GYERO ARCHIVE

[ThroughBlue]

reed obviously had a terrible first half and plays one minute in the second half. Justin Edwards had a (per usual) terrible first half and still ended up with 23 minutes. Reed played 14 total. That shows an obvious agenda.

I won’t go full BJW and argue reed is our best player but I will argue that he has played well enough up to this point to deserve a little bit of a leash to at least match the minutes of our 9th most efficient player

 

[ohiocatfan826]

He may HATE Justin Edwards, actually.

If I missed it I apologize, but Cal's rotations are just what I was terrified of. There was a series in the first half, Dillingham scored either back to back buckets, or possibly three possessions and within a minute or two he was on the bench and the lineup of Bradshaw, Ugo, Edwards, Wagner and Shepherd on the floor. Defense is shit so lets also put a lineup on the floor that is offensively challenged. Used this lineup at Georgia as well

 

[PTI (pti)]

There was one point yesterday when Justin Edwards played 23 minutes in the game. How does that happen?

 

[roguemocha]

@WynnDuffy botany is indeed one of the best stress-relievers, anxiety-reducers, happiness-creators and all in all, it’s literally one of my favorite activities.

The ironic part, and it’s fine it’s still more rewarding coming from your own garden, is that it ends up being more expensive than the grocery. Love the process though.

Would love to play around with growing my own medicinal but it’s a lot of work.

-Last day in town, for now. If after the ultrasound/echo they say I still can’t do anything until I see the cardiologist on 3/20, I’ll probably come back up for a bit.

Would love to just start this new bar gig because I need to get out and around people but most people have said I SHOULD tell the employer about my incident but no business is going to let me work until I have a doctor’s clearance.

So I want to just not say anything. What say you?

-Last night was a clusterf**k. Cal has to figure out what to do with Edwards. We can’t do this same strategy all of February, heading into March.

We have a really good team, could be great, but Edwards is just a total black hole, TO machine, brick-layer, no confidence, can’t pass or dribble right now, I do feel bad for him. Really thought he’d come around by now.

“O Thiero, Thiero, wherefore art thou, Thiero?”

-I never smoked or vaped much but have here and there. I will say there’s something about the breathing in and out with a coffee in the morning I like and sometimes miss.

Not the same thing/effect with greenery.

-The Caitlin Clark thing is a bit overblown. They trucked each other and no one was hurt, hell Caitlin did not look like she was even trying to avoid it.

But the annoying part is hearing the olds talk about it. My moms husband last night said, “did you see the Iowa girl? Someone knocked her over storming the court and now she’s hurt!”

🤦‍♂️ Didn’t even bother correcting him. Not worth it.

Also Caitlin could’ve downplayed it a little more. She only talked about herself and her possible injuries, maybe toss in a “we don’t want to get hurt or hurt the fans either”, I mean you all are the ones that are “giants” not the fans.

 

[MaxPowerrr]

We will still be hearing this after our second round loss this year

 

[IsRichieGonnaStart]

Maybe there’s more to it than just the back injury/spasms or GENERAL SORENESS but if Thiero has been cleared medically I tell him he suits up against Arkansas or he transfers. Screw this load management shit.

 

[PTI (pti)]

It’s not “load management.” He just doesn’t want to play.

 

[Kooky Kats]

First game that I turned off 2 minutes into the second half. Unwatchable. Carolina didn’t play well and still boatraced us.

The rotation should be shortened and in no way should Edwards play more than 7 minutes and only after we established a lead. Kid is not good. Quade levels of mediocrity. Maybe he should try sunglasses.

This has to be Cal’s last stand… give the keys to a dude who can adjust in game to WIN game. You can tell he has no answers coaching wise being embarrassed with BLOOB defense. If I were on opposing team I’d bounce the ball off us underneath to ensure a wide open layup on next inbounding play.

I mean, can’t we try a zone?

 

[warrior_SW]

It’s not “load management.” He just doesn’t want to play.

Nah that would never happen at Kentucky nope no way

 

[RibsAndWhiteBread]

I think we can stop with any suggestion of pressing full court or playing zone- our defense is what it is- a below average man-to-man where teams with any type of efficiency are going to put up points. Its not going to change- and its unlikely to really even gradually improve.

So we really need our offense to be humming pretty good, or for teams just to miss shots. Offensively we can run teams ragged at our best- and thats probably what its going to take to make any type of deep run.

Not going to blame Cal for our guys just having bad nights- but we've got to lock down a rotation and simplify that that ASAP. Obviously doesnt help with guys out "injured" or having new additions coming in after mid-season.

On one hand he's right about Edwards- we need a much better version of that guy and he's capable of a lot more than we've seen- but how long do we justify keeping him out there for extended periods without producing anything?

Get better and win games- or don't- its whatever.

 

[wcc31]

Shorts:

- I’ve been through conference season many many times. And I know the difference between really good Kentucky teams and great ones. So I’m not going to lose my mind when we drop a roadie when a team shoots out their ass. But there’s a huge difference between the A&M game and getting embarrassed like we did last night. That’s two embarrassments this year and there’s no excuse.

- The #1 issue with college basketball is now and has always been the officiating. It has zero consistency game to game, many times half to half, and it absolutely turns games. That game had 30 fouls. You could play the same exact game again tonight and there would be 60 fouls.

- Reed sucked AND I am over his insistence on being a role player. BUT when he’s a Top 10 player nationally analytically- and everyone else sucks that night too, maybe play the odds and give the kid more than 14 F’ing minutes.

- I’m not Zone Guy but FFS, Cal- why not try to throw a team off balance every once in awhile.

- Maybe this leads to a lineup change? 🤷🏻‍♂️

- No rest for the weary - prepare for the awful Hawgs knocking down 28-footers all day Saturday.

- This is why you don’t F’ing drop the Wilmington game, MFer.

- There is no nepotism like football coach nepotism. It’s ridiculous.

- Not enough is made of Christian McCaffrey’s whitedness, IMO.

- Don’t completely understand how McDermott never gets love in these coaching searches. Guy has made Creighton a legit program. Creighton.

- I don’t think there is a food that makes you feel more disgusting after than Chicago-style pizza.

- The Jimmy Sexton thing is so bizarre to me. Is he the most charming person on earth? How is this legal? How can one dude have so many competing clients?

 

[anthonys735]

-It's all back to lineups. First half he was running guys in an out ever 30 seconds. Hard to get a damn rhythm if you're getting pulled. Dilly goes on a heater, and in true Cal fashion, finds the bench. Also, in true Cal fashion when we're struggling he elects D over O. Lastly, he has too many guys now and favors a couple of them over who should be playing. Reed, Dilly, Tre, Reeves need 30 minutes per game. Probably put Wagner in that group as well. In no instance should Edwards have more minutes than any of those guys. Period.

-When (if) Theiro decides his back is ok, Edwards playing time should be gone.

-They better adjust because Arky next and it doesn't get any easier.

 

[UnfrozenCatfanLawyer]

Edwards is arguably getting worse. That’s the concerning thing.

I also stopped watching early in the second half. I’ve seen that movie too many times, and it sucks.

 

[Hank Camacho]

I don’t think there is a food that makes you feel more disgusting after than Chicago-style pizza.

Long John Silvers / Captain D's / etc. Worth it, imo, too.

* Losing to Kansas and TAMU on the road in OT are certainly not good losses but rather the kind of losses that a great team can have and it not really create worry those something is wrong with the team.

Wilmington and last night, however, are the kind of games that make you worry if there is some hidden flaw with this squad that we haven't seen. I hope not. It has been fun for things to be vintage Calipari again for a little bit but that ass-whipping really put a dent in my growing confidence with this squad.

* Earlier I said that I have no problem with Cal playing Edwards more minutes than the kid deserves to get him going so long as it didn't cost us any games. Giving Edwards' a freakishly long leash is beginning to cost us games and it needs to end toot sweet.

The kid doesn't need to be benched. He just doesn't need to play more than 5+ minutes per game unless he breaks out a bit. If he does, then feed him relentlessly.

* We have 3 surprisingly good 7 footers. How about taking Ugo, Z, Edwards, and 2 guards and getting them squared away on a 3-2 zone we can play a couple of times a game?

* I'll take artic temps and snow with clear skies over 40 degree rain all day, every day.

 

[ukalumni00]

Final Four or GTFO. That is where I have been and continue to be at with Cal. This group is too talented to lose to the likes of UNC Wilmington and embarrassed on the road against the likes of SC. I do not see him being able to assemble this collection of talent and shooting ability again.

 

[JSRose]

I can't help but laugh (as I've done it as well) when we shout into the darkness "can't we just try a zone"? Found this article via quick search where we were going to do more of that in 2018. Also, enjoy the audio clip where Cal is lamenting a loss to South Carolina. Link

This team is still better than what we've dealt with at times, but can't blame anyone for the fear that Groundhog's Day will come again during the tournament.

 

[august-west]

-It's all back to lineups. First half he was running guys in an out ever 30 seconds. Hard to get a damn rhythm if you're getting pulled. Dilly goes on a heater, and in true Cal fashion, finds the bench. Also, in true Cal fashion when we're struggling he elects D over O. Lastly, he has too many guys now and favors a couple of them over who should be playing. Reed, Dilly, Tre, Reeves need 30 minutes per game. Probably put Wagner in that group as well. In no instance should Edwards have more minutes than any of those guys. Period.

-When (if) Theiro decides his back is ok, Edwards playing time should be gone.

-They better adjust because Arky next and it doesn't get any easier.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Cal basically has no rhyme or reason when it comes to substitutions during a game. I think he gets a serious case of “tunnel vision” and can’t see anything else such as taking Rob out when he was hot because it was time for him to come out. Leaving Edwards in is the same thing because his plan is to let him work it out. He’s never really been one to make pertinent in game adjustments if we are being honest.

 

[catfan in loserville]

Cal brings in the best players that Kentucky has ever seen, but can’t coach them to save his life.

Thank God in 2012 that we only went 7 deep. IMO 2014-15, and platooning broke Cal. Now he can’t decide on a rotation, and here lately, when he finally does, it’s the wrong rotation.

Cal always has these pro caliber Freshman that underperform, that he shoves down our throat. See Skal, Livingston, Collins, Boston, Whitney, Green, Askew, Harrison’s, etc.

BTW, the 2019-20 Covid team that Cal consistently says would have won it all, went 7 deep. Ashton, Quickly, Maxey, EJ, Richards, Brooks, Sestina.

 

[anthonys735]

Edwards is arguably getting worse. That’s the concerning thing.

It's not even arguably. He's just getting more unproductive each game.

23 minutes: 2pt, 2rb, 1 to.

That's basically 23trillion.


Essentially the same minutes as Dillingham, who is by far the most productive offensive player on the team.
26 minutes: 16pts, 2rb, 2a, 1to.


He's just never gonna change. Be it Dillingham, Reeves '23, Quickly, SGA in fall '18, Juzang, Mulder, Willias, etc, etc.

 

[Booker Noe]

- Maybe this leads to a lineup change? 🤷🏻‍♂️

lol

 

[cawoodsct]

There is not going to be some moment Edwards becomes our best player, our second best player or even our 5th best player. Too many guys demand the ball for him to get it going on a consistent basis. When he is in just rebound, play D to his best ability, get garbage baskets and do any little things he can do to help the team. That's it, that's all that can be expected from him and if he can do those things he can be an asset just not the asset we'd thought he'd be to start the year. Other guys have become that asset. Hell, Burks could take his minutes right now and improve the team.

 

[anthonys735]

I have no doubt Burks would be 10x as productive with those minutes.

 

[catlanta33]

My stupid ass thought there was enough talent and scoring ability to overcome the lack of leadership. Cal has an uncanny ability to turn chicken salad back into chicken shit.

 

[MaxPowerrr]

I have no doubt Burks would be 10x as productive with those minutes.

Who?

 

[august-west]

Who?

Doris Burks. Keep up

 

[cut_itloosedoubledeuce]

I’ve come to the conclusion that Cal basically has no rhyme or reason when it comes to substitutions during a game. I think he gets a serious case of “tunnel vision” and can’t see anything else such as taking Rob out when he was hot because it was time for him to come out. Leaving Edwards in is the same thing because his plan is to let him work it out. He’s never really been one to make pertinent in game adjustments if we are being honest.

Rack this. He subs with no thought process and then you look up and he’s got a weird ass lineup in that goes -7 over 2 min.

He took the easy way out in ‘15 with that ridiculous platoon system.

 

[TheShowKiller]

We are about a game away from Ellen sitting on the bench and holding a picture up of Theiro.

 

[cricket3]

It's absurd that people are getting upset about people questioning Theiro's injury (including his father on Twitter) when the general consensus has been:

Week 1: Aw man, missing him a couple days won't be a big deal need him back healthy.
Week 2: OK maybe it's a little worse than we thought get him healthy for league play though no big deal.
Week 3: General soreness? That's a weird thing to be out for.
Week 4: OK this is really getting weird that doesn't seem like something that would last this long.
Week 5(!!!!): He's practicing, Cal doesn't know why he's not playing, WTF IS GOING ON HERE??

When you're out 5 going on 6 weeks with no explanation other than soreness people are going to think something is off.

 

[Touch_Em_All]

This is what happens when one and done's play against groan men that get physical

 

[rudd1]

-the flaw with this team isn't hidden. It's glaring, and it walks its dog in a ****ing stroller.

 

[PTI (pti)]

Tough week, ladies. How are y'all handling these Oscar snubs?

Ryan Gosling is beta

 

[TheShowKiller]

A few serious things:

*You just can't sub randomly like that, it affects chemistry, roles, and morale. Part of that is Cal not wanting to steal a kid's joy (and more like underlying promises and fear of retribution from agencies) and part of it is the ongoing carousel of available players we seem to have every year. Like catfan said our best teams under Cal have had shortened benches that he couldn't eff up.

*Why we continue to dig on post players like they are Tim Duncan is beyond me, we aren't good defensively anyway but we are way worse when we are constantly recovering on kickouts and ball reversal.

*Everyone was bad last night so I'm not just singling out this kid...but Wagner has to be less of a ball stopper, this team is much better with movement and quick action, the standing around while he sets up his man negates our greatest strength.

*Reed and Reeves should not only be encouraged (told) to shoot more 3's but forced to via coaching even if it involves a couple bad shots. I think Cal does the opposite.

*The inbounds D is coaching malpractice, period.

*I've really enjoyed this team thus far but some of my standard Cal gripes are rearing their ugly heads and it's incredibly concerning.

 

[PTI (pti)]

-the flaw with this team isn't hidden. It's glaring, and it walks its dog in a ****ing stroller.

 

[anthonys735]

 

[MaxPowerrr]

View embedded media

This is madness.

“Play 7, trust 6.” - every other basketball coach

 

[wcc31]

Maybe this wakes these cocky MFers up? A little humble pie. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[MaxPowerrr]

Maybe this wakes these cocky MFers up? A little humble pie. 🤷🏻‍♂️

This and a little dose of what I call “Camp Cal” should do the trick.

Maybe find a “dawg” who’s reclassified recently to add for the stretch run?

 

[B.B.d.K.]

ESPN Gameday is at reeling & desperate Arkansas Saturday, who SC just routed at Bud Walton 4 days ago.

Lolz.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

Edwards is arguably getting worse. That’s the concerning thing.

Hard to say what's worse.

The unearned minutes Cal is handing Edwards. Or Cal's insistence on playing Edwards at the 3 with Ugo and Bradshaw.

Either way, the fat wop is reverting to his old habits and is going to ruin the most potent offense in the country.

 

[IsRichieGonnaStart]

It’s fine to lose a conference roadie to a mediocre team by a few points.

It’s another thing to get your ass whipped by a mediocre conference team on the road when you already have an awful loss on your record with the UNCW loss.