People are underestimating the effect of Wagner being out for several games, of NONE of the 7-footers playing much until well into January and even of Mitchell going down when he was arguably the most important player on the team at that time.
People underestimate it because they'd rather blame Cal. It's been culminating since the Covid year and instead of seeing why we are where we are they blindly blame Cal out of hatred for him. I can admit Cal has said some dumb things and has definitely made poor decisions a handful of times this year that cost us a game or two.
I do believe we are closer to a 4 loss team maybe 5 with more luck and health. I can definitely see a huge run. All up to how we play defense honestly.
I'm sorry to hear that. My thoughts are with you.
There’s a lot of merit to your post but the flip side is there is also a lot of merit in blaming cal. Despite the injuries and the slight from ncaa regarding Z this team should still only have about 4-5 losses max. Hatred for cal has been earned by him and him alone for the way he handles things and as the more the things stay the same the resentment grows. Watching Gonzaga run the exact same play over and over and over 13 straight possessions without a single adjustment on defense is on cal. Watching LSU go on a 15-2 run in 2 minutes time at the start of the 2nd half is on cal. Not teaching the team a zone defense that they can switch too multiple times a game (when needed) if only for a few possessions is on cal. The bad lineups that play for multiple minutes a game are on cal. Cal is just a bad basketball coach and his presence dampens our chances more than it helps us. This team is talented enough to overcome cal though and they do but not always.
Thanks, flipside guy!
Out of curiosity- Are there ANY of this team's 2023/24 losses that you would be willing to chalk up to Cal's stubbornness?
You started a thread saying how hard it is to win on the road during a season we have suffered numerous home losses.
I will answer that for him. I put SOME of the blame for the UNCW game on Cal. The part of making sure the team was ready, not over looking a opponent. But coaching ? Don't think so. The on the floor results I put on the players. We only shot 40% for the game / 29% from 3 (5-17) (Cal did not shoot one shot I don't recall). UNCW shot 36% (11-31). So 33 points from 3's compared to only 15 for UK, ball game. We normally hit double what we hit, we average over 40% as a team shooting 3's and only shot 29%. Dillingham was 1-9 and 4 to's for the game. Shooting 3's is what this team is best at, what was Cal suppose to do ? Have them stop shooting ? Play a half court grind it out game (you would bitch about that if he did. "Cal is dumb, this team scores 90+ per game, he slowed it down")? So either way, he would be the blame in your eyes. Sometimes, teams just have an off night, this team had a very off night, and it was the perfect storm for a upset. Other team shoots out of their ass, makes 11 3's, we have a terrible game shooting from BOTH inside and outside the three point line.
Has anyone ever seen ManitouDan and Cats2010 in the same room at the same time???
I'm an old soul and cant keep my own poo poo together , let alone someone else's .. we disagree about Cal .. it is what it is. Does he type as poorly as me ? LOL
Agree 100%. That was dumb. I always want Reed or Reeves to have it for free throws late.
So by this argument, if we face a traditionally terrible shooting team in the tournament, and they're lighting it up on us.....say to the point of 11-15 threes by the middle of the 2nd half. Do you think we should just tip our hat to them and shake their hands after the whipping is complete, or do you think Cal should maybe make some defensive adjustments? Things like running the three point shooters off the line, or maybe packing the lane to stay in front of a guard that's slicing and dicing us REPEATEDLY?
Your argument is remarkably laughable. With the comment above in red, I've lost any remaining respect for any basketball knowledge you claim to have. So you're honestly telling me that Wagner, Dillingham, Reed, Edwards, Thiero, etc. etc. don't have the physical ability to get into a defensive stance, put their arms up, and slide their feet and successfully stay in front of their men?
You caught me. Started my ManitouDan account in 2006 and got bored so started another account in 2010 with the clever name of cats2010. Kept both accounts going for 14 years now. Not sure which account I want to get rid of now that I’ve been ousted 🤦♂️
How many times have you claimed UK won a game because of cal when he still didn’t take or make a single shot?
Oh can I make a suggestion.
SO you are saying EFFORT is a coaching responsibility ??? NO. EFFORT is actually something the players must give. Like I said, you can coach defense all you want, but if the effort and will to play it is not there, it will not happen. I said we have SOME solid defenders, BUT it only takes ONE guy on the court to put a strain on TEAM defense. So are saying that if 4 or 5 guys are not playing defense, you bench them ? So Dillingham would never play. Reeves tries, he is just not quick enough laterally, watch him. He is NOT the most athletic guy, same for Sheppard. He tries and great at getting steals, but he gets beat off the dribble as much as Dillingham. So bench all of those guys ? Dillingham literally looks lost on the court sometimes, running around in circles not within 10 feet of the opposing player.
All players give some level of effort. When I was coaching, only players who gave top-end effort saw the floor. The rest of them knew why they weren't playing as much (or at all). It is 100% the responsibility of the coach to decide who plays and who doesn't. It's not rocket science. Arguments like yours only enable the laziness that you obviously support.
You mean Florida needing overtime to beat us ? i say they had plenty of trouble. I guess my idea of "not having any trouble" is different than yours. UK had the game won, needed to get ONE stop, Florida tied it with seconds to go, not like they ran UK out of the gym. UK had the game won, over 90% of the time, they win.
I’ve had many positive takes, just none, or at least very few on cal for obvious reasons for the last several years. Have indicated I wanted cal here well before anyone. I wanted cal here while tubby was still here. Thought cal would be perfect fit and he was for a short time despite the changing of the culture. Now the culture has changed, our traditions have changed, we aren’t winning at the clip we have been accustomed, we are having head scratching losses multiple times per season, our teams are poorly coached and not as prepared for games as they should be and it’s all gotten old, very old and why cal is constantly brow beaten on here by me and many others. You don’t like reading it,I get it, just hit ignore and you won’t see my post. I haven’t ignored many on this board but I have a few and I don’t miss their post. You likely would not miss mine, or maybe you would 🤷♂️Oh can I make a suggestion.
Get rid of the @cats2010 one cause that one is super negative and Cal deranged, at least when you use your @ManitouDan one you can have some reasonable takes.
Or make a new one that is cats2024 and just do the opposite of everything you feel like doing, and it will be great!
Really that's what UK has come too I can remember when UK never lost at home in fact UK has a record for home wins that may never be broken and when you lose at home guess what you don't hang sec title banners which Kentucky hasn't sniffed one in 7 years now
Just think a last second shot away from the Cats being 7-2 on the road this year to this point
9-16, Saint Peters and 1 NCAA Dub in 3 seasons
