Sunday Morning

jrm693

All-Conference
Jan 14, 2007
12,390
4,239
68
After a nights sleep I am ready to sort out my feelings. In the past I was on the edge of my seat, tense, nervous watching every play, living and dying with ever score or turnover. This is not happening now. I watch our games, wanting to win, but realize that I am only giving the Cats a 50/50 chance to win or lose. I am not nervous or worried or even any longer.

I think it is the OAD that has made me this way. I have accepted that as long as we have Cal, this is what we will have year after year. I find myself excited every year with who he recruits and always anxious to see them come together.

However the total lack of basic skills some of there 5 stars have makes me wonder if they have had ANY coaching in middle or high school. What I mean is lack of free throw shooting, lack of blocking out for rebounds, terrible passing skills, big men with no hook shot, guards that can't shoot,etc.

Last night's blowout has had zero affect on me, I slept like a baby, and this is NOT how I use to be when we lost a game.

In no way do I want Cal gone, but, I do wish he would be open minded enough to assess his new team each year and develop a system that works best for that specific team, instead of being so vanilla.

I am thinking Cal is a victim of his own success. And somewhere along the line it has took me to a place I have never been before, and I do not really like this place.

I am now like, meh, we lost a game, meh, we won a game, meh this bunch will be gone in 2 months, meh we will have a brand new bunch next fall, meh, wash, rinse, repeat.

I started feeling this way after the Wisky give away.
The point I would address is the fundamentals, I do not believe they are being taught to block out, hit free throws set screens etc. I watch my grandson playing on a traveling team and all those have their go to player and he is significantly better than any other player on his(not leaving out females just talking in reference to my grandsons team) team and as that particular team wants to win they give him the ball and he is virtually unstoppable and so they become the stars who migrate to AAU teams and the great ones continue to shine and outperform their counterparts so they become 5 stars. When they arrive at college they are the "anointed one" and now all of a sudden they are thrust into a situation where Colleges who dont have the allure to get them have upperclassmen who have learned they have to play team ball to win and that becomes number 1 with them as they know their days as a collegian are numbered and most will be doing something other than playing basketball when they graduate, and they desperately want to beat these future NBAers. As has been pointed out lots of times we are playing one on one no screens, not blocking out and especially got hammered on rebounds things we were taught from day 1. These types have performed exceptionally well under Calipari and we have had great success with it, but when it goes bad it is a ugly thing to behold, hopefully they can work on some of the issues and right the ship if the last 4 games doesn't have their attention nothing can.
 
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AllBall

All-American
May 5, 2015
4,906
6,448
93
Let's not forget that we are living in one of the greatest chapters of Kentucky basketball.
4 FF's in the last 7 seasons. We will fall to 15 or so in the rankings, have our most difficult games behind us, and have plenty of time to correct our issues.
A ranking that doesn't matter. You really feel like they are currently a top 15-20 team. Cal likes em to peak at the end of the yr but I believe we have a longer climb than anticipated after this 4 game stretch.
 

jwm24_2000

Junior
Mar 12, 2005
808
302
0
I'm 47 years old, is this thread the 60 plus group, Time has changed love the guys of the past, but it really matters to me no matter who plays, how long their here, or whatever, most of you sound like wishy washy, love them when they win, hate this oad carp when they lose, it's a process, evaluate a season when it's over, I'll never thank goodness feel like oh well they lost big deal,
 

docholiday51

Heisman
Oct 19, 2001
22,011
26,718
0
I'm 47 years old, is this thread the 60 plus group, Time has changed love the guys of the past, but it really matters to me no matter who plays, how long their here, or whatever, most of you sound like wishy washy, love them when they win, hate this oad carp when they lose, it's a process, evaluate a season when it's over, I'll never thank goodness feel like oh well they lost big deal,
We don't really feel that way either(oh well we lost big deal)we just say we do cause it helps us get through to the next game:D
 
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Cawood86_rivals

Heisman
Feb 20, 2005
36,711
64,715
0
Cal created his own monster I think. I don't think he came to UK with this mindset, but after his 1st season things started to go this route, but it was mainly because of team success.
Now I think players feel they can go the same route regardless of how the team does. Do my time and get me draft status high.
If Lamb and Jones don't return, UK doesn't have #8. The '15 season has affected a lot of fans. If UK can't win it with that team, can they win another?
UK will likely lose 6 guys minimum. 3 seniors plus Fox, Monk, and Bam. Cal already has 6 coming in with room for two more. That would be 8 freshman. Whew.
Eventually someone will sign and they guy in their slot doesn't leave. Then what? Cal is the best IMO, but someday it will backfire I'm afraid.
 

kodakkodak

Sophomore
Nov 25, 2006
377
195
0
Let's not forget that we are living in one of the greatest chapters of Kentucky basketball.
4 FF's in the last 7 seasons. We will fall to 15 or so in the rankings, have our most difficult games behind us, and have plenty of time to correct our issues.
1-4 in Final Fours. Yes!!!!
 

TnRustyCAT

Sophomore
Feb 27, 2007
2,498
125
0
KyFaninNC has the way I've been feeling for the last three, to four years! I just HATE feeling this way, and I do not want for Cal to leave. I hope he changes his NBA, and player's first to KENTUCKY first! :scream: Is that too much to hope for? It hurt's my BIG BLUE HEART!! For fifty year's I couldn't wait for basketball season, but it's changed! This is NOT what collage basketball SHOULD BE...... :thumbsdown: