It could get really messy

[Big Blue Daddy 98]

The divorce. Folks, it’s coming. You can see it from a mile away. Losing Payne was tough, but losing Dwayne Peevey as the intermediary between Cal and Mitch was probably the death blow. Mitch and Cal are very different. Their personalities clash. Cal is loud, brash and drips with hubris. Mitch is rather humble and quiet. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Cal’s weakness is stubbornness, and Mitch’s is not particularly liking confrontation.

Mitch has to sit Cal down after this disgrace of a season and demand changes. Cal won’t like that at all. This will likely be played out publicly and be very ugly next season. Fans are pissed and rightfully so. Three freshman will leave off the worst team in forever, and any support Cal had will erode at break neck speed. If next season doesn’t produce a really good team, the atmosphere in Rupp could become poisonous. Cal’s buddies in the media will defend him and claim our fans are unrealistic. I hope I’m wrong but all the signs are there.

 

[K_TIME]

1. I get tired of hearing Peevey as an issue with the b-ball team. He was the freaking assistant to the athletic director for pete's sake. Outside of making up Cal's cushy schedule on offseason...what does he really do to make the team better or worse?
2. Payne is a loss I'll concede. But IMO assistants in football are way more vital in certain positions than basketball assistants unless he is an ace recruiter....which Kenny was not our ace recruiter. Kenny is a helluva bigman coach.
3. Mitch just gave an extension to Nick Mangione for 4 years who had done squat for last 3 years....on top of his lifetime contract to Cal.


What evidence is there if any that UK is going to do squat with Cal for foreseeable future....I say he plays out the next 3 years and we'll see how it pans out is the best we can do.

 

[Big Blue Daddy 98]

1. I get tired of hearing Peevey as an issue with the b-ball team. He was the freaking assistant to the athletic director for pete's sake. Outside of making up Cal's cushy schedule on offseason...what does he really do to make the team better or worse?
2. Payne is a loss I'll concede. But IMO assistants in football are way more vital in certain positions than basketball assistants unless he is an ace recruiter....which Kenny was not our ace recruiter. Kenny is a helluva bigman coach.
3. Mitch just gave an extension to Nick Mangione for 4 years who had done squat for last 3 years....on top of his lifetime contract to Cal.


What evidence is there if any that UK is going to do squat with Cal for foreseeable future....I say he plays out the next 3 years and we'll see how it pans out is the best we can do.

I was meaning Peevey as the go between between Cal and Mitch. He was Cal’s guy, so Cal rarely had to deal with Mitch.

 

[richbrookstomato]

Cal's ENORMOUS ego is our only hope for a turn around. This year has hopefully been a wakeup call for him. Mitch gave him a FREAKIN lifetime contract, which means either Cal changes his approach to recruiting or UK Basketball will stay mediocre for at least 5 more seasons.

Heck, Juwan Howard has a top 5 team with one MORE McDonalds AA coming in than Cal for next season.

 

[DraftCat]

I think Covid is Cals get out of jail call this year.

This team clearly would of benefitted with a few more mid majors and practices to start the season.

He needs to put together a sweet 16 - Final 4 squad to bring the fanbase back together next season however.

 

[HagginHall1999]

The divorce. Folks, it’s coming. You can see it from a mile away. Losing Payne was tough, but losing Dwayne Peevey as the intermediary between Cal and Mitch was probably the death blow. Mitch and Cal are very different. Their personalities clash. Cal is loud, brash and drips with hubris. Mitch is rather humble and quiet. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Cal’s weakness is stubbornness, and Mitch’s is not particularly liking confrontation.

Mitch has to sit Cal down after this disgrace of a season and demand changes. Cal won’t like that at all. This will likely be played out publicly and be very ugly next season. Fans are pissed and rightfully so. Three freshman will leave off the worst team in forever, and any support Cal had will erode at break neck speed. If next season doesn’t produce a really good team, the atmosphere in Rupp could become poisonous. Cal’s buddies in the media will defend him and claim our fans are unrealistic. I hope I’m wrong but all the signs are there.

Next year is make or break with the fans. I think he can lose BJ, Clarke, Jackson...outside of maybe a Fletcher transfer it will get uglier and uglier with the disgruntled in the fanbase.

I am a loyalist, probably one of the most loyal people you will ever meet. Not that I am the end all be all but if Cal starts to lose the loyalists, realists (those that give BOTD), etc it will get ugly fast.

He has next year for me. We have to be good and show signs of a major turn around. If we get back what I am assuming which is everyone not mentioned above we are going to be solid if not great.

 

[numberonedad]

The OP must think Mitch has more juice than Cal. He doesn’t. Cal runs the BB program, not Mitch. Now if the UK President has a problem with Cal, that’s a different issue. But the President sure doesn’t want to have to pay out about 30 million or whatever the figure is.

 

[willievic]

Cal's ENORMOUS ego is our only hope for a turn around. This year has hopefully been a wakeup call for him. Mitch gave him a FREAKIN lifetime contract, which means either Cal changes his approach to recruiting or UK Basketball will stay mediocre for at least 5 more seasons.

Heck, Juwan Howard has a top 5 team with one MORE McDonalds AA coming in than Cal for next season.

I really don't think Cal's ego is the problem. It's his coaching that is the problem. He must have let his ego get in the way at two other schools, and look what happened. He had wins taken away. Sometimes coaches take drastic measures to win. I hope that doesn't happen.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[richbrookstomato]

I really don't think Cal's ego is the problem. It's his coaching that is the problem. He must have let his ego get in the way at two other schools, and look what happened. He had wins taken away. Sometimes coaches take drastic measures to win. I hope that doesn't happen.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

What I meant by his "ego" is that I hope his ego or pride will drive him to change the way he does things to get UK Basketball back to the top to save his legacy. At UK Cal doesn't have to do the things he did at other schools to win, he's already proven that. If not, then we are DOOMED because of the lifetime contract and HUGE buyout.

 

[SpamburgerHamburger_rivals101482]

You reached into a entirely new dimension grasping at straws to find something negative to post.

 

[richbrookstomato]

You reached into a entirely new dimension grasping at straws to find something negative to post.

What exactly has been POSITIVE about this season????

Don't have to "reach" to find the NUMEROUS NEGATIVES.

 

[Kingslayer07]

Cal is here as long as he wants. Period. Is that a good thing? No. But it is what it is

 

[HalHR2500]

Misery will set in unless Cal gets the best transfer PG in country whoever that may be

Period end of story

 

[Wildcats1st]

Mitch will never man up to cal. Cal might make a change on his own but Barney doesn’t have the cajones to crack the whip. The guys gives out cushy contracts and loves his gymnastics and rifle team. He’s the problem for UK basketball no pressure on cal to perform.

 

[willievic]

What I meant by his "ego" is that I hope his ego or pride will drive him to change the way he does things to get UK Basketball back to the top to save his legacy. At UK Cal doesn't have to do the things he did at other schools to win, he's already proven that. If not, then we are DOOMED because of the lifetime contract and HUGE buyout.

catben, I did not mean that to be a smart a$$ remark. Sorry if it come across that way.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[JAC71]

The divorce. Folks, it’s coming. You can see it from a mile away. Losing Payne was tough, but losing Dwayne Peevey as the intermediary between Cal and Mitch was probably the death blow. Mitch and Cal are very different. Their personalities clash. Cal is loud, brash and drips with hubris. Mitch is rather humble and quiet. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Cal’s weakness is stubbornness, and Mitch’s is not particularly liking confrontation.

Mitch has to sit Cal down after this disgrace of a season and demand changes. Cal won’t like that at all. This will likely be played out publicly and be very ugly next season. Fans are pissed and rightfully so. Three freshman will leave off the worst team in forever, and any support Cal had will erode at break neck speed. If next season doesn’t produce a really good team, the atmosphere in Rupp could become poisonous. Cal’s buddies in the media will defend him and claim our fans are unrealistic. I hope I’m wrong but all the signs are there.

Didn’t Mitch just give Nick Mingione an extension and he had a losing record in 2019. Fans were wanting him fired after that season , yet he’s still here.
Cal will leave on his own but it won’t be next year, he’s brought in a new staff and a transfer in Oscar and I can’t see him ditching them like that. Fans ***** and moan all the time on here about every little thing so that won’t faze Calipari since some fans never wanted him hired to begin with and he’s dealt with it just fine.

 

[jessieshorts8]

Didn’t Mitch just give Nick Mingione an extension and he had a losing record in 2019. Fans were wanting him fired after that season , yet he’s still here.
Cal will leave on his own but it won’t be next year, he’s brought in a new staff and a transfer in Oscar and I can’t see him ditching them like that. Fans ***** and moan all the time on here about every little thing so that won’t faze Calipari since some fans never wanted him hired to begin with and he’s dealt with it just fine.

I can't believe those terrible fans are whining about the worst start in UK history.They suck.

 

[Oneandnotdone38]

He deserves one more year to right the ship. But we don't reach at least an E8 next year. I'm done. Show me something.

 

[The Snoke]

I think Covid is Cals get out of jail call this year.

This team clearly would of benefitted with a few more mid majors and practices to start the season.

He needs to put together a sweet 16 - Final 4 squad to bring the fanbase back together next season however.

Well . C’mon with it. Don’t think that is possible with the long time record of over the past few seasons. It would take more than that. Sweet 16 gets him ... natta

 

[richbrookstomato]

catben, I did not mean that to be a smart a$$ remark. Sorry if it come across that way.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

I didn't take it that way at all. I actually agree with you also.

I am just hopeful that Cal actually cares about how he will be remembered as the UK coach. If he does, he will work harder to get UK Basketball back to the top. If he is satisfied with his accomplishments here, we are DEFINITELY in trouble going forward.

 

[LadyCaytIL]

I think Covid is Cals get out of jail call this year.

This team clearly would of benefitted with a few more mid majors and practices to start the season.

He needs to put together a sweet 16 - Final 4 squad to bring the fanbase back together next season however.

your memory must be bad because the team before 2 weeks ago, would of lost to at least 1 if not 2 of those 5-6 mid major games. and no, no amount of games would give this team a pg and improve the teams shooting....

sorry but the idea of this team would of benefited from those games is just a logical fallacy. now if we had a complete team .... even last years team, yes, early season games would of mattered greatly, just not with the roster make up of this team.

 

[Fast3ddy88]

Cal's ENORMOUS ego is our only hope for a turn around. This year has hopefully been a wakeup call for him. Mitch gave him a FREAKIN lifetime contract, which means either Cal changes his approach to recruiting or UK Basketball will stay mediocre for at least 5 more seasons.

Heck, Juwan Howard has a top 5 team with one MORE McDonalds AA coming in than Cal for next season.

That's not how an ego works.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

1. I get tired of hearing Peevey as an issue with the b-ball team. He was the freaking assistant to the athletic director for pete's sake. Outside of making up Cal's cushy schedule on offseason...what does he really do to make the team better or worse?
2. Payne is a loss I'll concede. But IMO assistants in football are way more vital in certain positions than basketball assistants unless he is an ace recruiter....which Kenny was not our ace recruiter. Kenny is a helluva bigman coach.
3. Mitch just gave an extension to Nick Mangione for 4 years who had done squat for last 3 years....on top of his lifetime contract to Cal.


What evidence is there if any that UK is going to do squat with Cal for foreseeable future....I say he plays out the next 3 years and we'll see how it pans out is the best we can do.

I’m not of the mindset that John Calipari will be fired or forced to resign or anything. His absurd buyout guarantees that, but John Calipari has lost the respect of a PLETHORA of fans (not just on this board) that he will never ever get back. Yes, fans will always root for Kentucky and be pleased when they win or are successful but the honeymoon with John Calipari is over and this past year particularly he has lost a considerable amount of the fan base.


Again, John Calipari has lost a ton of respect and support from the fans (rightfully so) - not Kentucky basketball in general.

 

[richbrookstomato]

That's not how an ego works.

Cal LOVES to prove the world wrong when the world has counted him out. That's what drives his "ego". What better way to do that than to come back strong next season and get UK back to a Final 4 to stick it to all of us "Basketball Benny's".

If he's lost that drive, then he will just sit back and be satisfied with what he has ALREADY accomplished in his career and UK Basketball is DOOMED.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost_rivals]

You reached into a entirely new dimension grasping at straws to find something negative to post.

Okay let’s try this 8-14 at the University of Kentucky, does anything more really need be said

 

[philstat]

The divorce. Folks, it’s coming. You can see it from a mile away. Losing Payne was tough, but losing Dwayne Peevey as the intermediary between Cal and Mitch was probably the death blow. Mitch and Cal are very different. Their personalities clash. Cal is loud, brash and drips with hubris. Mitch is rather humble and quiet. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Cal’s weakness is stubbornness, and Mitch’s is not particularly liking confrontation.

Mitch has to sit Cal down after this disgrace of a season and demand changes. Cal won’t like that at all. This will likely be played out publicly and be very ugly next season. Fans are pissed and rightfully so. Three freshman will leave off the worst team in forever, and any support Cal had will erode at break neck speed. If next season doesn’t produce a really good team, the atmosphere in Rupp could become poisonous. Cal’s buddies in the media will defend him and claim our fans are unrealistic. I hope I’m wrong but all the signs are there.

I wrote a huge post earlier this season, this is definitely what's going to come down to. In today's PC world and many love Cal for what all he represents, we are going to be crucified in the media and public opinion. Next year will be just as bad if not worse than this season. We'll win more games because he'll soften the schedule and pull an OTS and add a bunch of inferior competition to pad the W/L column, though when it comes to serious competition, we'll get curb stomped more often than not.

 

[Pickle_Rick]

I think Covid is Cals get out of jail call this year.

This team clearly would of benefitted with a few more mid majors and practices to start the season.

He needs to put together a sweet 16 - Final 4 squad to bring the fanbase back together next season however.

Don't fool yourself. They might have a better record, but no, this is a badly constructed team. It is constructed like almost all of Cal's teams. Physically gifted athletes... basketball players? Meh, not so much.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

Why do people think there is some line in the sand associated with next season? I'm seeing people post stuff like "If next season isn't better then ______".
I'm saying that it doesn't matter what happens next season or even the one after that. Calipari has ALL of the power. No school, including and possibly especially UK, is going to pay what it would take to buyout Calipari's contract. To put it bluntly, UK can't afford it and the donors/boosters aren't going to fork over that kind of money either. We're looking at 5-6 years before the number comes down to a level that is even possible to consider.
The only person who can fire John Calipari...is John Calipari.

 

[Nooneputsbabyinacorner]

The divorce. Folks, it’s coming. You can see it from a mile away. Losing Payne was tough, but losing Dwayne Peevey as the intermediary between Cal and Mitch was probably the death blow. Mitch and Cal are very different. Their personalities clash. Cal is loud, brash and drips with hubris. Mitch is rather humble and quiet. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Cal’s weakness is stubbornness, and Mitch’s is not particularly liking confrontation.

Mitch has to sit Cal down after this disgrace of a season and demand changes. Cal won’t like that at all. This will likely be played out publicly and be very ugly next season. Fans are pissed and rightfully so. Three freshman will leave off the worst team in forever, and any support Cal had will erode at break neck speed. If next season doesn’t produce a really good team, the atmosphere in Rupp could become poisonous. Cal’s buddies in the media will defend him and claim our fans are unrealistic. I hope I’m wrong but all the signs are there.

You realize if you keep your roster in tact, Kentucky is probably the favorite for the title next year, right?

 

[Fast3ddy88]

Great post except we are worthy, if we go on a legendary run to get to Selection Sunday.
Having Mitch as Chair might actually put UK over the top!
How’s that for drama!!!

Cal LOVES to prove the world wrong when the world has counted him out. That's what drives his "ego". What better way to do that than to come back strong next season and get UK back to a Final 4 to stick it to all of us "Basketball Benny's".

If he's lost that drive, then he will just sit back and be satisfied with what he has ALREADY accomplished in his career and UK Basketball is DOOMED.

Ego is proving his way is what wins games and not the norm. So if we're talking about Cal's ego... it won't change.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

You realize if you keep your roster in tact, Kentucky is probably the favorite for the title next year, right?

You realize that’s a HUGE IF, right?! Been under a rock the last dozen or so years?! You’re not in Kansass anymore.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Ego is proving his way is what wins games and not the norm. So if we're talking about Cal's ego... it won't change.

This. Hope I’m wrong.

 

[natchezrule]

You reached into a entirely new dimension grasping at straws to find something negative to post.

I will go negative...I will never support Cowardpari because he knelt. He could win his next 200 games in a row and I won’t watch 1 of them

 

[Burly]

Look I don’t like Cal and the way he talks at press conferences or the way he screams constantly at games and most of all his unwillingness to be flexible as a Coach - we beat UF yesterday by 20+ if Coach White stays in man. Does our Coach make the same move and stay with it? I think not

That all being said- Cal is a competitor- he will not put out a team like this next year. With a above average point guard and we are 14-8 at worst this year. Not having at least two true point guards was a huge blunder of at least one stellar one. Look for incoming transfers galore and a reclassification
This roster will be vastly different next year

 

[HagginHall1999]

Why do people think there is some line in the sand associated with next season? I'm seeing people post stuff like "If next season isn't better then ______".
I'm saying that it doesn't matter what happens next season or even the one after that. Calipari has ALL of the power. No school, including and possibly especially UK, is going to pay what it would take to buyout Calipari's contract. To put it bluntly, UK can't afford it and the donors/boosters aren't going to fork over that kind of money either. We're looking at 5-6 years before the number comes down to a level that is even possible to consider.
The only person who can fire John Calipari...is John Calipari.

I am one who thinks if we stink next year the pressure will become too much to go on for Cal.

Fwiw, I recognize UK isn't buying him out...

 

[DelkBowl]

1. I get tired of hearing Peevey as an issue with the b-ball team. He was the freaking assistant to the athletic director for pete's sake. Outside of making up Cal's cushy schedule on offseason...what does he really do to make the team better or worse?
2. Payne is a loss I'll concede. But IMO assistants in football are way more vital in certain positions than basketball assistants unless he is an ace recruiter....which Kenny was not our ace recruiter. Kenny is a helluva bigman coach.
3. Mitch just gave an extension to Nick Mangione for 4 years who had done squat for last 3 years....on top of his lifetime contract to Cal.


What evidence is there if any that UK is going to do squat with Cal for foreseeable future....I say he plays out the next 3 years and we'll see how it pans out is the best we can do.

Wow top 5-10 schedule in the country “cushy”. You have high expectations on scheduling.

 

[rupp876]

I really don't think Cal's ego is the problem. It's his coaching that is the problem. He must have let his ego get in the way at two other schools, and look what happened. He had wins taken away. Sometimes coaches take drastic measures to win. I hope that doesn't happen.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

That is unjustified cheap shot.

 

[rupp876]

Look I don’t like Cal and the way he talks at press conferences or the way he screams constantly at games and most of all his unwillingness to be flexible as a Coach - we beat UF yesterday by 20+ if Coach White stays in man. Does our Coach make the same move and stay with it? I think not

That all being said- Cal is a competitor- he will not put out a team like this next year. With a above average point guard and we are 14-8 at worst this year. Not having at least two true point guards was a huge blunder of at least one stellar one. Look for incoming transfers galore and a reclassification
This roster will be vastly different next year

I think he intended to use Terrance Vanderbilt at point.

 

[C5matt_rivals373900]

Next year is make or break with the fans. I think he can lose BJ, Clarke, Jackson...outside of maybe a Fletcher transfer it will get uglier and uglier with the disgruntled in the fanbase.

I am a loyalist, probably one of the most loyal people you will ever meet. Not that I am the end all be all but if Cal starts to lose the loyalists, realists (those that give BOTD), etc it will get ugly fast.

He has next year for me. We have to be good and show signs of a major turn around. If we get back what I am assuming which is everyone not mentioned above we are going to be solid if not great.

This is how I’m thinking also! Cal’s got to get a couple things to ensure a return to strong season and to have his swagger back next season: a strong presence and shot blocker in the post (as Jackson’s gone after this season) which I think he’ll have with Tscheibwe and Collins; and at least 2 strong playmaking guards which I think he’ll have by adding Hickman and Skyy Clark (who will likely reclass and join ‘21 class grads!)
I agree that if Cats don’t get back to improved level of play and SEC dominance next year then I’ll be ready for Cal to be gone—as he’ll lose my support fir sure! He’s earning way too much money to have another season anything like this one again next year!!

 

[RunninRichie]

You realize if you keep your roster in tact, Kentucky is probably the favorite for the title next year, right?

cal doesn’t care about silly “titles” as long as 3-5 get drafted this year he’s ok.