Cason Wallace is one of the highly-rated additions to this year's Kentucky team. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky basketball continues to make national news for all the wrong reasons.
This time it was New York Post college basketball columnist Zach Brazier who wrote about how the “proud, powerhouse program fades” under coach John Calipari.
He correctly noted that if UK does not make the NCAA Tournament, it would mean zero NCAA wins in the last three years — something that has not happened at UK since 1988-91 and that was due to a ban on postseason play.
“It’s fair to wonder if Calipari, despite his recruiting prowess, has lost his fastball at the age of 64. He certainly isn’t bringing it like he once did. There is no other explanation for this team to find itself in its current predicament,” Brazier wrote before listing the returning talent UK had this year, including player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe, along with talented newcomers.
With a “pedestrian” resume at best for UK, Brazier wrote what a bad look for Calipari it is that Bryce Hopkins has gone from barely playing at UK last year to potentially the Big East Player of the Year at Providence this year.
“Kentucky could use him this year,” Brazier correctly pointed out.
Brazier believes UK could still play its way into the NCAA, a belief I am not sure some UK fans still have after the Georgia loss.
“Consistency, however, has escaped Calipari and Co. Kentucky still has a few weeks left to find it. Otherwise, it will create some unwanted history, and the heat on the coach will increase significantly,” Brazier wrote.
“If not for a big finish, more and more questions will arise about his ability to win big again, despite the top-ranked recruiting class he has coming in next year. This team’s problem, after all, doesn’t feel like a talent issue.”
15 Responses
How can Cal not play and develop 2 almost 7 foot tall Blockers, Collinc n Owensyo who can actually shoot the ball. make FT’s. not getting any playing time. Especially when stats prove that opponents score most of their points deep in the paint.
AINT ROCKET SCIENCE CAL
Too stubborn to change and adjust talent he has .
Look at players in NBA that are stars but not played enough at uk. If a guy can score 40pts a game let him do it ! Don’t hold back talent .
He does resist change
The real heat on Cal is all self imposed, like any great coach, he is obsessed with finishing on top.
Great coaches should feel that way
If uk doesn’t play to suit you anti ky fans…. go back to your favorite team Louisville. Go big blue.
Think it is easy to see why fans are upset Ed. Does not mean they are not fans
💯❗️
Thanks Larry.
This idea that anyone who questions what has been happening to OUR program under Calipari is not a fan is insulting to a huge portion of the Big Blue Nation.
How dare you say such things.
This is not about the fans.
This is not about the current or former players.
This is about a coach that has taken this program down and continues to do so.
There are no acceptable explanations for what has happened to the program, and those of us that are groping to find plausible explanations are doing so because of our concern for the program.
Woof woof woof. Win and in.
Cal loves to play his favorites and can’t figure out what to do with the talent he has. If you are really players first, then Oscar should be at the 4 learning , he sure won’t play the 5 next year. We have 3 bigs that can play above the rim!
Everybody but Calipari sees this.
This article is trash
Click Bait!