Game Thread: Vandy vs. Kentucky

[George]

With NIL, good possibility both Oscar and Toppin return..

They horsed around about this a week or two ago in an interview with Kyle Tucker. It was pretty obvious neither of them intend to come back.

[Joneslab]

His "coaching" and general attitude and stubbornness has made the last 3 seasons' results much worse than they should've been, IMO.

I'll be honest in that I don't really listen to Cal. Hardly ever. People will post some stuff he's said sometimes and it doesn't bother me a whole lot for two reasons.

One, Cal is one of these guys who just riffs. He doesn't seem to even really believe most of what he says. It's very Trumpy in a lot of ways and you just have to roll your eyes at a lot of it and move on.

But more importantly, two: we don't know what it would be like with another coach as far as the media and soundbites are concerned.

Two guys that Kentucky fans have pined for have been really bad with the media this year. Way worse than Cal. Oates has been a disaster, and just last night there was Musselman going insane with his assistants smashing a reporter's phone after the game.

So (this is just me personally) I'm a little hesitant to blast Cal for the way he handles the media. Because it could be worse. I'm much more concerned with what he's doing on the court, and that's already bad enough.

[KentuckyWild2020]

They horsed around about this a week or two ago in an interview with Kyle Tucker. It was pretty obvious neither of them intend to come back.

Where is Oscar going to earn 2.7 million per year playing basketball anywhere except Kentucky?

I like Toppin but he's not on anyone's radar on the draft boards. I do think he can be a good pro player but for some reason nobody's really looking at him. With SEC awards, i don't think his name was mentioned or even considered...

[Joneslab]

Toppin could have been drafted last year. Have to think he's leaving. He's a pro.

Oscar could make a lot of money overseas. Might get an NBA team to take a flyer on him just because of how hard he plays. Doubt he'll ever step foot on an NBA court but he might get a look and make some money in the G-League.

It's time for UK to turn the page. I think that's what Cal wants. Those young, electric, talent-loaded teams are how he recreated his legacy in college basketball. Next year's his shot. I don't think he wants some of these guys getting in the way of the youth.

Problem is they can't all leave. And we might see that happen.

[Pobilly]

See, I don't understand this line of thinking.

John Calipari has outlived his expiration date and I couldn't care less if he left Kentucky tonight, but as long as he's on that sideline he's our idiot. And despite how it ends, his tenure here has been a good one, and he has been a major net positive for UK.

So I'll continue rooting for Cal until he's gone, because he's a Wildcat, too. Doesn't mean I can't criticize him when he deserves it (I do) or be unhappy with his performance (I am).

That is how I thought for most of his tenure. I have never (not ever liked the guy or wanted him as our coach) but I pulled for us to win. I am so tired of his mouth and his attitude that I can no longer think that way. I love UK. I love the guys that commit no matter if they are a walk on or a 5 star. I do not have to love or pull for that man any longer. I do not wish us to lose but I do wish him gone every time I see his picture or hear his voice. I could never pull for the guy and never will for this day forward. If he won 120 games straight as the UK coach I would be happy for the players and the team. I would not be happy for him. I would not be happy he represents KEntucky as our coach. Nothing will change my mind on that.

[lilproUK98]

I'll be honest in that I don't really listen to Cal. Hardly ever. People will post some stuff he's said sometimes and it doesn't bother me a whole lot for two reasons.

One, Cal is one of these guys who just riffs. He doesn't seem to even really believe most of what he says. It's very Trumpy in a lot of ways and you just have to roll your eyes at a lot of it and move on.

But more importantly, two: we don't know what it would be like with another coach as far as the media and soundbites are concerned.

Two guys that Kentucky fans have pined for have been really bad with the media this year. Way worse than Cal. Oates has been a disaster, and just last night there was Musselman going insane with his assistants smashing a reporter's phone after the game.

So (this is just me personally) I'm a little hesitant to blast Cal for the way he handles the media. Because it could be worse. I'm much more concerned with what he's doing on the court, and that's already bad enough.

I wasn't really referring to what he says in the media, mostly referring to his coaching and stubbornness to change his approach and strategy. The way he celebrates and gloats after a win now is absolutely ridiculous now tho, then we he loses he can barely be bothered to do one segment of his post game with Tom and has 3 minute post game pressers, and hardly does any pre game pressers It's a joke what he's gotten away with these past three seasons on and off the court.

[Joneslab]

I notice that David Sisk on Twitter is talking about one change Cal is going to have to make assuming he stays is: what's going on with all the injuries?

The teams are completely being disassembled by injuries as the year goes on. It's been a plague on the program for almost five years.

Is something happening? Are we doing something differently? Is it the make-up of players today vs. six or seven years ago?

I don't think it's possible that it's simple bad luck. It seems too widespread and it has carried over team to team since 2017 or '18.

[George]

Where is Oscar going to earn 2.7 million per year playing basketball anywhere except Kentucky?

I like Toppin but he's not on anyone's radar on the draft boards. I do think he can be a good pro player but for some reason nobody's really looking at him. With SEC awards, i don't think his name was mentioned or even considered...

Don’t do this to yourself, buddy. Nothing you’ve said is illogical, but how many times have we had perfectly logical conversations and still watched things work out differently?

[lilproUK98]

Don’t do this to yourself, buddy. Nothing you’ve said is illogical, but how many times have we had perfectly logical conversations and still watched things work out differently?

Yeah, there's no way in the world Oscar or Toppin are back. And I doubt Livingston as well.

[George]

Yeah, there's no way in the world Oscar or Toppin are back. And I doubt Livingston as well.

I’m not getting my hopes up. I suspect he’ll go G-League or transfer and ball out elsewhere next year.

[lilproUK98]

I notice that David Sisk on Twitter is talking about one change Cal is going to have to make assuming he stays is: what's going on with all the injuries?

The teams are completely being disassembled by injuries as the year goes on. It's been a plague on the program for almost five years.

Is something happening? Are we doing something differently? Is it the make-up of players today vs. six or seven years ago?

I don't think it's possible that it's simple bad luck. It seems too widespread and it has carried over team to team since 2017 or '18.

Yep, this is true. Constant drama and injury problems as the year goes on culminating in a mess in March these past 5 yrs. Cal's famous "haven't seen him" lines were born from this.

[George]

God, this is so bad:

https://twitter.com/kyletucker_ath/status/1634549762820132864?s=46&t=4ODOygHzZh-MhBNSFA_htg

[Joneslab]

^ There was a very similar supercut of Oscar defensively after the St. Peter's game last year.

Guy is so bad on the defensive end that it's absolutely unbelievable.

[George]

^ There was a very similar supercut of Oscar defensively after the St. Peter's game last year.

Guy is so bad on the defensive end that it's absolutely unbelievable.

I think Vecenie (or maybe Givony) did that one, too.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Don’t do this to yourself, buddy. Nothing you’ve said is illogical, but how many times have we had perfectly logical conversations and still watched things work out differently?

Advice taken, wild times to be a Kentucky fan...