Will UK Make the Tournament?

[KentuckyWild2020]

Look, I said I gave up on Cal last year and have made it clear I would be happy if he left Kentucky tonight, and that is the way I feel. Cal was exactly what we needed when he first became our Coach He recruited very well and nearly all of us enjoyed his success. Then he changed, and said he was more interested in sending players to the NBA than winning at Kentucky. That was the beginning of my distrust in him. He has proven over and over that he is not a good bench coach, he needs superior talent to win. And, how many times have we talked here about his slow ball tactic and not calling a TO late to set up a needed play. And I can go on. I'm not one to get back on Cal's bandwagon because of a few wins like some are. In the last few seasons our program has been going downhill and he is at fault simply because winning is what UK pays him for. I believe if we play the rest of the season like we played against Auburn, we could win it all this year, and it's about time.

I can agree with everything you said here but for my own piece of mind, I just have to accept Calipari will be here until he calls it quits on his own accord, he's not getting fired so I hope he tears it up and wins every game until he's done, this NIL One and done Transfer portal business is tough to navigate for any coach these days..

Off the court I like Calipari, i actually think he's a pretty good person overall, can actually have a conversation with him, not like Pitino off the court. Friend of mine retired from the airlines(Philly) and knew Calipari's father on a first name basis, took care of him every time he flew and refused to let John get him a private jet to fly, his Daddy never forgot where he came from, hard working and humbled , I think John has it in him as well but Swaggy Cal sells recruits so everyone has a role to play..


As for talent and winning, goes hand in hand with all these programs. At Kentucky under Cal No major violations or team chaos from legal conflicts, he runs his business pretty good especially with all the high profile recruits parents sponsors shoe companies and everything else in between involved. Talent wise we missed on Cunningham Wiseman even Sharpe but look at baggage with those guys, he backed off a few who ended being trouble elsewhere..

[Catgrad7072]

Look, I said I gave up on Cal last year and have made it clear I would be happy if he left Kentucky tonight, and that is the way I feel. Cal was exactly what we needed when he first became our Coach He recruited very well and nearly all of us enjoyed his success. Then he changed, and said he was more interested in sending players to the NBA than winning at Kentucky. That was the beginning of my distrust in him. He has proven over and over that he is not a good bench coach, he needs superior talent to win. And, how many times have we talked here about his slow ball tactic and not calling a TO late to set up a needed play. And I can go on. I'm not one to get back on Cal's bandwagon because of a few wins like some are. In the last few seasons our program has been going downhill and he is at fault simply because winning is what UK pays him for. I believe if we play the rest of the season like we played against Auburn, we could win it all this year, and it's about time.

Well said LH!

[Spiritof96]

Look, I said I gave up on Cal last year and have made it clear I would be happy if he left Kentucky tonight, and that is the way I feel. Cal was exactly what we needed when he first became our Coach He recruited very well and nearly all of us enjoyed his success. Then he changed, and said he was more interested in sending players to the NBA than winning at Kentucky. That was the beginning of my distrust in him. He has proven over and over that he is not a good bench coach, he needs superior talent to win. And, how many times have we talked here about his slow ball tactic and not calling a TO late to set up a needed play. And I can go on. I'm not one to get back on Cal's bandwagon because of a few wins like some are. In the last few seasons our program has been going downhill and he is at fault simply because winning is what UK pays him for. I believe if we play the rest of the season like we played against Auburn, we could win it all this year, and it's about time.

I totally agree with the assessment. (well maybe not the cares more about the NBA part) My only concern about having Cal leave is our ability to upgrade. I like Musselman, and I guess he'd be my pick. I guess Drew is ok.. I'm not convinced there is someone better waiting who would take the job. I use to fantasize about Brad Stevens and pined for Mark Few for almost all of the Tubby era.

With all of Cal's nonsense, it could be worse, BCG was worse...

[Joneslab]

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.

[George]

Then he changed, and said he was more interested in sending players to the NBA than winning at Kentucky.

He didn’t change. He said from day one that this would be his model at UK, and that the wins would come as a result. Remember everyone getting mad when he said his first draft night here would be the greatest moment in program history?

[GOCAT15]

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.

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.

[Catsrock]

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!

[Joneslab]

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 think it's a mix. He looks like he's pulled some of the right strings here lately, but I'm not sure if he would've pulled those strings had the roster not shrunk down to force him to do it.

I've long thought Cal's biggest problem is he doesn't handle the roster well. He doesn't seem quick on the uptake a lot about who should be in there, who should get key minutes, who should be at certain positions. Seems like it takes him a long time to learn--which makes sense when you consider how raw we are to start seasons.

A lot of this is having new players all the time. So I guess I cut him a little slack for not being able to figure out the personnel right away...but just a little slack because I've always believed he likes turning the roster over.

[GOCAT15]

I think it's a mix. He looks like he's pulled some of the right strings here lately, but I'm not sure if he would've pulled those strings had the roster not shrunk down to force him to do it.

I've long thought Cal's biggest problem is he doesn't handle the roster well. He doesn't seem quick on the uptake a lot about who should be in there, who should get key minutes, who should be at certain positions. Seems like it takes him a long time to learn--which makes sense when you consider how raw we are to start seasons.

A lot of this is having new players all the time. So I guess I cut him a little slack for not being able to figure out the personnel right away...but just a little slack because I've always believed he likes turning the roster over.

I agree with those statements, just seems like over the years once he picks his horses he rides them into the sunset even though changes could be beneficial which is aggravating.

But I will give him the credit of not giving up on this team even when it felt like Lexington was crumbling in on him, and the future was dismal.

[Joneslab]

I think there are times when fans want a new coach not because they think a new one could be better, but because they're just bored.

I believe that's human nature. I noticed it back in the day with Tubby. We had a lot of fans--even through the years where Tubby was very good--who just seemed to want a fresh start because they couldn't get into UK basketball like they used to.

Obviously you have to be careful with that because as we all know it could get a lot worse. However had Cal continued the trajectory from earlier this season and you compare that with the two years before this, it honestly couldn't get a lot worse. He's had some historic badness up in here lately.

I hope this team bucks that trend and continues on this path because as the poster said above, we're stuck with him until he decides to leave anyway. Might as well have fun with it. I'm gonna watch all the games anyway so personally whether I would like a new coach or not is inconsequential. Whoever's over there on the sideline just has to win.

[Catsrock]

Cal is to blame for taking so long to “figure the team out” each year. Not just because it appears he cannot see weakness and poor combinations until months after untrained eyes can. More about the constant turnover. Not just about “being young” like he used to throw around as his excuse every year. All freshman or a combination of freshman and upper class man transfers—it’s still a group of kids who’ve never played together every year. Of course that takes a while to figure out. Main problem with it even when they gel is that by the time they come together they’ve gone 0-4 against early season marquee matchups. Those games have enormous bearing on your resume come selection Sunday. You’re fighting your way out of the hole you’ve dug for yourself the rest of the year. You then need the SEC to be strong to even give yourself opportunities for big wins. I wish we didn’t have to be the only team in college sports with no right to have expectations of a good team till February.

This year we’re hanging our hats on having swept Tennessee. If Tennessee hadn’t beaten Kansas, Texas and Alabama then our signature wins look pretty ho-hum and we are still outside the bubble. Thanks Vols!

[George]

Cal is to blame for taking so long to “figure the team out” each year. Not just because it appears he cannot see weakness and poor combinations until months after untrained eyes can. More about the constant turnover. Not just about “being young” like he used to throw around as his excuse every year. All freshman or a combination of freshman and upper class man transfers—it’s still a group of kids who’ve never played together every year. Of course that takes a while to figure out. Main problem with it even when they gel is that by the time they come together they’ve gone 0-4 against early season marquee matchups. Those games have enormous bearing on your resume come selection Sunday. You’re fighting your way out of the hole you’ve dug for yourself the rest of the year. You then need the SEC to be strong to even give yourself opportunities for big wins. I wish we didn’t have to be the only team in college sports with no right to have expectations of a good team till February.

This year we’re hanging our hats on having swept Tennessee. If Tennessee hadn’t beaten Kansas, Texas and Alabama then our signature wins look pretty ho-hum and we are still outside the bubble. Thanks Vols!

I agree about the importance of non-conference marquee games, but a counterpoint: a lot of “good” teams, like UT, have already peaked by the time they reach the tourney.

As I’ve said repeatedly, I’m fine with criticizing Cal, but it’s very rare when he doesn’t have his team peaking at the right time. That’s been one of the most positive constants of his time at UK.

[Joneslab]

As I’ve said repeatedly, I’m fine with criticizing Cal, but it’s very rare when he doesn’t have his team peaking at the right time. That’s been one of the most positive constants of his time at UK.

Yes, and this is what was so surprising about last year. Kentucky has managed to stay away from that first-round tumble--and almost all big programs have been knocked off in the first round over the last 10-15 years.

On EDIT, I should say "had managed" to stay away from it. Last year rearranged a lot of stuff and if we lose early this season, the knives will be back out--justifiably.

[Lighthouse]

He didn’t change. He said from day one that this would be his model at UK, and that the wins would come as a result. Remember everyone getting mad when he said his first draft night here would be the greatest moment in program history?

Thanks for reminding me, I had forgotten that. I realize Cal is not getting fired and will be here at least through next season. I have no idea who would be the best fit at Kentucky when he does leave. I want someone who will recruit good players and will develop them into great players, and will care about the Kentucky Program first and foremost. I want to get number 9 & 10...... And, I want the most wins back.

I know I'm old school and a scholarship doesn't mean much anymore, I agree with KentuckyWild. I have met Cal in person several times and he is a very nice man in public. He was very considerate to me and my wife, and was not in a hurry.

[George]

Yes, and this is what was so surprising about last year. Kentucky has managed to stay away from that first-round tumble--and almost all big programs have been knocked off in the first round over the last 10-15 years.

On EDIT, I should say "had managed" to stay away from it. Last year rearranged a lot of stuff and if we lose early this season, the knives will be back out--justifiably.

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