Just realized how lucky we are to have Cal

[CatChow]

I live in Oregon, and as you know, they lost to the Cheats in an extremely close and painful game for Oregon fans.

After the game, I was talking with some of my friends who liked Oregon, trying to at least tell them that Final Four losses aren't the end of the world and it isn't too bad. They told me, however: "When is the next time we'll be back? In 89 years? This was our one chance to win the championship and we blew it"

And what he said actually made me think. It made me realize how lucky we are as Kentucky fans to always have a shot, and to always be in the hunt for that National championship, and it made me realize how lucky we are to have a coach who is able to put us in that position every year.

 

[jwhite123]

No don't you know, Cal's system doesn't work. Farrrrr the OAD

 

[Louis_Skunt]

This season, especially, has made me realize how lucky we are. I honestly wouldn't want anyone else.

 

[UKCATSFREAK]

I live in Oregon, and as you know, they lost to the Cheats in an extremely close and painful game for Oregon fans.

After the game, I was talking with some of my friends who liked Oregon, trying to at least tell them that Final Four losses aren't the end of the world and it isn't too bad. They told me, however: "When is the next time we'll be back? In 89 years? This was our one chance to win the championship and we blew it"

And what he said actually made me think. It made me realize how lucky we are as Kentucky fans to always have a shot, and to always be in the hunt for that National championship, and it made me realize how lucky we are to have a coach who is able to put us in that position every year.

It took THAT to realize how lucky we are to have Cal? The Final Fours and the National Championship didn't get you to realize that?

 

[CatChow]

It took THAT to realize how lucky we are to have Cal? The Final Fours and the National Championship didn't get you to realize that?

It's just thoughts a week after a tough loss

Take a chill pill

 

[arenk]

It's just thoughts a week after a tough loss

Take a chill pill

You know, I was thinking that Cal's recruiting and coaching skills always have us in the hunt, but because the NCAA despises UK and even more so with Cal as our coach, we will always get screwed by the selection committee which makes our chances of running the table so difficult. It took the 2012 team to win a NC and even that team had a few tough games and a murderous bracket. I still wouldn't trade Cal for any other coach.

 

[UK_fan_41102]

You know, I was thinking that Cal's recruiting and coaching skills always have us in the hunt, but because the NCAA despises UK and even more so with Cal as our coach, we will always get screwed by the selection committee which makes our chances of running the table so difficult. It took the 2012 team to win a NC and even that team had a few tough games and a murderous bracket. I still wouldn't trade Cal for any other coach.

We may get a tough road every year, but at least Cal can navigate it unlike his predecessor.

 

[BassProCat]

Cal is da man! Hawkins for president!

 

[the nail at the foul line]

We have Cal which allows us to often have the best team.

They have Higgins who neutralizes Cal.

 

[BlueSince92]

They have Higgins who neutralizes Cal.

Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa.

 

[morgousky]

That's worlds smallest violin stuff bro....

But yea, Oregon isn't UK wow world news alert the space station.....

I like to think of Cal being lucky to coach UK. And we're averaging a sweet 16 as of the last 2 years. So since we're not Oregon (and I hate to break up the bromance between you, cal, and the boyz) anything LESS than a final four this coming season will not be accepted.

The end.

 

[morgousky]

We have Cal which allows us to often have the best team.

They have Higgins who neutralizes Cal.

And hopefully stress neutralizes Higgins......

**whistling past the graveyard**

*************NOT A THREAT*************

*************FIGURE OF SPEECH******

*************MY BAD BARRYN***********

 

[ORCAT]

That's worlds smallest violin stuff bro....

But yea, Oregon isn't UK wow world news alert the space station.....

I like to think of Cal being lucky to coach UK. And we're averaging a sweet 16 as of the last 2 years. So since we're not Oregon (and I hate to break up the bromance between you, cal, and the boyz) anything LESS than a final four this coming season will not be accepted.

The end.

Wow, that's a pretty brutal outlook to have as a fan. You must be one of those that is so much fun to watch a game with. The OP has a really good point to appreciate what Cal has brought to the UK program that hasn't existed for many years, probably not as strong as since when Rupp was coaching. I don't think he said anything outrageous at all and it makes perfect sense. Let's just enjoy the coach we now have and you will most likely get your wish of another Final Four and a championship sooner rather than later. Good post, OP, and puts things in perspective.

 

[letitrainuk]

I realized how much I liked Cal after we got his first recruiting class. But I see your point OP

 

[ORCAT]

That's worlds smallest violin stuff bro....

But yea, Oregon isn't UK wow world news alert the space station.....

I like to think of Cal being lucky to coach UK. And we're averaging a sweet 16 as of the last 2 years. So since we're not Oregon (and I hate to break up the bromance between you, cal, and the boyz) anything LESS than a final four this coming season will not be accepted.

The end.

Wow, that's a pretty brutal outlook to have as a fan. You must be one of those that is so much fun to watch a game with. The OP has a really good point to appreciate what Cal has brought to the UK program that hasn't existed for many years, probably not as strong as since when Rupp was coaching. I don't think he said anything outrageous at all and it makes perfect sense. Let's just enjoy the coach we now have and you will most likely get your wish of another Final Four and a championship sooner rather than later. Good post, OP, and puts things in perspective.

 

[warrior_SW]

You know, I was thinking that Cal's recruiting and coaching skills always have us in the hunt, but because the NCAA despises UK and even more so with Cal as our coach, we will always get screwed by the selection committee which makes our chances of running the table so difficult. It took the 2012 team to win a NC and even that team had a few tough games and a murderous bracket. I still wouldn't trade Cal for any other coach.

I mean... our bracket wasn't THAT murderous. Our 2 seed lost to a 15..

 

[UKCATSFREAK]

It's just thoughts a week after a tough loss

Take a chill pill

Didn't realize I wasn't chill. My bad.

 

[CoachR35]

I think the OP makes a good point. Sometimes we take things for granted, not realizing how good we have it. Whenever I start to get frustrated with the way a season is going, two words help bring me back to reality.....Billy Gillispie.

 

[Wildcatsworld]

You know, I was thinking that Cal's recruiting and coaching skills always have us in the hunt, but because the NCAA despises UK and even more so with Cal as our coach, we will always get screwed by the selection committee which makes our chances of running the table so difficult. It took the 2012 team to win a NC and even that team had a few tough games and a murderous bracket. I still wouldn't trade Cal for any other coach.

That's why Cal has to figure out how to put teams away early and run the score up the rest of the game. The the refs will always find ways to keep teams in it and the committee will screw him every year. Stall ball and 6 man rotations won't get it done with foul trouble they'll have.

 

[Jkwo]

That's worlds smallest violin stuff bro....

But yea, Oregon isn't UK wow world news alert the space station.....

I like to think of Cal being lucky to coach UK. And we're averaging a sweet 16 as of the last 2 years. So since we're not Oregon (and I hate to break up the bromance between you, cal, and the boyz) anything LESS than a final four this coming season will not be accepted.

The end.

It's not mutually exclusive. UK is the best job Cal will ever get, and Cal is a better coach than most UK will have.

Sometimes two people are both lucky to have each other in a relationship.

And if Cal does the unacceptable and misses the final four this season, please don't fire him. Pretty please?

 

[Drudis]

That's worlds smallest violin stuff bro....

But yea, Oregon isn't UK wow world news alert the space station.....

I like to think of Cal being lucky to coach UK. And we're averaging a sweet 16 as of the last 2 years. So since we're not Oregon (and I hate to break up the bromance between you, cal, and the boyz) anything LESS than a final four this coming season will not be accepted.

The end.

GTFO of here with that crap. We're smack dab in the middle of a historic run. We're averaging a final four every other year.

If that's not good enough for you then go ahead and jump ship.

 

[_Rooster]

It made me realize how lucky we are as Kentucky fans to always have a shot

 

[K-Town Kat]

Next year is a big one for Cal. We will be very young, but if we finish out recruiting like I hope, still extremely talented.

Final Fours are tough, but really should be the expectation at this point in Cal's tenure and with the amount of money he makes. He has set that bar. Miss it for a third straight year, in his 9th year here, and many will start to question if he's losing his touch.

That said, our team is setting up to be a monster in 2018-19 IF guys don't go pro/transfer that shouldn't. Really don't need guys like Matthews and Lee transferring when we already lose so many to the pros. Have to build rosters that will have some sort of experience.

 

[Jkwo]

Next year is a big one for Cal. We will be very young, but if we finish out recruiting like I hope, still extremely talented.

Final Fours are tough, but really should be the expectation at this point in Cal's tenure and with the amount of money he makes. He has set that bar. Miss it for a third straight year, in his 9th year here, and many will start to question if he's losing his touch.

That said, our team is setting up to be a monster in 2018-19 IF guys don't go pro/transfer that shouldn't. Really don't need guys like Matthews and Lee transferring when we already lose so many to the pros. Have to build rosters that will have some sort of experience.

Lmao your life is gonna be so sad when he leaves.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Lmao your life is gonna be so sad when he leaves.

Yup. UK will be lucky to go to Four Final Fours in 15 years, much less 4/5 like Cal did it.

 

[K-Town Kat]

Lmao your life is gonna be so sad when he leaves.

No. Not really. My life doesn't revolve around basketball.

Cal will make $7.75 million next year. That type of money warrants high expectations.

I'm sure Cal himself would tell you he expects the best from his teams.

 

[stuway]

That's worlds smallest violin stuff bro....

But yea, Oregon isn't UK wow world news alert the space station.....

I like to think of Cal being lucky to coach UK. And we're averaging a sweet 16 as of the last 2 years. So since we're not Oregon (and I hate to break up the bromance between you, cal, and the boyz) anything LESS than a final four this coming season will not be accepted.

The end.

You continuously have some of the worst takes on the board. I hope you're young. Because if youre over 30 and think like you do, I feel sorry for you

 

[Jkwo]

No. Not really. My life doesn't revolve around basketball.

Cal will make $7.75 million next year. That type of money warrants high expectations.

I'm sure Cal himself would tell you he expects the best from his teams.

Bill Gates makes more money than many countries.

Does that mean that we should expect him to oversee 400% increase in stock value every quarter and develop the ability to levitate?

The money is a function of the fact that he's one of the most successful CEOs on the planet. It doesn't cause sorcery to happen.

What do Microsoft shareholders get for Bill's salary? A stock that is substantially more valuable than ever in history, and which was able to recover from the subprime mortgage collapse in a matter of months.

What do UK fans get? A program that is doing as well as it ever has in its illustrious history, accounting for era. Going to the F4 half the time and E8 3/4 of the time is just silly.

 

[Blue Decade]

You know, I was thinking that Cal's recruiting and coaching skills always have us in the hunt, but because the NCAA despises UK and even more so with Cal as our coach, we will always get screwed by the selection committee which makes our chances of running the table so difficult. It took the 2012 team to win a NC and even that team had a few tough games and a murderous bracket. I still wouldn't trade Cal for any other coach.

It is difficult for any school to win the NCAAT. Not just us. LOL! But we win more championships than almost anyone else anyway. The NCAA is an organization consisting of member schools, including Kentucky. So Kentucky is involved in running the NCAA. You guys who pull the conspiracy card every time Kentucky loses a close game really need to cope with the fact that Kentucky cannot win every game. No school can. I didn't like the Selection Committee's seedings anymore than you did. But the politics and competency issues we see in the Selection Committee are no more or less problematic than the politics and competency issues we see in all walks of life these days. To impute an anti-Kentucky conspiracy at the NCAA level is silly, no matter how much that thinking may appeal to angry fans willing to threaten an incompetent referee's life. Higgins is a dolt. That doesn't make it a conspiracy.

 

[morgousky]

It's not mutually exclusive. UK is the best job Cal will ever get, and Cal is a better coach than most UK will have.

Sometimes two people are both lucky to have each other in a relationship.

And if Cal does the unacceptable and misses the final four this season, please don't fire him. Pretty please?

I will not fire him.

 

[morgousky]

You continuously have some of the worst takes on the board. I hope you're young. Because if youre over 30 and think like you do, I feel sorry for you

Now I just can't see that. All I really discuss is my hatred for Barnhart, my love of UK basketball, my enjoyment of the Higgins abuse, and sometimes my disgust at modern globalist liberals .....

Wait a second......it's that last one isn't it?

 

[Mojocat]

And if Cal does the unacceptable and misses the final four this season, please don't fire him. Pretty please?

I don't think you understand just who it is you're talking to, and just how powerful he is. Both Cal and Higgins should be afraid. Very afraid.