Lots of high points during the Cal era. Arguably some of the greatest singular moments/highlights occurred under Cal's watch while he brought in the most talented players our program has ever seen. It was a match made in heaven...until it wasn't. Cal's charm, charisma and ability to recruit needed a top tier program to achieve success. A few different decisions, like Xavier Henry coming here or Jodie Meeks returning, Randle not cramping up in the title game, back to back turnovers late in the game versus Wisconsin in the final four, guarding Luke Maye, actually landing Zion Williamson, etc. Cal's time here could have been the greatest resume of all time. But..it didn't happen that way.
It's sad the way it played out these last few years most notably for the kids who came here on a dream that was built by idolizing guys like John Wall, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, etc. A sense of entitlement sold to recruits who came to UK about future endeavors rather than college achievements. Once the scale tipped entirely one way regarding brand recognition and NBA preparation at Kentucky, our program was cooked.
Arkansas is a mediocre program and they decided to shoot their shot on a coach their fanbase has hated on for the past 14 years only to turn around and worship. Can't say we didn't do something similar when we kicked Clyde out. The difference was that Cal still had something to prove when we got him and he recognized the power of our program. Cal's ego thought he could go to Arkansas with his current talent, maybe get to a Final Four and coast for the next 5-6 years before retiring. At this rate he'll be lucky to make it through two seasons.
He has no good graces built up at Arkansas like he did here. The first three seasons as our coach gave him carte blanche, and anyone who thinks differently can go back and watch Robert Morris (2013), Kansas St (2018), 9-16 (2021), Saint Peter's (2022), Kansas St (2023), Oakland (2024) and the countless prime time games Cal pulled from Rupp Arena to "better prepare our guys for the big stage" that we lost and had to listen to Cal talk about no shoot-arounds, tweaks, Cal excited that at least he got to go home and walk his dog, etc.
I'm not sure there's been a greater abuse of power by someone who was truly given the keys to the kingdom. The past few years were solely on Cal, but I do think had a the roll of the dice gone differently in our game against Wisconsin in Indy in 2015, along with landing Zion Williamson as a recruit, Cal would be a different person to this day. Those things didn't happen and now BBN can sit back and enjoy a bourbon watching Pope's regime start off better than any of us could have ever dreamed of.
