D-League

[Sawnee Cat]

If you guys already know this, forgive me for posting it. The coach before Rupp was the most successful UK coach to that point. John Mauer coached a methodical slow brand of ball he called submarine ball. When UK refused him a raise, he went to Tenn. Rupp was a high school coach in Illinois. To get the Illinois job he had to also coach wrestling. He had never been involved with wrestling, but he bought a book and won a state championship. He also coached black players there.

He got the UK job by promoting the use of a new-fangled thing called a fast break. He told the hiring committee he was the best dam coach in the country. He had talked with some of the players about the new style and they approved.

Later Rupp became good friends with Red Auerbach and Red Holzman (two of the best early pro coaches) and discussed basketball strategy frequently with both. Getting his players in front of pro eyes is the reason he was one of the first to start playing a national schedule when others were playing regionally.

Most of this from The Rupp Years by Tev Laudeman.

I knew the granddaughter of John Mauer. She married one of my best friends and I was at their wedding. She told me many stories of Coach Mauer at Kentucky. Fond memories.

I never told her I thank God UK hired Adolph Rupp when he left for Tennessee. But she knew.

She was a wonderful wife and mother and moved from Clearwater to Tallahassee when her husband Tom, took a job up there. She was a saint of a woman and darn good looking. Died of cancer much too young.

 

[UK82]

Three games in three cities in 120 hours. Heaven on Earth for UK fans. Not to mention the UGA game thrown in Saturday.

 

[warrior-cat]

Three games in three cities in 120 hours. Heaven on Earth for UK fans. Not to mention the UGA game thrown in Saturday.

Well, here is to hoping that we will go 3-1 in that span. Unfortunately, the Georgia game is a wash. While there is always a chance to win, the possibility of if happening is next to none.

 

[UK82]

Well, here is to hoping that we will go 3-1 in that span. Unfortunately, the Georgia game is a wash. While there is always a chance to win, the possibility of if happening is next to none.

There's a better chance of me dunking a basketball. Not gonna happen.

 

[berniecarbo]

Great story Sawnee.

The idea of Beard transferring out of Kentucky caused a dip in my stomach like heading over the big hump of the Roller Coaster: Imagine the history of Kentucky basketball if Ralph Beard hadn't been there to lead the Cats to the first two titles: Does Rupp ever reach the pinnacle of the profession? Does Kentucky become the GOAT among all the Elite Programs in college basketball, or are the Cats scuffling around to this day making a case to be in the conversation of "First Tier Programs" like Indiana or Kansas

Jmo, it may have altered things some, but Rupp had the idea of speeding things to put talented players in spots to use their skills. He was making road trips to areas where pro ball was big, so pro scouts would see his players and this would help with recruiting. One All American whose name I forget, wrote Rupp a letter asking to play after seeing them on a roadtrip. Losing Beard would certainly have hurt, but Rupp had it figured out before anyone else.

 

[starchief5]

 

[BBUK]

Hello all,

Been a long day but I only have tomorrow and I am off again until Monday. (Mostly off anyway.)

Settling in to hopefully, finally watch a full basketball game this year.

Go CATS!!!

 

[UK82]

I'm getting ready for the game and just turned on ESPN. Looks like they're going to keep playing those same 3 or 4 commercials over and over again. I've been using the mute button a lot during games.

 

[BBUK]

Kentucky....period!

I was born a Michigander but throw Michigan State in a Great Lake Kentucky!!!

 

[AustinTXCat]

Oscar looking good. MiState killing it from beyond the arc. Hope we fix that.

Go Cats!

 

[UK82]

I feel for Collins. I really do but he is not contributing and getting a lot of minutes. Hopefully I'm not sounding cold-hearted.

 

[warrior-cat]

Oscar looking good. MiState killing it from beyond the arc. Hope we fix that.

Go Cats!

Unreal how they can get so many open 3's while we struggle to get good looks from the arc.

 

[BBUK]

Unreal how they can get so many open 3's while we struggle to get good looks from the arc.

The schematic in my literal non-basketball mind. The offensive schematic is wrong. At least it does not look at all fluid.. May need an oil change for lack of a better analogy... (Yeah, and no, I am not drinking..darn.)(Drank my allotment already...)

 

[Girthang]

If you guys already know this, forgive me for posting it. The coach before Rupp was the most successful UK coach to that point. John Mauer coached a methodical slow brand of ball he called submarine ball. When UK refused him a raise, he went to Tenn. Rupp was a high school coach in Illinois. To get the Illinois job he had to also coach wrestling. He had never been involved with wrestling, but he bought a book and won a state championship. He also coached black players there.

He got the UK job by promoting the use of a new-fangled thing called a fast break. He told the hiring committee he was the best dam coach in the country. He had talked with some of the players about the new style and they approved.

Later Rupp became good friends with Red Auerbach and Red Holzman (two of the best early pro coaches) and discussed basketball strategy frequently with both. Getting his players in front of pro eyes is the reason he was one of the first to start playing a national schedule when others were playing regionally.

Most of this from The Rupp Years by Tev Laudeman.

The Freeport Pretzels is who he coached up in Illinois. That's how I knew the name before I moved here. It's also why I didn't understand people calling him racist.

On the HS level (at least in Illinois) if you didn't want a type on a team, they weren't on a team and no one said a thing. Don't like long hair, cut em. Don't like smokers, cut em. Don't like whites/blacks, cut em from your team. Don't like troublemakers or showboats cut em. Tryouts were just that. If a coach didn't like you, you could try, but you were out when it mattered.

I didn't get along with our HS basketball/baseball coach. Last season I played baseball I didn't get put out or struck out through 9 straight games and finished the season somewhere over .900, finished the last 2 seasons at 1st base on the city all-star team, no errors, but he wouldn't let me on the HS team. And that wasn't the 50s

I was the only one who knew he was going to cut me from both teams no matter what. I made him regret it, too. Destroyed his starters in tryouts. Everyone was asking him why he cut me and it pissed him off every time. Never answered anyone.*

So if Rupp didn't want black players on his Freeport team, all he had to do was say they weren't on the team. The fact was they WERE on his team. I still think the "racist" label was given to him by racists who didn't want the SEC integrated and by other schools that didn't want to lose recruits to him. No other reasons.



"Learned to shoot 3s over the summer before my senior yr just so I could rub it at the tryouts. Made 3 3s in a row and 5-6 in one of the games he was running the 2nd day. We crushed most of the first string. Good friend on the team who taught me to catch and shoot coming out of a screen, when the school's best 3pt shooter got hurt, he reminded the coach that I was eligible and could really shoot 3s well. Pointed at me in the stands. It was awesome lol

 

[Girthang]

Unreal how they can get so many open 3's while we struggle to get good looks from the arc.

Hate to say it on rafters so I'll just say it here and shut up.... Cal...

 

[BBUK]

I turned the game off. Cal couldn't coach a fish how to swim.................. when it counts in crunch time... The guy can recruit the best fish available but nope. When there is pressure.. stick a fork in him and whoever he is coaching.

Truth be told Self did just run out of time...

 

[TheFrontRunner]

When was the last time Cal won a big game?

 

[UK82]

I'm not a coach but where the hell was Onyenso and Livingston. Cal loses a lot of close games. Just a pissed off fan right now so ignore me. This team will get better and better. Still excited but that was a March resume building game squandered.

 

[warrior-cat]

Lifetime contract coaching.

 

[warrior-cat]

He is like 1-5 or 1-6 in his last games against the big ten.


Edited: 1-5 in the championship classic.

 

[vhcat70]

When was the last time Cal won a big game?

2012

 

[Girthang]

I'm not a coach but where the hell was Onyenso and Livingston. Cal loses a lot of close games. Just a pissed off fan right now so ignore me. This team will get better and better. Still excited but that was a March resume building game squandered.

Cal has forgotten his bench more than any coach I have ever seen. He's worse than a judge with amnesia

 

[BBUK]

I should not be posting in the frame of mind I am in but I will once. Have a restful evening, what is left of it and someday someone may lead winning UK basketball again.... That game was Kentucky's to take. My feeble basketball knowledge knows that much.... Like or not like has nothing to do with Cal.

 

[AustinTXCat]

Good morning from ATX. Currently 42°F and cloudy. Light wind. Today's high expected around 55°F.

Disappointing game last night. Ugh. Spartans exposed our Cats. Yeah, I also wonder about Coach Cal. Cats turn around and play SC State tomorrow night.

Packing later today for journey back east. Plan on leaving here very early Friday morning. Spoke with cuz after game last night. We might make a trip up to Lou early Saturday morning.

Happy Hump Day.

Wishing happiness and health for all our fellow D-League members.

 

[Girthang]

Good morning D-League! God has given me another one in spite of me not deserving it.

Looks like winter weather will be here soon. Hope yall make it a good day.

 

[Girthang]

A friend pointed out last night that good FT shooting would have won us the game. How many times have we heard, thought, or said that since he's been at UK? Yet he refuses to make them work on it in practice once the players are tired.

There is a reason coaches did that for decades. Good and bad coaches alike would make you do that because everyone is tired at the end of the game. You need to have that ability to make FTs at the END of the game because that's when fouls add up and you get to shoot them.

Even bad coaches got wins from making players do that very thing at the end of practices. State.dependent.learning. If you can make them when you're worn out after a practice, you will know how to make them at the end of a game.

We lost at least one championship because we didn't practice this enough.

End of rant. Going to finish up breakfast before the ladies are at the table.

 

[UK_fan_41102]

Good morning D-League. It's currently 39° and cloudy here in Eastern Kentucky. This afternoon will bring more of the same, with cloudy skies and a high of 41°.

Have a great day.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

 

[berniecarbo]

I read an article several years ago where Cal describes himself as a grinder because of the way he grew up. That philosophy has cost him a number of games late when he's had the most talent.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

I read an article several years ago where Cal describes himself as a grinder because of the way he grew up. That philosophy has cost him a number of games late when he's had the most talent.

I probably should refrain from posting about a UK basketball game. It was another example of an over abundance of talent getting beat by superior coaching. At least I think we have an abundance of talent because that is what I read every day.

We learned one thing last night and that is if Oscar goes out of the game we are sunk. We better pray he is not injured this season.

And the grinder description of Calipari is a good one. Most games he coaches turn into rock fights. At time his offense is painful to watch.

 

[warrior-cat]

Morning Legionnaires!

29° this morning with light and variable winds. High today expected in the low 50's with lots of sunshine.

Razzle Frazzle Muzzle Puzzle Frick and Frack! With last night's posts and this one I am ready to go on to the next game. This one is done.

Ahhhh, good to get that out of my system.

Workout coming in about an hour then out and about to pick up a few needed items. Eye doctor talked me into a pair of $200.00 plus pair of sunglasses (Oakley) last time I was there (with wife's prodding) that are ready for pickup. Probably won't wear them either. They once prescribed me reading glasses that cost us over $100.00 with a nice little case but, I never use them. I had already bought the $5.00 specials from Family Dollar, and they work perfectly. Don't really know where the ($100.00 pair) are.

If you are going out today, stay safe. If you are relaxing stay calm, if you are a believer in God (or not) stay Blessed.

 

[warrior-cat]

I probably should refrain from posting about a UK basketball game. It was another example of an over abundance of talent getting beat by superior coaching. At least I think we have an abundance of talent because that is what I read every day.

We learned one thing last night and that is if Oscar goes out of the game we are sunk. We better pray he is not injured this season.

And the grinder description of Calipari is a good one. Most games he coaches turn into rock fights. At time his offense is painful to watch.

I think Ugonna be surprised with Ugonna before everything is said and done and hopefully that will be said before we get too far into the season. He has potential. Oscar needs some serious help down low.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Good morning folks.

Not going to dwell on the game —a lot has been said already.

Going forward my concern would be how poorly CJ and Reeves played. Some would say Cal does nothing to get them good shots or favorable matchups. But neither looked like he belonged on this level last night.

Life goes on, in my case a tough work day. Hope all is well with you all.

 

[berniecarbo]

Morning Legionnaires!

29° this morning with light and variable winds. High today expected in the low 50's with lots of sunshine.

Razzle Frazzle Muzzle Puzzle Frick and Frack! With last night's posts and this one I am ready to go on to the next game. This one is done.

Ahhhh, good to get that out of my system.

Workout coming in about an hour then out and about to pick up a few needed items. Eye doctor talked me into a pair of $200.00 plus pair of sunglasses (Oakley) last time I was there (with wife's prodding) that are ready for pickup. Probably won't wear them either. They once prescribed me reading glasses that cost us over $100.00 with a nice little case but, I never use them. I had already bought the $5.00 specials from Family Dollar, and they work perfectly. Don't really know where the ($100.00 pair) are.

If you are going out today, stay safe. If you are relaxing stay calm, if you are a believer in God (or not) stay Blessed.

I'm not one to go to doctors any more than I have to. Because I ignored a small issue with my right eye, I now have a large blind spot in the eye. The pressure in the eye got to high and killed a bunch of nerves. Had I went early enough, meds would have lowered the pressure and saved some of my sight.

 

[Girthang]

I think Ugonna be surprised with Ugonna before everything is said and done and hopefully that will be said before we get too far into the season. He has potential. Oscar needs some serious help down low.

I hope he doesn't get forgotten

 

[Girthang]

Cal has almost always taken great shooters, gotten in their heads and made them hesitant, and they don't recover until they get to the pros (IF they get to the pros). The few that have resisted were in his first class, the 2012 championship class, and KAT. I can't remember another but maybe you can (Harrisons...).

I'm disappointed that he hasn't changed much or that it's not showing if he has, but I'm not invested in UK basketball like I once was. I don't really even watch the games. Follow along online every once in a while, and listen to the radio call for part of some of them. I don't know if I ever will return to it.

I also can't help but think of what a friend sent me. One of his friends (self-proclaimed big UK fan) posted a nasty comment about the football team and coach Stoops after they lost to Vandy about "karma" because Stoops stood up for the football program. He thought it was hilarious and deserved that the football team has struggled, and he relished it.

Very disappointed with everything to do with our basketball program right now. Wish we had offered and gotten Billy Donovan from UF all those years ago. I think we'd have st least 4 banners instead of one. And I'd still care about basketball in spite of some of the fans.

 

[UK82]

I think Ugonna be surprised with Ugonna before everything is said and done and hopefully that will be said before we get too far into the season. He has potential. Oscar needs some serious help down low.

He played all of 1-minute last night. Collins on the other hand played 19 with 1 rebound and 2 points (free throws). I can't figure that one out.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Bad game last night. We have been over sold on this team. Cal needs to adjust something. Reeves, CJ and Wallace sure did not preform well. Our offense seems to have no rhyme or reason.

Partly cloudy and 39.6°F on our way to 43° today.

Ritchie leaves today and Friday Austin drops by. Friday night my daughter and son in law show up for the weekend. I see a steak in my future come Saturday afternoon.

You all have a good day.

 

[BBUK]

Hello all,

Out and about but should be home in about 30 minutes....Then....🤔😉

 

[storm1507]

Good afternoon everyone.

I'm trying very hard not to get aggravated anymore over ball games. It's a work in progress, but I'm getting better.

Deer hunted again this morning. The most exciting thing was seeing a bear and her 2 cubs. I've seen bear out of this stand 3 of the 5 times I've hunted it this fall.