Calipari lowering expectations...

[kyjeff1]

Well it's in an upward trend now, so time to let go of the past.

If Calipari fails to make the final 4 in the next 2 seasons, I'll join with others in calling for his retirement, but I think these next 2 seasons will go a big way in restoring Kentucky back to the top.

Okay, so you do your timeline and everyone else will do theirs, but I'm not going to attack you for your timeline. I'm not going to attack you for waiting longer to let go than I have.

But here you are attacking people that don't share your timeline. Is that fair? No, it's not.

Also, you can get bent, it certainly is not time to forget about the past. Sorry man, we're not going to just forget about 2021 and the SP loss and we're not going to forget about all the comments Cal has made in the past "basketball bennies", "greatest night in UK history", "it's not about winning games or titles, it's about these kids and their dreams". Etc… etc… etc… when it’s your decision to finally see what the rest of us are seeing, you're going to say the same **** we're saying now and you're going to dredge up the past, so be careful what you say here.

 

[STL_Cat]

Seriously, the truth is it makes no sense to act like we should be anywhere behind any other program in the country. We had our once in every 4 year international trip. That alone can help get a head start. On top of that, we are returning the most talent we have ever returned here under Cal, including the NPOY. If there were EVER a year we should be ahead of our competition in November, it's this year.

 

[kyjeff1]

No wonder why all these Cal first fans are full of excuses, just look at their hero, he’s got an excuse for everything too.
Heck, he’s already making excuses for **** that hasn't happened yet.

 

[FinancialPlannerZac]

Seriously, the truth is it makes no sense to act like we should be anywhere behind any other program in the country. We had our once in every 4 year international trip. That alone can help get a head start. On top of that, we are returning the most talent we have ever returned here under Cal, including the NPOY. If there were EVER a year we should be ahead of our competition in November, it's this year.

I'm in complete agreement with you. Very odd video, and discouraging with what the expectations should be for this team. Honest question, because I'm asking myself... Is there anyway this could have been a message to the players? I don't know. Cal is a lot of things, but he typically is decently calculated about the direct messages he puts out there like this (especially when it's not off the cuff or answering a question). Otherwise, it's a completely unnecessary video. Play the games and let the play speak for itself.

 

[STL_Cat]

I'm in complete agreement with you. Very odd video, and discouraging with what the expectations should be for this team. Honest question, because I'm asking myself... Is there anyway this could have been a message to the players? I don't know. Cal is a lot of things, but he typically is decently calculated about the direct messages he puts out there like this (especially when it's not off the cuff or answering a question). Otherwise, it's a completely unnecessary video. Play the games and let the play speak for itself.

I weirdly thought about you and some of the conversations you and I have had in the offseason, because I know your expectation is for us to be dominant right out of the gate this year. And maybe we will be. But I think we all could have done without the rambling, expectation lowering video Cal put out yesterday. We're just not in the mood for it,

 

[kybassfan]

Ok then, several injuries?

Yes. We had several players injured or recovering. Wheeler for one.

 

[FinancialPlannerZac]

I weirdly thought about you and some of the conversations you and I have had in the offseason, because I know your expectation is for us to be dominant right out of the gate this year. And maybe we will be. But I think we all could have done without the rambling, expectation lowering video Cal put out yesterday. We're just not in the mood for it,

I still would be standing by those comments, even after the rough showing a few nights ago... UNTIL this video! It literally makes no sense to me. I'm sincerely hopeful we see Oscar back on the 7th, and let's roll. I'm glad Sahvir isn't hurt that bad, and maybe this gives Cason the opportunity to take the reins a bit (similar to the Quade Green-SGA situation). But saying we could be shaky worries the hell out of me. Because we shouldn't be. I can understand a tough loss or two in the non-conference, because our schedule is loaded. But we should be in every game we play, coming out winners in a few big ones too. Weird stuff, man. I hope we look solid tomorrow night.

 

[kybassfan]

I weirdly thought about you and some of the conversations you and I have had in the offseason, because I know your expectation is for us to be dominant right out of the gate this year. And maybe we will be. But I think we all could have done without the rambling, expectation lowering video Cal put out yesterday. We're just not in the mood for it,

Like your mood matters to anyone in the program. Your mood? What a pathetic joke.

 

[STL_Cat]

Like your mood matters to anyone in the program. Your mood? What a pathetic joke.

Thanks for all your continuous and thoughtful contributions, bassfan.

And yes, whether you like it or not the mood of the fanbase DOES matter.

 

[WeWant9]

Feels like this place will be on pins and needles until the Zaga game. Win that and there will be a collective sigh of relief, lose it and it’s going be rough around here.

The whole wait until March mantra has pretty much crashed and burned the last several seasons. No reason for this team to have a “slow” start.

 

[STL_Cat]

Feels like this place will be on pins and needles until the Zaga game. Win that and there will be a collective sigh of relief, lose it and it’s going be rough around here.

The whole wait until March mantra has pretty much crashed and burned the last several seasons. No reason for this team to have a “slow” start.

Lot of people here have spent a lot of time shitting on Gonzaga and their pansy conference. Our boys better go out there and get the job done, really no excuses.

 

[kybassfan]

Thanks for all your continuous and thoughtful contributions, bassfan.

And yes, whether you like it or not the mood of the fanbase DOES matter.

Really? Laugh. You got your feelers on this ‘mood’? How does it affect the team even the slightest? Does it degrade their karma? Erode their competitive edge? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[STL_Cat]

calbassfan, unlike his hero, seems to already be in midseason form. nice.

 

[Boyd94]

Really? Laugh. You got your feelers on this ‘mood’? How does it affect the team even the slightest? Does it degrade their karma? Erode their competitive edge? Inquiring minds want to know.

Ask Joker if the fans mood is not effective.

 

[ala_kat2]

I agree with these comments by KyJeff;

“Yeah, but what about everyone else in college basketball? Did they have some sort of a head start that I don’t know about?

Aren't we the ones that got a head start?

It’s not like everyone else is in mid season form right now, why is this team going to struggle when it’s Cal's most experienced team? Why would they struggle when they have the NPOY and the NCAA assit leader returning? Why would we struggle with all the NBA talent he has? Why should we struggle when we have a senior that shoots damn near 50% from 3 point range?

Who are we supposed to struggle with? Should we be struggling with teams like what we played on Sunday? Isn't that weird to you?”

If anything, we should be ahead of a lot of teams given we played 4 games in August and the talent this team supposedly has. The issue with the offense, or lack thereof, IMHO, is Cal’s inability or stubborness to create an offense other than “just beat your man”, or “rrruuuunnnn”. I sure hope this team can be great anyways.

 

[bnewt]

No wonder why all these Cal first fans are full of excuses, just look at their hero, he’s got an excuse for everything too.
Heck, he’s already making excuses for **** that hasn't happened yet.

he can see the future.......with him as coach, everyone can see the future

 

[rivercatinfl]

It tells me he thinks he’s gonna lose 3 or 4 of the first 10 games. Which to be honest, could happen if he doesn’t settle in to 8 or 9 man rotation.
I would play O, Frederick, Toppin, Wallace and Livingston as my first 5. Use Reeves, Thiero, Ugonna, Wheeler off the bench. Let Ware and Collins come in for fouls or zone. Neither really bring much.

There is no way in hell we should accept our coach making it sound like we are gonna lose games out of the gate.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Sure. But I can remember trying to get through to you that this program was experiencing a downward trend prior to the 2020-2021 season. All the signs were there and even the numbers backed it up. You weren’t buying it.

The team proceeded to go 9-16 that year.

The reason why we are differing about this is simple.

2016 = 27-9
2017 = 32-6
2018 = 26-11
2019 = 30-7
2020 = 25-6
2021 - 9-16
2022 = 26-8

I think all agree that 2021 never should have happened. UK should NEVER go through seasons like that.

It's a process vs result thing with all of this. I believe if u keep putting up records like above, you're a pretty good team and you have a shot at a title.

I look at 2011 and we go 29-9 or 2014 where we go 29-11. Some of the seasons we've had POST 2015 have better better than those seasons. We even missed a tournament PRE 2015 just like we did after 2015.

I look at things like 11 and 14 we went to final fours. 17 and 19 we went to Elite Eights. I mean the margins are just so thin with all of this.

I've always agreed with you tho about the results. Eventually, those results need to show up again. You can't go multiple long stretches of not making final fours here. That just doesn't cut it. You need to at some point evaluate WHY we are exiting the tournament before we should be.

But looking at last year and this current team and the recruiting we are potentially lining up next year, it's hard to not think we won't be in the title chase these seasons. Regardless who is coach of this team.

 

[STL_Cat]

The reason why we are differing about this is simple.

2016 = 27-9
2017 = 32-6
2018 = 26-11
2019 = 30-7
2020 = 25-6
2021 - 9-16
2022 = 26-8

I think all agree that 2021 never should have happened. UK should NEVER go through seasons like that.

It's a process vs result thing with all of this. I believe if u keep putting up records like above, you're a pretty good team and you have a shot at a title.

I look at 2011 and we go 29-9 or 2014 where we go 29-11. Some of the seasons we've had POST 2015 have better better than those seasons. We even missed a tournament PRE 2015 just like we did after 2015.

I look at things like 11 and 14 we went to final fours. 17 and 19 we went to Elite Eights. I mean the margins are just so thin with all of this.

I've always agreed with you tho about the results. Eventually, those results need to show up again. You can't go multiple long stretches of not making final fours here. That just doesn't cut it. You need to at some point evaluate WHY we are exiting the tournament before we should be.

But looking at last year and this current team and the recruiting we are potentially lining up next year, it's hard to not think we won't be in the title chase these seasons. Regardless who is coach of this team.

It actually looks even worse to me when you list the records like that. Even if you take out the disaster that was 2021 (which by the way you can't take out because it DID happen), that's a program that is averaging 7.8 losses per year. Count every year, as you should, and you are looking at a program that has AVERAGED over 10 losses per year over the past 7 years. I don't know how long you have been a Kentucky basketball fan, but that is NOT good. As a matter of fact it's really bad. Tubby lost 10 games a handful of times and got dubbed "10 loss Tubby" and here you have a program that has averaged more than 10 losses per year over the past 7 years.

As a matter of fact you say if you keep putting up records like that, you have a chance at the title. I see two acceptable records above in the past 7 years and even those weren't great. Kentucky basketball is not supposed to be "pretty good." It's supposed to be the gold standard.

I know, you do the thing with 2011 and 2015 vs 2017 and 2019 all the time. It doesn't land with me so I don't know why you keep doing it. The results are the results. The fact is, 2014 was a terrible year as well. We just happened to catch fire late and salvage what was a disastrous season and turned it into a fun tournament run. But that was still a really bad year for UK basketball. The Final Four run made it palatable but it was a bad year.

I'm glad we do agree on the results. The truth is listing those seasons the way you did just proved my point even further. We are in a BAD STRETCH for UK basketball. I hope that changes this year. It should.

What we DON'T need, as fans, is our coach coming out and telling us to temper our expectations. There should be zero excuses this year.

 

[kybassfan]

Ask Joker if the fans mood is not effective.

I bet you think fans fired Joker and Tubby, huh?

 

[Boyd94]

I bet you think fans fired Joker and Tubby, huh?

Pretty sure Tubby wasn't fired and the fans not showing up fired Joker.

 

[dc513]

Again, I ask "what has he been doing all summer?"

 

[kybassfan]

Pretty sure Tubby wasn't fired and the fans not showing up fired Joker.

No, joker fired Joker. Not some wimpy fan mood. The athletic dept dealt with joker over performance.

 

[Boyd94]

No, joker fired Joker. Not some wimpy fan mood. The athletic dept dealt with joker over performance.

You are one stubborn dude. You probably argue that water isn't wet?

 

[School boy]

Well it's in an upward trend now, so time to let go of the past.

If Calipari fails to make the final 4 in the next 2 seasons, I'll join with others in calling for his retirement, but I think these next 2 seasons will go a big way in restoring Kentucky back to the top.

the pressure is on this year. Not saying he had to go to the final 4. But he does have to live up to our standards. Can't go say 25-8 and lose in the sweet 16 or lower. He has the NPOY returning and his staff he wanted instead of an offensive minded coach, so forget those recruits he has this year if he losses. The good thing is well be very good.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

It actually looks even worse to me when you list the records like that. Even if you take out the disaster that was 2021 (which by the way you can't take out because it DID happen), that's a program that is averaging 7.8 losses per year. Count every year, as you should, and you are looking at a program that has AVERAGED over 10 losses per year over the past 7 years. I don't know how long you have been a Kentucky basketball fan, but that is NOT good. As a matter of fact it's really bad. Tubby lost 10 games a handful of times and got dubbed "10 loss Tubby" and here you have a program that has averaged more than 10 losses per year over the past 7 years.

As a matter of fact you say if you keep putting up records like that, you have a chance at the title. I see two acceptable records above in the past 7 years and even those weren't great. Kentucky basketball is not supposed to be "pretty good." It's supposed to be the gold standard.

I know, you do the thing with 2011 and 2015 vs 2017 and 2019 all the time. It doesn't land with me so I don't know why you keep doing it. The results are the results. The fact is, 2014 was a terrible year as well. We just happened to catch fire late and salvage what was a disastrous season and turned it into a fun tournament run. But that was still a really bad year for UK basketball. The Final Four run made it palatable but it was a bad year.

I'm glad we do agree on the results. The truth is listing those seasons the way you did just proved my point even further. We are in a BAD STRETCH for UK basketball. I hope that changes this year. It should.

What we DON'T need, as fans, is our coach coming out and telling us to temper our expectations. There should be zero excuses this year.

ultimately everything boils down to the results. The reason I keep bringing up 11/14 vs 17:19 is because even tho results wise we did better in 11/14 my feeling is that if you keep having seasons like that, your not really going anywhere whereas if u keep having 17/19 seasons that maximizes your chances of a national title.

But yeah I mean in the end this is going to come down to a simple thing. Did Cal win a second title in his time here or not ? That’s basically how this will be ultimately judged by. I still think there’s a possibility of that happening if we are on the same track as last year, this year and the future.

obviously post 15 isn’t what anyone wants here. But I think it’s turned for the letter IMO. We were good last season. Again results didn’t hit and at some point that has to happen but this team should be good as well. Regardless of what Cal is trying to push to this fan base

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

The champion most of the time comes from the 1 or 2 line. We were on that 2 line last season and for a large portion of the year in contention for a 1 seed.

we are pressesson top 5 this year. There’s no reason to think we won’t be on those lines come March.

and our recruiting looks fantastic for next season.

if you can take a downward trend starting post 15, there’s no reason to think it cant up trend again. Cals good teams have been basically get an epic recruiting class to go with a few key guys returning. That’s what happened in 12 and 15. And if that happens in the future I see no reason to be extremely pessimistic about things.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Yeah, but what about everyone else in college basketball? Did they have some sort of a head start that I don’t know about?

Aren't we the ones that got a head start?

It’s not like everyone else is in mid season form right now, why is this team going to struggle when it’s Cal's most experienced team? Why would they struggle when they have the NPOY and the NCAA assit leader returning? Why would we struggle with all the NBA talent he has? Why should we struggle when we have a senior that shoots damn near 50% from 3 point range?

Who are we supposed to struggle with? Should we be struggling with teams like what we played on Sunday? Isn't that weird to you?

well honestly just cause Cal said this doesn’t mean that’s what’s going to happen lol. It’s more likely we don’t struggle and we do just fine.

I have no idea why Cal thought this was necessary to say to this fan base. Maybe Oscar won’t be ready by next week. Maybe some other guys are nicked up. I dunno.

as far as struggling Sunday listen you can’t find one college basketball team even the ones on top that don’t have games like this every now and then. These are unavoidable IMO. They aren’t robots. Guys have off nights. **** happens. You just hope that when these do happen that 1) you find another way to get the W (we did win the game by 18 after all ) and 2) you hope it’s in Oct (say in a game that doesn’t even count for anything) instead of against St Peters in the ncaa tournament

 

[EliteBlue]

I agree with these comments by KyJeff;

“Yeah, but what about everyone else in college basketball? Did they have some sort of a head start that I don’t know about?

Aren't we the ones that got a head start?

It’s not like everyone else is in mid season form right now, why is this team going to struggle when it’s Cal's most experienced team? Why would they struggle when they have the NPOY and the NCAA assit leader returning? Why would we struggle with all the NBA talent he has? Why should we struggle when we have a senior that shoots damn near 50% from 3 point range?

Who are we supposed to struggle with? Should we be struggling with teams like what we played on Sunday? Isn't that weird to you?”

If anything, we should be ahead of a lot of teams given we played 4 games in August and the talent this team supposedly has. The issue with the offense, or lack thereof, IMHO, is Cal’s inability or stubborness to create an offense other than “just beat your man”, or “rrruuuunnnn”. I sure hope this team can be great anyways.

I honestly think if he just coached defense and put in zero offensive input other than “no ball stopping…either swing it, drive it, kick it, or catch and shoot it but zero ball stopping….make the quick decision and go…if it isn’t there on the catch don’t hold it and let the D catch up” that our offense would overall be better and flow.

His weave to nowhere to melt clock, pound it inside at all cost via drive or post is what stalls the offense. The Defense barely has to move so the kick out or direct pass is rarely to a wide open shooter and we get a lot of ok/semi contested looks but not good looks that aren’t in transition.

 

[kyjeff1]

well honestly just cause Cal said this doesn’t mean that’s what’s going to happen lol. It’s more likely we don’t struggle and we do just fine.

I have no idea why Cal thought this was necessary to say to this fan base. Maybe Oscar won’t be ready by next week. Maybe some other guys are nicked up. I dunno.

as far as struggling Sunday listen you can’t find one college basketball team even the ones on top that don’t have games like this every now and then. These are unavoidable IMO. They aren’t robots. Guys have off nights. **** happens. You just hope that when these do happen that 1) you find another way to get the W (we did win the game by 18 after all ) and 2) you hope it’s in Oct (say in a game that doesn’t even count for anything) instead of against St Peters in the ncaa tournament

Last time Cal stepped in front of the microphone to temper expectations like this, was at tge beginning of the 20/21 season and we know how that turned out.

Either way, this isn’t the attitude we want to see out of Cal, especially after the last two seasons. He can’t flounder again.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Last time Cal stepped in front of the microphone to temper expectations like this, was at tge beginning of the 20/21 season and we know how that turned out.

Either way, this isn’t the attitude we want to see out of Cal, especially after the last two seasons. He can’t flounder again.

I agree in that he probably should have just not said anything if he was going to come out with that lol

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Just out of curiosity tho. It’s November 2nd. No basketball game has counted yet.

what do you guys think honestly about this upcoming season? How do you feel it will go?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

"I don't always lower expectations, but when I do it's in a year I return the National Player of the Year, my starting point guard who led the conference in assists, my 6th man and most athletic senior in the country, four seniors, the best shooter in the country, two juniors, the most athletic sophomore in the country, and add two top ten freshmen."

 

[kyjeff1]

Just out of curiosity tho. It’s November 2nd. No basketball game has counted yet.

what do you guys think honestly about this upcoming season? How do you feel it will go?

If I'm being honest, I think it will go much the same as they have gone post 2015.

-Losts of pre season hype
-Every player "is gonna crush it this year"
-Eye popping wins
-Eye popping losses
-Camp Cal followed by bad basketball
-All the sudden the players that were thought to be great, aren't very good until they get to the NBA where they are immediately great
-Key players are hobbled, or injured
-lose in the SECT semi finals
-lose to another underdog in the -NCAAT in the SS or E8

Cal doesn't know a modern offense, most teams aren't going to just lay there and let you run up and down the court getting alley oops and old man layups. No, NCAAT games are possession style games and you better have an offense that can beat a set defense in those types of games.

Cal doesn’t run back cuts, he doesn't set high screens and he doesn't even have a good inbounds play. You have to score, but Cal hasn't learned that. He still thinks you can win by have longer athletes that can block a few shots, get the rebound and throw it down the court for a runout.

Heck, the guy hasn't even figured out that 3>2 yet.

 

[School boy]

Just out of curiosity tho. It’s November 2nd. No basketball game has counted yet.

what do you guys think honestly about this upcoming season? How do you feel it will go?

6 losses before SEC tournament play. Beat Ark in the SEC championship. To earn a #1 seed. Have a close call in the second round of the tournament and the Eiltie 8. Lose to a team we shouldn't in the semifinal. But overall a good season and another final 4. That's gonna happen.

 

[Kybluedude]

There’s no coach anywhere who doesn’t say his team needs work before the season. Cal’s not gonna predict an unbeaten season or title. No coach would.
He’s been positive but he’s got a lot of new pieces and units to develop. Freshmen are freshmen.
Let the cake bake. Enjoy the ride. It looks to be great on paper.

 

[kybassfan]

You are one stubborn dude. You probably argue that water isn't wet?

I know not a single fan fired a coach at KY. I know a few delusional fans that think their mood matters

 

[FinancialPlannerZac]

There’s no coach anywhere who doesn’t say his team needs work before the season. Cal’s not gonna predict an unbeaten season or title. No coach would.
He’s been positive but he’s got a lot of new pieces and units to develop. Freshmen are freshmen.
Let the cake bake. Enjoy the ride. It looks to be great on paper.

And now I want cake.

 

[Hoskins91_rivals]

I like to start ok, get better as the season goes, and be damn good at the end. Shouldn't have to watch boring basketball 80 percent of the year.

Sorry, most people don’t care if you are entertained or not.

 

[Hoskins91_rivals]

Okay, so you do your timeline and everyone else will do theirs, but I'm not going to attack you for your timeline. I'm not going to attack you for waiting longer to let go than I have.

But here you are attacking people that don't share your timeline. Is that fair? No, it's not.

Also, you can get bent, it certainly is not time to forget about the past. Sorry man, we're not going to just forget about 2021 and the SP loss and we're not going to forget about all the comments Cal has made in the past "basketball bennies", "greatest night in UK history", "it's not about winning games or titles, it's about these kids and their dreams". Etc… etc… etc… when it’s your decision to finally see what the rest of us are seeing, you're going to say the same **** we're saying now and you're going to dredge up the past, so be careful what you say here.

No, I won’t. I’ll continue to say you all are the idiots who care about what he says.