Thiero
- Thread starter Smashcat
- Start date
He is one I wanted to keep along with Z. Despite our assumptions though, we really don't know if staying was an option. Probably wouldn't be made public to save face for all, but some could have wanted to stay but Pope felt the fit wasn't right. Could be why some hung around so long. Maybe they just wanted to keep playing for Cal regardless.
Fact is we just don't know.
Really hope we don’t boo these guys when they come back for the game. Idc if we boo Cal, but these kids didn’t do anything wrong.
Neither did Cal (in my book).
He failed at the end of his tenure.
But he added to our Legacy (2012) and elevated us in ways many despise.
(NBA loaded with UK alumni gives us great PR)
I really wanted him to come back. Why he followed Cal will perplex me til the end of my days. I can understand the loyalty Z and Wagner probably have for Cal, but why Thiero didn't run as far away from Cal is something I'll never understand.
Unlike Big Z I really don’t see how he would have been used much if he’d stayed. So I don’t mind him leaving even though I loved him here (still have my Thiero jersey) and wish him the absolute best personally.
Just like Biz Z, I have no earthly idea why he made the bonehead decision to do Cal to himself again. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ to each his own.
Just like Biz Z, I have no earthly idea why he made the bonehead decision to do Cal to himself again. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ to each his own.
I didn't see theiro going to ARKY. I figured it would've been UNC or who else was up there? Pitt maybe.
I figure AT left UK because of Cal misusing him but I must've been wrong.
I figure AT left UK because of Cal misusing him but I must've been wrong.
In the interview, Thiero said it came down to knowing what it was like to play for Cal vs going to play in an unknown environment for another coach.
I’m still a little surprised that he thought Cal was the best option, it sounded like he was really wrestling with his options.
I’m still a little surprised that he thought Cal was the best option, it sounded like he was really wrestling with his options.
He's not a Pope kind of player. Pope wants skilled players. Thiero lacks skills like many Calipari players who get by because of their physical abilities.
I wouldn't boo them either. They made the most logical choices for guys who had an opportunity to follow their former coach somewhere else. They changed schools for the coach not because of any ill will towards our program. I can respect that.
I wouldn't boo them either. They made the most logical choices for guys who had an opportunity to follow their former coach somewhere else. They changed schools for the coach not because of any ill will towards our program. I can respect that.
I feel like Pope probably wanted a clean slate. Nothing against the kid directly, but I feel he just wanted to start clean. I really liked Thiero and wanted to see what Big Z could do given the chance, but I also understand my theory of Pope and fresh air all around.
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Man Rick got booed at UofL and while yes thats an instate rival, Arky is a basketball rival. Cal will get booed a bit. That wound is still a bit too fresh.
Now had he went to any other job not in conference or that wasn’t the blue blood rivals then I think it would be fine.
Nah I won’t pull against the kids. I hope he and Dj and Z have good numbers down there. Just not in Lexington.
I will not pull for Cal right now though. Unless he’s playing EweTee, UofL, Duke/UNC or KU. Then that supersedes the angst a bit.
Nah. They made the decision to follow the coach that recruited them. Nothing wrong with that per se. Especially DJ.
If Calipari had stayed at UK he would have never tried to bring in Carr. So, I would have been praying for Thiero to return. I still like Thiero’s upside – would have loved for him to stay and pair with Carr at PF - but I certainly wouldn’t take him over Carr and don’t know whether he or Almonor is the better compliment at this point.
Adou was an enigma to me. He could rise up and throw down a posturizing dunk on a 7-1 center or he could get blocked by a 5-11 white dude a foot below the rim.
Hope we boo them out of the building, personally. Would love to see them get rattled on their way to a 30 point beat down.
With NIL, it's not as simple of an equation with players to correlate satisfaction / love for a program with their retention. It's really not a lot different from a NBA player moving programs anymore. To some degree, it's just business. What makes NIL difficult, rather than an actual contract, is that it's never clear when it's the money or something else.
If it is the money, I don't blame him. Don't hate the player....
If it is the money, I don't blame him. Don't hate the player....
I hope we don’t boo either the former players or former coaches and actually we will welcome them with applause .
We should display class in our behavior but that Ben sad I hope Kentucky wins big. Applause’s actuality work better psychologically than boos, it’s better to disarm someone than give them ammunition to play harder…
We should display class in our behavior but that Ben sad I hope Kentucky wins big. Applause’s actuality work better psychologically than boos, it’s better to disarm someone than give them ammunition to play harder…
Should have stayed Adou, you would have still had a large role and a huge fan favorite because you hung around.
He can sob all he wants (and I liked him!), but the reality is that he came to play for Cal thinking it would get him to the NBA, and he's not about to admit he was wrong.
No. They came here with a foot out the door, and were determined to put the other one out the door, too. Once you leave, you're competition.
I always loved Adou Thiero. He was a guy who always gave max effort. You never had to wonder if you were getting his best. I would never boo him. And, despite the fact that I was sure it was time for Calipari to leave, I don't hate the man and never will. I supported him until I couldn't support him any longer. Even he would admit, his results those last several years, especially in the post-season, was simply unacceptable. I won't be at Rupp for that Arkansas game, but I wouldn't be booing Cal or any of our former players. I wish them well until they play UK and unless they're competing with UK for titles or seeding or anything else. Otherwise, God speed. Now, if Cal comes out that night and acts like a jerk, I would definitely boo him, but I don't think he will. Whether he likes it or not, his legacy is mostly at UK. He spent his best years- his prime years- at Kentucky and he would be foolish to turn on UK or BBN. I hope he doesn't and I don't believe he will. I do think he became bitter toward BBN the last couple years at UK. Truth be told, he never should have taken that lifetime contract. It never should have been offered. He should have left in 2019, like he originally said he should. "It's a 10-year job," as he said. I didn't like it when he said it, but I can see it now.
I agree with this but our fanbase is untamable. It'll be like a Roman coliseum giving a thumbs up or down. It could go either direction.
The most swaggy thing UK fans could do is give a standing O to former players and coaches before the game.
Will be interesting to see how Adou performs vs. Carr
1. Adou probably is not the PF starter....I would argue that is Brazile spot to lose
2. Adou is probably better shot blocker.....better ball handler at PF....possibly better passer
3. Carr for sure is better shooter, better low post game....I'd even give edge to Carr on boards (Adou would come up with some bad rebounding efforts for some reason).
So all in all, I'd give a slight edge to Carr...in this system he's probably a good bit more of an edge.
1. Adou probably is not the PF starter....I would argue that is Brazile spot to lose
2. Adou is probably better shot blocker.....better ball handler at PF....possibly better passer
3. Carr for sure is better shooter, better low post game....I'd even give edge to Carr on boards (Adou would come up with some bad rebounding efforts for some reason).
So all in all, I'd give a slight edge to Carr...in this system he's probably a good bit more of an edge.
I have it on good authority that AT didn’t necessarily want to bolt, but maybe was told it would be best. Z wasn’t 100%, but was also told it would be best. Wagner wanted to go with Cal.
I agree with what you’ve stated, but I do wonder somewhat about Thiero’s work outside of the games. I was/am high on Thiero’s potential. But I have to admit that I started having concerns about his lack of skill development last season. Whether due to the failure of the coaches, lack of confidence, work ethic issues or something else, I felt like his ball-handling and shooting in particular should have been better last season. With his history as a PG, his growth spurt and his strength & athleticism combination, I just felt like he wasn’t progressing as much as he should. And if I’m being honest, I started having questions about how hard Thiero was willing to work to turn that potential into being a substantially better basketball player. Seems like I recall some scuttlebutt talk that maybe Thiero wasn’t the hardest worker outside of games, but that might be completely false.
I figured this to be the case. DJ going with Cal is fine; doesn't bother me. He's been close to Cal since birth. No qualms there at all.
AT and Z bothered me a bit, but, I also thought they probably weren't necessarily welcome. Which, having been in a performance world before (and sports are part of that), this happens sometimes. New coach wants their people. Period. Doesn't matter who you are. You could be second cousin to the Father Himself and it wouldn't matter.
And yes, it HURTS when that happens. I lost a position that way when I was younger and working with high schools students. Program Director changed, and even though I'd been doing it for half a decade it didn't matter- I was OUT. Took several years to get over that tbh. Because you don't even get a chance to state your case/prove yourself. You're just not wanted. Man it hurts. But life goes on. I hate that for them; I know that feeling and it's like being a person with leprosy. You feel unwanted and like an outcast.
I do hope Pope was at least straight forward and nice about it. Some new coaches aren't. I mean, Prime tossed several players when he took over at CU. And wasn't too nice about it all. Which, I get it, that's just Prime. But if you're going to screw someone out of a spot at least be cordial and honest about it.
Eh, I don't always agree with that. Damion Collins is a perfect example. He left for familial reasons. True, on the court, he's competition. But off the court, that dude will always be a Cat. I have no ill will towards him whatsoever; kid lost his dad.
I wish he had too, but it's starting to sound like he was told there wouldn't be a spot for him.
I would never boo a Coach that won a title for Uk. With that logic you would boo Davis, Wall , Fox, or Reed too? They were here for one year only tooo…
I definitely think there would have especially if he did it early. Sounds like he just wanted to go with what he knew to me. No problem there.
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