Despite a 12-loss season, John Calipari is not going anywhere. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It has been 48 hours since I pulled out of Greensboro late Sunday night. The 7-hour trip home was filled with a one-way conversation with the only person in my car, myself.
I cannot say I was distraught after the loss on Sunday. I did not go into my usual after basketball season ended “funk.” The emotion was, “oh well seven months until October.”
I could write about the highlights of the season. However there were just two that brought me joy, Tennessee and Arkansas away games. The rest were lowlights.
There were also those questions that no one will possibly ever know the answers to:
Wheeler hurts ankle. He will return in a few weeks. Wheeler has surgery and misses Senior night. Amazing that a chartered plane can be rescheduled but a surgery cannot. Wheeler informs the media he is ready to go against Providence. Calipari informs the media he will not play.
We lost to South Carolina and Vanderbilt at home.
“I need to play him more,” never comes off the bench the next three games.
This list goes on and on.
How do we move forward?
The fan base needs to realize that Calipari is not going anywhere. It is a waste of space to call for his firing. Although the buyout is down to around $40 million that is not chump change. The top recruiting class in the nation will be arriving on campus in a few short months.
Could this be Cal’s last year? That is another one of those questions that no one can answer — not even Cal himself.
There will be stories that will be told over the summer months perhaps answering the lingering questions on what was so dysfunctional about this team. In the long run it doesn’t matter. It’s over.
Take a long breath BBN. Remember the good times and be kind.
See you in Toronto (for summer basketball).
20 Responses
What went wrong is John Calipari being on the sideline and we face the same issue next season. I hope next season is the ending to what’s wrong with KY basketball but I’m worried that it’s not.
The only thing that is going to help Kentucky’s future is getting ride of the NBA recruiting person that calls himself a coach, until then no matter how many top classes you have outcome will never change till this happens. It’s a shame to cause eventually top recruits are gonna see this and then what?
There won’t be answers because no one in the press corps with access to this coach will ask the tough questions and insist on answers.
There won’t be answers because this coach simply ducks out of appearances when he feels the heat rising.
There will be no answers because this coach is not accountable.
Probably will be no more opportunities for anyone local to ask him questions until UK plays in Canada or right before then in July
The answer is that Cal coaches games hoping to allow his players to show they are worthy of being drafted. PERIOD!!!
They don’t have to win to show potential and that is what the NBA drafts on.
Cal wants players in the NBA as soon as possible. That’s what he lives for. He has even said that his life’s goal to help kids get rich as quick as possible. He hasn’t figured out they can get rich and have fun winning at the same time.
Winning for UK is way down Cal’s list of importance. He has stated many times that the SEC tournament isn’t important. If the coach feels that way, how can he convince the players that giving your all every time you step on the floor is mandatory???
He can’t because it’s not important to him. Just showcase yourself.
That’s why he never plays zone because the NBA doesn’t so it’s not important to him, even if it means losing a game.
I used to could not wait until football season was over. Now I hope it never ends.
Stoops brings much more enthusiasm and joy to BBN than Cal does at this point in his career. Cal knows it and it probably eats him up inside.
Stoops embraces the fans and it truly upsets him after we lose. He doesn’t bail on media responsibilities after a loss and answers tough questions.
He seems legit and genuine.
It’s the complete opposite of Cal.
I don’t understand talking about Wheeler. The
"Basketball Benny’s" wanted him right where he was, on the bench. My guess is Cal didn’t play him because he knew the vulchers would pounce if he played and the Cats lost.
Nah, we are too busy pouncing on Calipari lovers like you Jim.
You and your kind are crybaby sissies. Get someone to change your depend.
We can talked and talked, but Cal not going no where. I think its time move on and cheer on the baseball and softball teams.
Simple not enough talent from the bench some of it was mental state with all the ugly comments made by some fans Do people not know negative plus negative= Negative what’s wrong with people Why do people not understand by all your negativity It’s you people that’s gonna cause Noone to want to play here Noone needs to feel like they’re under a microscope instead of blaming Cal and the wildcats blame your negative ass attitude
Dear Jim and Janice,
If you want to route for a team that rewards participation versus outcomes, Kentucky is not the school for you. For those whom much has been given…lifetime contract, $10/year, coaching for what used to be a premier program in college basketball…much is expected. When performance doesn’t meet expectations year after year, negativity is sure to follow. The problem here is the lifetime contract with the mega million dollar buyout. If not for that, Calipari would have already been fired.
P.S. Jim, I can’t tell the difference between your a$$ and your face, but I would suspect that your a$$ has more intelligence in it than what is behind your face.
Everyone should get their facts straight. Calipari’s contract ends after the 2028-29 season. Not when he dies. Everyone is jealous of the money Cal makes. Get off welfare and get a job.
Well said Barry
$10 million /year
I don’t know how any of you can still sit here and defend Cal after he has proven you all wrong so many times he doesn’t even give you anything to defend him with. I mean you can say that we didn’t have the talent but I disagree Tennessee is about to go to the Elite 8 we beat them twice Arkansas is still playing we beat them at home without Wallace. It’s knowing how to coach your players in game situations like when you can’t hit a jump shot to save your Damn life you should attack the rim especially with Oscar down there drawing a crowd from the rim, but nope let’s just step back 5 fr and keep throwing up bricks. Just one example. And then quit selling your Damn players to the NBA. Instead of basically telling Oscar he won’t be back next year try to bring him back with Livingston and Reeves then with what you have coming in you actually would have a true final 4 team. It’s that simple but I’m sure you will argue why all 3 of those guys should leave and we’ll win a National Championship with the 5 freshman we have coming in because we do that all the time..
I have said this for the last 6-7 years. Talent rules all… at least it does at UK. I’m not a big believer in coincidences… meaning… the years we had true talent we did well by years end… the years we didnt… we suffered. Cal doesn’t do well without talent. Plus… the game has changed and Cal hasn’t. Even other college coaches have as much said so. Cal created the one and done and I personally don’t have an issue with it… IF you continue to recruit and get the cream of the crop! Next year will be interesting with a class with alot of talent coming to town. I will say it now… barring injuries… who comes back… anything less than a final 4 is another lost season. Just my opinion.
Cats4 life I don’t totally disagree with what your saying but I can’t completely agree either, meaning are you actually saying that Cal has not had the talent at UK to win at least 2 more championships? Because I believe that we have all seen that #1 Recruiting classes means absolutely nothing if you can’t coach them right or you plan on playing them all 1 year and then kicking them out for the next class. Point being if you are a College coach at a school like UK and you are 100% invested in the school winning then you would not talk every player on the team to leave for the NBA when you could bring just 1,2 back and compete for a final 4 or better. And other than the 2012 team this is the first time Cal has got an opportunity to change that. If he was to get Livingston, Reeves and possibly Oscar to come back with the players coming in next year that would be a legit Championship caliber team. If you look at it on paper it even looks like the 2012 team Very similar. But I Guarantee you that Livingston, Oscar and probably Reeves will all be gone… And we will waste yet another #1 recruiting class.. Its just old and proven to fail. If I am wrong please explain…