Who Goes, Who Stays: 2021 Edition

[KCKUKFan]

I don’t think Cal CARES wether the fan base goes ballistic or not. He has made it abundantly clear by statement and action this year what he thinks of our fans. I believe Cal will try and construct next years team on the same principles and parameters he ALWAYS has. If people would listen to what he says it’s obvious he believes this year is a freak anomaly mostly caused by COVID , his other most common rationalization has been the PLAYERS haven’t bought into his system. Not once have I ever heard him give any credence to the idea that HE or his coaching methods might need adjusting. I keep hearing guys on here say we love Cal but he has to make some changes. What has he SAID or Done that would indicate he feels the need to do so. Our program is so screwed and I will say again as I have many times I CAN’T WAIT TILL He Is GONE.

We are one season removed from a 30-6 record and winning the SEC by four games. The postseason will forever remain a what if, but we certainly had a team to compete.

The year before that we were one point and an OT away from the Final Four.

Certainly, this season scuttled a lot of good will for Cal. It was completely unacceptable, and he should answer some big questions going forward.

But the program is not "screwed." Hyperbole.

[KCKUKFan]

Two thoughts, if Allen comes back, after the way Cal has treated him this season, I won't know what to think about him. There will be lots of talented, proven players in the transfer portal. If Cal doesn't use this to regroup, I won't know what to think about him.

I say this with all due respect, but you really have no idea how Cal "treated" him this year. You're going 100% off the erratic playing time. The truth is that Allen was a redshirt freshmen who had as many games where he was completely lost on both sides of the court as he did hot.

[Joneslab]

We are one season removed from a 30-6 record and winning the SEC by four games. The postseason will forever remain a what if, but we certainly had a team to compete.

The year before that we were one point and an OT away from the Final Four.

Certainly, this season scuttled a lot of good will for Cal. It was completely unacceptable, and he should answer some big questions going forward.

But the program is not "screwed." Hyperbole.

Yeah, the program is not in the crapper.

But I do agree that when you go through the worst season in modern history there have to be some hard questions.

Cal said way back at the beginning that he didn't want to be one of these coaches who just lingers on well past his welcome. I think that was one of the quotes from the original press conference. He isn't there yet but this season could definitely be seen as a worrying sign--if indeed what's happening is burn-out.

[KCKUKFan]

Yeah, the program is not in the crapper.

But I do agree that when you go through the worst season in modern history there have to be some hard questions.

Cal said way back at the beginning that he didn't want to be one of these coaches who just lingers on well past his welcome. I think that was one of the quotes from the original press conference. He isn't there yet but this season could definitely be seen as a worrying sign--if indeed what's happening is burn-out.

Next season will tell the tale.

He obviously feels like there is still gas in the tank, or he would walk away.

[Los Gatos]

Question: How many scholarship spots...13? Or is it 15? Some possibly will get squeezed out because of the incoming class (and WVU transfer) too so its going to be interesting to see who comes back. I know who SHOULD! Gonna be interesting to see how Cal builds 21/22 team because players in the transfer portal will be immediately eligible and we need shooting! Cal knows he can't put the same blend of players he had next season without BBN going ballistic! Gotta have a balance-athleticism, shooting, scoring, defense/shot blocker. Toughness!

13 scholarships.

[Joneslab]

Next season will tell the tale.

He obviously feels like there is still gas in the tank, or he would walk away.

There definitely needs to be some self-reflection though. And not just about whether he still has fire, but about whether his system works.

And that's both the one-and-done thing and the philosophy on the court.

Re: the one-and-done thing, I really think that has run its course. I don't think it can work anymore now that players are going everywhere. He has to adjust and he hasn't yet. There's still time, but the last three or four years we've been in desperation mode very late in the recruiting season. That looks like it'll probably happen again this year. That shouldn't be happening.

And with the on-court stuff, Kentucky looked very sloppy this year. Part of that was not having a capable point guard, but Cal was also trying to square-peg/round-hole stuff all season long. A lot of times it was basically just the "Dribble down, throw it to Jackson and Sarr, then kick it out" offense. And regarding player development, the stuff we saw at the beginning stuck all year long, the most glaring thing being B.J. Boston's inability to play strong. That comes back a little to coaching.

These guys didn't look coached up, and when that happens you've got to start asking whether you're doing something wrong. It's hard for people making millions upon millions of dollars to do that though. Many coaches simply refuse and keep trying to do it the old way.

[JFCats22]

Two thoughts, if Allen comes back, after the way Cal has treated him this season, I won't know what to think about him. There will be lots of talented, proven players in the transfer portal. If Cal doesn't use this to regroup, I won't know what to think about him.

People keep saying things like this, "How Cal treated him". Do people think Cal whipped him with a belt or something? You (BBN collectively) have ZERO idea how Cal treats any of the players.

[Joneslab]

There was the one crazy game where Cal kept Allen on the bench when we needed a three at the end. Thought that was nuts.

I do think there was probably some wounded pride on Cal's part. Because the fans proved to be right about Allen. He might not have played if not for the fact that some of the guys in front of him couldn't shoot and the Transy game. Cal got shown up a little there.

As the season went on I though Allen got exposed a little defensively. Plus Boston started to shoot it better. So I didn't have a problem with him not seeing much time through that stretch.

But overall I do think Cal made some mistakes, and some of his postgame comments about Allen's defense should've been put in his back pocket.

It wasn't horrible really but it all is part of this whole deal where Cal flubbed so many PR things this year. The guy just did not have a good feel for this team all the way around.

[KCKUKFan]

People keep saying things like this, "How Cal treated him". Do people think Cal whipped him with a belt or something? You (BBN collectively) have ZERO idea how Cal treats any of the players.

With this, I agree with you 100%.

[Dwight Schrute]

Drew Franklin on KSR summed up my thoughts on Dontaie Allen about as well and I find myself agreeing with almost every word.

Everyone stand up and applaud Dontaie Allen for again going off against Mississippi State. If not for Allen’s six 3-pointers, Kentucky doesn’t even have a shot down the stretch. He and Mintz kept Kentucky alive with outside shooting, and fans can’t help but wonder what could’ve been if Allen had been given more opportunities earlier in the year.

Does he have plenty of weaknesses? Yes. Did he play poorly in his limited action in several games? Definitely. But Dontaie Allen played 30 minutes only twice all year, and scored 23 points both times. BJ Boston (who I think could’ve played well with Allen) averaged 30 minutes per game and never got 23 points in a game all season. Devin Askew averaged 30 minutes per game and never scored 15. You will never convince me that giving Allen some of their minutes (just some minutes) wasn’t best for everyone. But every time Allen gave up two points or passed up an open look, we heard about it in a press conference like he was the only one making mistakes. The entire team made mistakes. Everyone was flawed all year.

Other players on the team were given opportunity after opportunity when they too were giving up baskets or missing shots or playing losing basketball. If Allen had been given just a little bit more of a chance to get in a rhythm and play through some of his deficiencies, of which he has plenty, I’m of the belief the season would’ve been a little better (not great, but better than it was) and the fan base wouldn’t be as upset over the obvious favoritism against one of our own.

Maybe I’m an idiot and he wouldn’t have improved at all, but is that any worse than what we saw game after game after game from a nine-win team? He had the backcourt’s two highest scoring games all year, and played the least amount of minutes of the group.

It’s only fitting the season ended with him going off to prove he deserved more. I guess we’ll never know what he could’ve become if he hadn’t been benched for other players’ potential that never came to fruition.

I didn’t mean to end this with a Dontaie Allen rant, but there it is.

Now let’s go enjoy life away from the stresses of this season and Kentucky losing to Mississippi State, the tournament’s No. 9 seed, in the noon Thursday game of the SEC Tournament.

https://kentuckysportsradio.com/bask...on-basketball/

[Dwight Schrute]

People keep saying things like this, "How Cal treated him". Do people think Cal whipped him with a belt or something? You (BBN collectively) have ZERO idea how Cal treats any of the players.

I never heard Cal talk down any other guy in the press the way he did Dontaie Allen. None of us know what went on behind the scenes, but we don't need to. I've seen enough publicly to know that there's a double standard here.

[Joneslab]

I think Cal saw how the fanbase was treating Boston and holding Allen up as a kind of homegrown martyr and I believe Cal tried to protect Boston. Probably too much.

[Dwight Schrute]

I think Cal saw how the fanbase was treating Boston and holding Allen up as a kind of homegrown martyr and I believe Cal tried to protect Boston. Probably too much.

Probably, but it kinda goes back to Cal viewing the fanbase as the enemy. The whole thing is just nonsense and I don't blame Allen for leaving.

[DA#23]

I never heard Cal talk down any other guy in the press the way he did Dontaie Allen. None of us know what went on behind the scenes, but we don't need to. I've seen enough publicly to know that there's a double standard here.

Same thoughts here, there absolutely is a little bit of a tiff going on between Calipari and the vocal part of the fanbase. Dontaie Allen unfortunately became on of the proverbial chips in that game, and Calipari making comments about him were nothing more than "I told you so" middle fingers to the fanbase.

He had a sterling record of not throwing guys under the bus, but lately that has gone to the wayside. With Dontaie Allen (and Reed Sheppard, too) the gloves have come off. It's difficult to deny this.

[DA#23]

I think Cal saw how the fanbase was treating Boston

Here's where the fanbase can be its own worst enemy, and to an extent I can understand Calipari getting peeved about it. The right way to respond is to address it head-on, results be damned, and the wrong way is to take it out on one of your other guys.

He treated Dontaie Allen wrongly on this front. Crazzed's comment about whipping him with a belt is simply stupid.