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Cal taking a direct shot at UK and Pope

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Bowfreak.

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I haven't read all the responses but it wouldn't be so bad if it was about the name on the back instead of the name on the front for Cal. The reason it is so annoying is because it has REALLY always been about the name he signs on his paychecks.

Arkansas will grow tired of it too at some point.....
 
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Wildcat Sheli

Wildcat Sheli

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He did write a book entitled “Players First” that detailed his coaching philosophy. I think more than a direct shot at Pope or UK, he’s rubbing it in to his naysayers that there are times when he can still win a championship, even if others think his methods are flawed. When he was at UK, he was always sending these types of messages to his recruits via his media comments.

Edit: I’m sure it did feel good for Cal to win another SEC title. I know he knew it irritated fans for him to talk about “not liking” the SEC Tournament, but I’m not sure he realized just how much it bothered us (though at times he admitted his comments were intended to take pressure off his teams and he would point to his record of winning in it pre-2020, not to mention his resentment if the NCAA Selection Committee ignored in their seedings a title game win that day). I recall someone once said in April of 2024, “I understand the assignment. We are here to win banners…We are here to win banners in Nashville. Because you guys (UK fans) turn out in Nashville like nobody else’s business and that matters….” It does, indeed.
 
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Bowfreak.

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piglet mignon said:
Was it a shot at Kentucky fans when he said it while in Lexington ? IMO Cal is always recruiting when he is at the podium whether its talking about the name on the back of the jersey , the amount of money his NBA players have made or all the special Guards he has coached .

As long as that dude is bringing in top level talent he can say whatever the heck he wants and more power to him .
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I agree with you on the first part but are you honestly ok with him ONLY bringing in top level talent? If you are, you will be extremely happy for as long as he coaches the Hogs. I suspect you like winning and will do as most UK fans did and grow tired of everything that is Cal. Lucky for Arky he has been rejuvenated by his move but he will be talking about little house, walking his dog and pooping ice cream before long and not winning as much a he should.
 
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smallmouthhog

Heisman
Feb 9, 2007
40,455
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Cal has relied on two freshmen this year and a bunch of older guys. He will have 3 on the roster next year. That is totally different than what he did at Ky. He has adjusted to the new landscape. I think he will hit with some great bigs in the portal, or hope he does. If so this team will be a top team in the SEC next year also. I really dont like his " im smarter than you" attitude but I can live with it as long as he brings in the D Acuffs of the world. Hopefully he gets two of Richmond, DJ and M Thomas back to go with the 3 G/F he signed from HS.

This has been a fun year. Will see what happens over the next couple of weeks.
 
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piglet mignon

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Bowfreak. said:
I agree with you on the first part but are you honestly ok with him ONLY bringing in top level talent? If you are, you will be extremely happy for as long as he coaches the Hogs. I suspect you like winning and will do as most UK fans did and grow tired of everything that is Cal. Lucky for Arky he has been rejuvenated by his move but he will be talking about little house, walking his dog and pooping ice cream before long and not winning as much a he should.
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We will see how he is going forward . Supposedly he is only brining in the 3 Freshman next year , counting on DJ , Billy (if he doesn't go pro) , Ewin (if he gets the waiver ) and possible Knox ( I don't see it) and filling the rest from the portal .

Right now like you said Arkansas has a rejuvenated Cal and have arguably the best player in program history so everything is all good BUT like any fanbase it can turn quickly . The first half of last year i and most were not happy at all with the product on the floor but obviously things changed in the second half of the season. Who knows how long Cal has left but if the Hogs can get another 3-5 good years I think we would consider it a successful hire .The hope is that Cal elevates the program from were Muss had it for the next guy .

Thanks for being cordial in your response
 
Monday Nitro

Monday Nitro

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Jul 3, 2025
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LineSkiCat14 said:
I think that's just his philosophy, and what I've always believed is that it's a bit misleading. By prioritizing the player, he gets their trust, and then gets their talents. The talents then generally get him wins, Final4 runs, etc. I always felt that wasn't too hard to see where he was going with it. He favors the players, but it ultimately helps him and the school.. and the fan base. It was how he made the 1AD system work so well.
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He's recruiting when he says that. He's the best recruiter of our liftetimes but that's about where it ends as he gets lazy after he gets his haul and goes as far as the talent is able to and often doesn't go nearly as far as the talent he has. Any of us could have coached his first team and hung a banner.
 
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4UK4life1

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Dec 21, 2004
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If the name on the back is the one who writes his checks then I agree. Otherwise regardless what he says, his job is to represent the name on the front. He’s just in denial
 
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BetterThanYou

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Jan 31, 2026
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Cal turned 67 in February. The oldest coach to win a title was Jim Calhoun at 68.

I give Cal 7 years. Just long enough to force Brad Calipari on Arkansas.

He isn’t winning another title
 
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Vek96

Vek96

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Calipari was a turd before he came to Kentucky, he was a turd at Kentucky, and he’s a turd at Arkansas. He’ll die a turd.
 
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Randy Bob

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Jun 14, 2009
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Alot of the guys at Ark sign with Ky he left he took them with him, and they have been there for 3 years when he was at Ky they was one and done none hardly ever coming back.
 
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FurdTurgason

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Jan 9, 2009
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LineSkiCat14 said:
I think that's just his philosophy, and what I've always believed is that it's a bit misleading. By prioritizing the player, he gets their trust, and then gets their talents. The talents then generally get him wins, Final4 runs, etc. I always felt that wasn't too hard to see where he was going with it. He favors the players, but it ultimately helps him and the school.. and the fan base. It was how he made the 1AD system work so well.
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The only thing that really irked me about Cal was him always saying "it's about these kids" when half his roster was getting s--t on every year. It's about the athletically gifted kids who had everyone kissing their butts since they first became a top recruit. The ones on your roster who would run through fire for you are expendable. Al McGuire once said if you gave him one superstar and four guys willing to do all the dirty work he could win you a championship.
 
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TALtruthatlast

Sophomore
Jan 18, 2008
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LineSkiCat14 said:
I think that's just his philosophy, and what I've always believed is that it's a bit misleading. By prioritizing the player, he gets their trust, and then gets their talents. The talents then generally get him wins, Final4 runs, etc. I always felt that wasn't too hard to see where he was going with it. He favors the players, but it ultimately helps him and the school.. and the fan base. It was how he made the 1AD system work so well.
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I’ll split the hair with you.

On one hand it’s the right thing to say for players and recruits to hear. That lets them know they are priority and that there would never be hard feelings if they left after one year. Etc.

On the other hand it’s absolutely cringeworthy to the ears of Kentucky fans to hear about that name on the back crap.
 
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TALtruthatlast

Sophomore
Jan 18, 2008
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BetterThanYou said:
Cal turned 67 in February. The oldest coach to win a title was Jim Calhoun at 68.

I give Cal 7 years. Just long enough to force Brad Calipari on Arkansas.

He isn’t winning another title
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K was also 68 in 2015 when Duke won it. I think J Calhoun was a little over a month away from turning 69 in 2011. (Born May 10) they won it April 4.
 
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rick64

rick64

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Jan 25, 2007
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Episode 2 Whatever GIF
 
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