Is Cal slipping?

HagginHall1999

Heisman
Oct 19, 2018
16,046
28,513
113
Considering we are about to go 4 years without a final four, the recruiting sucks for next year which could be 5, I’d say he has slipped. The pressure for Cal is about to ramp up in the next couple years.

I would rather listen to Miss Cleo about the future...
 

GoNoles111

All-American
Dec 31, 2007
36,304
5,552
0
No. But this is a lot like the Archie Goodwin cats. They just don’t seem to be improving at the moment. You have these types of years sometimes. Let’s see what happens.

People said that last year and if PJ could make a free throw they go to the final four.




Let it play out. As long as you get in the tourney and playing well who knows.
 
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fs-ripcord65

All-Conference
Apr 29, 2009
5,717
3,879
113
smfh. people still can't spell Gillispie correctly. I bet some still pronounce it as "JillEspy"
Thanks for pointing this out - seriously. We have a lot of families around south-central Kentucky that spell their surname "Gillespie." I had never realized - but am now glad to note - that BCG is not one of "our Gillespies" !

Go 'Cats !
 

fs-ripcord65

All-Conference
Apr 29, 2009
5,717
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I agree with this post. Calipari is coaching no better, and no worse, and no differently than he has since 2010.

When U.K. has talent that is vastly superior to all other talent in the college game during that season (e.g., 2012 and 2015) the 'Cats win big. When an individual U.K. player "rises to the occasion", so to speak, in the NCAA tournament with an extraordinary short-term performance (e.g., Brandon Knight in 2011; e.g., Aaron Harrison's three-game stretch of game-winning three-pointers vs. Louisville, Michigan, and Wisconsin in 2014), then the 'Cats advance to the Final Four somewhat unexpectedly, and everyone forgets the 9-loss and 10-loss regular season records.

But then we also have 2010 (no Final Four with John Wall, Boogie Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe - and we all know what they're doing in the NBA); 2013 (a loss to Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT); 2016 [Jamal Murray, Tyler Ulis, Alex Poythress, Skal Labissiere; 9 regular-season losses; no Sweet Sixteen (second-round NCAA loss to lower-ranked Indiana)], 2017 (no Final Four with De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Bam Adebayo - and we all know what they're doing in the NBA); 2018 (another 10-loss regular season and, with a clear path to the Final Four, an NCAA flame-out in the Sweet Sixteen to Kansas State).

So . . . repeating . . . the answer to the question posed in the title of the thread is "No." Calipari is not "slipping." What we see is what we get, year-in and year-out.

And, nevertheless . . . Go 'Cats ! ! ! Onward to No. 9 ! ! !
 

CatsIndy2010

Senior
Jan 27, 2010
1,948
742
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Cal's slipping when he stops yelling at the team.

I went to the game against tn st...

He yelled many times. I think he is a great coach. Enough with this stuff...

And tn st. had a good team regardless of being ranked or not. They gave it their all and still lost pretty easily.
 

Poetax

Heisman
Apr 4, 2002
29,410
20,887
0
No. But this is a lot like the Archie Goodwin cats. They just don’t seem to be improving at the moment. You have these types of years sometimes. Let’s see what happens.




I think you’re way off.
 
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Joneslab

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2005
4,219
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Not sure if Cal is slipping but there's something strange about this team.

They don't look together to me. Not a lot of smiles, not a lot of fun being had.

It's sort of a 180 from the Bahamas games. And it's really strange, because one thing Cal's teams usually do bring is a togetherness, a selflesness. This team seems to be on wildly different pages, and while you wonder if that's mostly about the make-up of the team--one grad transfer looking to get to the NBA; three returnees who all made late decisions to return, two of whom were rumored to be leaving UK at one point; a missing-in-action sophomore who has never played in a real game; plus the requisite group of freshmen--it also comes back to the coach's ability to coach up the roster he himself has built.

Cal has always been able to mold teams well, to bring guys together. Even last year's team never looked broken into its individual parts to me. This team has a really odd look, and I wonder if the 2010 Calipari would have been further along with this bunch.
 

TheWyldKat_rivals45219

All-American
Mar 13, 2016
5,831
5,373
61
Its a no win, he gets players that stay and he's losing it, get a OAD and we want them to stay 4 years. What's your solution to the problem?
The problem is even when he Misses on the top picks, The players that we get still end up leaving for NBA while in Reality they should know doubt be here for multiple years.

Plain and simple, Cal said it in his press conference. Those teams that we’re good all had lottery picks. He has to get a couple top five picks for this model to work.
 

Poetax

Heisman
Apr 4, 2002
29,410
20,887
0
The problem is even when he Misses on the top picks, The players that we get still end up leaving for NBA while in Reality they should know doubt be here for multiple years.

Plain and simple, Cal said it in his press conference. Those teams that we’re good all had lottery picks. He has to get a couple top five picks for this model to work.



Getting the best is of course the best solution but no matter what we think it won’t happen every year.
 

CELTICAT

Heisman
May 21, 2002
19,249
18,867
113
Not sure if Cal is slipping but there's something strange about this team.

They don't look together to me. Not a lot of smiles, not a lot of fun being had.

It's sort of a 180 from the Bahamas games. And it's really strange, because one thing Cal's teams usually do bring is a togetherness, a selflesness. This team seems to be on wildly different pages, and while you wonder if that's mostly about the make-up of the team--one grad transfer looking to get to the NBA; three returnees who all made late decisions to return, two of whom were rumored to be leaving UK at one point; a missing-in-action sophomore who has never played in a real game; plus the requisite group of freshmen--it also comes back to the coach's ability to coach up the roster he himself has built.

Cal has always been able to mold teams well, to bring guys together. Even last year's team never looked broken into its individual parts to me. This team has a really odd look, and I wonder if the 2010 Calipari would have been further along with this bunch.

I've noticed this as well. They play like it's a job. Some of that might be that they are "thinking" out there and not playing, but IDK. Joyless basketball either way.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
Its a no win, he gets players that stay and he's losing it, get a OAD and we want them to stay 4 years. What's your solution to the problem?

What players are staying? 3 sophomores who would rather be somewhere else? It’s real simple. You build a program with 3-4 year players then add in one or two OAD each year. What’s difficult about that?
 

KyFaninNC

Heisman
Mar 14, 2005
195,719
24,518
0
Its a no win, he gets players that stay and he's losing it, get a OAD and we want them to stay 4 years. What's your solution to the problem?
Cal needs to decide which way to go. A. Get top five players and go with OAD, or B. Get multi year guys, and throw in couple top 10/15 guys. All I have ever said is that for his system to work he needs top 5 guys, which he is not getting. Up to him how he wants to proceed. I am behind him whichever way he decides, but what is happening now is not working
 
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kybassfan

Heisman
Jul 1, 2005
20,032
16,368
113
Cal needs to decide which way to go. A. Get top five players and go with OAD, or B. Get multi year guys, and throw in couple top 10/15 guys. All I have ever said is that for his system to work he needs top 5 guys, which he is not getting. Up to him how he wants to proceed. I am behind him whichever way he decides, but what is happening now is not working

Ah, recruiting is a buffet? The very first player Cal bypassed in favor of one lower ranked, the CLOD would try to gut him like a fish. Cal takes the best available. You’d lead the gutting posse the minute he passed up a better recruit.
 
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FrankUnderwood

Heisman
May 26, 2017
15,912
27,971
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I agree with this post. Calipari is coaching no better, and no worse, and no differently than he has since 2010.

When U.K. has talent that is vastly superior to all other talent in the college game during that season (e.g., 2012 and 2015) the 'Cats win big. When an individual U.K. player "rises to the occasion", so to speak, in the NCAA tournament with an extraordinary short-term performance (e.g., Brandon Knight in 2011; e.g., Aaron Harrison's three-game stretch of game-winning three-pointers vs. Louisville, Michigan, and Wisconsin in 2014), then the 'Cats advance to the Final Four somewhat unexpectedly, and everyone forgets the 9-loss and 10-loss regular season records.

But then we also have 2010 (no Final Four with John Wall, Boogie Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe - and we all know what they're doing in the NBA); 2013 (a loss to Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT); 2016 [Jamal Murray, Tyler Ulis, Alex Poythress, Skal Labissiere; 9 regular-season losses; no Sweet Sixteen (second-round NCAA loss to lower-ranked Indiana)], 2017 (no Final Four with De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Bam Adebayo - and we all know what they're doing in the NBA); 2018 (another 10-loss regular season and, with a clear path to the Final Four, an NCAA flame-out in the Sweet Sixteen to Kansas State).

So . . . repeating . . . the answer to the question posed in the title of the thread is "No." Calipari is not "slipping." What we see is what we get, year-in and year-out.

And, nevertheless . . . Go 'Cats ! ! ! Onward to No. 9 ! ! !



Fair points but it seems a little ridiculous to point out what John Wall and cousins etc are doing in the NBA years and years later as opposed to 18 year old freshman in college
 

fisherscat

All-Conference
Feb 9, 2005
11,283
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Be like UNC? As in... a known cheater ? Be like Michigan? Why would we ever want to aspire to be Michigan?
A known cheater? Thats what fans say of teams who are falling behind...like IU fans barked against Cal.

I mean build your program to promote success AND continuity.

I dont believe Cal makes another FF with this same approach. Even he has said there are different ways to go about this. Time to rebrand. Adapt offensively. Be Nick Saban and not Jim Harbaugh.
 
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KyFaninNC

Heisman
Mar 14, 2005
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Ah, recruiting is a buffet? The very first player Cal bypassed in favor of one lower ranked, the CLOD would try to gut him like a fish. Cal takes the best available. You’d lead the gutting posse the minute he passed up a better recruit.[/QUOTE
Ah, recruiting is a buffet? The very first player Cal bypassed in favor of one lower ranked, the CLOD would try to gut him like a fish. Cal takes the best available. You’d lead the gutting posse the minute he passed up a better recruit.

If you had got YOUR way, we would still have Tubby. I prefer to hold the coach accountable for the product he puts on the floor. The LOD as you call them, got us BCG, then they got us Calipari. You never, ever want to see improvement, you are happy with the status quo, well some of us are not.
 

KyFaninNC

Heisman
Mar 14, 2005
195,719
24,518
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Ah, recruiting is a buffet? The very first player Cal bypassed in favor of one lower ranked, the CLOD would try to gut him like a fish. Cal takes the best available. You’d lead the gutting posse the minute he passed up a better recruit.
One of the all time great

 

FrankUnderwood

Heisman
May 26, 2017
15,912
27,971
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A known cheater? Thats what fans say of teams who are falling behind...like IU fans barked against Cal.

I mean build your program to promote success AND continuity.

I dont believe Cal makes another FF with this same approach. Even he has said there are different ways to go about this. Time to rebrand. Adapt offensively. Be Nick Saban and not Jim Harbaugh.


No... it’s what fans say when a college program ;UNC; commits decades of academic fraud (facts)

I feel like you’re not very well versed in college basketball if you believe Kentucky needs to aspire to be Michigan
 
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fisherscat

All-Conference
Feb 9, 2005
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No... it’s what fans say when a college program ;UNC; commits decades of academic fraud (facts)

I feel like you’re not very well versed in college basketball if you believe Kentucky needs to aspire to be Michigan
You are missing the point. Arrogance will get UK and Cal nowhere. You have to adapt or die. I dont think Cal is adapting. He was the innovator in 2009. Now he's starting to feel ancient.
 

FrankUnderwood

Heisman
May 26, 2017
15,912
27,971
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You are missing the point. Arrogance will get UK and Cal nowhere. You have to adapt or die. I dont think Cal is adapting. He was the innovator in 2009. Now he's starting to feel ancient.


I agree that Cal must change some things up / adapt. My point was we definitely do not need to aspire to be UNC (known cheaters) or Michigan...? Who has a fraction of our success.
 
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UK-Chulo

All-American
Mar 22, 2007
3,472
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I've noticed this as well. They play like it's a job. Some of that might be that they are "thinking" out there and not playing, but IDK. Joyless basketball either way.
Cal’s coaching style is something players only truly appreciate once they are adults. Unfortunately that is long after they are gone from the team.

Cal also wears his emotions on his sleeve. He is not the stoic captain that is wholly composed, giving orders as the ship goes down. When he panics, the team feels it. When he craps his pants, the team feels it. When he is dealing with anxiety, his team feels it. When things are going well, his team feels it. Since we start from basically scratch every year, the frustration and lack of patience are the most dominant things present with coach.

We’ve seen him cool and enjoying the ride, but since he likes to tear it down and rebuild most years, he wears stress more often than not.
 
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fisherscat

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Feb 9, 2005
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I agree that Cal must change some things up / adapt. My point was we definitely do not need to aspire to be UNC (known cheaters) or Michigan...? Who has a fraction of our success.
Totally agree about not sacrficing standards. Lets see how it works out over the next few years. I want Cal's tenure here to be viewed in glowing, historic terms. But I'm worried his tenure will resemble Joe B. Hall's when all is said and done. A title, some FFs, an NIT appearance and a lot of heartbreaking losses. A really good tenure but one known for what could have or should have been.
 
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rnfoster

Senior
Dec 31, 2011
178
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No! No slippage. Everyone knows that the greatest 4 programs include Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, and UCLA. Kansas makes a case for a strong fifth, in my thinking. Depending on the decade, the teams are shuffled for superiority. There are some stretches where we are ranked first and others where we fall to three. Nothing has changed in the last few years. We are Kentucky and Cal is doing is job.