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Frustration is an emotion all Kentucky basketball fans are feeling following the team’s 63-53 loss to the UCLA Bruins at Madison Square Garden in the CBS Sports Classic on Saturday night.
The loss was the same story fans have seen in every “big” game this season. A flat offense accompanied by missed free throws and hero ball holding the Wildcats back from winning a game over a quality opponent they defended considerably well.
Chris Livingston had his coming out party, scoring a team-high 14 points on 5-8 shots in 24 minutes, but only Sahvir Wheeler joined him in double-figure scoring (11 on 5-7 shots) while the rest of the team combined to score 28 points on 11-49 shooting.
The Wildcats shot just 28% from downtown and missed more free throws than they made (5-13) in just a 10-point loss. Most of their three point shots were wide open and free throws are called “free” for a reason.
Yet Kentucky couldn’t cash in, as they’ve struggled to all season.
When head coach John Calipari and his team walk in to an arena, they’re instantly viewed as the superior. Kentucky as a program and Calipari as a coach have both earned that right with their combined history.
But now, unless it’s a smaller school that Kentucky has invited to play at Rupp Arena or an in-conference game played at home, Kentucky is now often the inferior team. And that’s not just based on this season. In fact, can you name more than five quality wins for Kentucky since 2020?
Even before COVID, the Wildcats saw shortcomings in both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments. Kentucky has not made a Final Four since 2015. Calipari hasn’t reached an Elite Eight since 2017 and is 16-23 against Top-25 opponents (including postseason) during that span.
When you’re a decorated program like Kentucky and have a Hall of Fame coach like Calipari, the standard is be the best. A record below .500 against ranked teams is far from that.
As far as this season goes, Kentucky has their work cut out for them. While it feels like they have had an opportunity to win games like Saturday night, the reality is they can’t.
Is that a problem that can be fixed? Fans will have to wait and see. In the meantime, Kentucky will prepare for conference play and do their best to move forward with a winning attitude.
27 Responses
Solution: Fire Barnhardt. Then fire Calipari. NOTHING will change until those 2 things happen.
I agree 100%
I also agree that both probably must go before the basketball problem can be fixed, but Barnhart can fix it if he has the will.
Calipari should be "asked to retire" (TOLD) from the bench immediately. Give him whatever fancy title that Barnhart imagined for this fraud when Barnhart gave him the lifetime deal, and hire a real basketball coach who will place the success of this program above the NBA Draft night.
Prof, Calipari must have some dirt on Barnhardt. I don’t see Barnhardt firing Calipari or asking him to retire either. Barnhardt was a fool for giving Calipari such a ridiculous contract to begin with. It’s time to clean house in the athletic department.
I did not say Barnhart will tell him to retire, I said he should.
I know he won’t.
People I talk with about this all start as do you with Barnhart’s removal.
My only thought is that the program could come out of this in better condition if Barnhart would step forward and fix his problem properly.
Didn’t UK reach an Elite Eight in 2019 and lose to Auburn? Otherwise, hard to argue with the points made.
Simply SAD. They play like a bunch if guys out on a park court for a pickup game. no plan of attack. just have wheeler run as fast as he can end to end and lose the ball He had 6 assists and same 6 TO. Cal has 10 talented players and he only uses 7. n benches thier best shooter if he ever gets the chance C J played 6 minutes. disgusring. were seeing anoher Dontae Allen haooending he can play the point under cotrol.
Why not Collins. he was awesome in Bahamas and cant get off bench . N 7 footer owhan the blocker 1 minute, Disgusting. and once again mr hustle . Theiop hasnt played but a few minutes all year. u cant tell me CJ woould have made more 3; then Tonio or anyone. Toppin sat on benchover half the game. and how many times we lose because u cant make FT’s especiall the front end on 1 n1. play the platoon and find out wh0 can do what
PERIOD
I’ve jump to the bandwagon with you guys. It’s time for a change our program is a sinking ship.
Welcome! This doesn’t mean you’re not a UK fan. We all are. We just know Cal isn’t the man to lead our basketball program anymore. He honestly doesn’t care about winning games or losing games at UK.
He can lose all he wants and get paid the same amount. He set it up that way because his number one goal is getting players to the NBA!
After being a fan for 55+ years, even staying up to watch the rerun at 11:00, listening on the radio when game wasn’t televised, etc. I can truly say, I just don’t care about UK Basketball anymore. I cannot stand all the BS from Calipari and that disdain has grown stronger year after year. Cal’s goal is the NBA Green Room, not winning ball games, at least not enough to make the changes he needs to make. He thinks he knows everything about basketball and is unwilling to change to fit the players he has. Cal has a mold for each position, and if you don’t fit, it doesn’t work. Cal is not the "adjusting your style" coach that he is in his dreams.
It’s too bad there isn’t a transfer portal for fans. Rupp Arena would be half empty and none of the games would be televised. I guess that is what it’s going to take to get UK administration to move on Barnhardt and then on Calipari. By then, it won’t matter. Too many in BBN will have found other teams, other sports, and other things to occupy their time since the University has simply turned its back on its fans. I know the entitled, self serving bluebloods in the ivory tower in Lexington don’t read these posts, but if they ever should wonder where all of the fan support for KY basketball disappeared to, all they will have to do is search the archives of your site Larry. I know there are still a group who support Calipari only because they are afraid of getting another Billy Clyde, but even many of them will be disappearing after another 10 plus loss season that includes first or second game exits from the SEC tourney and the Big Dance. You can only support a mediocre program for so long and then you don’t care who they bring in as a replacement because you aren’t watching anymore.
This ship has been taking on water for many years. The slide became discernable following the 2015 debacle ending, but 2014 was not a great year, despite the "lightning in the bottle" finish. 2010, 2011, and 2014 ended with lackluster performances against weaker opponents, costing the program at least a final four in 2010 and championships in 2011, 2014, and 2015.
Since 2015, this program has been on a steady, measurable decline. Yes, some seasons have been marginally better than the previous season, but overall, the program has been in a slide.
As it slips further down the slope to mediocrity, the slide gains momentum, and stopping the slide becomes more and more difficult. This slippage has gained considerable momentum in the last 2 or 3 seasons.
The future is grim so long as this imposter that calls himself a coach remains in that seat and his list of future NBA millionaires continues to lengthen, which is all this guy uses to measure his success. That has absolutely nothing to do with the program’s success.
Looks like the GOLD standard is looking a lot like the LEAD standard.
Avid UK Fan since 1964…I have never said a negative word about UK or Calapari…however, the time has come to state unequivocally that it’s time for a change…I see other programs like Tennessee, Auburn, Villanova(under Jay Wright),etc move their programs forward by creating a fun offense that let’s their players play in a modern scheme of basketball…I get embarrassed watching Calapari’s antics on the sidelines while the game is progressing instead of teaching/coaching during practice time…many of these issues should have been addressed beforehand not during a game…it becomes a show for Calapari ranting at players with these antics and does not instill confidence with the players…everyone is playing not to make a mistake that would incur Calamari’s wrath…there is too much dribbling and not enough passing or teamwork…I am terribly disappointed by the results…the players come and go but the results remain the same…Something has to change
The solution is simple. All Barnhart has to do is require Calipari to hire an Assistant Coach that is considered an expert when it comes to teaching fundamentals and X’s & O’s. Between Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, and Kansas, I’m certain there’s a high school or small college coach that is highly qualified. But the challenge would be getting Calipari to let the man take the lead over the team in practice!
What’s funny and true about your comment is I saw a first year coach in Hubert Davis , do just that a year ago. With only several seconds left in the National Championship game a year ago, North Carolina called a time out to set up a final play. As Love and his teammates come to the huddle, Hubert Davis assistant coach grabs a clipboard and draws up the final shot. While this is going on Hubert Davis is encouraging the players in the huddle, and re-affirming that what his assistant coach is telling them is what they need to do. Go watch the tape it happened that exact way! I’ve been a long time Cal supporter, and a huge fan of his work. I played college basketball, and understand how tough a coaches job really is. However I bleed Blue and I can’t take watching these games anymore. When I made a decision Saturday to go to the outlet mall and Christmas shop instead of watching UK play freaking UCLA, I knew then I can no longer defend Cal! I wish he would change and hire an X’s & O’s coach, but he won’t, and will be here again next season with an even more talented group asking the same questions.
Started listening to UK basketball on my granddads knee and Rupp was coach! I just don’t watch or listen to the Cats anymore. It’s So Sad that UK has the College Player of the year on this team. He should have transferred to a real basketball school.
I am so sick and tired of the same ole same ole offense with little winning results. We can beat the small teams but look like a small team ourselves when we play the big boys. I am 80 years old and have been a fan since Adolph Rupp. To watch the decline in our basketball program over the years, saddens me. We truly have become mediocre and irrelevant. A joke. To me, the 2015 Final Four was the true beginning of our decline/demise. I was at that game and was truly shocked. Calipari must go. And I don’t care for Barnhart either. Clean them all out. And I know some of you will say, well, "Who, then?" My answer to that is get a young vibrant innovative-minded coach. They can’t be any worse. Play to WIN. Not feed the NBA. We are a disgrace led by a disgraceful pseudo-coach. So sad.
Thank you UKKathy for sharing your views on this troubling situation. You touched all the bases that I have been circling for years around here.
Cal will not be relieved of his duties until all us fans get together and boycott UK basketball. We must not attend games or watch them only when the university starts losing money will they act. This team is not that good and is assembled by Cal so he should be held accountable.
Thomas is right. As much as I love the University of Kentucky and Wildcat basketball, UK administration needs to be served notice that BBN is not going to stand for this any longer. That means not going to games, not watching them play on TV, not listening to them play on the radio, not going to the SEC tourney, and not attending post season games of any kind. When the money dries up, the University will reluctantly move on this. We can come back to support the team under a new coach next season.
I disagree 100% with “this team isn’t that good!”. Actually you’re wrong and that’s the whole problem. This team is that good, and has more talent 1-10 then any other program in the country today. This team is loaded from top to bottom, with the returning player of the year! Our issue is who’s coaching these players up! I will
Never take anything away from Cal, and how he assembles talent. What our issue is how he coaches these kids. Currently we’re the all “Airport Team”! We look the part , our credentials say we’re good, our warm up before the game looks right, but once the ball tips all that goes away when Cal opens his mouth. I played college basketball as did my wife, and neither one of us ever played for a coach who screamed “Run Run!” And then “Stop Stop slow it up!”. Cal is a control freak who won’t play to these players strengths. We have two players on our team with 40 plus inch verticals, and we can’t turn a simple back door alley oop! Or we can’t figure out how to hedge on screens and defend good shooters. Simple IQ things I was taught in high school, that translate at every level. Point Blank the talent is there, the coaching is not!!
The solution is rather easy. Hire Tom Izzo or Bill Self. Ta Da
Neither would come here even at Calipari’s salary.
Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different outcomes. Cats ballgames are fitting the “same thing over and over” model. If Coach K had the raw talent that UK regularly recruits, he would have crafted unbeatable teams. Ditto Roy Williams, Izzo and a few other coaches. The hunger to win seems to be gone from the TEAM while still sometimes present in one or two players.
The times they are a changing and coaches must change with the times if they want to win.
Wanna hear something crazy? Hire Pitino again!
Now that would be something Chuck — but Mitch would coach himself before he would do that