What Cal said to Kenny Payne....awesome

[poppycat]

Yeah it was the next play. His guy drove right around him and got a layup. Don't remember who it was. I'm not complaining too much though. If he gets 18 & 12 and just plays as hard as he can on D, I'm not going to cry too much if he gets beat once or twice

Well if his man drove around him, he must have been back. I recorded, but have not replayed yet, will look for that play. If fact Willis was beaten more than once or twice. ..........Every scored basket is not the result of bad defense.........There are some very good offenses out there.

I do remember the play you mentioned., just not when it happened.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

My opinion - I love seeing Skal excited; but if I'm watching another team and one of their players flexes like that, especially after the type of start to the season Skal has had, I would be laughing and saying he was an idiot. I would say something like, "typical UL player," or "dude obviously don't understand he hasn't really done much to warrant that." I may even say "that coach should grab him and park his rear on the bench so he understands he's not superman." But in this case - I'm all for Skal getting pumped up! Flex those guns big guy.

 

[BoulderCat]

In one of those interviews Cal said flat out Skal isn't going to see the floor unless he defends and rebounds. It's really up to him. Yes, he's a great shooter with a tremendous advantage, his height, but at UK you have to do a lot more than just shoot well. Especially when your that big. Like rebound!

 

[moe#8]

Yes because its punky and bush league...he got zero rebounds at 7 feet tall...whats he flexing for....now Willis...he had reason to flex

why did you feel the need to post this ?? my daughter( season ticket holder and rabid cat fan ) told me last night that there would be someone on here with a negative post about last nights game,sure enough by damn here is the thread. some of you people are ruining this board and the true Kentucky fans. these guys are just kids and do not deserve the smut on here. you wonder why wildcat don isn't here any longer think about it while I am ranting I also want to say that the way posters are treated on here is ridiculous also.there must be a lot of posters on here that have a serious inferiorty complex.damn I feel better. time to go out to protect and serve.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

There was a big difference in Willis/Skal celebrating. Skal did it while the ball was in play and going the other way while he stopped to flex. Derek let out a yell for about a second while leaning back to start going the other way WHILE the ball was still out of play. He wasn't scored on like a previous poster claimed.

 

[ulismyman]

Moe....i posted it because i cant stand that kind of "hey look at me" play...just my opinion

 

[kybassfan]

Moe....i posted it because i cant stand that kind of "hey look at me" play...just my opinion

Sure you can stand it.

....now Willis...he had reason to flex

As long as its your boyfriend.

 

[dckala2]

i have a lot of respect for Cal taking responsibility for some of Skal's slump. The majority of this board knew Skal wasn't a back to the basket player. Now that he is playing away facing up, we see what he can do.

 

[ulismyman]

Cal always takes the hit...always says it is on him

 

[LmdCat]

If Skal keeps scoring baskets, start rebounding more, and blocking more shots, he should be able to flex whatever he wants. It is simply no way to please some of you guys. You simply look for reasons to complain about specific players as if you are living a perfect life.

 

[BigBlue1992]

This is no way intended for just Skal but I'm tired of seeing all the show boating going on in sports period. You don't have to scream and flex every time you make a basket or get a block. Football is just as bad. Players dancing and running their mouth after every tackle and touchdown. It's getting old. Just play ball.

 

[JohnnyGentle]

If Skal keeps scoring baskets, start rebounding more, and blocking more shots, he should be able to flex whatever he wants. It is simply no way to please some of you guys. You simply look for reasons to complain about specific players as if you are living a perfect life.

you level lame, facile criticisms at cal at pretty much every turn

 

[LmdCat]

you level lame, facile criticisms at cal at pretty much every turn

Cal admitted on tv last night that he had screwed up Skal, but I am certain that you don't believe him. Yes, I fairly criticize a highly paid coach while you target kids. That really makes me a bad guy. Maybe you should take a hard look into the nearest mirror.

 

[Jkwo]

Cal admitted on tv last night that he had screwed up Skal, but I am certain that you don't believe him. Yes, I fairly criticize a highly paid coach while you target kids. That really makes me a bad guy. Maybe you should take a hard look into the nearest mirror.

You lambaste people for buying into coach-speak, but this one time you take him 100% seriously?

To say that Skal isn't as tough as similarly skinny Davis, Noel, or (early) WCS, is not to target him. It's just to state facts. Cal just wants to take pressure off the kid by putting it on himself.

I agreed with what you said in the other thread about Cal's bizarre harpooning of Willis in interviews, but to cite another interview (which is not subject to coach-speak, because he's not a coach), Willis openly admitted that he didn't try as hard as he should for long stretches at this school. So at least there's mild justification in that unlike Skal, he's not a twiggy freshman import who doesn't know the ropes.

By far more typical of Cal is to praise coaches he doesn't like, protect players who aren't even listening to him, put blame on himself, give credit where it's due - etc. The Skal thing is just another example of that. Do I actually think he's that humble, that he really believes that everybody else should get credit and not him? Not really, but he constantly talks that way, so for you to treat his statement about "Screwing up" Skal as candid and revelatory is bizarre. He's just protecting the kid.

 

[whhs22]

Not sure skal will become a rebounding machine at anytime.

Watched a 5"11guard wrestle with him over a rebound causing a held ball.

Skal cannot handle contact at all. Got moved around and used by a 6"7 guy all night.

Even on picks Skal will avoid making contact half the time. Skal is at his best with speed and quickness. Not sure at 7ft many coaches are going to let him get away with picking and choosing when he wants to make contact.

 

[LmdCat]

You lambaste people for buying into coach-speak, but this one time you take him 100% seriously?

To say that Skal isn't as tough as similarly skinny Davis, Noel, or (early) WCS, is not to target him. It's just to state facts. Cal just wants to take pressure off the kid by putting it on himself.

I agreed with what you said in the other thread about Cal's bizarre harpooning of Willis in interviews, but to cite another interview (which is not subject to coach-speak, because he's not a coach), Willis openly admitted that he didn't try as hard as he should for long stretches at this school. So at least there's mild justification in that unlike Skal, he's not a twiggy freshman import who doesn't know the ropes.

By far more typical of Cal is to praise coaches he doesn't like, protect players who aren't even listening to him, put blame on himself, give credit where it's due - etc. The Skal thing is just another example of that. Do I actually think he's that humble, that he really believes that everybody else should get credit and not him? Not really, but he constantly talks that way, so for you to treat his statement about "Screwing up" Skal as candid and revelatory is bizarre. He's just protecting the kid.

When Cal says things that you don't agree with, you are quick to call it coach speak. Those mid-range shots that Skal took and hit weren't coach speak. They were the manifestation of Cal's acceptance of Skal for who he is and the the realization of the type of player that he must be and will be at the next level.

Also, Willis would have admitted to being the shooter in the grassy knoll if he thought that would persuade Cal to give him more playing time.

 

[Jkwo]

When Cal says things that you don't agree with, you are quick to call it coach speak. Those mid-range shots that Skal took and hit weren't coach speak. They were the manifestation of Cal's acceptance of Skal for who he is and the the realization of the type of player that he must be and will be at the next level.

Also, Willis would have admitted to being the shooter in the grassy knoll if he thought that would persuade Cal to give him more playing time.

Ah, must feel good to be in that exclusive club of 10 million people who knew that Skal had a nice mid-ranged jumper. Has nothing to do with the rest of his shortcomings.

It's patently idiotic to say that Cal actually "screwed a kid up" based on an approach that has worked fantastically with multiple kids just as skinny as Skal was. Anthony nor Nerlens nor WCS nor Camby, for that matter, had any bulk to speak of, nor were they known for their offensive post presence when they came in the door, and he was able to get it out of them. What's so tough about that concept?

And you're doing exactly the same thing you're accusing me of re: Willis. You disbelieve Willis because it doesn't fit your agenda.
Except I'm suggesting something with lots of precedent behind it - that Cal is trying to shield a kid by giving an unrealistic interpretation of a subjective matter (who is responsible for Skal's shortcomings thus far?).
You're flat out saying that Derek is lying, because his statement was on an objective matter.

 

[jameslee32]

He shot the ball well..did nothing else...Cal said it multiple times in postgame...it isnt breaking news

Yup. I thought he played well but it was Mizzou after all.

I'm paraphrasing but Cal wondered how a guy 7' tall could not get one rebound in 3 straight possessions. Based on that, it's easy to see why Cal is so good. He expects greatness every time out and will push a 5-star or the 10th man repeatedly until he gets there.

 

[kybassfan]

Call it coach speak or whatever, but I think Cal was saying they'd shut the door on expanding Skal's tool set around the basket. Trying to make him a more effective post player was exactly the right thing to do. Now it seems that Skal's options are to become a Prince like ball player. However, Prince was an exceptional ball handler for his size. Skal gets in trouble when he brings the ball down below his shoulders. Reading between the lines, Cal is saying the best plan didn't work so they are going to salvage what they can.

Cal can take the blame for Skal not succeeding as a post player. However, trying mold Skal into his most marketable template wasn't a failure. It's a damn shame it didn't work.

And who's fault is that?

 

[Jkwo]

Call it coach speak or whatever, but I think Cal was saying they'd shut the door on expanding Skal's tool set around the basket. Trying to make him a more effective post player was exactly the right thing to do. Now it seems that Skal's options are to become a Prince like ball player. However, Prince was an exceptional ball handler for his size. Skal gets in trouble when he brings the ball down below his shoulders. Reading between the lines, Cal is saying the best plan didn't work so they are going to salvage what they can.

Cal can take the blame for Skal not succeeding as a post player. However, trying mold Skal into his most marketable template wasn't a failure. It's a damn shame it didn't work.

And who's fault is that?

Exactly - the best version of Skal will of course feature a post game eventually - Cal just knows that he doesn't have time before March to pull it out of him, so he's doing what he can for the team.

But to say that Cal just didn't get it, that he was daftly trying to fit square Skal into a round hole, is ignorant - as if they're not going to work night in and night out to give him a post game in the league. Please.

 

[LmdCat]

Not sure skal will become a rebounding machine at anytime.

Watched a 5"11guard wrestle with him over a rebound causing a held ball.

Skal cannot handle contact at all. Got moved around and used by a 6"7 guy all night.

Even on picks Skal will avoid making contact half the time. Skal is at his best with speed and quickness. Not sure at 7ft many coaches are going to let him get away with picking and choosing when he wants to make contact.

If you are correct, Skal should be released at the end of this season if he doesn't go pro so that he can go somewhere where he will be allowed to become the

Ah, must feel good to be in that exclusive club of 10 million people who knew that Skal had a nice mid-ranged jumper. Has nothing to do with the rest of his shortcomings.

It's patently idiotic to say that Cal actually "screwed a kid up" based on an approach that has worked fantastically with multiple kids just as skinny as Skal was. Anthony nor Nerlens nor WCS nor Camby, for that matter, had any bulk to speak of, nor were they known for their offensive post presence when they came in the door, and he was able to get it out of them. What's so tough about that concept?

And you're doing exactly the same thing you're accusing me of re: Willis. You disbelieve Willis because it doesn't fit your agenda.
Except I'm suggesting something with lots of precedent behind it - that Cal is trying to shield a kid by giving an unrealistic interpretation of a subjective matter (who is responsible for Skal's shortcomings thus far?).
You're flat out saying that Derek is lying, because his statement was on an objective matter.

Well I guess you are calling Cal patently idiotic since he stated on tv that he screwed him up, but I am certain that you know more than Cal about what he really means when he makes a statement.

 

[Jkwo]

If you are correct, Skal should be released at the end of this season if he doesn't go pro so that he can go somewhere where he will be allowed to become the


Well I guess you are calling Cal patently idiotic since he stated on tv that he screwed him up, but I am certain that you know more than Cal about what he really means when he makes a statement.

No. I'm saying that Cal twists the situation to cover for even the most wayward kids 99% of the time. There was a full-on locker room fallout when Ryan Harrow quit the team twice in one season, and Cal was far most generous in the media regarding him than most other coaches would've been. Same with Lamb and his work ethic, same with Darnell and his pot habit.

The two players he has publicly blasted have then turned around and turned into monsters after doing little to nothing (Jorts and Willis), so evidently he saw that he would be able to extract excellence from them in that way.

And again, you're calling Derek a liar on an objective matter (unlike the subjective matter where Cal put the blame for Skal on himself.)