At what precise point did Cal ruin the program?

[calismyhero]

This is true, it hurts bad. Even some of those losses I could live with. Most are inexcusable.

Honestly that team should have walked to the NCAA title. We had opportunities to win 4 championships from 2009-2015 and came away with one. He says he doesn’t watch film? He watched a lot of UCLA film this week by his own admission. And his teams don’t practice free throws, that’s cost him personally 3 titles. Hard headed much?

 

[kyjeff1]

I just don’t think cal has it in him anymore to do certain things you have to do as a coach to win big at this level. He can’t bring himself to bench wheeler in key moments. And i think it’s entirely because he likes the kid. (to his credit wheeler seems like a really good dude). but you’re being paid 9 large to win games. there’s going to be some tough decisions that have to be made.

I just wish that if he really doesn’t want to or can’t make this decisions anymore he’s step aside. The longer he waits to do so the more his legacy and reception around the state suffer.

I really like cal the person. I’d love for him to be able to ride off into the sunset here and call this place home. But you can’t tank the basketball program that is THE major common interest of the state on your way out.

I think if this season plays out the way it appears to be headed he could earn a lot of points if he just said, “i can’t do this anymore” and stepped down. I think a lot would be forgiven. But if he instead clings on to the bitter end…well…i think a LOT of kentuckians will hold that against him and not be so fond of his presence here.

I think most coaches play favorites here and there, Cal takes it to another level though.

Not only that, he has an obsession with getting kids drafted, so he plays those kids, whether they are skilled enough or not and if we lose games in the process, in his mind, it's okay, because it's more important to get that kid to the draft this year.

That is the main reason I was done with Cal many years ago and I cannot understand how so many UK fans either don't see it, or are okay with it.

There was a point in time, just after he signed that lifetime deal, that he relaxed and got lazy and it was right at the time the game changed to the point where programs like Villanova, Baylor and uva… .programs with a structured system based on training lower rated players over multiple years, started to take over. So it was so much worse.

Cal still refuses to adapt. I think he's trying hard, but he's trying hard at the wrong things.

I can't wait until he calls it quits and I hope our athletics department learns their lesson. No more lifetime deals. This is a 10 year job, that's it.

 

[Catman100]

I think most coaches play favorites here and there, Cal takes it to another level though.

Not only that, he has an obsession with getting kids drafted, so he plays those kids, whether they are skilled enough or not and if we lose games in the process, in his mind, it's okay, because it's more important to get that kid to the draft this year.

That is the main reason I was done with Cal many years ago and I cannot understand how so many UK fans either don't see it, or are okay with it.

There was a point in time, just after he signed that lifetime deal, that he relaxed and got lazy and it was right at the time the game changed to the point where programs like Villanova, Baylor and uva… .programs with a structured system based on training lower rated players over multiple years, started to take over. So it was so much worse.

Cal still refuses to adapt. I think he's trying hard, but he's trying hard at the wrong things.

I can't wait until he calls it quits and I hope our athletics department learns their lesson. No more lifetime deals. This is a 10 year job, that's it.

I am still amazed that Askew played 75 minutes a game as a freshman and then went to Texas as a more experienced sophomore and played so little there that he transferred again.

 

[kyjeff1]

I am still amazed that Askew played 75 minutes a game as a freshman and then went to Texas as a more experienced sophomore and played so little there that he transferred again.

Cal does it every year, but Askew, Boston and Brooks favoritism was so bad, even for Cal.

 

[Bleedin Blue in Ohio]

I think Coach Cal's biggest issue is he constantly allows the other team to dictate the tempo. He does not force the action. That is why his team's lost final four and championship games to UConn and Wisconsin. That is why this team lost to Michigan State this year and struggled with Yale and Bellarmine. He needs to allow his players to force their will on other teams and dictate the pace. Control the tempo and force other teams to keep up with your talent and ability.

 

[UK_born_b_bread]

I think Coach Cal's biggest issue is he constantly allows the other team to dictate the tempo. He does not force the action. That is why his team's lost final four and championship games to UConn and Wisconsin. That is why this team lost to Michigan State this year and struggled with Yale and Bellarmine. He needs to allow his players to force their will on other teams and dictate the pace. Control the tempo and force other teams to keep up with your talent and ability.

We definitely don’t impose our style on anyone anymore.

 

[TortElvisII]

2010 WVU was the beginning. A team with 5 first-round draft picks, and 3 more guys who would eventually play in the NBA, was beaten by a simple zone defense. Looked clueless the entire game.

2014, lost to inferior talent, inferior depth, and an inferior coach. Were essentially beaten by two midget guards.

2015 ran into a very good team, but one that was outmatched from an athletic standpoint. All game long I watched as Wisconsin methodically moved the ball until they got the matchup they wanted, then exploited it. Meanwhile Kentucky struggled to get good looks and instead settled for low percentage, contested shots late in the clock. Sound familiar? Cal’s failure to prepare for his opponent was inexcusable. Cal also took the air out of the ball under 4 minutes, which resulted in the shot clock violations. We didn’t have a big enough lead to play that way.

2017, as poorly as that game was officiated, we had a 5-point lead late. Then Roy went to a zone and Kentucky had no answer for it. I mean no idea what to do at all. This is also the game when I realized that even if Cal could coach, he is universally hated by the officials and that will always be too much to overcome.

2018 lost to a crappy K-state team without their best player after getting a gift bracket. No excuse for that.

2019 Auburn was playing better late in the year, but was still outmatched, and were missing their best NBA prospect. Again we let a midget guard dominate us. Look at the careers Herro, Keldon, and PJ are having now. Not to mention we had a former All-Pac10 player in Travis. Where is ANYBODY from that Auburn team now?

Evansville.

Getting destroyed by Duke in front of the whole world.

9-16.

Saint Peter’s.

Losing the all-time wins lead.

Continuing to lose to mediocre teams in the same fashion year after year with no adjustments. Total refusal to play zone when it could have won us games, and by extension our team also has no idea how to score against a zone.

So as you can see it isn’t just one moment. It’s been a gradual thing. A snowball.

Said it all.

 

[Phil_The_Music2]

To answer the question one would have to feel that the program is in ruins. It is not. The program is in fine hands and thriving. . Only here and one other site do I hear these rumblings. Just this calendar year when we were in Tampa, the Bahamas and England I heard nary a thought of UK basketball being ruined. In fact, it's quite the opposite from fans putting their money where their mouth is.

As for the '15 game against Wisc. I sat there in very expensive seats and stayed mad at Cal for a couple years over it. But never to the point of wanting a different coach.

Since '15 seems to be the tipping point for many then how about '17? Entering the tourney we were the best team in the country. We got hosed in the E8 game. And not one to normally blast officials.

How about '19. Again entered the tourney as one of the best teams in the country. Overtime loss in the E8 to a team we had beaten twice.

How about '20? That team was poised for a FF run. They had that taken away.

How about '22? 2 man team is a 2 seed. Blew out the 2 teams that played for the title plus UT. Yes, we got upset in the first game.

Right now we have a great team in the making. I expect this team to be in the FF. I already have my room in Houston. Along with my room in Nashville for the SEC. Which I expect we win. I was seriously considering going to NY this Sat. But that's not working out.

Doesn't look anything like ruins to me. Looks like excitement to me. Go Cats!!

I'll have what he's having please!

 

[James Arington]

I’m interested in everyone’s thoughts on what the turning point was where in your view Cal officially ruined the program. I have been having this debate all ninth at the bar and wanted to get the Board’s thoughts. There were a lot of differing viewpoints tonight.

Personally, my view is when he decided not to watch video against Wisconsin in 2015.

Pathetic comment.

 

[yabbadabbadoo_rivals213851]

I think most coaches play favorites here and there, Cal takes it to another level though.

Not only that, he has an obsession with getting kids drafted, so he plays those kids, whether they are skilled enough or not and if we lose games in the process, in his mind, it's okay, because it's more important to get that kid to the draft this year.

That is the main reason I was done with Cal many years ago and I cannot understand how so many UK fans either don't see it, or are okay with it.

There was a point in time, just after he signed that lifetime deal, that he relaxed and got lazy and it was right at the time the game changed to the point where programs like Villanova, Baylor and uva… .programs with a structured system based on training lower rated players over multiple years, started to take over. So it was so much worse.

Cal still refuses to adapt. I think he's trying hard, but he's trying hard at the wrong things.

I can't wait until he calls it quits and I hope our athletics department learns their lesson. No more lifetime deals. This is a 10 year job, that's it.

My thoughts exactly
After about 2016, I knew we were on a downhill drag
You’re right though. He takes more pride in recruiting these high ranked guys and getting them to the NBA than he does at winning for the people who pay him. Some success along the way, but who wouldn’t with that level of talent.
It’s time to find that next innovative guy like Pitino was 30+ years ago.
This chapter is over.

 

[Montana81]

My thoughts exactly
After about 2016, I knew we were on a downhill drag
You’re right though. He takes more pride in recruiting these high ranked guys and getting them to the NBA than he does at winning for the people who pay him. Some success along the way, but who wouldn’t with that level of talent.
It’s time to find that next innovative guy like Pitino was 30+ years ago.
This chapter is over.

It would be nice if we could find the next coach K. Young guy with a strong pedigree that turns out to be a world beater and hangs around for 40 years.

K would do just about anything to win a few more ball games. And he was intelligent. Was a player and an assistant under a legend.

I was hopeful one of pitino’s guys would turn into that. Donovan…maybe if we had hired donovan 25 years ago.

One things for sure, barnhardt can’t be trusted with the next hire. He’s too conservative imo.

 

[Big10Cat]

I honestly cannot even define exactly what qualifies our program as “ruined”, because I am just a Basketball Benny. My apologies.

 

[cathouse_rivals216755]

2010 WVU was the beginning. A team with 5 first-round draft picks, and 3 more guys who would eventually play in the NBA, was beaten by a simple zone defense. Looked clueless the entire game.

2014, lost to inferior talent, inferior depth, and an inferior coach. Were essentially beaten by two midget guards.

2015 ran into a very good team, but one that was outmatched from an athletic standpoint. All game long I watched as Wisconsin methodically moved the ball until they got the matchup they wanted, then exploited it. Meanwhile Kentucky struggled to get good looks and instead settled for low percentage, contested shots late in the clock. Sound familiar? Cal’s failure to prepare for his opponent was inexcusable. Cal also took the air out of the ball under 4 minutes, which resulted in the shot clock violations. We didn’t have a big enough lead to play that way.

2017, as poorly as that game was officiated, we had a 5-point lead late. Then Roy went to a zone and Kentucky had no answer for it. I mean no idea what to do at all. This is also the game when I realized that even if Cal could coach, he is universally hated by the officials and that will always be too much to overcome.

2018 lost to a crappy K-state team without their best player after getting a gift bracket. No excuse for that.

2019 Auburn was playing better late in the year, but was still outmatched, and were missing their best NBA prospect. Again we let a midget guard dominate us. Look at the careers Herro, Keldon, and PJ are having now. Not to mention we had a former All-Pac10 player in Travis. Where is ANYBODY from that Auburn team now?

Evansville.

Getting destroyed by Duke in front of the whole world.

9-16.

Saint Peter’s.

Losing the all-time wins lead.

Continuing to lose to mediocre teams in the same fashion year after year with no adjustments. Total refusal to play zone when it could have won us games, and by extension our team also has no idea how to score against a zone.

So as you can see it isn’t just one moment. It’s been a gradual thing. A snowball.

Oh crap. Here you are with those darn facts again.

Just wait until next year.
#1 class, baby!!!!

Excellent post.

 

[know1]

The word "ruined" is pretty subjective, but the program is clearly farther from being the gold standard of college basketball now than it was when he took over.

And yes, I realize BCG was the previous coach, but he wasn't left around long enough to do the damage Cal has done. And it's not just about wins and losses either.

 

[Elliott Tim]

He hasn't ruined the program. The current team is ranked in the top 15 in the nation and is moving in the right direction. Next season's recruiting class is ranked #1 by every service.

If you're looking for confirmation of your preferred bias, I'm sure you'll get it here. It's a matter of opinion and purely subjective to think the program is ruined. I guess you have to define the word "ruined" in this case.

Some have hated Calipari from the beginning, so for these folks the program was ruined the moment he was hired back in 2009. For others, it was ruined when the team failed to make the NCAA-T the year Nerlens Noel went down with a major injury. For others, it was when the 2014-15 team failed to win the title. For others, it was when the 2020-21 team went 9-16. For others, it was the loss to St Peter's in last season's NCAA-T. We've had 2 very tough seasons in a row without a doubt, one because the entire season was filled with losses (one of the worst in UK history) and the next because of a terrible loss in the NCAA-T. Things definitely need to improve this year. If they don't, Calipari will be feeling some real heat. Another early exit would be very bad.

And it will take deep pockets influence to
get him out.
In other words, Jaws it will take, but little fish will not get the job done.
JMO

 

[cathouse_rivals216755]

The program is not yet ruined
But it is on the road to irrelevance

This right here.^^^^^^
There is absolutely no buzz around the UK basketball program any more.

If you don't believe it, just turn on any talk show, podcast, sports talk, and we are not even in the conversation anymore.

If Cal is even mentioned down South, they end it by saying " Bless his heart."

Cal has kicked the legs out from under the #1 basketball program in the history of college basketball.

And here is why I can't stand him. He doesn't GAF!

 

[know1]

This right here.^^^^^^
There is absolutely no buzz around the UK basketball program any more.

If you don't believe it, just turn on any talk show, podcast, sports talk, and we are not even in the conversation anymore.

If Cal is even mentioned down South, they end it by saying " Bless his heart."

Cal has kicked the legs out from under the #1 basketball program in the history of college basketball.

And here is why I can't stand him. He doesn't GAF!

Agree completely.

 

[ukjenning44]

2015 vs Wisconsin was a turning point for me. This guy wrote a pretty good analysis of the game and I can't unsee it.

Cal Blew It

This is when I lost faith in him as a coach.
I wanted Cal when we hired Tubby.
I don’t hate Cal but I do hate what he is doing to our program and don’t think it gets better under him.
It may be worse under someone else but I’m ready for a change.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

I’ll give the annoying answer and say it is/was a culmination of things.

He has just seemed clueless on the sidelines for the last 4-5 years.

But mainly losing to teams in the tourney recently that we have no business losing to. KState, Auburn without their leading scorer, missing the tourney entirely while turning in a 9-16 season, losing to St freaking Peters.

His schtick has always been that of an obnoxious know-it-all d-bag. But now, Losing has made him unbearable.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

2010 WVU was the beginning. A team with 5 first-round draft picks, and 3 more guys who would eventually play in the NBA, was beaten by a simple zone defense. Looked clueless the entire game.

2014, lost to inferior talent, inferior depth, and an inferior coach. Were essentially beaten by two midget guards.

2015 ran into a very good team, but one that was outmatched from an athletic standpoint. All game long I watched as Wisconsin methodically moved the ball until they got the matchup they wanted, then exploited it. Meanwhile Kentucky struggled to get good looks and instead settled for low percentage, contested shots late in the clock. Sound familiar? Cal’s failure to prepare for his opponent was inexcusable. Cal also took the air out of the ball under 4 minutes, which resulted in the shot clock violations. We didn’t have a big enough lead to play that way.

2017, as poorly as that game was officiated, we had a 5-point lead late. Then Roy went to a zone and Kentucky had no answer for it. I mean no idea what to do at all. This is also the game when I realized that even if Cal could coach, he is universally hated by the officials and that will always be too much to overcome.

2018 lost to a crappy K-state team without their best player after getting a gift bracket. No excuse for that.

2019 Auburn was playing better late in the year, but was still outmatched, and were missing their best NBA prospect. Again we let a midget guard dominate us. Look at the careers Herro, Keldon, and PJ are having now. Not to mention we had a former All-Pac10 player in Travis. Where is ANYBODY from that Auburn team now?

Evansville.

Getting destroyed by Duke in front of the whole world.

9-16.

Saint Peter’s.

Losing the all-time wins lead.

Continuing to lose to mediocre teams in the same fashion year after year with no adjustments. Total refusal to play zone when it could have won us games, and by extension our team also has no idea how to score against a zone.

So as you can see it isn’t just one moment. It’s been a gradual thing. A snowball.

Couldn’t have said it better spot on!

 

[Rockfly78]

Ruined? This is reaching.

 

[ukwazoo]

Don't think there was one moment. It's just been a lot of moments that have snowballed into what we have now. Blowing it against Wisconsin, blowing it against auburn, blowing it against Kansas state, and in the last few years, his refusal to change up his ancient 'offense'.

The Sharpe situation and st. Peter's loss were the icing on the cake.

 

[footballschool]

The 2019-2020 team was frustrating much of the year. The Covid year was a disaster, last year was fun fir a while, but very disappointing last few weeks. This year they just look like they don’t mesh. Basically, the last 4 years gives me the same feeling as Tubbys’s last 2 years… beat the lesser teams, lose to the good teams, and go 50/50 against the rest. No clear identity, struggle on offense, and every game is a grind. Whatever he did before stopped working.
Tubby finally said enough is enough. In comparing overall recipes at KY, Tubby win 76% of his games and Cal is now at 78%. The hand-writing is on the wall and has been fir a while

 

[littlecreek]

2nd half vs Wisconsin in 2015 Final Four. It’s never been the same since.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

I’m interested in everyone’s thoughts on what the turning point was where in your view Cal officially ruined the program. I have been having this debate all ninth at the bar and wanted to get the Board’s thoughts. There were a lot of differing viewpoints tonight.

Personally, my view is when he decided not to watch video against Wisconsin in 2015.

When he started pushing players out the door to go pro. That just opened up pandoras box to where the culture at UK is one and done or transfer.
Very little skilled experienced talent which makes teams good every year

 

[Backer cutter]

This team has all the signs of a club going nowhere. Beating an average team like Michigan by 4. Getting embarrassed against teams that aren’t really any good like Gonzaga. SEC play is going to kill us and the Cal Cult is going to have to really ratchet up those excuses big time after this season.

Hope I’m wrong as always but I won’t be. How is this team going to go deep? How are they going to dominate the SEC? We don’t have the pieces, it’s not there.

We’re actually overrated at 16. With another coach maybe not but without scorers and with Calipari we won’t be ranked somewhere inside of SEC play.

You’re not wrong, and I haven’t watched a second. Don’t have to. Wash, rinse,repeat. It’s laughable, but depressing.

 

[huck]

I feel like the UK "program" has been suspended; after being hijacked by Cal, there is now an annual Pro prep camp wearing UK uniforms and taking advantage of us fans and the infrastructure. I hate it.

 

[KyCatFan1]

Didn't read through all of this so it might be a duplicate.

He ruined this program the day he stepped foot in Lexington. Just took a handful of years for it to show. I actually enjoyed the turnover of players early on because we were having good results and got to see the most talent to ever play at Kentucky come through here. Once players realized they didn't need Cal anymore to be one and done he was through. Now just marginal players come and still leave early.

 

[UK_born_b_bread]

Y’all still don’t think the word “ruined” is right after Saturday’s blowout?

 

[cathouse_rivals216755]

Y’all still don’t think the word “ruined” is right after Saturday’s blowout?

Re-imagined. Cal has re-imagined what UK basketball should look like.

 

[Bkocats]

Ruined implies it cannot be rebuilt
We are currently irrelevant ..but not ruined
We can be rebuilt

 

[HagginHall1999]

Has to be the Phil Knight thing and then hiring of yes men when coaches started turning over.

 

[natchezrule]

I’m interested in everyone’s thoughts on what the turning point was where in your view Cal officially ruined the program. I have been having this debate all ninth at the bar and wanted to get the Board’s thoughts. There were a lot of differing viewpoints tonight.

Personally, my view is when he decided not to watch video against Wisconsin in 2015.

1. When he said the NBA draft was the biggest day in UK history

2. The day he knelt. On that day my son was on the USS Illinois in the Pacific Ocean. I will NEVER forgive him for kneeling

 

[Bkone7466]

To answer the question one would have to feel that the program is in ruins. It is not. The program is in fine hands and thriving. . Only here and one other site do I hear these rumblings. Just this calendar year when we were in Tampa, the Bahamas and England I heard nary a thought of UK basketball being ruined. In fact, it's quite the opposite from fans putting their money where their mouth is.

As for the '15 game against Wisc. I sat there in very expensive seats and stayed mad at Cal for a couple years over it. But never to the point of wanting a different coach.

Since '15 seems to be the tipping point for many then how about '17? Entering the tourney we were the best team in the country. We got hosed in the E8 game. And not one to normally blast officials.

How about '19. Again entered the tourney as one of the best teams in the country. Overtime loss in the E8 to a team we had beaten twice.

How about '20? That team was poised for a FF run. They had that taken away.

How about '22? 2 man team is a 2 seed. Blew out the 2 teams that played for the title plus UT. Yes, we got upset in the first game.

Right now we have a great team in the making. I expect this team to be in the FF. I already have my room in Houston. Along with my room in Nashville for the SEC. Which I expect we win. I was seriously considering going to NY this Sat. But that's not working out.

Doesn't look anything like ruins to me. Looks like excitement to me. Go Cats!!

So much 20/20 hindsight on that 2020 team. That team was imploding at the end of the season. Much like team turmoil in 2002. Maybe they make a run, but probably not.