Rumors circulating about Cal and Texas (UPDATE: Shaka to Marquette)

[Joneslab]

^ And going on with that, there really shouldn't be as much of a divide as there is.

So many Kentucky fans grew up in very similar situations than UK players did. We sometimes think we're so different because of generation gaps and the color of our skin. But I have always believed that socioeconomically, there are so many things average Kentucky fans have in common with the players we root for.

Who is the most "forgotten" person in American society? A case can be made that it's either the young black man or the poor/lower middle class white family from poor states like ours.

[DA#23]

^ I think it’s a lost opportunity for some actual healing. Both for the fans and the people associated with the program. That’s what stinks about not only Covid-19 but also the tours that we used to have with the players going out into the reaches of the state. They got to see first hand who some of these fans were, and more often than not that experience seemed eye opening and endearing.

The disconnect that’s forming and at times seems encouraged by Calipari stinks in the regard. Stop sparring with fans, you’re only hurting the program.

[Joneslab]

^ I think it’s a lost opportunity for some actual healing. Both for the fans and the people associated with the program. That’s what stinks about not only Covid-19 but also the tours that we used to have with the players going out into the reaches of the state. They got to see first hand who some of these fans were, and more often than not that experience seemed eye opening and endearing.

The disconnect that’s forming and at times seems encouraged by Calipari stinks in the regard. Stop sparring with fans, you’re only hurting the program.

I honestly think Cal likes sparring with everybody. He's usually doing it with a little bit of a wink, but sometimes because he's so competitive you can sense an edge. This year that happened quite a bit obviously. Pretty much every press conference.

But whether it's Calhoun or Pitino or Coach K or the college basketball media or sometimes even UK fans, he seems to always be in a little bit of a battle. It seems to be what drives him.

As a coach I sometimes like to see that because the team plays better. UK is at its worst when people start seeing Swaggy Cal and he seems to love everybody.

[40bill]

Anything happening with the basketba
ll program is magnified. The football program marched....along with Mark Stoops. While it wasnt greeted with open arms, it didnt bring the heat. Alabama football did the same with Saban....again, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, not so much heat. And Saban can be as irascible as Calipari on any given minute.

People looking for a trigger to be unhappy with the program dont have to look far. Its a combination of lots of things. One and done, political stands, you name it.
I will always say if this team had been what we thought it might, this would all fade.

Cal likes a tussle apparently. He always has had a big ego that we hated when he was at UMASS and Memphis, but we sure changed when he got here.....with John Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, etc.
We just get to experience it now that things are rolling snake eyes on what he tries.

[40bill]

But back to the op.....Texas would be a good spot for an experienced coach that likes to recruit and can realize that he will be second fiddle to football. And with the kind of money Texas seems to have, they would make that second place feel like a palace. PLUS....more than likely he could go out to eat and eighty percent of the diner wouldnt know who he is.

[lilproUK98]

Kenny Payne staying in NY. For now.

[Blue Heaven]

Kenny Payne staying in NY. For now.

Like our players, I could care less where "our guys" end up. Especially after they have been gone for over a year.

[Jload]

I would debate he hasn't won big in a few years. Had a solid season just last year. Won 30 games two seasons ago.

It depends on how a person defines winning big. We've discussed this, but some folks want to go into hyperbole mode with Cal and say things like he's losing the program, or things are in disrepair or whatever.

The problem with this sort of thinking is that it puts too much pressure on the new guy. Say Cal leaves and a new guy comes in. Wins 25 games his first year. Man, that's awesome. Nope, that's not good enough. Second year he wins 30 games and goes to the Elite Eight. Give us more. And so on.

If 30 wins isn't winning big, God help whoever comes here.

Winning big means not losing at home to the likes of Evansville, not getting humiliated by Duke on national television, not losing 4 out of five to Kansas, 4 out of 6 to Tennessee, losing to Auburn and Texas Tech in the tourney, nit losing to Richmond at home, not having a losing record against ranked teams in the last five years, not even making the tourney twice in a decade. A lot of things about Cal that fans found disagreeable were overlooked when he WAS winning big but not so much when this kind of stuff started happening.

[DA#23]

jload bringing the shotgun to the common sense fight.

[Joneslab]

Winning big means not losing at home to the likes of Evansville, not getting humiliated by Duke on national television, not losing 4 out of five to Kansas, 4 out of 6 to Tennessee, losing to Auburn and Texas Tech in the tourney, nit losing to Richmond at home, not having a losing record against ranked teams in the last five years, not even making the tourney twice in a decade. A lot of things about Cal that fans found disagreeable were overlooked when he WAS winning big but not so much when this kind of stuff started happening.

All true.

As I said, who cares about Cal now? I think my posts here this season have shown that I wouldn't care if the guy leaves tomorrow.

But just for the sake of the next guy, our fans might need to chill a tad. Because some of the things you say here need to be put in context with some of the good things Cal has done, even recently.

That's all I'm saying. It's kind of the way I felt at the end of Tubby Smith's tenure when Kentucky fans were all "The guy can't coach!" or blaming him for virtually everything. I always felt that our fans were running the risk of making the next hire difficult.

I hope that isn't the case because I think Cal might leave sooner rather than later and we'll be at this same crossroads again.

[Catsrock]

All true.

As I said, who cares about Cal now? I think my posts here this season have shown that I wouldn't care if the guy leaves tomorrow.

But just for the sake of the next guy, our fans might need to chill a tad. Because some of the things you say here need to be put in context with some of the good things Cal has done, even recently.

That's all I'm saying. It's kind of the way I felt at the end of Tubby Smith's tenure when Kentucky fans were all "The guy can't coach!" or blaming him for virtually everything. I always felt that our fans were running the risk of making the next hire difficult.

I hope that isn't the case because I think Cal might leave sooner rather than later and we'll be at this same crossroads again.

Even in the best of times with Cal his whole “this ain’t for everybody” schtick has not been a good sell to his successor. He has not only said that in regards to the players. As great as his tenure has been overall he is likely setting us up for a bare cupboard and a tougher than necessary recruit of our next coach when he wraps it up. If one and done were still working well he could step out and another guy could pick it up with one monster class.

But not now. Unless he leaves right away and someone could capitalize on the transfer market and hold onto a couple commits. No guarantees this transfer free for all continues next summer.

Best case scenario Cal could do things a bit differently in regards to hanging onto players and build toward a crescendo in the Wagner year then ride off into the sunset with at least a run at a title.

[Joneslab]

He's definitely setting us up for a bare cupboard but I think if UK made the right hire we could possibly avert disaster.

The trouble is, as we've discussed a thousand times, that hire is really hard to see if you look out across the landscape of basketball. There's hardly anybody out there that screams "Next UK coach," and that's the scary thing. Particularly if this Texas deal turns out to have legs and Barnhart has to hire now.

[Catsrock]

Everyone wants the Grand Slam hire so there’s no drop off from day 1. UK hiring Cal kind of accentuated that desire. That guy may exist. But Mitch would need a crystal ball to figure out who it is. Good thing it’s not up to me to do it. But there are guys out there—among names we’ve discussed and likely others as well—who, given 2 to 4 years would have a stable program that’s relevant each year.

I believe UK is still enough of a name that guys like Oats/Mussellman would absolutely jump at the opportunity if someone like Stevens would not.

[justford]

Thoughts on Kenny Payne being a possible replacement for Cal?

[Catsrock]

Thoughts on Kenny Payne being a possible replacement for Cal?

I’m not totally against it. But as part of the “best case scenario” he would get his feet wet and prove himself somewhat before Cal hangs it up. Great recruiters/assistants don’t always make great head coaches. Joker was a pretty solid OC.

At this point—that timing isn’t working out unless Cal stays longer than a lot of people are anticipating.

Perhaps he’ll be the guy that follows the guy?