The Tweak

[kyjeff1]

Mainly (not entirely, but mainly) because the ball is NOT sticking in Wheeler’s hands for 20-25 seconds!

I know a lot of people don't like Matt Jones, but he’s right more times than not on a lot of things that happen.

He made a good point the other day. When Cal puts Wheeler in, more times than not, he puts Oscar, Collins, Livingston and one shooter in there with him.

Now, SW won’t pass to CJ for some reason, but either way, Cal is setting Wheeler up for failure by putting him in there with a bunch of non shooters.

I don't know if I've seen a lineup that has Wheeler, Oscar, Wallace, Reeves and CJ.

Matt thought Cal might be putting those taller guys in to compensate for Wheeler being so short. He might be right about that and if he is, Cal is more ridiculous than I thouht. That is such an old man style of thinking.

In modern college ball, you have to prioritize offense first, defense second. Cal will never do that.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I know a lot of people don't like Matt Jones, but he’s right more times than not on a lot of things that happen.

He made a good point the other day. When Cal puts Wheeler in, more times than not, he puts Oscar, Collins, Livingston and one shooter in there with him.

Now, SW won’t pass to CJ for some reason, but either way, Cal is setting Wheeler up for failure by putting him in there with a bunch of non shooters.

I don't know if I've seen a lineup that has Wheeler, Oscar, Wallace, Reeves and CJ.

Matt thought Cal might be putting those taller guys in to compensate for Wheeler being so short. He might be right about that and if he is, Cal is more ridiculous than I thouht. That is such an old man style of thinking.

In modern college ball, you have to prioritize offense first, defense second. Cal will never do that.

Yeah. Cal said that in order to play the Benny lineup, Toppin would have to rebound and we would have to play good D. We have the best rebounder in a quarter century and he’s worried about rebounding while sacrificing offense! It’s just unreal.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

Please stop with this STUPID word/phrase/slang "benny". Ya'll sound like a bunch of teenage girls creating your own slang.

 

[kyjeff1]

Yeah. Cal said that in order to play the Benny lineup, Toppin would have to rebound and we would have to play good D. We have the best rebounder in a quarter century and he’s worried about rebounding while sacrificing offense! It’s just unreal.

We have lost more rebounds out of bounds this year because Toppin keeps trying to pry rebounds from Oscar.

At this point, Toppin and Chris should be splitting time at the 4.

If Cal was smart, he would cal the Livingston house and explain to them that Chris is best suited at the 4 at this level and if he wants to get noticed, that’s where he needs to play.

 

[kyjeff1]

Please stop with this STUPID word/phrase/slang "benny". Ya'll sound like a bunch of teenage girls creating your own slang.

We didn't create it, Cal did.

 

[bryanperkey]

In my opinion, the tweak each year is Calipari playing the correct lineup. Regardless of what is said, the tweak was not only benching Wheeler, but playing the right players based on an offensive and defensive perspective versus just defense, and starting the offense further out front to increase spacing on offense.

 

[cats#1again]

The lineup did work. We were down 2 at halftime.

Oscar was in foul trouble the entire first half, picked up his first foul 15 seconds into the game and on top of that, our shooters were missing wide open shots.

Did you read that last part? The shots were wide open. Oscar was triple covered and in foul trouble. The lineup did work, our guys just didn't make shots.

I mean, do you understand why that lineup works and the Cal lineup doesn't? Explain it to me, because I don't think you know.

If Cal played his favorite lineup, we would have been down 15 at halftime.

I don't think you know much of anything .

I'm well aware of why that line up is a good line up, however there are multiple factors why we are playing better.
We've had wide open shots all year playing different line ups and have not made anything. So Reeves makes a few and now some of you think you're the smartest basketball minds lol

 

[Cats_2010]

Please stop with this STUPID word/phrase/slang "benny". Ya'll sound like a bunch of teenage girls creating your own slang.

I mean seriously!! You sound pretty salty for some reason for the board using a term that Cal himself called the fans for questioning his coaching. Seems to me if you have an issue with this term take it up with Cal, either way the benny’s have proven to know a bit more about our team than the 9 Million dollar man running the show. Gotta suck when you think you are smarter than everyone else and end up getting proved wrong by all walks of life

 

[cats#1again]

I dont know what cats#1again was looking at. Seems to me, he’s always in such a hurry to defend Cal that he overlooks what’s right in front of him.
That offense was the best it has looked all season. Guys were cutting, the ball was moving and we had wide open looks all game long.

When in the last year have I defended anything. Like I said. We've had open shots all year.
Now guys cutting is different... Cj usually stands still and they've had him curling around screens along the baseline. That didn't change from a line up switch though...

 

[kyjeff1]

I don't think you know much of anything .

I'm well aware of why that line up is a good line up, however there are multiple factors why we are playing better.
We've had wide open shots all year playing different line ups and have not made anything. So Reeves makes a few and now some of you think you're the smartest basketball minds lol

Tell me you have no idea what you're looking at without actually telling me you don't know what you're looking at.

Wow man, just… .wow

 

[kyjeff1]

When in the last year have I defended anything. Like I said. We've had open shots all year.
Now guys cutting is different... Cj usually stands still and they've had him curling around screens along the baseline. That didn't change from a line up switch though...

Yup, we've had open shots all year, but the guys being left open were Wheeler, Toppin and Ware.

Now, the guys getting wide open looks are elite shooters.

Tell me you knew that already, please, because I know you're smarter than that.

Do you understand what happens when the lineup is Wheeler, Ware, Oscar, Livingston and CJ and Wheeler has the ball up top? I want you to tell me what happens and why that lineup can't score.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Please stop with this STUPID word/phrase/slang "benny". Ya'll sound like a bunch of teenage girls creating your own slang.

Cal brought basketball bennies up first. Furthermore, the “Benny lineup” is being used far and wide! Here, HOB, KSR, etc. I believe it’s here to stay.

 

[anon1751545683]

That's the final tweak that needs to happen.

Cal won't do it though, because the Livingston camp doesn’t want it.

I mean stop the madness. He starts Livingston at the 3, we fall into a hole, he puts Reeves in and we pull ahead.

He just needs to tell the Livingston family that Chris is a college 4 and he will thrive there.

This "it's not fair to him, because I haven’t played him there" is a ******** lie that he's telling us, because he’s too chicken **** to face the Livingston camp and tell them how it's going to be.

Where is the source for this rumor?

Has Cal ever said he won’t play Livingston at the 4?

Has Livingston or anyone associated with him ever said he won’t play the 4?

Has any player ever said he won’t play a certain position and Cal complied?

How does stuff like that get started?

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Where is the source for this rumor?

Has Cal ever said he won’t play Livingston at the 4?

Has Livingston or anyone associated with him ever said he won’t play the 4?

Has any player ever said he won’t play a certain position and Cal complied?

How does stuff like that get started?

By those damn bennies!

 

[anon1751545683]

Cal brought basketball bennies up first. Furthermore, the “Benny lineup” is being used far and wide! Here, HOB, KSR, etc. I believe it’s here to stay.

When did Cal bring that up? And in what context if he did?

 

[Cowtown Cat]

When did Cal bring that up? And in what context if he did?

Basketball bennies? Lmao really?!

 

[kyjeff1]

Where is the source for this rumor?

Has Cal ever said he won’t play Livingston at the 4?

Has Livingston or anyone associated with him ever said he won’t play the 4?

Has any player ever said he won’t play a certain position and Cal complied?

How does stuff like that get started?

It was a story on KSR several times. I didn’t want to believe it, but we're coming up to the end of January and Cal has only dipped his little toe into the water on putting CL at the 4, then said he hasn't taught him anything at the 4 yet. Well, why not?

After the Sharpe situation, you should understand how these things work. Deals get mafe with players and their camps during recruiting all the time.

Now, the 'rumor' may, or may not be true, but if it isn’t, then why hasn't Cal done the 2nd most obvious thing with this team?
1) Wallace
2) CJ
3) Reeves
4) Livingston
5) Oscar

 

[Cowtown Cat]

It was a story on KSR several times. I didn’t want to believe it, but we're coming up to the end of January and Cal has only dipped his little toe into the water on putting CL at the 4, then said he hasn't taught him anything at the 4 yet. Well, why not?

After the Sharpe situation, you should understand how these things work. Deals get mafe with players and their camps during recruiting all the time.

Now, the 'rumor' may, or may not be true, but if it isn’t, then why hasn't Cal done the 2nd most obvious thing with this team?
1) Wallace
2) CJ
3) Reeves
4) Livingston
5) Oscar

They can’t see the forest for the trees, brother. Like talking to a wall.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

When did Cal say basketball bennies? I mean, WUT?!?!

 

[yoshukai]

Is this year’s tweak that Cal is taking cellphones and staying in hotels? I’m all for the team staying focused and getting rest. Keep doing it if it’s working as long as he keeps playing the Benny lineup. GO BIG BENNY!

This year’s “tweak “ was Wheeler’s injury that forced Cal to play the lineup that us “ basketball bennies “ had been calling for all year.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

This year’s “tweak “ was Wheeler’s injury that forced Cal to play the lineup that us “ basketball bennies “ had been calling for all year.

Hey sir. What are “basketball Bennies”?!

 

[anon1751545683]

It was a story on KSR several times. I didn’t want to believe it, but we're coming up to the end of January and Cal has only dipped his little toe into the water on putting CL at the 4, then said he hasn't taught him anything at the 4 yet. Well, why not?

After the Sharpe situation, you should understand how these things work. Deals get mafe with players and their camps during recruiting all the time.

Now, the 'rumor' may, or may not be true, but if it isn’t, then why hasn't Cal done the 2nd most obvious thing with this team?
1) Wallace
2) CJ
3) Reeves
4) Livingston
5) Oscar

KSR?? Matt frickin Jones? It's not a rumor. It's a lie!!

 

[fatguy87]

It was a story on KSR several times. I didn’t want to believe it, but we're coming up to the end of January and Cal has only dipped his little toe into the water on putting CL at the 4, then said he hasn't taught him anything at the 4 yet. Well, why not?

After the Sharpe situation, you should understand how these things work. Deals get mafe with players and their camps during recruiting all the time.

Such off the court commitments to players would explain a good amount about playing time decisions through the years.

Regarding CL at the 4 and him not knowing the plays or not wanting to play there seems a bit silly. With CL at the 4, he isn't a power forward. He is another wing player on offense. His role shouldn't not be much different than it is at the 3.

 

[anon1751545683]

It was a story on KSR several times. I didn’t want to believe it, but we're coming up to the end of January and Cal has only dipped his little toe into the water on putting CL at the 4, then said he hasn't taught him anything at the 4 yet. Well, why not?

After the Sharpe situation, you should understand how these things work. Deals get mafe with players and their camps during recruiting all the time.

Now, the 'rumor' may, or may not be true, but if it isn’t, then why hasn't Cal done the 2nd most obvious thing with this team?
1) Wallace
2) CJ
3) Reeves
4) Livingston
5) Oscar

Never once have I heard a player say he was promised anything by Cal. And we would have heard about it by now. Even the players that quit here do not say they didn't get what they were promised.

You can surmise all you want. That's not the same as posting it as fact.

 

[anon1751545683]

Such off the court commitments to players would explain a good amount about playing time decisions through the years.

Regarding CL at the 4 and him not knowing the plays or not wanting to play there seems a bit silly. With CL at the 4, he isn't a power forward. He is another wing player on offense. His role shouldn't not be much different than it is at the 3.

Can you show me a quote by Cal where he said that? Not KSR saying he said it. Cal actually saying it.

Why has there never been a player, even after they are gone, make the claims you surmise?

 

[fatguy87]

Can you show me a quote by Cal where he said that? Not KSR saying he said it. Cal actually saying it.

Why has there never been a player, even after they are gone, make the claims you surmise?

I can't list a quote where he directly states something to that effect, but it would explain public comments and decisions regarding playing time that seemed bizarre. A recent example includes "Take away a kids heart." He seemed to have certain negative dispositions towards certain players, Willis is one. The Whitney debacle is a whole other thing.

I don't know or even assert that such a thing is going on. Speculating it as a variable can add context that make past curious behaviors comprehensible.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I can't list a quote where he directly states something to that effect, but it would explain public comments and decisions regarding playing time that seemed bizarre. A recent example includes "Take away a kids heart." He seemed to have certain negative dispositions towards certain players, Willis is one. The Whitney debacle is a whole other thing.

I don't know or even assert that such a thing is going on. Speculating it as a variable can add context that make past curious behaviors comprehensible.

This. Nailed it. Perfectly stated. Great post.

 

[kyjeff1]

KSR?? Matt frickin Jones? It's not a rumor. It's a lie!!

So basically you just did the same thing you accused me of doing… .. assuming

 

[kyjeff1]

Such off the court commitments to players would explain a good amount about playing time decisions through the years.

Regarding CL at the 4 and him not knowing the plays or not wanting to play there seems a bit silly. With CL at the 4, he isn't a power forward. He is another wing player on offense. His role shouldn't not be much different than it is at the 3.

I was thinking the same thing. The only difference would be who he would have to guard on defense.

Like you said, he can still do the same things at the 4 that he does at the 3 on offense and that would create a lot of problems for opposing defenses.

 

[cats#1again]

Yup, we've had open shots all year, but the guys being left open were Wheeler, Toppin and Ware.

Now, the guys getting wide open looks are elite shooters.

Tell me you knew that already, please, because I know you're smarter than that.

Do you understand what happens when the lineup is Wheeler, Ware, Oscar, Livingston and CJ and Wheeler has the ball up top? I want you to tell me what happens and why that lineup can't score.

That's so wrong. Our "elite shooters" were missing every shot they took most games. They don't shoot contested shots. Most 3 point shots taken this year have been open shots. All year long.

 

[UKNothinButNet]

It was a story on KSR several times. I didn’t want to believe it, but we're coming up to the end of January and Cal has only dipped his little toe into the water on putting CL at the 4, then said he hasn't taught him anything at the 4 yet. Well, why not?

After the Sharpe situation, you should understand how these things work. Deals get mafe with players and their camps during recruiting all the time.

Now, the 'rumor' may, or may not be true, but if it isn’t, then why hasn't Cal done the 2nd most obvious thing with this team?
1) Wallace
2) CJ
3) Reeves
4) Livingston
5) Oscar

Player's first baby!

 

[UKNothinButNet]

When did Cal say basketball bennies? I mean, WUT?!?!

Like only every interview he's done in the past 13 years!

 

[kyjeff1]

Never once have I heard a player say he was promised anything by Cal. And we would have heard about it by now. Even the players that quit here do not say they didn't get what they were promised.

You can surmise all you want. That's not the same as posting it as fact.

You think dudes are just going to come out and announce things that were, or weren't promised to them? Nobody does that, especially at UK where this is a players first program.

However, I stand corrected, Wenyen Gabriel had quite a bit to say.

 

[kyjeff1]

That's so wrong. Our "elite shooters" were missing every shot they took most games. They don't shoot contested shots. Most 3 point shots taken this year have been open shots. All year long.

Our elite shooters were rarely open until Cal started playing the Benny lineup.

The fact that you're trying to argue this, makes you look really bad.

 

[HogCoyote]

Is this year’s tweak that Cal is taking cellphones and staying in hotels? I’m all for the team staying focused and getting rest. Keep doing it if it’s working as long as he keeps playing the Benny lineup. GO BIG BENNY!

No Cal's tweak was starting Ware at the 4 and Livingston at the 3. It failed, so he finally gave in to the Basketball Bennies and played the BB5, and it worked.

 

[K_TIME]

Such off the court commitments to players would explain a good amount about playing time decisions through the years.

Regarding CL at the 4 and him not knowing the plays or not wanting to play there seems a bit silly. With CL at the 4, he isn't a power forward. He is another wing player on offense. His role shouldn't not be much different than it is at the 3.

As you can see...Toppin is 2 inches taller or so than Livingston. And Chris actually is 10 lbs heavier. So I just don't see a rationale that Livingston can't play PF in college....his lack of ball handling and passing along with spotty shooting...he can be a fine PF.

 

[yoshukai]

Can you show me a quote by Cal where he said that? Not KSR saying he said it. Cal actually saying it.

Why has there never been a player, even after they are gone, make the claims you surmise?

What good is ANY Calipari quote. You can’t believe a thing that comes out of the man’s mouth.

 

[cats#1again]

Our elite shooters were rarely open until Cal started playing the Benny lineup.

The fact that you're trying to argue this, makes you look really bad.

The fact that you were saying our shooters didn't miss open shots makes you look like you have an agenda. At the top of this site search Miss open shots and go back and look at everyone saying all season long how many open shots we were missing.

 

[cats#1again]

Our elite shooters were rarely open until Cal started playing the Benny lineup.

The fact that you're trying to argue this, makes you look really bad.

Our shooters didn't have anyone within 5 ft of them on 90% of the outside shots we've taken all year. If they were being guarded and just checked up at 3:00 they wouldn't still be in your name that's a horrible shot. Sure at the end of games within 5 minutes the shot clock running out nobody was open yeah I get that but that's not what happened the majority of the game.

 

[kyjeff1]

The fact that you were saying our shooters didn't miss open shots makes you look like you have an agenda. At the top of this site search Miss open shots and go back and look at everyone saying all season long how many open shots we were missing.

Our elite shooters missed a lot of open shots against aTm and yes, CJ and Reeves struggled in some games, but our offense was awful all the way around, until the UT game and the offense we all saw against aTm was awesome. Everything but shot making from some damn good shooters.