Why John Calipari Will (and Will Not) Win Another Title at UK

[G-PIP]

I would agree if you changed the line to "the best YOUNG" talent" year in and year out. But the media says K has had better so even that could be in question if you believe them.

What does "the best talent" even mean? People use the word "talent" to mean different things. So, you have to know whether they are talking about future potential, present developed skill set, or current production. In my opinion, the school with best collective group of incoming recruits should never be mistaken for the best team.

I think UK had the best team in 2012 and 2015. Although 2015 had 2-3 other really, really good teams that could (and one did) easily beat UK on any given day. I guess you could also argue that the 2010 team (i.e., the 2009-2010 season) was the best that year, but that's pretty debatable and I think that team was always a little more vulnerable than you would expect the "best team" to be.

AND, the 2011 and 2014 teams had no business making the Final 4. That was big time over-achievement.

So, I completely disagree that UK should have won a championship basically every year Calipari has been at UK, based on the amorphous argument that "UK had the best talent every year." But, as many of you have pointed out, Calipari has done an incredible job of putting UK in the hunt for a championship most years.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

What does "the best talent" even mean? People use the word "talent" to mean different things. So, you have to know whether they are talking about future potential, present developed skill set, or current production. In my opinion, the school with best collective group of incoming recruits should never be mistaken for the best team.

I think UK had the best team in 2012 and 2015. Although 2015 had 2-3 other really, really good teams that could (and one did) easily beat UK on any given day. I guess you could also argue that the 2010 team (i.e., the 2009-2010 season) was the best that year, but that's pretty debatable and I think that team was always a little more vulnerable than you would expect the "best team" to be.

AND, the 2011 and 2014 teams had no business making the Final 4. That was big time over-achievement.

So, I completely disagree that UK should have won a championship basically every year Calipari has been at UK, based on the amorphous argument that "UK had the best talent every year." But, as many of you have pointed out, Calipari has done an incredible job of putting UK in the hunt for a championship most years.

Excellent post

 

[KyFaninNC]

Falseeeee

You want to add anything to the discussion, or are you limited to one word answers?

 

[Catsgloves1]

It's what he says but I don't believe it, entirely.

He'd be alright with none.

 

[WildMoon]

You want to add anything to the discussion, or are you limited to one word answers?

I did already. You deserved a one word answer since your discussion point was pretty lame.

The reason he won't is because he is too stubborn to change playing style, defense or offense to play to the strengths of the players he has. His constant refusal to play a defense other than switching has cost him 2 titles already.

He is "too stubborn to change playing style, defense or offense"

So you are telling me 10,11,12,13,14,15,16, and 17 ALL played the same style? ROFLMAO. Do i even need to argue this? Coach Cal has adapted FAR more to the play style of the team than ANY other coach.

Coach Cal didn't run as much switch defense later in the season in 2017 than he did in the beginning. He ALWAYs starts that way, but doesn't end that way. Not to mention in 2017 alone, he tried zone defense, which also coincide with the team having major struggle of losing 3 games in 5 games. However, you want to ignore that part.

Name a coach who has done better job developing the players (both adapting and developing)? Just 2017, you look at BAM (BTW, in NBA interview Monk and Fox started laughing at Bam because in their words "He couldn't do anything in beginning of the season.") and then you argue that Coach Cal is stubborn...(and doesn't adapt)? He forced Bam to develop post move, and then allowed him to shoot mid range shot by end of the season... Not to mention, Monk was mostly just a shooter in the beginning of the season. Forcing him to drive the ball to add more to his game...(Still has ways to go) Florida second half was probably the most complete offensive game i ever seen from a player. Completely insane what he was able to do then. Which included both driving the ball and making jumpers. Fox/Briscoe can't shoot three, coach cal tells them to SHOOT THE ****ING THREE. While it worked on Fox, by end of the season (look at his tourney run of his 3 point shooting), and did not work so well for Briscoe. (he didn't shoot any in UNC game either).

His develop and style change has been more noticeable than any other coach. You can flat out say what Coach K is going to do as he always goes small ball (BTW, he plays a lot of man-to-man also). Coach Cal has gone small ball AND big. So i am interested that just one time coach K has gone zone to win, you seem to think he has adapted more to his players than Cal. Which is 100% false. His reasoning for man to man is also brilliant as his focus is development of each individual players and accountability is much more obvious with man to man defense. That's why you hear from all the previous player..."you can argue with Coach Cal during game, and he doesn't mind it. But, you better be right because next day we'll watch the video."

Also...he has more tourney wins than any other coach. How the hell can you even argue that any other coach is MORE likely to win than Cal except maybe K...but thats another dumb comparison as Coach K doesn't win ALL the tournament.

BTW, Cal won 1 title in 8 Years at UK. Do you know that K has won 5 titles in 38 season...that's basically one in every 8 years. Except Lucky for Coach K he has won consecutive title in early 90s to help bump that # up. In era, where winning consecutive title was more common than it is now.

You actually made no argument point than an opinion. It is more likely for Cal to win another title than probably most any other Coach out there, except K. But you are dumb enough to say "well, he won't win because he lost two of them..." Most coaches are probably thinking "Damn, i wish i can get there."

(Also...the same stubborn guy already did win one...Which pretty much kills your argument all together)

 

[Catsgloves1]

I did already. You deserved a one word answer since your discussion point was pretty lame.



He is "too stubborn to change playing style, defense or offense"

So you are telling me 10,11,12,13,14,15,16, and 17 ALL played the same style? ROFLMAO. Do i even need to argue this? Coach Cal has adapted FAR more to the play style of the team than ANY other coach.

Coach Cal didn't run as much switch defense later in the season in 2017 than he did in the beginning. He ALWAYs starts that way, but doesn't end that way. Not to mention in 2017 alone, he tried zone defense, which also coincide with the team having major struggle of losing 3 games in 5 games. However, you want to ignore that part.

Name a coach who has done better job developing the players (both adapting and developing)? Just 2017, you look at BAM (BTW, in NBA interview Monk and Fox started laughing at Bam because in their words "He couldn't do anything in beginning of the season.") and then you argue that Coach Cal is stubborn...(and doesn't adapt)? He forced Bam to develop post move, and then allowed him to shoot mid range shot by end of the season... Not to mention, Monk was mostly just a shooter in the beginning of the season. Forcing him to drive the ball to add more to his game...(Still has ways to go) Florida second half was probably the most complete offensive game i ever seen from a player. Completely insane what he was able to do then. Which included both driving the ball and making jumpers. Fox/Briscoe can't shoot three, coach cal tells them to SHOOT THE ****ING THREE. While it worked on Fox, by end of the season (look at his tourney run of his 3 point shooting), and did not work so well for Briscoe. (he didn't shoot any in UNC game either).

His develop and style change has been more noticeable than any other coach. You can flat out say what Coach K is going to do as he always goes small ball (BTW, he plays a lot of man-to-man also). Coach Cal has gone small ball AND big. So i am interested that just one time coach K has gone zone to win, you seem to think he has adapted more to his players than Cal. Which is 100% false. His reasoning for man to man is also brilliant as his focus is development of each individual players and accountability is much more obvious with man to man defense. That's why you hear from all the previous player..."you can argue with Coach Cal during game, and he doesn't mind it. But, you better be right because next day we'll watch the video."

Also...he has more tourney wins than any other coach. How the hell can you even argue that any other coach is MORE likely to win than Cal except maybe K...but thats another dumb comparison as Coach K doesn't win ALL the tournament.

BTW, Cal won 1 title in 8 Years at UK. Do you know that K has won 5 titles in 38 season...that's basically one in every 8 years. Except Lucky for Coach K he has won consecutive title in early 90s to help bump that # up. In era, where winning consecutive title was more common than it is now.

You actually made no argument point than an opinion. It is more likely for Cal to win another title than probably most any other Coach out there, except K. But you are dumb enough to say "well, he won't win because he lost two of them..." Most coaches are probably thinking "Damn, i wish i can get there."

(Also...the same stubborn guy already did win one...Which pretty much kills your argument all together)

A Cal above UK guy.

 

[KyFaninNC]

I did already. You deserved a one word answer since your discussion point was pretty lame.



He is "too stubborn to change playing style, defense or offense"

So you are telling me 10,11,12,13,14,15,16, and 17 ALL played the same style? ROFLMAO. Do i even need to argue this? Coach Cal has adapted FAR more to the play style of the team than ANY other coach.

Coach Cal didn't run as much switch defense later in the season in 2017 than he did in the beginning. He ALWAYs starts that way, but doesn't end that way. Not to mention in 2017 alone, he tried zone defense, which also coincide with the team having major struggle of losing 3 games in 5 games. However, you want to ignore that part.

Name a coach who has done better job developing the players (both adapting and developing)? Just 2017, you look at BAM (BTW, in NBA interview Monk and Fox started laughing at Bam because in their words "He couldn't do anything in beginning of the season.") and then you argue that Coach Cal is stubborn...(and doesn't adapt)? He forced Bam to develop post move, and then allowed him to shoot mid range shot by end of the season... Not to mention, Monk was mostly just a shooter in the beginning of the season. Forcing him to drive the ball to add more to his game...(Still has ways to go) Florida second half was probably the most complete offensive game i ever seen from a player. Completely insane what he was able to do then. Which included both driving the ball and making jumpers. Fox/Briscoe can't shoot three, coach cal tells them to SHOOT THE ****ING THREE. While it worked on Fox, by end of the season (look at his tourney run of his 3 point shooting), and did not work so well for Briscoe. (he didn't shoot any in UNC game either).

His develop and style change has been more noticeable than any other coach. You can flat out say what Coach K is going to do as he always goes small ball (BTW, he plays a lot of man-to-man also). Coach Cal has gone small ball AND big. So i am interested that just one time coach K has gone zone to win, you seem to think he has adapted more to his players than Cal. Which is 100% false. His reasoning for man to man is also brilliant as his focus is development of each individual players and accountability is much more obvious with man to man defense. That's why you hear from all the previous player..."you can argue with Coach Cal during game, and he doesn't mind it. But, you better be right because next day we'll watch the video."

Also...he has more tourney wins than any other coach. How the hell can you even argue that any other coach is MORE likely to win than Cal except maybe K...but thats another dumb comparison as Coach K doesn't win ALL the tournament.

BTW, Cal won 1 title in 8 Years at UK. Do you know that K has won 5 titles in 38 season...that's basically one in every 8 years. Except Lucky for Coach K he has won consecutive title in early 90s to help bump that # up. In era, where winning consecutive title was more common than it is now.

You actually made no argument point than an opinion. It is more likely for Cal to win another title than probably most any other Coach out there, except K. But you are dumb enough to say "well, he won't win because he lost two of them..." Most coaches are probably thinking "Damn, i wish i can get there."

(Also...the same stubborn guy already did win one...Which pretty much kills your argument all together)

A great response. I disagree with most of it. Did you know that AD and WCS actually had offensive games before they went pro? I didn't. Also for you to say that I said Cal would never win again is false. The thread title is " the reason why Cal won't win another title". I gave opinion after watching him and his coaching style. It was not a Cal bash, just a criticism. I am a Kentucky fan first and foremost. Coaches come and go.