UT @ UK game thread

[Matt Dillon]

I don't want Cal to be Bob Knight. But in my day attitude was not handled like that.

I agree, Catsrock. If one of coach Rupp or coach Hall's players had said that to them, that player would have been told to go clean out their locker.

[KCKUKFan]

Kids today are different than kids in the 60s, 70s, 80s.

You can bemoan the fact all you want, but it's different. John Calipari is a master at working with high profile kids, and making them happy while always being fair and doing what's best for the team.

He's handling this situation the same way, I'm sure. The media and the fanbase isn't owed any in depth explanation.

[Joneslab]

I agree, Catsrock. If one of coach Rupp or coach Hall's players had said that to them, that player would have been told to go clean out their locker.

Roger Harden said the other day on the radio that he had refused to go into a game once.

I don't know what the best way is with Hagans, because we don't know enough about the team behind the scenes. We don't know if Hagans was perfect up until that moment and he had a blow-up, or he's been a problem all year. There's so much we can't know about the situation.

As discussed above, people have noted that there were weird things about Cal the other night as well. I've thought Calipari has been too emotional with this team all year. Screaming non-stop, coaching every possession in an attempt to micro-manage each possession, etc. I've said on here for weeks that I thought he needed to chill out a little.

But we have a better record than I thought we would, so it's still working. It didn't work Tuesday night.

One thing Cal is pretty good at doing is not over-reacting to situations after the fact. There are things that have happened in the past where I've thought the player needed to be benched--usually over poor play--but Cal has methodically stuck with him, and it usually ends up paying off in the end. We better hope that's the case with Hagans because we really need him to make any semblance of a run.

[KCKUKFan]

This team doesnt have enough players to bench Hagans. Tomorrows game is too important for seeding purposes.

[JFCats22]

As discussed above, people have noted that there were weird things about Cal the other night as well. I've thought Calipari has been too emotional with this team all year. Screaming non-stop, coaching every possession in an attempt to micro-manage each possession, etc. I've said on here for weeks that I thought he needed to chill out a little.

But we have a better record than I thought we would, so it's still working. It didn't work Tuesday night.

One thing Cal is pretty good at doing is not over-reacting to situations after the fact. There are things that have happened in the past where I've thought the player needed to be benched--usually over poor play--but Cal has methodically stuck with him, and it usually ends up paying off in the end. We better hope that's the case with Hagans because we really need him to make any semblance of a run.

I posted this after the Miss St game....I still think it is true. I think the UT loss and Hagans' issue brought all of this back to the forefront.

Re: Cal and his yelling. I recently spoke to someone in Lexington close to the program. He said Cal has been working on this very thing. However, he also said he is told that this is the most frustrating and discouraging season for Cal since he has been at UK. From the recruiting misses to the ugly losses to Whitney leaving plus the down year in college basketball it has been a "disappointment and is wearing on him".

[Joneslab]

I'm really not sure how the team could possibly be a disappointment.

They've far exceeded almost everyone's expectations. If you would've told me in December they'd be sitting here with 6 total losses and an SEC championship in hand on March 6th I would've laughed in your face.

Of course, Cal may be seeing "disappointment" in a much more specific way. Who knows how Whitney's transfer could've impacted him. To the team I don't think that mattered a whole lot because, let's face it, Whitney was way behind. But to Cal that's a human being. That may be where he's going there.

But I can't imagine he would see this team as a disappointment on the court. They've been anything but.

And honestly, he's screamed non-stop at other teams so this isn't the first year I've seen him do that.

[Dwight Schrute]

Yeah, I can't see how anyone could be disappointed in the team considering where they were in November. Losing Whitney sucks - simply because it seems like he made a poor decision and you hate to see a kid make those kinds of decisions.

But I said this last weekend in the Auburn game thread - if you'd told me that they'd lock up the league title by 3 games with 2 games left in the season, I'd have been ecstatic. I thought this was going to be a 12-6 or 13-5 at best type of year.

[40bill]

Roger Harden said the other day on the radio that he had refused to go into a game once.

I don't know what the best way is with Hagans, because we don't know enough about the team behind the scenes. We don't know if Hagans was perfect up until that moment and he had a blow-up, or he's been a problem all year. There's so much we can't know about the situation.

As discussed above, people have noted that there were weird things about Cal the other night as well. I've thought Calipari has been too emotional with this team all year. Screaming non-stop, coaching every possession in an attempt to micro-manage each possession, etc. I've said on here for weeks that I thought he needed to chill out a little.

But we have a better record than I thought we would, so it's still working. It didn't work Tuesday night.

One thing Cal is pretty good at doing is not over-reacting to situations after the fact. There are things that have happened in the past where I've thought the player needed to be benched--usually over poor play--but Cal has methodically stuck with him, and it usually ends up paying off in the end. We better hope that's the case with Hagans because we really need him to make any semblance of a run.

lol....yeah....i imagine ONCE is all it took. Roger was usually the third or fourth guard on the team until last of his junior then senior year...and still didnt lead the team in minutes at the guard slot.

Look, I'll admit that I can no more stand a kid torpedoing a game because of SOMEthing any more than I can stand a coach throwing a player under the bus. BUT.....since about February last year, Ashton Hagans has been a puzzle. Now....some players get input from draft 'experts' whether they are NBA or well meaning friends and family and end up ruining their game. Bogans ALMOST did that....working more on HIS game that the team needs. Im just throwing that out there.

Truth be told, the team is too shallow to lose Hagans on suspension. Truth also is the better the team does the better his draft stock will likely look. I can speculate about Hagans all day. Means nothing.
DeCourcy said in an interview he was just going to throw the Tennessee game away as just another game that pops up now and then....bad spot on a good run. UK didnt get to the line with Hagans, Quickley and Richards in the last four minutes like they had done. Couldnt hit a clutch three or grab a rebound or two when needed.

Now....if they come out tomorrow and play like the second half of the Tennessee game.....

well, I really like college football and it may be time to watch some videos from last year for entertainment.

[40bill]

I agree, Catsrock. If one of coach Rupp or coach Hall's players had said that to them, that player would have been told to go clean out their locker.

Lol...two friends and I took our yearly trip to Louisville long ago and far away to watch the Kentucky Notre Dame game. the Irish were undefeated. We got there to find out Dwight Anderson had been put oft the team altogether, Sam Bowie and Dirk Minniefield were suspended that game for violation of team rule. Very disappointing until the Cats won by six.

Yeah....times were different. Better ???? nah, but definitely different.

[teamchemistry15]

Because it makes absolutely zero sense to stop doing something that gets you a big lead and start doing something that every game makes the lead disappear.

We blew a 14 point lead against USC and a 17 point lead last night. We blew significant leads in the NCAAT the last two seasons.

If it works more than 90% of the time it makes a little more sense than zero.

[teamchemistry15]

Yeah, I can't see how anyone could be disappointed in the team considering where they were in November. Losing Whitney sucks - simply because it seems like he made a poor decision and you hate to see a kid make those kinds of decisions.

But I said this last weekend in the Auburn game thread - if you'd told me that they'd lock up the league title by 3 games with 2 games left in the season, I'd have been ecstatic. I thought this was going to be a 12-6 or 13-5 at best type of year.

Agreed. If a top ten team playing it's best basketball towards the end of the year is disappointing then we might have some fans who keep their expectations too high. Especially after the first month of the season.