Cal's Actual Goal Was...........

[J.Jennings]

If Calipari hadn't won 85% of his games at UK, lost at Rupp a handful of times, been to four Final Fours, won a title, and just come off a 38-1 season I'd agree with you.

Who else could Kentucky ever hire in 2015 who could put up wins like that?

It's kind of the way the corporate world works. You've got a guy who's bringing in this much revenue for the program you've got to fight to keep him.

Because if you don't, then we may make the wrong hire and then we're all sitting around wondering what we were complaining about when Cal was here.

If you ask any team or program to hire a coach solely to put players at the next level and not play to win Championships, they are going to roll eyes and probably laugh in your face. If we are talking about the corporate world and how it is, try telling Jerry Jones, Steinbrenner, Trump, to play for seconds and not for first....

Anyways, Cal has had a great run and I still don't think that if Cal left that Kentucky is going to be all doom and gloom. I don't blame Gillispie for Gillispie, I blame Mitch for a bad hire. Instead of hiring Tubby, UK could have easily had Billy D and Rick would have endorsed it. Who knew that Donovan would turn out to be the coach he became but who knew Tubby would go from Tulsa/Georgia/Pitino ball to 1938 4 corner dribble, dribble, x 100 style offense???

Don't get it twisted, I think Cal is good but I don't think he's bulletproof. We are still talking about the same guy that prior to the UK job was considered one of the biggest slimball's in the business. Outside of Kentucky, probably still considered to be a crook and most hated. Personally I like Calipari and I don't think he's the worst X's and O's coach by far. Still, out of respect, if someone is paying you the kind of money that UK is paying him you don't come out and flat out say your not playing to win Championships knowing folks round here going to go crazy bout that kind of stuff.

[GOCAT15]

All i'm going to say is Cal is worth every cent.

Just like Coack K is to Duke, Self is to KU, so on and so forth.

If these coaches were a dime a dozen they wouldn't be getting paid what they are.

In 12 years Bill Self has a record of 352-78, Seven sweet 16's, Five elite 8's, Two Final 4's, One runner up, and one championship, and a lot of other early exits in the Tournament.
In 6 years Cal has a record of 190-38, Five sweet 16's, Five Elite 8's, Four Final 4's, one runner up, and one championship.

I agree, there should be a few more championships on that list but If anyone thinks Cal isn't worth the money for what he has done in his time here, their expectations of a coach will never be met.

By no means do I agree with what he has recently said, but to make it sound like he hasn't done anything for this program is ludicrous.

[GOCAT15]

And if you don't think Coack K, Self, Miller all don't blow the same smoke to these kids about being the best coach at preparing these kids for the NBA you are mistaken.

They are just smart enough to not say stupid stuff to the media like Cal does to get us all riled up.

[Matt Dillon]

The problem I have with what was said is if it wasn't for the fans, there would be no UK bb. Therefore, Cal wouldn't have his dream job making millions a year. Cal is a very intelligent man, and he had to know how his comments would rub the fans (most of them anyway). It's obvious he didn't care, and that's just wrong, in my opinion.

[J.Jennings]

All i'm going to say is Cal is worth every cent.

Just like Coack K is to Duke, Self is to KU, so on and so forth.

If these coaches were a dime a dozen they wouldn't be getting paid what they are.

In 12 years Bill Self has a record of 352-78, Seven sweet 16's, Five elite 8's, Two Final 4's, One runner up, and one championship, and a lot of other early exits in the Tournament.
In 6 years Cal has a record of 190-38, Five sweet 16's, Five Elite 8's, Four Final 4's, one runner up, and one championship.

I agree, there should be a few more championships on that list but If anyone thinks Cal isn't worth the money for what he has done in his time here, their expectations of a coach will never be met.

By no means do I agree with what he has recently said, but to make it sound like he hasn't done anything for this program is ludicrous.

Of course he's done great because if he hadn't, in two years we would have all been on his *** and calling for a new coach. He may be worth even more money than what he's being paid but at the same time, out of respect for his employers and fans, probably should have kept his mouth shut with those kind words.

If folks are under the impression and mesmerized that Kentucky basketball can only survive as long as Calipari is here, I call flat out bs on this one. Was here before and will be here after he's gone.

[justafan]

I just listened to the audio. Its no different than anything Cal hasn't said to the media all year (or years) long. He phrased it differently, and maybe in a different order. I'm not defending him - I just think its being a little more blown out of proportion. Its the exact same message he's been saying for 6+ years, players first. He's not saying winning the NC isn't a goal, he's saying that if the players play as a team, etc. etc. the outcome of a NC will (should) come.

Again, not defending him, just don't think this one comment at a non-basketball event should see the outrage its getting. "Players first" doesn't saying "Players first AFTER a NC". So its really no different a message, if you accept that original, ongoing message.

"This year we were trying to win every game....." Clearly Cal's goal was to go undefeated. Implied in the statement is if you win every game, you win the NC. He came out and said so 2? years ago and took the hit for it. He then went conservative.

15+ minutes into the audio it was "we want things bigger", ie, to win a NC AND put players in the NBA. Did he phrase it poorly? Was he being a salesman? Was he talking to a non-basketball-only audience? Yep.

[BobS]

All i'm going to say is Cal is worth every cent.

Just like Coack K is to Duke, Self is to KU, so on and so forth.

If these coaches were a dime a dozen they wouldn't be getting paid what they are.

In 12 years Bill Self has a record of 352-78, Seven sweet 16's, Five elite 8's, Two Final 4's, One runner up, and one championship, and a lot of other early exits in the Tournament.
In 6 years Cal has a record of 190-38, Five sweet 16's, Five Elite 8's, Four Final 4's, one runner up, and one championship.

I agree, there should be a few more championships on that list but If anyone thinks Cal isn't worth the money for what he has done in his time here, their expectations of a coach will never be met.

By no means do I agree with what he has recently said, but to make it sound like he hasn't done anything for this program is ludicrous.

I like this.

[GOCAT15]

The problem I have with what was said is if it wasn't for the fans, there would be no UK bb. Therefore, Cal wouldn't have his dream job making millions a year. Cal is a very intelligent man, and he had to know how his comments would rub the fans (most of them anyway). It's obvious he didn't care, and that's just wrong, in my opinion.

I agree, and what I don't understand is that all he had to do was sugarcoat it a little and say how this goes hand in hand with winning and it would've been a moot point. This is really the first time I felt he has gone a little too far with what he said. Kentucky has made him a very wealthy and prolific man and has reborn his image, and there is a very short list of programs that can do that to a person on a national stage at least.

[J.Jennings]

Honestly laying all jokes aside, I could give a damn what Cal says. All I know is that he needs to hire a OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR and we will be fine as long as he continues to use his mouthpiece to bring in top recruits. Forget all that dribble dribble bs, let these horses run, run, and run some more.

I absolutely can't stand tentative basketball.................

[Joneslab]

All i'm going to say is Cal is worth every cent.

Just like Coack K is to Duke, Self is to KU, so on and so forth.

If these coaches were a dime a dozen they wouldn't be getting paid what they are.

In 12 years Bill Self has a record of 352-78, Seven sweet 16's, Five elite 8's, Two Final 4's, One runner up, and one championship, and a lot of other early exits in the Tournament.
In 6 years Cal has a record of 190-38, Five sweet 16's, Five Elite 8's, Four Final 4's, one runner up, and one championship.

I agree, there should be a few more championships on that list but If anyone thinks Cal isn't worth the money for what he has done in his time here, their expectations of a coach will never be met.

By no means do I agree with what he has recently said, but to make it sound like he hasn't done anything for this program is ludicrous.

Yes.

I felt like 28-10, Elite 8 type of seasons were pretty strong under Tubby. I thought Gillispie's first year was okay.

It would be totally silly of me now to want more out of John Calipari given what he's done. Are you kidding me? Cal has completely rewritten the rules here.

I don't agree that we would be "UK basketball" if we lost him. We might be, but we haven't been this dominant except for a stretch in the 1990s since Rupp.

Not a gamble I'd really like to see.

[Joneslab]

I agree, and what I don't understand is that all he had to do was sugarcoat it a little and say how this goes hand in hand with winning and it would've been a moot point.

Yeah but the fact that he didn't--and then doubled down--changed the context completely.

I know Cal was ripped apart by the Wisconsin loss just like us. He's said as much. There's a video of him coming down the corridor after the game; he sees Mitch Barnhart and is about an inch away from breaking down.

Nobody wants to win as bad as Cal. But by phrasing the comment as he did should make every fan at least a little perturbed.

[Westtncat]

I am going to word it in a way that works for me. I think what he means is this...losing isn't the end of the world, in the scheme of life helping a human being toward a goal of a better life is very satisfying. Would love to have a championship with it but if not I still reached a goal that allows these kids to live a great life. Or something like that

[J.Jennings]

Yes.

I felt like 28-10, Elite 8 type of seasons were pretty strong under Tubby. I thought Gillispie's first year was okay.

It would be totally silly of me now to want more out of John Calipari given what he's done. Are you kidding me? Cal has completely rewritten the rules here.

I don't agree that we would be "UK basketball" if we lost him. We might be, but we haven't been this dominant except for a stretch in the 1990s since Rupp.

Not a gamble I'd really like to see.

Well it sucks that we blew it this year but overall, what more can you ask from a coach? As for the recruiting part, I think coaches are slowly catching up to Cal in that department. The "big 3" era in Boston kicked off a chain of events in the NBA and Cal's way of getting 3 to 4 top players to commit to the same team is rubbing off on other coaches across the college. Duke just did it, Cal and Lsu are following the blueprint, and I expect others to follow. If you can convince a group of kids to come together for a season or two to play for a Championship, who says it has to be Kentucky? Still, this is where the fanbase, the tradition, and all the other things involved falls into Calipari's favor............... Kentucky is still Kentucky........

[BBNalldayeveryday]

Cal is how he is and says the things he does for his own reasons, alright fine, but in my opinion he should of kept this comment to himself.


"I hate to drive you traditionalists crazy, but I'll say it again: our goal at the beginning of the season was to have eight players drafted."

[J.Jennings]

Cal is how he is and says the things he does for his own reasons, alright fine, but in my opinion he should of kept this comment to himself.


"I hate to drive you traditionalists crazy, but I'll say it again: our goal at the beginning of the season was to have eight players drafted."

Yep and if we question his thinking, he'll say "you people are crazy" lol lol lol.