Cal only wants to do right by the players

[wccat2969]

I hear this all of the time. He SAYS his job is not to win NCs but to do right by the players.
I contend that he is selling this to the recruits. In the end if he gets the players to come to UK then he wins.

Do you agree? Do you buy what he is selling? Cal is a master a marketing.

 

[TheAnonymous13]

You are correct... Cal wins by making uk a good launching point for these kids NBA career.
I am not a big fan of the system. But cal is a master.

 

[ThroughBlue]

There is no doubting the talent that he brings he in but there is doubting its ability to win the championship as freshman.

 

[Big Cat fan]

No. His players not going to be picked in the top 20 should return. Stop all this players first talk because you never stick up for them when the refs call bad calls in a game that would end up costing them games. They play hard and Cal never seems to fight for them in that way.

Yet he's sure to point of fans during hard times.

He needs to win another title.

 

[KA4Prez]

The doubt in his ability is less about his coaching and more about not appreciating just how hard it is to win a championship. Just how much goes into it. Match-ups. Luck. Injuries. Referees. It's a lot more than you can plan for or recruit for? Cal has simplified everything and just taken the mantra that he's going to find the best way to get the most good players.

 

[ThroughBlue]

No. His players not going to be picked in the top 20 should return. Stop all this players first talk because you never stick up for them when the refs call bad calls in a game that would end up costing them games. They play hard and Cal never seems to fight for them in that way.

Yet he's sure to point of fans during hard times.

He needs to win another title.

What a terrible take. You don't think Coach Cal sticks up for his players? Ive seen him get technicals galore and get ejected for taking up for his guys. You should log off and never log back in if that's how you feel.

 

[BoxterS]

I just don't know the cut off in the draft for when a player should return. To me, the most important thing Cal can do to contend for the title is to return players that are fringe first rounders.

The recipe is talented freshmen + talented 2,3 or 4 year players.

 

[DCFseattle]

Stop all this players first talk because you never stick up for them when the refs call bad calls in a game that would end up costing them games. They play hard and Cal never seems to fight for them in that way

What?

 

[Big Cat fan]

During games yes. But in press he'll never say a word.

 

[DCFseattle]

I just don't know the cut off in the draft for when a player should return. To me, the most important thing Cal can do to contend for the title is to return players that are fringe first rounders.

The recipe is talented freshmen + talented 2,3 or 4 year players.

It's sometime in May I believe. The ncaa has finally allowed the guys to go through the process (combine, individual team workouts, etc.) and get the best possible information. Last year was the first year they didn't have to rush these things, and it's why Isaiah Briscoe came back as a sophomore.

 

[Deli owl]

No. His players not going to be picked in the top 20 should return. Stop all this players first talk because you never stick up for them when the refs call bad calls in a game that would end up costing them games. They play hard and Cal never seems to fight for them in that way.

Yet he's sure to point of fans during hard times.

He needs to win another title.

Dumb post of the day award. Bunny Ranch is >>>>>>that way.

 

[DCFseattle]

During games yes. But in press he'll never say a word.

The only possible outcome of that is it makes things worse.

 

[Chris Allen]

Didn't Roy say he went after all the OAD guys that Cal recruited and couldn't close them.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Anyone who thinks that Cal isn't interested in winning national titles hasn't been paying attention the past 8 years.

The two things go hand in hand.

Cal takes care of the players and in return they lead us to where we wanna be. That's what he has ALWAYS said.

 

[KA4Prez]

...anyone who thinks Cal's TOP priority is winning national titles also hasn't been paying attention the past 8 years.

It would be on his list of priorities, but it's not the top priority.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

No. His players not going to be picked in the top 20 should return. Stop all this players first talk because you never stick up for them when the refs call bad calls in a game that would end up costing them games. They play hard and Cal never seems to fight for them in that way.

Yet he's sure to point of fans during hard times.

He needs to win another title.

TERRIBLE TAKE. Turn in your fan card.

 

[wccat2969]

Just to make sure my point of the thread was that IMO, Cal sells players first but in reality he wants to win NCs so by saying players first, he gets the players to come to UK.

When Cal says winning NCs is not the goal, he is saying it tongue in cheek.

My point is fans, media, etc believe him when he says this stuff.

 

[The_Answer1313]

...anyone who thinks Cal's TOP priority is winning national titles also hasn't been paying attention the past 8 years.

It would be on his list of priorities, but it's not the top priority.

Caring about the players and getting them to the NBA is the reason we can compete for titles year in year out.

 

[caneintally]

There is no doubting the talent that he brings he in but there is doubting its ability to win the championship as freshman.

No he has already done that. Such short memories. His system works. 4 final 4s in 8 years. 2 championship games 1 title. It works and works damn well. You gotta be in it to win it and we have been in it 6 of his 8 years . It works damn well.

 

[KA4Prez]

Caring about the players and getting them to the NBA is the reason we can compete for titles year in year out.

Agree. And I'm not arguing that it should be the top priority. It's just that some of our fans have trouble accepting that.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Just to make sure my point of the thread was that IMO, Cal sells players first but in reality he wants to win NCs so by saying players first, he gets the players to come to UK.

When Cal says winning NCs is not the goal, he is saying it tongue in cheek.

My point is fans, media, etc believe him when he says this stuff.

Yes. Then I totally buy what he's selling.

Cause it's not fake. He's obviously not saying this stuff just to get them to come to UK. Everything Cal has shown in the past 8 years is that he cares deeply about his players.

So I'm totally ok with him selling UK like that.

 

[caneintally]

Just to make sure my point of the thread was that IMO, Cal sells players first but in reality he wants to win NCs so by saying players first, he gets the players to come to UK.

When Cal says winning NCs is not the goal, he is saying it tongue in cheek.

My point is fans, media, etc believe him when he says this stuff.

No he cares about winning but he does care about his players more . That is what makes him a better human being then a coach. He also knows you win by having more talent and good coachable guys. He never brings in elite talent that isn't coachable . A huge thing to consider. The proof is in the pudding and his pudding taste great. If you do right by those around you good things will happen. But it isn't a line . He truly knows that changing generational poverty is the means by which he can improve the people around the program and in it for a long time. Our recruiting machine is almost self sustaining now due to all the all stars he has put in the pros . And that is because he cares . He cares about winning but not at the cost of being a slime ball .

 

[wccat2969]

...anyone who thinks Cal's TOP priority is winning national titles also hasn't been paying attention the past 8 years.

It would be on his list of priorities, but it's not the top priority.

What in your opinion is his TOP priority?

 

[The_Answer1313]

Agree. And I'm not arguing that it should be the top priority. It's just that some of our fans have trouble accepting that.

I'm just not sure why some in our fanbase make it an either/or thing.

You need talent to win championships. Most of the talent are one and done players. IMO the two priorities run with one another.

 

[KA4Prez]

What in your opinion is his TOP priority?

Getting as many great players as he can and helping them get to the next level.

 

[KA4Prez]

I'm just not sure why some in our fanbase make it an either/or thing.

You need talent to win championships. Most of the talent are one and done players. IMO the two priorities run with one another.

Many of our fans are stuck in the 90's where you got players to stay 2-3 years and ended up with teams that were great. This take only continues to increase as we see 4 of the last 5 national champions being teams made up of mostly older, experienced players. More so, many of those older and experienced guys were good recruits, who were in their 3rd or 4th season.

Many of our fans believe that behind the scenes Cal is pushing some of these guys out whereas other coaches openly want them to come back.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

I hear this all of the time. He SAYS his job is not to win NCs but to do right by the players.
I contend that he is selling this to the recruits. In the end if he gets the players to come to UK then he wins.

Do you agree? Do you buy what he is selling? Cal is a master a marketing.

I honestly have no idea what position you are taking. You are basically stating facts, and asking if we agrees with facts.

 

[YouKay]

Amazing to me that this discussion is even happening. Y'all were having boners when Cal was hired because of the NBA talent you knew he was going to bring in. You were tired of watching the McDonalds game and not seeing any UK signees in it. What did you think Cal was going to do with these guys? Sit them as freshmen so they wouldn't leave? Try to talk them into coming back and playing for nothing when they could be millionaires?

And don't forget he actually recruited and signed Jon Hood, Derek Willis, and Dom Hawkins. And Mike Mulder, Julius Mays, Isaac Humphries, and Tai Wynyard. He convinced Darius Miller to stay and to go to the bench his senior year. He developed Josh Harrelson and DeAndre Liggins into NBA players.

He also advised Zay Briscoe last year to return. He advised Marquis Teague to return in 2012 but he didn't. He advised Tyler Ulis and Marcus Lee to return.

I could criticize his game coaching in some years that stopped UK short of a title. But not the kind of players he has brought in.

 

[Slowwalker]

It's sometime in May I believe. The ncaa has finally allowed the guys to go through the process (combine, individual team workouts, etc.) and get the best possible information. Last year was the first year they didn't have to rush these things, and it's why Isaiah Briscoe came back as a sophomore.

I think he is saying at what point should a player return based on where they would be drafted. For instance, if a player is projected to be drafted at pick 25 or later, they should return. Just an example.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

No he has already done that. Such short memories. His system works. 4 final 4s in 8 years. 2 championship games 1 title. It works and works damn well. You gotta be in it to win it and we have been in it 6 of his 8 years . It works damn well.

I agree with your take and so do a lot of others. The problem as I see it is there are a lot of good UK fans / posters that like Cal, acknowledge his success but don't like losing the majority of your players after one year. You don't have to agree with that concept but you get trashed like a criminal if you feel that way. It's an 'opinion' and both sides seem valid to me. Just a matter of who's side you're on.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Do these people realize that we lost to UNC by like 2 points? lol

It could have easily been US playing last night.

Older teams are always going to win more titles..........because there's always so many older teams lol.

I dont think people really understand how in most years there are a bunch of really talented teams. It's hard to win titles.
Ahh nvm. I'm never gonna reach those people.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

No. His players not going to be picked in the top 20 should return. Stop all this players first talk because you never stick up for them when the refs call bad calls in a game that would end up costing them games. They play hard and Cal never seems to fight for them in that way.

Yet he's sure to point of fans during hard times.

He needs to win another title.

As does Boeheim, Izzo, Self, Wright, etc. There are only 3 active coaches with more than 1 title. Translation - It's hard.

 

[YourPublicEnemy]

His 38-2 Memphis team that was one shot away from winning the national title, wasn't built like this at all. That was impressive.

They had one superstar in Rose and then a good CDR who went in the second round and a good defensive big man in Joey Dorsey who went second round as well. Those were the only NBA players on that team.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

During games yes. But in press he'll never say a word.

Your recent posting indicates you are either a moron, a d-bag, or a troll.

 

[wccat2969]

I honestly have no idea what position you are taking. You are basically stating facts, and asking if we agrees with facts.

Hopefully this will clear it up. I am saying that Cal says his job is not to win NCs and 'players are first'. I believe he does indeed care about the players sincerely but he knows by saying 'players first' it attracts them and in the end HE and UK wins.

I think it is a smart strategy and works but wanted to know if others fans really believe Cal when he says his job/priority is not to win NCs.

 

[DCFseattle]

I think he is saying at what point should a player return based on where they would be drafted. For instance, if a player is projected to be drafted at pick 25 or later, they should return. Just an example.

If you're a first round pick, you're guaranteed a few million dollars. I'm not sure you can expect them to say no to that.

If you're a second round pick then it gets dicey because the money isn't guaranteed unless the team decides it is. At that point, each guy had to think about it much more. For a guy like Ulis, you think "will my draft stock get higher or have I reached my ceiling?" the answer is no in his case. We can agree on that. For a guy like Briscoe, he thought he could do better so he came back to work on his game and improve his chances.

There is no single answer. Each person and their scenario is different, and their decision has to be based on that.

But I think if you're a first round pick, you almost have to take it. I would.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Do professors win titles? Because their job is to prepare students to enter the workforce and pursue their goals. Cal does that better than any other coach. Pretty sure that's what he's talking about. He's bringing a lot of families out of poverty in the process. Bagging on him for not winning more titles misses that point.

 

[KA4Prez]

The Memphis team wasn't OAD's (other than Rose), but it had talent.

Dozier (Jr) 4-Star
Douglas (Jr) 4-Star
Anderson (Jr) 4-Star
Mack (So) 4-Star
Kemp (So) 4-Star
Taggart (So) 4-Star

Dorsey was a 3-Star Sr. and Rose was obvious an elite OAD Freshman.

The key was, that team played together for a year, going 33-3 and losing to the loaded Ohio State team in the 2007 Elite 8. Everyone returned, they added Rose and boom.

 

[Titles1]

I would say he's proven that his top priority is not titles for BBN. He pushes players out that would help us.

 

[Slowwalker]

A couple things. Nothing is perfect. Not Cal, not the one and done system, not the tournament, nothing. There are a couple things that are certain though and if you don't believe them, then I don't know what to say.

To those who say Cal doesn't care about winning titles, are you serious? Have you ever played a sport? Was there ever a time that you did not care about winning the game you were playing? Cal is as competitive as they come. He wants to be the best at everything he does.

Cal can flat out coach. Does he make mistakes? Sure. But his winning percentage at Kentucky is unbelievable. He has taken 3 different teams to a final four. He is the only coach that I am aware of that has the ability to turn over an entire roster and refill it with 5 star phenoms and get the kids to play together. Every year. K can't, Roy can't, Self can't, etc. Every year I feel good about our chances with Cal. He brings in great kids that can play ball.

The last point is for those that think Cal pushes kids out the door. He absolutely does not. He promises them that he will get them the information they need and provide his opinion on what they should do when it comes to entering the draft. If my son was a top level recruit, there is no other coach I would want handling him. Anyone who has a son that was able to be drafted in the first round and make millions after one year of college would say go for it. There isn't a person out there that would tell their kid to stay and not follow their dreams and get rich as hell in the process.

Does it suck that we don't have another title or two? Hell yes it does. I can promise you this, Cal wishes he had more than one title here also.