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

[Dwight Schrute]

I disagree. The Zion team sort've limped into March; they lost in the ACC tournament, and should've lost to South Florida in the S16 (if I remember correctly).

Kentucky got much better over the course of that year, and was playing very good basketball in March. We lost to a hot Auburn team in EE, but I still think we win that game 8 times out of 10.

Yeah, they stumbled because Zion got hurt.

We lost all our momentum once Reid Travis got hurt and then PJ Washington got hurt. Both fully healthy, Duke had way better players than we did.

[DA#23]

I disagree. The Zion team sort've limped into March; they lost in the ACC tournament, and should've lost to South Florida in the S16 (if I remember correctly).

Kentucky got much better over the course of that year, and was playing very good basketball in March.

In my heart I want to say we would've won the game, but I think it would come down to which version of Hagans showed up.

[KCKUKFan]

Yeah, they stumbled because Zion got hurt.

That, and they were a wildly inconsistent shooting team. Like insanely streaky. They were a lot like 09 Kentucky: insane level of skill and natural talent, super athletic, and when they were hot they would cream you. But every once in awhile, they would throw up shooting clunkers. Reddish and those guys did it more than a few times after the Zion ankle thing.

[Dwight Schrute]

In my heart I want to say we would've won the game, but I think it would come down to which version of Hagans showed up.

I dunno, we were better but they beat us by like 35 or something in November. That's a lotta ground to make up.

[Dwight Schrute]

That, and they were a wildly inconsistent shooting team. Like insanely streaky. They were a lot like 09 Kentucky: insane level of skill and natural talent, super athletic, and when they were hot they would cream you. But every once in awhile, they would throw up shooting clunkers. Reddish and those guys did it more than a few times after the Zion ankle thing.

Yeah but so were we. We barely made it out of the Sweet 16 just like they did.

[Joneslab]

We weren't quite on that level. That team was at 30% from three, which is danger time. There were thoughts all year that that might end up biting them.

KC is right that they were more like the '09/'10 UK team. I always had a worry with that bunch that they would have a game like they did against West Virginia. Clankers all over the place.

[George]

By the end of that season, P.J. was playing better than anyone not named Zion. If we’d been healthy and Hagans could’ve kept his turnovers down, we could’ve beaten anyone.

[40bill]

Basketball is a game of what ifs. If Bogans hadnt got hurt before we ran into Marquette.....I think that was Tubbys best coached year. Hit one more shot against Auburn. PJ shooting at least average from the line against KState. Lots of what ifs.
A really great coach still has to get the players he wants for his system. Wooden era John and the money were the only game west of the Mississippi. Rupp got most of who he wanted...different times.
Calipari is not getting the kids he wants for the system he favors. Just isnt. When you tell kids (and I dont care if they are innercity or come from a cow town) that you can get them to the big leagues QUICK....
they dont think four years is quick. As hard as many of these guys have worked while they were here, they really didnt want to be at College in Lexington. They were paying the penalty for their age.


What Will has said is true....Calipari HAS been very successful. VERY. Someone mentioned if Duke was wanting to run K off.....doubt it.....but Ive never heard his call in show....does he belittle the fan base or antagonize them? UK is a unique place....and maybe insane as well ...when it comes to basketball. For many it is THE game....no pro teams around, and for years the only successful program in the state.
It comes with a lot of pressure and a lot of expectations. A younger Calipari could have taken this season, shrugged and said "wait until you see whats next"....after this many years, this one????
I hope he can. I really do. I hope he can adjust, refigure, recruit a different style, adapt to the talent he gets.

Big order. Or go to Texas that has scads of basketball players in state and really has time to produce.
Best of luck to him.
As for a new coach.....I never dreamed Pitino would be as successful as he was. Then again, I thought Gillispie would have been better than he was. I also never had a clue Eddie Sutton would turn out like he did.
Kentucky basketball will be fine after a time. We will just have to see.

[Joneslab]

Someone mentioned if Duke was wanting to run K off.....doubt it.....but Ive never heard his call in show....does he belittle the fan base or antagonize them? .

Not sure but there was that situation from this past season that went viral where he belittled a student reporter after a loss.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/coach-k-duke-student-reporter/sx3vex71gxe91hghf7pl1dkld

Coach K and Cal are suddenly have a very hard time. I don't think it's a coincidence that it happened to both of them this year, where having old teams is more important than ever. Some of these Elite Eight teams are crazy old.

[DA#23]

This is where I had a really big problem with the “transfer portal”. There is a potential for it to turn college basketball as a sort of G league for the big time programs. The big programs would lure away players who are already proven on the college level.

[Catsrock]

Not sure but there was that situation from this past season that went viral where he belittled a student reporter after a loss.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/coach-k-duke-student-reporter/sx3vex71gxe91hghf7pl1dkld

Coach K and Cal are suddenly have a very hard time. I don't think it's a coincidence that it happened to both of them this year, where having old teams is more important than ever. Some of these Elite Eight teams are crazy old.

There was also an incident a couple years ago when Duke’s fans were chanting to coach Capel who played for Duke years ago and K got dirty with them. Then he was told what they were actually saying and he apologized to them. But it did show he’s more in it for his guys than for the fans.

[Catsrock]

This is where I had a really big problem with the “transfer portal”. There is a potential for it to turn college basketball as a sort of G league for the big time programs. The big programs would lure away players who are already proven on the college level.

Yep. And we better be taking advantage while we can. Either with Cal or the next guy.

[Lighthouse]

I have no feeling either way about Cal leaving because it's his choice and always has been no matter what we fans say. Every coach has received praise and criticism from our fan base as they do at other schools. I'm a Kentucky fan, have been and will be no matter who coaches our teams.

On this board, we are able to post how we feel about all issues and just because someone posts a belief different from yours doesn't make them idiots, and I know for sure there is a rule on this site about name calling!

[GOCAT15]

Social media has taken everything to a different level. People are real brave when they are hiding behind a keyboard, and that goes for the nonsense of fans personally messaging players and recruits. These kids have enough pressure on them, they don't need ignorant fans bashing them as well. Of course on this thread I have complained about a number of players over the years but never once did I think about messaging them personally.

And no matter your thoughts on Cal, I find it hard to believe many on this thread would see him at the coffee shop and not just try and shake his hand and say thanks for the last decade plus, it's been quite a ride.

[Dwight Schrute]

Social media has taken everything to a different level. People are real brave when they are hiding behind a keyboard, and that goes for the nonsense of fans personally messaging players and recruits. These kids have enough pressure on them, they don't need ignorant fans bashing them as well. Of course on this thread I have complained about a number of players over the years but never once did I think about messaging them personally.

And no matter your thoughts on Cal, I find it hard to believe many on this thread would see him at the coffee shop and not just try and shake his hand and say thanks for the last decade plus, it's been quite a ride.

I don't dislike Cal. His schtick gets tiring but he has done a lot of good in Lexington and has been great for the program and the state. I'd love nothing more than to see Cal recapture the magic he had when he got here.

But there's a side of Cal that I've grown to not like, and it's the side that seems to get resentful towards the fans for having an opinion, for saying things that make it seem like he is not in it for the program, and just a general attitude that he's above us all. To an extent I get it because we have some real crazies in our fanbase, but that Cal isn't going to cut it here at UK.

So if that's the Cal that's going to be here, I'd like it if he just left because the program is going to become irrelevant. But I'll never not appreciate the work he's done here or what he did in his first 5 years.