Alright I'll Admit It

[Rockfly78]

Everyone worries too much. At the end of the day, this is just ball. You can tell yourself it's bigger than it is but it's not. It's just ball. Its our preferred form of entertainment and these kids are just entertainers. So I encourage everyone to just enjoy it. If we are winning just let yourself enjoy it and stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. If we are losing, chill the F out. Losing isn't forever. We are Kentucky dammit.

This is fun isn't it? Start having fun yourself.

 

[jameslee32]

You'd have to search long and hard for a shittier apology.

 

[*CatinIL*]

Im Gonna wait and see how he does with an available big first but I will say this. idk how many more 2.5 hour erections my body can handle watching us run and gun

I'm with you on the part I highlighted in bold. Hopefully Calipari realizes this UK team is full of Thoroughbreds and they need to RUN!

The part I didn't highlight, well, have fun...

 

[ukcatz12]

Let's be honest, UK has not had the personnel since 2017 (Monk and Fox) to play this way. And even that rendition of UK basketball didn't play completely like this.

I will agree with Cal that so many fans have been asking to play like this for years, but UK has not had the personnel remotely close to doing so.

Not sure why so many people don't understand this. The reason the offense was slow and ran through Oscar is because we didn't really have the personnel to run any other type of offense. The missed mid range shot and offensive rebound was a feature of the offense. Cal didn't tell them to take that many mid range shots because he thinks it's efficient offense. It was kind of all we had at the time.

 

[ryanbruner]

Hawkins could shoot and hit the 3 at a decent clip IIRC.

He shot well the last few weeks of the season between the SECT and NCAAT but throughout the year he was really bad. We didn't have enough shooting on that team.

 

[jbne222]

I think the most exciting thing about this is we’re recruiting the type of players that can continue to play this style. And high school players are gonna be DYING to play in this offense. Seems like recruiting has gotten back to what it was in Cal’s early years here.

It truly feels like we’re getting back to the glory years and may have a multi-year run of great times. Don’t know how it’ll translate to final 4s/championships given the unpredictability of the NCAA tourney, but I feel confident UK basketball is fun again and will be for awhile.

 

[ryanbruner]

You'd have to search long and hard for a shittier apology.

Eff it lol.

I'd like to put out that all of my criticisms were strictly basketball related and in no shape or form personal. His brand of basketball sucked and I'm glad he realized he needs smart basketball minds around him again. Takes a big person to make a change like that at the age he is.

 

[ryanbruner]

I think the most exciting thing about this is we’re recruiting the type of players that can continue to play this style. And high school players are gonna be DYING to play in this offense. Seems like recruiting has gotten back to what it was in Cal’s early years here.

It truly feels like we’re getting back to the glory years and may have a multi-year run of great times. Don’t know how it’ll translate to final 4s/championships given the unpredictability of the NCAA tourney, but I feel confident UK basketball is fun again and will be for awhile.

CANNOT LOSE JOHN WELCH

 

[jbne222]

Not sure why so many people don't understand this. The reason the offense was slow and ran through Oscar is because we didn't really have the personnel to run any other type of offense. The missed mid range shot and offensive rebound was a feature of the offense. Cal didn't tell them to take that many mid range shots because he thinks it's efficient offense. It was kind of all we had at the time.

Yeah this year has really shown me how truly bad our team was last year. I like Toppin but it’s crazy that he was our best player at times last year. There’s no chance that team could have played like this team and not gotten run off the court.

 

[Bkocats]

Im Gonna wait and see how he does with an available big first but I will say this. idk how many more 2.5 hour erections my body can handle watching us run and gun

Me either…it’s exhausting

 

[Crawfords Corner]

Well constructed team. They have a chance.

 

[FinancialPlannerZac]

Everyone worries too much. At the end of the day, this is just ball. You can tell yourself it's bigger than it is but it's not. It's just ball. Its our preferred form of entertainment and these kids are just entertainers. So I encourage everyone to just enjoy it. If we are winning just let yourself enjoy it and stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. If we are losing, chill the F out. Losing isn't forever. We are Kentucky dammit.

This is fun isn't it? Start having fun yourself.

You are so right. College basketball season is my favorite time of year. We have to soak it in as it goes by. You turn around and it's May and we have MONTHS to go before the next season. Let's enjoy every step of the way.

 

[ftp000]

Yeah all things look awesome but he cant help himself but throw darts at the fans ... its all fun n games .. until we blow a SECT title or lose in the EE .. No , I'm not wanting that , I want #9 hanging in the rafters , but its far too early to say this leopard has changed his spots . Biggest difference is there hasn't been any REED SHEPPERD in many a year . That young guy will make a lot of coaches look good .. additionally lot of comparisons to Herro , I think some are valid , picture perfect J , roams on D , takes chances , plays fearless , BUT I like Shep because hes actually smart , Herro was too clueless to realize the moment many times .

He didn't throw anything at fans. He threw darts at phonies like you. Bullseye!

 

[chattanoogawildcat]

Not me. Never! I'm waiting for him to screw it up again. I hope I'm wrong, but Cal just can't help himself.

Please explain the extreme hate.

 

[kennyskywalker34]

Some guy did in a post last night. Hell, at this point they are comparing Reed to anyone that made a bucket.

There is no comparison. College freshman Reed is hands down better than College freshman Herro.
Remains to be seen if Reed will be a better pro.

 

[catman15]

Im Gonna wait and see how he does with an available big first but I will say this. idk how many more 2.5 hour erections my body can handle watching us run and gun

Relax your thighs brother, it's gonna be a long year

 

[Yardeth]

This offense is beautiful - reminds me of the Fox/Monk year.

Just wish we had a Bam!

 

[kybassfan]

There is no comparison. College freshman Reed is hands down better than College freshman Herro.
Remains to be seen if Reed will be a better pro.

There is no comparison because they are completely different players. If I need a point, I’d take Reed. If I need a 2, I’d take Herro. Reed has better overall skills. Jerri was a better defender. But , if fact it’s a pretty stupid question.

 

[Indymycats]

I absolutely love this team and am excited for the ride. I am saying final four type team at minimum. My one hesitation is seeing if our defense can win a game if the three isn’t falling. I say yes and we have so many capable scorers that it will not matter, but I am anxious to see. Last thing I want to see is a bang up year that ends with us shooting blanks in the elite 8. For now, kudos to Cal and crew. Get healthy and let’s go!

 

[ukfan117]

After the last 3 or 4 years, Calipari is in a huge pot of oil with fans holding the match to boil him alive if they lose a game.

I will not get my hopes up, but this is what Kentucky basketball is supposed to be. These guys are playing with heart, will, and sacrificing for each other to accomplish one goal, a chance to get to a title.

Kentucky beat a really good Miami team last night. I wouldn't have predicted a 22 point blowout (which I always love) but don't be shocked if Miami is in our bracket this year.

I hope Wagner isn't hurt because we need our team healthy. I know injuries will happen, but with Kentucky, it's the same every year. We need our bigs

Of course Sportscenter barely talked about it, but what's new right!?!

 

[ukfan117]

I absolutely love this team and am excited for the ride. I am saying final four type team at minimum. My one hesitation is seeing if our defense can win a game if the three isn’t falling. I say yes and we have so many capable scorers that it will not matter, but I am anxious to see. Last thing I want to see is a bang up year that ends with us shooting blanks in the elite 8. For now, kudos to Cal and crew. Get healthy and let’s go!

Our 3's are falling due to their defense. Kentucky is averaging around 5.3 steals per game. Shepherd is getting 2/3 of those steals. He's the best player on the floor. A complete player with the genes of 2 amazing former Kentucky greats.

Once our bigs start playing, it will open up the floor more. I'm really excited about this season and it's been since 2017 the last time I enjoyed a season.

 

[Catman100]

Just imagine if he had listened to Rafters 4-5 years ago.

 

[rabbitTown]

In my mind the only thing standing between Cal and another national title this year is stall ball or what Cal calls shortening the game. Last night he started it with 6 minutes left and we took some awful shots that allowed Miami to cut into the lead slightly. It's one thing to do it at Rupp with a 30 point lead, it's a whole other thing to do it in March up 5 with the game on the line. If Cal can avoid stall ball it's going to be hard for any team to beat us. UK has no weaknesses once the bigs return.

We have no idea how good Miami really is at this point. No one should care about these games... especially home games. Granted, wins are always nice, but home blowouts don't help us.
This isn't the the time of year to be blowing people away. Most coaching staffs are still experimenting for when it does matter. We clobbered KU in 2021-2022 and how did that end for us?... and for them?

 

[Dr. H Lecter]

My Jury is out.

What would we look like without the LEGACY Reed Sheppard who was ranked outside of the normal Cal recruiting pattern? Without Jeff Sheppard do we really think Cal would have recruited this KY kid? I do not for one second. He is, for now, the best player on the team....who would not be playing here IMO if not for the Legacy Sheppards.

 

[Catman100]

In my mind the only thing standing between Cal and another national title this year is stall ball or what Cal calls shortening the game. Last night he started it with 6 minutes left and we took some awful shots that allowed Miami to cut into the lead slightly. It's one thing to do it at Rupp with a 30 point lead, it's a whole other thing to do it in March up 5 with the game on the line. If Cal can avoid stall ball it's going to be hard for any team to beat us. UK has no weaknesses once the bigs return.

QFT

We scored 12 points in the last 8:30 of the game last night. No we didn't need it, but that is what Cal does at the end of a lot of close games and we tend to lose a lot of those games.

I have said it for a long time, if the 2012 title game was 3 minutes longer, Cal and his shortening of the game loses number 8.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Me either…it’s exhausting

I didn't know you and ThroughBlue were....acquainted?

 

[anon1751545683]

In my mind the only thing standing between Cal and another national title this year is stall ball or what Cal calls shortening the game. Last night he started it with 6 minutes left and we took some awful shots that allowed Miami to cut into the lead slightly. It's one thing to do it at Rupp with a 30 point lead, it's a whole other thing to do it in March up 5 with the game on the line. If Cal can avoid stall ball it's going to be hard for any team to beat us. UK has no weaknesses once the bigs return.

10-3 in NCAA tournament games decided by 5 points or less. More wins than any other coach in the NCAA tournament over the last 14 seasons. More wins over higher seeded teams than any coach over the last 14 seasons.

Hate on Cal all you want. Just admit it has nothing to do with basketball.

 

[ManitouDan_anon]

He didn't throw anything at fans. He threw darts at phonies like you. Bullseye!

Hey Freddy , another bedrock solid take !!!!

 

[anon1751545683]

QFT

We scored 12 points in the last 8:30 of the game last night. No we didn't need it, but that is what Cal does at the end of a lot of close games and we tend to lose a lot of those games.

I have said it for a long time, if the 2012 title game was 3 minutes longer, Cal and his shortening of the game loses number 8.

If we hadn't won the game we would have lost the game? Is that what you're saying? Very insightful. Haters gonna hate.

Guess what, if we had not won last night we would have lost. It's a funny metric but it plays out like that more times than not. Only time it doesn't is in ties.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Benny?

Self-corrected from boner...could be AI is saying all of us basketball bennies are dicks?

 

[Gus Polinski]

Please explain the extreme hate.

No hate, but Cal has been headed in the wrong direction since 2015.

 

[RMorris33_rivals]

10-3 in NCAA tournament games decided by 5 points or less. More wins than any other coach in the NCAA tournament over the last 14 seasons. More wins over higher seeded teams than any coach over the last 14 seasons.

Hate on Cal all you want. Just admit it has nothing to do with basketball.

I'm not a Cal hater by any means. I want him to be successful and I'll give him credit for turning things around so far. I just think his strategy of trying to shorten the game often backfires. It puts undue pressure on the offense, we end up taking a bad shot and getting away from what got us the lead in the first place and the other team can shift momentum. 2015 Wisconsin was the perfect example of this. Kansas game this season also applies

 

[Catman100]

If we hadn't won the game we would have lost the game? Is that what you're saying? Very insightful. Haters gonna hate.

Guess what, if we had not won last night we would have lost. It's a funny metric but it plays out like that more times than not. Only time it doesn't is in ties.

Wow are you really trying to be funny here? You really thought you needed to post that drivel?

If you haven’t seen us lose games because of Cal choosing to grind it out and shorten the game instead of continuing to keep a faster pace going, then last night must have been the first game you’ve ever watched.

I mean my God, most Cal lovers and haters agree on that universally.

 

[kennyskywalker34]

There is no comparison because they are completely different players. If I need a point, I’d take Reed. If I need a 2, I’d take Herro. Reed has better overall skills. Jerri was a better defender. But , if fact it’s a pretty stupid question.

Yes different positions. But Reed still the better player as a Freshman

 

[kybassfan]

Yes different positions. But Reed still the better player as a Freshman

Really? He’s played in 2 serious college games. We’re 1 and 1 in those games. He played very well in one game against a team that MIGHT finish in the top 25. Herro phases an entire season against a much tougher SOS compared to what Reed has faced thus far.

Be fair to Reed and let him prove himself in competitive college basketball. Dont draw conclusions about his performance against the terrible competition we’ve faced. You got 1 data point. At this juncture you can even draw a single unique straight line through that. We can say the kids skill set is much better than what we have seen lately. Don’t set him up to fail with wild unsupported claims.

 

[kennyskywalker34]

Really? He’s played in 2 serious college games. We’re 1 and 1 in those games. He played very well in one game against a team that MIGHT finish in the top 25. Herro phases an entire season against a much tougher SOS compared to what Reed has faced thus far.

ild unsupported claims.

My opinion of Reed isn't setting him up to succeed or fail.
It's one fans opinion. I don't go have a single social media account. I don't talk to current or past players online. Never have and never will.
Some people take this stuff way too serious. It's just one fans opinion. Tyler or Reed could care less about my opinion of them. They don't care about yours or anyone else's on this discussion board.

 

[kybassfan]

My opinion of Reed isn't setting him up to succeed or fail.
It's one fans opinion. I don't go have a single social media account. I don't talk to current or past players online. Never have and never will.
Some people take this stuff way too serious. It's just one fans opinion. Tyler or Reed could care less about my opinion of them. They don't care about yours or anyone else's on this discussion board.

And I just said you have no data to support your opinion. You’ve got one data point, two at the outside. Your ‘opinion’ is unsupportable as regards being better that any particular player, particularly one so different as Herro Only thing they have in common is their race.

 

[kennyskywalker34]

And I just said you have no data to support your opinion. You’ve got one data point, two at the outside. Your ‘opinion’ is unsupportable as regards being better that any particular player, particularly one so different as Herro Only thing they have in common is their race.

I couldn't care less what their race is.
Saw someone comparing them last night. Saw you mention about them being compared. I gave my opinion.
Once again. You take this too serious.
I don't need data to support my opinion. My eyes say he is the better Freshmen player.
The thing about it. I don't care if you think I'm right or wrong. That's why I don't need some analytical data to prove to you or anyone else. Because I DON'T CARE IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH ME.
I believe he is better. Obviously you don't. That's fine. You have a take and I have a take. Maybe you're right. Maybe your wrong. Same goes for me.
I told you my opinion. 51 years of watching UK. My eyes tells me regardless of race position competition to this point. I think Reed is the better player as a College Freshmen. Barring injury. Reed isn't going to get worse as the season goes on. Obviously he isn't going to hit 3s at the clip he is right now. But his overall game isn't going to get worse.
Will he have bad games? Of course he will. But overall at seasons end. He will still be the better player.
Why is this a issue with you? Why do you care about my opinion?
I'm taking nothing away from Herro. He had a fine Freshmen year. I just think Reed is a better player.

 

[kybassfan]

I couldn't care less what their race is.
Saw someone comparing them last night. Saw you mention about them being compared. I gave my opinion.
Once again. You take this too serious.
I don't need data to support my opinion. My eyes say he is the better Freshmen player.
The thing about it. I don't care if you think I'm right or wrong. That's why I don't need some analytical data to prove to you or anyone else. Because I DON'T CARE IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH ME.
I believe he is better. Obviously you don't. That's fine. You have a take and I have a take. Maybe you're right. Maybe your wrong. Same goes for me.
I told you my opinion. 51 years of watching UK. My eyes tells me regardless of race position competition to this point. I think Reed is the better player as a College Freshmen. Barring injury. Reed isn't going to get worse as the season goes on. Obviously he isn't going to hit 3s at the clip he is right now. But his overall game isn't going to get worse.
Will he have bad games? Of course he will. But overall at seasons end. He will still be the better player.
Why is this a issue with you? Why do you care about my opinion?
I'm taking nothing away from Herro. He had a fine Freshmen year. I just think Reed is a better player.

Shrugs. You expressed your opinion. I said you have no data to support it. No issue. Just data, in this case lack thereof. I think your panties got all bunched up there.

 

[DreadLox]

Benny?