Title Game Thread

[J.Jennings]

I agree, but those guys were transfers and 5th year seniors. That's how Texas Tech built their team.

Good news is Texas Tech may not ever get there again in the next 40 years, Kentucky year in and year out has the ability and potential to play for it all if the stars align, i will take it...

[Joneslab]

I agree, i don't think Virginia is a blueprint to build a team, same with NOVA the past few years. If having a true point guard is the key to success, we all know Cal is going to continue to recruit the next big thing and hand him the keys year in and year out. Sometimes we get lucky with Fox or Wall but other times we fall short. What's sad is that i do think Green would have helped us this year when bad Hagans was off but it's also evident that the team started playing better when Quade left, i think it was a locker room distraction early on and it's a shame the situation didn't work itself out with Green staying on board this year....

Villanova is probably a better model. They did it twice; much more of a pattern. They also didn't need the extraordinary bounces and calls Virginia got.

Plus, Nova had both elite talent that left and elite talent that stuck in the program.

Jalen Brunson has had a very solid rookie year. He was a tremendous college player and when you have a point guard who stays like that, that's how you build a mini-dynasty.

[Dwight Schrute]

I do think Cal needs to switch up something, either convincing guys to stay or shaking up the staff to become the elite recruiters you were a few years ago. Next year could be pretty miserable for the fans, and that lifetime contract will be the subject of a lot of griping.

[KCKUKFan]

I still dont like Tony Bennett, and I dont want him anywhere near Lexington. *shrug*

[J.Jennings]

I do think Cal needs to switch up something, either convincing guys to stay or shaking up the staff to become the elite recruiters you were a few years ago. Next year could be pretty miserable for the fans, and that lifetime contract will be the subject of a lot of griping.

I agree but also feel like if Duke would have won it all, the the sky would have felt like it was falling. Coach K had the supposed best player ever in the history of the game per ESPN and the media with other good players around him and still lost, i have to give Cal a pass in many ways. It's just hard to win a title and things have to go perfect, Championships are precious and very hard to win....

[Joneslab]

I do think Cal needs to switch up something, either convincing guys to stay or shaking up the staff to become the elite recruiters you were a few years ago. Next year could be pretty miserable for the fans, and that lifetime contract will be the subject of a lot of griping.

It could be...but next year could also be pretty special. So much depends on what happens in the next two months.

I'm not a big fan of the lifetime contract thing anyway because this sport is so erratic and so impossible to predict, but particularly in Cal's case where you're seeing a slow degradation of success--I just don't really like it.

But the problem with that whole thing is that you look at the college basketball landscape and you don't really see a worthy successor out there. It isn't like 2009; there isn't a John Calipari who might be available.

I have a friend who kills Cal constantly on Facebook. And we've all heard the "Cal is an awful coach" thing. But the trouble comes in when you start trying to look at somebody who could definitely do it better than Cal has.

There is no question though that if Cal wants to turn back the trend and get Kentucky back to where we were in 2015 then things have to change, at least slightly. Tweaked as it were.

[Catatonic]

If Cal truly started to underperform in real terms, not just our insane expectations, I don't see him sticking around to "cash in" on a lifetime contract. He will move on and do something else.

[Dwight Schrute]

It could be...but next year could also be pretty special. So much depends on what happens in the next two months.

I'm not a big fan of the lifetime contract thing anyway because this sport is so erratic and so impossible to predict, but particularly in Cal's case where you're seeing a slow degradation of success--I just don't really like it.

But the problem with that whole thing is that you look at the college basketball landscape and you don't really see a worthy successor out there. It isn't like 2009; there isn't a John Calipari who might be available.

I have a friend who kills Cal constantly on Facebook. And we've all heard the "Cal is an awful coach" thing. But the trouble comes in when you start trying to look at somebody who could definitely do it better than Cal has.

There is no question though that if Cal wants to turn back the trend and get Kentucky back to where we were in 2015 then things have to change, at least slightly. Tweaked as it were.

I think the lifetime contract thing is a situation where the devil is in the details. Cal's contract already had a massive buyout on UK's part and no penalty if he wants to leave, so if it's just a continuation of that then it's not a big deal. I tend to think he's only going to coach 4-5 more years anyway.

But regarding next year, it depends on who returns. You get some of the Hagans/Herro/Johnson group to return then next year could be amazing. I think Hagans returns, but the other two I'm not sure about.

[Dwight Schrute]

If Cal truly started to underperform in real terms, not just our insane expectations, I don't see him sticking around to "cash in" on a lifetime contract. He will move on and do something else.

I kinda think he'll go when the fans get truly fed up. His ego won't allow him to stick around when he's hated.

[Blue Heaven]

[ralph helm]

The season is over---when is our first exhibition game for the 19-20 season---I know-- it gonna be a long dry spell-- I have enjoyed being on here with you guys this season & look forward to next season. GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!

[TrueblueCATfan]

LMAO...saw this on Facebook yesterday