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John Calipari walked back his comments after facing backlash.

he didn’t walk anything back, he doubled down if anything, saying it takes pressure of the players to say he doesn’t care about it.
I think if you read between the lines, Cal is saying he feels that his demeanor about the tournament is to alleviate pressure on his players to perform. I get why that is considered walking it back. As a philosophy, I don’t think that is a good one in my mind. Players should believe every game is important so that they are ready to go regardless of who is put in front of them. Now, candidly, I don’t personally believe the conference tournaments matter that much other than being extra resume opportunities and brag-points/fan service but I get why it means a lot to many fans.
 
I think if you read between the lines, Cal is saying he feels that his demeanor about the tournament is to alleviate pressure on his players to perform. I get why that is considered walking it back. As a philosophy, I don’t think that is a good one in my mind. Players should believe every game is important so that they are ready to go regardless of who is put in front of them. Now, candidly, I don’t personally believe the conference tournaments matter that much other than being extra resume opportunities and brag-points/fan service but I get why it means a lot to many fans.
It’s obviously not recently for him. Maybe when he overwhelmed everyone with so ‘UNC talent but the last five years his teams play like they didn’t care one bit either.
 
It’s obviously not recently for him. Maybe when he overwhelmed everyone with so ‘UNC talent but the last five years his teams play like they didn’t care one bit either.
I feel like 99% of the time when Cal tried to take the pressure off his players, they almost always played tense and scared as any players you ever seen. When a coach significantly changes their disposition about something all of a sudden, it throws everything off.
 
I feel like 99% of the time when Cal tried to take the pressure off his players, they almost always played tense and scared as any players you ever seen. When a coach significantly changes their disposition about something all of a sudden, it throws everything off.
They did for sure. In so many big games the minute a team didn’t back down they looked terrified.
 
Cal pretty much turned his nose at the SECT the last 5 or so years here. It resulted in about one SECT win, which lead to a whopping one NCAAT win.

It’s one of those things he should just be silent on. No one wants to hear it.

Those were also his worst 4 Uk teams (other than Noel injury team) so I think it was as much less talent as anything.
 
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I think if you read between the lines, Cal is saying he feels that his demeanor about the tournament is to alleviate pressure on his players to perform. I get why that is considered walking it back. As a philosophy, I don’t think that is a good one in my mind. Players should believe every game is important so that they are ready to go regardless of who is put in front of them. Now, candidly, I don’t personally believe the conference tournaments matter that much other than being extra resume opportunities and brag-points/fan service but I get why it means a lot to many fans.
From Iamthevillageidiot's post
"Cal is saying he feels that his demeanor about the tournament is to alleviate pressure on his players to perform."

Perhaps, CCC should have taken his demeanor regarding the SEC tourney to the NCAA tourney and we might have won some 1st round games in his later years!!

I will never take back the following statement - I am so glad, giddy, ecstatic, overjoyed, and immensely happy the CCC, Cowipari, and Ellen's roommate is away from Lexington and our basketball program!
 
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I think if you read between the lines, Cal is saying he feels that his demeanor about the tournament is to alleviate pressure on his players to perform. I get why that is considered walking it back. As a philosophy, I don’t think that is a good one in my mind. Players should believe every game is important so that they are ready to go regardless of who is put in front of them. Now, candidly, I don’t personally believe the conference tournaments matter that much other than being extra resume opportunities and brag-points/fan service but I get why it means a lot to many fans.
that’s fine. he can use whatever approach he wants. he still doesn’t care about a conference tournament. that they suddenly matter because his team is trying to get off the double digit seed line doesn’t mean his approach is different. he’s calling it an opportunity. duh.

it doesn’t mean what it does to us and our coach and it never will. pope even brought it up in his first speech to bbn. i don’t need to explain to most of you, but it’s about getting hot going into the ncaa. get a rowdy bunch of blue together and go on a winning streak.
 
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I feel like 99% of the time when Cal tried to take the pressure off his players, they almost always played tense and scared as any players you ever seen. When a coach significantly changes their disposition about something all of a sudden, it throws everything off.
I don't think that a coach has to say anything about the significance of a tournament. The players know that the entire SEC is watching and in the NCAA tourney, fans are watching all across the basketball universe. If the players cannot get excited in these tournaments, you don't have the right players.
 
I don't think that a coach has to say anything about the significance of a tournament. The players know that the entire SEC is watching and in the NCAA tourney, fans are watching all across the basketball universe. If the players cannot get excited in these tournaments, you don't have the right players.
Bottom line ^^^^ well said kyhoward

and I think the experienced, most talented players and leaders step up and expect to do well, and that's why the SEC has been so good this year. The coaching is far and away the best in all of college basketball right here in the SEC. But it's the players at the end, that are going out there and giving all they can. None of the are tuning it down or taking it easier on each other. That's why I believe we will win this tournament - out hustle and put more heart and soul into it than anyone else as a team.

I'm sticking with TEAM. With FAMILY.

Go Big Blue !
 
Seems to me if you go back to 2015 except for one season, Cal did not want to win in either tournament, he was just worried about getting his special one or tow guys into the green room so he could come hang out. Cal want's in the NBA but he flopped so bad his first time, I don't think anyone will ever really give him a shot.
 
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Those were also his worst 4 Uk teams (other than Noel injury team) so I think it was as much less talent as anything.
Going have to disagree. Sure, it wasn’t Wall, AD, KAT level, but good enough for more than one win in each tournament. Two of those years UK was a 2 seed, so hard to say low level talent was the main reason.
 
That asshole knew how much that tournament means to UK and went out of his way every year to denigrate it and denigrate BBN who GREATLY cares about it. In one way I like it better than the NCAA tournament and that's cause we so many times have gotten to watch 3 games in 3 days culminating in hoisting that trophy on Sunday. Literally two of my greatest times in life was watching us in 94 in the Pyramid knock off eventual champion Arkansas and final four team Florida to win it all and 2010 in Nashville curb stomping Tennessee and what looked like a 100% loss against MSU being miraculously saved by Cousins put back and Walls crazy sideways 3 in overtime.
 
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Cal is a HOF coach but I swear some things never made sense to me. If your coach don't care about winning, then the players don't care about winning. Players tend to take on the personality if you will of the coach. I want my coach to treat all games if it's against Duke for the NCAA title or against Eastern KY both like they matter. Conference tournaments are the 2nd highest prize in the sport if you can't get up to go compete then how are you ever going to have the fire when you're competing for something that does fit their scale of what matters.
 
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Yikes. He's not changing, folks, ever. Imagine sucking so bad as a coach that you think that all of YOUR mistakes are somehow THEIR mistakes, and that you're doing the world a favor by teaching them about "fighting adversity". That clown and all of his Cal-first minions can walk off a cliff.
 
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I think if you read between the lines, Cal is saying he feels that his demeanor about the tournament is to alleviate pressure on his players to perform. I get why that is considered walking it back. As a philosophy, I don’t think that is a good one in my mind. Players should believe every game is important so that they are ready to go regardless of who is put in front of them. Now, candidly, I don’t personally believe the conference tournaments matter that much other than being extra resume opportunities and brag-points/fan service but I get why it means a lot to many fans.
Agree. All the greatest coaches routinely talked about how you prepare for every game with the same energy and importance. “The next game is the biggest of the season” mentality.

It’s hard to flip the GAF switch on and off. It also makes “march is all that matters” really heavy and adds more pressure to the already natural pressure you’ll feel. Easier to calm and manage those nerves when the preparation doesn’t change and is exactly the same care and prep and routine you’ve done all year.
 
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