Matt Jones audio on Kentucky's three-game home losing streak: "This is not Kentucky basketball."
- Thread starter Son_Of_Saul
- Start date
Matt's right.
I said in another thread: a lot of people dislike Matt. And they've decided he only criticizes Cal because "Cal cut him off." But any objective, reasonable person would criticize Calipari.
Calipari's last 4 years have been a total failure.
And people are going to rush to say "NO COACH IS GONNA GET TO THE FINAL 4 EVERY YEAR." If the only thing I could complain about is not making the Final 4, maybe those people would have a point.
But in the last 4 years, we've done something especially bad every year. 9-16. Losing to St. Peter's despite having the national player of the year. Losing in the 2nd round despite getting that NPOY to return. Losing to UNCW. Losing THREE straight home games for the first time in 50+ years.
Let's start by getting a guy who doesn't go 9-16 with a top recruiting class. Let's start by beating a 15 seed when we have the NPOY. Let's start by getting to the 2nd weekend. Let's start by not losing to UNCW AND Evansville AT HOME. Let's start by protecting our home court. Get me a coach that does those things. And see how often I'm screaming "WE DON'T MAKE THE FINAL 4 EVERY YEAR." I won't. That hyperbolic bull$hit isn't the problem.
I said in another thread: a lot of people dislike Matt. And they've decided he only criticizes Cal because "Cal cut him off." But any objective, reasonable person would criticize Calipari.
Calipari's last 4 years have been a total failure.
And people are going to rush to say "NO COACH IS GONNA GET TO THE FINAL 4 EVERY YEAR." If the only thing I could complain about is not making the Final 4, maybe those people would have a point.
But in the last 4 years, we've done something especially bad every year. 9-16. Losing to St. Peter's despite having the national player of the year. Losing in the 2nd round despite getting that NPOY to return. Losing to UNCW. Losing THREE straight home games for the first time in 50+ years.
Let's start by getting a guy who doesn't go 9-16 with a top recruiting class. Let's start by beating a 15 seed when we have the NPOY. Let's start by getting to the 2nd weekend. Let's start by not losing to UNCW AND Evansville AT HOME. Let's start by protecting our home court. Get me a coach that does those things. And see how often I'm screaming "WE DON'T MAKE THE FINAL 4 EVERY YEAR." I won't. That hyperbolic bull$hit isn't the problem.
It's going to be kind of a Shakespearean ending. The King who was loved and adored by everyone is going to have to drink from the poison cup after he's personally burned his own empire to the ground.
The long term is going to be painful. The NBA guys will alienate themselves from the program because they'll see it as Cal "getting screwed" by UK. That will hurt us with elite recruits for a while.
The most noble thing to do would have been Cal taking the ambassador job and helping Kentucky with its NBA connections over the next ten years or so. But we all know that's not how this thing ends.
It ends with all parties seeking ways to destroy the other, and that makes me sad for the immediate future of Kentucky basketball.
The long term is going to be painful. The NBA guys will alienate themselves from the program because they'll see it as Cal "getting screwed" by UK. That will hurt us with elite recruits for a while.
The most noble thing to do would have been Cal taking the ambassador job and helping Kentucky with its NBA connections over the next ten years or so. But we all know that's not how this thing ends.
It ends with all parties seeking ways to destroy the other, and that makes me sad for the immediate future of Kentucky basketball.
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Tell Matt “No shit Sherlock” it hasn’t been since we hired the slimeball. You think he was Mitch’s first or even second choice? Mitch knew what and who he was yet he committed the fatal mistake of giving him the worst contract in sports. For that, he should be fired.
Yeah, I understand that you can’t make the Final Four every year. But this will be 9 seasons in a row without a Final Four.
Coincidentally, that’s how many in a row Tubby had when everyone realized it was time to part ways.
I seriously think the NBA soul link has to be severed.
Cal thinks recruiting the 5 star 1 and done's is going to work in 2024. And if you get 1 or 2 on a team full of experienced grown men, there's value in it.
But Cal is still losing an entire team and rebuilding it with predominantly freshmen. It WILL NOT work in 2024.
As I've said in other threads: Power 5 college basketball teams are FULL of grown men. They are experienced and play smart basketball. They are physical. Because of the transfer portal and NIL, those guys are leaving their mid majors and going to power 5 schools. Because of NIL, those guys are staying in college longer than they used to.
So we're left with a team of kids, that are still figuring out how to play high level basketball. And they're going against grown men that already know how to play. And we're seeing the results.
It's time to adapt. We need to put our efforts into the transfer portal. Get those grown physical guys that know how to play.
The kids Cal brings in: They all want to leave for the NBA as soon as possible. None of them want to be here more than a year. You can't build or develop a roster that way. They aren't here long enough to become great college players. And now, in spite of Cal's amazing NBA track record--we have this horrific 4 year run.
Another part of the problem is all of the competition for the elite freshmen. G-League Ignite, OTE, Overseas, etc. We're no longer getting a team full of Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, etc. If you're going to rely on freshmen, you really need to have your pick of top 10 recruits.
Lastly, VJ Edgecombe didn't care about our NBA pipeline. Scott Drew brought him to Baylor despite not having nearly the NBA connection Cal does. I've heard enough people say with conviction that Mitch is going to hire Drew if Cal leaves that I now believe it. If Drew can get Edgecombe to come to Baylor with limited NBA connections--he can get him to come to UK without the help of the NBA guys.
I just don't think Cal's NBA Connections are helping us anymore. I think relying on that NBA promise has put is in the spot we're in. We've built this self-eating monster. In order to compete, we have to change this dynamic of losing the entire roster every year and rebuilding with mainly freshmen. The ONLY way to do that is get rid of Cal.
Look at USC. They are 9-14 this season with Collier (#1 recruit and projected NBA #1 pick), Bronny (he stinks), and Boogie Ellis in the back court.
Cal needs to go to LA, rebuild USC, get recruits, life the life, and leave Lexington.
Cal needs to go to LA, rebuild USC, get recruits, life the life, and leave Lexington.
At this point, I honestly just want him out however we can do it.
But I think the optimal thing is for him to move into that ambassador role. Help keep some of the current recruits. Help the next HC transition into UK.
People always say when Cal leaves, we're going to be starting over. News flash: We're starting over every single year already. With the Portal, and NIL, I think a guy like Scott Drew or Tommy Lloyd can build this thing up overnight.
He’s saying what we already know …but that’s still a well-stated and spot on summation of how poorly Cal mishandled that game.
I’m usually not a Jones fan, but this was quite well done.
Absolutely
I’m glad KSR crew is finally coming around…but it’s taken this long to come to this realization?
I mean come on…it’s been beyond obvious and all the while Matt talks down to callers like Cal Just sinple basketball insight..he talks it fine with long twos, inbound play issues, clogging the lane, need shooters, high rated kids get a longer leash, etc…..but then it’s all blind loyalty to Cal no matter how many warts there are
Not a fan of UK sports media personality that jocks a coach to the degree he has and then wants to act like he is one of us after it’s burnt down
I think there’s one year of the covid rule left as well. That rule is what is making South Carolina field a decent team, as well as the others. Cals lack of roster continuity and lineup management can’t handle 5th and 6th year seniors who are 24 years old.
No coach worth their salt would accept the UK job with cal as the ambassador of the program. Needs to be a clean break with cal. I want him as far away from the program as he can get.
I can’t take Matt seriously. If you listened to his commentary about the quality of Gonzaga’s team it was the most idiotic display of rambling with absolutely no basis I had ever heard.
If I recall correctly he said Gonzaga would be like the 11th best team in the SEC and the game against Ole Miss would be harder. Mind you Gonzaga by KenPom would be the 4th best SEC team…and was rated better than us even BEFORE the game.
That aside, all year he has said these guys can’t guard and “will not get any better” defensively. We then proceed to lose a few games almost strictly because of that defense and he’s up in arms.
You have to blame someone so Calipari is the obvious choice. But him making one off coaching decisions that could’ve won a couple of these games isn’t changing the fact of who this team is. Just say he fouls against Florida, runs a better play against A&M, and Reed passes to a Reeves 3 to win yesterday. We’d be 19-4…and still not a top 25 team by the efficiency metrics. We would essentially be the Maxey team. A good record but by KenPom the 29th best team in the country that year.
He recruited kids that can’t guard, had multiple high profile misses, and doesn’t have a true throw it in the block post. Cal has said previously if you don’t have that kinda guy you’re a fraud. Well spoiler we’re a fraud and it’s much more his roster construction than his post entry defensive game plans.
If I recall correctly he said Gonzaga would be like the 11th best team in the SEC and the game against Ole Miss would be harder. Mind you Gonzaga by KenPom would be the 4th best SEC team…and was rated better than us even BEFORE the game.
That aside, all year he has said these guys can’t guard and “will not get any better” defensively. We then proceed to lose a few games almost strictly because of that defense and he’s up in arms.
You have to blame someone so Calipari is the obvious choice. But him making one off coaching decisions that could’ve won a couple of these games isn’t changing the fact of who this team is. Just say he fouls against Florida, runs a better play against A&M, and Reed passes to a Reeves 3 to win yesterday. We’d be 19-4…and still not a top 25 team by the efficiency metrics. We would essentially be the Maxey team. A good record but by KenPom the 29th best team in the country that year.
He recruited kids that can’t guard, had multiple high profile misses, and doesn’t have a true throw it in the block post. Cal has said previously if you don’t have that kinda guy you’re a fraud. Well spoiler we’re a fraud and it’s much more his roster construction than his post entry defensive game plans.
We should be in contention for a FF every year or atleast be capable of making a run. Other teams like KU are so why are we so different??? We get talent and probably more talent than most blue bloods so why shouldn’t we expect to stay in the top 10 and be mentioned for a 1 or 2 seed??? And a 10 loss season should only happen like a unicorn, I mean we are continuing to feel those are ok??? Normal even??? Not me, not my Ky basketball, not going to settle for a watered version.
Go watch the ole miss game & hopefully our next coach, don’t care about what happened and everyone deserves a 2nd chance. He actually coaches & something we need.
Go watch the ole miss game & hopefully our next coach, don’t care about what happened and everyone deserves a 2nd chance. He actually coaches & something we need.
They’d probably take him. Believe it or not, there’s schools out there that would take a flier with John Calipari. That’s the other thing about his buyout. Aren’t we off the hook for some of that if he lands another job?
Kentucky through 23 games the last 2 seasons has been 16-7 both times, 32-14, combine that with a 9-16 season, and a loss to St. Peter’s and the Kentucky basketball we all expect is so far gone it’s not even funny
I know Cal once said that, but it’s a claim that has plainly been proven wrong and represents an antiquated belief now abandoned by nearly every coach not named Calipari.
2022 Kansas didn’t have that guy, 2021 Baylor didn’t have that guy, 2019 Virginia didn’t have that guy, 2018 Villanova didn’t have that guy, 2016 Villanova didn’t have that guy, etc. The vast majority of the teams that have been reaching the final four and winning titles in this era do NOT do it by running the ball through the low post.
And I’m pretty sure teams that reach the final four or win titles ain’t “frauds.”
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The whole in contention every season or capable of making a run is a vague requirement. When KU wins a lot of regular season but flames out n 2nd round is that a contender? Not so sure.
Same with UK in 2022 after a strong regular season or UK in 2004. .
It's all about tournament success to me. We have 1 title and 4 final fours the past 25 years. That's unacceptable and on Tubby and Cal. The drunk wasn't here long enough to matter honestly.
We need to find a guy who can win 1 title and 3 to 4 final fours in 10 years.
Love this commentary. So dead on. Those who don't like Matt because of politics are silly as that has nothing to do with his assessments.
It doesn't help much, but most of those NBA guys didn't care two poops about UK when they were here. It's easy to cry in the locker room when you know that getting rich is going to take away from the team.
Old adage: you either die a hero, or live long enough to become the villain.
Holds true.
