Fans will start to turn soon...

[$Z71$]

We did not have an elite team last year, but they were much better than this team

The team we had last year would currently be ranked #1 and be 19-0 or 18-1 this year. It’s a down year across the board.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

After reading Cal's comments tonite I guess I'll have to side with those who say just wait 'til March.

I know those fans believe it but I believe Cal's comments are just Coach speak. He never throws them under the bus. He says the.Cats will be fine.

Not sure how that squares with walking 20 feet out on to the court to ream a player before he can get back to the bench for the timeout. But whatever.

 

[mapcatfan_rivals31344]

I hope Cal bolts to see the idiots squirm.

I don’t want to see him leave, but man, that’s what some of these people deserve.

He has totally spoiled this fan base.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Lots of full diapers in here tonight.

This team might be an 8 seed, but it's no reason to jump ship or demand a farrrrin.

 

[83Cat_rivals79182]

I mean the arena was dead tonight. Wouldn't surprise me if this is the last sellout of the year.

Dead? It’s the loudest I’ve heard it for a long time!

 

[LadyCaytIL]

I remember hearing ...errrr reading all the dont dare you question tubby posts and how we didnt deserve him and he should leave and show us........

If Cal doesnt change things and he's as stubborn as Tubby was about not firing staff members........ then Cal's tenure is gonna decline like Tubby's did.

 

[26MichaelUK]

I would tell any posters on here to stop being little whiny bitches if they were crying like this in front of me.... HMMMMMM

And 2016 was bad but 2017 we were 32-5, and a last second shot from another FF, only 4 teams could say they did better in the tournament than us...

I don't think 2016 was bad even. We won the sec regular season and tournament. In any other bracket I think that team gets to the sweet 16 at least.

But I'm like you, even if you count 2016 as a bad year, how can you ignore how good we were just last year? That was easily a top 5 team. It took the worst officiated half of basketball I've ever seen and a last second shot to the eventual champs in the E8 to knock us out. We had to play 3 Ken pom top 10 teams in a row just to get to the final four. Our game was a de facto national championship game.

We won 30 freaking games as you said and went into the tournament on the longest win streak in the country.

 

[FtCampbellCat]

sigh.......I think a lot of posters would rather see us lose just for the chance to attack either Cal, our players, and/or other fans.

 

[AllBall]

Are we BBN or JCN?

 

[BlueRunner11]

The only thing scarier than Cal leaving is the doofus Mitch would no doubt replace him with.

 

[ABLCommenter]

My Kentucky fandom only started during Year 1 of the Calipari era, so I understand my perspective is not as relevant as the perspective of others. However, I consider myself blessed to be a Kentucky fan. I love this team, and turning my back on them is something I cannot even comprehend. It will be all right. Stay with them, and stay with Cal.

 

[BlueRunner11]

As for kids leaving, I'm sure we'll lose 1, maybe 2, and I know this isn't the rationale that can be applied to their decision making but they're kidding themselves - if we or they think there are players on that team that won't be in the G League in 2 years trying to keep from playing overseas. They all need to return

Terrence Jones is in the G League right now. Tell me which guy right now that could hold his jock even on their best day.

 

[Randy Bob]

There is a different in turning and stating facts..

 

[FLawLesS_NoLe]

The team we had last year would currently be ranked #1 and be 19-0 or 18-1 this year. It’s a down year across the board.

Are you kidding me? Last year was the ultimate down year. North Carolina was as average as it gets. Who did they play? Gonzaga...terrible. SCarolina made final four. Everyone knows last year was weak man. You are only looking at things through a blue nation lens.

 

[donngottie]

There is no end in site. Hopefully this disaster will convince Cal to stop this total roster turnover every year. These talented freshmen just don't progress when they don't have veterans to learn from.

Skj, Gabriel, quade, Sga should all be back. Do you want superstar oad or veterans? Next year the team will have veterans and you say no end in site?

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

Knox and Diallo can go...

That will be it, then coming back with everyone else, plus Quickly, Johnson, and 2 shooters Baker and Herro. Should be better next year considerably !

 

[donngottie]

Are you kidding me? Last year was the ultimate down year. North Carolina was as average as it gets. Who did they play? Gonzaga...terrible. SCarolina made final four. Everyone knows last year was weak man. You are only looking at things through a blue nation lens.

South Carolina beat the hell out of that Duke team that everyone is saying has passed uk lol

 

[i11ogica1]

If you think I’m squirming when Cal leaves you’re sadly mistaken. Bottom line is he’s always been an average coach who made a living recruiting. Now that he isn’t doing great at that he’s just like any other coach. A massively overpaid and overrated one at that. The last 3 years have been VERY Tubby-like.

In the previous three seasons, we were cheated out of two national championships. Go **** yourself.

 

[Old Blue Fart]

We do get a lot of guys in the 1st round of the draft, but that number drops when you look at how many stick around for that 2nd contract.
GM's will draft anyone with talent in hopes of them developing further and if they have no roster spot then they are trade bait.
It being a business, these kids must understand that unless you are a Anthony Davis, Lebron, Kobe, your nothing but a commodity to them, a ways to make money.

While you are sitting there trying to further your development, another class of "OAD" are coming into the draft and that just means more competition for that spot you think is yours.

Its just not UK losing players to the NBA before they are ready, it is all over the college landscape.

 

[i11ogica1]

Are you kidding me? Last year was the ultimate down year. North Carolina was as average as it gets. Who did they play? Gonzaga...terrible. SCarolina made final four. Everyone knows last year was weak man. You are only looking at things through a blue nation lens.

And if not for a cheating referee, we win the title. Instead it goes to a team that should have the last 20 years vacated.

 

[jedwar]

That may be true....but he unraveled mentally...who knows what he could have done had he not lost his marbles.

I see your point but he was not UK material. His beats UL in Rupp in the tourney and that’s his only claim to fame before he got the job. Mitch messed that one up bad.

 

[chattanoogawildcat]

Of course you do. You have made it abundantly clear you are fine with the mediocrity....

Interpret much? My post went way over your head.

 

[Delk4three]

I don’t want to see him leave, but man, that’s what some of these people deserve.

He has totally spoiled this fan base.

Spoiled the fan base? How about he EARNED his paycheck, i.e. did what he was paid to do.

 

[fisherscatfan_rivals101526]

I’m not turning on UK but my interest in the sport is starting to fade. No one will ever convince me that Higgins didn’t screw us UK against Wisconsin and UNC. The whole UNC academic ********, Kanter getting screwed, Duke jewelry etc. Last nights swallowing of the whistle just further convinces me that it will be made harder on UK when possible.

For whatever reasons, there appear to be favorites that are handpicked. And while not as blatant as wrestling, it isn’t much different anymore. Too much money to be made I guess. So I no longer order NCAA tickets and don’t invest the time I used to.

My daughter is a sophomore at UK, so I use UK games now as more of a way to visit her, but not going spend the same amount of money or time anymore.

 

[DUNNSTILLFREENALIVE]

The near miss championships has the fan base disheartened more than anything, a down season every now and then is understandable.

There has been bad officiating..

And..

There is political dissension that has spurred a frowning on sports across a large portion of America.

I still haven’t watched a single sporting event all year, I tell myself I will tune in and then I don’t.

I might not even watch the Super Bowl, I’m content with checking scores and scanning the story about what happened.

 

[RonEJones]

Sissies.

Let the season continue on. We have some not very bright players who may or may not get it. We have had multiple games won and gave it away.

Still no team cohesion. Chances aren't great they will do anything fantastic in the tournament but we still have time. Crying now won't do anything.

And stop worrying about 4-6 players leaving.

It will be a stretch to have 3 freshmen given 1st round guarantees much less 4.

We have not had more than 3 freshmen go pro any year since 2010. We have not had a freshman leave without being drafted in the 1st Round.

Gabriel may go for money somewhere? Who knows?

Tai goes home? So what?

More people here secretly crying because of Duke getting Zion, 2015 should tell you nothing is guaranteed.



Whining about Cal mid-season when we were a last second shot from yet another FF last season and he has taken teams in 2011and 14 far in the tournament after poor regular seasons is premature, coach deserves the benefit of the doubt. He's earned it.

This total meltdown simply by projecting things that you have no idea of is weak sauce.


If K does win it all next season he is probably gone and if he doesn't with all that talent he probably retires too... they are better than us right now and unless Cal figures it out our best hope is K walks away after next season.

Great post, Brian.

With that said, Cal hasn’t had a truly dominate team since the 38-1 year and that’s due to the lack of true elite NBA talent. I strongly feel Cal has to diagnose and quickly correct this recruiting situation. He’s clearly dropped behind K in the pecking order and we seem to be targeting the same kids.

If he can’t (e.g. there is shady behind the scenes stuff he won’t compete with), he should tweak his players first mantra to tell them to stay 2-3 years if they are borderline first round picks and continue to develop/play them. One thing I personally think hurts our teams is, if a kid isn’t one and done, Cal seems to give the incoming FR the benefit of doubt and they immediately start over the vet (see Willis, Gabriel, SKJ). Even if the kid isn’t noticeably better.
It’s for worked UNCheat.

Fun fact - K has had several cycles where he was the king of recruiting then dropped off. He then reinvented himself to takeover again. I think Cal will also get this corrected.

 

[brianpoe]

Great post, Brian.

With that said, Cal hasn’t had a truly dominate team since the 38-1 year and that’s due to the lack of true elite NBA talent. I strongly feel Cal has to diagnose and quickly correct this recruiting situation. He’s clearly dropped behind K in the pecking order and we seem to be targeting the same kids.

If he can’t (e.g. there is shady behind the scenes stuff he won’t compete with), he should tweak his players first mantra to tell them to stay 2-3 years if they are borderline first round picks and continue to develop/play them. One thing I personally think hurts our teams is, if a kid isn’t one and done, Cal seems to give the incoming FR the benefit of doubt and they immediately start over the vet (see Willis, Gabriel, SKJ). Even if the kid isn’t noticeably better.
It’s for worked UNCheat.

Fun fact - K has had several cycles where he was the king of recruiting then dropped off. He then reinvented himself to takeover again. I think Cal will also get this corrected.

I agree, although I'm not sure which freshmen have been given that benefit of the doubt throughout the season?

At the beginning and up until the halfway point, sure I agree but I believe he is hoping it will click and almost always the freshman has the better ability.

But he did eventually sit Skal, Willis played after getting out of the doghouse which he deserved, we also saw Dom play quite a bit as well.


As to this season, Knox, Diallo, Washington have to start catching on or we are going nowhere. Gabriel and SKG cannot carry this team on their own. We know what we have in these two, the freshmen OTOH? Will they get it and help or do we bench them and hope they figure it out with less playing time?

 

[RonEJones]

I agree, although I'm not sure which freshmen have been given that benefit of the doubt throughout the season?

At the beginning and up until the halfway point, sure I agree but I believe he is hoping it will click and almost always the freshman has the better ability.

But he did eventually sit Skal, Willis played after getting out of the doghouse which he deserved, we also saw Dom play quite a bit as well.


As to this season, Knox, Diallo, Washington have to start catching on or we are going nowhere. Gabriel and SKG cannot carry this team on their own. We know what we have in these two, the freshmen OTOH? Will they get it and help or do we bench them and hope they figure it out with less playing time?

What I was eluding too was playing/starting guys like Skal, Gabriel (as a FR), Richards and even Washington when we have more experienced talent on the bench.

You are correct in that he typically does come around but why come around? If all things are equal, most coaches go with experience and let the FR develop. Cal is the opposite and even, IMO, gives FR guys who are clearly behind all the breaks.

I’m sure he feels it develops them faster but I think we are just as good, even better, at the end of year if we have Willis getting the lion share of Gabriel’s FR minutes from day 1 as he was better. Or SKJ getting the start and minutes over Richards.

It doesn’t happen a ton because unfortunately we don’t have a lot of contributors coming back. But I think it is another negative recruiting factor they are using against us and it plays into the “Cal pushes you out of the door” pitch.

 

[mg721]

Realistic? UK was 32-6 last year. Lost to eventual champ on a last second shot. This season ain't over yet. If you don't like the program anymore, plenty of options for you.

No plans to go anywhere, but I do have a right to have feelings about what I like and don't like. I still love watching the Cats play, but I don't like the way things are right now. I didn't realize that you were the guardian of the gate and was left in charge of who belongs in BBN and who doesn't.

 

[Cbbcrazy2]

One thing positive about this post, I have hit the ignore button and rid myself of a lot of crap.

 

[mapcatfan_rivals31344]

Spoiled the fan base? How about he EARNED his paycheck, i.e. did what he was paid to do.

One doesn’t preclude the other.

 

[brianpoe]

No plans to go anywhere, but I do have a right to have feelings about what I like and don't like. I still love watching the Cats play, but I don't like the way things are right now. I didn't realize that you were the guardian of the gate and was left in charge of who belongs in BBN and who doesn't.

So 19 games in you are not happy....and worrying yourself about next season already?

 

[LineSkiCat14]

This has to be in large part Cal getting done dirty in recruiting. His results were there.. He was getting it done and there was no reason recruits could deny it. We were being set up perfectly for these few years.

How does that fail? It doesnt without something being done by the NCAA or other coaches.

 

[mg721]

So 19 games in you are not happy....and worrying yourself about next season already?

Never said anything about next season

 

[Jamal Mercer]

Never said anything about next season

I mean, I’m always thinking about the future of UK b-ball. Not sure why it’s a problem to look at next season. Especially after losing our main recruiting target for next season.

Our schedule is pretty brutal the rest of the way this year. I’ll keep thinking ahead.

 

[kevcat]

And I’m not talking about all the people that had been complaining to this point.

Losing Zion to Duke, losing at home to an unranked Florida team, and now probably losing 4-6 guys off of a team that just isn’t good.

Even the bluest of goggles, myself included, are starting to think things might be headed in the wrong direction.

This is an eye opener coming from you. You’re definitely a glass is half full guy.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

This is an eye opener coming from you. You’re definitely a glass is half full guy.

I try not to be too doom and gloom and I try not to pump too much sunshine.

But my gosh, last night was brutal in many ways.

 

[kevcat]

I try not to be too doom and gloom and I try not to pump too much sunshine.

But my gosh, last night was brutal in many ways.

It was a very bad day for Kentucky basketball, that’s for sure.

 

[brianpoe]

Never said anything about next season

Ok, so you were ok with 32-6, Top 6 ranking and a screw job and last second shot to another Final Four Last year?

And you have no concerns fro next year?


So basically you are so distraught over 19 games in which he we have lost 5 games with a team full of freshmen that has yet to play one game with a fully healthy schedule... got it.

Sounds like a seasoned basketball fan... c'mon man.

 

[JoeBeeHall]

This has been a longtime coming. Zion nothing to do with it. We have back to back losses and guaranteed to lose multiple guys after this season. Sick and damn tired of a "players first program".

I agree lets make the players a last priority bet that helps recruiting alot