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re: So, is it time to give up on .....
Posted on 3/2/14 at 12:21 pm to harmonics
Posted on 3/2/14 at 12:21 pm to harmonics
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Kentucky has lost 2 in a row now. I fear they will be taking a lot of frustration out on Alabama Tuesday....
I'm not sure this team has it in them to "take our frustration" on someone. That's what is so maddening about this team.
Yesterday against the worst team in the conference,they laid down and waited till the last 10 minutes to put much effort into the game.
RTR had it right, they play down to the competition and have no killer instinct. The last two games prove it.
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Posted on 3/2/14 at 2:02 pm to kywildcatfanone
I think they are scared to death of coach Cal. They aren't selfish like outsiders say. They just aren't clicking. They want to win, but I think they thought it would be easier. It has to be frustrating coming in and media talking 40-0 and all of a sudden you are losing to USCe away. Something tells me that a couple of guys are going to stick around with a chip on their shoulder. Like T Jones and Lamb.
Posted on 3/2/14 at 2:32 pm to Bho
Yeah, Cal is always honest with them on their pro prospects.
I think Randle and WCS go, but I kind of think the rest are back. I picture Lee transferring though.
I think Randle and WCS go, but I kind of think the rest are back. I picture Lee transferring though.
Posted on 3/2/14 at 8:45 pm to kywildcatfanone
Matt Jones actually had a pretty solid article on this team and Cal.
LINK
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what made Saturday so painful was watching a team that could do so much more, fall so short of where they should be.
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But what many more believed (as did I) is that this was a group ready to impose its will on college basketball. With all of the talent assembled on one team, it was assumed that Kentucky would be at or near the top all year and would be one of the premier 3-4 teams going into the tournament, likely the favorite to win #9 in Dallas. Anything less than a dominant season was not only not expected, it was rarely even considered.
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But in addition to all of these forces, the high expectations and pressure from the coach and program have surely played a role as well. John Calipari has wanted this team to be special from day one.
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I have watched Calipari all five years here and I have never seen coach, cajole, yell, cheer and teach more during the course of a season than this one. He has hoped that by micro-managing the team from the start and during games, he can somehow make them reach their potential and hit the special level that he envisioned from day one. He wants it for THEM more than anything and he is trying harder and harder to make it happen, even as it seems to slip farther from his grasp.
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But from a psychological, instead of a basketball perspective, it seems to me that with this particular team maybe Calipari should adopt a different strategy this week. Turn down the intensity a bit, retreat from coaching like a 35 year old and instead let the players play without the worry of what their coach’s reaction will be. If the players make a mistake, let them play through it. If they do something mind-numbing, let them realize it without having it screamed at them. It is not that the intense approach doesn’t ever work (it does) but with this group at this time, dealing with the crazy expectations put upon them has made it not work now. So it is time to try something different.
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Kentucky goes Saturday to Florida to play the #1 team in the nation in a game that no one expects them to win. There will be no pressure beyond that self-inflicted because there won’t be one person in the country assuming they can get the victory. So why not come out and do things completely differently? Let the players play free, attempt to have fun and tone down the intensity just a tad.
LINK
Posted on 3/3/14 at 10:55 am to kywildcatfanone
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I think Randle and WCS go, but I kind of think the rest are back. I picture Lee transferring though.
I figure Randle, Young, and WCS are good as gone. If the Harrison twins don't absolutely blow up from here on out I don't see them going. I'm like you with Lee. Either he stays or transfers.
But as I've said before, there's plenty of blame to go around. Calipari has had his part with probably undue pressure (with all the 40-0 talk) and expectations. But there are plenty of times I see our players time and again take plays off (especially on defense) on the floor. I don't think it's too much to ask that they at least give consistent effort in late February/March. They've regressed from where they were against Michigan State early this season.
Posted on 3/3/14 at 1:23 pm to RTR America
RTR, I agree with this. I think at this point for at least the next 2 games, just roll the balls out and let them play. Sit on the bench, substitute when needed, but drop the intensity and see what happens.
Not a fan of Matt Jones, but this is pretty good stuff. Might as well try it, nothing else has worked.
Not a fan of Matt Jones, but this is pretty good stuff. Might as well try it, nothing else has worked.
Posted on 3/3/14 at 4:34 pm to kywildcatfanone
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but we are about to go into March and I just don't see anything special coming from this team.
The potential is there but the experience and drive is not. This team clearly cannot play defense. The other issue is that they cannot deal with the fact that every team on the schedule circles them and plays three levels above their norms when they face the Cats. This has been the norm for decades. I honestly dont think some of these players realize what a big deal it is to wear the Blue and White every game.
Posted on 3/3/14 at 4:52 pm to RTR America
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But from a psychological, instead of a basketball perspective, it seems to me that with this particular team maybe Calipari should adopt a different strategy this week. Turn down the intensity a bit, retreat from coaching like a 35 year old and instead let the players play without the worry of what their coach’s reaction will be. If the players make a mistake, let them play through it. If they do something mind-numbing, let them realize it without having it screamed at them.
This hit a nerve with me. One thing I have had a problem with is the "yanking the chain" Cal has on some players - particularly Poythress. If certain players make a single error like missing a shot or a turnover they get yanked. At this point in the season the beds are made - let em play some.
The other thing is the scorching the players get when they get to the bench. I dont see many of the premier coaches rubbing a knot on anybody's head on the sideline. I think Cal can get his point across without public execution. He pretty much does this to everyone including Randle. If I was a parent of a top recruit and I saw that I would think twice about this. Am I just getting soft or do you all see that too.
Posted on 3/3/14 at 9:59 pm to GetmorewithLes
No, I would agree with you. It's clear what he has been doing for 4 months hasn't worked well with this team.
I agree, that you need to let them play and see what happens. Players get so tight worrying about getting yanked or yelled at, that they are playing too tight. Might as well try a relaxed approach tomorrow night and see how it goes.
It might relax them a bit, and who knows they might be able to make a good run to finish the season.
I agree, that you need to let them play and see what happens. Players get so tight worrying about getting yanked or yelled at, that they are playing too tight. Might as well try a relaxed approach tomorrow night and see how it goes.
It might relax them a bit, and who knows they might be able to make a good run to finish the season.
Posted on 3/3/14 at 10:18 pm to kywildcatfanone
The Florida game may be exactly what this team needs. It is a no pressure game.
Posted on 3/3/14 at 11:03 pm to kywildcatfanone
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No, I would agree with you. It's clear what he has been doing for 4 months hasn't worked well with this team.
I agree, that you need to let them play and see what happens. Players get so tight worrying about getting yanked or yelled at, that they are playing too tight. Might as well try a relaxed approach tomorrow night and see how it goes.
It might relax them a bit, and who knows they might be able to make a good run to finish the season.
Every player can't be coached or scolded in the same way. They are all different. I think that these players can't handle the scrutiny as well as that 2012 team did. The biggest difference I see with last year's and this year's team is that they don't have THAT guy. I mean Randle is good, but not THAT guy. 2010 had Wall and Cousins. Both guys could flat out dominate when it mattered. 2011 had Knight. You could just saddle up and ride his game to the FF. 2012 had at least 4 THAT guys. The last two have good players but not THAT guy. I still think that Cal didn't expect everyone from the 2012 team to leave after a season. At least not when he was recruiting them. I have listened to some call in shows, KSR and Larry Glover, since Saturday and have heard fans say they want Cal gone. That is ABSURD. The other thing I heard that was terrible was that they wanted Cal to recruit lesser talent so guys stick around. Cal has had and Elite 8, a Final Four and a NC in 4+ years.
Posted on 3/3/14 at 11:54 pm to Bho
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I have listened to some call in shows, KSR and Larry Glover, since Saturday and have heard fans say they want Cal gone. That is ABSURD
As someone who follows Alabama and Kentucky it is a pain to read the comments on any article about either of them.
If it is a national writer then 80% of the comments are fans of other teams being trolls.
If it is a local writer then all the comments are people that think we should be winning the championship every damn season. It is absurd. Kentucky has been playing basketball for 100+ years and only have 8 championships.
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The other thing I heard that was terrible was that they wanted Cal to recruit lesser talent so guys stick around
Cal has done this. The problem is they either don't pan out (Jon Hood) or they end up transferring (Darnell Dodson, Stacey Poole, Ryan Harrow, Kyle Wiltjer).
This class does have guys that will be here for 3 or 4 years. Derek Willis and Hawkins will both be here for probably 4 years and considering they are both Kentucky kids I don't think them transferring will be an issue. I hope Marcus Lee decides to stick around. He is extremely raw as a player, but could be a key guy for them in the future.
Dakari, the Harrisons, and James Young should all come back, but Young is probably gone.
The last 2 teams have also missed having DeAndre Liggins/MKG type player. A glue guy that will play his tail off on defense and will make all of the hustle plays. They both had the ability to lift the rest of the teams energy level.
This post was edited on 3/3/14 at 11:55 pm
Posted on 3/5/14 at 7:07 pm to RTR America
I heard some of Larry Glover's call in show this week, and there are fans saying Cal should go. How stupid.
If only a couple of these guys leave, and the recruiting class he has coming in holds, they will be #1 again next year.
You have to take the bad with the good with Cal and his recruiting methods. You will get more good than bad.
If only a couple of these guys leave, and the recruiting class he has coming in holds, they will be #1 again next year.
You have to take the bad with the good with Cal and his recruiting methods. You will get more good than bad.
Posted on 3/5/14 at 9:57 pm to kywildcatfanone
As I said in another thread, whether you like Cals methods or not, he got Kentucky their first National Title in over a decade and will win another sooner than later.
Posted on 3/5/14 at 10:14 pm to kywildcatfanone
I used to really like Larry Glover, but I have to say, lately I find his show to be pretty poor. He and Cal don't like each other, I think that is obvious.
Posted on 3/6/14 at 11:40 am to Bho
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I used to really like Larry Glover, but I have to say, lately I find his show to be pretty poor. He and Cal don't like each other, I think that is obvious.
Larry's show is basically awful. He has the same 4-5 callers each night and his monologue is bad as well, he really doesn't have a lot of insight UK sports at all. I do like when he has a guest like Jeff Drummond.
Posted on 3/8/14 at 11:32 am to kywildcatfanone
JDrum is probably my favorite UK writer. I was pretty bummed when he left Rivals.
Posted on 3/8/14 at 11:39 am to BluegrassBelle
Already turned it over to the women's game. Nice to see a UK not intimidated by the conference champs. And loving watching Epps blow the hell up.
Posted on 3/8/14 at 11:43 am to BluegrassBelle
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And loving watching Epps blow the hell up.
She is going to be special.
Posted on 3/8/14 at 1:17 pm to kywildcatfanone
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She is going to be special.
Harper is as well
Bigger issue is if ESPN starts giving the SEC the national pub to recruit with instead of keeping the slobber up for the ACC.
The vast majority of this team is Jr and Sr and we only have 1 sophomore right now. We need younger bodies on the floor to fill the holes after this season and next.
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