Will UK Make the Tournament?

[Joneslab]

Was last year as simple as “injuries,” or do you think there was more at play?

I noticed a slip in our team defense around the middle of February last year.

If you'll recall we were giving up career highs to guys routinely at the end of the regular season and that continued into March. That Darryl Banks guy for St. Peter's had 27 in the tournament and just killed us.

It was happening every game. I'm not saying injuries weren't a part of that but when you look at how this team has defended for much of the season, I think there's something going on with the methodology.

I tend to think it's that aggressive, constantly switching man-to-man he plays. I think it's a style of defense that works when you have long, athletic guys but when you're hitting the portal for players the caliber of athlete tends to drop. And where that's hurt us is in (1) guys who can get buckets against the shot clock and (2) team defense.

I'd be willing to bet really solid money that next year's team, assuming they all get here, will be a significantly better defensive team. This is another instance of Cal really not changing his style or system based on the personnel he has and rather just doggedly playing the same way every game.

[KentuckyWild2020]

One thing there’s no debate about—as wildcat2020 said—is Cal’s contract. He ain’t getting fired. He didn’t leave when Beard got fired from Texas. I seriously doubt he leaves at season’s end. I think he’s truly excited to coach Wagner & co. If he quits tonight I’m fine. But as long as he’s here I, and nearly all fans, I imagine, hope for the best. I want wins and excitement.

As far as this season goes—we’re now dreaming of a strong finish which could put us in play for a 6/7 seed. With the parity in the sport if you take away just a couple of ridiculous losses that should never have happened we’re legitimately in play for a 2 seed. Win a single one of the marquee preconference games and a one seed is not inconceivable. I feel it took stubborn ol’ Cal a lot longer to figure this team out than it took a bunch of idiot basketball bennies. I feel he is as much to blame for us not fighting for a 2 seed as he should be credited for getting us inside the bubble.

But he is the coach. This is our team. GO CATS!

Well said, past is the past, actually feeling pretty good moving forward....

[KentuckyWild2020]

Cal has turned this around so I admittedly don't think about it as much as I did back in January.

I wouldn't, like, tear up if he left. But it looks like at this point we can hope for a surprising end to this season, a couple of pieces return, and then try to make a run next year.

This is neither here nor there really but I don't think any coach could have made this particular team a contender. There are several who would have never had them close to the bubble, but what Cal is doing now is surprising with this roster.

Speaking of returning, saw a article today Oscar and Toppin are teasing about coming back next year, wouldn't that be something....

[KentuckyWild2020]

Or did subtraction by injuries change things? Don't get me wrong I like CJ and Wheeler and think they are worthy of playing time, but is it a coincidence that other than a few blunders, once Cason took over leading this team and Wheeler wasn't getting a lot of minutes it seems the tides have changed? The next two games and a game or two in the SEC tournament is going to tell us a lot if we are actually on a roll heading into the tournament.

I do believe that Cal was let off the hook with CJ and Wheeler being injured, forced him to play the 5 that many of us thought was the best 5. I did expect CJ to be a starter but he just hasn't performed and no way you sit Reeves or Livingston for CJ at this point, he just hasn't performed as well as i thought he would.

On a different note, i have always wanted to see the local state kids go to Kentucky and excel but i am convinced more and more that instate kids as good as they may be elsewhere just can't handle the pressure of playing for the home state team, not all but most. Darius Miller Epps few others but on the other side of that many just had so so careers at Kentucky....

[justafan]

When do the fans start using Ten-loss Cal?

[DA#23]

Have they not already? I’ve mentioned it to people maybe two years ago.

[Joneslab]

I always thought “ten loss Tubby” was sorta stupid so I’m gonna hold that position with Cal.

A few of my favorite teams have had near or more than 10 losses.

[justafan]

It was idiotic. But then so are a lot of fans.

[GOCAT15]

Well This is all irrelevant if Cason doesn’t come back 100%.

[lilproUK98]

And here we go with more of this nonsense

[justford]

What is he talking about a tough run?? He’s beat down and tired and is playing at home?

[justafan]

Well dieci perdite Cal mimics coaches before him. Coach K was notorious for skipping interviews. Pitino was notorious at the end for skipping radio stuff.

[Joneslab]

Oddly the loss just dropped them 2 spots in the NET.

[KCKUKFan]

Oddly the loss just dropped them 2 spots in the NET.

Further evidence that the NET is mostly bullcrap.

[Joneslab]

Kentucky finishes the regular season at number 20 in the NET. 6-7 in Quad 1 wins.

I'm going to say a 6 or 7 seed if we can win at least one game in Nashville.