...Calipari had chosen to use a timeout after Grady's three (UK up 71-69 with 47.7 sec left) and then again used his final timeout to help the kids get the best possible look for a shot to win tied at 71. Think about the possibilities he could have had to coach his team to victory when they really needed his help. He had every ability to call those timeouts at those two critical junctures (after Grady's three and then on the final shot of regulation) in a pressure-packed game we could not afford to lose, and he simply chose not to coach his kids by inexplicably using neither timeout. He chose rather to abandon them in their time of need. They could have used his vast experience, looking them all in the eye, complimenting them that they had done well to give themselves a chance to win, and infusing some real confidence in their ability to WIN THE GAME. That was a time he could tell them face to face how to win a winnable game. He could have implored them to get one last "stop" and rebound to ice the game, and when tied, could have exhorted them to run the best offense of their lives. But, he did none of that. Even he says THEY ARE NOT ROBOTS, so why did he treat them like robots?
Think about the situation, as context here is important. Finally, after 39 gut-wrenching minutes, having battled uphill the entire game, nervous at the end and under great pressure to beat a lowly 15-seed, he chose to employ his stated strategy--not to call time out at the end of games. If there was ever a time to be flexible and go against that strategy, it was during the end of this game. They needed HELP more than ever. It was "winning time" and he did not show up. It sure wasn't "players first" then, was it? That is a main reason why we lost--he sabotaged our best chance to win. Not using those two remaining timeouts is as infuriating as is the miserable loss itself.
It shows once more that maybe his best days are in the past. Were it not something that we've seen plenty before, it wouldn't be such a terrible thing, but we've seen him cost us many games in the past. This is getting all too common an occurrence, losing to teams we should beat and all because of his arrogance and ego. The very idea of this that he didn't have the balls to coach these kids--one, an All-American Player of the Year--to the very last second is precisely why I want him to resign now or change his archaic philosophy. He did not respect the process, the players, or the fans enough to do the proper thing. Ironically, Cal asked in the post-game presser what he could have done to "drag the kids across the (finish) line (for the win). Well, I just told you, so now you know.
By the way, among other problems in this game, did you notice during Washington's final shot who was on the wing wide open on his side? Keion Brooks, who was in the same spot against Arkansas, got the pass there, and missed a three point shot. Nothing changed there. Grady was still positioned on the weak side of the court (non-ball side), so he was two passes away and not getting the final shot. How does that happen again that Keion, our worst three-point shooter, is on that side of the court one pass away from Washington? Obviously, Keion did not get the ball this time. These kids need a fresh approach. I rest my case...
Think about the situation, as context here is important. Finally, after 39 gut-wrenching minutes, having battled uphill the entire game, nervous at the end and under great pressure to beat a lowly 15-seed, he chose to employ his stated strategy--not to call time out at the end of games. If there was ever a time to be flexible and go against that strategy, it was during the end of this game. They needed HELP more than ever. It was "winning time" and he did not show up. It sure wasn't "players first" then, was it? That is a main reason why we lost--he sabotaged our best chance to win. Not using those two remaining timeouts is as infuriating as is the miserable loss itself.
It shows once more that maybe his best days are in the past. Were it not something that we've seen plenty before, it wouldn't be such a terrible thing, but we've seen him cost us many games in the past. This is getting all too common an occurrence, losing to teams we should beat and all because of his arrogance and ego. The very idea of this that he didn't have the balls to coach these kids--one, an All-American Player of the Year--to the very last second is precisely why I want him to resign now or change his archaic philosophy. He did not respect the process, the players, or the fans enough to do the proper thing. Ironically, Cal asked in the post-game presser what he could have done to "drag the kids across the (finish) line (for the win). Well, I just told you, so now you know.
By the way, among other problems in this game, did you notice during Washington's final shot who was on the wing wide open on his side? Keion Brooks, who was in the same spot against Arkansas, got the pass there, and missed a three point shot. Nothing changed there. Grady was still positioned on the weak side of the court (non-ball side), so he was two passes away and not getting the final shot. How does that happen again that Keion, our worst three-point shooter, is on that side of the court one pass away from Washington? Obviously, Keion did not get the ball this time. These kids need a fresh approach. I rest my case...
