I didn't want to hijack the thread about how a poster here hoped Cal's ego would save our beleaguered program so I started my own to say the following.
The only thing that hurts Cal's ego is if he doesn't get his players drafted high enough, or at all.
Consider the following from 2014:
The 40-year old model of the program (Kentucky) -- it's about the program, it's about the system, no names on the back of the jerseys -- we've flipped it. Now it's about the player. It's about his development.
The coaches who want to take kids and then in one year they go pro -- hey, have at it. I got no problem with that because I think it's good for the kids.
This program is going to be fine. This program hasn't suffered one bit with what I've tried to do here and the way I've tried to do it. Not one bit.
In 2015 Cal said this after he received a humanitarian award and then gave a 15-minute speech at Rupp Arena where he said,
"LAST YEAR WE STARTED THE SEASON WITH A GOAL. YOU MAY THINK IT WAS TO WIN A NATIONAL TITLE OR WIN ALL THE GAMES, [BUT] IT WAS TO GET EIGHT PLAYERS DRAFTED. WELL, HOW CAN YOU BE ABOUT YOUR TEAM IF YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING PLAYERS DRAFTED? WE KIND OF WORK IT THE OTHER WAY. WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET OUT OF LIFE? HOW CAN WE HELP YOU WITH THAT?
“FOR ME, THE MISSION FOR ME IS TO BE A VEHICLE TO HELP OTHERS REACH THEIR DREAMS, TO BE THE STONE THAT CREATES THE RIPPLE IN THEIR LIVES THAT GOES ON AND ON AND ON. NOW IN OUR STATE, THEY WANT MY MISSION TO BE, ‘WIN NATIONAL TITLES, WIN NATIONAL TITLES.’ MY MISSION IS BIGGER THAN THAT."
If you think for one second that Cal's ego revolves around wins at Kentucky, for the people of the state or the University, then you need a serious reality check. He only cares that wins produce a higher draft status for his players. That is something he said some time not long ago. After 2015 that desire kicked into overdrive.
Also consider this from De'aaron Fox just recently:
“Cal couldn't give a damn about winning college basketball games."
Also this just after being cheated out of a win vs North Carolina in 2017:
“You’re done, you’re not coming back. If you need us, you have our numbers, we’ll help you with whatever, but you’re not playing another college basketball game.”
Looking at Malik Monk's current career, do you think he might have benefited from another year of growth at Kentucky? I wonder what he would say if asked right now.
If you think next year is going to be better then, please, present me a case where things are better player wise or philosophy wise.
Imo, Boston, Jackson, Sarr, Mintz, and Clark are all gone. Brooks and Toppin could both leave as well. Then you have the ever present list of players who can't wait to get the hell out of Lexington. This years list includes Fletcher and Allen. I have to wonder about Ware as well. How do you think he will like being recruited over.?
Who is going to replace this group, another outstanding grad transfer, a great shooter? lol. Please, if a transfer was good enough to play at Kentucky then they would have been here to begin with or they would be on their way to the pros. Oh, I know, maybe a stud freshman. Make sure and let me know when that happens.
How about our offense, or for that matter defense? The more I watch this shit show the more I respect Tubby Smith. Tubby ball sucked, but at least he had a damn offense and you didn't see players get blown by every play on defense. Is Cal's stall ball that much different really? Here's some stats about the last five years from both coaches:
Tubby
131-40 record
2 Elite Eights
2 Outright SEC Titles
9-5 NCAA Tournament Record
2 SEC Tournament Titles
Cal
140-39 record
2 Elite Eights
2 Outright SEC Titles (3 Overall)
9-4 NCAA Tournament Record
2 SEC Tournament Titles
Huh. At this point Cal reminds me of a tired Tubby Smith. Just look at the guy. He has totally let himself go. He just looks tired as hell. I think he knows his time is short. By the way, how many trips did Tubby make to the NIT while at Kentucky? Just wondering.
It's time to face fact people. Cal doesn't give a single shit about you as a Kentuckian, the long tradition of Kentucky basketball, or anything that doesn't equate to him being idolized by the minority community as a paragon of social justice warfare. I would go so far as to say that he thinks Kentuckians are just an ignorant group of hillbillies that need to be educated upon the finer points of progressivism. For those of you who scoff, trust me, it is a constant theme among our brethren from the northern part of the country, and more than a few here at home.
Cal will never change at this point without drastic measures. The older he gets the worse this whole situation will get. In Cal's eyes he is doing God's work here and his time is short. That is what drives his ego, not wins, nor public opinion. Mitch isn't coming to save us either. What makes you think he isn't in lock step with Cal on this? Show me one thing that points to anything other than that.
At this point what choice do any of us have but to give Call one more year to see what happens. Let's us just all hope and pray that Cal sees the light and flips the program back into the right direction. I won't hold my breath, and with concern for your health I would suggest you don't either.
The only thing that hurts Cal's ego is if he doesn't get his players drafted high enough, or at all.
Consider the following from 2014:
John Calipari Q&A: Not about UK program; 'It's about the player'
John Calipari runs Kentucky's 'program,' but insists it's 'about the player' He also addresses NBA rumors and the pitfalls of being the boss at UK.
www.cbssports.com
The 40-year old model of the program (Kentucky) -- it's about the program, it's about the system, no names on the back of the jerseys -- we've flipped it. Now it's about the player. It's about his development.
The coaches who want to take kids and then in one year they go pro -- hey, have at it. I got no problem with that because I think it's good for the kids.
This program is going to be fine. This program hasn't suffered one bit with what I've tried to do here and the way I've tried to do it. Not one bit.
In 2015 Cal said this after he received a humanitarian award and then gave a 15-minute speech at Rupp Arena where he said,
"LAST YEAR WE STARTED THE SEASON WITH A GOAL. YOU MAY THINK IT WAS TO WIN A NATIONAL TITLE OR WIN ALL THE GAMES, [BUT] IT WAS TO GET EIGHT PLAYERS DRAFTED. WELL, HOW CAN YOU BE ABOUT YOUR TEAM IF YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING PLAYERS DRAFTED? WE KIND OF WORK IT THE OTHER WAY. WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET OUT OF LIFE? HOW CAN WE HELP YOU WITH THAT?
“FOR ME, THE MISSION FOR ME IS TO BE A VEHICLE TO HELP OTHERS REACH THEIR DREAMS, TO BE THE STONE THAT CREATES THE RIPPLE IN THEIR LIVES THAT GOES ON AND ON AND ON. NOW IN OUR STATE, THEY WANT MY MISSION TO BE, ‘WIN NATIONAL TITLES, WIN NATIONAL TITLES.’ MY MISSION IS BIGGER THAN THAT."
If you think for one second that Cal's ego revolves around wins at Kentucky, for the people of the state or the University, then you need a serious reality check. He only cares that wins produce a higher draft status for his players. That is something he said some time not long ago. After 2015 that desire kicked into overdrive.
Also consider this from De'aaron Fox just recently:
“Cal couldn't give a damn about winning college basketball games."
Also this just after being cheated out of a win vs North Carolina in 2017:
“You’re done, you’re not coming back. If you need us, you have our numbers, we’ll help you with whatever, but you’re not playing another college basketball game.”
Looking at Malik Monk's current career, do you think he might have benefited from another year of growth at Kentucky? I wonder what he would say if asked right now.
If you think next year is going to be better then, please, present me a case where things are better player wise or philosophy wise.
Imo, Boston, Jackson, Sarr, Mintz, and Clark are all gone. Brooks and Toppin could both leave as well. Then you have the ever present list of players who can't wait to get the hell out of Lexington. This years list includes Fletcher and Allen. I have to wonder about Ware as well. How do you think he will like being recruited over.?
Who is going to replace this group, another outstanding grad transfer, a great shooter? lol. Please, if a transfer was good enough to play at Kentucky then they would have been here to begin with or they would be on their way to the pros. Oh, I know, maybe a stud freshman. Make sure and let me know when that happens.
How about our offense, or for that matter defense? The more I watch this shit show the more I respect Tubby Smith. Tubby ball sucked, but at least he had a damn offense and you didn't see players get blown by every play on defense. Is Cal's stall ball that much different really? Here's some stats about the last five years from both coaches:
Tubby
131-40 record
2 Elite Eights
2 Outright SEC Titles
9-5 NCAA Tournament Record
2 SEC Tournament Titles
Cal
140-39 record
2 Elite Eights
2 Outright SEC Titles (3 Overall)
9-4 NCAA Tournament Record
2 SEC Tournament Titles
Huh. At this point Cal reminds me of a tired Tubby Smith. Just look at the guy. He has totally let himself go. He just looks tired as hell. I think he knows his time is short. By the way, how many trips did Tubby make to the NIT while at Kentucky? Just wondering.
It's time to face fact people. Cal doesn't give a single shit about you as a Kentuckian, the long tradition of Kentucky basketball, or anything that doesn't equate to him being idolized by the minority community as a paragon of social justice warfare. I would go so far as to say that he thinks Kentuckians are just an ignorant group of hillbillies that need to be educated upon the finer points of progressivism. For those of you who scoff, trust me, it is a constant theme among our brethren from the northern part of the country, and more than a few here at home.
Cal will never change at this point without drastic measures. The older he gets the worse this whole situation will get. In Cal's eyes he is doing God's work here and his time is short. That is what drives his ego, not wins, nor public opinion. Mitch isn't coming to save us either. What makes you think he isn't in lock step with Cal on this? Show me one thing that points to anything other than that.
At this point what choice do any of us have but to give Call one more year to see what happens. Let's us just all hope and pray that Cal sees the light and flips the program back into the right direction. I won't hold my breath, and with concern for your health I would suggest you don't either.
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