Vicky Graff Photo
John Calipari understands doubt has surfaced about what was supposed to be his “dream team” with Kentucky now in fifth place in the Southeastern Conference despite Tuesday’s win at Vanderbilt.
Kentucky had lost three of four games before the win at Vanderbilt and is now 16-6 overall and down to 17th in the national rankings. The Cats also continue to deal with injuries as freshman D.J. Wagner has missed three straight games with a sprained ankle and Tre Mitchell did not play at Vanderbilt because of back pain.
“We’ve got great kids though. They listen. I don’t get the opinion and hope. There’s a lot of hope for us in this game, especially when you heard Tre was out. All of a sudden the hope was ‘Ooh, they’re going to take a spill.’ These guys, I just keep telling them, ‘Don’t buy into any of the stuff. Don’t listen to it. You stick together,’” Calipari said Tuesday night.
“I’ve done this a long, long time, the ups and downs of this, that’s what it is. It’s just, at Kentucky, the ups are like, don’t sleep for two days, and the downs are ‘I’m going to kill everybody. Everybody needs to leave.’ That’s what it is,” Calipari said.
Calipari said if you coach or play at Kentucky you have to deal with the fan expectations.
“Because it’s not changing, and I’d imagine it’s been that way for 50 years,” Calipari said. “It doesn’t faze me because I’m not listening or looking. I don’t do social media other than put stuff out. I won’t look at anything because it’s not going to affect me.
“Like I said, I’m going to have joy, no one will steal my joy because I’ve got a good team and a good bunch of kids and they’re for each other. So you’re not stealing my joy. Say I’m the worst in America ever, OK, I agree, can we move on now. Get on to something serious.”
13 Responses
If he doesn’t read it, how does he know what is being said, other than the fact every sports program from kiddy ball on up has complainers. Having said that, I try very hard not to pick on the players. They are still kids in a lot of ways. They are not professionals in a lot of ways, even though, by definition they are. We have a great group of kids. They play together. They bring energy, on offense, and seem to really want to win. I like the kids on this team, but I don’t care for Calipari in the slightest. In my opinion, when you are making 20 times the salary of the average person in your state, and those same people are spending their hard earned money to support your program and pay your salary, don’t berate your fans, talk down to them, and pretend you are the greatest thing since sliced bread! My biggest complaint on Calipari is that he pretends to care about the program, but he doesn’t truly care about the history of UK Basketball. His main concern is how many players he can put in the NBA, period. That’s just how it looks to me. I could be wrong, but he hasn’t done much to make me think otherwise.
You have got it.
His priority has been pushing kids into the NBA (or any other paying playing situation) as quickly and as often as he can, the program be DA#%ED
Califraudi is the problem and not the solution. The constant lies, drama, mystery sickness and injuries, constant running of the Spin cycle on everything, no coaching, under coaching, lack of game time adjustments to the basics. I do hope that he gets tired of the well earned negativity he has mfg. for this program and decides to leave sooner than later.
They all have rabbit ears..but act like they don’t..
Yep, that’s right CAL, as coach at KY, u have to deal with fan expectations, and yep , it has been there for the past 50 yrs, and the 70 before that, and will be for the next 100 long after you’re gone! You’re the next in line–there was a day when he supposedly didn’t view that in the way he does now–he used to view that as a badge of honor, like an ambassador, but I guess that’s alot easier to do when your going through major successful years like the first half of his time here. Remember his State of the Commonwealth addresses he used to deliver every year at Big Blue Madness? "We don’t move the needle, we ARE the needle"! I guess its easier Todo all that from 2009-2017……Again, that’s what makes BBN what it is, and why one man will never be bigger than the program, even if he believes it, and even if the A.D. believes it—CAL has his place in the legacy, history, and tradition just like every other coach here, and he has earned that–he has won a championship here just like all the others who are in the rafters–and there was a day when I do believe he did at least entertain his spot in the legacy and the tradition of UK BBALL and his role as the ambassador of that–even if his personal feelings about it maybe didn’t jive with it–he still at least honored that and used that as part of his recruiting campaigns. But as we know, today it’s not about any of that. There’s only one coach who has won multiple championships in the 121-yr history, the man who founded this bball program, the one who gave birth to the history and tradition, the man whose name is on the arena floor–he is the only man who could make a claim of being "bigger than the program", so to speak–but it’s because he was the founder–the Godfather……CAL, sorry buddy, u ain’t the Godfather, as much as that may crush your massive ego. Get past the first weekend of the tournament this year, then maybe we’ll talk……..
Swaggy is pulling the Edwards story. Hmm.
What’s more important cat fans NBA or NCAA banners. Posted by Tommy Hientz.
This should have been posted pre 2020 or Covid.
I’m pretty sure he’s reading the fans comments are he wouldn’t be referring to the criticism as part of the job at Kentucky. He brings this on himself and then wants to act like people are attacking the players that play for him. No way coach, this is about you being held accountable. You being held responsible for the decline in Kentucky basketball. You being more concerned with NBA players than winning the SEC or NCAA championships. So stop playing the victim and look in the mirror at the problem people have with our Wildcat program! Finally admit you are the responsible party for the team you put out there on the court.
The kids are the ones that suffer because of all the negativity. If you don’t think it affects them you’re in denial. I don’t get it. The whining won’t change anything. It doesn’t help the players confidence reading the narcissists. Hopefully it pulls them together and they shut some pie holes. Go Cats!
Jimmy,I have no problem them picking on Cal and I have as well. But when it comes to players that another thing there humans like us. Some of our negative Sayers are pointing at some of our players and it’s wrong. It’s nature they have no clue what there going through in college life and they don’t take that in perspective. Life is more than about basketball and this team has shown it. There’s no room for negativity talk about our players. If they knew it was there son as well this stuff wouldn’t be said
Jimmy! Jimmy!! I didn’t tell you to start acting like a shrink, I told you to go see a shrink. If you are so worried about the kids, join the real Kentucky fans in getting rid of Calipari. The sooner we get rid of the fraud, the better it will be for everyone. Down with the fraud! In with Mark Pope!
I’m just going to call it Barry. You’re a self-centered whiney crybaby that doesn’t know his hind end from a hole in the ground. I hope Cal never leaves as long as you and your cronies are around. I love hearing supposedly grown men cry. You should have been taught not to whine when you don’t get your way.
Don’t be surprised if Mark Few steals it tomorrow.
Well just don’t bet you house on it, if that’s what you think.