Cal Trending Down

[TankedCat]

The SEC tournament isn't important, the home and home with Indiana isn't important,, for that matter, home and home series with any good team isn't important, playing marquee games at Rupp isn't important, the 3 point consecutive streak isn't important, recruiting a Kentucky kid isn't important (while having open scholarships every year)

There are alot of things that used to be important at UK that fans will come on here and simply dismiss as not important while talking up the value of UK having a pro day, November /December games don't matter,, losing 80% of your scoring each year, etc.

I was willing to drink the Cal kool-aid when it meant final fours and being in the title hunt. That isn't the case now,, hasn't been for a few years and quite frankly, I think fan apathy is due almost entirely to the decisions that have been made to move away from what UK fans used to believe was important to the program.

 

[CB3UK]

The SEC tournament isn't important, the home and home with Indiana isn't important,, for that matter, home and home series with any good team isn't important, playing marquee games at Rupp isn't important, the 3 point consecutive streak isn't important, recruiting a Kentucky kid isn't important (while having open scholarships every year)

There are alot of things that used to be important at UK that fans will come on here and simply dismiss as not important while talking up the value of UK having a pro day, November /December games don't matter,, losing 80% of your scoring each year, etc.

I was willing to drink the Cal kool-aid when it meant final fours and being in the title hunt. That isn't the case now,, hasn't been for a few years and quite frankly, I think fan apathy is due almost entirely to the decisions that have been made to move away from what UK fans used to believe was important to the program.

Well said. A whole lot of folks seem to be willing to rationalize away the things that made UK basketball the special entity it is. Many of us are sick of it. Its mid-Dec and people are talking about next year's recruiting class instead. Or making excuses for losing in the Elite 8. "It was a close loss, that's as good as a Final Four!" No, it isn't. We've won the SEC 4 out of 10 seasons and tied A&M for a 5th. 6 SECT titles. If the losses in November and December dent matter, and the close losses in the tournament don't matter, being 2-4 v Tennessee our last 6 doesn't matter.....what the hell matters? The answer for most of us isn't number of draft picks. I don't effing care. Not even slightly.

 

[wildcatwelder]

The SEC tournament isn't important, the home and home with Indiana isn't important,, for that matter, home and home series with any good team isn't important, playing marquee games at Rupp isn't important, the 3 point consecutive streak isn't important, recruiting a Kentucky kid isn't important (while having open scholarships every year)

There are alot of things that used to be important at UK that fans will come on here and simply dismiss as not important while talking up the value of UK having a pro day, November /December games don't matter,, losing 80% of your scoring each year, etc.

I was willing to drink the Cal kool-aid when it meant final fours and being in the title hunt. That isn't the case now,, hasn't been for a few years and quite frankly, I think fan apathy is due almost entirely to the decisions that have been made to move away from what UK fans used to believe was important to the program.

Excellent post TC, well stated sir.

It isn't just one thing that has a lot of our fans disgruntled, it's several things, and they CAN be fixed, if only Cal will do it. (I for one do NOT want to see IU on our schedule ever again, fwiw)
Most of us just want to see our team put forth the effort on the court and see a well coached team improving from game to game. I love Cal, I do, but he is not infallible, and, IMHO, he is, at best, an average X's & O's coach. Like many of us, I firmly believe he needs to begin implementing an offense that actually runs set plays rather than relying on guys driving and crashing into the basket.

However, to me the biggest problem is quite evident, and I've spoken on this subject several times: Cal relies far too heavily on someone's athleticism rather than their basketball abilities, and it's showing. We need basketball players, not athletes who are learning the game of basketball. JMHO.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Cal is comfortable.

And stubborn.

Complacency follows.

 

[thebluestripes]

Cal is comfortable.

Complacency follows.

And stubborn.

And that's not a good combination.

 

[CB3UK]

Mike deCourcey just said on Tom's show thqt "a lot of UK fans are acting like this is the first time theyve lost early in the season."

We're upset because of a confluence of many different things.

There's also a marked difference between us losing early season games by putting a good gameplan together and getting beat by a team who simply played better, v losing because we have a hodge podge team using the first 3 months of a season to experiment on how to come together and sometimes the inevitable result is we lose games we otherwise shouldn't.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

And that's not a good combination.

It's like putting Kathleen Kennedy and the Star Wars franchise together.

 

[STL_Cat]

It's like putting Kathleen Kennedy and the Star Wars franchise together.

Ouch.

I haven’t seen RoS yet. Hope it’s better than TLJ.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Ouch.

I haven’t seen RoS yet. Hope it’s better than TLJ.

All the people I trust have said it's complete garbage. A total travesty of the Star Wars line.

 

[STL_Cat]

All the people I trust have said it's complete garbage. A total travesty of the Star Wars line.

damn shame. I thought they set up a pretty good story in The Force Awakens. Then they took a crap all over it.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

damn shame. I thought they set up a pretty good story in The Force Awakens. Then they took a crap all over it.

It’s Cal’s fault. He gets 9 million to produce a.... or sorry wrong topic

 

[KYFOSSIL]

The SEC tournament isn't important, the home and home with Indiana isn't important,, for that matter, home and home series with any good team isn't important, playing marquee games at Rupp isn't important, the 3 point consecutive streak isn't important, recruiting a Kentucky kid isn't important (while having open scholarships every year)

There are alot of things that used to be important at UK that fans will come on here and simply dismiss as not important while talking up the value of UK having a pro day, November /December games don't matter,, losing 80% of your scoring each year, etc.

I was willing to drink the Cal kool-aid when it meant final fours and being in the title hunt. That isn't the case now,, hasn't been for a few years and quite frankly, I think fan apathy is due almost entirely to the decisions that have been made to move away from what UK fans used to believe was important to the program.

1. Streaks end so yes the 3 point streak was fun but not important.
2. We have had a few Kentucky kids on the team Willis, Hawkins, Allen.....
3. The vast majority of the fans supported ending the home and home with IU
4. As it relates to the NCAA tourney it has been proven that winning the SEC doesn’t matter.

Fans care about winning and tourney results and for the past 10 years that’s been happening on a consistent basis.
Didn’t understand the Rupp doesn’t matter part.

 

[bluejohnson]

With the recruits we have for next season? Yea, I agree

 

[ManitouDan]

This reads exactly like your post after Seton Hall last year.

Next 2 games will tell us a lot.

What told me a lot was watching us lose to an outmanned Utah that doesn’t have a player Cal would even recruit , let alone play . With a short point guard that looked 15 years old . Losses to big underdogs where we play unmotivated tells me plenty . Don’t get why any Ky fan would accept these loses with very little questioning and kinda lean on 2-3 responses
1) we were a point away in the ______ game
2) we will be fine in march
3) everyone else sucks

I can’t roll with any of these

 

[the nail at the foul line]

What told me a lot was watching us lose to an outmanned Utah that doesn’t have a player Cal would even recruit , let alone play . With a short point guard that looked 15 years old . Losses to big underdogs where we play unmotivated tells me plenty . Don’t get why any Ky fan would accept these loses with very little questioning and kinda lean on 2-3 responses
1) we were a point away in the ______ game
2) we will be fine in march
3) everyone else sucks

I can’t roll with any of these

I know it offends many, and it doesn't apply to Fox and Bam, but some of these guys are biding their time until the draft.

 

[wildcatwelder]

What told me a lot was watching us lose to an outmanned Utah that doesn’t have a player Cal would even recruit , let alone play . With a short point guard that looked 15 years old . Losses to big underdogs where we play unmotivated tells me plenty . Don’t get why any Ky fan would accept these loses with very little questioning and kinda lean on 2-3 responses
1) we were a point away in the ______ game
2) we will be fine in march
3) everyone else sucks

I can’t roll with any of these

Agreed MD.

I simply don't understand the WHY of our guys not being motivated to hit the court and WIN, or at least TRY to win, every game. There is no excuse to come out and play half hearted and think you're just going to steamroll the other team simply because your jersey says KENTUCKY and theirs say Utah, Evansville, etc, etc.

I still maintain our biggest issue is we're playing athletes instead of basketball players, but even at that, our athletes SHOULD be motivated to compete and win; that's why we play the games to begin with!

Like most of us, I'm tired of watching crappy basketball 3 months of the year, waiting while our athletes learn to dribble, pass and shoot, but I can't control who Cal chooses to recruit, so I'll continue to cheer on my Cats, all the while praying Cal will, at some point, give in and develop an offense for these guys to run.

I don't care if other teams suck, (here's looking at you UNCHEAT), I only care about my team, KENTUCKY, giving an honest effort each time out, showing marked improvement, and playing to WIN.

 

[IIIBradIII]

I took a few days off after yet another embarrassing mid major loss hoping we'd hear something different out of Cal, but that last tweet was just more of the same.

I still maintain that the reason these kids come out flat and look lost is because they are not being given a modern offense to run. Cal refuses to adapt so we're easy to defend. It works if you get the top talents but we haven't gotten those in years now, so Cal needs to recognize that and adapt the offensive scheme.

Wake up Cal, we haven't had a stable of guys capable of creating their own offense in years, neither have we had the stud PG your system needs.

Cal has always tried to shake things up and be bleeding edge. Well here's his chance. Shake up the staff and model it after football. Hire an Offensive Coordinator and show the rest of the basketball world how it's done, Kentucky style and Cal style. It's about 3 years late but watch the rest of CBB scramble to catch up when it starts working. Talk about bringing excitement back to basketball, we should be leading here!

 

[bigbluedon]

Agree with Welder and Manitou Dan.

 

[thebluestripes]

I think cal is at his best when his teams can just out talent other teams.
Meaning the other teams players albeit older or whatever can't match the talent on ky's roster. Cal getting lesser talented guys is exposing his coaching as of late as we're less likely to over power teams with superior talent.

 

[TankedCat]

1. Streaks end so yes the 3 point streak was fun but not important.
2. We have had a few Kentucky kids on the team Willis, Hawkins, Allen.....
3. The vast majority of the fans supported ending the home and home with IU
4. As it relates to the NCAA tourney it has been proven that winning the SEC doesn’t matter.

Fans care about winning and tourney results and for the past 10 years that’s been happening on a consistent basis.
Didn’t understand the Rupp doesn’t matter part.

Did you understand the UK fans making excuses for it part?

 

[TankedCat]

Mike deCourcey just said on Tom's show thqt "a lot of UK fans are acting like this is the first time theyve lost early in the season."

We're upset because of a confluence of many different things.

There's also a marked difference between us losing early season games by putting a good gameplan together and getting beat by a team who simply played better, v losing because we have a hodge podge team using the first 3 months of a season to experiment on how to come together and sometimes the inevitable result is we lose games we otherwise shouldn't.

if it was the first time we'd lost early in the season, I doubt we'd be upset. I think the point is exactly this isn't the first time we've lost early in the season - and its getting old fast.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Did you understand the UK fans making excuses for it part?

I simply listed facts. I also loved the 38 straight win streak but some morons say it doesn’t matter because we didn’t win it all. No where did I make an excuse. I simply disagreed with your take

 

[KYFOSSIL]

if it was the first time we'd lost early in the season, I doubt we'd be upset. I think the point is exactly this isn't the first time we've lost early in the season - and its getting old fast.

You are really stretch to find something to complain about. Personally I don’t like when we lose any game but that’s just me.

 

[TankedCat]

You are really stretch to find something to complain about. Personally I don’t like when we lose any game but that’s just me.

I'm not sure I have the energy to explain it to you so I'll just let you think you made a valid point.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

I'm not sure I have the energy to explain it to you so I'll just let you think you made a valid point.

I did make a valid point.... you just don’t want to hear it. Have a nice day.

 

[kl40504]

There was a time in the Tubby era where the majority of fans knew we needed to move on. We appreciated his winning the title with Pitino’s players and all the success he had after that, but we collectively knew his days were numbered.

Am I alone in wondering if we’re not seeing the same thing with Cal? This team has absolutely no shot at being special. Next year there’s going to be a logjam, meaning more transfers and disgruntled players. It really is, and has been for the past three seasons, a hot mess.

We can all remember how, at Memphis, he assembled athletes, but not many basketball players. He’s gotten back to that, and it just doesn’t work in 2019.

We are witnessing the beginning of the end.

Blast away.

Sure. The end is near. That is why Cal has the number 1 recruiting class coming in next year and when we have a great season next year you will find something else to bitch about.

 

[kl40504]

Well we do pay Cal $9 million dollars and the players nothing. I'd say he has a little more accountability.

And you flip and flop depending on the situation and game.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I don’t think the fan base is divided, aside from a small percent of the base. Fans are, however, tired of the lack of offensive production and execution. There’s really no excuse for the players we recruit to be so offensively challenged. Cal needs to make some adjustments to his practice regiment and emphasize shooting and ball movement, particularly against zones. Defense will take you only so far. You still have to be able to score and not have long droughts.

This!!!

 

[rolaid]

I don’t like Cal - can’t stand listening to him - I turn him off when ever he speaks his nonsense in interviews or press conferences - I don’t like his offense with the circle weave and few set plays-I don’t like his defense that doesn’t pressure the ball or play passing lanes or teaches to take charges - I hate his lack of dead ball inbounds plays - I hate he won’t make Nike change the uniforms they are tragic - I hate that he acts a fool during games and screams like a idiot at the players while they are trying to play. I hate he won’t play in Maui - I can’t stand to look at or hear about Brad
All that being said he does have a tremendous record in ten years - yes he is one title short - but everything else is in line and simply the best run we probably could get from anyone
I just wish we had a normal Coach like Jay Wright who I could listen to and spoke and acted normal but could produce the same record as Cal

 

[Crums Bald Spot]

I tend to agree. Been that way since 2015. Once Calipari stopped getting uber talent, it started falling apart.

I agree he's seems to be losing his edge but I think he's still ultra competitive and will reinvent himself one more time. Remember, even K has had dips and had to change up a bit - which ushered in a new period of success.

I expect Cal to do the same and I think it will revolve around keeping kids a bit longer and changing up the offense to something more player/scorer friendly.

 

[HagginHall1999]

if it was the first time we'd lost early in the season, I doubt we'd be upset. I think the point is exactly this isn't the first time we've lost early in the season - and its getting old fast.

Below are average losses by coach per season before New Year's Day going back to Pitino. Not counting Pitino's first season due to train wreck he took over, avg would have been way higher. Cal still has 2 more games to cap off his 11th December.

Pitino- 1.14 loss avg
Tubby- 2.7 loss avg
Billy- 4.5 loss avg
Cal- btwn 1.8 and 2 loss avg

Currently 27% of Cal's losses at UK have occurred in the first 10-12 games of the season....think about that. He has 73 losses here, 20 in Nov/Dec....maybe at best a 3rd of his average season....That means only 53 total losses after New Year. Remarkable.

 

[KyFaninNC]

I don’t like Cal - can’t stand listening to him - I turn him off when ever he speaks his nonsense in interviews or press conferences - I don’t like his offense with the circle weave and few set plays-I don’t like his defense that doesn’t pressure the ball or play passing lanes or teaches to take charges - I hate his lack of dead ball inbounds plays - I hate he won’t make Nike change the uniforms they are tragic - I hate that he acts a fool during games and screams like a idiot at the players while they are trying to play. I hate he won’t play in Maui - I can’t stand to look at or hear about Brad
All that being said he does have a tremendous record in ten years - yes he is one title short - but everything else is in line and simply the best run we probably could get from anyone
I just wish we had a normal Coach like Jay Wright who I could listen to and spoke and acted normal but could produce the same record as Cal

I am really not sure what to make of this post.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Cal might be a tad overpaid.

Results are not equalling compensation.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

I agree he's seems to be losing his edge but I think he's still ultra competitive and will reinvent himself one more time. Remember, even K has had dips and had to change up a bit - which ushered in a new period of success.

I expect Cal to do the same and I think it will revolve around keeping kids a bit longer and changing up the offense to something more player/scorer friendly.

K changed.

Was flexible.

Had three refs in his pocket.

Cal has not.

Cal isn't flexible.

Cal has three refs wanting to send him home.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Cal might be a tad overpaid.

Results are not equalling compensation.

I'm not entirely sure if say Cal had won 3/4 titles if the compensation would have equaled the results tho lol.

I mean sports players and coaches get overpaid.

The issue is even tho we all know they are overpaid, teams are willing to spend the money to get the top guys and as a result u either overpay as well or you are getting left behind.

Given that we are UK.......and the money isn't coming outta my pocket, I'm ok with giving Cal or any other top coach what they want

 

[KyFaninNC]

I'm not entirely sure if say Cal had won 3/4 titles if the compensation would have equaled the results tho lol.

I mean sports players and coaches get overpaid.

The issue is even tho we all know they are overpaid, teams are willing to spend the money to get the top guys and as a result u either overpay as well or you are getting left behind.

Given that we are UK.......and the money isn't coming outta my pocket, I'm ok with giving Cal or any other top coach what they want

Yea, the money thing is no concern of mine. Is Cal doing the right things to put UK in the best position to win a natty, or is he doing the right things to get players drafted. I think there are two camps here on that topic. And no, they are not one in the same.

 

[shutzhund]

I know it offends many, and it doesn't apply to Fox and Bam, but some of these guys are biding their time until the draft.

So is the head coach.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Yea, the money thing is no concern of mine. Is Cal doing the right things to put UK in the best position to win a natty, or is he doing the right things to get players drafted. I think there are two camps here on that topic. And no, they are not one in the same.

it's definitely a debatable topic on here.

Yeah I've always felt the two go hand in hand.

I think the big thing when it comes to that is whether or not Cal is intentionally doing things that are not in UK's best interests but in the interests of the player instead. Is he playing Player X just because he feels he has to in order to improve his draft position? Things like that.

I just look at how many games Cal has won while at UK and I have a hard time believing he's not after both objectives.

There is zero doubt he wants guys drafted. I don't think there's a question about that. But then I see the losses to Evansville and Utah and right after those losses I see him posting messages to the fanbase on twitter and Facebook and i think to myself man these losses IMO affect him just as much as they do us.

I just think he has a competitive nature where he wants to win. I mean he talks about his goal being an undefeated season all the time. That's not about getting players drafted. That's about having one of the best seasons in the history of college basketball.

 

[UK90]

The SEC tournament isn't important, the home and home with Indiana isn't important,, for that matter, home and home series with any good team isn't important, playing marquee games at Rupp isn't important, the 3 point consecutive streak isn't important, recruiting a Kentucky kid isn't important (while having open scholarships every year)

There are alot of things that used to be important at UK that fans will come on here and simply dismiss as not important while talking up the value of UK having a pro day, November /December games don't matter,, losing 80% of your scoring each year, etc.

I was willing to drink the Cal kool-aid when it meant final fours and being in the title hunt. That isn't the case now,, hasn't been for a few years and quite frankly, I think fan apathy is due almost entirely to the decisions that have been made to move away from what UK fans used to believe was important to the program.

This is spot on. It amazes me how fans are now so dismissive of things we used to really care about. Increasingly the new view seems to be that the only thing that matters is what round of NCAA tournament you reach. Well, if that's how you feel, then why watch the regular season at all?

People here now act like losing the Indiana series was nothing, but honestly the end of that rivalry was a real loss for the sport. It was recognized nationally as the best non-con rivalry in the sport, it was a cernterpiece event all college hoops fans tuned into every December, it'd be the highest attended game of the season each year (it packed out a friggin Dome during the years they had it in Indy).

For those too young to remember those days, let me tell you, that atmosphere was a lot cooler than playing at a neutral site thousands of miles away in a partly empty arena.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

I am really not sure what to make of this post.

That regardless of his personal opinion of the man he appreciates and acknowledges the results.