Cal told us.

Blueaz

Heisman
Jul 7, 2009
28,072
30,262
113
Yes, because Cal never lies to temper expectations.
THE TRUTH IS THAT CAL SHOULD BE DOING MUCH MORE WITH THIS TALENT.
not much more...these guys aren't that talented. But Cal is the one who constructed this roster. So, he still has blame..
It's like a cook planning a dinner menu and then shopping at the grocery for that dinner, but then saying dinner sucks because of the ingredients chosen
 

Blueaz

Heisman
Jul 7, 2009
28,072
30,262
113
I don't care what he said. By now anyone believing what he says is hopeless anyway.

There is zero reason for this team to struggle on this level. None
because they ain't good...is a reason. Not the one you like, but it's the truth
 

tls

Heisman
Nov 7, 2007
7,870
14,463
81
Haven’t seen it mentioned but may have been. Just say it here

Thot it was ridiculous for RAFTERY and Jay Wright talking up Cal at the beginning of the U6 telecast. Did Cal put them up to it. Coaches sticking together I guess, but it was so pitifully obvious
 
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dc513

All-Conference
Dec 9, 2018
2,035
2,358
0
Haven’t seen it mentioned but may have been. Just say it here

Thot it was ridiculous for RAFTERY and Jay Wright talking up Cal at the beginning of the U6 telecast. Did Cal put them up to it. Coaches sticking together I guess, but it was so pitifully obvious
That was definitely planned. Do they not stick together?
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,278
72,043
113
We suck, because Cal isn't doing his job.

Those of you that say our talent isn't that good, please tell me who has a better roster? Who has a returning NPOY + top 7 lottery pick + 2 time SEC assist leader + deep bench + extremely experienced roster + 3 elite shooters + elite size + elite athletesism. Who else has all of that?

Oscar is a very rare talent and Cal has the ability to put 3 elite shooters out there with him, with a 2 time SEC assist leader, but he won’t do it.

The players are not performing, because Cal has broken them down to the point they hate each other and they have no confidence. A player without confidence is going to suck.

Nobody else has the combination of experience, lenth, size, athletesism and accolades that this team has, nobody, so we can't use lack of talent as an excuse.
 

Blueaz

Heisman
Jul 7, 2009
28,072
30,262
113
You're making a strawman argument. Even if they shouldn't be great, they should still be much better than they are
lol, stating a fact countering that we should be soooo much better because these guys are good; is not a strawman.
I don't know if any coach could get these guys greatly improved.
Cal did a terrible job evaluating, picking talent and composing this team...and his lack of coaching skill is greatly exploited.
This team shows he is slipping at his GREAT attribute, recruiting... His other greatness is team management...which he seemingly can't do anymore. IMO, he is done, he is too stubborn to change
But, this is not a good team...never was going to be a contender, no matter the coach
 
Apr 13, 2002
44,001
97,152
0
lol, stating a fact countering that we should be soooo much better because these guys are good; is not a strawman.
I don't know if any coach could get these guys greatly improved.
Cal did a terrible job evaluating, picking talent and composing this team...and his lack of coaching skill is greatly exploited.
This team shows he is slipping at his GREAT attribute, recruiting... His other greatness is team management...which he seemingly can't do anymore. IMO, he is done, he is too stubborn to change
But, this is not a good team...never was going to be a contender, no matter the coach

I said they should be much better. You said none of them are great. That's the epitome of a strawman.

I don't know this team's ceiling, but I definitely know we should be much better than we are. Roster mismanagement is the biggest culprit. Both from the position of poor roster construction and poor use of the available talent
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,278
72,043
113
lol, stating a fact countering that we should be soooo much better because these guys are good; is not a strawman.
I don't know if any coach could get these guys greatly improved.
Cal did a terrible job evaluating, picking talent and composing this team...and his lack of coaching skill is greatly exploited.
This team shows he is slipping at his GREAT attribute, recruiting... His other greatness is team management...which he seemingly can't do anymore. IMO, he is done, he is too stubborn to change
But, this is not a good team...never was going to be a contender, no matter the coach
I'm trying to figure out why people think the players on this roster aren't any good.

Who has a better roster? Who has more players with highly respected awards attached to them? Who has 3 elite shooters? Who has a lottery pick + another NBA talent? Who has a better combination of size, length and athletesism?

The problem isn't the players, it's the coach. He has broken these players and they're playing terrible right now. This may not be a team with 2015 level talent, but it ain't 2021 bad either, but they're playing so bad, as a group, that you have to look for the problem elsewhere.

CJ and Reeves were 45%+ 3pt shooters before they got here, through yelling, terrible sub patterns, confusion and poor offensive structure, these guys can't even make free throws, but we have seen these guys at their normal. Even Oscar isn’t doing Oscar things.

It’s not the players and yes, I firmly believe most SEC coaches would have this team in the top 10 right now, simply because those coaches are more interested in winning games over mind f***ing everybody.
 

Chuckinden

All-American
Jun 12, 2006
19,000
5,953
113
The Bahamas trip should have us ahead of the pace.

I am holding out hope. Our past teams that have played in August:

2011- Final Four
2015- Final Four
2019- Elite Eight
2023- ?
But Cal said that trip was more for "bonding"....lol.
 

MissingWCC

Senior
Apr 7, 2022
409
751
0
After people see that the emperor has no clothes, narcissist have to set you up for disappointment, but not because of their talent or effort. The subtext here is that this "team" is going to be a disappointment, not me, so you need to prepare for that. "This team could be good if they only (fill in the blank", not "I could do my best to help a team that may not be great to become better". In other words, get used to failure because I have, or I wouldn't take this negative view, and I sure wouldn't share it with the public. His disconnection with the team is classic narcissism. If the team has success it's because of me, if they fail it has nothing to do with me.
This attitude comes out in practically every comment that he makes.
 

Blueaz

Heisman
Jul 7, 2009
28,072
30,262
113
I'm trying to figure out why people think the players on this roster aren't any good.

Who has a better roster? Who has more players with highly respected awards attached to them? Who has 3 elite shooters? Who has a lottery pick + another NBA talent? Who has a better combination of size, length and athletesism?

The problem isn't the players, it's the coach. He has broken these players and they're playing terrible right now. This may not be a team with 2015 level talent, but it ain't 2021 bad either, but they're playing so bad, as a group, that you have to look for the problem elsewhere.

CJ and Reeves were 45%+ 3pt shooters before they got here, through yelling, terrible sub patterns, confusion and poor offensive structure, these guys can't even make free throws, but we have seen these guys at their normal. Even Oscar isn’t doing Oscar things.

It’s not the players and yes, I firmly believe most SEC coaches would have this team in the top 10 right now, simply because those coaches are more interested in winning games over mind f***ing everybody.
agree to disagree on the talent of these guys
Agree on the coaching being bad
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,278
72,043
113
agree to disagree on the talent of these guys
Agree on the coaching being bad
Can you name a team that has the collection of things we have?

You're disagreeing, but are you refusing to believe the problem COULD be Cal has broken these players? The signs are all there:

-Toppin was mean mugging Cal the other day
-CJ can't hit
-Reeves can't hit
-Oscar isn't Oscar
-Wheeler isn’t Wheeler
-Nobody is smiling or having fun
-Nobody can hit free throws
-The entire team is disconnected on both ends of the floor

This is just way too many things wrong all at one time for us to ignore.

But please, tell me what team(s) out there have better everything than what UK has.
 
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Blueaz

Heisman
Jul 7, 2009
28,072
30,262
113
Can you name a team that has the collection of things we have?

You're disagreeing, but are you refusing to believe the problem COULD be Cal has broken these players? The signs are all there:

-Toppin was mean mugging Cal the other day
-CJ can't hit
-Reeves can't hit
-Oscar isn't Oscar
-Wheeler isn’t Wheeler
-Nobody is smiling or having fun
-Nobody can hit free throws
-The entire team is disconnected on both ends of the floor

This is just way too many things wrong all at one time for us to ignore.

But please, tell me what team(s) out there have better everything than what UK has.
IMO... it is hard to believe he has "broken" these players when Oscar thrived last year. and others have in the past.

I have never been as optimistic about this group as many of you. I am not saying you guys are wrong, I just disagree.
We have seen many times in basketball that transfers struggle..even the one's that leave here (not every time of course, but many)
Oscar is/was hurt
Wheeler? really... 80% of this board thought he wasn't "UK great"
Hardly ever does his teams hit three's consistently...
not smiling, disconnected= soft.
Again, we should be better...he is not managing them well at all. He is coaching them like they are Terrance Jones, Boogie and AD... every kid is different

I've been coaching for 10+ years (youth and HS football) all kids are different on how to motivate and get the most out them. Some need "GO!!!", some need much softer...to me... I enjoy trying to figure that part out.
I had a lineman that other coaches are screaming at and he was getting worse (big kid, lots of talent). I went good cop and challenged him nicely..."dude are you sick or hurt? You're Charmin out there. Why are you so soft? It's kinda embarrassing" by end of year, he was all conference. Not taking credit, but I may have helped. Other kids, I gotta get right in their grill and light them up, and not nicely challenge their manhood; to get a response.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,278
72,043
113
IMO... it is hard to believe he has "broken" these players when Oscar thrived last year. and others have in the past.

I have never been as optimistic about this group as many of you. I am not saying you guys are wrong, I just disagree.
We have seen many times in basketball that transfers struggle..even the one's that leave here (not every time of course, but many)
Oscar is/was hurt
Wheeler? really... 80% of this board thought he wasn't "UK great"
Hardly ever does his teams hit three's consistently...
not smiling, disconnected= soft.
Again, we should be better...he is not managing them well at all. He is coaching them like they are Terrance Jones, Boogie and AD... every kid is different

I've been coaching for 10+ years (youth and HS football) all kids are different on how to motivate and get the most out them. Some need "GO!!!", some need much softer...to me... I enjoy trying to figure that part out.
I had a lineman that other coaches are screaming at and he was getting worse (big kid, lots of talent). I went good cop and challenged him nicely..."dude are you sick or hurt? You're Charmin out there. Why are you so soft? It's kinda embarrassing" by end of year, he was all conference. Not taking credit, but I may have helped. Other kids, I gotta get right in their grill and light them up, and not nicely challenge their manhood; to get a response.
Yes, but who has a better roster? I get it, the roster could have more talent, but good coaches don't NEED great talent to win.
This team may not have AD, MKG, Fox, Wall, Cuz, Randle, or Bam, but nobody else does either.
You should be able to tell me who has a better overall roster though. Who has a better combination of players?

Purdue? No
UConn? No
Houston? No
Tennessee? No

Who does?
 

Sparkaces

All-American
Sep 19, 2012
6,157
6,289
0
Yes, but who has a better roster? I get it, the roster could have more talent, but good coaches don't NEED great talent to win.
This team may not have AD, MKG, Fox, Wall, Cuz, Randle, or Bam, but nobody else does either.
You should be able to tell me who has a better overall roster though. Who has a better combination of players?

Purdue? No
UConn? No
Houston? No
Tennessee? No

Who does?
Arkansas and Alabama are both more talented rosters. I am sure there are several others. Wallace will be a first round pick, but it will be more like 15-20.
 

know1

Heisman
Dec 8, 2002
12,855
14,925
0
Did Cal ever tell us he was going to make winning college basketball games at UK his top priority? I can't remember if I've seen that quote.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,278
72,043
113
Arkansas and Alabama are both more talented rosters. I am sure there are several others. Wallace will be a first round pick, but it will be more like 15-20.
How so? You would take their rosters over ours??? I certainly wouldn't, no way, no how.

Not to mention, Nick Smith (Arkansas) is out injured, he’s an NBA talent, but they were ranked well behind UK (10th) for a good reason.

Same with Alabama, they were ranked 20th in the pre-season. The talent is not there, they just play like their hair is on fire.

Look harder, even then, I still don't think you will find a roster as decorated, big, long, balanced and experienced as UK's.

I think it’s just easier to say the roster sucks than to actually look and see why these players are struggling.

Eventually the shots will start falling and the defense will start to lock teams up. The question is, when.

Hopefully soon, because the hole we're in, is getting deeper each week.
 
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Blueaz

Heisman
Jul 7, 2009
28,072
30,262
113
Yes, but who has a better roster? I get it, the roster could have more talent, but good coaches don't NEED great talent to win.
This team may not have AD, MKG, Fox, Wall, Cuz, Randle, or Bam, but nobody else does either.
You should be able to tell me who has a better overall roster though. Who has a better combination of players?

Purdue? No
UConn? No
Houston? No
Tennessee? No

Who does?
IDK, and IDC... I haven't delved into this teams and we haven't played them. Cal is sucking, but I am not going to agree with you that this is an extremely good team with another coach.
 
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