I’m still waiting for the team that played Kansas in Lawrence and UT in Lexington. The best two games all year. That’s our ceiling. That’s our potential.
The SEC as a whole this year was very physical. Defense and physicality was a reason for a lot of the SEC’s success. We struggled against the most physical SEC teams. Once UT figured out how to out physical us we were cooked. We couldn’t buy a shot today. When we can’t buy an open 3. When we drive to the basket and it seems like the defense has 8 guys on the floor we struggle. Oscar is amazing. What he’s accomplished all year is amazing but he does get frustrated against taller and longer opponents who challenge him physically. He was frustrated all day as was the rest of the team. That’s something they’ll have to figure out the next couple of weeks. But I also think games like today are reasons guys like Oscar and Wheeler come back next year. A game like the one we had today didn’t exactly help Oscar’s draft stock.
It's more probable all of the following happen:
1. We don't make a Final Four.
2. Sharpe leaves.
3. Oscar leaves.
4. One or both of Hopkins/Collins transfer.
How does respond if the first three things happen?
No Final Four + an Oscar/Sharpe exit to the draft and the seat burns, sparking a statewide forest fire.
That's only because Mitch gave him a LIFETIME contract. So you're right, it doesn't matter what Cal does from here on out, he won't be fired. But if he doesn't at least get this team to a Final 4 with the National Player of the Year, there will be considerable heat on him from the fans and media.
So, will Cal's ENORMOUS ego allow him to stay at UK when he no longer can BS his way out of losing in the post season? Will he continue to hang onto a job when fans and followers of the program no longer look at him in high regard, but as a carpet bagger that has lost his golden touch?
After last season, Cal used up most of his equity from the first 6 seasons. It's been way too long since we got to a Final 4 for a coach that's paid what he is. But, if Cal wants to be stubborn, he can stay here and either fix the problems or end up being HATED by those that love the program.
I have to change things in my philosophy. We slow to a crawl offensively in the postseason. I have to come up with better ways to get my best scorers good shots. Allow them to run and play loose. We allow lesser teams to dictate pace. We are too predictable and easy to prepare for. We don’t force many turnovers. We don’t tighten up the little things like inbound plays offensively or defensively. I have to develop my bench better early in the season. Even with my best teams I haven’t done these things well enough. Until Cal says that, I don’t have much interest in what he says. And he’s not ever gonna say that.
We're trending the wrong way. We looked v like we didn't even care if we won. We came out so lethargic. WTF is wrong with Grady? When we lose in the NCAA tournament it's gonna look like today. This team has little chemistry after it was great in January and Feb. I'm usually optimistic but I'm not at all now.
Cal tends to tighten up (rotations, pace, shooters feeling free) which does not bode well for this team because, as you say, they are at their best when they are loose and playing fast. Another key in the tourney will be if the officials allow contact like they did in the SEC tourney. Outside of OT we are not an overly physical team. At his core, Cal likes to physically grind the other teams and that is not this team.
Several Great post , I'd expect nothing less from the most educated , passionate fans in all the land .
I'll add my 2 cents to the current situation , but its already been said for the most part .
To Trueblue. -- For the love of God please please please no Wheeler next year . PG's who cant shoot have zero .. ZERO place running the Ky Wildcats . A few of us preached it all year .. and boy did some people have fun with it every time Wheeler lit up a So Carolina or Transy or Eastern Rhode Island . But He's not the ticket unless surrounded by a team of total studs where all he has to do is penetrate . So unless a Sharpe comes back ,or we get 5 out of the top 10 players available .. he cant be given the reigns to the team .
Son of Saul .. great points ..I think your list of 4 poor things is likely to happen .. This is not a FF team . Sharpe is gone .. Oscar , when will his tock be higher ? Will Cal's ego allow him to step away while he still has a handful of fans / media that respect what he did here ? 5 years of greatness followed by 5 years of " Meh" and disappointment .
Catben -- solid take . Your last couple sentences is what I trying to convey .
Mash -- exactly dead on comments about the offense . Just laser beam accurate .
Michaeluk-- accurate also , question is .. what happened in JAN / FEB to cause this team to stop growing , stop showing cohesiveness , quit growing etc etc ?? Its a pointed ( SHARPE). question IMO .
Qwes-- exactly , as several as stated , and as the entire damn state knows .. This team MUST play fast , its not a grind it out team . An undersized center , Brooks is a finesse player , Its just not a physical team . And by all means yes , figure out who can contribute and who cant .. He's dicked around with Collins and Hop so much those 2 guys prob have no clue where they stand .. and thats not even mentioning there hatchet job he's done on Allen .
Enough for now . I love the Cats but playing second fiddle to the dreaded orange is beneath us . They will prob lose today , or lose in the sweet 16 , and posters can brag about ole Rick Barnes cant win in the NCAAT -- frankly I dont give a care , if he's beating our *** I care , and I care a bunch
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really?
