This team will not win the NCAA

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

I'm not reading all of this. In the Dominican, missed the game last night, and catching up on the expert opinions as best I can.

Here are some universal comments that are true no matter what happened last night...

Some of y'all don't follow college basketball. Championship level teams lose road games to inferior opponents every single year.

We are good enough to win it. As good as anyone, really. But that still only gives us maybe a 20% chance to win it. Maybe as low as 10% depending on our draw. That's if the season ended today.

It's math.

Good post. I think what's true of posters here is true of most fan bases: they put their own team under a microscope and are intimately familiar with the team's warts and shortcomings, and don't look at other teams in the same way so they don't know them nearly as well. Since we have more fans, and much more passion, than most fan bases, that sort of thing is magnified to crazy level here. Plus people just live in the moment now. The last thing I saw is definitive and the most important data point. So, now people think Louisville is a heavy March favorite now, and UK can't win. Every poll, every computer ranking, every seeding predictor, Las Vegas, has Kentucky as a better team than Louisville - and if Louisville wins a title with an offense ranked that low, it would be a first. But, they beat Pitt by 600, we somehow lost to Rick Barnes, ipso facto all is lost and they are gonna steamroll everyone.

Plus trolls.

 

[kyjeff1]

Well, we're all still waiting on your answer to specifically where this team has improved throughout the season.

Over the years, I've enjoyed reading and responding to a lot of the posters here, including you. Whether or not I'm right shouldn't determine whether or not I post here for a year.

I'l freaking answer your question.

Simply put, UK has improved at every aspect of the game. But you know what? So has everyone else. Yet, we are still blowing out good teams.

You can't tell me that Wenyen doesn't look way better than he did even 2 weeks ago.

Do I even need to explain to you how far Bam has come?

Fox and Monk are most definitely better than they were in November, deny that if you want, but they most certainly are better.

Also, our defense is far better than it was.
But you know what? We are in conference play, how do you not get that, conference play, regardless of what league you are in, is extremely hard, especially on the road.

2015 UK allowed Ole Miss to take them to OT in Rupp. Welcome to conference play bitches.

My goodness, UK just didn't bring their heart last night. F-ing leave it at that. UT took whatever heart they had with their toughness. They were ready, we weren't. It's just that simple man. It really is. Stop trying to make more out of it than what it is.

But if you can't tell the difference in improved efficiency and individual play from November til now, than we can't help you.

I'm sorry to be that blunt, I realize it might hurt your feelings, I like you as a poster, but I'm just being honest, I really am.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to sit quietly in a room and come to grips with the realization that there are UK fans that think this team hasn't improved since November. It's really sad.

 

[catdance]

Not blaming it on Cal at all. If you're happy with just being good every year with the best freshman, cool.. other than our previous couch( two years ) UK has always been good bro, we're blue bloods.. At some point, you gotta win championships.. not SEC's either, been doing that way before Cal. Everybody gets on to KU because of their conference, we'll look at ours and still get beat by the bottom feeders.. take the glasses off and face it ...

 

[BoNicholas]

False.
We had a loaded team in 13/14, we couldn't win a road game to save our lives. Same with 10/11.
Your statement is false.

13/14 was all freshman and the twins were over rated. This team, every player is as good or better than advertised. 10/11 wasn't even close to this team, I'm not even sure how you could come to that conclusion. 13/14 is the viable argument but this team has talent for days, they just don't play good basketball. They're so good that most games it doesn't matter.

 

[WeWant9]

Well luckily the NCAAT doesn't start til March 16, so more practice time and games for our young cats. Also, there are no real dominant teams out there, everyone has some flaws. I think it's silly not to include UK in the handful of teams with a chance of going all the way. Id think UK would be favored over the vast majority of teams, on a neutral court.

 

[kyjeff1]

13/14 was all freshman and the twins were over rated. This team, every player is as good or better than advertised. 10/11 wasn't even close to this team, I'm not even sure how you could come to that conclusion. 13/14 is the viable argument but this team has talent for days, they just don't play good basketball. They're so good that most games it doesn't matter.

You would figure a real UK would actually understand the difficulties of coaching freshmen.

You seriously don't understand that?

Here's the issue as I see it, people in our fanbase are spoiled, Calipari makes it look easy, it ain't easy. Take a long hard look at what's going on in Durham.

We start 4 freshmen and a sophomore against grown *** men on their home court. We have a whole 3 losses.

How can you read everything I just listed and feel good about the criticisms of our coach in this thread?

I mean, does it make you feel better to get it out of your system when you hall off and say Cal is doing a terrible job?

These guys have blown teams out by over 40 points, several teams, scored 100 points more times than any uk team in my lifetime, we have two guys that have a triple double to their name and because we lost a road game in a tough environment you feel the need to dump on our coach and players.
Am I explaining it right?

 

[etowncatfan]

Anthony Davis and MKG says hi

There is always an exception to the rule. We don't have anyone on this years team that could hold Anthony Davis's and MKGs jock when it comes to defense.

 

[BoNicholas]

You would figure a real UK would actually understand the difficulties of coaching freshmen.

You seriously don't understand that?

Here's the issue as I see it, people in our fanbase are spoiled, Calipari makes it look easy, it ain't easy. Take a long hard look at what's going on in Durham.

We start 4 freshmen and a sophomore against grown *** men on their home court. We have a whole 3 losses.

How can you read everything I just listed and feel good about the criticisms of our coach in this thread?

I mean, does it make you feel better to get it out of your system when you hall off and say Cal is doing a terrible job?

These guys have blown teams out by over 40 points, several teams, scored 100 points more times than any uk team in my lifetime, we have two guys that have a triple double to their name and because we lost a road game in a tough environment you feel the need to dump on our coach and players.
Am I explaining it right?

I don't say it was easy but he's choosing to do it this way. All I can do is judge how he coaches within his system. If we always had veterans and guys left and it was an all frosh team, that flies. For his system it really doesn't. I'm not saying Cals not a great coach. Saying a 17-3 team is his worst coaching job is saying the exact opposite actually. I'm saying this team is not improving and is beginning to look like a team that just isn't going to get there. Frankly, with this group of players, that's a failure.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

Winning the NCAA is just gravy. Can we please talk about the likely number of NBA lottery picks?

 

[kyjeff1]

I don't say it was easy but he's choosing to do it this way. All I can do is judge how he coaches within his system. If we always had veterans and guys left and it was an all frosh team, that flies. For his system it really doesn't. I'm not saying Cals not a great coach. Saying a 17-3 team is his worst coaching job is saying the exact opposite actually. I'm saying this team is not improving and is beginning to look like a team that just isn't going to get there. Frankly, with this group of players, that's a failure.

The fact that you say the team is not improving proves to me that you have no clue what you are looking at. I hate to be blunt, but that's the only way I can respond to you.

This team is far better than they were in November and it's not even close.

Give credit to Tennessee, they played unbelievable and our guys were not themselves.

But to say this is Cal's worst coaching job, when the teamis 17-3 while starting 4 freshmen is crazy to me. Tells me you have no idea how hard this is.

Yup, I agree, Cal chooses to do it this way, but it's working, isn't it? Who has more wins the last 7 years? Who has more final fours?

You would have a point if he was underachieving every year, but when he has a far better record than coaches, like Pitino and Roy Williams, who have veteran teams, you immediately lose the argument.

You have no basis for what you are saying.

Worst coaching job ever? The team is 17-3 while playing mostly freshmen.
Spoiled.

 

[BoNicholas]

The fact that you say the team is not improving proves to me that you have no clue what you are looking at. I hate to be blunt, but that's the only way I can respond to you.

This team is far better than they were in November and it's not even close.

Give credit to Tennessee, they played unbelievable and our guys were not themselves.

But to say this is Cal's worst coaching job, when the teamis 17-3 while starting 4 freshmen is crazy to me. Tells me you have no idea how hard this is.

Yup, I agree, Cal chooses to do it this way, but it's working, isn't it? Who has more wins the last 7 years? Who has more final fours?

You would have a point if he was underachieving every year, but when he has a far better record than coaches, like Pitino and Roy Williams, who have veteran teams, you immediately lose the argument.

You have no basis for what you are saying.

Worst coaching job ever? The team is 17-3 while playing mostly freshmen.
Spoiled.

I didn't say worst coaching job ever. I said worst at UK. And please tell me where this team has improved. We have been consistently sliding in defensive metrics and our offense still consists of mostly jump shooting.

The fact you think they are tells me you know nothing. If anything, we have regressed.

 

[kyjeff1]

I didn't say worst coaching job ever. I said worst at UK. And please tell me where this team has improved. We have been consistently sliding in defensive metrics and our offense still consists of mostly jump shooting.

The fact you think they are tells me you know nothing. If anything, we have regressed.

Agree to disagree.

-conference play is tougher than most of us fans want to admit, we see a 10-9 team and think they suck, but when we lose to them we throw our team and coach to the wolves

-we lost, so everyone is down and is feeling very negative about the rest of the season

-you say most of our points are from jump shots, I disagree, maybe in last night's game, but last night was a clunker, teams have them, maybe this one will help us in the long run.

Again, difference of opinion.

Also, I know you were talking about Calipari while at UK, so was I.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

I'l freaking answer your question.

Simply put, UK has improved at every aspect of the game. But you know what? So has everyone else. Yet, we are still blowing out good teams.

You can't tell me that Wenyen doesn't look way better than he did even 2 weeks ago.

Do I even need to explain to you how far Bam has come?

Fox and Monk are most definitely better than they were in November, deny that if you want, but they most certainly are better.

Also, our defense is far better than it was.
But you know what? We are in conference play, how do you not get that, conference play, regardless of what league you are in, is extremely hard, especially on the road.

2015 UK allowed Ole Miss to take them to OT in Rupp. Welcome to conference play bitches.

My goodness, UK just didn't bring their heart last night. F-ing leave it at that. UT took whatever heart they had with their toughness. They were ready, we weren't. It's just that simple man. It really is. Stop trying to make more out of it than what it is.

But if you can't tell the difference in improved efficiency and individual play from November til now, than we can't help you.

I'm sorry to be that blunt, I realize it might hurt your feelings, I like you as a poster, but I'm just being honest, I really am.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to sit quietly in a room and come to grips with the realization that there are UK fans that think this team hasn't improved since November. It's really sad.

Are you watching the games this year? You may be right if you're watching another years team....

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

I just simply asked you to put your money where your comments are. You say the defense sucks and the team hasn't improved and they should have by now and they are selfish. Ok fine. Then they should have no shot against a top 5 team like Kansas this Saturday. You should feel comfortable making the bet. I know I do and I am prepared to not comment in this forum until next October if UK loses.

What do you have to lose? Not posting on this board for a year? I enjoy this board so much I actually put my money where my mouth is and I pay for it. I hope I'm wrong, too. Hence not a good bet.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

I didn't rewrite anything. I just gave the score, which is a simple fact and not an opinion or interpretation. We lost by 5 points. You called that "getting waxed" and "getting run off the floor". There is no universe in which losing by 5 points amounts to either of those things. The fact that you won't simply say something reasonable like "Yeah, that's right, I was exaggerating" or something like that tells me you're being emotional and now stubborn.

Guess what? This team will lose another road game. It won't be the end of the world, it won't mean we can't win a title or make the final four. It will just mean a young team wasn't able to handle a road environment. Happens all the time. The problem with this board is the emotionally vexed, hand-wringing, overreactions. A loss is never just a loss for some people, it HAS TO MEAN THAT our coach screwed this up and really isn't a very good coach, and we cannot win anything meaningful and if you can't see that you are simply a cheerleader.

This coach is 23-5 in the tournament, which you'd never guess by all the "we'll get beat again in the tournament once...." and "I guess Cal will never learn that....." kind of posts that appear here after every L. You'd think people that lived through the 2011 and 2014 seasons, which ended in Final Four trips after much worse seasons than this one, would learn.

I don't have anything against the coach. I'm glad Cal is here. This really isn't about him, though. This team is just not coming together like they should. Contrary to your beliefs, this team has not improved significantly in any are this year and it mostly comes down to them wanting to play AAU ball, not team basketball.

Some of the basketball knowledge on here amaze me, especially for being Kentucky fans.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

I ask you this, how many times does Cal have to prove himself?
Also, we have, arguably, the best backcourt in the country, and some say, the best freshmen backcourt ever in college.
EVER!
We also have a beast in the paint and a 4 man showing significant progress.
Everyone feels defeated because uk lost a game to a team with a bad record. UT is actually a very good team, with a bad record and it was at their place.
They were jacked up and we weren't. Losses happen.
But again, how many times does Cal have to prove himself before fans like you trust him?

This isn't necessarily on Cal. I certainly don't blame him for the issues we've got and never have in even one of my posts. This team just doesn't want to play team ball and that is where the problems start and end.

 

[kyjeff1]

Are you watching the games this year? You may be right if you're watching another years team....

Who's the one on their own island arguing with several people in this thread?
Here's a hint: not me.

Now, your question was answered, doesn't matter by who, I answered it.

You obviously don't like the answer, but that wasn't part of the criteria. You asked Irish to answer your question, you didn't say "answer the question and make it so I agree with the answer".

 

[kyjeff1]

This isn't necessarily on Cal. I certainly don't blame him for the issues we've got and never have in even one of my posts. This team just doesn't want to play team ball and that is where the problems start and end.

I think you should do yourself a favor and reread your posts.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

lol.

The overreaction to losses are something else.

 

[irishcat1965]

I don't have anything against the coach. I'm glad Cal is here. This really isn't about him, though. This team is just not coming together like they should. Contrary to your beliefs, this team has not improved significantly in any are this year and it mostly comes down to them wanting to play AAU ball, not team basketball.

Some of the basketball knowledge on here amaze me, especially for being Kentucky fans.

This team or any other UK doesn't have to come together on your timeline- your timeline of development is irrelevant. Its Cal's timetable of development that matters. Only his. Now if this team flames out in March, then he can definitely be questioned or the team can be questioned that improvement wasn't made. He has proven it before that adjustments will be made by March. You insist the changes should be made by now which is total arrogance on your part. As far as speaking about basketball knowledge, I can only laugh at you. Because Cal is a Hall of Fame coach who knows more basketball than you could ever dream to know or will ever know.

 

[Madcat62_rivals113839]

Winning the NCAA is just gravy. Can we please talk about the likely number of NBA lottery picks?

dont care about lottery picks i dont even like the nba just win games baby

 

[irishcat1965]

I didn't say worst coaching job ever. I said worst at UK. And please tell me where this team has improved. We have been consistently sliding in defensive metrics and our offense still consists of mostly jump shooting.

The fact you think they are tells me you know nothing. If anything, we have regressed.

Improvement isnt made on your schedule. No one cares if you think they haven't improved enough so far. No one.

 

[wildcatwelder_rivals]

FSU
Louisville
Arizona
Gonzaga
Oregon

All 6 of these teams defend much better than the Cats, have rim protection and lots of depth on the bench.[/QUOTE

FSU
Louisville
Arizona
Gonzaga
Oregon

All 6 of these teams defend much better than the Cats, have rim protection and lots of depth on the bench.

All SIX of those huh?

 

[School boy]

Like Cal said in his call in show tonight, I wouldn't trade this team for any other team in the country.

We have 3 top 12 picks in this years NBA draft and role players that will step up in mid Feb.

 

[BoNicholas]

Improvement isnt made on your schedule. No one cares if you think they haven't improved enough so far. No one.

Nor does it change anything in March becuase you say so. If they don't improve they will flame.

 

[irishcat1965]

Nor does it change anything in March becuase you say so. If they don't improve they will flame.

And Nostradamus you have no idea if they will or not.

 

[HenryMuto]

If Murray had not re-classified this team would have been a heavy favorite to win it all.

 

[BoNicholas]

And Nostradamus you have no idea if they will or not.

Nor do you. That's why it's an opinion and not a fact.

 

[irishcat1965]

Nor do you. That's why it's an opinion and not a fact.

I'm not the one saying they definitely can't win the title. You are.

 

[caneintally]

Just LMAO at the OP.

 

[Cat Ballou]

The UConn team that beat us in NatChamp a few years ago looked like garbage and got beat by UL by 30+ in January.

Some of you need to remember - nothing matters until March.

 

[irishcat1965]

FSU
Louisville
Arizona
Gonzaga
Oregon

All 6 of these teams defend much better than the Cats, have rim protection and lots of depth on the bench.

FSU huh? Care to revise your list Einstein after FSU just got smoked by a terrible GT team

 

[AllBall]

Why You say??? Because after 20 games they have not bought into the idea that you have to play defense. Yes they can score but as in all our losses we scored plenty of points to win,but the other team out scored us. UCLA has the offensive players to do it,but Tennessee and Louisville do not if you play average to good defense. You can get to the round of 16 without any defense but that is as far as you will go. In fact right now I can see UL going further than us on their defense alone. This may be the fallacy of the one and done player. His mind set is always showing his offensive skills so he can quickly go to the NBA. So if you are a Kentucky Fan I wouldn't get your hopes up too high.

I understand your frustration. However, I contend poor shot selection puts more pressure on our defense. During a 1/3 of offensive possessions we did not pass the ball more than 2x. Quick lower percentage shots handicap our defense. Not to mention younger guys then try to rest on the defensive end. You simply can't relax on D. Scoring in transition is our biggest asset but knowing when to "go" and slow down and execute half court decides close games. This will make or break us come March.

 

[lacocat]

Just bookmarking this for later in case they do.

 

[dave5164]

I can't believe the fans that continue to get on here and say no way UK will win it all this year. I believe that we are 1 team out of 4 or 5 teams this year that can win it all. I believe that UK, UCLA, Kansas, UNC, and Villanova that can win it all this year. There are 2 or 3 other teams that can make a good run like Florida State, Duke, and even UL. There are 8 or 9 teams that have been playing good ball and that could win it all. I just believe this UK team is the most dangerous because the amount of points UK can throw up each night by averaging 94 points a game. Gabriel and Willis had been playing great ball the last couple of games and had a night off last night. We will be fine and I am sure Coach Cal will get this defense right with the remainder of the SEC schedule before March Madness. This week alone you have seen Villanova, Kansas, UCLA, UK, Florida State, and Duke all go down to defeats. That is the Top 8 with 6 losses except for Duke which is #17 but the other went down except Baylor which is in a tight game right now and Gonzaga which plays no one in their league except St. Mary's. So that is #1, #2, #4, #6, #7 that went down in the last week. That is what happens in League Play on the Road and that is Upsets. The couple of road games that I was concern about was the Florida and UT games this year. We need to bounce back and take down Kansas on Saturday and get back on the winning side to end the rest of the SEC play. We are heading to be a #1 or #2 Seed in the NCAA Tourney this year and if we continue to win out we have a great shot at the #1 seed.

 

[kybassfan]

Just bookmarking this for later in case they do.

You know the bad thing about it is that the OP stands about a 60 - 80 percent chance of being right no matter what happened so far in the season. I'm sure he'll be back proclaiming his prodigious basketball insight if we don't win, when no team ever stands even a 50 50 chance of winning when looking before the tournament starts.

 

[willievic]

Oh I am a Kentucky fan. In fact I was in Rupp Saturday. Through the years I have watched lots of Basketball to know you have to have offense and defense to win against elite teams. Very few Freshman buy into playing defense. Defense has to be taught.

etown, your exactly right. When someone says something that is taken as negative against Cal, all the ones who are drinking the Kool Aid start criticizing you. Cal is the best recruiter in the college BB. In seven year, not counting 2017, he has had the No.1 class every year by some poll. In that seven years, he has won 1 NC, Vill. 1, Louisville !, Duke 2 and Conn. 2, by two different coaches. Probably like you, I bleed Blue, and have been watching UK since 1951. I went to UK, and moved back to Ky. from Seattle while flying with Northwest Airlines, so my children would go to UK, and my 3 Grand children who are enrolled at UK, and attend all the games, the SEC tournament and the NCAA Tournament with me. So HELL NO, I'm not a troll, but I face facts. Do I want to get rid of Cal, ABSOLUTELY NOT, but I would like to see some of the players stay more then one year. I'm tired of hearing how young we are. Other teams are winning NC's without all the "one and done's". There are some good players who will make the pros, who are not 5 stars, but will need more then one year. When all we get are 5 stars, their gone in one year.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[sluggercatfan]

We lost to a really good 10-9 team, probably best 10 -9 team in the country. I think you are jumping the gun, relax.

Really good 10-9 team:basketball:[roll]:joy:

 

[irishcat1965]

Really good 10-9 team:basketball:[roll]:joy:

Better than the GT team that just smoked FSU. The same GT that lost to UT 81-58.

 

[sluggercatfan]

etown, your exactly right. When someone says something that is taken as negative against Cal, all the ones who are drinking the Kool Aid start criticizing you. Cal is the best recruiter in the college BB. In seven year, not counting 2017, he has had the No.1 class every year by some poll. In that seven years, he has won 1 NC, Vill. 1, Louisville !, Duke 2 and Conn. 2, by two different coaches. Probably like you, I bleed Blue, and have been watching UK since 1951. I went to UK, and moved back to Ky. from Seattle while flying with Northwest Airlines, so my children would go to UK, and my 3 Grand children who are enrolled at UK, and attend all the games, the SEC tournament and the NCAA Tournament with me. So HELL NO, I'm not a troll, but I face facts. Do I want to get rid of Cal, ABSOLUTELY NOT, but I would like to see some of the players stay more then one year. I'm tired of hearing how young we are. Other teams are winning NC's without all the "one and done's". There are some good players who will make the pros, who are not 5 stars, but will need more then one year. When all we get are 5 stars, their gone in one year.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

Good post Willie