Cal's Flaw

[know1]

It's been said before in other years with the Harrisons, etc., but Cal's weakness is sticking with whatever freshman superstar he's trying to get into the league far too long in games where they just aren't getting it done.

I like Monk. I like him a lot. He's played incredible this year. Last night, for whatever reason, he didn't have it and was hurting us. He was kept in the game far past when any of the upper classmen would have been yanked and it's not even close.

This was a rough game in a tough atmosphere and we could have benefited from more experience on the floor. Especially more experience that had already shown in that game they were playing fairly well. Hawkins was playing decent. At least I think he was but he wasn't in there long enough to really know. Same for Mulder. Those guys are seniors.

Yeah - I know it's only one game and I should be enjoying this team (which I am - a lot), but this seems to be a pattern. And it's a pattern that's cost us in the tournament before.

 

[Stenchymouse]

We're fine buddy...

We just need to tighten up the defense and try to make a run at it in the tourney.

We're the youngest and most talented team in the country!

Let the freshmen keep learning and don't mess with their confidence...

 

[ulismyman]

I agree...Cal has his security guys that he will not go away from in big games and thats unfortunate at times....Cal also yells and screams at those guys too much during live game action...that has to mess with their confidence...it rattledvMonk last night

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

So are you suggesting that Cal should have sat Monk just because he was having an off night?

Monk has to learn how to play in tight games. You can't pull him based on one bad game. It's very short sighted thinking.

We are going as far as Monk takes us.........not Mulder.

 

[Wall2Boogie]

I agree...Cal has his security guys that he will not go away from in big games and thats unfortunate at times....Cal also yells and screams at those guys too much during live game action...that has to mess with their confidence...it rattledvMonk last night

It's called coaching and since you claim to be one, you get yelled at from time to time especially if they are making the same mistakes over and over. There isn't a coach out there in college that hasn't got in the face of a player or yelled at them trying to correct their mistakes.

 

[letitrainuk_rivals88012]

I agree...Cal has his security guys that he will not go away from in big games and thats unfortunate at times....Cal also yells and screams at those guys too much during live game action...that has to mess with their confidence...it rattledvMonk last night

He's yelling at alphas. Not snowflakes. I think you put yourself in those situations instead of think who's actually in those situations. Everyone will be OK.

 

[Blueaz]

Let the freshmen keep learning and don't mess with their confidence...

This...since they are only here a year...they have "to learn" in game.

 

[ulismyman]

When Cal ripped Monk for the hanging on the rim it screwed Monk up the rest of the night ...i hope when Cal watches the tape he is man enough to apologize to Monk....that was horrible...hell Willis dunk was pulling himself up not Monks

 

[WallMash]

Monk had like 4 bone head turnovers in the 2nd half. he was not making shots, not playing defense and actually hurting us. I'm not upset about the rim, I but I do think cal should have sat him (if he's gonna pull Willis, Wenyen, Sacha for much less, it sends the wrong message, says there are some who can barely do right and some who can do no wrong)

 

[AGEE11]

I see what OP is saying. Cal himself said he should have had Booker and Ulis in for the Harrisons.

You don't pull Monk for having a bad night. You pull him for swinging on the rim, loafing back on transition D several times, shooting bad pull up jumpers (good shots in rhythm he should shoot all the time even when he is off), trying to do to much instead of making easy passes to better ball handlers, and the other mental mistakes.

Don't sit him long, but just a few minutes to get his attention. He is the scorer on the team and we need him. Not the version we got last night though. Of nights are ok, those multiple mistakes are not.

And I agree with what was said earlier, Cal going off on him like that rattled him and shook him for the rest of the game.

 

[ManitouDan_anon]

Missed shots are acceptable , but he was a TO factory last night . Just a really bad game .

 

[BlueRunner11]

A guy like Monk can turn it around at ANY moment and literally take over ANY game. You don't sit him for anything other than fouls or a breather, period.

And like I stated in another thread, last night was a manufactured shitshow. I'm not putting that on the players.

 

[Dr. H Lecter]

He has had several off nights in true away games. He is great in home or neutral court games but not away.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

A guy like Monk can turn it around at ANY moment and literally take over ANY game. You don't sit him for anything other than fouls or a breather, period.

Exactly.

And we are in a close game on the road. Monk is our best player. In what world does a coach sit their best player during crunch time.

If Lebron James was 0-10 going into the fourth quarter and the game was tight, I don't think the coach is going to say "well we know you're our star and all but you're having a bad night so we are going to sit you"

 

[StubbornPenny]

What OP says would make total sense... if we were getting Monk back next year. We aren't. As said before, we're going to go as far as Monk will take us in March. Even if Monk doesn't like it, it's time for trial by fire. It's time to get tough, it's time to bunker down. He isn't going to learn how to fight through a bad game on the bench. When we're down 7 to West Virginia in the tournament, Monk needs to know there's no comfort of the bench coming. Play through it, get better. Go win despite everything. Now, on the road in the SEC in January? Okay we lose and he learns. Or we win and he learns. Even better.

Monk will be a better player because of this game, I have no doubt. The Monk you see in March will be crafted in the doldrums of January and February - for better or for worse.

 

[revcort]

So are you suggesting that Cal should have sat Monk just because he was having an off night?

Monk has to learn how to play in tight games. You can't pull him based on one bad game. It's very short sighted thinking.

We are going as far as Monk takes us.........not Mulder.

Yep, I agree that Monk has to learn and become more consistent, even in tough environments. I'm sure that's what Calipari was thinking. I see the OP's point though. Monk took some bad shots and made some bad plays which let the Bulldogs back in the game. Calipari has a lot of video to use to teach him and I hope he uses it.

 

[ulismyman]

I honestly forgot about the loafing on miss states fast breaks....that happened more than once and looked terrible....i hope Cal uses those breakdowns well in film study

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

I honestly forgot about the loafing on miss states fast breaks....that happened more than once and looked terrible....i hope Cal uses those breakdowns well in film study

See IMO you sit him for things like that. Effort plays.

Not cause he's having an off shooting night.

 

[MWes11]

What OP says would make total sense... if we were getting Monk back next year. We aren't. As said before, we're going to go as far as Monk will take us in March. Even if Monk doesn't like it, it's time for trial by fire. It's time to get tough, it's time to bunker down. He isn't going to learn how to fight through a bad game on the bench. When we're down 7 to West Virginia in the tournament, Monk needs to know there's no comfort of the bench coming. Play through it, get better. Go win despite everything. Now, on the road in the SEC in January? Okay we lose and he learns. Or we win and he learns. Even better.

Monk will be a better player because of this game, I have no doubt. The Monk you see in March will be crafted in the doldrums of January and February - for better or for worse.

 

[Riverslynn010]

It's been said before in other years with the Harrisons, etc., but Cal's weakness is sticking with whatever freshman superstar he's trying to get into the league far too long in games where they just aren't getting it done.

I like Monk. I like him a lot. He's played incredible this year. Last night, for whatever reason, he didn't have it and was hurting us. He was kept in the game far past when any of the upper classmen would have been yanked and it's not even close.

This was a rough game in a tough atmosphere and we could have benefited from more experience on the floor. Especially more experience that had already shown in that game they were playing fairly well. Hawkins was playing decent. At least I think he was but he wasn't in there long enough to really know. Same for Mulder. Those guys are seniors.

Yeah - I know it's only one game and I should be enjoying this team (which I am - a lot), but this seems to be a pattern. And it's a pattern that's cost us in the tournament before.

Who do we put in after taking our star freshmen out? Hawkins? Lmao!

 

[StubbornPenny]

haha, just hypothetically We will be down to some team in the tournament, and we'll have to dig deep. Monk won't learn how to do that on the bench.

And guaranteed, if we're a 1 seed, West Virginia is our 2, regardless of how high they're ranked. If we're a 2, they're suddenly a 1 or a 3 regardless of how low or high they're ranked. We WILL play WVA in the tournament.

 

[ulismyman]

Who do we put in after taking our star freshmen out? Hawkins? Lmao!

You laugh now but when the boat was sinking at 66-62...hawkins took and made key 3 for breathing room

 

[know1]

This...since they are only here a year...they have "to learn" in game.

I get that, and it's fine if it's just a game last night, but he needs to realize that the strategy is different when we get to the tournament. That's where he wouldn't deviate in the past.

 

[know1]

Exactly.

And we are in a close game on the road. Monk is our best player. In what world does a coach sit their best player during crunch time.

If Lebron James was 0-10 going into the fourth quarter and the game was tight, I don't think the coach is going to say "well we know you're our star and all but you're having a bad night so we are going to sit you"

Lebron has a long established history. Monk does not.

 

[MWes11]

haha, just hypothetically We will be down to some team in the tournament, and we'll have to dig deep. Monk won't learn how to do that on the bench.

And guaranteed, if we're a 1 seed, West Virginia is our 2, regardless of how high they're ranked. If we're a 2, they're suddenly a 1 or a 3 regardless of how low or high they're ranked. We WILL play WVA in the tournament.

Haha I know. Just busting your ***, NH.

 

[know1]

haha, just hypothetically We will be down to some team in the tournament, and we'll have to dig deep. Monk won't learn how to do that on the bench.

And guaranteed, if we're a 1 seed, West Virginia is our 2, regardless of how high they're ranked. If we're a 2, they're suddenly a 1 or a 3 regardless of how low or high they're ranked. We WILL play WVA in the tournament.

Duke's going to be our 2 seed. It will set up a 25th anniversary re-match in the regional final.

 

[wildcatdon]

It's been said before in other years with the Harrisons, etc., but Cal's weakness is sticking with whatever freshman superstar he's trying to get into the league far too long in games where they just aren't getting it done.

I like Monk. I like him a lot. He's played incredible this year. Last night, for whatever reason, he didn't have it and was hurting us. He was kept in the game far past when any of the upper classmen would have been yanked and it's not even close.

This was a rough game in a tough atmosphere and we could have benefited from more experience on the floor. Especially more experience that had already shown in that game they were playing fairly well. Hawkins was playing decent. At least I think he was but he wasn't in there long enough to really know. Same for Mulder. Those guys are seniors.

Yeah - I know it's only one game and I should be enjoying this team (which I am - a lot), but this seems to be a pattern. And it's a pattern that's cost us in the tournament before.

Good points. Mulder and Willis should have gotten some of Monks minutes. He was awful last night. Missed Bam for a wide open dunk on one play and proceeded to lose the ball on a ridiculous drive into traffic. Very selfish last night.

 

[Calsthebomb]

It's been said before in other years with the Harrisons, etc., but Cal's weakness is sticking with whatever freshman superstar he's trying to get into the league far too long in games where they just aren't getting it done.

I like Monk. I like him a lot. He's played incredible this year. Last night, for whatever reason, he didn't have it and was hurting us. He was kept in the game far past when any of the upper classmen would have been yanked and it's not even close.

This was a rough game in a tough atmosphere and we could have benefited from more experience on the floor. Especially more experience that had already shown in that game they were playing fairly well. Hawkins was playing decent. At least I think he was but he wasn't in there long enough to really know. Same for Mulder. Those guys are seniors.

Yeah - I know it's only one game and I should be enjoying this team (which I am - a lot), but this seems to be a pattern. And it's a pattern that's cost us in the tournament before.

So you'd rather have Hawkins correct?

 

[wildcatdon]

So are you suggesting that Cal should have sat Monk just because he was having an off night?

Monk has to learn how to play in tight games. You can't pull him based on one bad game. It's very short sighted thinking.

We are going as far as Monk takes us.........not Mulder.

You dont sit him the whole night. He was playing poorly and very selfishly. if you couldnt see that you werent watching our game. He should have sat for a while and collected his thoughts as they say.

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

It's time to get tough, it's time to bunker down.

"Hunker" down

 

[BlueCat43]

So are you suggesting that Cal should have sat Monk just because he was having an off night?

Monk has to learn how to play in tight games. You can't pull him based on one bad game. It's very short sighted thinking.

We are going as far as Monk takes us.........not Mulder.

I had no problem with Cal leaving Monk in when his shot is off even when I think he continues to take bad shots sometimes. As you said, he has to learn to play in those games and situations. There was a point in the game last night though, when Monk continued to turn the ball over down the stretch in a close game. I would have pulled him out. Then again, I am not the coach. Cal has a good track record and I defer to him.

 

[know1]

So you'd rather have Hawkins correct?

Yep - or give Mulder a few. I'm not talking about benching him. I'm not even talking about last night in particular. I'm talking about being willing to pull his guy off the floor when it's best for the team - most likely in the tournament.

 

[StubbornPenny]

"Hunker" down

haha. It's time for that goody tissues to get fast paste.

 

[Cats_2010]

Exactly.

And we are in a close game on the road. Monk is our best player. In what world does a coach sit their best player during crunch time.

If Lebron James was 0-10 going into the fourth quarter and the game was tight, I don't think the coach is going to say "well we know you're our star and all but you're having a bad night so we are going to sit you"

Actually we were not in a close game. It was a 15 point lead when in a matter of two minutes monk had 2-3 careless turnovers, and another 2-3 forced jump shots which aided their run to make it a close game. A SR Willis made one bad pass and immediately is taken out and monk made 5-6 mistakes in 2 minutes and was allowed to keep playing.

Monk should have been removed from the game for at least a short period during that span to get him refocused. You are not going to get anyone refocused while screaming and yelling at them while their adrenalin is pumping during the flow of action.

 

[BlueCat43]

When Cal ripped Monk for the hanging on the rim it screwed Monk up the rest of the night ...i hope when Cal watches the tape he is man enough to apologize to Monk....that was horrible...hell Willis dunk was pulling himself up not Monks

Monk was already off at that point. He had missed most of his shots and had several turnovers. Monk did hang on too long (he has a few times this year without getting called) and that call could have went either way. You have to know when the whistle is being blown constantly not to make plays like that...especially with TV Ted!

 

[Calsthebomb]

Yep - or give Mulder a few. I'm not talking about benching him. I'm not even talking about last night in particular. I'm talking about being willing to pull his guy off the floor when it's best for the team - most likely in the tournament.

He has to be on the floor. You see how quick he can explode for 8-10 points in a few minutes. Hawk nor mulder give us that.

 

[BlueCat43]

What OP says would make total sense... if we were getting Monk back next year. We aren't. As said before, we're going to go as far as Monk will take us in March. Even if Monk doesn't like it, it's time for trial by fire. It's time to get tough, it's time to bunker down. He isn't going to learn how to fight through a bad game on the bench. When we're down 7 to West Virginia in the tournament, Monk needs to know there's no comfort of the bench coming. Play through it, get better. Go win despite everything. Now, on the road in the SEC in January? Okay we lose and he learns. Or we win and he learns. Even better.

Monk will be a better player because of this game, I have no doubt. The Monk you see in March will be crafted in the doldrums of January and February - for better or for worse.

This is a fair and valid point. I would have pulled him probably, at least for a minute here and there, but that does not make it the right call. I think experience in these situations is important and probably why Cal kept him in. Sometimes it is easy to think about the game as supposed to the season.

 

[John Henry]

If you think Monk gets yelled out, let me introduce you to my Drill Sgt. A little yelling has never hurt anyone.. In fact it makes you tougher if you are competitive. If you are not competitive, please do not try to become a basketball pro.

 

[UKGrad93]

I thought he should have sat for a few minutes. Get his attention, have one of the assistants give him some instruction, then resume play. He was hurting us last night. Hawkins isn't great, but he is pretty solid and did hit a 3 when we really needed it.

 

[ulismyman]

Duke's going to be our 2 seed. It will set up a 25th anniversary re-match in the regional final.

Duke is not gettin a 2 seed...