Cal's first 8 or so years might be the most fun, most talented teams we will ever see here. The college basketball landscape is changing. We're in a weird transitional phase at the moment. Hopefully Cal will adjust with the times because players like John Wall, AD, Towns ain't walking through that door.
We're spoiled.
- Thread starter kentucky4ever
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I don't see where he bashed anyone.
Personally, the Pitino years were more fun then Cal's early years. Not as much NBA talent, but man did they steam roll teams.
I do agree Cal’s first 6 years probably were the most talented teams of any 6 year stretch in UK basketball history.
One problem is that Cal only managed a single NC with that amount of talent.
The next problem is that college basketball is changing and Cal will never accumulate that much talent again.
That leads us back to Cal only won a single NC with an over abundance of talent. So with talent spread out we know Cal will not win another NC.
I believe we are going to be much closer to this awful season than we are a NC as long as Cal is coaching.
One problem is that Cal only managed a single NC with that amount of talent.
The next problem is that college basketball is changing and Cal will never accumulate that much talent again.
That leads us back to Cal only won a single NC with an over abundance of talent. So with talent spread out we know Cal will not win another NC.
I believe we are going to be much closer to this awful season than we are a NC as long as Cal is coaching.
1. UK used to be the lone Blue Blood that was down with one and done which Cal was sort of shopping in a store that he had mostly all to himself.
2. When Duke went with it....they basically kick our butt on nearly every top kid now....and Kansas is in this pool as well. UNC is in there to boot. Also, kids now see they can go to lower schools and get their numbers and still get to the NBA (Ben Simmons, Anthony Edwards, Markelle Fultz, Cade Cunningham will be the next).
3. Now we have the GLeague to compete with for kids that want to get at least a smaller payday.
4. The last thing that is killing Cal is the higher rated kids we are able to land....they are sort of not performing the last few years....Boston, Clarke, Whitney, Keldon Johnson to a degree.....to me this is the #1 issue we have to resolve.
It's a complicated road for sure and Cal has his work cut out. But I'd argue we have to stop with good but not great players leaving so fast and keep a better handle on roster continuity.
2. When Duke went with it....they basically kick our butt on nearly every top kid now....and Kansas is in this pool as well. UNC is in there to boot. Also, kids now see they can go to lower schools and get their numbers and still get to the NBA (Ben Simmons, Anthony Edwards, Markelle Fultz, Cade Cunningham will be the next).
3. Now we have the GLeague to compete with for kids that want to get at least a smaller payday.
4. The last thing that is killing Cal is the higher rated kids we are able to land....they are sort of not performing the last few years....Boston, Clarke, Whitney, Keldon Johnson to a degree.....to me this is the #1 issue we have to resolve.
It's a complicated road for sure and Cal has his work cut out. But I'd argue we have to stop with good but not great players leaving so fast and keep a better handle on roster continuity.
We may be spoiled but if we are, we earned the right to be spoiled.
But the problems with this program are not on the fans. It is on Calipari. He created it and he owns it. He had one of the worst records in over 100 years of Kentucky basketball. Nine Wins. 9
His record at Kentucky is tarnished.
But the problems with this program are not on the fans. It is on Calipari. He created it and he owns it. He had one of the worst records in over 100 years of Kentucky basketball. Nine Wins. 9
His record at Kentucky is tarnished.
You're wrong about those teams being the most fun. Apparently you've forgotten Pitino's 8 years.
I do agree that college basketball is changing and may never be anywhere close to the game I used to love again.
We pay our coach $9 million/year, so ACTUALLY we spoil our coach. So if we are going to support our basketball program BETTER than ANY other fan base in the country, we DESERVE to be spoiled!!
Cal just put together the WORST team in UK Basketball history and it in NO WAY has ANYTHING to do with our fans being spoiled and EVERYTHING to do with Cal!!
Cal just put together the WORST team in UK Basketball history and it in NO WAY has ANYTHING to do with our fans being spoiled and EVERYTHING to do with Cal!!
OP, here’s your answer.
Expecting a FF every other season is spoiled. Wanting to make the tournament and not suck in embarrassing fashion is not spoiled.
WE ARE KENTUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Basketball has been a legacy, a history, an achievement since the actual establishment of college basketball, was the "Winningness" program, has the second most National Championships of any college program, has a national following, the Big Blue Nation, is the main program for the State with a die hard following that holds significant emotions and/or interest, and on and on. The program has the most sophisticated facilities, elite support systems, housing, and one of the highest paid coaches. This again is not spoiled but achieved. Seeing anything less than maintaining that elite status is unacceptable unless you just want to see all that history vanish in the dust.
Being upset with a 9-16 record isn't being spoiled in any way, shape, form or fashion .. Cal's handling of this team, this year and this group of players deserves any question, complaint or criticism that can be leveled at him. He blamed the schedule, covid, the fans, the players(everything except himself for what we saw) Now you tell me again who is spoiled.
No we must pump Cal, it’s never his fault.
We got spoiled early but let’s not pretend anything since 2015 has been great or that this year is in any way acceptable
I'm not demanding he be fired because more than anything we are completely F'd by the buyout on this lifetime contract but hey, if you don't want to be spoiled, go root for Cincinnati or NC State, they have a couple of titles with a lot of failure and humility to go with it. We had exact one losing season before this year in 94 years and that season had the threat of a possible death penalty hanging over the program's head. And that team was better than this one.
THIS, and sorry - the team and staff as well. They want for nothing. Charter Flights, chef meals, nutritionist, doctors, physical therapists, conditioning, tutors, psychologist, facilities, fans and on and on.... so please. MUCH has been invested. The players, I am sure, worked hard to a point - and hey - you cannot in game coach and develop yourself - but complacency has certainly taken root in the coaching staff - and sadly some fans - when the blame game starts and accountability - REAL accountability is not considered.
The staff just needs to evaluate talent better and find the right mix with attitude and skill.
We need some new blood on this staff to change things up.Keep Lucas and dump the dead weight.
Wow..every time I think our fanbase can't be more confused, someone proves me wrong.
Here's the simple breakdown. Cal is the producer of a product. He gets paid handsomely for this endeavor. I would venture a guess that an overwhelming majority of the fans on this board could live in luxury for the rest of their lives on what Cal will make in a year.
The fans are the consumers of said product. In any sane scenario, it's the producers responsibility to create a product that the consumer finds worthy of consuming. It's the consumer's role-some would even say responsibility-to comment on the quality of the product being consumed.
All of us understand it's sports and you don't win them all. By the same token, if you've spent decades building an elite program with the best of resources, and tradition, then it's reasonable to assume some kind of adherence to that standard. The conventional wisdom seems to be, "well it's just one bad year" but the fact is this season was a failure of historical significance, and there's nothing trending to suggest that next year will be better. The fans have every right-some would say responsibility-to demand better.
Here's the simple breakdown. Cal is the producer of a product. He gets paid handsomely for this endeavor. I would venture a guess that an overwhelming majority of the fans on this board could live in luxury for the rest of their lives on what Cal will make in a year.
The fans are the consumers of said product. In any sane scenario, it's the producers responsibility to create a product that the consumer finds worthy of consuming. It's the consumer's role-some would even say responsibility-to comment on the quality of the product being consumed.
All of us understand it's sports and you don't win them all. By the same token, if you've spent decades building an elite program with the best of resources, and tradition, then it's reasonable to assume some kind of adherence to that standard. The conventional wisdom seems to be, "well it's just one bad year" but the fact is this season was a failure of historical significance, and there's nothing trending to suggest that next year will be better. The fans have every right-some would say responsibility-to demand better.
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Like your take Jace, I'd say they need to get more closers or learn how to close. My opinion is it's easier to find a closer who can help improve recruiting than hope that guys who haven't done it all of the sudden figure it out and start getting these things done.
Also the arrogant sales pitch of "we're not for everybody" only works when you are winning and producing in a dominant fashion. Kentucky is rare in that the program has had that level of success from several coaches in different eras, but when you are currently saying that, haven't been to a Final Four since '15, maybe you shouldn't be talking about exclusion with recruits. I'm about competition bringing out best version of a player, selling that angle over "It's not for everyone" and always hated comparing players to past players. Recruit a guy personally and this "You don't shoot 25 balls" nonsense is just that. It's about getting elite players at the level UK aspires to be and recruits. Elite players want to dominate and win. If you are recruiting guys who want to have fun, don't care about winning, then time to talk with Assistants about type of people you are recruiting and what you are seeing when you go watch them play.
Totally agree. Pitino years were like surreal,story book , Camelot .
He did it right . Nothing can take away those memories
Had he stayed we would have more than eleven ncaa titles by now
He did it right . Nothing can take away those memories
Had he stayed we would have more than eleven ncaa titles by now
Spot on. Unsure why some on here want another year of him. Change is not in him. Not even something he considers.
You people will still be selling this crap 365 days from now...When we’re sitting at 18-13 (if we’re lucky).
This X 1,000!!
Being critical of a 9-16 season as fans of the greatest basketball program in college basketball should MOST DEFINITELY be expected. Our UNDYING loyalty and support should NEVER be considered as being "spoiled"!!!
Still Donnie. 9-16. Worst season in UK history. Get Cal's nuts out of your face.
Sometimes I forget too but , my son is 30 and all he can remember is Tubbys later years , BCG, and Calipari.
Again, for the slow. Cal did not “accumulate” talent. Most of his talent was one and done. Do you think Cal would only have one NC if he had AD, Wall, Cuz, KAT and many others if he had them for 3-4 years?
He recruited that much talent then and only won a SINGLE NC. The only one he will win. I’m ready to move onto a coach that can win us another.
Programs that are usually amongst the best every year have a sizable number of spoiled fans. Duke, Kansas, UNC and others are no different than Kentucky in this regard. That's just the way I look at it.