Cal on SEC coaches call today

[JFCats22]

From Kyle Tucker - some interesting things here.

"You don’t want to go through a season where you’re never in a close game, because you don’t learn about your team."

Calipari likes that UK has been pushed. “But enough is enough. We’ve had enough of these games now.”

"I believe I have the best team in the country with the best players." Just a few things to work out.

"Have we lost our edge? Have we lost our swagger? Have we lost a little bit of our focus?" If so, what was that edge?

Calipari asked if he's thinking about moving Ulis to first platoon. "No. No. I'm good."

Calipari trying to get through to the Cats: "If you don’t play with desperation and they do, you’re losing."

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/uk-beat/2015/01/12/qa-calipari-says-enough-is-enough-for-uk/21635537/

[UKBoo]

Enough is enough? It would be awesome if Cal could really flip a switch like that. It sounds like he is even trying to figure out what happened. The more I think about it, the more I am certain that this has very little to do with X's and O's or sub patterns, or even hustle from a certain standpoint. What made this team seem unbeatable through the non-conference schedule? Two things come to mind and part of one of those is tangled up with the other. 1: Stifling defense that gave teams nothing. 2: getting 10 guys to play for each other and play as a team, no matter who was on the floor. And that type of play contributed greatly to the stifling defense. Back then the biggest worry was whether we could continue the three point shooting streak.

If they get back to playing for each other on both ends, and focus on giving up nothing on defense, they will get their swag back.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Cal will get them back into their swag...I have no doubt about it

[GOCAT15]

The ONLY way this teams win a national championship is if they play defense like they did against KU, Texas, and Louisville.

[Matt Dillon]

The ONLY way this teams win a national championship is if they play defense like they did against KU, Texas, and Louisville.

Well said.

[KevinHall]

The ONLY way this teams win a national championship is if they play defense like they did against KU, Texas, and Louisville.

I agree. They just don't enough consistent offensive weapons to be able to take a step back on defense like they have these first two games of the SEC. If Cal can't get back the tenacity we saw in November and December we will not see a national championship this season. They will have a flame out in the NCAA's very similar to what happened in 2010.

[ukwebfan]

If they lost the emotional edge and spark plug in the effort department, it may not be easy to fix if Alex was the guy that brought it. Someone or several someones might need to provide that spark or that edge. A refocused and energetic WCS or KAT would help. Finishers would also.

[Pobilly]

I will wait a few more games before figuring out what it will take for this team to win a SHIP. We all know Defense wins Ships. I just hope they figure out how to play against a zone if not then they will be in for some hard games.

[justford]

I will wait a few more games before figuring out what it will take for this team to win a SHIP. We all know Defense wins Ships. I just hope they figure out how to play against a zone if not then they will be in for some hard games.

Start by letting Booker have more shots.

[Joneslab]

If they lost the emotional edge and spark plug in the effort department, it may not be easy to fix if Alex was the guy that brought it.

I liked Poythress but I never really saw him as a high-energy player. He played hard in spurts, but throughout his career he's been a guy who drifts a lot. The beginning of this season had followed a similar pattern--spurts of crazy good play followed by times when he really wasn't doing much.

I think the loss of Poythress hurts when you have a guy like Danuel House, who he could've contained the other day. But I don't think he's to blame for the teamwide energy drop. They did fine against UNC, UCLA, and UofL in that department IMO without him. I think what we've seen in the SEC is a combination of coaches finding a weakness in Kentucky and just a teamwide malaise. I look for them to get their second wind--but it may take a loss to get them there.

[Lighthouse]

I agree with Will's post, and winning close games may not be enough to get that swagger back. I don't want them to lose, but I expect them to.

[GOCAT15]

It really seems that this team just doesn't get energized unless it is a "big" game in their mind. All they have heard from the pundits is that this is such a talented team they are just going to be able to walk through the SEC. Those games against KU, Texas, and UL they played like it was the last game of the year. I can see how it is hard to come out every game with that type of energy. Of course I hope they start playing better because if they do they can beat any team in the SEC, but I see them losing one or two just because they have a bad night. But when the tournament rolls around and the stage is greater that's when I hope they turn back into the defensive monster that they can be.

[Spiritof96]

Cal's teams always seem to go through a phase where they are learning / experimenting and don't play with a lot of instinct, fluidity, and cohesiveness. It always comes off as malaise but I don't think that is what is going on. I generally chalk it up to a symptom their learning process.

[Joneslab]

Cal's teams always seem to go through a phase where they are learning / experimenting and don't play with a lot of instinct, fluidity, and cohesiveness. It always comes off as malaise but I don't think that is what is going on. I generally chalk it up to a symptom their learning process.

All college basketball teams do this. It's a symptom of coaching 18- to 20-year-olds.

The good news is that they don't seem to be affected by disaster the way fans are. Fans lose their minds and want to cancel the season. Players tend to shrug it off and come back out the next night and a lot of times--not always--turn it around.

We just don't notice these things because we myopically focus on Kentucky. But if you watch a lot of college basketball you realize that no team is immune to the swoon. The good teams usually find a way to win when they're going through those patches.