OSU/UK in Vegas game thread

[Catsrock]

I think you quoted the wrong poster. JFCats22 wasn't asking for Cal to leave or retire, that was Jload. I agree Cal needs to make some changes, especially begin to pay some attention to kids who are not only shooters, but those who hit shots, and Big Strong inside players. I sure don't want Cal to leave because he is good for our program. One thing I wonder some times. Would Cal be as good of a coach if he had 4 year players instead of one and done's?

Cal did fine working with 3 & 4 year players at UMass and Memphis. It's what got him his shot here. Camby stayed 2 years, Rose just one but most were around a while. The day he arrived at UK was the day a Daniel Orton should play 5 minutes a game, score 2 points then go pro. I don't know why it had to play out that way. He could help kids reach their dreams without shoving them out the door.

We were in position to get 3 or 4 top kids every year and let the others grow into contributors but instead we got "the best day in our program's history." And so far 1 title out of all the talent. Hopefully more to come but who knows.

And yes I have been and am a Cal supporter. Just don't get why this change when he got here. We could have more.

[catfaninin]

WHO??? Who would you want that you believe is so much better all around than Cal???? I complain, belly-ache, get PO'ed and yell at the TV like anyone but there is no way I want Cal gone. There's not a coach out there that I would want other than maybe Brad Stevens. Although I have to admit - Cronin is doing a great job at UL with what he came into but I don't think he's anything overly special or that much better than Cal.

As people has stated - this is the best decade that I can recall ever in UK basketball... KC stated some great points. I love the culture he's brought. I love the number of UK players that are in the NBA and having success. I love that kids want to come to UK and try to get to the NBA... That's the whole point of college isn't it? It's to get kids prepared for their profession. However - sure I wished he would sometimes do some things different in games offensively and defensively as well as recruiting. I don't want him recruiting lesser talent. I want him recruiting more talent, more needs. I love this Freshman from Oak Hill that ended up going to Illinois of all schools (Kofi ****************burn). He's 7' and 290lbs. He's was ranked 46 in the nation. Guy is a load and is averaging 15pts a game. UK didn't even look at him? How can you not - you came into the year with Richards and EJ. You play in a physical SEC conference. This guy would have been a great addition. But instead - there are 5 or 6 small white guys on the end of the bench that will never play. That to me is all on Cal and is totally unacceptable. Little things like that is what needs to change.

Cronin is doing a great job at UL???

[Ratt]

Cronin is doing a great job at UL???

Yeah - I think he's doing a good job with what he walked into - a program that was starting to get into shambles.... I agree about Cal though - I don't see him changing many of his coaching ways and people can wish he was gone... I have this feeling that they will be regretting when that day comes.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah - I think he's doing a good job with what he walked into - a program that was starting to get into shambles.... I agree about Cal though - I don't see him changing many of his coaching ways and people can wish he was gone... I have this feeling that they will be regretting when that day comes.

I believe catfaninin was pointing out that the Cards coach is Chris Mack.

[Joneslab]

I expected this team to have problems back in the summer so this doesn't surprise me.

Thought we'd be a little better simply because I thought Whitney would be way better and Montgomery would have improved, but I'm not really floored by what's happened. This isn't a UK-caliber roster. It's what happens when the one-and-done thing goes off the rails, basically.

This could be a season where Calipari gets the old "herniated disc" and we see Payne take over for a few games late in the year.

It also could be salvaged in some ways. Kentucky will have to fight to be an NCAA Tournament team but it's not like the SEC is a murderer's row. Beat UofL somehow and then lose 4 or 5 games in league play and we should be a tournament team. However if you lose to UofL Kentucky will probably have to go through with only a couple of losses in SEC play--which isn't going to happen obviously.

Just a rough team all the way around. When you can't shoot AND you have a tissue-paper soft frontcourt that's kind of a double whammy in the sport of basketball.

[Matt Dillon]

Are you going to do a Good, Bad and Ugly on the OSU game, Will?

[Joneslab]

Are you going to do a Good, Bad and Ugly on the OSU game, Will?

Probably not now that a couple days have passed. Plus, it's Christmas and I'm sure people have better things to do than read about that awful game.

I've been out of town in eastern Kentucky with my son's basketball team and haven't really had time to think about the Cats the last few days--and that's not a bad thing given how sketchy Kentucky is this year. The good news is that he was able to play at my alma mater on the same court I played on in high school. The bad news is that his Louisville team played my alma mater yesterday and he picked up three fouls in the first quarter (!) and had to sit for most of the game. There's the ugly for the week.

[Blue Heaven]

First, as far as I can see, you are alone on this site so why bring it up?

He isn't alone.

[Catsrock]

Probably not now that a couple days have passed. Plus, it's Christmas and I'm sure people have better things to do than read about that awful game.

I've been out of town in eastern Kentucky with my son's basketball team and haven't really had time to think about the Cats the last few days--and that's not a bad thing given how sketchy Kentucky is this year. The good news is that he was able to play at my alma mater on the same court I played on in high school. The bad news is that his Louisville team played my alma mater yesterday and he picked up three fouls in the first quarter (!) and had to sit for most of the game. There's the ugly for the week.

Sounds like young Lavender is aggressive, Will. I'm still trying to convince my 7th and my 5th grade sons that fouls are not always bad. Rarely should they finish a game with zero fouls. And certainly not if the other team made any layups while they were on the floor.

[Lighthouse]

Well tell me Lighthouse is this a site where we discuss UK basketball or is it something else. Heck man if you don’t like my opinions and wish I would shut up just come out and say so,it will not be the first time someone didn’t like what I had to say I will say however I find nothing in the site guidelines that say posts are subject to Lighthouse approval

You know better than that, and you're welcome to post your opinion anytime no matter what it is. I was simply suggesting that when you post something that earns the responses you received from the one we're talking about, you might want to let it alone. GO CATS!!!

[85 Fly]

Ladies & Gentlemen (more gents and just a few of us ladies in this forum, but that's ok-Lol): I love hearing ALL sides/opinions, venting frustrations, statements that make me laugh/ smile when "live game thread" comments are posted whether good or bad. WCN we are family and what we ALL have in common is our CATS!!! This is our safe haven to say what we feel without tearing each other down; and for those who need to take a break from the forum and/or the team, take a break...we can agree to disagree and that's ok because when its all said and done we want what's best for our team.
Merry Christmas to my WCN family...see some of you back on the 28th. #BBN4LIFE

[Joneslab]

Sounds like young Lavender is aggressive, Will. I'm still trying to convince my 7th and my 5th grade sons that fouls are not always bad. Rarely should they finish a game with zero fouls. And certainly not if the other team made any layups while they were on the floor.

Well, there's "aggressive" and then there's silly. I think three fouls in about three minutes of game time--in the first quarter, no less--is more of the latter.

We also played one of my old nemeses, Wayne Co., down there. Wayne used to absolutely pummel my teams to the point where we would essentially weep in the locker room after the game. If we could somehow get it into the 40-point range we felt pretty good about ourselves.

My son's team fared much better, and led the game for the entire first half. Then they received two technical fouls about two minutes apart for "language" and the game got away them. Lost by 12 or 14 but it was a much closer game.

I would assume Lighthouse would disagree, but I'm not sure officials should be policing language unless it's taunting. And if you are going to police it, seems like a warning might be better than going right to a T.

I just don't think refs should be in the business of morally making judgments on the game unless those judgments have an effect on how the game is played. And these two instances did not. In one, our kid got a T for saying "damnit."

In another game, one of our kids was called the n-word by a player after a hard foul where he got fouled and the kid jumped up in his face. The kid didn't seem overly concerned but I was embarrassed because it was my hometown. (We were not playing my home school, however.)

[Catsrock]

Well, there's "aggressive" and then there's silly. I think three fouls in about three minutes of game time--in the first quarter, no less--is more of the latter.

We also played one of my old nemeses, Wayne Co., down there. Wayne used to absolutely pummel my teams to the point where we would essentially weep in the locker room after the game. If we could somehow get it into the 40-point range we felt pretty good about ourselves.

My son's team fared much better, and led the game for the entire first half. Then they received two technical fouls about two minutes apart for "language" and the game got away them. Lost by 12 or 14 but it was a much closer game.

I would assume Lighthouse would disagree, but I'm not sure officials should be policing language unless it's taunting. And if you are going to police it, seems like a warning might be better than going right to a T.

I just don't think refs should be in the business of morally making judgments on the game unless those judgments have an effect on how the game is played. And these two instances did not. In one, our kid got a T for saying "damnit."

In another game, one of our kids was called the n-word by a player after a hard foul where he got fouled and the kid jumped up in his face. The kid didn't seem overly concerned but I was embarrassed because it was my hometown. (We were not playing my home school, however.)

So your boy is aggressive AND he watched Nick against Ohio St. 😜

I'm from rural KY as well. Ignorance and hatred will always exist. Hopefully a little less with each generation. I've been embarrassed by it before as well.

[Lighthouse]

Well, there's "aggressive" and then there's silly. I think three fouls in about three minutes of game time--in the first quarter, no less--is more of the latter.

We also played one of my old nemeses, Wayne Co., down there. Wayne used to absolutely pummel my teams to the point where we would essentially weep in the locker room after the game. If we could somehow get it into the 40-point range we felt pretty good about ourselves.

My son's team fared much better, and led the game for the entire first half. Then they received two technical fouls about two minutes apart for "language" and the game got away them. Lost by 12 or 14 but it was a much closer game.

I would assume Lighthouse would disagree, but I'm not sure officials should be policing language unless it's taunting. And if you are going to police it, seems like a warning might be better than going right to a T.

I just don't think refs should be in the business of morally making judgments on the game unless those judgments have an effect on how the game is played. And these two instances did not. In one, our kid got a T for saying "damnit."

In another game, one of our kids was called the n-word by a player after a hard foul where he got fouled and the kid jumped up in his face. The kid didn't seem overly concerned but I was embarrassed because it was my hometown. (We were not playing my home school, however.)

While I'm not disagreeing, I will let you know how the officials have been instructed to call the issue of language by the KHSAA, and I'll post the rule.

The officials are instructed to cover the language issue during the pre-game meeting with the captains and coaches. That serves as the warning. However I've witnessed officials go up to a player and talk to them after a bad word is heard, and if it's heard again, a T is called. They do not have to do this. Here is the rule.

b. Using profanity or vulgarity; taunting, baiting or ridiculing another player or bench personnel; pointing a finger at or making obscene gestures toward another player or bench personnel, or using derogatory remarks or personal comments during the game relating to race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

At the KOB this past week, there was a decent team from Ohio. They only had 9 players, and because of ignorance and language, they finished their first game with 3 eligible players. 6 fouled out and the coach had 1 T. The profanity from the bench and the players was awful and it was penalized. I think 3 or 4 T's were called on players, all because of language.

[Joneslab]

While I'm not disagreeing, I will let you know how the officials have been instructed to call the issue of language by the KHSAA, and I'll post the rule.

This is what I assumed.

It's a tricky issue to be sure. Officials are often criticized for "letting the game get out of hand." Profanity can do that if it's aimed from one player toward another, or from a player toward official(s).

But I never played in a game where I didn't hear some language. Often it's the players talking to themselves.

I'm more a fan of warnings than refs going straight to the technical, and that's not just for language. Sometimes they seem to want to assert their hand in the game a bit too much. You probably see this with certain personality types or whatever.

All in all it wasn't a terrible weekend as far as the officiating goes. One thing is obvious is that Louisville teams play way different than eastern KY teams. My son's team presses all over the place and they called a lot of fouls that seem to be let go in city play.