Slightly Different Take On Cal

[Finna_Go_HAM]

I've been biting my tongue for a while on this:

I've never been a Cal-Hater. I don't hate the man. I don't know a good word for what I am. I'm a "Cal-exhausteder?" He does a lot of good things and helps a lot of people, but I have no enthusiasm for him any longer. His coaching, his rhetoric, his post-game comments, how he appears to works tirelessly for Kentucky Basketball in every way EXCEPT the actual practices and games. He's not the Nick Saban of college basketball. Nick Saban grew and adapted. I looked it up this week: Alabama's offense under Saban has always been elite. But the emphasis changed after 2017, and Saban changed from run-dominant to a pass-dominant team. Cal is the exact same product he was on April 1, 2009; nothing's changed. And the things I loved about him in 2009 I'm exhausted with in 2022. Is that a ME problem? That's why I said I've been biting my tongue on this. I don't like to be a knee-jerk reactionary on things that are this important to me. And if any of you knew me personally you'd know how important UK sports is to me. Yes, I know some of you will say you saw through him when he said this or that, that's cool. Good for you. Like I said, though, I don't hate Cal; I'm just tired of his whole song and dance.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Slightly different?! Sounds just like the loud majority.

 

[Finna_Go_HAM]

Slightly different?! Sounds just like the loud majority.

Then maybe I didn't explain myself as well I could. What I perceive from the loud majority is anger at Cal, and to some degree, hate. I'm apathetic anymore about Cal. He'll never change and I'm tired of talking about it and hoping he will.

 

[Allcats08]

I've been biting my tongue for a while on this:

I've never been a Cal-Hater. I don't hate the man. I don't know a good word for what I am. I'm a "Cal-exhausteder?" He does a lot of good things and helps a lot of people, but I have no enthusiasm for him any longer. His coaching, his rhetoric, his post-game comments, how he appears to works tirelessly for Kentucky Basketball in every way EXCEPT the actual practices and games. He's not the Nick Saban of college basketball. Nick Saban grew and adapted. I looked it up this week: Alabama's offense under Saban has always been elite. But the emphasis changed after 2017, and Saban changed from run-dominant to a pass-dominant team. Cal is the exact same product he was on April 1, 2009; nothing's changed. And the things I loved about him in 2009 I'm exhausted with in 2022. Is that a ME problem? That's why I said I've been biting my tongue on this. I don't like to be a knee-jerk reactionary on things that are this important to me. And if any of you knew me personally you'd know how important UK sports is to me. Yes, I know some of you will say you saw through him when he said this or that, that's cool. Good for you. Like I said, though, I don't hate Cal; I'm just tired of his whole song and dance.

This is spot on how I feel. I love cal and I honestly don’t want anyone else as our coach. But I want him to be his old self. I want him to adapt when needed. This season is still young and we have the roster to do what we all want. Cal does so much for so many people in this state, more than any politician has ever even imagined. I just think he’s gotten comfortable. Maybe this year will unfold like we all expected, who knows.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Then maybe I didn't explain myself as well I could. What I perceive from the loud majority is anger at Cal, and to some degree, hate. I'm apathetic anymore about Cal. He'll never change and I'm tired of talking about it and hoping he will.

I don’t hate Cal. I do hate his ways. I hate his stubbornness. I hate that he won’t ever adjust or try anything new.

I used to really like the guy. I thought, at one time, he could possibly become the best college coach in the country. Sadly, he doesn’t really care about being one of the best to do it.

 

[WeWant9]

I actually think that’s the feeling of a lot of fans. Exhausted of Cal sums up a lot of my feeling and things I hear from others. I have completely tuned him out over the last several years.

We could handle all the random stuff he’d say and do, when he was getting to Final Fours and dominating college bball.

It’s like a relationship that was amazing at first, but has soured over time. But you still look at the good times and hope that somehow it’ll change back to it. Hopefully he can pull a rabbit out of his hat one last time and ride off into the sunset.

 

[cats2010]

Hate him as a coach but hate as man in general started blurring in when he shit on Dontae Allen like he did. Never seen a coach treat a player as bad as Allen was treated by cal and that has nothing to do with how well he played or didn’t play. Add to that his condescending comments toward the media and fanbase, I’m just starting to despise him all the way around.

 

[CatPhight]

Cal has ran the same damned tired thing since the mid-90's...it's glaringly obvious to all but the most zealous polishers, he can only win when we he has an overwhelming advantage in talent...

Unfortunately, we've all seen, even having a ridiculous advantage in talent is not enough to overcome the coaching ineptitude of a stubborn jackass...who would rather lose his way, than adapt or adjust to win.

 

[MakinMusic]

Saban hasn’t adapted as much as some believe. That’s part of the issue this season for Alabama football……he’s been slow to adapt to the ever changing landscape of college sports. Also, Team is sloppy and undisciplined. Saban is a great one for sure but others are catching up.

 

[ukjenning44]

Then maybe I didn't explain myself as well I could. What I perceive from the loud majority is anger at Cal, and to some degree, hate. I'm apathetic anymore about Cal. He'll never change and I'm tired of talking about it and hoping he will.

I’m very vocal towards Cal but far from hate the man. I was actually mad when we hired Tubby instead of Cal after Pitino left.
I do hate what Cal has done to our once great basketball program.
It is great what he does as far as helping others but I honestly could give a crap about that.
His main goal should be to win games for the University of Kentucky not hand out turkeys on Thanksgiving.
Im sure I come off angry in my posts because I am very angry with the direction Cal has knowingly taken our program.
I have lost all respect for Cal because he doesn’t care anymore.
It‘s easy not to care when you get paid the same whether you win every game or lose every game.

His contract has him able to move into some sort of athletics administration role at UK.
For me he has worn out his welcome and I would rather him move on than have anything to do with UK in any way.
I don’t hate the man but I dislike him now.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Hate him as a coach but hate as man in general started blurring in when he shit on Dontae Allen like he did. Never seen a coach treat a player as bad as Allen was treated by cal and that has nothing to do with how well he played or didn’t play. Add to that his condescending comments toward the media and fanbase, I’m just starting to despise him all the way around.

Yep. I couldn’t agree more.

 

[ukjenning44]

Saban hasn’t adapted as much as some believe. That’s part of the issue this season for Alabama football……he’s been slow to adapt to the ever changing landscape of college sports. Also, Team is sloppy and undisciplined. Saban is a great one for sure but others are catching up.

I hope you are joking. Lol!
Alabama has been in the playoffs 7 out of its 8 years since inception and won NC’s as recent as 2017 and 2020.
It really seems like Saban hasn’t adapted 😂😂

 

[ULisnotmyman]

It just comes across as hate when it’s so widespread and such a common/shared feeling. We all feel exactly the way you do.

 

[CatPhight]

Hate him as a coach but hate as man in general started blurring in when he shit on Dontae Allen like he did. Never seen a coach treat a player as bad as Allen was treated by cal and that has nothing to do with how well he played or didn’t play. Add to that his condescending comments toward the media and fanbase, I’m just starting to despise him all the way around.

Hold my beer...

 

[BluPappi81]

Then maybe I didn't explain myself as well I could. What I perceive from the loud majority is anger at Cal, and to some degree, hate. I'm apathetic anymore about Cal. He'll never change and I'm tired of talking about it and hoping he will.

I'll never be apathetic about UK BB. I'm righteously pissed w Cal for the state of the program. I was righteously pissed at Barnyard when he hired that bourbon soaked twat BCG. I can't tolerate anything that dilutes the brand, it's too precious to squander.

 

[STL_Cat]

Nah, I think your take is more common than you realize. I feel pretty much exactly the same way as you OP.

 

[ukcatz12]

Never seen a coach treat a player as bad as Allen was treated by cal and that has nothing to do with how well he played or didn’t play.

Really? You've never seen a coach treat a player as badly as Cal treated Allen? Were you born in the past few years? Forget about how Gillispie treated Harrellson when he had a concussion? Or how he treated some of the other players? Or when Knight literally choked a player?

Some of you are letting your dislike for Cal completely distort the reality of college basketball.

 

[westerncat]

I don’t hate Cal. I do hate his ways. I hate his stubbornness. I hate that he won’t ever adjust or try anything new.

I used to really like the guy. I thought, at one time, he could possibly become the best college coach in the country. Sadly, he doesn’t really care about being one of the best to do it.

I think this is the way most of us feel.

 

[JonathanW]

I've been biting my tongue for a while on this:

I've never been a Cal-Hater. I don't hate the man. I don't know a good word for what I am. I'm a "Cal-exhausteder?" He does a lot of good things and helps a lot of people, but I have no enthusiasm for him any longer. His coaching, his rhetoric, his post-game comments, how he appears to works tirelessly for Kentucky Basketball in every way EXCEPT the actual practices and games. He's not the Nick Saban of college basketball. Nick Saban grew and adapted. I looked it up this week: Alabama's offense under Saban has always been elite. But the emphasis changed after 2017, and Saban changed from run-dominant to a pass-dominant team. Cal is the exact same product he was on April 1, 2009; nothing's changed. And the things I loved about him in 2009 I'm exhausted with in 2022. Is that a ME problem? That's why I said I've been biting my tongue on this. I don't like to be a knee-jerk reactionary on things that are this important to me. And if any of you knew me personally you'd know how important UK sports is to me. Yes, I know some of you will say you saw through him when he said this or that, that's cool. Good for you. Like I said, though, I don't hate Cal; I'm just tired of his whole song and dance.

I'd say that is pretty close to me as well, exhausted/tired of his act.

I would add that while I don't think we need to be a follower (i.e. start heaving up 40 3's a game like Oats/Bama if can't hit them), I don't think Cal adjusts to his talent nor changes in the game overall, nor makes in-game adjustments. But I'm not sure he's ever done that. But early on at UK, the talent was so overwhelming it didn't matter as much, but when the talent is closer or even equal, then yeah it matters.

 

[dickieVIII]

I've been biting my tongue for a while on this:

I've never been a Cal-Hater. I don't hate the man. I don't know a good word for what I am. I'm a "Cal-exhausteder?" He does a lot of good things and helps a lot of people, but I have no enthusiasm for him any longer. His coaching, his rhetoric, his post-game comments, how he appears to works tirelessly for Kentucky Basketball in every way EXCEPT the actual practices and games. He's not the Nick Saban of college basketball. Nick Saban grew and adapted. I looked it up this week: Alabama's offense under Saban has always been elite. But the emphasis changed after 2017, and Saban changed from run-dominant to a pass-dominant team. Cal is the exact same product he was on April 1, 2009; nothing's changed. And the things I loved about him in 2009 I'm exhausted with in 2022. Is that a ME problem? That's why I said I've been biting my tongue on this. I don't like to be a knee-jerk reactionary on things that are this important to me. And if any of you knew me personally you'd know how important UK sports is to me. Yes, I know some of you will say you saw through him when he said this or that, that's cool. Good for you. Like I said, though, I don't hate Cal; I'm just tired of his whole song and dance.

I know how you feel. It is hard to put into words. I will never say I hate Cal, I want him to win and be great, but there are times when I wonder what in the world he is thinking. I am retired, but I used to coach. It is not an easy thing to do and people always question what you are doing. Outsiders are not at every event or practice and may not see things that go on behind the scenes. I try not to question coaches but it is hard not to wonder sometimes. He is a different character for sure and has made a lot of people made with his comments and actions. He has also done a lot of good with his charity and compassion. The best thing he can do for himself is to give us 1 more title before he rides off into the sunset. Go Cats

 

[dickieVIII]

Hold my beer...

Your best work yet. Deep down I think we are friends

 

[AGEE11]

OP - I think you are right on with most of the fan base, me definitely included.

This board just allows some loud mouths to crow on and on and spew their hate. And they validate themselves by posting over and over.

On this board this feeling is different than most threads. Overall fan base though, you are on target.

I hate seeing us lose games the same way we did in 2010. The lack of adapting has made me apathetic towards the man. He does a lot of good, but bad for the UK brand as well

 

[lj bulldog]

Really? You've never seen a coach treat a player as badly as Cal treated Allen? Were you born in the past few years? Forget about how Gillispie treated Harrellson when he had a concussion? Or how he treated some of the other players? Or when Knight literally choked a player?

Some of you are letting your dislike for Cal completely distort the reality of college basketball.

Allen had every opportunity and he couldn't answer the bell. Verified by his performance at WKU and his academic situation.

 

[Rockfly78]

Hate him as a coach but hate as man in general started blurring in when he shit on Dontae Allen like he did. Never seen a coach treat a player as bad as Allen was treated by cal and that has nothing to do with how well he played or didn’t play. Add to that his condescending comments toward the media and fanbase, I’m just starting to despise him all the way around.

Allen just wasn’t that good dude

 

[yoshukai]

Hates a strong word .He makes me sick to my stomach. The whole Shaedon Sharpe deal , poking at fans to “come out early and watch Shaedon warm up”, the kneeling for the national anthem. If you are one of those people that was outraged at Colin Kaperneck or Brittany Grider for doing it but since Cal was a UK coach you made excuses and overlooked it , well you should be ashamed.

 

[STL_Cat]

The problem here is that most people do feel this way and they're just labeled as "Cal haters". Most people don't hate Cal, but every time you criticize the guy that's what you get accused of.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

The problem here is that most people do feel this way and they're just labeled as "Cal haters". Most people don't hate Cal, but every time you criticize the guy that's what you get accused of.

My opinion of him went from okay he’s a jerk to you’re a narcissistic asshole with the Sharpe situation. He refused to play Sharpe, lied the fans that he would play, then gave us the middle finger “Lol go to practice and watch Sharpe practice!”, never played him once, then acter the lying shithead punk goes to the NBA Cal has the gaul to put up his poster among guys like Davis, Booker, SGA, Bam! Cal has been on a crusade to punish the fanbase for whatever reason. Idk how some can’t see it. He is constantly giving the “basketball bennies” subtle middle fingers.

 

[crestcat]

I would have to have a personal relationship with Cal to actually hate him but I’m angry that he has made me apathetic about the team. If he choked and croaked on that BS he is always spewing, I don’t think I would care.

 

[Ocornett]

Hate him as a coach but hate as man in general started blurring in when he shit on Dontae Allen like he did. Never seen a coach treat a player as bad as Allen was treated by cal and that has nothing to do with how well he played or didn’t play. Add to that his condescending comments toward the media and fanbase, I’m just starting to despise him all the way around.

Cal didn’t hate on Dontae the kid just wasn’t UK material. He gave the kid numerous chances and he failed miserably. Kid ha a couple of good games, and didn’t play defense at all. He’s the one that had the attitude last year, and anyone could see it.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Up until 2018 I defended Cal. I knew he wasnt perfect but at that time there were posters who bashed him because he only won 1 title and I had to remind them that sh*t happens in the post season, best team for the regular season doesnt win as often as some think. but then the year after the 2015 team.. and 2 years after that happened and started worrying me a little as too many players were leaving to undrafted or 2nd round ... it was like players would rather be anywhere but here at UK

Cal wouldnt change or adapt to how arm bars werent allowed anymore making his dynamic defense that freshmen could use arm bars and adapt faster to keeping defenders out of the lane a tad longer for bigs to come over and help.... well he didnt change. and when we had players that needed plays and screens to get open he still had them do one on one and we would struggle at times

Then Cal lost in the USA games to a team of Barrett and no one else even remotely close to the talent the USA had. team looked worse than AAU teams... he never changed defensively to stop the 1 player... people just tore into me here when I said it was a bad red flag. Cal needed to change some of his ways. I never hated Cal..... I just was frustrated and upset he wouldnt change anything but then after the 9 win season I was pretty much completely done and ready to mourn UK and not watch again until a new coach was here but he promised to change .. you all heard it , he said the things he'd change and promised. so last year ... he changed in that he went after some transfers...... but after our big wins against KU and Tenn he got such a massive big head and ego came back and he gloated he didnt change anything. he put it in the fans face and media......... only for the last month 6 games of the regular season and then also the post season to have the team just start playing awful... proving his methods needed changing for the entire season to be successsful...

and because of that, yeah , Hate is a strong word but I seriously dislike Cal now. I wish someone would throw a dead wet fish at him if he still refuses to change or retire. I definitely think a lot is the refs and ncaa hate him but if i wasnt disabled and still had my old job and my boss hated me and made life that difficult, I'd retire... the fans that loved him and UK dont deserve to have everything ruined out of stubbornness and ego. Life shouldnt be where refs and ncaa be unfair to a coach like that.... its not right but its not going to change.. we dont have any power to change it all we have the power to do is have someone else coach they wouldnt treat that way.

I love UK ..... but this is now 2 times in Barnharts tenure that UK basketball has fallen so far........ pretty sure he's the common denominator and the first problem to fix. then Cal

 

[cats2010]

Cal didn’t hate on Dontae the kid just wasn’t UK material. He gave the kid numerous chances and he failed miserably. Kid ha a couple of good games, and didn’t play defense at all. He’s the one that had the attitude last year, and anyone could see it.

Can agree to disagree on Allen getting a fair chance. He wasn’t a superstar by any means but he was better than BJ Boston and cal really didn’t want to play him but did so as he knew he had too after his game at MSST. Boston sucked all year, and I mean all year yet cal stood behind him and let him play 30 minutes a game but BJ aside from a few games here and there just flat out sucked. How much better of a player do you think Allen could have possibly been had he had the vote of confidence that Cal gave BJ all year instead of playing knowing he was coming out the first time he made the slightest of mistakes.

Last year hard to blame the kid for having a bad attitude. Inserted one game for 7 seconds, another less than .30 and the one game that really stood out which is where I called cal a ****ing prick was the Alabama game. Having hit 8-10 3’s in the first 10 minutes of the game they really couldn’t miss and was hitting on everyone. Allen is inserted and gives up a 3 on his side of the court for bama to go 9-11 and after not making even the slightest gesture toward any of the other made 3’s cal flipped his lid and couldn’t get him out of the game fast enough. Cal didn’t like him period and took every opportunity he could to show him up.

 

[cats2010]

Allen just wasn’t that good dude

Never said he was. Reading comprehension, try it sometime.

 

[cats2010]

Hold my beer...

Thanks for the reminder, forgot about this actually but it was off the court and we only heard about it afterwards.

 

[cats2010]

Really? You've never seen a coach treat a player as badly as Cal treated Allen? Were you born in the past few years? Forget about how Gillispie treated Harrellson when he had a concussion? Or how he treated some of the other players? Or when Knight literally choked a player?

Some of you are letting your dislike for Cal completely distort the reality of college basketball.

Certainly examples of a coach being violent/aggressive toward a player but that’s just a damn anger management issue. I’m speaking simply of a player/coach relationship and utilization of that player. Cal didn’t like Allen nor wanted to play him and took every opportunity he could to show Allen up all the while giving the appearance he was giving him a chance. Not saying Allen was great and should have been starting/playing 30 minutes a game or anything like that but it was obvious last year cal had ruined any confidence the kid had. He’s back to above 40% from 3 this year in the limited time he has gotten to play so nowhere near as bad as the product cal had turned him into.

 

[ukcatz12]

this year in the limited time he has gotten to play

Limited time has has gotten to play. At WKU. Allen just wasn't UK material. I think we all wish he were, but he's not. But sure, it's Cal's fault.

 

[IUfanBorden]

Saban hasn’t adapted as much as some believe. That’s part of the issue this season for Alabama football……he’s been slow to adapt to the ever changing landscape of college sports. Also, Team is sloppy and undisciplined. Saban is a great one for sure but others are catching up.

Probably b/c CFB is adapting to him...

 

[Bluesbrother]

I don’t hate Cal. I do hate his ways. I hate his stubbornness. I hate that he won’t ever adjust or try anything new.

I used to really like the guy. I thought, at one time, he could possibly become the best college coach in the country. Sadly, he doesn’t really care about being one of the best to do it.

Cal has a very high opinion of himself and with that, he has forgotten how to coach and forgotten for whom he works b/c that's all secondary to him. He just doesn't care about anything but the perception that he is the GOAT regarding his altruistic vison for himself. He's like so many others, that in some twisted way, he feels guilty for his monetary success, and he feels some kind of personal self-imposed obligation to now use the UK platform to "end generational poverty" forgetting that UK was built for and is wired to "win Titles". What the hell does he think he's doing? His is nothing more than "self-service" although he would never admit as much. That's why I keep saying "Sick and Twisted" ... it just seems to fit. His legacy at UK will forever be tainted ... and that's a damn shame. Truly, it is.

 

[cats2010]

Limited time has has gotten to play. At WKU. Allen just wasn't UK material. I think we all wish he were, but he's not. But sure, it's Cal's fault.

Again for those with reading comprehension problems. I clearly stated it was never about how good or bad Allen was playing.

 

[Rockfly78]

The problem here is that most people do feel this way and they're just labeled as "Cal haters". Most people don't hate Cal, but every time you criticize the guy that's what you get accused of.

To counterpoint, nobody “loves” Cal either. “Those” people are just a lot more optimistic by nature and they prefer a positive vibe. But they are labeled as cal lovers. People feel the way they feel. As the great and wise Scott Hall once said, “it’s not their fault. They think they are right”.

 

[Rockfly78]

Never said he was. Reading comprehension, try it sometime.

So if he got more clock would you be cool? I guess the coach at WKU hates him too huh?