Kentucky vs St Peter's Game Thread.

[Dwight Schrute]

I believe it just because I think he's acted so weird the last couple weeks.

When my friend told this to me I had the same thought.

[Joneslab]

We are all looking for the perfect Coach, and we thought we had one when Cal arrived. Now we realize even he has faults. Whoever follows Cal won't be perfect either.

Right. And I think every UK fan, deep in his heart of hearts, knows this.

BUT when you have the worst season in modern UK history and you follow it by losing to a 15-seed, that's about as far from perfect as you can get.

We used to say "the honeymoon has worn off" with Cal. That was back in 2013 and the first NIT. Then you have that string of solid years and come back to the collapse last season. Then this year. Then the recruiting problems and the scrambling around to get players and the whole thing that has never gone away which is the one-and-done problem and how it wears on many fans.

All of that together points to a situation where most UK fans would be completely okay with a change at this point. Nobody I personally know would bat an eye if Cal left.

[Dwight Schrute]

I would be nervous if Cal left simply because it's unlikely he'd be easy to replace and whoever is out there would be pretty unproven. Not that there aren't guys who could do the job but it would be dicey.

[George]

I know it’s a “careful what you wish for” situation, but Cal hasn’t given us what we wish for since 2015.

I’m good either way.

[Ratt]

Personally I would like to have Oscar, Toppin, Ware, Collins, Fredrick and Sharpe back. I want no more of what Brooks or Wheeler bring! Last night when they were both on the floor, losing was in my thought process, especially when Toppin was 3-3 FG and 3-4 FT's was on the bench. Cal has never been a bench coach and it may be time for him to move on. Does he tie the hands of his staff during games? He certainly has some good coaches but what do they do during games? Have we ever seen him ask them anything?

If Cal should leave, every coach at every school would be a candidate because the Kentucky job is the top job in the country. One coach I would like to be considered is Coach Barnes.

Thank you Light... FINALLY!!!!

I never meant to be rude to anyone here over the year but Wheeler & KeBron are two of the biggest issues w/this team as I've been saying all year. TyTy's injury killed their chance as well. He was really playing good and coming into his own before the injury and couldn't find it after. I'll leave tissue paper Grady alone. IF Wheeler is back along with Cal - next year isn't going to be any better unless Oscar stays and some of these so-called great incoming freshman are actually very good to overcome the issues.

Wheeler is not a good point guard. He's a terrible shooter. He makes terrible passes more often than not but often gets bailed out. People were blaming Grady w/one of those passes late in the game last night. That was on Wheeler, it was another 1 hand terrible bounce pass at his feet. HIs defense is terrible. He's always chasing his guys around which someone here said that Oscar seemed to be out of position a lot last night --- YEAH, because he has to constantly step up to defend and stop Wheelers guy, KeBrons guy, and Grady's guy. Sorry fellas - been on this all year. He's a good kid and as a UK fan, always wish him the best but when the balls in his hands the majority of the time, this team isn't going anywhere with a half court slow down offense.

KeBron - Man I really thought he might be something good his Freshman year. He's just simply lazy and needs to go. Can jump out of the gym but moves and plays like EJ. Drives me crazy. And again - I won't say nothing about tissue boy Grady. When he's hot, man can he shoot but a fence post can guard him. Will play some at the next level though.

Cal's refusals of using timeouts is just massively baffling to me. In every level I've coached or played, I've don't recall ever seeing anyone refuse to call a TO at a critical point in the game like him. The fact that this team continued to face guard at half court with anyone and everyone only to get beat and have to chase was baffling to me. Lots of little things with his coaching is just baffling at this time. However, as a coach, I also know there are times you work your tail off and the players just don't produce or do things correctly or as practiced and some of that seems to be happening with this team. The lack of getting some guys PT when your up 20-25 is baffling and has been for years. And I know it's UK and it's the media spotlight but I'm just tired of his talking, talking, talking. I think he's a great guy who is all about trying to help these kids for the next 40 years over the next 1 to 4 but it really might be time for something new and/or different no matter how the next several seasons may play out.

[surveyor]

Cal is entering into a new chapter in the NCAA with NIL. Recruiting is going to change for everyone - even though the NCAA says that NIL should not be used as a recruiting tool. Damned right it will be used as a tool - especially in larger markets and high college BB viewership.

This is a bit like when Pitino left for Boston in that the college BB landscape was changing and the days of recruiting a quality kid who would stay put for 4 years was fading away. I think that's part of why (that and it was Boston) Pitino decided the time was ripe for leaving.

As with Pitino in the late 80s, Cal was on the leading edge of recruiting, and as with Pitino, the landscape is changing. Cal either adapts or eventually calls it a day.

[Matt Dillon]

Were I in charge I would at least reach out to Bruce Pearl, but I highly doubt Barnhart would.

I don't know if you're serious or not, but I agree. If winning ball games is your thing (and whose thing is it not?) UK could do a lot worse, in my opinion.

[KCKUKFan]

I don't know if you're serious or not, but I agree. If winning ball games is your thing (and whose thing is it not?) UK could do a lot worse, in my opinion.

Again, it's a moot point because Mitch would never -- never -- even consider Bruce Pearl for a single, solitary second.

Whether or not that's deserved or a good thing is up for debate, but it doesn't change the fact that it will never happen.

[Catsrock]

I'm ready to play if he needs me.

I hit 6 threes in a high school game once. I have full eligibility left. I don't see any downsides really.

Use your influence with Mitch. I’ll coach, you play! I can yell “shoot” as well as anyone. 🤣

[Joneslab]

Cal is entering into a new chapter in the NCAA with NIL. Recruiting is going to change for everyone - even though the NCAA says that NIL should not be used as a recruiting tool. Damned right it will be used as a tool - especially in larger markets and high college BB viewership.

This is a bit like when Pitino left for Boston in that the college BB landscape was changing and the days of recruiting a quality kid who would stay put for 4 years was fading away. I think that's part of why (that and it was Boston) Pitino decided the time was ripe for leaving.

As with Pitino in the late 80s, Cal was on the leading edge of recruiting, and as with Pitino, the landscape is changing. Cal either adapts or eventually calls it a day.

You'd think NIL would be a tool that would push Cal to stay in college coaching.

However one thing NIL will ultimately do is that it will flatten out the world. Every program is able to offer something. So in that way you might see Cal not wanting to swim in a pool with this much built-in parity and step up to the NBA--maybe an executive job, which I've assumed is what he will eventually take.

[Catgrad7072]

I'm ready to play if he needs me.

I hit 6 threes in a high school game once. I have full eligibility left. I don't see any downsides really.

if I am reading this excerpt from the eligibility requirements correctly, you've timed-out .....

1. You are not eligible if five calendar years have passed from the date you first registered as a full-time student at a collegiate institution and attended your first day of classes for that term, except for time spent in the armed services, on official church missions or with recognized international aid services of the U.S. government and extensions that have been approved in accordance with NCAA legislation. [Bylaw 14.2.1

You might be able to skate by at any another school, but at UK, the NCAA would come down like a ton of bricks. But look at the bright side, you'd probably make the cover of Sports Illustrated. : ).

[Joneslab]

if I am reading this excerpt from the eligibility requirements correctly, you've timed-out .....

1. You are not eligible if five calendar years have passed from the date you first registered as a full-time student at a collegiate institution and attended your first day of classes for that term, except for time spent in the armed services, on official church missions or with recognized international aid services of the U.S. government and extensions that have been approved in accordance with NCAA legislation. [Bylaw 14.2.1

You might be able to skate by at any another school, but at UK, the NCAA would come down like a ton of bricks. But look at the bright side, you'd probably make the cover of Sports Illustrated. : ).

Crap. I've been doing push-ups for three hours.

[justford]

Probably in the minority here but I would think Buzz from A&M would do very well here.

[Joneslab]

Probably in the minority here but I would think Buzz from A&M would do very well here.

Hasn't had enough sustained success IMO. Had a really good three-year run at Marquette but has only been out of the first round of the tournament once since then. That's been nine years ago.

[Westtncat]

Would Mark Few consider UK? I love his team style play. To me he would be perfect.