The answer is yes. He has flaws, Rupp and Joe B had flaws, so why such anger when he is criticized?
Does Cal deserves to be bashed every now and then?
- Thread starter tbubba9896
- Start date
Sunshine pumpers. It’s ok to criticize. Doesn’t mean we don’t love Cal. Your held to a high standard at UK.
I don’t mind if Cal is criticized and the poster criticizing gives valid observations and reasons why. I appreciate calm, rational discussion.
Drives me nuts when posters bash him based on knee-jerk emotional overreaction.
Drives me nuts when posters bash him based on knee-jerk emotional overreaction.
We all bash. I posted before the Bahama's games that there would be an over-reaction if we won all the games because none of the teams that we were to face looked like they were that good. Bashed big time especially after we blew out all those teams. Now, I am reading some of those same people who bashed me saying that those teams weren't very good. However, I will admit to being shocked, well beyond shocked on how we have looked since then especially against Duke.
Our team has some flaws. I think it is fine to point out our observations and if that is bashing so be it. For instance, Travis and Richards on the court at the same time is problematic. But, Travis is not a shot blocker, and Richards is not a low post offensive threat. It may also prove true with PJ and Travis on the court at the same time although for me that possibly dynamic still requires more time to assess. I think it was a huge mistake to start Hagans against Duke and we should have for the first game gone with Green as he had experience in those type of games. Herro remains our best passer but when he threw up that off balance (and it was a throw not even a shot) baseline rebound shot in the second half against SIU, I would have immediately benched him and explained why. The same should be true for any of these players. There has been such poor shot selection that unlike other Cal teams this one needs to slow it down and learn to grind it out. Once they gain experience on the roles, I think that running style can be implemented.
For me, right now, there are likely two keys for becoming a Championship level team. Montgomery. He is a huge key to me. He can shoot the ball better than PJ on the perimiter, he can rebound, he can block shots, but his defense needs a lot of work. He was a top recruit that Duke also sought and he can play at that level to fit much better with Travis and then you put Johnson on the other side. Obviously, the other key is point guard. I would start Green and develop the others. I think Cal promised Green the 2 guard role, and that's fine down the road, but right now he is our most experienced guard. Let the others grow especially as we are just starting the season.
Well I hope Cal is listening. Is this bashing his decisions to date?
Our team has some flaws. I think it is fine to point out our observations and if that is bashing so be it. For instance, Travis and Richards on the court at the same time is problematic. But, Travis is not a shot blocker, and Richards is not a low post offensive threat. It may also prove true with PJ and Travis on the court at the same time although for me that possibly dynamic still requires more time to assess. I think it was a huge mistake to start Hagans against Duke and we should have for the first game gone with Green as he had experience in those type of games. Herro remains our best passer but when he threw up that off balance (and it was a throw not even a shot) baseline rebound shot in the second half against SIU, I would have immediately benched him and explained why. The same should be true for any of these players. There has been such poor shot selection that unlike other Cal teams this one needs to slow it down and learn to grind it out. Once they gain experience on the roles, I think that running style can be implemented.
For me, right now, there are likely two keys for becoming a Championship level team. Montgomery. He is a huge key to me. He can shoot the ball better than PJ on the perimiter, he can rebound, he can block shots, but his defense needs a lot of work. He was a top recruit that Duke also sought and he can play at that level to fit much better with Travis and then you put Johnson on the other side. Obviously, the other key is point guard. I would start Green and develop the others. I think Cal promised Green the 2 guard role, and that's fine down the road, but right now he is our most experienced guard. Let the others grow especially as we are just starting the season.
Well I hope Cal is listening. Is this bashing his decisions to date?
When you make statements like "we are college basketball" as well as starting you are most concerned with getting guys drafted you have to own some criticism when your team looks like they dont care and are lost at the beginning of every season....which more often has continued through the season (3 of the past 4 years if this season continues down that path).
He def deserves some cristisicm. Three out of last four teams haven't been good. This team has potential but a thousand miles away.
27 losses ... second round , elite 8 , sweet 16..... .500 against ranked teams. You guys realize the last 3 years are like tubby years right? And this year started off looking the same.. ( please cal get it figured out).
Cal when he has that will and fire is so much smarter and better than tubby smith... but he’s been coasting. He’s letting barbee and Justus bring him down (reminds ya of tubby keeping on poor assistants doesn’t it?). That’s why this recent trend is very worrisome .
We don’t want cal to leave.. we want him to wake up and get sh*t right as Bledsoe would say.
Cal when he has that will and fire is so much smarter and better than tubby smith... but he’s been coasting. He’s letting barbee and Justus bring him down (reminds ya of tubby keeping on poor assistants doesn’t it?). That’s why this recent trend is very worrisome .
We don’t want cal to leave.. we want him to wake up and get sh*t right as Bledsoe would say.
The game changed 3 years ago. God bless your little heart if your not smart enough to see it
Also for a few of those years we had strickland and Antigua
Are you already counting this team as not good?
Besides, I don’t think you can call 2016 or the finished product last year not good. Not great, I’ll go with. Even not up to Cal’s standards.
Last year’s team became decent. 2016 was a little better than that, even if it did end poorly.
Let’s hope this season turns into a great one because the mass exodus would be too painful If it’s just only a good season
Last 3 years;
UK 27 losses
N Car 25 losses
Kansas 18 losses
Vill 13 losses
Duke 28
Tell the world genius what changed and how Cal is behind the curve against his top rivals. The one guy who isn't chasing and cheating for one and dones is Jay Wright. Keep looking stupid with your little irrelevants numbers you throw out:flush:
I hope it turns into a great one regardless, because I’m a fan, but I doubt whatever departures we have will cause me pain.
Losses stick with me sometimes - I doubt if any of us are completely over 2015 (or 2017, for that matter), but I can honestly say that I’m happy for the guys who are able to leave and start earning a nice living playing basketball.
Whatever happens this year, I’m sure I’ll be cheering for Maxey, Whitney, and the rest this time next year.
His primary goal doesn’t align with the fan base goals. May be arrogance, could be complacency-he’s lost his touch the last couple of years. We’ve had glaring positional and developmental gaps that he hasn’t recruited/developed a player for. We’re no longer the “it” school.
Don’t have insight into what he should do, but he has to be willing to change some things up. Given the talent we have, our teams play a boring brand of basketball that’s hard to watch. With our speed, depth and lack of shooting there were many years we should’ve ran a full out, in your face, full court trapping press-maybe start there.
Don’t have insight into what he should do, but he has to be willing to change some things up. Given the talent we have, our teams play a boring brand of basketball that’s hard to watch. With our speed, depth and lack of shooting there were many years we should’ve ran a full out, in your face, full court trapping press-maybe start there.
Last edited:
To be fair, Duke and Carolina playing much tougher schedules.
There’s a big difference between criticizing and all out bashing/ calling for him to be fired.
The latter are what the idiots on this board tend to do from time to time.
The latter are what the idiots on this board tend to do from time to time.
[eyeroll] There it is. The sign of the times - if you don't agree with my opinion, you must be stupid or have some other debilitating character fault.
I'm curious, what is it about you and your background that makes you qualified to dismiss someone else's smarts?
Should Cal be bashed or criticized? Of course, it comes with the territory. He does not walk on water and is not a perfect coach, so yes, fans have every right in the world to be critical at times. Just because you bash or criticize the coach, does not mean you are not a true fan, in fact I think right the opposite.
Is Cal perfect? Of course not. He gets paid $8 million a year, so yeah, criticism comes with the job. The problem isn't with the idea, it's with the execution. Most people, consistent with online behavior, have no perspective and no filter. So they go way beyond what is deserved and get into "this is ridiculous" territory. And end up saying dumb things. And then of course the next step is to denigrate anyone who questions a ridiculous opinion by questioning their intelligence, calling names, etc.
Let's use a different example, since Cal, being our own coach, makes folks overly emotional. Let's look at Coach K. Does Coach K deserve criticism at times. I suppose you could say he obviously does. Unlike with Cal, K critics can point to several mystifying losses, where he has a high seed and loses to a much lower one. South Carolina. Lehigh. Mercer. Providence. Cal has nothing like that at Kentucky. K clearly underachieved with a bunch of his teams. Should a Duke fan be able to criticize K when that kind of thing happens. I think you can make a strong argument that while he could, it would be both stupid and ungrateful to do so. Over 1000 victories. 5 national titles. What, 11 final fours. Duke is now unquestionably among the true bluebloods, along with Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas. They would have none of that without K,and when he leaves, they will fall with a thud. So can a Duke fan criticize? Sure. But I can only look at one who does and wonder WTH he's thinking.
Let's use a different example, since Cal, being our own coach, makes folks overly emotional. Let's look at Coach K. Does Coach K deserve criticism at times. I suppose you could say he obviously does. Unlike with Cal, K critics can point to several mystifying losses, where he has a high seed and loses to a much lower one. South Carolina. Lehigh. Mercer. Providence. Cal has nothing like that at Kentucky. K clearly underachieved with a bunch of his teams. Should a Duke fan be able to criticize K when that kind of thing happens. I think you can make a strong argument that while he could, it would be both stupid and ungrateful to do so. Over 1000 victories. 5 national titles. What, 11 final fours. Duke is now unquestionably among the true bluebloods, along with Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas. They would have none of that without K,and when he leaves, they will fall with a thud. So can a Duke fan criticize? Sure. But I can only look at one who does and wonder WTH he's thinking.
Criticism is fine. It’s hard for me to even put into words how annoyed I am by people who scream “CAL BASHER! SHOULD WE GO HIRE BCG AGAIN?!” to anyone that expresses frustration or constructive criticism.
The game changed 3 years ago. That’s a fact. Not an opinion. The rules changed. There is no debate there. That’s what I said bless your heart about if he doesn’t see that the rules changed.
Cal absolutely deserved criticism after Tuesday night as do the players. It doesn’t mean the year is over though. And today is a reflection that Duke isn’t the unbeatable juggernaut so many have made them out to be. K had them ready Tuesday and Cal failed miserably to have UK ready. That combo lead to a historic beating.
I do think it’s funny talking about records and losses. Before the last three years, Jay Wright flamed out of the ncaa tournament for years and had a 13-19 season the year UK won the title. He would have been fired at UK and never made to his glory years the last few years.
I do think it’s funny talking about records and losses. Before the last three years, Jay Wright flamed out of the ncaa tournament for years and had a 13-19 season the year UK won the title. He would have been fired at UK and never made to his glory years the last few years.
Valid criticism yes, absolutely. Calling for him to be fired, no, that's just ridiculous.
This, 100%. A problem we have on this board is some of the people that can’t accept that criticism is fine can’t see the difference between the two.
big difference in the pumpers and the bashers...
but, yes he should be criticized especially right now..
but there is a lot of bs that is more than just criticism.
some act like he is pertrino
A
anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y
Guest
Sure he does but when someone creates an account...cough cough.... and bashes him, well it doesn’t have much credibility.
I'm not sure I see the relationship between the rule change and what's happened at Kentucky.
Kentucky had a very good team just a couple of years ago. Definitely a contender. I never felt the rule change bothered that team and haven't really noticed it since.
I think the biggest thing was that the college basketball world flattened out and you began to see teams who weren't in the recruiting arms race get in there. When those one and dones Cal was chasing started going to Mississippi St. and Washington and Texas, and you still had Duke/Arizona/Kansas getting theirs, it became much harder to corner the market on elite talent.
The rule changes effected everyone somehow. That’s the point of rule changes. The arm bar going away made it at least a little more difficult for freshmen to defend. Cal had our guys using it every year until the rule changed...
Criticism comes with the territory when coaching a big time program, but to me the people who call for him to be fired and the people who freak out over fans criticizing him are ridiculous. Just because you criticize him does not mean you aren't a fan or are trolling. I'm sure everyone on here has been critical of people in their own family before, doesn't mean you don't love them. There are all different types of fans, and people need to understand that.
There are the fans that think the program does no wrong, and there are fans who get frustrated very easily because they just want their team to be good and be the best, and there is nothing wrong with either. I am a fan who just wants them to be the best and so I get frustrated when we lose or are barely beating mid-major teams, and I get criticism all the time from friends because I don't always enjoy "the process" as Cal calls it. I'll admit I've gotten spoiled by the really good teams and that's why I get frustrated when we have teams who look lost or struggle most of the season, but on the reverse side, I'll say that all the "Just wait until March" people have been spoiled by 2011 and 2014.
There are the fans that think the program does no wrong, and there are fans who get frustrated very easily because they just want their team to be good and be the best, and there is nothing wrong with either. I am a fan who just wants them to be the best and so I get frustrated when we lose or are barely beating mid-major teams, and I get criticism all the time from friends because I don't always enjoy "the process" as Cal calls it. I'll admit I've gotten spoiled by the really good teams and that's why I get frustrated when we have teams who look lost or struggle most of the season, but on the reverse side, I'll say that all the "Just wait until March" people have been spoiled by 2011 and 2014.
Almost everything here is knee-jerk. "Cal is horrible" after every single loss. "Fire Cal" after every single loss. We have a ton of posters that are one step away from the funny farm.
Says one of the guys who can’t seem to understand the difference between valid criticism and “bashing.”
Latest
-
01
Rivals Football Recruiting
New commit prediction in for UCLA with a top 100 prospect
-
02
KSR Football
The Oklahoma Adventure: A Weekend I Almost Missed
-
03
KSR Football
4 Unsung Heroes from Kentucky's Win Over Oklahoma
-
04
KSR Basketball
KSR's takeaways from the first AP Poll Top 25 of 2026-27
-
05
KSR
Relive the Kentucky Win over Oklahoma on another KSR Road Trip