Coach Cal wants half of the NBA All-Star game to be Wildcats

[BostonCat2001]

That's absurd, Rupp would have called you many interesting names.

if he did, i would call him one particular one back. but then again...maybe thats the theme of all this.

 

[catsfan70]

Cal talks about what the school can do for the kids - instead of what the kids can do for the school.

That approach has basically demolished UNC's recruiting because Roy Williams is still a "what will you do for my program" kind of coach (and now its even worse with the NCAA cloud of doom)

So Cal could talk about putting UK first and then you'd see top recruits considering other schools.

I can see where his approach threw some fans off. I must admit I didn't fully understand why he said his first class going pro was the greatest day for UK. As fans were scratching their head as to why, boom - we see our first final four by beating Ohio St and UNC, then two years later we see a national championship, a title game and another final four.

So I'm not really all that interested in hearing Cal talk about his priorities. The results speak much louder than any words he could add.

I'm sure Tubby and Gillispie talked about putting UK first.

Best explanation I have heard! Made me feel a little more at ease!!!

 

[Rhavicc]

That's absurd, Rupp would have called you many interesting names.

Rupp hasn't coached in many, many years. Much has changed since then. It's unfortunate that you need to be reminded that so much has changed in the past 50+ years. There's a good chance that coaches from that era (or around it) couldn't coach today because of the enormous shift in the landscape of college athletics. The closest thing that college basketball has to one of those olden days coaches is Coach K, who obviously agrees with Cal's model, because he's doing the exact same thing as Calipari now, and that's a man who we all know was one of the biggest "program first" coaches that there were.
Billy Clyde Gillespie was another "program first" coach, and we all seen how that turned out. Calipari brought UK back to true form with his model. You, BigBlueFanGA, need to stop complaining.

 

[GonzoCat90]

You guys that are upset should take heart that Duke fans, IU fans and Schwump agree with you. Good company to keep.

 

[Rhavicc]

You guys that are upset should take heart that Duke fans, IU fans and Schwump agree with you. Good company to keep.

Schwump always be Schwumpin' hard.
I dunno what IU fans can even b***h about, other than being IU fans. Crean is a pretty good example of a program first coach, with his spring Creaning, and his ability to keep talented players from going to the NBA.

 

[kats23]

Comparing times to today's game and Rupp is ridiculous. Sorry but it just is. Same as suggesting Teague was drafted high bc he won a title. If that logic held true Aaron Harrison would be a 1st rounder bc he hit some last second shots and WCS wouldn't be drafted bc of a poor tourney and FF.

You want to say he had six more games for scouts to look at, fine but I think it had more to do with the talent surrounding him. Little off topic but I thought he was the perfect PG for that team. Sorry that he didn't come back and help the atrocious '13 team but that wasn't his plan. He's making the decision at the end of the day. And he's a millionaire so it worked out for him. Maybe a 2nd year would of kept him in the league longer but maybe not.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

You guys that are upset should take heart that Duke fans, IU fans and Schwump agree with you. Good company to keep.

I'm not upset, but I did get a bit off point. My primary point is people tend to accomplish the goals they set. Goal theory has been pretty well studied and proven for 50 years. Now, Cals goal may actually be to win a NC every year,but that isn't what he claims his goals are. His stated goals are all player related with the hope that their personal success gets a NC. That is backwards, imo. There is nothing antiquated in what I'm saying. He can still do what he does and say what he says while adding a NC as a primary goal. For Gods sake, winning a NC would help him accomplish all his other goals. I refuse to treat Cal as some sort of sacred object that can never be criticized.

 

[brianpoe]

I'm not upset, but I did get a bit off point. My primary point is people tend to accomplish the goals they set. Goal theory has been pretty well studied and proven for 50 years. Now, Cals goal may actually be to win a NC every year,but that isn't what he claims his goals are. His stated goals are all player related with the hope that their personal success gets a NC. That is backwards, imo. There is nothing antiquated in what I'm saying. He can still do what he does and say what he says while adding a NC as a primary goal. For Gods sake, winning a NC would help him accomplish all his other goals. I refuse to treat Cal as some sort of sacred object that can never be criticized.

If Cal's way is backwards can you explain the great success we have witnessed the last few years?

Cal is far from sacred to many of us, and has been criticized (by me more than once). But I do not need his personal goals and values to align with mine to make me feel good about the program.

Everyone with half a brain knows he wants to win championships. He has stated that he wants to catch and surpass UCLA. What does that tell you?

You have stated that his values have cost us wins. But provide no evidence.

He has outperformed just about every coach in the last 20 years. He has brought the highest total of ranked recruits ever to our program. If he didn't care so much about winning why would he work so hard to recruit the best?

Until you show evidence that his value system has cost us wins, I will classify you with the others who are just whining over the Wisconsin loss.

 

[brianpoe]

I'm not upset, but I did get a bit off point. My primary point is people tend to accomplish the goals they set. Goal theory has been pretty well studied and proven for 50 years. Now, Cals goal may actually be to win a NC every year,but that isn't what he claims his goals are. His stated goals are all player related with the hope that their personal success gets a NC. That is backwards, imo. There is nothing antiquated in what I'm saying. He can still do what he does and say what he says while adding a NC as a primary goal. For Gods sake, winning a NC would help him accomplish all his other goals. I refuse to treat Cal as some sort of sacred object that can never be criticized.

"For Gods sake, winning a NC would help him accomplish all his other goals."


Of the last NCAA champions since Cal arrived only UK has had multiple first round picks.
(Duke will this year but it seems K has come around to Cal's thought process too)

Of these teams, since 2010 a total of 3 players were drafted in the first round from championship teams not named UK.

Does that accomplish Cal's goals?

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Apples and oranges. Perceived top players get a boost. Lucky teams with one good player gets that one good player a boost.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

If Cal's way is backwards can you explain the great success we have witnessed the last few years?

Cal is far from sacred to many of us, and has been criticized (by me more than once). But I do not need his personal goals and values to align with mine to make me feel good about the program.

Everyone with half a brain knows he wants to win championships. He has stated that he wants to catch and surpass UCLA. What does that tell you?

You have stated that his values have cost us wins. But provide no evidence.

He has outperformed just about every coach in the last 20 years. He has brought the highest total of ranked recruits ever to our program. If he didn't care so much about winning why would he work so hard to recruit the best?

Until you show evidence that his value system has cost us wins, I will classify you with the others who are just whining over the Wisconsin loss.

I never said Cal wasn't successful, however, I do think many are still scratching their heads at our low number of NC's with all the talent and success Cal has had. Brian, you are missing the point again. It is all about the goals you set. It works that way for all of us.

 

[brianpoe]

Apples and oranges. Perceived top players get a boost. Lucky teams with one good player gets that one good player a boost.

Really? Did the facts get in the way of your bold statement?

3 players drafted from championship teams NOT named UK since Cal arrived... debunks your "Cal could still achieve his goals" statement right?

 

[brianpoe]

I never said Cal wasn't successful, however, I do think many are still scratching their heads at our low number of NC's with all the talent and success Cal has had. Brian, you are missing the point again. It is all about the goals you set. It works that way for all of us.

You are going to tell Cal about goal setting? Reminds me of the investment broker making 30k a year with 2 bankruptcies telling me how to invest my money.

 

[brianpoe]

Also I would say that Cal's coaching cost us 2 more titles more than any goal he set.

 

[BostonCat2001]

just wait until the draft happens. Cal is going to be center stage and probably say something again to piss off the idiots in this fan base. going to be next level.

just wish people would come out and put it on paper what they want from the man. stop hiding behind all this passive aggressive crap.

 

[brianpoe]

I never said Cal wasn't successful, however, I do think many are still scratching their heads at our low number of NC's with all the talent and success Cal has had. Brian, you are missing the point again. It is all about the goals you set. It works that way for all of us.

I get your Zig Zigler point of view but i don't understand how Cal's method is the backwards way of winning:

Recruit the best.
Convince them to improve to be the best they can be for themselves.
Then sacrifice for the team during the season.

The best players, playing at their best and for the team.

Make a run for a championship and get drafted.

 

[Clive Gollings]

What do I know. I'm just one of those guys that have fun watching UK play and go 38-1 and hang another banner. It's not a make or break season for me if we win the title.

I'm glad the young men represent us well, and I like witnessing historic seasons at UK.

 

[Clive Gollings]

I never said Cal wasn't successful, however, I do think many are still scratching their heads at our low number of NC's with all the talent and success Cal has had. Brian, you are missing the point again. It is all about the goals you set. It works that way for all of us.

He has added quite of few banners to our rafters. Again, it's not make or break for me if we win the title. It's not all or nothing. If that was the case then we would have sucked more times than not due to just having 8 over our long history.

I will say that this run has been extremely fun to watch. Mostly due to all the great players and great personalities we've had on and off the court. If some want to focus on one stat then that's on them. I can't imagine not knowing whether or not it was a fun season just based on if the last game was won or not.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Final Four appearances don't do much for me. We've been there something like 17 times. Either you win or you lose. What difference does it make by counting the number of times we almost won? This isn't horse shoes.

 

[Clive Gollings]

That's a very cynical way of thinking of things and clearly you've been disappointed more times than not watching UK over the years.

Do you turn your back when Final Four and Runner Up banners are raised?

Let me rephrase that as it may have sounded a bit harsh. For some sports are entertainment, and as fans we really just want to have a chance to win it all and it's possible to have a successful season without winning the title. That's pretty much every fan for every team out there. How can you enjoy win 1-38 if you're only worried about win 40?

But look, I'm not going to tell you you're wrong. You're entitled to look at things in any pessimistic way that makes you happy...or miserable. Most are not miserable,and will look at the journey instead of the end result.

 

[brianpoe]

Final Four appearances don't do much for me. We've been there something like 17 times. Either you win or you lose. What difference does it make by counting the number of times we almost won? This isn't horse shoes.

Wow man, why even watch college bball?

 

[kats23]

I never said Cal wasn't successful, however, I do think many are still scratching their heads at our low number of NC's with all the talent and success Cal has had. Brian, you are missing the point again. It is all about the goals you set. It works that way for all of us.

And there it is...."I'm mad that Cal hasn't won multiple titles with the talent he has here." I'm guessing you think bc he isn't saying winning a title isn't a primary goal that's the reason UK has come up short in the Final Four years more than they haven't under Cal. Just because Cal doesn't say it doesn't make it a goal. If it wasn't a goal, he wouldn't be here. He would still be in Memphis or in the NBA. Cal has his flaws, he can be banged on for so much. I'm not the biggest fan of Cal but this garbage that college basketball fans get upset about with Cal shows how much a glass bowl you live in. No offense but you need to look at the bigger picture

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

I know a few fans that think just like you and i really do feel sorry for them and you. With that mindset, you can never truely enjoy college basketball. What is the point of following a sport that is going to make you more miserable than enjoyment? National championships are so hard to win. It isn't something you can expect every year. To enjoy the game, you need to change your mindset or it just isn't something worth following.

 

[BostonCat2001]

Final Four appearances don't do much for me. We've been there something like 17 times. Either you win or you lose. What difference does it make by counting the number of times we almost won? This isn't horse shoes.

this is what happens when stupid people keep talking. they paint themselves into a corner. so here we have it. its only about titles now, got it. as a uk fan i dont know how you havent managed to kill yourself considering uk is a giant failure then. UK has had 112 seasons and during that time....just 8 titles. under your statement all those other seasons....were irrelevant and dont do much for you. i'd say go cheer for another team but you will find just 1 other school that is better off and they are in the dumps right now.

truth is....if cal did win another title or two...that still wouldnt please you or folks like you. because deep down you just dont like the man. which is fine...because deep down...he doesnt care about you either. he does care for his players...because his players care about him. players first.

 

[TankedCat]

I just wonder if they hold other people and facets of their lives to the same standards if they are saying they don't really care about final fours.

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

You can tell who has played competitive sports and who hasn't. The truth is in the competition. Just because we have had higher rated players doesn't make them far more superior than their competition. Star rankings don't mean squat once the ball is tossed in the air. Wisconsin is a prime example. 2 first rounders isn't chopped liver. You basketball neophytes have no earthly idea how difficult it is when you're playing against quality competition. All you do is sit on your fat, out of shape arses thinking all our players have to do is throw on a uniform and lace up the sneakers and presto, game over. Dumb arses need to get out of your little fantasy world. All players play to win.

 

[J. Shellacque]

Thanks for the keen insight U9K, albeit totally unrelated to the topic. Sometimes I wish Cal would just land the plane already.