

Ranked #1 in all of Men's Division 1 Basketball... undefeated... the talk of the town in NCAA basketball circles...

Remember, Tubby and Billy weren't here that long ago.

KYJamm
Go WILDCATS!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
I remember.

Billy was hired and the best he could do was one early NCAA exit.

Tubby was hired and won a NCAA Championship, 263 games with 3 Elite Eights, 5 SEC Championships and 5 SEC Tournament Championships.

Bit of a difference there I'd say. Do you remember?
 
You see this kind of thing when way too many grown ass men live their lives day to day thru the life of 18-19 year old kid. I get most fans know how to be a fan and know what is ok / over the line when discussing whether or not a player, the team , hell coach for that matter , is playing up to / coaching what they are CAPABLE of. It is that 5% of the fan base that I absolutely wish they where not fans. At least not in public. If you want to sit back and run players / coaches down for not living up to YOUR standards fine, but do not bring that over board crap of bashing players and coaches just because you feel entitled as a fan and it is your right. It is not. Some people just do not know the line or where to draw it.
 
Originally posted by UKWildcatT:

Originally posted by blueblood32:
Unlike many on here , Cal is not going to throw players under the bus ! Most on here do not qualify basketball skill wise to carry Andrew Harrison ' s jock. For some reason , constant critique of players and coaching make many feel they are very knowledgable basketball fans. But to those who are truly knowledgable, they appear quite inept in their basketball intelligence.
Click to expand...
Oh good Lord, get over yourself. I'm not a guy that particularly goes for specific "player bashing", but as long as it's on a message board and not directly at them, I don't have an issue. But I also hate these "you can't hold (X) players jock, so you can't criticize or don't have basketball knowledge" posts either.
Click to expand...
blueblood32= ex athlete
UKWildcatT= ex bandmember
 
Originally posted by KYJamm:
...Coach Cal...is personally responsible for resurrecting UK Basketball and bringing Kentucky basketball back to the notoriety it once experienced in its glory days.

...

Ranked #1 in all of Men's Division 1 Basketball... undefeated... the talk of the town in NCAA basketball circles...

Remember, Tubby and Billy weren't here that long ago.
[/B]_____________________
Click to expand...
Just when I start to recover from the haze of "our long national nightmare" somebody has to go and bring these guys up! Every time!!!

It's good to remember where you've come from...
 
The twins clearly let their emotions effect how they play. He's trying to keep any excess criticism away. I understand that, but I think a lot of it is warranted. I guess it depends on whether or not you continue to judge them based on what they were supposed to be out of high school. They are decent, but they are not what you thought they would be as the top guards in what was supposed to be a really good class. What adds to the frustration is that you never know what you are going to get out of them from game to game. Then you see that the team seems to consistently play well when Ulis and Booker are in, it is understandable why people are questioning the twins playing as much as they are.

My stance is that the twins can contribute to a good team, as we've seen, but they are guys who you would prefer to not have to rely on. When Aaron is on, he is amazing. The problem is that just as often, if not more so, he will have games where he can't hit anything. If he's not hitting, he doesn't really provide anything else. Andrew's problem is that he is not a consistent scoring threat and when he's running things, we seem to have long periods where we have trouble doing anything offensively. I think if they have a future in the NBA, it's gonna be as wing players that can do a little bit of everything, but in order to do that, they need to get to the point where they can hit shots consistently.
 
"Cal and his defense of Andrew Harrison"

I would expect no less from him. All players go through a rough patch now and then. I would expect the coach to defend any player.
This post was edited on 1/13 6:17 PM by catfaninsc
 
Both Harrison's have issue's and need defending. Immature stands out to me as it did last year..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Jeff Drummond

Basketball ***** Mark Pope UK Basketball Summer Q&A *****

Replies
23
Views
4K
The House of Blue
OnUK
O
R

Signing off and out until Cal is gone. Thanks to all.

Replies
88
Views
5K
Rupp Rafters - Basketball Forum
HCCATFAN
H
HoptownCat93

How the roster looks as of TODAY (5-1-2024)

Replies
48
Views
3K
The House of Blue
csrupp
csrupp
Jeff Drummond

Basketball Coach Cal Show News & Notes - March 18

Replies
47
Views
2K
The House of Blue
Cabo Blue
C
Jeff Drummond

Basketball Coach Cal Show News & Notes - March 4

Replies
74
Views
3K
The House of Blue
ChaiseyD
C
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT
Top Bottom
Back