Originally posted by runt#69:
I'm happy to put my thoughts out here on what he said....
On Coach Cal's pre-ole miss statements :
I do think the team shows the proper mental attitude towards team improvement and doing the right thing for the team. So much so that Cal has to look at things for them individually, which can (and I think IS ) a good thing. They are very unselfish, yet sometimes playing unselfish can lead to an extra "one too many passes to your teammates" and things of that nature that result in a bad play or two. Yet this team doesn't fall into that trap hardly ever. this is a great sign of a great team, pairing it with the talent they possess and the depth this team has.
Cal's "looking out for them" (as individuals) are also because he's keeping it real with them when he first visits them on that first recruiting trip, to the time they leave the program, staying true to UK being a player's first program. He wants them to succeed as individuals both on and off the court, and to help them get to the next level so they have continuity when they go pro.
Personally, I love the fact that Cal does this. Very transparent, both for the kids and the fans at what they're doing behind the scenes, which we UK fans, eat up 24/7 and cannot get enough of. And for good reason too.
I've no complaints nor concerns about his take on things as they roll along, or in how he is running the program. It's all very productive, healthy, and is a positively reinforcing cycle for all involved.
My only worry, or let's say a concern :
After watching UK teams for nearly 40 years now, ultimately revolves around one thing.
To understand where I come from on this, I harken back to last year, and how I view the season as a whole.
Last year, ups and downs are a natural part of growth :
Preseason, much hype. The kids admit to buying into the possible 40-0 hype, and it hurt them as a team. They suffered a not so stellar regular season because they were freshmen, had a lot to learn, they simply had the talent but kinks had to be worked out.
By season's end, all the battles, the losses had taken a toll, but they kept a positive attitude towards everything that happened at the end, and Cal, ever the psychologically clever guy, made "the tweak" and they embraced it, bought into it and produced a NCAAT run for the ages. Fell short of the title when the stage *finally* got a little too big for them.
This year, it's being all put together in the right way, with care and mindfulness to all the details :
losing JR & Young, but gained more than what they lost, entered the season with a fresh attitude of working hard in coming back and not buying into the self-hype. Proper focus, MUCH better mental discipline as a whole (all for one, one for all) and the results are bearing fruit.
So, having said all that....
Back to the ultimate worry :
My "worry" is that the quest for going 40-0 finally gets building the inevitable pressure (especially during NCAAT games, and that at some point, they collectively crack, and lose a very tight game, perhaps at or near the very end of approaching 40-0. (nightmare scenario - 39-1 finish, losing in the title game. (NOOOOO!)
40-0 now appears as a realistic goal, at least 34-0 heading into the NCAAT, and then, it's gotta be "let's win the title" making 40-0 the ultimate goal (kinda like a pitcher looking for a no-hitter, knowing he can get one, and nobody on the team talks to him while it's going on).
The kids are only human, it's gotta be like that for the way we're chasing this particular kind of perfection here at UK, it's a unique kind inherent to UK ina a one of a kind way, striving for this 40-0 perfection.
We're going about all this in the right way - and best way, possible
In this case, UK players aren't talking about 40-0, instead doing the proper mental balancing act of taking it one game at a time, and improving both individually and as a team. they're doing everything fine, perfectly,I would even say. But I think that 40-0, while it would be SUPER COOL and ULTRA nice, is NOT the main goal. The main goal is to get better as a team, and as individuals, and win the title. A loss along the way shouldn't hurt that ultimate goal at all.
Epilogue !
(or better known as "yayy, FINALLY, the Runt is finished with his "war and peace" posting of the year !!!!!)
Hey, sorry this got to be such a long post, but I'm just kinda' talking here in a free form flowing train of thought. I think you, and everyone that reads this - gets my drift.
Right now, it's great to think of 40-0 as a fan, and I say we're blessed if we can do that, but they whole program is headed towards the future with the right mindset (one game at a time) and then let things fall where they may, with the goal of winning a title as the true penultimate goal (40-0 or not), and anything else that comes along the path, so much for the better.
So I'm not going to think "jinxy"-type thoughts as I enjoy just sitting back, watching this run.
Thanks to you, OP, and the rest of everyone that read all this. Hope the time I put in is appreciated.
Go Big Blue ! Love to my BBN from the Runt !
(ps - GOD I'll be so happy this lull is over and we get back to playing games again, starting tonight, and I'll not have to make such long posts!! *whew* !!!
)