Julius Randle discusses his time at UK on Paul George’s Podcast
- Thread starter WilmoreCat
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Interesting how players appreciate the reality more they are away from UK then likely when they are in it. Thought it was also cool to hear of the bond without having to know each other well while in NBA or seeing a former Cat anywhere.
Interesting to hear former players talk about their experience and the program overall.
Interesting to hear former players talk about their experience and the program overall.
Also does seem to confirm that nothing about the recruiting pitch or when you are there centers around kentucky, the program, or it’s tradition. More about individual goals and getting to the next level. I’m not saying anything positive or negative about it but that is what Randle says. That explains players leaving at the first opportunity no matter how good the opportunity and transfers imo.
One line I liked was “Cal ain’t gonna change for anybody”. And therein lies the problem. Cal is his own worst enemy.
You would find something negative to say.
Players first was no joke.... UK has and will always be secondary under Cal.
From a players perspective you love playing for a guy like Cal if you are an elite player that is. I mean you guys know I'm preaching to the choir we all know the deal.
From a players perspective you love playing for a guy like Cal if you are an elite player that is. I mean you guys know I'm preaching to the choir we all know the deal.
I kind of took that in the context of how he treats his players during practices and games. I dont think Cal is as reluctant to adapt to the changing college landscape as some make him out to be. You could tell by Randles words how much it bothered Cal when they took their first loss that year.
When we really think about it though... I'm from Wilmore, KY... I've moved around the country a good amount, but I came back to live in Lexington. There's several reasons I'm personally a UK fan. Cal has his own history, and while yes, a good portion has also come while he's been coaching here in Lexington, he wasn't born and bread as a UK fan. If Cal sees it as his mission to, first and foremost, help young men reach their goals, I honestly can't fault him for that. UK has both benefited and suffered because of the players first mentality, but you have to take the good with the bad, such is life, etc. There are many factors/priorities a head coach has to consider and deal with, and it's hard for me to hate on the fact that priority #1 is doing right by his players. Again, we always have to consider that one of those factors is the player's mindset as well. I'm sure there have been multiple times Cal has thought it would be in the player's best interest to come back to UK, but the player themselves make the other decision.
Exactly. It’s never been about UK, always individual goals and accomplishments.
You misspelled the word "factual"
Cal keeps it real, bro.
Wish all the potential recruits could see this, bro.
Thx for posting bro.😉
Former players appreciate the program much more than the fans.
I understand how irked a lot of you get when talking about Cal not making UK the first priority. I really do. But making all these kids and their lives the first priority, for what he does for them and puts them over UK, I can't be too mad at that. Of course selfishly I want UK to win everything, I want all the best players to come back and stay longer than they ever do. I don't really care much about the NBA or who's good in the NBA. I'm sorry, I can't be that mad at Cal for that. Plenty more to criticize but that's not it.
I don't get too pissy about that. But it does irk me when he uses UK to cut his nose to spite his face. K has more success than Cal does and has a similar reputation in the pros and a good representation of players in the league.
I hate when that ALONE gets put over UK. You can very easily have both.
Saban puts TONS of guys in the NFL and stlll manages to WIN major games. And there's no doubt how much effort he puts into winning titles and big games. Cal has become doubtful on that. Stoops has a similar issue. Can win medium and easy games, comes up short on the big ones. However, he does have a bigger challenge, so he gets some slack there. Cal? No excuse. He's got the number one class. On paper, he should lose no more than 4-5 games this season. And I have my doubts.
It's a lot easier to stomach a bad tourney loss here and there when you are taking care of business and beating Top 15 programs like you should at UK. We haven't done that lately. That's the problem. We aren't competing on a high standard and level like we should be.
It also puts to rest cal doesn't care about winning. Every former player talks about how hard he pushes them and how much harder it was there over anywhere they've played
Cal is an arrogant prick and everyone knows it. He has gotten in the way of his own success since we lost to West Va with Wall and co. My statement is not negative it is just the truth. Can’t help it if you don’t like it. I still hope no matter how well we do this season, that it will be his last.
K has nowhere near the representation in the pros. It's not even close
What does k have anything to do with the way Cal coaches at UK? The last 3 seasons he's missed on having a pg. There's your answer. For the fans that believe he can't coach, Feb 1 2022 UK was the best team in the country. Injuries slowed the team down and the rest is history. But it shows you he can still get the team there
You proved him correct.
"I don't care how many games we win or if we win a title, I want him out" . That's speaking with an agenda and not as a fan of UK
Because using the program as a recruiting pitch just doesn't work these days. Wall and Cousins couldn't have cared less where they played, they were following Cal. Sure a kid like Reed Sheppard might come to UK for its history, but the vast vast majority of top recruits care about their own personal goals, the coach they're going to play for, and nowadays how much NIL they can get.
This will not be his last year. He will decide when he wants to leave whether you like it or not. I expect UK to be back on top tbis year.
NO! That is not the case at all. Some players appreciate the program but lifelong fans of UK are unequaled in their appreciation, love and respect for the program. It is bigger than Cal or any of his players
I hope we are back on top. And then Cal moves on. We can start fresh.
I hope it will be your last posting here. No true UK fan wants to hear that crap all the time. Neither do potential recruits and their parents and other family. It really hurts us. Why keep it going over and over and over...
We were up 6 on St. Peters. With like 4 to go. You have to win that game. Period.
And it wasn't just that loss that season. The getting hammered by UT in the SECT was the red flag and put us on upset alert. Hell, we should've lot to Vandy.
I'm indifferent on Cal right now. I'm ready to see what the new players can do, but I'm not getting my hopes up.
Best case scenario, he pulls a rabbit out and we win the title. He can then leave on top. Be UK's second winningest coach and everyone is good.
Ya I mean I think as a salesman there are plenty of ways to pitch a product, right? Like maybe someone like John Scheyer who played at Duke is pitching how great Duke is and how great it is to be there in addition to personal gain and maybe that’s why a first round pick like Kyle flipowski decided to come back as opposed to ours that were not even drafted left? Who knows. I think if you’re at Kentucky you would want to utilize everything at your disposal including the tradition of the place but it’s whatever. Clearly Cal has his pitch and his way he sells the program and I guess all we can judge its effectiveness by is the results.
I stopped reading after the last sentence.
Letting Sharpe Quit & Sit was doing right by his players?
That's usually how reading works.
No one was happy with the Sharpe situation. I'd venture to say Cal wasn't as well. That situation was unlike any other and feels like a cherry-pick in context to what I actually wrote.
By the way, there was nothing else to read after the last sentence.
Julius Randle really demonstrates why Mitch wanted Cal to be a "lifelong" ambassador. His connection with the players is that strong.
It's unfortunate that Cal has coasted the last few years. Hopefully this next team turns that around and gets back to 30+ win seasons, Final Fours, and UK being back in the bright lights.
It's unfortunate that Cal has coasted the last few years. Hopefully this next team turns that around and gets back to 30+ win seasons, Final Fours, and UK being back in the bright lights.
This is exactly why we don't need Cal. I get the fact that as a coach you are responsible for developing players for the game of life as well as on the hardwood, but with as much balance as possible, his primary responsibility should be Kentucky. Kentucky is writing his paycheck that enables him to prance around with swagg. It is no different than the typical 9 to 5 jobs that we have; our employers care about us, but you are kidding yourself if you don't realize that the business comes first. Kentucky has never come first for Cal which is why it is time for him to take his tired trick somewhere else. If he wants to make the players and the NBA first, he should get a G league job.
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You should work on your reading skills. This was all about Cal which is just the way Cal likes it. Posters like you adore Cal whereas the fans who are aware that there was elite basketball at UK before Cal realize that UK should always rank ahead of players and coaches.
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