Jay Shidler was just on KSR and said this about Cal……..

Gromcat_rivals

Heisman
Jun 28, 2021
10,292
27,496
0
There are many former players that think Calipari is hurting the program and they’re right. He is, and if we don’t figure out how to get him out soon, he’s going to do damage that might not be reversible.

Some people have not followed him close enough to know how he operates. Calipari will not take the fall, he will throw it everywhere else and crash the system. It’s why he’s universally hated everywhere. The guy has more enemies than Russia.
 
Sep 13, 2003
23,905
33,655
0
If UK basketball is about Championships above all else, we have really disappointed a lot since 1939.
It most definitely isn’t about getting kids ready for the NBA OVER winning championships.

When Cal first arrived the 2 went hand in hand, not so much any more. Heck, we’ve went from One-and-Done to None-and-Done.

Cal himself stated that first press conference that he wanted to take UK past UCLA in total championships. What has happened to that guy?????
 

sluggercatfan

Heisman
Aug 17, 2004
35,953
29,631
0
It most definitely isn’t about getting kids ready for the NBA OVER winning championships.

When Cal first arrived the 2 went hand in hand, not so much any more. Heck, we’ve went from One-and-Done to None-and-Done.

Cal himself stated that first press conference that he wanted to take UK past UCLA in total championships. What has happened to that guy?????
Got HIS & Ellen's championship and $$$$. He doesn't care about the former anymore.
 

Gromcat_rivals

Heisman
Jun 28, 2021
10,292
27,496
0
All about championships but UK has 8 in over 119 years

Stop. You have no clue what you’re talking about. This myth has been put to bed and you’re making the program look worse (and you’re factually incorrect) in order to make the used car salesman look better. CoachCal.com is just a page over if you’ll go ahead and do that.
 

Gromcat_rivals

Heisman
Jun 28, 2021
10,292
27,496
0
I mean we can go all ad hominem if that makes you feel better, but we still only have 8 titles in 83 years. So, it still stands we aren't exactly reaching our priorities even 10% of the time.


I agree he needs to focus more on UK and less on the NBA, but to get the talent we require and desire to compete at that level, you have to at least make it appear cosmetically to recruits that the NBA is of high importance in your program.

You’re forgetting something. That pitch doesn’t work. Those players wanted to win so they went AWAY from his system. And Nike doesn’t want it either. There’s no storyline. It’s a bad pitch, it teaches bad lessons, and encourages things above winning. No one wants that, not even the players he trying to attract.
 

MakinMusic_rivals

All-Conference
Mar 21, 2006
10,716
3,598
66
There are many former players that think Calipari is hurting the program and they’re right. He is, and if we don’t figure out how to get him out soon, he’s going to do damage that might not be reversible.

Some people have not followed him close enough to know how he operates. Calipari will not take the fall, he will throw it everywhere else and crash the system. It’s why he’s universally hated everywhere. The guy has more enemies than Russia.

I don’t really disagree but most successful people have lots of enemies. So having enemies is not a good barometer. In many cases, “enemies” don’t even know why they don’t like someone. It’s the dark side of human nature. Even the successful people who seemingly have an endless supply of friends have a long list of “enemies.”
 
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Gromcat_rivals

Heisman
Jun 28, 2021
10,292
27,496
0
I don’t really disagree but most successful people have lots of enemies. So having enemies is not a good barometer. In many cases, “enemies” don’t even know why they don’t like someone. It’s the dark side of human nature. Even the successful people who seemingly have an endless supply of friends have a long list of “enemies.”

Yea but in Cals case it’s too many to overcome. You can’t go at it alone. He chose to go at it alone.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,972
61,151
113
Well it needs to be said. The more noise this makes the better. It either makes Cal change or it sets us on the path for a new coach.

What we DONT want to happen is to stay in the same spot. Last year, we were at a crossroadsi, not moving. Cal made some staff changes, and it helped. But were at another juncture again, and this time Cal needs to make some big changes on his coaching and recruiting strategy.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,769
20,016
103
I mean we can go all ad hominem if that makes you feel better, but we still only have 8 titles in 83 years. So, it still stands we aren't exactly reaching our priorities even 10% of the time.


I agree he needs to focus more on UK and less on the NBA, but to get the talent we require and desire to compete at that level, you have to at least make it appear cosmetically to recruits that the NBA is of high importance in your program.
If the pitch was working and it did for the first 6 years that is well and good, when it’s not then something needs to change. Other bluebloods are recruiting and running their programs much better than we are without the appearance of making the nba a high priority. Cal had to agree to let the #1 recruit come here and not play to even get his commitment. That is not doing anyone any good.
 

RalphDaltonFan

Heisman
Apr 3, 2002
60,144
41,438
113
All about championships but UK has 8 in over 119 years
Think they are talking SEC Championships too. Which is what you can control with a larger opportunity to win those games and compete against those teams. Contending for Final Fours, National Championships is important, but winning your conference is a realistic goal every year at Kentucky or at least was. Cal's made it seem like that doesn't matter and while I get what he's saying--a deep run in NCAA's can mask that not mattering, I'm one who thinks winning big games and championships doesn't hurt your team at any point. To paraphrase one of Cal's favorite lines....when playing in big games, you don't have to win them all.....but you can't lose them all....and his team was losing every big/tough game down the stretch and acting like it was "needed".

To counter that line of thinking, the team everyone had winning or making Final Four was in part due to the *** kicking they gave Tennessee, Kansas and carried over to beating Alabama on the road-something Houston, and Baylor couldn't do in Tuscaloosa. Winning matters. One of the reasons the '20 team was considered a threat to win it all-they beat Michigan St, beat Louisville, beat Texas Tech in Lubbock, beat TN, LSU, UF on the road, and that gives you hope for those tough environments/games.
 

CB3UK

Hall of Famer
Apr 15, 2012
63,781
105,866
78
Jay nailed it. And thats what pisses me off about this narrative that we have to have mercenaries to be successful. I dont know how anyone over the age of 30 can believe that horseshit. Because youre old enough to know better and have seen Kentucky basketball. One and done smoke and mirrors aint it.

Its guys who care about being here and winning while they're here. Guys who value the tradition. All of the fan support. The spotlight.

That isnt saying that anyone who is a one and done doesnt care about Kentucky. Of course a lot of them do. And it doesnt mean everyone who suited up here multiple years loved it here.

Every player who has ever played here Im sure had dreams of playing professionally. And yet, somehow, inexplicably, we managed to win at the highest rate of any program in the nation. And they were still able to do that. I know.....its crazy right?

Getting the Sharpes, Diallos, Vanderbilts of the world does us no good. Getting a SGA makes perfect sense. Taking a gamble on an Enes makes perfect sense. If you have an Anthony Davis or John Wall....obviously....sign them.

But guys need to be about winning here. I say that, but Id wager most of them are so that isnt a fair statement. Its more Cal, whos willing to let (some of) them make as many mistakes as they need to and if it costs UK games, oh well.

Thats unnacceptable. Period.
 

NavyCat88

All-Conference
Nov 22, 2011
3,739
4,598
0
The Blonde Bomber, baby. Still one of the greatest nicknames in Kentucky history. Up there with the Master Blaster and The Blur.
Deadly from as far out as 25 feet. Imagine if #25 had the 3 point line?……add in Macy, Master, and a handful of other SGs for that matter. Whoooheeeey—Cats would have been a bombing machine in the late 70s/early 80s to go with their legendary big men.
GBB!
 

AthleticCat

Redshirt
Mar 22, 2022
20
18
0
These sock accounts defending Cal are getting really annoying . I can respect guys who just disagree , but the guys with 5 accounts ? chicken $hits
You guys know that AthleticCat is just another Bass/ManWithManyNames alias,right?
Most likely a UofL fan or of some other garbage program. Definitely a troll. By engaging with him, you're just feeding his ego.
Don't waste your time.
The mental gymnastics you all put yourselves through for self-rationlization is something to behold. 🤣
 

Jmeeks54thebest

All-American
Apr 18, 2009
6,867
9,733
0
All about championships but UK has 8 in over 119 years
When I was in school my parents (metaphorically, my “fans”) set a goal for me to make straight A’s. It was easy until high school and I started taking AP courses.

My first AP course I made a B+. My parents did not change the goal they had for me, and my second I made a A-. The rest of them were As or Bs.

Just because a goal is difficult, doesn’t mean it’s not worth striving for.
 

sluggercatfan

Heisman
Aug 17, 2004
35,953
29,631
0
The program has taken a back seat to Cals goals of players first and making kids money...the program comes first,the rest reaps the benefits of the programs success.
The UK Mens basketball program is bigger than John Calipari or any player any coach...always has been and always will be.
Except at the present moment.
 

March 22

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2007
1,142
1,725
0
I don’t think a reasonable, objective person would equate not being in the tournament one year, followed by a first round exit, as just years that we didn’t win the title. It’s about accumulating talent, developing skills, and coaching the talent to put them in contention. We were not in contention for two years due to poor roster management, limited player development, non existent scouting, and horrible bench coaching.
 

bigsmoothie

All-American
Sep 7, 2004
11,161
8,851
0
And I’m paraphrasing, he needs to care more about winning at UK than how many kids he sends to the NBA. UK Basketball is about championships above all else.

He is NOT the first former player I’ve heard say this either. See it’s not just most of us on this board.
Not many fans under 50 even know who he is
 
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sluggercatfan

Heisman
Aug 17, 2004
35,953
29,631
0
It was likely the same priority for all. Every coach wants to win above all else. Even Cal. Coaches by nature are competitive. However, coaches also know there are many other factors than just winning.


Not really. It's about on par with our historical average. But spin away!


Less than 10% of reaching your main objective is good? 🙄

But what are you going to change? Are selling to recruits that the NBA isn't important and you aren't worried about their future as a pro?

Are they though? UNC has 1 championship in 2017. KU has none since ours and Duke has 2 but not one since 2015. IU and UCLA have none and have been irrelevant except for UCLA's miracle run last year. So what is so superior about these other bluebloods?

Do you honestly believe Cal agreed to let a player come ride the bench strictly for his commitment? Like, seriously??? 🤔


Our historical average is not even close to making a F4 3/5 of the time. Hell, technically we haven't even made it 1/5th. That's just a ludicrous expectation.

We have taken players from Duke as well. They were after Montgomery, Hagans, Maxey, Clarke, Boston, Pj Washington, Herro, Vanderbilt.

We had the top class in the country in 2020. And #2 in 2021. Not sure where you get that's bad. Sounds like some agenda pushing.


Our loss against St. Peters was because we couldn't stop them. That was only the second time this season they scored in the 80's. If we get stops, we win. Teams are going to have off shooting nights. That's life. Defense is all effort and never needs to be off like it was.

How exactly does Cal scare our shooters? You think maybe it has anything to do with the single elimination factor and getting tight when the season is on the line?
How exactly does Cal scare our shooters? Really? You ever watch/listen to the idiot on the sideline? Sit down and shut the hell up sometime!!!