His comments are different than what I expected. Saying that he still needs to teach the team how to win. Talking about defensive lapses (like leaving Seldon open for the late 3 in the corner) and not getting 50/50 balls. He said that we "fought like heck" but that was really his only positive comment. I sort of expected him to focus mostly on the great effort in a hostile place and say we're getting better. Yes, we could have won but this loss doesn't really hurt us for our long term goals. Seems to me that the guys gave a pretty courageous effort. Tyler played his ass off. Briscoe playing through cramps. Everyone seemed to give it everything they had even though there were some mental and physical errors, and some unfortunately at critical times. Anyone else a little surprised that he'd still be that critical of the team's performance after this game?
Cal in radio post game interview with Tom Leach...
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You can tell Cal wanted this game. He said he was pissed they lost while addressing the media.
He should look in the mirror after this one. Heck of a game, but the OT was a debacle.
No doubt he's proud - but his comments are why he's the best in the game. He expects to win every time we take the floor, and he's not going to be satisfied with anything less. But I have no doubt he recognizes the effort that many gave tonight and appreciates it.
I agree, Cal made several coaching errors. But Murray also didn't play defense, Willis was not the same as the past 3 games, Briscoe missed key free throws, etc.
They were gassed and we were playing short handed. We didn't have a chance in OT.
Why should we be surprised that Cal is being critical? He is saying the things he should be saying. You don't want your players to be satisfied with what they are doing. There's still a lot of work to do and those players need to stay grounded and keep moving forward.
No, not really, cause' there still are some TOUGH and hostile road games we got coming up. It's definitely not getting any easier.
That said, that particular killer three that Seldon hit late, both AP and Murray jumped to the center of the court when he rotated over. It was a "bang-bang" defensive slip that can happen to the best of teams. I'm ok with it, because they needed every single point from Seldon to win at their OWN HOUSE.
That's why I'm cool with it. Still need to communicate and make those crucial moment decisions and get them right. Lots of good film to breakdown (and even though Coach Cal and UK don't usually do much of it, this team SHOULD.
Goals of winning the SEC regular season and Tournament are still very alive, thank you very much.
I think the board realizes this, and anyone watching that game tonight simply has to say "great game, tip your hat to KU and get back on the plane, and get back to work."
I'm nodding my head in approval, and keeping my faith in the Big Blue.
That said, that particular killer three that Seldon hit late, both AP and Murray jumped to the center of the court when he rotated over. It was a "bang-bang" defensive slip that can happen to the best of teams. I'm ok with it, because they needed every single point from Seldon to win at their OWN HOUSE.
That's why I'm cool with it. Still need to communicate and make those crucial moment decisions and get them right. Lots of good film to breakdown (and even though Coach Cal and UK don't usually do much of it, this team SHOULD.
Goals of winning the SEC regular season and Tournament are still very alive, thank you very much.
I think the board realizes this, and anyone watching that game tonight simply has to say "great game, tip your hat to KU and get back on the plane, and get back to work."
I'm nodding my head in approval, and keeping my faith in the Big Blue.
Has to be critical. Nobody is THAT much better than the next team. A couple of mistakes and you go home in March. That applies to every top team this year.
Good. The last thing we need them to do is get complacent when we're this close to the postseason, especially after a loss. I'm glad Self switched that defense up - the more unique looks we get, the better prepared we''ll be for the tournament.
Mostly agree but Murray didn't come remotely close to "giving it everythung". He was average at best when he needed to step up.
Not exactly fair, IMO.
We had no bigs left and our guards were dead tired because our bench is so weak and couldn't get them rest. Not sure Rupp himself could have won that game in OT.
I felt the same way when it went into OT. But why did he bench Murray and bring in Briscoe?
So he could drive the lane and get fouled over and over?
I'm glad he said what he said. I'd rather he be pissed off and critical after a loss...even in a game like this. My opinion is it will make the guys hungrier...less likely to settle and think, "See? We *almost* beat an outstanding, higher ranked team on their home court, which...oh, by the way...just happens to be one of if not the toughest home court in the nation. We have arrived. Just keep doing what we do and we'll be fine."
But that's just me channeling my amateur psychologist.
But that's just me channeling my amateur psychologist.
if only he could have used the brilliant Self strategy of "give the ball to Selden" or "get fouled"
just know I'm applauding this statement
That is one great difference between Cal and Coach K. At least Cal, didn't walk off the court complaining about the officiating even though it was atrocious.
Also a big difference between him and Pitino, he at least showed up for the after game press conference too.
Still going to use this game as a teaching point. Took credit for not winning on himself for not teaching them enough.
Also a big difference between him and Pitino, he at least showed up for the after game press conference too.
Still going to use this game as a teaching point. Took credit for not winning on himself for not teaching them enough.
This could have been one of those huge character building games for Kentucky. We had the game in our grasp and we weren't able to grab it. We could have overcame the tough environment and the horrible officiating and escaped with a huge win. Instead, we weren't able to close the game out in the final 9 seconds. Note that I am not blaming anyone in particular. If we could have won in this adversity then the odds of us winning in March and early April are outstanding. I still like our odds, but we do need to learn to win in the closing minutes. It will come.
not surprised by his comments, the effort tonight was amazing. hope we can play like that several games come tournament time.
There were a number of things that cost us this game but none bigger than Murray leaving Seldon wide open for the 3 up two with under a minute to play.
Cal has nothing to apologize for. He had his team ready for a big win and a few mental lapses at critical times (not to mention the zebras) cost us a win that would have helped a lot when seeding time comes around.
Cal has nothing to apologize for. He had his team ready for a big win and a few mental lapses at critical times (not to mention the zebras) cost us a win that would have helped a lot when seeding time comes around.
Cal is a genius at knowing what to say at any given time to help his team learn and grow. Thought he might focus on the positive after this one given how hard the guys played in a crazy tough place to win. Not questioning Cal here at all... just was surprised. He's really keeping on these guys even after a game like that. He must feel he needs to continue to push this group and that they will respond best to that.
How many times does Tyler Ulis fumble the ball out of bounds in a crucial moment of a game? Once...that was tonight. Most people felt we would get blown out and instead we let our lead slip and still had a chance to win even with the zebras holding us down.
This team will be fine in March as long as they desire to keep getting better every day until then.
This team will be fine in March as long as they desire to keep getting better every day until then.
Imo, the only time a coach shouldn't be critical is after his team wins the championship. Like someone already said, you don't want a team to become complacent.
Cal has almost ALWAYS taken the stand and faced the music - notable exception was that USC jr. game in 13', right? Best my memory can conjure.
Teaching by demonstrating, standing up there and being blunt and honest, and what a great coach SHOULD be doing. That's what Cal is doing tonight.
He looked pretty happy at that halftime interview, and said we'ss see how it goes. Well, we did, and KU sure made the most of the free throw disparity, but there's no need to go there, because (like my 85 year old mother kept asking me thru the game)
"why aren't they calling any of those fouls on Kansas???
Mom doesn't know the details of the game, but even she could understand that Kansas was shooting too damned many free throws, and that they weren't calling the game the same way on both ends of the court.
That was the sad part of it.
But Coach Cal, I give him all the credit in the world not calling it out and taking the high road. He knows this team can't focus on that or use that as any kind of excuse, because it's ALWAYS like that for UK on the road.
Well, almost always, it seems. happens far more frequently than it should.
We're in fine hands with Coach Cal as our coach. I'm sticking with my team and my coach.
Teaching by demonstrating, standing up there and being blunt and honest, and what a great coach SHOULD be doing. That's what Cal is doing tonight.
He looked pretty happy at that halftime interview, and said we'ss see how it goes. Well, we did, and KU sure made the most of the free throw disparity, but there's no need to go there, because (like my 85 year old mother kept asking me thru the game)
"why aren't they calling any of those fouls on Kansas???
Mom doesn't know the details of the game, but even she could understand that Kansas was shooting too damned many free throws, and that they weren't calling the game the same way on both ends of the court.
That was the sad part of it.
But Coach Cal, I give him all the credit in the world not calling it out and taking the high road. He knows this team can't focus on that or use that as any kind of excuse, because it's ALWAYS like that for UK on the road.
Well, almost always, it seems. happens far more frequently than it should.
We're in fine hands with Coach Cal as our coach. I'm sticking with my team and my coach.
I'm sure there are some compliments behind closed doors. Just enough to keep them hungry
Go back and watch that play. They didn't just leave him open. Murray had to pinch over into the lane to help cutoff the drive from the top of the key and I believe it was Poy or Skal was also protecting the paint. If those players hadn't made the decisions that they did, Cal would have been complaining about those players not providing help defense. If the shot had been missed, there would have been no discussion about that play. At some point, maybe Cal will discuss why he seemed to not have an answer for KU's triangle and two.
I have stopped listening to Cal's halftime and post game comments because they are never positive. He seems to always throw his players under the bus. You can run the offense and defense perfectly, but if they are the wrong ones, they won't work no matter how well they are run. If KU had continued running the same first half defense in the second half, KU would have lost. As a coach, you have to be flexible to do what it takes to win. It would be nice if we would occasionally make second half adjustments instead of continuing to do the same thing expecting a different outcome.
It would have been real nice if Cal had said his team played their butts off and so did KU and the home team pulled it out.
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I want EVERYONE on this team to be upset that we lost this game!!! Coaches, players, managers and fans!!
This game should fuel a fire to get better for everyone!!
I like our chances of improving more in the next 6 weeks than most of the other great teams in the country. Hopefully we can grow from this game.
This game should fuel a fire to get better for everyone!!
I like our chances of improving more in the next 6 weeks than most of the other great teams in the country. Hopefully we can grow from this game.
Yea . He coached his ass off . I have zero issues with any of his decisions . WE lost for 1 reason and 1 reason only - refs. Bottom line.
Maybe just a little too close to not be overly critical. He's just a man, after all, and hates to lose.
The killer in OT was Briscoe missing two free throws and the the front end of one and one. Hard to go empty on two possessions when driving to the basket.
He had us with the lead with under two minutes left, and all we needed were two stops or one stop and then one basket trade. Well, Cal called a time out AFTER self's time out to give the guys another 30 seconds of emphasis on which players to pick up on the next defensive play... But even after that, Murray lost track of Selden, who drilled one with no obstacle.
And even after that, we ended up with the ball tied, and Tyler had a rare miscue when he passed it to where he thought Murray would be cutting.
Cal and Self are not in the same coaching league. Cal averages one more blue chipper per roster than Self, and yet his on the court results are vastly, vastly better. He's gone further every single year that they've been in the tournament together(so obviously not the nit year).
And Cal got his guys plenty of open looks vs the triangle and two, but they just didn't go in.. Self even said that he knew he could hedge that way on defense once Willis fouled out.
Also this:
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When Poythress, Willis, Lee, & Skal all foul out, it's all over but the crying.
And I think his comments were awesome. When they play a game in March that they fight and go to overtime, there's no silver lining when they lose. You pull out the W or go home. He's preparing them for that. It's always worked so far.
And I think his comments were awesome. When they play a game in March that they fight and go to overtime, there's no silver lining when they lose. You pull out the W or go home. He's preparing them for that. It's always worked so far.
Always seems to throw his players under the bus? Bullshit. He said in the media interview that the team still has to learn how to win and that was on him. And doesn't make adjustments? Tell me genius, what is Cal's record at UK? And I guess that record is solely based on what the team does in the first half since he doesn't make adjustments at halftime.
The last time our frontcourt fouled out, we got crushed @LSU.
This time, we nearly won @KU. Progress!
This time, we nearly won @KU. Progress!
We had multiple players foul out. Tons of weak calls. On the road. Against a top 5 team. And we shouldve won.
Give me a neutral floor in March, and Im ecstatic no matter the outcome.
Give me a neutral floor in March, and Im ecstatic no matter the outcome.
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