When does Cal take some heat?

[DwayneMeighan]

Yea I am sure coach K would have his best shooter stand in the corner all game. I am sure he would.

And one another thing. This team desperately needs front court production way more than it needs perimeter production. UK has enough on the perimeter.

Where they are severely lacking and losing games is in the front court. Willis is a 6'9" PF is he not? If he wasn't so one dimensional and could do more than just stand in the corner, waiting on one of the guards to get him an open look, then he could help with the front court's struggles.

Hate to tell you, but at this point, Willis is not part of UK's solution, he's part of UK's problem, which is a weak ass front court, that offers zero production down low.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

Because Cal has zero clue on how to get shooters open.

Again, It's not all on Cal or other players to get Willis open. I can 100% guarantee you that Cal doesn't tell Willis to stand in the corner and do nothing else. That's all on Willis.

Willis has to move without the ball and create shots for himself. How does he expect to get open when he does nothing but stand in the corner with his thumb up his ass. He's basically guarding himself.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

He has lead the team in rebounds the last 5 games. If it was not for him we would have a few more losses. What a complete hater and no knowledge SOB.

He also led the team in least points scored in the paint. UK shit the bed last night when Poythress went out with foul trouble because they didn't have another PF on the team that could step up and attack the middle of the zone like Poythress was doing.

If Willis wasn't so one dimensional he could have filled that role. Instead Willis stood in the corner because that's all he can do, and UK no one else to attack the zone where it's weakest. You are the no knowledge SOB. As much as you slapdicks like a KY boy to bomb three pointers, there's much more to the game than that, especially when you're freaking 6'9"

 

[LmdCat]

That is the question none of these hot seat guys can answer.

I get those that say Cal should be critiqued and it doesnt mean they want to replace him

However, this hot seat stuff is petty and hopefully just a poor use of words, because hot seat means you may be getting fired and that's just dumb. Only @LmdCat and maybe @sluggercatfan would push for this, even @ZaytovenCat, @CUT-NETS , and @3rex would disagree.

That is the question none of these hot seat guys can answer.

LOL, Do you think I need you to speak on my behalf? If I believed Cal is or should be on the hot seat, I wouldn't hesitate to say it. So, I suggest that you spend your time trying to pull a few words together to say what others have already stated because that approach will require the least amounting of thinking from you. Also, I am more than capable of providing my opinion even if what I post doesn't meet your approval.

 

[brianpoe]

Your opinion of hating on Cal has been going on since he arrived.

You dont want posters to mention it? Say something elsie in a post every now and then that isnt a "Cal sucks" reference.

Thanks for the note.

 

[.S&C.]

Everyone knows I'm far from a Calipari pumper. I do hope the guy stays 10 more years though.

Is there really a poster here who would like to see him reviewed for possible removal? Of course, that would be a hot seat, not "taking heat", but I just wanted to make sure everyone understood where we are.

Sometimes it appears the truth gets lost somewhere in the translation.

 

[.S&C.]

I say I'm not a cal pumper and I just bought a mr. Wildcat black commemorative jersey signed by cal for over 200. Lol.

 

[lkc1234]

Just a honest question? No way should we be losing to a 10-11 type team. Just shouldn't happen here.

Cal will never take any heat from me. He has done more in the last six years than any other coach. Some people are just crazy. Maybe you want Billy G back.

 

[loublue22]

Cmon man, addition by subtraction? Those kids led us to 2 final freaking fours, and people continue to shit on them. Unreal.

I'm not "shitting" on anyone, Ulis is certainly better than Andrew and Murray is at least Aaron's equal. Of course I appreciate what they did when they were here, my overall point was that we lose players we probably shouldn't.

 

[The_Answer1313]

I can't believe this is even a topic much less a 4 page thread lol.

Seriously?

What more do you want this guy to do? lol

 

[CatPhight]

I can't believe this is even a topic much less a 4 page thread lol.

Seriously?

What more do you want this guy to do? lol

Call Murray a selfish mother effer?

jk

 

[JohnnyGentle]

I wish he would of went zone some or try to get his best 3 point shooter (Willis) a open 3. You know some actually coaching.

yeah that's what coaching is

switching to zone

i truly despise many of you

 

[catntn]

If he says he ruined Skal then he should unless he said it for the Draft.

 

[cats2010]

Losses are irrelevant when 2 of the 3 seasons you mentioned ended in a national title game appearance and a de facto one in 2011 against UCONN in the Final Four. You can hang your hat on the NIT one after Noel got hurt (that team was not going anywhere anyways), and this year most likely. Still, 5 good seasons out of 7 years is not bad for any program.

We are not talking Tubby, when he lost 10+ and flamed out early in the NCAA Tournament most years. Why do UK fans say all that matters is natty titles and final fours, but yet you are wanting to talk about meaningless regular season losses? What is your agenda here? You clearly have one.

My agenda has nothing to do with regular season losses. It is called failure to learn from the past. If you aren't willing to make necessary adjustments now how likely are you to try something different in the tourney when everything is on the line. This team may suck at zone but guess what they suck at man now and we are getting in foul trouble way too often as a result. Perhaps playing zone maybe 10-15 minutes per game would alleviate that, maybe not but we will never know as cal woukd soon lose playing man as trying something, anything different.

 

[Stonewall12]

yeah that's what coaching is

switching to zone

i truly despise many of you

 

[KYtotheCore]

Shake it till it breaks.

Just had OJ come out of my nose!

 

[UKnCincy]

Attention everyone: because of the above stated credentials for Coach Cal, he is off limits for any kind of criticism. You are not allowed to question anything he does because of the aforementioned accomplishments. Once you make 4 final fours you basically never make a mistake again and even if it appears you have, you actually didn't.

You're mischaracterizing posters' responses to some of the criticism, particular when it comes from your posts. The problem is that your evaluation of Cal has been largely unbalanced. Your posts have almost exclusively been to highlight what you believe to be deficiencies his in his coaching. While there may be room to criticize, the steady drumbeat of negative posts you generate is not reflective of an honest, thoughtful assessment.

And this hasn't been limited to your discussion of this year's team. You have repeatedly stated your opinion that last year's team should have won the title (a position I find a bit ridiculous) and that the Wisconsin loss exemplifies Cal's failings as a coach. It is fair to examine his decisions in that game. However, in order to use that game as support for the argument that Cal is a weak coach, you have to totally disregard the phenomenal coaching job he did all season to even have them in that position in the first place.

Criticize Cal all you want when it's appropriate, but if you're going to do nothing but focus solely on the limited issues during his tenure while also being hesitant to give him credit where it's due, then be prepared for people to tune you out. And justifiably so.

 

[ThroughBlue]

I would say when we go more than five or six years without making a good run at a Final Four. Certainly not the year after we went 38-1 and went to a final four while losing 7 players. Is this thread real life?

 

[The_Answer1313]

Alot of the media attention was on us because of the undefeated record but I really don't think people realize just how strong Wisconsin and Duke were last season. We were not this overwhelming favorite and even if we were the best team doesn't always win a one and done type tournament. I can't fault Cal for losing in the Final Four to a very good Wisconsin team.

I don't think anyone said he was above criticism. It's just when you continually dismiss a guy's coaching ability when he's been to 4 final fours in the 6 full seasons he's been here you come off..........well ridiculous IMO

 

[ctharris07]

Good job guys.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

Love that the guy that just got called out saying no more 1 and done go to the duke model...when they just won with 1 and fines last year and are terrible this yr..lololololol

 

[crestcat]

Cal will never take any heat from me. He has done more in the last six years than any other coach. Some people are just crazy. Maybe you want Billy G back.

What an ignorant leap of logic

 

[crestcat]

yeah that's what coaching is

switching to zone

i truly despise many of you

That was coaching last Saturday, it got our azz handed to us. Switching defenses is a long honored coaching maneuver.

 

[Rawrrr]

It's time for... platoons!

 

[The_Answer1313]

It's hard to switch to something if we haven't practiced it. That would have been a disaster

Or maybe they DO practice zone and just stink at it.

My point being is it's simple to sit here and say hmm maybe we should try zone but the coaches have alot more knowledge of the team than we do. I'm sure they try things in practice and see what works and what does not work.

It's the same reason we don't see Humphries play. Fans say why not try him whereas the coaches see him in practice every day. They know. If Humphries was any good, he'd be playing.

Maybe he doesn't play zone cause he already knows it wont work.

 

[ThroughBlue]

Switch to zone? Were they draining three after three? And you want zone? We got outrebounded playing man defense and you want a zone? Thank god you losers are at home on the couch and not on our bench.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Also my eyes might play tricks on me but I swear to God every time we do play zone the next possession the opposition hits a 3 lol. We haven't this season I don't think but in previous years.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Switch to zone? Were they draining three after three? And you want zone? We got outrebounded playing man defense and you want a zone? Thank god you losers are at home on the couch and not on our bench.

Exactly.

But this is what happens when we lose. You get irrational thoughts.

 

[JohnnyGentle]

i mean there's no way that a team could emerge as a vastly improved defensive unit from two months of struggling to guard other teams' stuff in adverse situations in their gyms

everyone knows experience is the worst teacher

clearly scrapping everything you work on in practice to parachute in with a magic greaseboard to stop the bleeding is the one true reasonable approach

cal has so long with each of these teams--clearly the smart thing is to play as many defense as possible

 

[The_Answer1313]

Whenever something goes wrong, the immediate reaction is well we need to do something different.

Well no.......we don't. We just need to do what we are already doing better.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Our defense holds teams to 45.2% from the field. That's pretty good. Our defensive rebounding stinks but it does most years. Both the eff FG% and rebounding % numbers are similar to last season. There's just two differences.

1) We aren't turning teams over like we did last season. But this is a slight difference.
2) We are fouling at a crazy rate. 64th last season to now 260th.

Will a zone help with guys not fouling......yeah probably. But it would do nothing for our rebounding numbers and we'd probably give up a higher FG% as well.

 

[michaeluk26]

I'm not "shitting" on anyone, Ulis is certainly better than Andrew and Murray is at least Aaron's equal. Of course I appreciate what they did when they were here, my overall point was that we lose players we probably shouldn't.

Addition by subtraction almost universally infers that said players were part of a problem, like chemistry or being ball hogs, and that by losing them we improved as a team because of it. Now if you would've said we upgraded our backcourt then I would not have taken it that way, even though I would disagree and state that I think our starting backcourt last year was severely underrated.

Having said that I agree we lose players we shouldn't, and that I hate when a guy staying more than one year is some kind of disappointment. I also pretty much agree with all your other posts on here, especially about Cal. Sorry for saying you were shitting on them. There is just still so much bullshit thrown at the twins it makes me sick.

 

[loublue22]

Addition by subtraction almost universally infers that said players were part of a problem, like chemistry or being ball hogs, and that by losing them we improved as a team because of it. Now if you would've said we upgraded our backcourt then I would not have taken it that way, even though I would disagree and state that I think our starting backcourt last year was severely underrated.

Having said that I agree we lose players we shouldn't, and that I hate when a guy staying more than one year is some kind of disappointment. I also pretty much agree with all your other posts on here, especially about Cal. Sorry for saying you were shitting on them. There is just still so much bullshit thrown at the twins it makes me sick.

it's cool, definitely wasn't referring to chemistry or behind the scenes stuff or anything like that, purely basketball

 

[Dakota25]

He just lives and dies by recruiting classes. So since this one didn't pan out UK is an NIT team just like 12-13. Hopefully we can get some guys back from this year or he will be on the hot seat.

 

[UKnCincy]

That was coaching last Saturday, it got our azz handed to us. Switching defenses is a long honored coaching maneuver.

An overtime loss in Allen Fieldhouse with a freshman laden team with multiple players in serious foul trouble is "getting our azz handed to us?" Seems a loss makes it difficult for you to maintain perspective.

People also calling for a zone based on Self's use of one need to understand the difference between those two situations. Self switched to a zone to attack our weakness. You're wanting Cal to switch to a zone to address a deficiency. A switch is more likely to pay dividends in Self's situation, but it was also a high risk strategy. Had even one of our front court players stepped up, you'd have seen the triangle and two go away quickly.

If a team's issue is related to effort or understanding assignments, switching to a zone does nothing to address those two issues. You'll simply switch from playing bad man to man defense to playing bad zone defense.

 

[The_Answer1313]

This thing goes in cycles.
I think for people expecting 1 seeds every year they are going to be disappointed.

How good we are will be entirely based on the recruiting class as a whole and who we get from that class.

Before 2010, we knew we'd be good. Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe.....etc etc
2012.......same thing
last year.....same thing

We also knew the other years wouldn't be so good. We didn't have a great class come in. And if we didn't land Murray it would have been even worse.

Next year will most likely be like 10,12 and last season.

 

[The_Answer1313]

We took a team that never losses at home to OT. For the majority of the game, we were actually in control.

I don't see how that's getting our ass handed to us

 

[irishcat1965]

Just a honest question? No way should we be losing to a 10-11 type team. Just shouldn't happen here.

 

[USNNFOCAT]

So your OK with this?

Never ok with losing but neither is Cal. We could schedule cupcakes like lil bro does but then someone would have issues with that as well. Look at UK basketball, or any other blue-blood program for that matter, and you'll see such losses scattered throughout their history. What you won't see is what Cal has done over the last 7 years; it is virtually unprecedented by any measure. Things need to be taken in perspective and in the grand scheme of things neither the TN or AUB games mean much. If we fall flat in the SEC or NCAA tournament their may be some ammunition against Cal's approach, big question mark there, but until then the gun is empty!

 

[Teachable Moe]

My biggest beef with the team is the overly casual way they get into their sets. It takes 5-7 seconds of a shorter clock simply to get the play in motion. If and when it goes south, there's no time for anything other than improvisation. If they were brisker about their business -- and more exact -- the offense would be more productive and simply look less desperate and dependent upon Tyler Ulis.