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One of Cal's best Coaching jobs.

CUT-NETS said:
Shouldn't we assess that at the end of the season? Shouldn't we see the end result?
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I think the end result can make it better, but I don't think you can take away that Cal has had to make a huge adjustment this season just to get UK competitive. I don't think we would want to be anywhere near this website if Cal had continued to throw both Skal and Lee out there night after night to try and force it to work.
 
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Agreed on that. Cal is definitely smelling the coffee beans when it comes to allowing Skal to face up and take the midrange shot. He's also made a helluva decision in getting Willis more run. Im not sure where we would be without Willis. Props for those adjustments, hopefully they help us make some noise in the tournament.
 
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It does show some humility. Cal is a hall of fame, title winning, multiple final four coach. He doesn't have to adjust his style if he really doesn't want to.

Now, would we be better if Skal became KAT all of a sudden? Yes, maybe even a title favorite. But it isn't going to happen. I'd rather see us playing well, having fun, and having a puncher's chance with face up Skal and Willis than try to force something that isn't there on the very low chance we become a favorite for the title.

And heck, this year? All you're going to need is a puncher's chance. Every team has major, major holes and vulnerabilities.
 
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Icecoldbrewdoggy said:
You bragged that Pitino could do more with less. Why can't your boy Pitino beat Cal? I've asked you 10 times and you never reply.
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Because Pitino is not my boy. The only reference Ive ever made about Pitino is that he has won just as many titles as Cal has since Cal arrived at UK. Stop baiting
 
CUT-NETS said:
Because Pitino is not my boy. The only reference Ive ever made about Pitino is that he has won just as many titles as Cal has since Cal arrived at UK. Stop baiting
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You went berzerk here on your Cal hate a couple of weeks ago and all the posts had to be deleted. You know it, anyone here at the time knows it. Have fun with all that hate for Cal coarsing through your veins. It's fun to watch haters implode/backtrack. That's the last time you'll ever hear from me. I'll just sit back and laugh at you.
 
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But...but.....the haters will claim that Cal tried to hold Skal down by making him play like Shaq.....

What's that you say? Cal admitted as much at halftime last night?!?!? Lolz at the haterz
 
maysvilleky said:
I guess he doesn't just "roll the ball out and let 'em go"!

IMO this is one of his best coaching jobs at UK. He's really had to adapt to what he has available.
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The tweak makes it triumphant return. If the play of the last two weeks keeps up, I like our chances against almost anyone.

This KU game is coming at the perfect time. We either find out that this team is a title contender (you don't beat a top 10 KU team in Allen Fieldhouse unless you're a title contender) or we take the loss and learn what we need to improve on against a top team. It's a win-win.
 
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You know its amazing how much better a coach is when his players start hitting shots and defending like he's asked them to all year lol. I literarly scratch my head at the posters who act as if Calipari doesn't know how to coach because he doesn't win titles every year. The man has the hardest coaching job in America year in and out having to start over with new players and teach them how to play the way he wants. Young talent can only take you so far. It's not as easy as you think it is. Just ask Coach K this year. He basically started over with new players this year.
 
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I remember when Cal arrived, and I believe it was his first press conference he talked about the necessity of having quality depth. He talked about having good players to come off the bench if his starters were not playing well in a game. He really likes the bench as a motivator. In 2011 they were not deep, and really there was only one spot (after Josh asserted himself) that needed some motivation, and the competition of the bench between Miller and Liggins brought out the best in both of them because they wanted that spot. In 2013, he had no depth and he had players who needed to be challenged. When Harrow couldn't play well...you had Archie at point or you had to go to Polson. You also had a lesser talented(though experienced) Uncle Julius Mays in there trying his hardest. When Poy was soft and needed a break...you had the defensive softy Wiltjer...so that couldn't work either. Willie as a freshman had no offensive game, and when Nerlens went down he was your only option at the 5 and no one behind him. They did not challenge each other in 2013 because they did not have the pieces..and after Nerlens went down and Harrow went crazy, no one could coach that team.

This year, 3 guards challenging each other hard and bringing it every single night. Skal played soft, so Lee took his spot early on...Lee and Poy began to struggle after that..Willis brought the energy fighting for his spot. This team IS FIGHTING, I think that bodes well for development and improvement down the stretch because you can tell they want it and are fighting like Cal loves.
 
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CUT-NETS said:
Shouldn't we assess that at the end of the season? Shouldn't we see the end result?
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No, we don't need to. That's the problem with fans who think they understand the game on a level anywhere within the same stratosphere as a professional coach (especially one who just happens to be one of the absolute best in the game). Fans look at a result - because that's all they are really capable of doing - and come up with a narrative which, due to their lack of deeper understanding, they then develop into a mantra. In any endeavor it's always those with a superficial understanding that are most sure they are right - that they "get it" and everybody else just doesn't understand. The truth, however, is they are so unknowingly ignorant on the subject they cannot see how little they actually know. The old saying is true: "A little knowledge is dangerous." I've played, coached and even refereed a little, and I'm still in the same boat as you - which is to say, I'm just a fan. And fans should never be so delusional as to think the really have the "answers" to any perceived problem with the team that the Coach just can't see. That doesn't mean we shouldn't discuss and debate things - we're fans, we love the game, we want to talk about it and that's what we should do. But those delusional fans who think. . . . "no, no I'm different. . . I really know what's going on. . . I could fix 'this issue' if Coach would just take my advice", really are the joke of message board sites. Be a fan, that's all you're competent to be.
 
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Coach Rupp coached a total of 42 years at Kentucky and had 4 titles to his name. He's widely considered the best coach of his era and only averaged a title every 10.5 years. Now he also had 6 Final 4 appearances during that span. Calipari has finished 6 years and has taken us to 4 final fours 1 runner up finish and 1 title. That is amazing when looking at the most celebrated coach in our history success. I think the few fans that have called out Calipari need to chill and understand we are extremely blessed to have him represent our program. There's a good chance that we won't ever see this kind of sustained success yearly again.
 
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I think the above poster is correct. This is a great time to be playing Kansas, we will know if we are title contenders or back to the drawing board to fix whats wrong
 
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maysvilleky said:
I guess he doesn't just "roll the ball out and let 'em go"!

IMO this is one of his best coaching jobs at UK. He's really had to adapt to what he has available.
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Not really. He had huge coaching blunders with the way he coached Skal in trying to turn him into a low post guy, Murray in trying to make him a driver when he's a shooter, and Willis by not giving him a chance until late.
 
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~Keyser Soze~ said:
Not really. He had huge coaching blunders with the way he coached Skal in trying to turn him into a low post guy, Murray in trying to make him a driver when he's a shooter, and Willis by not giving him a chance until late.
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In other words, his huge coaching blunders were trying to improve Skal and Murray's weaknesses (using weakness as a loose term in Murray's case since he can drive pretty damn effectively)? And last I checked, he's admitted and corrected his "huge blunders" by rewarding Willis with playing time and moving Skal out of the paint.

"Huge blunders" should be a term saved for mistakes that costed us a tournament game and ended our season, not Calipari tinkering with his line-up in November, December and January while trying to find the most effective use of his roster. You really expected Cal to look at his roster in November and magically know the perfect use of every player without any practice and more importantly, game data?
 
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FiveStarCat said:
In other words, his huge coaching blunders were trying to improve Skal and Murray's weaknesses (using weakness as a loose term in Murray's case since he can drive pretty damn effectively)? And last I checked, he's admitted and corrected his "huge blunders" by rewarding Willis with playing time and moving Skal out of the paint.

"Huge blunders" should be a term saved for mistakes that costed us a tournament game and ended our season, not Calipari tinkering with his line-up in November, December and January while trying to find the most effective use of his roster. You really expected Cal to look at his roster in November and magically know the perfect use of every player without any practice and more importantly, game data?
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Excellent points and pretty much what I was thinking when I read those remarks above that you were addressing. What a joke to think that a coach hasn't done a great job because he was tinkering with his team and players early in the season and finding out what works best and what doesn't work well. Then going back and making key adjustments in player's games as well as line ups. Gee, I guess all that doesn't justify a great coaching job and we're now seeing much improved play because of it?
 
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So many coaches have a "system" which they make all their guys play in. Cal evaluates each team and the guys he's got, and tailors what he does to use their strengths. It's a tough way to coach, and many were skeptical he could do it with an approach like that, and freshmen lead teams. This year he's really had to evolve it as the year goes by. I believe he, and the team are starting to get it figured out. So yes, it's Cal's typical excellent coaching job. He makes mistakes sometimes, but he's always working to improve each unique team. One of the many things I admire about him is he isn't afraid to say he made a mistake, and take the blame for it. Almost every game he's lost at UK he's put it on him, not the team. That's the kind of coach you want to play for. They'll work it all out in practice between themselves as to who should have been doing what better.
 
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Icecoldbrewdoggy said:
You went berzerk here on your Cal hate a couple of weeks ago and all the posts had to be deleted. You know it, anyone here at the time knows it. Have fun with all that hate for Cal coarsing through your veins. It's fun to watch haters implode/backtrack. That's the last time you'll ever hear from me. I'll just sit back and laugh at you.
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you are debating someone I have on ignore...1st guess is Cut, 2nd guess is 3
 
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Bobcat94 said:
Coach Rupp coached a total of 42 years at Kentucky and had 4 titles to his name. He's widely considered the best coach of his era and only averaged a title every 10.5 years. Now he also had 6 Final 4 appearances during that span. Calipari has finished 6 years and has taken us to 4 final fours 1 runner up finish and 1 title. That is amazing when looking at the most celebrated coach in our history success. I think the few fans that have called out Calipari need to chill and understand we are extremely blessed to have him represent our program. There's a good chance that we won't ever see this kind of sustained success yearly again.
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This. I know it hurts to miss some chances, but if you're complaining, you're essentially saying that it's inexcusable that he hasn't drastically enough changed the course ~80 or so years of demonstrated history.
 
cal knows a team with three supreme ball handlers and great perimeter defense/ball pressure = tough out in march. all of our guards can create a play for themselves or someone else in like 3-4 seconds. if briscoe starts hitting free throws we are going to be extremely hard to handle. skal gives us something like brimah and i see uconn '14 comparisons a lot. willis/giffey, napier/ulis, boatright/murray, instead of daniels we have briscoe/poythress. they even had a guy like lee i forget his name. if we plays balls out defensively like last night we're tough to beat anywhere.
 
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StubbornPenny said:
It does show some humility. Cal is a hall of fame, title winning, multiple final four coach. He doesn't have to adjust his style if he really doesn't want to.

Now, would we be better if Skal became KAT all of a sudden? Yes, maybe even a title favorite. But it isn't going to happen. I'd rather see us playing well, having fun, and having a puncher's chance with face up Skal and Willis than try to force something that isn't there on the very low chance we become a favorite for the title.

And heck, this year? All you're going to need is a puncher's chance. Every team has major, major holes and vulnerabilities.
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I would argue that most Hall of Fame, title-winning coaches are willing and able to adjust their style as needed. That's pretty much the coach's job, isn't it?
 
CUT-NETS said:
Because Pitino is not my boy. The only reference Ive ever made about Pitino is that he has won just as many titles as Cal has since Cal arrived at UK. Stop baiting
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Or, stated more accurately, Pitino has the same number of titles and one less Final Four in 15 years at UofL than what Cal has achieved in 6 years at UK. One can only assume that the comparison gap would grow substantially if Cal's next 9 seasons at UK were factored in.
 
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Bobcat94 said:
You know its amazing how much better a coach is when his players start hitting shots and defending like he's asked them to all year lol. I literarly scratch my head at the posters who act as if Calipari doesn't know how to coach because he doesn't win titles every year. The man has the hardest coaching job in America year in and out having to start over with new players and teach them how to play the way he wants. Young talent can only take you so far. It's not as easy as you think it is. Just ask Coach K this year. He basically started over with new players this year.
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Agreed. People believe that recruiting rankings necessarily translate into the ability to win games now. They don't. They ignore the value of continuity, age, experience, and skill to winning basketball games in a given year.
 
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~Keyser Soze~ said:
Not really. He had huge coaching blunders with the way he coached Skal in trying to turn him into a low post guy, Murray in trying to make him a driver when he's a shooter, and Willis by not giving him a chance until late.
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Bad, bad take.

He's had example after example of long, lanky centers (some with absolutely no muscle at all) who came in initially getting shoved around in the post by more mature guys, yet ended their careers as fearsome beasts near the basket - AD, Noel, Willie, Karl, even going back to Camby - for all of them, he was able to toughen them up by developing their post repertoire and by letting them go head-on with the big boys in the paint.

So for one kid, it doesn't work because Cal can't extract that level of toughness from him, and because Cal gave it a shot until January before abandoning that historically successful model, he's making some huge blunder? Cal said he screwed the kid up to take all the pressure off of Skal - but the reality is, if you've had a million kids who fit the same physical profile who developed post moves and all turned out to be top 6 picks in the draft, why would you abandon ship after 5 games with the new one? It doesn't make any sense.

Murray should be driving as well as shooting. He can be elite at both. Cal is not trying to make him "not a shooter". He's telling Jamal to stop taking ridiculous circus shots, which he has done since his high school days.

Willis was not doing what he wanted in practice. Just like Jorts or Miller, he has absolutely blossomed when he finally started giving Cal the consistent effort he demanded, on defense as much as offense, and in practice as much as in game.

The Willis fans always complain about favoritism when Cal gives Skal any minutes at all because he's soft - what about playing a kid who doesn't do what you want in practice when other kids are at least trying? Derek even admitted that he wasn't putting in as much effort as he should have, for crying out loud? That sets an awful precedent if you let that kid play.

Now, he's putting in the work, and he's been rewarded handsomely.
 
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And by the way, here is your friendly reminder that Duke may well miss the tournament this year, and we look like we look right now - but both teams have the same number of burger boys.

K is as good as it gets, but according to some, he's not doing a good enough job of "rolling the balls out", which is all you have to do with that much talent.
 
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~Keyser Soze~ said:
Not really. He had huge coaching blunders with the way he coached Skal in trying to turn him into a low post guy, Murray in trying to make him a driver when he's a shooter, and Willis by not giving him a chance until late.
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Willis didn't play because he wasn't defending, and he was averaging 2 rebounds a game.

We need a back to the basket scorer. Towns developed nicely over the season last year. Cal tried with Skal, but he was digressing. We don't have enough time to go down that road anymore this season, so Cal cut it out. He's not afraid to admit he was wrong.

Murray is a good free-throw shooter. He does need to drive the ball sometimes to draw some fouls and get to the line.
 
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Willis nut huggers were saying the same thing last year about how he never has gotten a chance. Then Willis tells everyone that he didn't take it seriously because he was content to be a bench player.

Willis is finally taking the game seriously and playing to his potential. Hence he has gotten more clock by Cal. Let's not act like Willis was some great talent who has been hidden on the bench because Cal doesn't like him.

Skal is another example of Coach breaking a player down and then building them back up. I bet by the end of the year we start seeing Skal rebounding better too, because our coach pushes these guys.
 
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Double Tay said:
You can't win with CUT. Titles are all that matter-anything short of a title is a complete waste of a season. Given we've only won 8 championships our program has been a miserable failure.

And so has UCLA. 90% of their seasons were a complete bust.
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Do you really think he wants UK to win more titles?

Honestly, I have no problem with him because we all know that he's a UofL fan.

If he was a UK fan and posted all the negative stuff, that would be much worse.
 
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Cal has done nothing yet. You cannot judge a season on 3 games. The auburn loss is one of the worst for cal at Kentucky. Now if the team continues momentum that's one thing but if they regress back into an inconsistent team then well you will be wrong. Nobody evaluates mid season.
 
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