TJ Walker...great tweet!!

[RunninRichie]

I disagree. Coach K had 2 teams with greater talent than any of Cal's teams & never made a final 4 with them.

What? how is Coach K relevant to the conversation? If anything him not making final fours in 2018 and 2019 just shows how bad one and done is. When the 5 time champ can’t even get to the final four with the second greatest CBB player in the last decade...it’s not good.

 

[TortElvisII]

I disagree. Coach K had 2 teams with greater talent than any of Cal's teams & never made a final 4 with them.

Five titles. Four runner ups.

 

[syrus12]

AGAIN, why do ppl think it‘s about 1 year of awfulness. Fans are upset about the downward *trajectory* of the program. I don’t know what happened..but the Cal we have is not the Cal who took over in 2009. That guy would have never allowed a freaking 9-16 season!

 

[gracetoyou]

Who said anyone expects four final 4's in 5 years? Nobody is expecting that, but 2 total E8's, a historically bad season, constant losses in Rupp, and in 6 years, UK has beaten 1 Power 5 team in the NCAAT.

The first 5 years was incredible, but it's never going to happen again, the players are just not available anymore.

But can anyone deny that the records Cal has amassed the last 6 years will continue? I think what we have seen the last 6 years is the real Calipari, especially if he's going to prioritize the NBA draft. He's not good enough to satisfy his NBA draft boner AND win titles. He can't have both, but he refuses to believe that.

The last 6 seasons have not been bad at all. We beat UNC or Auburn & its a totally different discussion. Not many fanbases would be so disappointed in those seasons. Any fanbase that is will never be pleased or happy unless the impossible happens.

 

[gracetoyou]

Five titles. Four runner ups.

In 42 seasons

 

[RunninRichie]

The last 6 seasons have not been bad at all. We beat UNC or Auburn & its a totally different discussion. Not many fanbases would be so disappointed in those seasons. Any fanbase that is will never be pleased or happy unless the impossible happens.

if my mom had nuts she’d be my dad

 

[Guess Who]

1949-1951
3 titles and 3 final fours.

actually it's 48, 49, 51 having 3 final 4's in 4 years with titles

 

[bookerfan66]

The last 6 seasons have not been bad at all. We beat UNC or Auburn & its a totally different discussion. Not many fanbases would be so disappointed in those seasons. Any fanbase that is will never be pleased or happy unless the impossible happens.

But we couldn't even beat Auburn without their best player.And how about losing to terrible K state.

 

[RunninRichie]

actually it's 48, 49, 51 having 3 final 4's in 4 years with titles

good catch, typo on my part.

 

[ShadowFromHomewardBound]

The last 6 seasons have not been bad at all. We beat UNC or Auburn & its a totally different discussion. Not many fanbases would be so disappointed in those seasons. Any fanbase that is will never be pleased or happy unless the impossible happens.

Will you still be saying all of this if we lose majority of our team (again) this year then go something like 17-13 (or worse) next year then lose 5-9 guys again? Just curious.

 

[RunninRichie]

Will you still be saying all of this if we lose majority of our team (again) this year then go something like 17-13 (or worse) next year then lose 5-9 guys again? Just curious.

yeah, because we ALMOST got to the tourney.

 

[Guess Who]

good catch, typo on my part.

Still the best run we ever had. I know you knew better!

 

[KingOfBBN]

What? how is Coach K relevant to the conversation? If anything him not making final fours in 2018 and 2019 just shows how bad one and done is. When the 5 time champ can’t even get to the final four with the second greatest CBB player in the last decade...it’s not good.

Not to mention, didn’t those teams lose to Kansas and Michigan State? Not like it was Auburn or WVU or whatever.

Either way, he won a title in 2010 with a team that I consider one of the weakest champs in decades outside of 2014 UConn.

 

[revcort]

I would agree Calipari needs to play a little nicer with the fanbase. I also agree with the idea that the average fan who is ready to fire Calipari because of one season gone horribly wrong and those who think he forgot how to coach 4 months ago are not to be taken very seriously right now. Coaches, especially hall of fame coaches with multiple Final Fours, Elite 8s, and a title at said school, and only a year removed from one of his best coaching jobs and an SEC regular season title and a likely 2 seed in the NCAA-T, do not get fired for a bad season with a dozen issues beyond his control. It's really that simple. This is common sense. I really don't care about the stats from the last 5 years that don't include what might have happened in last year's postseason. He's getting another year. And we look foolish, entitled, and spoiled when we demand his firing. That thread that keeps being bumped looks ridiculous, in my opinion. We just need to take a breath and see what happens this off season, with recruiting, and next year. That's all we can do anyway.

 

[Wildcats1st]

4 final 4's....with zero titles is impressive. We've only won 8 in 100+ years. You realize they're rare right?

you know whats more rare and the atrocity that cal fans overlook? Losing seasons. Only other time in 95 years we had a losing season were probation years. Outside of probation cal has the only one and it wasn’t a game or two losing season, theoretically it’s the worst season in history and at the very least the worst in 95 years. Ok so now use your “we win a title every ten years, theyre rare, 8 in 100 years blah blah blah”. Take that same mathematical equation and apply it to this rarity of a losing season.
By your logic this season is the equivalent of 4 titles in the negative because of its rarity. That how bad it was and that’s the way it’s been trending for 6 years Bucko

 

[goldiewilson]

You can be a jerk that excels. You can be a nice guy that sucks. But if you’re a jerk that sucks, you’ll get called out.

Nailed it

 

[Patriot202]

Compare any program to Cal's 5 seasons & you're not going to find any program or coach with that success.

2010: Elite 8
2011: Final 4
2012: final 4, National Champs
2013: NIT
2014: Final 4, National runner-up
2015: final 4

**I mean...come on! To expect that kind of run continuously is unrealistic.

2016: 2nd round
2017: Elite 8 (one shot shy)
2018: Sweet 16
2019: Elite 8 (one shot shy)
2020: Tourney canceled, projected 2 seed, won SEC by 3 games

**Yea, that's awful...lol. Schools would love even that.

You're just an emotional overreacting UK fan & it's blinding you to what you're saying. You're seeing what you want to see.

You do know this was when top NBA draft picks were coming in ? It was awesome while it lasted but unfortunately that fire has burnt out. Players are going anywhere and being top picks or the g league and our coach needs to transition into building teams year by year with experience & talent and know his Xs & Os but he can’t.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

There isn't much to be learned from some two-bit blogger who props up his ego by denigrating rural Kentuckians. Don't know who he is and don't ever want to find out.

 

[preacherfan]

Not really. No need for the implication of intellectual inferiority of people from appalachia.

I didn't know Paducah (Possum Trot is a suburb) was in Appalachia?

 

[natchezrule]

Plowhorse basketball is not really fun to watch

 

[natchezrule]

I didn't know Paducah (Possum Trot is a suburb) was in Appalachia?

I guess the metaphor went over your head

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

How great is to mock fans from someone who is a nobody?

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

I didn't know Paducah (Possum Trot is a suburb) was in Appalachia?

Then there is more than one. There is definitely a possum trot in eky

 

[HagginHall1999]

There isn't much to be learned from some two-bit blogger who props up his ego by denigrating rural Kentuckians. Don't know who he is and don't ever want to find out.

Waah. You sound like some other people that whine these days. He could have said Chuck from Owensboro, Bill from Cynthiana, or Mike from Union....they all have the same meaning.

 

[timwarren]

Who gives a flying **** what T.J. Walker says? Our “insiders” are pathetic. You realize they said Cade Cunningham was coming to Kentucky. There was even a Cade Cunningham Watch post on HOB. Most of the “insiders” are in their 20’s. I’m more of an expert than they are and I’m awful and I have no sources.

 

[Fawrules]

Will you still be saying all of this if we lose majority of our team (again) this year then go something like 17-13 (or worse) next year then lose 5-9 guys again? Just curious.

Nope. If we have another season like that, I fully understand the people who will want him gone.

I don't think many people are denying the fact that Cal did a poor job this season, but people keep bringing up this "downward trajectory" like we haven't been any good the last several years.

One year ago Kentucky was 25-6 (Won the conference outright by three games) and had been one of the hottest teams in the country in the last month or so of the season.
I think that team was capable of making a nice tourney run.

The 2017 & 2019 teams were both very good and a basket away from the Final Four.

Am I disappointed that they didn't go the Final Four those two seasons? Of course.
Do I wish the 2014 or 2015 team would of finished the job? Definitely, but I believe the crapshoot of a single-elimination 68-Team Tournament also is a factor in that.

 

[AllBall]

Fact is also that none of those reg season games matter

So you cool with Kansas taking the all time wins from UK? It matters for tournament seeding as well.

 

[Fawrules]

I suppose the point of my rambling is that there's just no middle-ground with some fans online.
Either some fans thought Cal was above reproach or some fans thought he "sucks" and "could never really coach".

Where as I think the reality was until this past season, Cal had still been a "good" coach.

I can understand if that's not good enough for UK and people don't think he's the right guy to lead Kentucky to more titles.

Watching this past season, it's perfectly reasonable to wonder if he's out of touch with today's game and too stubborn to change his ways.

If Cal can't adapt and we have enough crappy season, I'm sure I'll be in the "It's time to move on camp" as well.

 

[Wunky]

If Cal can't adapt and we have enough crappy season, I'm sure I'll be in the "It's time to move on camp" as well.

Just curious, how many “crappy seasons” will be enough for you personally? I heard this fool Billy Rutledge on Dick Gabriel’s radio show last week saying if Cal has “2 or 3 more” seasons like this one, he should be “on the hot seat”

To me that is a friggin disgrace for a supposed fan of Kentucky basketball to say. If Cal has ONE more season that’s anything close to this, he should be GONE.

The fans are the ones that hold, and have always held, this program to the highest of standards. When that changes, is when we become IU.

 

[TortElvisII]

In 42 seasons

So you're saying cal is going to get four titles and two runner-ups in the next 10 years. Cool.

 

[Pulaski Cat Fan_rivals377587]

Is TJ Walker's tweets supposed to hold some significance? My neighbor does construction and I have as much faith in his opinion than TJ Walker's.

 

[seccats04]

The last 6 seasons have not been bad at all. We beat UNC or Auburn & its a totally different discussion. Not many fanbases would be so disappointed in those seasons. Any fanbase that is will never be pleased or happy unless the impossible happens.

Close losses in the E8. Sounds just like Tubby and we ran him outta town. Cal has become Tubby right before our eyes, their last 5 seasons are almost identical and some are in denial.

 

[sambowieshin_rivals]

No way in hell Barnhardt is firing a Hall of Fame basketball coach exactly one season removed from an SEC title.... over this pile of dog S##! Covid bball season.
All the moaning, groaning and calls to can Cal are a complete waste of time.

 

[RunninRichie]

No way in hell Barnhardt is firing a Hall of Fame basketball coach exactly one season removed from an SEC title.... over this pile of dog S##! Covid bball season.
All the moaning, groaning and calls to can Cal are a complete waste of time.

I don’t want him fired. I want old cal. The cal that went 4 years without a conference loss at Umass.

 

[HagginHall1999]

I don’t want him fired. I want old cal. The cal that went 4 years without a conference loss at Umass.

We all want that. Well, most

 

[Pulaski Cat Fan_rivals377587]

I don’t want him fired. I want old cal. The cal that went 4 years without a conference loss at Umass.

I agree

 

[Old Blue Fart]

I would agree Calipari needs to play a little nicer with the fanbase. I also agree with the idea that the average fan who is ready to fire Calipari because of one season gone horribly wrong and those who think he forgot how to coach 4 months ago are not to be taken very seriously right now. Coaches, especially hall of fame coaches with multiple Final Fours, Elite 8s, and a title at said school, and only a year removed from one of his best coaching jobs and an SEC regular season title and a likely 2 seed in the NCAA-T, do not get fired for a bad season with a dozen issues beyond his control. It's really that simple. This is common sense. I really don't care about the stats from the last 5 years that don't include what might have happened in last year's postseason. He's getting another year. And we look foolish, entitled, and spoiled when we demand his firing. That thread that keeps being bumped looks ridiculous, in my opinion. We just need to take a breath and see what happens this off season, with recruiting, and next year. That's all we can do anyway.

Your post is spot on. One thing I ask though, don't you think Coach Cal needs to take a step back and look at his offensive strategy? It seems the game has evolved and this 'beat your man, get to the rim, and have bigs clean it up" just is not working.
Thoughts?

 

[qwesley]

dozen issues beyond his control.

Most of the issues that came home to roost this year were within his control: assistants, player retention, playing tight, athleticism/length over skill, unrealistic player expectations, strange lineup decisions, lack of perimeter shooting. He has not adjusted his strategy in years even though lots of factors have changed.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

I don’t want him fired. I want old cal. The cal that went 4 years without a conference loss at Umass.

We all want that. Well, most

I agree

I just want the Cal that doesn’t lose to Evansville and Richmond in Rupp.

 

[KyFaninNC]

Wow. Another Cal nut hugger. I don’t even know who that guy is. Never heard of him. Guess his elite *** has never been to places like Possum Trot or Buzzards Roost.