Calipari lowering expectations...

[calismyhero]

...at least for November and December. Pretty sobering assessment. Sounds like he knew people were jacked after the Bahamas and expecting more than this team could deliver -- at least early.

"We're not where we want to be right now...We could be a little shaky (in November and December.)"
And, "What we have to do to win at the highest level is going to take us some time..."
I think the last time he was this blunt was before the 2013 season.

https://twitter.com/ukcoachcalipari

After the last decade, there’s not much he can say or do that resonates with me. As much as I wanna sit here and dream of final 4’s and championships, I no longer allow myself that pleasure. Once again his ego writing checks that his bodies can’t cash.

My goals for Kentucky Basketball anymore are to beat Tennessee and Louisville. Other than that, none, nada, zippo. Then I watch the tourney and pray that Duke or North Carolina don’t win the title. It’s a sad existence I know, but it’s what I’ve been reduced to over the years watching him underachieve as a coach and being completely flippant about it. I can’t stand it when he uses singular awards for a player (i.e. draft status) as a measuring tool for success as a program. I suppose we should have seen that coming but we were all in at the time.

So I’ve resigned myself to the fact that once again, we will play a season, win some games, fall short of our goals, and wave goodbye to 5-6 players. I forget their names so easily. On to the next…

 

[WeWant9]

It's funny, someone recently posted his first press conference when he was announced as the new coach here. He sounded like an entirely different guy back then. I want that guy back but I fear he's gone forever.

That Cal is long gone. I really don’t think Cal or the fanbase has been the same since the 2017 EE loss. Since then it’s been an odd journey for both parties.

 

[Nicholascat]

Then wtf is UK paying Cal 9 million a year for?

You said UK doesn't have The most talent, I call ********. He has the most talent coupled with a great amount of experience. The fact that he's a "Hall of Fame coach" gets thrown in our faces constantly on here. At some point, he has to make it happen.

Heck, lets say he has the 4th most talent this year. Okay, name the 3 teams that are better, then, lets discuss what else those teams have.

Do they have a HOF coach? Do they have the reigning NPOY and rebound leader? Do they have an NCAA assist leader? Do they have the experience UK has?

From top to bottom, UK has far more weapons than everyone else, it's time to stop making excuses.

If we get rid of Cal because of one bad season and being upset in the tournament, we'll become Indiana.

 

[STL_Cat]

If we get rid of Cal because of one bad season and being upset in the tournament, we'll become Indiana.

Really? One bad season and one upset in the tournament? You think that's the only issue you have seen over the past 7 years?

 

[Nicholascat]

Really? One bad season and one upset in the tournament? You think that's the only issue you have seen over the past 7 years?

What issues are you talking about?

 

[STL_Cat]

What issues are you talking about?

Averaging more than 10 losses per year for the last 7 years? The longest stretch in program history in the history of tournament seeding without a 1 seed? Which has also coincided with a 7 year Final Four drought? No tournament wins in 3 years? The Shaedon Sharpe debacle? Those issues, maybe?

 

[UKAlum84]

I hope we can improve upon last year, even though we had an early exit in the ncaa tourney.

But really, the coach has to be hungry to motivate the players to win.

I think those days of being hungry are gone for this current coach. He has surpassed many coaches in his career and made the hall of fame. Talent alone will not make this team improve.

I'd just like to think there is another universe where college is the ceiling for the sport of basketball. My how different teams and their effort would be if this were the case.

 

[School boy]

What issues are you talking about?

Come on man. Cal and the AD are on the hot seat. This is Kentucky, where the program wins for its self and they better this year.

 

[Ash Williams]

If we get rid of Cal because of one bad season and being upset in the tournament, we'll become Indiana.

How many bad seasons, again? (Hint: It's more than one)

 

[FtWorthCat]

During Calipari’s 13 seasons at UK, no coach in the NCAA Tournament has more wins (31), Final Fours (four), Elite Eights (seven) or Sweet 16s (eight)

https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/coach/john-calipari/

 

[Ash Williams]

During Calipari’s 13 seasons at UK, no coach in the NCAA Tournament has more wins (31), Final Fours (four), Elite Eights (seven) or Sweet 16s (eight)

https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/coach/john-calipari/

Now do titles and ten loss seasons.

 

[FtWorthCat]

No active coach has more NCAA Championships during that time. Only Few, and maybe Self, would have fewer 10 loss seasons, as if that is some huge statistic. Let's do overall winning percentage: 365-101 (78.3%), definitely top 5, even if you include guys who aren't coaching anymore.

 

[cat tat2]

Cal can try to lower expectations all he wants. This is Kentucky and the expectation is a National Championship. Anything short of that is not good enough. IMO

 

[FtWorthCat]

Cal can try to lower expectations all he wants. This is Kentucky and the expectation is a National Championship. Anything short of that is not good enough. IMO

You do not speak for the entire fan base. I expect a program capable of winning a championship in most seasons. We've had a team capable of winning a championship in 10 of Cal's 13 seasons.

 

[cat tat2]

You do not speak for the entire fan base. I expect a program capable of winning a championship in most seasons. We've had a team capable of winning a championship in 11 of Cal's 13 seasons.

Nowhere did I say I spoke for the entire fan base. I said IMO, so I was speaking for myself.

 

[UKAlum84]

I dont even think its Coach Cal's fault. When the NBA dangles a carrot in front of these budding athletes, every play in college ball is just routine practice for the NBA and nothing more. If college ball causes injuries or god forbid losing a chance at getting to the NBA...you have a strange scenario for college basketball fans.

 

[School boy]

Cal can try to lower expectations all he wants. This is Kentucky and the expectation is a National Championship. Anything short of that is not good enough. IMO

We gotta get a new AD

 

[FtWorthCat]

We gotta get a new AD

What would a new AD do? We already have the best AD in the country. We've had basketball only ADs in the past, and it didn't work well, nor did we win more championships.

 

[UKAlum84]

I also think Mitch has done wonders for sports at UK. We just have 2 popular sports in particular, where fans are scratching their heads at the dynamics of the coaches....at UK it seems even with a better coach in either sport, you got ups and downs.... and even that has variations from year to year.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

The 10 loss thing is just weird to me. People are obsessed with round numbers or something.

so 9 losses - ok
10 losses - awful season.

We lost 11 games in 14 and made a final four.
We lost 9 games in 11 and made a final four.

If we lost 10 games and won a title, would anyone on this board give a damn? lol

 

[STL_Cat]

The 10 loss thing is just weird to me. People are obsessed with round numbers or something.

so 9 losses - ok
10 losses - awful season.

We lost 11 games in 14 and made a final four.
We lost 9 games in 11 and made a final four.

If we lost 10 games and won a title, would anyone on this board give a damn? lol

No, bro, 9 losses are not okay either. Quit trying to find ways to mitigate the importance of losses. 9 losses is bad, 10 losses is bad. It’s not some magic “this is bad number.” But it’s certainly a good marker that you had a bad season. Quit the spin, it’s useless.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

No, bro, 9 losses are not okay either. Quite trying to find ways to mitigate the importance of losses. 9 losses is bad, 10 losses is bad. It’s not some magic “this is bad number.” But it’s certainly a good marker that you had a bad season. Quit the spin, it’s useless.

Is it really tho? Because we made a final four in 2014 despite 11 losses.

 

[darrellm1234]

Chalk Calipari's comments up to trying to motivate the team. If Oscar comes out any where near what he should be, they should be just fine.
I am really eager for the season to get started.

 

[STL_Cat]

Is it really tho? Because we made a final four in 2014 despite 11 losses.

Yeah, it really is. I told you this in the thread the other day. Thankfully we salvaged that season with a miracle NCAA tournament run, but that was a ****** season. We were an 8 seed in the NCAA tournament. Thankfully we were able to make the run we made, but make no mistake that was a bad season.

 

[kyjeff1]

If we get rid of Cal because of one bad season and being upset in the tournament, we'll become Indiana.

One bad season? You live under a rock?

 

[kyjeff1]

What issues are you talking about?

My goodness man, how blind are you?
-Worst season in UK history
-worst NCAAT loss in program history
-missed the NCAAT twice
-Lost the all time wins lead
-Lost the all time NCAAT wins lead
-haven't beaten a power 5 team in the NCAAT since the 2017 sweet 16
-Prioritizes the NBA draft over UK
-talks down to the fans (basketball Bennies)
-lost the made 3 pointer streak (twice)
-Constant losses to UT and duke
-Called out our fb program this summer because he didn’t get what he wanted
-Hasn't been a 1 seed since 2015
-7 year FF drought
-out of 9 losses in the NCAAT, 8 were to underdogs.

All that from a coach that is trying to convince everyone that we're the Gold standard and makes 9 million a year.

One bad season? Dumb comment.

 

[kyjeff1]

I dont even think its Coach Cal's fault. When the NBA dangles a carrot in front of these budding athletes, every play in college ball is just routine practice for the NBA and nothing more. If college ball causes injuries or god forbid losing a chance at getting to the NBA...you have a strange scenario for college basketball fans.

You would have a point if Cal didn’t have NBA scouts in our practices on a constant rotation. You might also have a point if Cal didn’t host pre and post season pro days every year.

 

[kyjeff1]

Is it really tho? Because we made a final four in 2014 despite 11 losses.

You do realize 2014 is an outlier right? How many times have you seen that happen? What was there, 2 game winning threes and a huge comeback agsinst UofL?

The season still sucked any way you look at it.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

And what if your hypothetical 40 point win doesn’t happen? (It won’t, btw) Do you have another excuse at the ready?

You just keep drinking the kool-aid bud. When Cal takes off, you going to take off with him?

I like you as a poster, but this prediction thing clearly isn't your strong suit lol

 

[CincyUKFan]

I like you as a poster, but this prediction thing clearly isn't your strong suit lol

Well, I’ll also predict that all kinds of posters will predict wrongly as I did!

Glad I was wrong.

What no one has brought up - maybe it needs a thread - is that Wheeler wasn’t a part of this. He started a played 22 minutes in that other game. Interesting, no?

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Well, I’ll also predict that all kinds of posters will predict wrongly as I did!

Glad I was wrong.

What no one has brought up - maybe it needs a thread - is that Wheeler wasn’t a part of this. He started a played 22 minutes in that other game. Interesting, no?

Yeah and I guess we could also bring up the point that last season when we had our second best offensive game vs Bama, he wasn't playing either.

It'll be an interesting discussion going forward seeing what the best lineup is

 

[CincyUKFan]

Yeah and I guess we could also bring up the point that last season when we had our second best offensive game vs Bama, he wasn't playing either.

It'll be an interesting discussion going forward seeing what the best lineup is

I think CJ at PG is something few, if any, saw coming. We’re all debating Wallace/Wheeler. And then CJ says, “I got this.”

All I know is that CJ, Oscar, and Thiero will do exactly what they’re asked to do. The rest of the guys need to get to that point - because right now we have several dudes trying to do way too much - and in the process, taking away FGA’s from the efficient players named above.

 

[kyjeff1]

I think CJ at PG is something few, if any, saw coming. We’re all debating Wallace/Wheeler. And then CJ says, “I got this.”

All I know is that CJ, Oscar, and Thiero will do exactly what they’re asked to do. The rest of the guys need to get to that point - because right now we have several dudes trying to do way too much - and in the process, taking away FGA’s from the efficient players named above.

In my opinion, there are 5 players that have to get most of the playing time.
Cal has to set the star ratings aside and play the hell out of Oscar, CJ, Wallace, Reeves and Thiero. I know Cal wont do it, but Thiero needs to play. He’s too good to have him sit on the bench.

 

[CincyUKFan]

In my opinion, there are 5 players that have to get most of the playing time.
Cal has to set the star ratings aside and play the hell out of Oscar, CJ, Wallace, Reeves and Thiero. I know Cal wont do it, but Thiero needs to play. He’s too good to have him sit on the bench.

I’m certain that Thiero will play the least amount of minutes among the rotation guys. It’s just what Cal does. And it’s already happened in the two exhibitions.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

I'm convinced at this point there is nothing Calipari can do or say that would disappoint @The_Answer1313 ... lol

I agree but on the other side of the coin if Cal farted so the people here would call the environmental protection agency. Seriously I wish you just shut up for several reasons just focus on the game but also it’s just fodder for anybody that wants to ***** about cow. With that said I couldn’t stand the video about born expectations that’s just weak **** and also acting like he made the sacrifice to stay back with columns instead of just quietly supporting him but no we all had to know that he skipped

 

[kyjeff1]

I’m certain that Thiero will play the least amount of minutes among the rotation guys. It’s just what Cal does. And it’s already happened in the two exhibitions.

Hopefully nobody gets in Thiero's ear and tells him the truth. Thst kid could start for almost any team in the country.
Unfortunately for him, he’s playing for a coach that focuses on stars and NBA draft stats moreso than who can produce the best right now.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Hopefully Thiero plays more.

 

[CincyUKFan]

Hopefully nobody gets in Thiero's ear and tells him the truth. Thst kid could start for almost any team in the country.
Unfortunately for him, he’s playing for a coach that focuses on stars and NBA draft stats moreso than who can produce the best right now.

And the funny thing is - and it’s especially true if he’s keeps growing - he’s got greater potential than guys like Reeves and Livingston in the League. Hell, I think Thiero looks more like a pro right now.

 

[kyjeff1]

And the funny thing is - and it’s especially true if he’s keeps growing - he’s got greater potential than guys like Reeves and Livingston in the League. Hell, I think Thiero looks more like a pro right now.

Spot on. Thiero's pro potential is probably the best on this team, he just didn't play AAU ball, do he stayed under the radar.

Surely Cal doesn't just judge guys by stars and rankings does he? He did land SGA, but he was almost forced to play him when Quade Green quit.
Lets just hope Thiero gets a fair shake this year.

 

[CincyUKFan]

Spot on. Thiero's pro potential is probably the best on this team, he just didn't play AAU ball, do he stayed under the radar.

Surely Cal doesn't just judge guys by stars and rankings does he? He did land SGA, but he was almost forced to play him when Quade Green quit.
Lets just hope Thiero gets a fair shake this year.

Forced to play Shai is right!

And look at Shai now. One of the best offensive players in the League. Perhaps the best scorer so far in the early going.