Calipari lowering expectations...

[specialkd24_rivals116121]

The video made me mad. We have gone 1,313 days (as of Nov. 1) without a NCAA Tournament win. You have the National Player of the Year back. FIGURE IT OUT.

He will later complain the non-conference schedule was too hard. But "enjoy the ride." Enjoy losing all the big games? "We are building towards March." Then we lose to Saint Peters. He screws up the Sharpe situation (when he should have played him last year).

It's been a long time since 2015, and Cal is wearing thin on me. He wants our support ... he needs to show us something positive.

 

[megablue]

Defense with this team should be good enough to grind out some wins early

Agreed. Defensive potentially very good !!

 

[Ugoff]

If we lose prior to the final four and he tells us again his goal wasn’t to win the championship but rather get guys drafted again, I’ll help him pack.

I only needed to hear it once.

 

[kyjeff1]

The Calipari Life Cycle

Step 1: Enter season highly ranked with Final 4 and National Championship aspirations (YOU ARE HERE)
Step 2: Lose first highly ranked matchup of the season (Usually Duke, Michigan State, this season Gonzaga) and potentially get upset by a non-ranked team
Step 3: Continue to play lifeless basketball through November and early December
Step 4: Beat highly ranked opponent in December/January, team is starting to look decent
Step 5: Win some tough games against ranked SEC teams (rarely are the wins against Tennessee), lose some away SEC games to terrible teams, but overall team is looking decent to good for March
Step 6: Enter March Madness with legitimate Final 4 hopes
Step 7: Lose to a lower ranked seed in a game where the offense looks terrible
Step 8: Lose at least half the team to the NBA
Step 9: Repeat!

You forgot one step. 'Camp Cal' and the teams immediate regression afterwards.

Everything else is spot on.

I have major Cal fatique. No coach has done less with more, not even Dean Smith.

 

[TheWyldKat_rivals45219]

This has sucked the optimism I had right out the window. During the Bahamas, we look like the Golden State Warriors. In the exhibition game, it was more like a grade school team.

Defense wasn’t bad. But it’s the same old same old on OFFENSE. Passing and running to the top of the key and hoping that somebody can break a defender down off the dribble. Which did not happen during that game, could be worse when Wheeler is back

 

[bbnkat02]

Why. I will just never understand how we can look that damn good in August only to retrograde.

If Cal can’t do it this go round he never will.

 

[bbnkat02]

You forgot one step. 'Camp Cal' and the teams immediate regression afterwards.

Everything else is spot on.

I have major Cal fatique. No coach has done less with more, not even Dean Smith.

Eh. Dean Smith also cheated like crazy and did less with more.

 

[kyjeff1]

I didn't say it wasn't one of the most talented. Duke probably has the most sheer talent, that doesn't mean they'll be a great team. UNC is just as talented. Arkansas probably has more talent.

Then wtf is UK paying Cal 9 million a year for?

You said UK doesn't have The most talent, I call ********. He has the most talent coupled with a great amount of experience. The fact that he's a "Hall of Fame coach" gets thrown in our faces constantly on here. At some point, he has to make it happen.

Heck, lets say he has the 4th most talent this year. Okay, name the 3 teams that are better, then, lets discuss what else those teams have.

Do they have a HOF coach? Do they have the reigning NPOY and rebound leader? Do they have an NCAA assist leader? Do they have the experience UK has?

From top to bottom, UK has far more weapons than everyone else, it's time to stop making excuses.

 

[kyjeff1]

Eh. Dean Smith also cheated like crazy and did less with more.

Without checking, I bet you Cal has had far more NBA talent come through his doors than DS did. Cheating or not, Cal has had more.

 

[bbnkat02]

Without checking, I bet you Cal has had far more NBA talent come through his doors than DS did. Cheating or not, Cal has had more.

I’m not passing up a chance to crap on UNC and neither should you.

 

[kyjeff1]

I’m not passing up a chance to crap on UNC and neither should you.

I don't give a wet rip about uNC, I care about UK and we still have a coach that is a narcissist that prioritizes the NBA over UK. That alone causes most of the failures Cal has had.
But those aren't failures in his eyes, no, not as long as his kids got drafted.

 

[Stonewall12]

W

I have been thinking this for a while. Makes sense. Offense is going to take time. Still not convinced we have enough quality shooters.

We have shooters. More then last year.

what we DO not have is a coach to get them open yet again

 

[bbnkat02]

I don't give a wet rip about uNC, I care about UK and we still have a coach that is a narcissist that prioritizes the NBA over UK. That alone causes most of the failures Cal has had.
But those aren't failures in his eyes, no, not as long as his kids got drafted.

I’m as disappointed and grumpy with Cal as anyone, but chill out for a bit man.

 

[Ash Williams]

This board is wild lol. People flying high after that Bahamas performance.

All of a sudden after one exhibition game they can't play and everyone sucks lol.

Is it the board that's wild, or the team's consistency? Everybody here is just reacting to what's actually happening.

 

[kyjeff1]

I’m as disappointed and grumpy with Cal as anyone, but chill out for a bit man.

Chill out? Are you reading something into my posts that isn’t there?

 

[Ash Williams]

But that’s the point. He said it because he’s going ahead with the typical “you can’t be mad at me I told you we were going to lose games”. And it will work on around 10-20% if the fanbase that wants an excuse to continue to support him even to the detriment of this program.

What I want more than anything is all of the people that encouraged money over education, dropouts over diplomas, those who pushed for years you don’t need upperclassman to win, those that have bastardized this university and this program, to leave with him if he doesn’t win. It’s obvious they care nothing about UK they care about backing this guy regardless.

Gonzo has already left because his philosophy has been exposed. The other 10-20% that helped that along need to follow his lead.

If we don’t win this year or next year it’s time to consider a buyout and move on.

wHo u gOnNa hIrE!!!!!! I lIvE iN 2014 aNd hAvEn’T wOkE uP tO 2022!!!!!!!!

When my choices are to have no shot at winning a title with Calipari, I’ll roll the dice with the percentages. A chance > no chance. And with Calipari it’s getting to the point where there’s no chance. If he doesn’t win a title by 2024 he not winning another. Move on.

I’m not interested in coddling a Jim Boeheim at the university of Kentucky.

Who would have thought that Bill Self was a better coach than Cal.

 

[Bluedog1]

I like Cal... but we know he is not an offensive X and O guy and he never has been. He usually gets his teams to defend very well especially if we have a rim protector which it appears we will. I think this team has the chance to be very good defensively. However, he runs terrible offensive sets that is predicated on getting to the lane and a lob where we send rim runner to clean up a miss, or a drive in and kick for three... but as many of you all have said if we dont have guys that can beat anyone off the dribble and get into the lane then that is a problem. I expect us to lose one or two early, get straightened out go a pretty good run, hit a small wall mid SEC season, get fixed do well in the SEC Tournament, and play really well until he gets out coached in the elite 8 and we get bounced. Last year was a fluke and that team could have been a final four team last year. I expect 6-8 losses and a 3 seed. This is where i have my ceiling at. Cal does what he does well which is why he make 9 million a year, but he will never go down as a great offensive x and o guy... any high level D1 coach will tell you this..

 

[wildcatdon]

This video is a joke. No reason to do it and someone/anyone who has his ear needs to tell him to quit doing this crap. This isn't coming off the success he had early in his tenure. Read a room a bit. This wasn't going to go over well nor should it.

He's got a team built to contend, make Final Four and have a shot at #9. There's nothing Kentucky lacks when looking across the sport. Maybe he needs to adapt to how the personnel is best suited to play if he's this concerned this early in the season. I know one thing that performance Sunday where he allowed a friend to come in and just goon a game up didn't excite anyone.

When you crap the bed in NCAA's off worst year in school history, you can't be afforded this type of nonsense. Lace them up and get after it. If you are concerned about playing rotation, play faster and press so more guys get to play. If you want to play solid 8, do it. But this isn't what anyone wants to hear, specifically this week when a lot of the UK fans are furious with FB program's performance against a rival and same rival who has been winning far too much against the basketball program as well.

People are excited for the season and don't want that lowered. Especially when you are trying to sell tickets and get Rupp filled again. Good lord the PR at this school is an abomination right now.

Coaches fight to get this job....and with it comes the expectations that aren't realistic but it's what comes with the brand. Embrace it!

Thank you.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Is it the board that's wild, or the team's consistency? Everybody here is just reacting to what's actually happening.

But we are talking about exhibition games. Games that have absolutely zero bearing on the season.

There isn't a team in college basketball that plays their best basketball 100% of the time. After having a bunch of games in the Bahamas where the team looked very good, I just think it's a bit silly to freak out over an 18 point win in the first exhibition game. Even in this game, I felt like defensively we played well. We shot the ball like crap and get out rebounded by a team we had no business getting out rebounded by even without Oscar. But come Nov 7th, Oscar will be back and he's about as sure of a bet on the boards than any other player.

We'll be fine.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

And what if your hypothetical 40 point win doesn’t happen? (It won’t, btw) Do you have another excuse at the ready?

You just keep drinking the kool-aid bud. When Cal takes off, you going to take off with him?

You are one of the most negative posters on this board.

You should have taken off after that whole bit about how much we were going to "get killed by Kansas".

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

I refuse to believe we will be bad. This team on paper is excellent

Games aren’t won on paper …




..they’re won inside little TV sets

 

[Uk2k4]

STFU and win. Or GTFO.

 

[HagginHall1999]

We don't have the most talent in the country this year, let alone every year.

Nah, one of the most talented teams in the country for sure.

 

[fastpaste101]

….With all the veterans coming back and the frigging POY returning…there is absolutely *NO* reason for us to be shaky in the early part of the season. That’s ridiculous.

It sucks but if Oscar and wheeler are not 100% that would impact things. Not making excuses because I am very ready for a team to make a run this year just saying

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Honestly we'll be good from the beginning but the schedule is rough. We might still take some losses OOC early on.

 

[bbnkat02]

Chill out? Are you reading something into my posts that isn’t there?

Nah. You’re just in mid season form. Let’s wait until we piss away one t9 UT before we completely stroke out.

 

[kyjeff1]

Nah. You’re just in mid season form. Let’s wait until we piss away one t9 UT before we completely stroke out.

LOL, whatever man, I'm simply telling it like it is. Cal may change some things, but he's turned into one hell of a narcissist that loves to hear himself talk.
Mark my words, he will never win another title here.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost_rivals]

For YEARS we have been forced to watch spotty inconsistent and sometimes dreadful basketball in November and December and Cals mantra has been " we are young" These kids are all new it takes time. I remember telling my son last month Cal has the most experienced team he has ever had going into this year,for once we are not "young". Now we hear him whining that these guys aren't ready, WHY the hell not. I and many other fans are at the point where we aren't interested in hearing any more excuses. Cal needs to feild a Kentucky worthy team or be GONE

 

[School boy]

This will be a good team trust us. We the board know this. Cal is just thinking if he can get us believing not to expect us being #1 by Thanksgiving, we'll be happy after this loss to the Zags and I think he feels maybe another one like ucla. Watch a week before Christmas you'll see this team make plays we haven't seen since the good day of Kentucky basketball. He knows this team and knows it's going to be good. He just doesn't want early pressure because he is on the hot seat, and of getting in the way of a stay focus season with the players. He wants the players to relax and be them while he coaching them to be great. Trust me we bbn players and Cal will all get there.

 

[kybassfan]

Several injuries? Who besides Oscar didn't play?

Where did I say they didn’t play?

 

[BlueThunderstruck]

We dont have anyone that can take someone off the dribble AND finish. The lack of creating good offense is what scares me and returning to the stagnant dribble the ball until 10 on shot clock before anyone moves.

Wallace and Reeves disagree .

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

This.

I think Cal realizes that:

1) Wheeler hasn’t improved anything. He still can’t shoot. He still makes ill-advised passes. He still can’t finish in the paint if his left hand it taken away. He’s a liability in the half court.

2) Collins still doesn’t have a clue.

3) His extremely raw center that just arrived is able to impact the game much more than Lance Ware, but he needs to be loyal to the lesser player.

4) Livingston isn’t the first round pick Cal thought he was.

5) Wallace might be the better PG, but he can’t bench his boy Wheeler. And Wallace has some holes in his game too, including questionable shot selection.

6) Toppin does some things very well and is a tremendous athlete, but the biggest weakness in his game - the one thing that could make him a very rich man - his handles, have not improved one iota. How does a dude not work on that all off-season?

7) Fredrick could spend portions of this season in a boot.

8) Thiero is the best player in the freshman class in terms of knowing where to be, what to do, making the open shot, and playing sound, fundamental basketball - but because he’s a three-star dude, he can’t possibly play him more than 10mpg.

9) Oscar’s supporting cast may not be better than it was last year.

I hope I’m wrong and feel free to bring this up if I am, but I was sounding the alarm on Livingston when we signed him. A friend of mine who works the 24/7 Memphis board had a conversation with me when they were hard on him. He too thought he was one of the most overrated players in this class. So much so that he was glad when Livingston committed to UK.

Livingston is a 4 star, second round ceiling guy. I don’t see anyone taking him in the first round. I’ve never been high in him and can’t believe Calipari ever thought he was a first round talent. No way.

Livingston will either transfer next year or end up a 2-3 year player and be a huge let down. Watch him play, no way anyone thinks this kid is worthy of Kentucky. No way.

I hope I eat this but I won’t. And when I said it early I was pounced on. Seems those guys now see what I saw.

 

[yoshukai]

I’d say Cal is simply speaking the truth, not just making excuses. Unfortunately, a lot of UK fans can’t handle that.

Why in the hell would you think John Calipari was speaking the truth. About anything.

 

[yoshukai]

Who would have thought that Bill Self was a better coach than Cal.

Me

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

Nothing wrong with what he said. I much prefer we play good in March than the beginning of the year. Some on here want us to be in Championship form the first game. That is not realistic.

This is a crock of **** that has only been true for Calipari excuse makers from 2010-2016.

Why did Duke beat the brakes off of us game one? Why did we blow the doors off of teams early in 2015?

We have records to protect. Our program and former players built an empire here taking every single game into account. Our brand bas been regressing greatly by Calipari losing his *** early in the year during his first 5/6 years and now losing his *** late the last 5/6 years. Win each ******* game in front you. We’re Kentucky not some gimmicky ******** doormat.

He’s blown the all time wins lost because of this crap. UNC and Duke are not only catching up to us, but their brand is far more solid. Kansas wins at a high clip and now gets to plaster the all time winningest program. He’s nearly lost to Kansas as much as all former UK coaches combined.

Teams like Tennessee and Auburn have made gains they’ve never been able to on his watch. People now expect us to lose to top 20 teams.

Our brand is getting killed out there and the Cal Cult thinks their mouth can stop it from happening. It can’t.

Calipari has allowed his legacy to turn into do or die and it didn’t have to be this way. Had he just cared a little, and taken this job more serious, he’s easily have another title and it wouldn’t be this way.

Your mouth isn’t going to change history or where we are as a program. Oscar falling in his lap and a connection that even Nike can’t stop with the Wagner’s is the only reason we even have a chance at this point. By 2024 if he hasn’t figured it out he’s gone. And the reason is because the money has had enough of this ****. Calipari can only be tolerated if he wins, if not people aren’t going to put up with his “goin home to my dogs” and “winning isn’t important” ********. Barnhart has already had to redirect him pay attention.

Why do you love the guy so much? Why do you pick him over the security of this program?

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

Me

Bill Self takes his program serious. He cares about winning, he cares about his legacy, he cares about the things all great coaches value. I might not like him but I’ve never questioned where his priorities lie.

Calipari doesn’t value those things, and that’s why a coach like Self who shouldn’t be as dominant as Calipari has moved way out ahead of him with half the talent.

How anyone can’t see this is beyond me. We’re talking about a guy that has the name recognition and ability to challenge K or Rupp, but because of his stupid new age “be a pro and care about yourself, players not program” routine, he’s around Joe Hall. And I love Hall, he did his job well for his ability and timing, But Calipari is simply on another level, he should be with the K’s, Pitino’s, Rupp’s, Knights, Williams etc. But because of his stupid outlook and not being serious enough, he’s turning into Jim ******* Boeheim. He’s not even gonna end up on Bill Self’s tier.

Calipari is turning into a waste. All that talent as a college coach is going to be remembered as an LOL.

He better get serious and go back to basics as a coach and turn this the **** around. He has time, he has the talent, he’s got the program, he has the support of BBN. You don’t need anything else you jackass. The old guard is gone, this is your chance. Quit coddling players and quit being cavalier. Take this serious and you’ll get 2 or 3 titles. Keep on being you, and you’re going to end up a running joke in history.

 

[HalHR2500]

We don’t care what you say Cal

Win or leave

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

We don’t care what you say Cal

Win or leave

Win, or get out of Rupp’s seat.

Talk is over, and I’ve even seen some of the Cal Cult saying sorry, it’s time to win or it’s over.

The pressure needs to be applied now, no more excuses. Nobody should coddle anything he does I don’t care about charity or beating Louisville.

Win to our standard or the buyout is coming. There are too many coaches who would kill to take this program serious and fight for this program and their legacy. I want a coach who wants glory, not a coach that sells dropouts and selfishness. It doesn’t work anyway, 75% of the players he’s wanted over the last 8 years went to a program that values tradition over narcissism and sellout speak.

 

[RunninRichie]

Win, or get out of Rupp’s seat.

Talk is over, and I’ve even seen some of the Cal Cult saying sorry, it’s time to win or it’s over.

The pressure needs to be applied now, no more excuses. Nobody should coddle anything he does I don’t care about charity or beating Louisville.

Win to our standard or the buyout is coming. There are too many coaches who would kill to take this program serious and fight for this program and their legacy. I want a coach who wants glory, not a coach that sells dropouts and selfishness. It doesn’t work anyway, 75% of the players he’s wanted over the last 8 years went to a program that values tradition over narcissism and sellout speak.

If he doesn't go to a final four this year ive seen enough. Next year looks good with all the talent but we all know everyone is bolting after this year, and unless we see a repeat of 2014 a team that young is not making the final four. This is literally Cal's 1978 season. Win or get out.

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

If he doesn't go to a final four this year ive seen enough. Next year looks good with all the talent but we all know everyone is bolting after this year, and unless we see a repeat of 2014 a team that young is not making the final four. This is literally Cal's 1978 season. Win or get out.

Me personally man? I would have fired him the day after St. Peter’s. The reason I say that is because Kentucky should not put up with this kind of **** long. Indiana obviously didn’t teach some of these people anything.

1. Hanging on to a coach who doesn’t win consistently because of his past accomplishments can kill your brand over time.

2. Accepting losing and making excuses for it WILL kill your brand over time.

I really think people don’t understand why UK is UK. It’s Because we have valued our brand and not accepted chipping away at it since Rupp. Bad hire? You’re fired. Mediocre coach? The fans apply pressure. Our brand sells and dominant coaches want to be challenged by our win or go **** yourself attitude.

We’re losing that under Calipari. If we keep holding on we’re going to be seen as a Syracuse with a Jim Boeheim.

Calipari has been using tragedies and new uniforms to supplement his lack of winning. The problem is we’ve already lost a lot of ground with our brand. On his watch, Duke is now the all time gold standard to fans across the nation. North Carolina has leap frogged us. Kansas is picking up steam as a more dominant brand.

2-3 more years of 10 losses, early exits, and beatdowns from teams like Tennessee and Auburn? We’re about to completely be seen as a good program, not great, former juggernaut.

It doesn’t happen over night, it’s the death of 1,000 cuts. You have to protect the program against it.

I want Calipari to work too, it’s there it’s so there. The fit, the personality, he’s already got 4 final fours and a title here. We’re so close. But if he won’t get on with it, he’s got to go. We can’t force him to make the move toward legacy. He’s clearly not giving a sht enough. It’s about time to end it.

They won’t buy him out until they see the Sheppard and Wagner class. But if we look like **** this year, and that class doesn’t pan out, he’s gotta go. And go he will. If we keep him past that we are officially Syracuse.