He was good from 2009-2017 and then it went down hill. Did the game just finally catch up to him? What really happened?
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2015 loss.In 2019 our AD panicked when UCLA pursued him ....and as a result, gave him an utterly outrageous 10 year "lifetime" contract extension that effectively surrendered all UK control over the program to an egomaniacal coach and made him utterly untouchable and accountable to nobody.
If you want to pinpoint a precise moment when program went to hell ...I'd start there.
He refuses to change, he is still running the same stuff from 2009 and it doesn't work this day and age.He was good from 2009-2017 and then it went down hill. Did the game just finally catch up to him? What really happened?
This, 100% game has changed and cal won’t adjust. One of the things that made Saban great was his ability to adapt. He saw the game changing from running to passing, so went out and hired Kiffin (who I doubt he even liked).He refuses to change, he is still running the same stuff from 2009 and it doesn't work this day and age.
In April 2019 our AD panicked when Cal leveraged UCLA interest in him ....and as a result, gave an utterly outrageous 10 year "lifetime" contract extension that effectively surrendered all UK control over the program to an egomaniacal coach and made him utterly untouchable and accountable to nobody.
If you want to pinpoint a precise moment when the program went to hell ...I'd start there.
These 2 things are the CRUX of it. I would add that his success at being a springboard to the NBA also contributed. He LOVES bragging about how many kids he has placed there and the amount of money they have made from reaching there. It has went to his head.Got rid of the only people who understood the game deeply and surrounded himself with yes men that encourage his ego and do not help his lack of true game smarts.
I’m not sure he’s a better person than Knight. Knight did a lot of charitable things and a lot for his players. He was just an ass in a different way than Cal, and he didn’t care what people thought of him.Same thing that happened to Bobby Knight. The game changed and he refused to change or adapt.
Cal was a good coach. You don’t make the HOF without being a very good coach. That said, he wasn’t as good on the X’s & O’s as Knight. He was/is a better human than Knight. My comparison is simply that they were both insanely stubborn.
I’m not sure he’s a better person than Knight. Knight did a lot of charitable things and a lot for his players. He was just an ass in a different way than Cal, and he didn’t care what people thought of him.
Rob Dauster who is a Basketball writer for Field of 68 said that Cal's last play with 13 seconds left was a Box set that he has run for YEARS and EVERY TIME he comes out in it ALL OPPOSING coaches KNOW that he is trying to set up for a Lob at the rim.He refuses to change, he is still running the same stuff from 2009 and it doesn't work this day and age.
That's way off baseHe refuses to change, he is still running the same stuff from 2009 and it doesn't work this day and age.
No way Knight was a good human being after listening to his language in that golf video. Despicable.I’m not sure he’s a better person than Knight. Knight did a lot of charitable things and a lot for his players. He was just an ass in a different way than Cal, and he didn’t care what people thought of him.
Photo ops don't mean you care about people. Cal is a salesman. Even his charity work is about him being recognized for it. Otherwise you'd never hear about it in the news.I’m not sure he’s a better person than Knight. Knight did a lot of charitable things and a lot for his players. He was just an ass in a different way than Cal, and he didn’t care what people thought of him.
2015...he got neutered by Wisconsin.He was good from 2009-2017 and then it went down hill. Did the game just finally catch up to him? What really happened?
This!!!!!!He has been out coached by a few crappy coaches. He did lose to Kevin freaking Ollie. Maybe he never was really that great he just had talent that made up for it
Yeah those first 5 seasons we had a title were making good runs and dominating almost everyone on the court but only that one title. I think if a good coach has those teams we have at least 2 probably 3 more titles but all of BBN had the blue beer googles on and thought we are just having some bad luck in reality the talent he had was winning despite his poor coaching.He has been out coached by a few crappy coaches. He did lose to Kevin freaking Ollie. Maybe he never was really that great he just had talent that made up for it
That doesn’t account for the deep 2017 and 2019 runs. We were damn good both those years.2015 loss.
Top recruits realized they could go anywhere and still get drafted. So there was 10 other teams within striking distance of his talent. Before that there was only about 3-4 that got within striking distance of his talent.
The transfer portal really took away his enormous talent advantage and he is getting exposed for how terrible of a game coach he really is.
He was a total prick to do that.In April 2019 our AD panicked when Cal leveraged UCLA interest in him ....and as a result, gave an utterly outrageous 10 year "lifetime" contract extension that effectively surrendered all UK control over the program to an egomaniacal coach and made him utterly untouchable and accountable to nobody.
If you want to pinpoint a precise moment when the program went to hell ...I'd start there.
Nick Saban seemed to keep his fire going pretty good - Cal is a real jerk if you pull back the curtainCal reached the pinnacle of his career and quite honestly became complacent. His focus changed to “changing lives” cause that was easier than winning at the highest level. He replaced people who would push/challenge him with people that dont challenge. It is the rare individual, in any profession, who wins at a high level, becomes highly compensated, has aged and still maintains the competitive fire.
When Cal started talking about so many off court things, it was obvious his fire had dimmed.
And I would think Saban is in rare air category.Nick Saban seemed to keep his fire going pretty good - Cal is a real jerk if you pull back the curtain
They were good in 19 too, they were an overtime from being in the final four. But your answer is Robic left soon after that.He was good from 2009-2017 and then it went down hill. Did the game just finally catch up to him? What really happened?
Mitch has not made many good hires as Cal was not within his control. He didnt want to r the guy who lost Cal and knew he would screwup the replacement hire.He was a total prick to do that.
Damn!Once upon a time, we were DOMINATING recruiting. And Calipari thought hyping the NBA success was the meal ticket. He thought it would be this self fulfilling prophecy. And it was. Just not in the way he expected.
You see, Cal thought we'd have our pick of top recruits year after year. He thought everyone wanted to come to Kentucky, and we would dissect their talents like they were applying for a job. Kentucky eats first and all that. And if nothing ever changed, maybe we were set.
Andrew Wiggins went to Kansas and went 1st overall. Ok, well, it's Kansas. Then Ben Simmons goes to LSU and goes 1st overall. Anthony Bennett went to UNLV. Cade went to OK State. Edwards went to Georgia. These elite guys figured out--you can be a top pick even if you don't go to Kentucky.
A couple 5 star kids went overseas to play professionally. RJ Hamptom. A few others here and there. The G-League Ignite and OTE became another way to lose out on the elite of the elite.
Then the three final nails in the coffin: Covid-19, Transfer portal, and NIL.
Cal didn't really want to embrace NIL. I think that held us back for a few years. Covid-19 has given guys that extra year of eligibility. And then the transfer portal has allowed schools to have bidding wars for 23 and 24 year old grown men. And the Power 5 schools are buying the best players. The talent is more condensed than ever before.
So now, more talent is returning to college/staying in college longer. It's all going to the bigger schools. Teams are older, tougher, more physical. They're more experienced and know how to play high level/team basketball.
Instead of embracing the 2024 model--Cal went back to the 2010 model. We have the elite freshmen. We have a few upper classmen. He finally figured out that we need shooting. But we have a team of mostly 18-19 year olds playing against grown men that understand the game better.
I can name several coaches in their 60s with a sincere desire to win…Cal termed the phrase win or learn which is the stupidest comment everAnd I would think Saban is in rare air category.
That are making 9 million per year, are set financially for life and are at the highest level in their 60s. You think that is common or more the exception?I can name several coaches in their 60s with a sincere desire to win…Cal termed the phrase win or learn which is the stupidest comment ever