The Fall of Calipari

[KyFaninNC]

This is only my opinion.

After losing to Wisky in 2015, many fans, me included, saw huge coaching mistakes, and thought, if he can't win with this team, he will not win another title.

Many fans became tired of the OAD, when so many were leaving that should have stayed. Constant roster turnover,

Ugly basketball early, weak OOC schedule, cancelling home and home series.

Getting beat in the tourney by weaker teams, due to bad coaching and lack of experience players.

No longer getting top 5 talent, so basically turning UK into AAU basketball.

His obsession with getting guys drafted over winning games for UK.

Slow, steady slide since 2016.

Terrible record against top 25 teams.

Losing the 3 point streak.

Refusing to change offense and defense to better suit the type of players we got.

Not recruiting players with skills such a sshooters, and basketball IQ and skills

Too much rope given to 5 stars and none to bench guys

Too many transfers, because of ^

Last summer, marched with the team supporting BLM, ok, support the players, got it.

Made a video asking all of BBN to support BLM, BIG mistake, lot of fans see them as a terrorist organization

Started out the year looking horrible

Joined the team in kneeling at UF, HUGE mistake, divided the fan base big time.

Too many excuses when there were none

Blaming fans, talking down to fans, arrogant attitude toward fans

If only, he could have been humble, accepted and took responsibility for this mess and told the fans, he would fix it. Maybe would have helped.

But, he doubled and tripled down on the fans, covid, and too hard of a schedule.

Maybe Cal was a victim of his own success early on.

IMO, it is time for a change, for Cal and UK. Would serve them both well.

I have no ill will toward Cal as a person, but I hate what he has done to our program.

Not sure how long this thread will last.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

Comedy Mania thing was beginning of end. (I am joking but that was awful)

 

[stenchymouse]

Unfortunately, everything you said was true.

Not sure I want Cal gone, but I wouldn't be upset if he left.

I'm pretty much indifferent to UK basketball these days.

I still come to this site, but that's more out of routine than anything else.

 

[KyFaninNC]

Comedy Mania thing was beginning of end. (I am joking but that was awful)

ok, thanks for the input, will try to do better next time.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

This is only my opinion.

After losing to Wisky in 2015, many fans, me included, saw huge coaching mistakes, and thought, if he can't win with this team, he will not win another title.

Many fans became tired of the OAD, when so many were leaving that should have stayed. Constant roster turnover,

Ugly basketball early, weak OOC schedule, cancelling home and home series.

Getting beat in the tourney by weaker teams, due to bad coaching and lack of experience players.

No longer getting top 5 talent, so basically turning UK into AAU basketball.

His obsession with getting guys drafted over winning games for UK.

Slow, steady slide since 2016.

Terrible record against top 25 teams.

Losing the 3 point streak.

Refusing to change offense and defense to better suit the type of players we got.

Not recruiting players with skills such a sshooters, and basketball IQ and skills

Too much rope given to 5 stars and none to bench guys

Too many transfers, because of ^

Last summer, marched with the team supporting BLM, ok, support the players, got it.

Made a video asking all of BBN to support BLM, BIG mistake, lot of fans see them as a terrorist organization

Started out the year looking horrible

Joined the team in kneeling at UF, HUGE mistake, divided the fan base big time.

Too many excuses when there were none

Blaming fans, talking down to fans, arrogant attitude toward fans

If only, he could have been humble, accepted and took responsibility for this mess and told the fans, he would fix it. Maybe would have helped.

But, he doubled and tripled down on the fans, covid, and too hard of a schedule.

Maybe Cal was a victim of his own success early on.

IMO, it is time for a change, for Cal and UK. Would serve them both well.

I have no ill will toward Cal as a person, but I hate what he has done to our program.

Not sure how long this thread will last.

It is a scary time to be a UK fan. It has never been this bad. Not Sutton, Not Tubby, Not Billy Clyde. This is the pits of hell engulfing a program.

 

[etownblue25]

He has done something no other coach or person in the history of the University of Kentucky has been able to do. Something I thought would be impossible. He has made a significant portion of the fan base not care about the the program and lose their passion for Kentucky basketball. I am not sure it will ever be the same again.

 

[Louis_Skunt]

You lost me after the first line of "If he cant win with.."

Reminds me of the time UL fans said "if he cant win with John Wall he'll never win"

When will people realize that talent alone doesn't win titles? If it was just talent, it would be Duke vs UK every title game.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

He has done something no other coach or person in the history of the University of Kentucky has been able to do. Something I thought would be impossible. He has made a significant portion of the fan base not care about the the program and lose their passion for Kentucky basketball. I am not sure it will ever be the same again.

That is the scary part. He has turned off a huge element of the fan base and I doubt he can get them back. I didn't think I would reach a point in time where I did not care if they won or lost. But this is where I am now. And I am not alone.

 

[Backer cutter]

Unfortunately, everything you said was true.

Not sure I want Cal gone, but I wouldn't be upset if he left.

I'm pretty much indifferent to UK basketball these days.

I still come to this site, but that's more out of routine than anything else.

Agree with everything except I do want him gone. It’s already gotten ugly, and about to get uglier. He shouldn’t put himself through what is happening much longer, much less the program and the fans. It’s time for a change.

 

[RunninRichie]

not firing justus was a mistake.

 

[kybloo92]

I also miss playing in early season Tournaments like Maui that he will not participate in. Only did so in 2010-11 because UK was committed before he was hired.

 

[KyFaninNC]

I also miss playing in early season Tournaments like Maui that he will not participate in. Only did so in 2010-11 because UK was committed before he was hired.

View embedded media

That too. I forgot that one.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

ok, thanks for the input, will try to do better next time.

Pretty sure he was talking about the stand up fundraiser Calipari had at Rupp with Sinbad.

 

[ukfan041]

I also miss playing in early season Tournaments like Maui that he will not participate in. Only did so in 2010-11 because UK was committed before he was hired.

View embedded media

I miss it too! Not going to Maui every 4 years is an absolute joke.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

If we look as bad next season, I don’t care if he’s gone after. If we are respectable and win 20 plus, I’ll add another year.

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

He has done something no other coach or person in the history of the University of Kentucky has been able to do. Something I thought would be impossible. He has made a significant portion of the fan base not care about the the program and lose their passion for Kentucky basketball. I am not sure it will ever be the same again.

Couldn't agree more. I’m a basketball guy, I coach it, very passionate about the details and processes to grow and maintain a program.

I certainly don’t do it at his level, but I don’t allow players or parents to hijack my program. I trust my process even to the point of demanding my best players to follow the disciplines of team ball or they can’t play for me. I’ve lost great players because of it, but the program survived and flourished without them.

Cal made promises-maybe not playing time-but assuring they will get to the league in the timeframe they planned coming into the program. He has sacrificed the program and team for individual goals. I don’t see a way for him to recover from this. I turned off the game last night after the first 5 minutes, just terrible basketball.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

ok, thanks for the input, will try to do better next time.

Wasn't a shot at you. Was talking about Cal's fundraiser with Henry Cho and Sinbad and co-hosted by Ted Dibiase (RIP) who amazingly Bob Huggins is now resembling.

 

[westerncat]

OP II could have not stated it any better. Agree with every thing you said and i want him gone TODAY !

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

I'm sure our record will be better next season because of the way Cal has whined about the schedule we will play cupcake city next season.But it doesn't matter because no way we are a contender with losing most of these guys and a weak class coming in.Cal is done.

 

[RunninRichie]

Wasn't a shot at you. Was talking about Cal's fundraiser with Henry Cho and Sinbad and co-hosted by Ted Dibiase (RIP) who amazingly Bob Huggins is now resembling.

help on the way? (recrootin)

 

[know1]

Nothing new to see here.

Honestly, the first red flag for me was more about in-game coaching, adjustments, and strategy.

The rest of the issues fell into place after recruiting started to fall off.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

help on the way? (recrootin)

Have to wait to see what other changes are going to be made. There should be 2 guys "encouraged" to seek any job opening possible. Be it HS, AAU, College, Brad's thigh tat ink loader.......just get some new blood and people who have ability to close on elite/coveted players.

If we have to hear another year of "Justus is really laying the groundwork for a monster (insert any class since he's been elevated to full time assistant) class" I'll puke.

Barbee and Flint know how things get done but this also isn't 90's or mid 2000's.

 

[RunninRichie]

Have to wait to see what other changes are going to be made. There should be 2 guys "encouraged" to seek any job opening possible. Be it HS, AAU, College, Brad's thigh tat ink loader.......just get some new blood and people who have ability to close on elite/coveted players.

If we have to hear another year of "Justus is really laying the groundwork for a monster (insert any class since he's been elevated to full time assistant) class" I'll puke.

Barbee and Flint know how things get done but this also isn't 90's or mid 2000's.

seems like all chrome dome does it talk about how he “almost” got the recruits. What a bum. Why is he employed at the university of KENTUCKY.

 

[KyFaninNC]

Wasn't a shot at you. Was talking about Cal's fundraiser with Henry Cho and Sinbad and co-hosted by Ted Dibiase (RIP) who amazingly Bob Huggins is now resembling.

No worries, mate.

 

[Catman100]

Absolute spot on post.

 

[YardCat]

If we look as bad next season, I don’t care if he’s gone after. If we are respectable and win 20 plus, I’ll add another year.

Feel this way myself. Hell BCG or tubby never coached this bad.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

seems like all chrome dome does it talk about how he “almost” got the recruits. What a bum. Why is he employed at the university of KENTUCKY.

Not sure what he says. Refuse to listen to him speak during his media hits/podcast interviews. I laugh at his "Coach Bombing" during a game when he leaves "Coach Seating" to "First Class" to make sure he's seen as still being employed.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

not firing justus was a mistake.

My favorite Golden Boy moment of the year. Cal said they are going to lean heavy on the analytical aspect of rotating players. Justus first job at UK was in that area, this was his baby. So the game is in Athens, and he somehow came up with a way that Devin Askew played 30 mins against UGA in a game he was putrid. Specifically has him out there late for the FT's and we know the rest, yacks the front end, and lose on the last second layup where 2 teammates stared at a guy attempted a wide open layup without rotating, challenging, or fouling.

Yay for Analytics. I sum up the Askew experience for BBN as the faces and frustration Cal had in their biggest win of the year in Knoxville. Seeing Askew handling the ball against pressure and the last 2 mins of that game was literally seeing years of Cal's life come off him. To the point Cal had to call timeout and a play to pass the ball to someone else with 12 secs left up 15 to dribble out the clock.

 

[ukalum1988]

I'm in the camp of saying Cal has earned the right to come back next season to fix the problem, but I have my doubts that he actually can.

 

[kybloo92]

I'm in the camp of saying Cal has earned the right to come back next season to fix the problem, but I have my doubts that he actually can.

Good news! Lifetime contract says he will be back next year and several more opportunities to right the ship and I don't think he gets us back to the premiere National Title threat he is paid to do.

 

[jwphelps]

This is only my opinion.

After losing to Wisky in 2015, many fans, me included, saw huge coaching mistakes, and thought, if he can't win with this team, he will not win another title.

Many fans became tired of the OAD, when so many were leaving that should have stayed. Constant roster turnover,

Ugly basketball early, weak OOC schedule, cancelling home and home series.

Getting beat in the tourney by weaker teams, due to bad coaching and lack of experience players.

No longer getting top 5 talent, so basically turning UK into AAU basketball.

His obsession with getting guys drafted over winning games for UK.

Slow, steady slide since 2016.

Terrible record against top 25 teams.

Losing the 3 point streak.

Refusing to change offense and defense to better suit the type of players we got.

Not recruiting players with skills such a sshooters, and basketball IQ and skills

Too much rope given to 5 stars and none to bench guys

Too many transfers, because of ^

Last summer, marched with the team supporting BLM, ok, support the players, got it.

Made a video asking all of BBN to support BLM, BIG mistake, lot of fans see them as a terrorist organization

Started out the year looking horrible

Joined the team in kneeling at UF, HUGE mistake, divided the fan base big time.

Too many excuses when there were none

Blaming fans, talking down to fans, arrogant attitude toward fans

If only, he could have been humble, accepted and took responsibility for this mess and told the fans, he would fix it. Maybe would have helped.

But, he doubled and tripled down on the fans, covid, and too hard of a schedule.

Maybe Cal was a victim of his own success early on.

IMO, it is time for a change, for Cal and UK. Would serve them both well.

I have no ill will toward Cal as a person, but I hate what he has done to our program.

Not sure how long this thread will last.

If the game is close and the opposing coach knows basketball Cal will get outcoached, he is stuck using this same old system that only works when you have great players, hell I can win with great players, good coaches can still win games with average players but this season proves Cal can't/

 

[BourbonBalz]

You lost me after the first line of "If he cant win with.."

Reminds me of the time UL fans said "if he cant win with John Wall he'll never win"

When will people realize that talent alone doesn't win titles? If it was just talent, it would be Duke vs UK every title game.

I see the point went right over your pointy head. Yeah, it takes more than talent. It also takes coaching and experience, which are two things we’ve been very short on the last few years. Get it?

 

[BBUK]

This is only my opinion.

After losing to Wisky in 2015, many fans, me included, saw huge coaching mistakes, and thought, if he can't win with this team, he will not win another title.

Many fans became tired of the OAD, when so many were leaving that should have stayed. Constant roster turnover,

Ugly basketball early, weak OOC schedule, cancelling home and home series.

Getting beat in the tourney by weaker teams, due to bad coaching and lack of experience players.

No longer getting top 5 talent, so basically turning UK into AAU basketball.

His obsession with getting guys drafted over winning games for UK.

Slow, steady slide since 2016.

Terrible record against top 25 teams.

Losing the 3 point streak.

Refusing to change offense and defense to better suit the type of players we got.

Not recruiting players with skills such a sshooters, and basketball IQ and skills

Too much rope given to 5 stars and none to bench guys

Too many transfers, because of ^

Last summer, marched with the team supporting BLM, ok, support the players, got it.

Made a video asking all of BBN to support BLM, BIG mistake, lot of fans see them as a terrorist organization

Started out the year looking horrible

Joined the team in kneeling at UF, HUGE mistake, divided the fan base big time.

Too many excuses when there were none

Blaming fans, talking down to fans, arrogant attitude toward fans

If only, he could have been humble, accepted and took responsibility for this mess and told the fans, he would fix it. Maybe would have helped.

But, he doubled and tripled down on the fans, covid, and too hard of a schedule.

Maybe Cal was a victim of his own success early on.

IMO, it is time for a change, for Cal and UK. Would serve them both well.

I have no ill will toward Cal as a person, but I hate what he has done to our program.

Not sure how long this thread will last.

He didn't fall Sir, he knelt... THAT was his downfall...to get to where he is now...

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

He has done something no other coach or person in the history of the University of Kentucky has been able to do. Something I thought would be impossible. He has made a significant portion of the fan base not care about the the program and lose their passion for Kentucky basketball. I am not sure it will ever be the same again.

Yes, this. Regardless of the debates between us about whether Cal still needs to be there, he has done this to much of the fanbase and that alone should be intolerable to everyone. No other coach in the history of UK has ever done such a thing.

 

[JFCats22]

 

[JFCats22]

He has done something no other coach or person in the history of the University of Kentucky has been able to do. Something I thought would be impossible. He has made a significant portion of the fan base not care about the the program and lose their passion for Kentucky basketball. I am not sure it will ever be the same again.

If you don't think that happened during the BCG time you weren't paying attention or "forgetting" it on purpose.

 

[Creed Bratton]

He has done something no other coach or person in the history of the University of Kentucky has been able to do. Something I thought would be impossible. He has made a significant portion of the fan base not care about the the program and lose their passion for Kentucky basketball. I am not sure it will ever be the same again.

I can't speak for anyone else but for me you are 100% spot on about this. During down years for Hall, Sutton, the probation years, the Tubby mediocrity and even the Billy Clyde years I still watched. I got upset at losses. It hurt when we were put out of the tournament. However none of that is true for me anymore. I have became so emotionally detached from the teams by the constant revolving door that I don't care if I miss a game. It doesn't bother me when we lose and an early exit to an inferior team in the tournament has become expected.

I can't say that it will never be the same but it will have to be when we are finished with the one and done philosophy so you can have some sort of emotional attachment to the players.

 

[hellfercertin]

What a bunch of wimps.

 

[MoneyMuntz]

This stuff is ridiculous. I hate losing, we all do, but all of these reasons are nonsense. It’s bunch of excuses to whine about losing and complain about our program’s support of BLM. If we bounce back next year, all of this gibberish will be forgotten bc winning cures everything. You speak like this is past tense, well you’re gonna have to deal with Cal for awhile longer so you might want to allow for annual re-evaluations of your reality.

 

[Cawood86]

There just sin't any justification for this season and the way Cal has handled it. The record is awful and completely unacceptable.

I think your post is correct. Lots of things happened this year and none of them have been good. Cal is at the forefront of the program and of the issues this year.

I just do not believe he will change. I do not believe he thinks he needs to. That is why I would rather him leave.