Vicky Graff Photo
I had hoped that this letter would never have to be written. It is with sadness that I write these words. Not sadness for you or myself but sadness for a nation, the Big Blue Nation.
Relationships have their ups and downs. The key to success is after struggles you work together to change what needs to be changed, communicate and move upward again. I honestly feel your relationship with the fan base of Kentucky has reached rock bottom and there is no repair.
I will always be thankful to you for bringing back the “magic” of Kentucky basketball. You brought with you John Wall, Demarcus Cousins and crew making the Cats relevant in your first year here. You were embraced and loved, some might say you were deemed a savior.
Thank you for the 2012 National Championship team. Kentucky cut down the nets and you proudly displayed the trophy from Pikeville to Paducah. Those were good times.
People often become too comfortable in their own role. They forget that a team is a “we” and not an “I.” You win together you lose together. You own your mistakes and realize the fault lies within yourself. You have reached the point where it is impossible for you to accept any blame.
Kentucky basketball is known as one of the best fan bases in America. You embraced them at first. However you have become condescending to those that adored you. You live for moments to prove those that question your coaching that they were wrong. You publicly call out media and fans on a regular basis. You show up when things are good and disappear when things are bad. You have changed. The fan base has not.
The differences you have made in the lives of young men is one of your greatest accomplishments. It is to be applauded. It should also be remembered that many Kentucky players before you went to the NBA and were successful. Since those players were not yours, they are rarely mentioned.
Now is a turning point for Kentucky basketball. We are not relevant. The fan base is falling apart and I fear that if you stay it will only get worse.
Sometimes it is just time to walk away from a relationship. This is your time. You can take your recruits and start fresh at another school. Kentucky will survive. After all, we are Kentucky.
I wish you the very best. Thank you for all you have done for this state. It will always be appreciated and remembered. It is time to say goodbye.
Sincerely,
Tina
203 Responses
The minute you think you are bigger than UK as a whole , you are sadly mistaken. I’m sick of the constant spin , the twisting of words , excuses for everything, and the constant slighting of this fan base. I’m sick of blaming " youth " for losing as if you have nothing to do with why they are young. You recruited them. He is a bullshit artist. He said in press Conference after yet another embarrassing loss that we play against 24 and 25 year old s. I think he’s full of s%it. You can always tell a politician, especially today.. Always a victim…I’m sick of it. He’s not an admirable person.
Good bye Coach Cal !! Thanks for all You did in Your first few years at Big Blue but the time has come for you to move on !! You feel as tho you are bigger than Big Blue Nation ?!! Good Bye !!! Mitch Needs to Step Up !!! Harry B.
I’m not a fair weather fan. I love our cats. That being said, it’s time for Calipari to go. It seems that all UK runs is a training facility for the NBA. It’s got to change.
He basically said that in an interview before Thursday’s game.
All he does is circle talk to the press and blames everyone but him self
I agree with all the comments. Unfortunately when I listen to his post games I only dislike him more. Tired of him never answering a question head on. He wants you to believe he is bringing this talent in from the poorest and most poverty stricken areas. His I’m helping get these young men get to the NBA and better their families is getting old. That’s all he’s been about. The not caring about the SEC tournament and only worried about seeding is slap in the face of all fans. To say he was disappointed for the fans was crap!! He should have had those men ready to play and he did not. Not a great in game adjustr and it has shown. For all the talent that has come thru and to only have one title is on him. It’s him, not the " Well we’re young " comments. Tired as a fan and tired of him.
Ditto
Mitch needs to be fired. He is the one that gave Coach Cal the live time contract.
This is a stupid comment. At the time, we were coming off a historic season. There were no signs of problems.
Further, Matt Jones doesn’t understand the contract. It isn’t 33 million paid today, it’s in installments monthly through 2029. It’s like 6 mil a year. Affordable for Kentucky. Nobody wants to pay it, but it’s not like they have to send him on the way and the program is broke. The contract for Fisher at TXAM was at once, Cal’s isn’t. There is a difference. Not to mention, every other sport has grown tremendously. Nobody cried about the contract at the time, and people were screaming don’t let him leave no matter what.
I agree 100%
You are right Mitch need to go to
After he signed that lifetime contract he stop trying to win games ,now it’s all about his self you can blame Barnhill for giving him that contract, I watch every game this year if you notice especially the Oakland game Shepherd kept watching the coach he was afraid to do anything because he knew if he made a mistake he would be out off the game and how many times was he open nobody would get him the ball if I was Shepherd and Perry I would transfer to South Carolina and play with that other kid from Kentucky
I completely agree. Reed is amazing and it appears Cal shut down his shooting and evidently told them to not pass to him. It all seemed to happen mid-season. I know there is story there.
He will make millions in the NBA. Why GO to SC?
Dirks— I am sure you’re an admirable person, and that entitles you to judge others’ character. I don’t follow Kentucky, so I don’t know if his coaching ability has not been good enough for you and the Legion of Cats, but don’t question his character. He can take his $33 million and find a job in a millisecond and you know it..
Character does not come in the form of $33 million dollars. Character hasn’t mattered in years when hiring coaches. University of Houston didn’t think it was important.
Mike—Im sure you’re an admirable person, and that entitles you to judge others’ character. I DO FOLLOW KY, so I know that his coaching ability hasn’t been good enough for us "LEGION OF CATS"—but don’t question Dierks’ character. CAL can take his $33 million and find another job in a millisecond, and I KNOW IT! and I will be the happiest man in the world if he does JUST THAT! IDC what he does or where he goes as long as he leaves this state. Don’t be mad because someone called him out for being who he really is: a politician at heart and in action based on what he spits out to the team, to the fans, to the athletic dept, to the university, to the media, to the state. The way he runs the team and the players he plays and doesn’t play is all based on playing for NBA draft stocks and promises made behind closed doors preseason to said players and their families. He was called out correctly: a BULLSHITTER. and BULLSHITTERS can take themselves on somewhere else in my opinion. I have no use for them.
And P.S.: If u DONT follow KY like u say u don’t, then why the hell are u on a KY sports website insinuating yourself into a conversation about a subject that u know nothing about??? If u DONT follow KY and u are so butt-hurt over the way fans feel Abt John Calipari, then stay the hell out–go on somewhere!!!! That sounds like to me–hmmmmm 🤔–A BULLSHITTER!!!!
Send him back to Memphis
Amen! He’s always reminded me of a sleazy Side Show Carnival Man selling Snake Oil. Every big loss is “ our team didn’t want it bad enough” or “ wait until you see next year’s class.” It’s NEVER him, always something else. He gets Out Coached by those who know how to Coach/ set up plays, something he apparently can’t or won’t do. Regardless of who they play, it’s the same old Man to Man, because that’s the EASY way.
He’s learned Politics thing from his Left Wing Buddies (Barack Obama & Bill Clinton). I guess HIS friends are his business, but UK Basketball is a business as well, and one that’s been for going down the drain for quite awhile. He ain’t doing this job for his health. If all UK wants to do is LOSE, there’s lots of cheaper options out there.
1 championship in his career that spans 3 decades or more. He’s no genius
He said he’s won championships. PLURAL.
He’s slipping cognitively.
Obviously when you have to embellish accomplishments you know you are failing…
SEC Championships and NCAA Championships. Its not completely Wrong
That’s true!!!
Ncaa championships? He has 1
How many championships does other coaches have. 99 percent don’t have any. Pearl??? Barnes???? Nate???? Not taking up for Cal however we’re there other big upsets from teams that should have won???? Tournaments are different that season. Lose a game in a season you play two days later. Lose in tournament your done. How many top 25 teams are still in tournament???? I use to play basketball. Coaches can prepare you all they can but if team doesn’t execute or cold shooting its not coaches fault. How many close in shots did we miss in that game??? A lot. Three’s weren’t dropping and I will say something I haven’t seen anyone say. I think Dillingham was a ball hog in most games. He saved us some but hurt us to. If it was close he seem to forget about teammates and thought he was the only one who could save the game. Should Cal go in stay. I don’t know but I don’t think he wants to lose. What coach does???
sadly when he got here, he said SEC championships mean nothing so now he wants to include them? hmmmmm….. Rose colored glasses retrospectively….
Mitch needs to goooooooo
I look for him to stay 2-3 more years and then maybe just retire
I’m a Tennessee Fan as I live there but work in Big Blue Nation 💙 I’ve never seen better Fans then Kentucky! Coach Cal had No emotion in one of the worst games being played. I would have been thrown out trying to get my team motivated. They were not prepared for the game it was all about coach Cal. Honestly most time he doesn’t even wear school colors . Bye Coach 👋
I’m a UK fan that lives in TN. I’d love to see what Barnes & Pearl could do with the talent Cal has brought into Rupp Arena. Cal gets outcoached every time he sets foot on a court, Mr. Man to Man / NBA Recruiter. Who cares? They’ve done nothing for UK.Fans are crazy if they still buy tickets after this, Cal & MB have shown us what WE mean to THEM!!
He’s a con man
Correction. Titles. PLURAL
Wow, The way the team played was not Cals fault, the unforced turnovers, the missed shots, the unbelievable game the 3 point shooter had taking shots neither Curry or James would have even attempted and touching nothing but net. To blame Cal for that is in my openion pathetic and scapegoating the coach and not the players that were playing worse than ever. If you don’t believe Cal was totally crushed and hurting like never before you are crazy.
Different perspective Danny but think lot of frustration is that this has happened too often
AMEN! And thank you, Danny! Coach Cal was not the one out there on the floor missing shots, making turnovers. I am tired of hearing it!
I guess I’m crazy. CAL doesn’t lose a wink of sleep over this loss or any other loss or anything period–and he’s got it made no matter what happens. He can either continue masterminding his con game over BBN or he can put 35 million in his pocket–either way, he is good. CAL has no emotion. ZERO. That’s the classic definition of a narcissist. All these people who are defending him either don’t follow and keep up with him regularly or are not UK fans, or they just don’t mind losing–in any case,again I say why the hell are u on here worried about it and telling other fans how they shld feel and calling them crazy? The fans have a right to feel how they want to–so here’s a thought: LEAVE EM ALONE!!! If they want him gone, what’s it to you? Get over it!!!! But don’t worry, all those who love him so much, don’t fret, bcause he will return once again, and continue on with the losing results that u all enjoy oh so very much…….
In business world management you are told "we don’t want excuses, we want results". Failure to perform, be it yourself or those you manage, and you are history.
Cal has not performed for several years. UK has been extremely lenient with him, much more than the business world would have been.
He took 3 different teams to a final 4, and 2 to championships. He’s a hall of famer. He was a great coach. But as all good things, it comes to an end.
He has never been a great coach. He always had a lot of money to buy the best basketball players in the nation and then couldn’t turn them into a team. Did it everywhere he has been.
Amen Dirk. No one is God, and he seems to have a "God complex". Time to travel. Coach!
Sorry, but this fraud never embraced the UK fan base. Rather, he has held the fan base with disdain and disrespect since his arrival.
The Basketball Benny thing was one of his first demonstrations of this disrespect, and it has expanded exponentially since 2010.
As I have been saying for far too many years, this fraud’s priorities are all wrong. That is at the heart of this problem, and what we have witnessed in the last few years is simply the logical conclusions of his priority tied to moving this premadonna kids to the NBA draft night as quickly, and in as many numbers as possible, and then feigning a personal claim for their individual good fortunes.
This fraud sees himself in a self righteous manner as the MAN who made that possible for these poor kids and their poor families. He sees himself as a social justice warrior.
He must go, and I can only hope at this point that his exit will not be too late.
As a former Cat fan…the fan base is insufferable. It is not remotely "the best". It is temperamental and holds its own disdain for any criticism it may receive. Essentially, everything you accuse Cal of, the fan base is just as guilty of.
Yep. How do you think they’ll act when the next guy has to come in and rebuild? You think it’s bad now? LMAO, the clowns would torch Lexington. I love the cats, but the fan base here is godawful.
What other team in college basketball is louder on the road than the home team on a regular basis. The fans expect alot, but they would do anything for the Cats. To say the fan base is awfulnis stupid. They keep taking over arena in tournaments only to be showed the door after 1 game.
Absolutely true. BBN is a shameful laughingstock of the nation, no better than UL. They want to look down their noses at Little Brother’s fans, but they are no better. How quickly they forget everything Calipari does year after year for disadvantaged people in the state and those affected by tragedy. He personally answers every letter sent to him. And my question to those who criticize his pride in helping kids get to the NBA is " what if it were your kid who had a chance to make generational wealth and his coach didn’t lift a finger to help him?" Shame on all of you.
Question: how do you know he personally answers all the letters sent to him?
He very much appears to be a good man. He teaches the players humility and service. That’s different from being a good coach for our program.
He should be proud of what he’s done to get kids to the NBA but we aren’t supposed to be a training camp! You don’t win, you gotta go.
You don’t need to go to uk to go to the nba
Exactly right Jim! So easy to criticize on these sites. Cal has done so much! I hope he doesn’t read these threads! Yes! I was so disappointed, I wanted to win too! So hard to go to work after a first round loss. And this team is special! Let’s rally around them and thank them for a fun season! C-A-T-S Cats Cats Cats!
I can guarantee he does not read them Becky
Those players would be going to the NBA no matter which school they chose to play at in college. Cal doesn’t make that happen.
Most of the players were indeed talented enough to go to the next level
More people on here identifying themselves as "former UK fans" and referring to the BBN as "they" rathrr than "we"……why do u care? Why are u here? What’s the difference to you how we feel about CAL? Dont even bring up Little Brother ether because this is exactly the kind of sh** Little Brother does–if youre from the Little Brother camp, then go to Little Brother’s website and read about the great Kenny Payne and his 8 wins in two years. He’s the only coach in the country that CAL can say he has the best of. Wait—hmmmm 🤔—-oh yea, thats right, Payne is out of CAL’s lineage!!! Hey, if u all think CAL is so great, u can have him—be my guest!!! After all, he has thumped Little Brother’s a** 11 times out of 14 attempts, and he owned Pitino 6 out of 8—so i get it, u all have witnessed CAL doing alot of WINNING!!! 😊
I so agree with you, I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember.. we need someone that will keep theses teams for 2 or 3 years and get them where they can play with each other with there eyes shut.. the team coming in next year better thank about it real hard before they come to kentucky. And I hate to say that, I love kentucky!! But CAL HAS TO GO.
Hollywood John should be embarrassed he’s done so little with so many riches.
John Calipari cares about one thing, and he has basically said it in as many ways as he can without just coming right out with it: all he cares about is how many guys in the NBA has his name attached to theirs. He speaks about his priority being getting kids and their families better lives. Very admirable, but not mutually exclusive to also WINNING. He is a salesman disguised as a decent human being.
And I do not even think he’s that great of a coach. Recruiter, yes. Coach? How many coaches go their whole careers unable to defend a high pick and roll? Unable to defend out of bounds plays? To draw up out of bounds plays? To coach zone defense? To coach full-court pressure? He has shown, at best, no desire and, at worse, no ability to coach these things.
If he’s a decent human being then own up to your failings and inabilities, state you’ll take half your buyout, and take your oily bullshit elsewhere. UK basketball existed before him, it survived him (barely), and will damn sure thrive without him.
Replace him with mark few. A real man a humbl. Winner im tured of the bullshit spins that cal puts out he is not a couch that care for ky or the fan base. Only the kids ge can get in the NBA. his words. .be a nan pack it up and ane get tve hell out of kentucky
He is the John Cooper of basketball. Great recruiter, bad coach.
Hey bottom line cal can’t coach if you notice every time at half time they ask him how he’s going to defend are change the mistakes he never answers the questions he say you see how good Reeves played or how about Edward he’s playing like he should be and never answer the questions because he can’t cause don’t know how to coach he did good when he had kids with talent other then that he can’t do his job can’t believe they gave him that contract and he haven’t produce anything in 5 years so sad.
That has been the same from day one. He seldom gives a direct answer to the question but he’s not the only coach that way
If he cares about making players and there families better off, why not coach for free?
Thanks Tina. Appreciate it.
Cal has destroyed our brand in a devastating fashion the last 5 yrs. We are now the "laughing stock" of all of BB world with a ton of chatter on YT saying "Cal Must Go" I don’t think there is anything he could do at the time to placate or reclaim the trust and confidence of the BBN short of resigning. I have not been able to process or remove his stench from this game and many in the past, and I can still see his smug, condescending speech and face while he tries to explain "what just happened" in post game shows. On another note, I am still trying to process how Shep could show a very mature persona during the season and yet freeze on his largest stage of the year.
Agreed
I had the question whether it’s all fixed. I can see one guy not being hot but none of them. Bottom line thomas reynolds course CAL has to go!!!!
Name one big that he developed. Cousins and Townes were already good. He doesn’t know how. He just wins on talent alone. Can’t run a zone because he don’t know how. Can’t adjust, because he don’t know how. He is a fraud. GOT TO GO
We are unfortunately in a never rewarding rut. Cal recruits five star players unable to compete with older and more experienced players. By the time they can compete they are off to the NBA. Our beloved UK basketball program is in a steady decline. I am heartbroken, sick and frustrated with another early exit from the "Big Dance" we all look forward to. Only Cal can change this with a much better job of coaching or turning the program over to someone who can. The fan base is lost and deserves better.
Thank you Tina, you havesaid this very well. I have to say I feel 100 percent the way you do and I am hoping he reads it takes it all in and does with is right.
Becky
Thanks for taking time to post Becky. Tina put a lot of thought into that post
I for one thinks it’s time for a change, Tina is right and thank you for the post. Let’s chill down and see what Barnhart decides to do in the next 24- 48 hours in what I’m hearing to make a decision on Cal.
Watch him leave find a job at like Georgia or Seton Hall bring his recruits like he did at Kentucky and win a national Championship lol. I’m just thinking out loud. But I would rather have anybody other than calapari at this point. I think buzz Williams would even be a upgrade at this point. These younger coaches are just more hungry than calapari win or lose he knows he is the coach.we shall see moving forward.
If the recruits he takes with him don’t play any better than the recruits he brought in then I say good riddance.
100 %
Amen!
Staying at Ky when you’re not wanted any longer due to your greed, pride, and stubborn attitude will be your legacy. A once highly thought of HOF coach self- destructs because of his unwillingness to admit his faults/mistakes. That’s how Cal will be historically remembered. To think you had the chance to work out a plausible buy-out, go to another program and succeed will be a regret you will live with the rest of your life. A bitter old man, 68-69 years old, who proved himself childish to a fault. That, Mr Calipari, will be your legacy. No one will touch you for 100,00 dollars a year. A shameless money gruber who ranks up there with peddlers of the Gospel of Greed. Good luck with that loser-life.
You’re exactly right!
A coach can only put who he thinks is the best players on the floor, he can’t dribble the ball for them, can’t shoot the ball for them, can’t play defense for them, can’t play offense for them, can’t piss for them, can’t shit for them, but everything is his fault, I guess if the player cant make a shot then pull him out and someone else in! I love the Cats but the fanbase is screwed between the ears!
This is why I’m getting sick of this fan base. Cal is a great coach, just needs to tweak his philosophy a bit.
He said he won’t .
A "coach" could teach his players how to fight defend against a pick. A "coach" could plan an offense in the face of a zone defense. A "coach" could inspire, prepare, and improve his players. Cal is an amazing recruiter, but has not been a "coach" for years. He is just half-heartedly "coaching" his teams now, and the are half-heartedly executing on the floor. No coach in the history of college basketball has done so little with so much talent as Cal has over the last 5 years. No "coach"
To bad he didn’t put the best players on the floor. The two lottery picks in this year’s draft came off the bench.
Then why did he insist on the players who were inferior to better players, start every game? It was statistically the worst line up that played together. Couldn’t score and put the team behind in almost every game.
Catsfan you say he couldn’t do all those thing for them on the floor. You forgot one thing, he didn’t COACH them either. If you are coached well , a lot of those things get fixed
I agree somewhat with your view, but he needs to recruit for Ky first, NBA later. His pride will continue to be his demise. Take a chance and recruit those that need several years of collegiate experience and has the right support staff at home that will reinforce that. I’d rather build a great team in a few seasons than continue this cycle that we’ve been in for almost a decade. The game and the times are changing. He won’t change with it.
Do you think any kid doesn’t want to go to pros???? There isn’t a coach out there wouldn’t take any of the five star recruits. You ever looked at the offer list these kids get??? You stop recruiting them and you will start being a 16 seed and just hope you get lucky. It’s not Cals fault in the one and done. That’s the NBA but if Cal doesn’t goo after the best or a new coach doesn’t then you will never see a championship. Who wins mostly ever year. The blue bloods because they get the best.
You are right. Recruit the best and one and done is very likely
I agree with you. It is what it is. Blaming the coach for how the team is playing is just wrong. Every player has his bad days, it happens to all teams and players. I do agree that coach Cal’s focus is more on recruiting for the future of the NBA, but blaming him for losing a game is just wrong.in my opinion. Thanks Coach Cal for trying to live up to UK fan’s expectations. We have a tough fanbase to live up to, including myself.
I appreciate your efforts.
Your full of kool- aid better go to John before you piss on yourself . No he not on the floor but what does he do before games ? In New York more than Ky . If the kids can’t perform could it be they were
Prepared? His arrogance saying he never watches other teams game it shows good bye con man snake oil salesman CCC go sell cars at Paul Miller
Wow. This is exactly what I’d say to his face but I’m not sure he gives a rats a$$. He’s laughing all the way to the bank while the fans are sad and empty. Shame on him. Thanks for this well written piece. Reading it was oddly therapeutic.
Calipari is a lot like Trump…kiss his azz or go to hell. He couldn’t care less about the damage he has down to our once storied program. He is making millions and putting kids in the NBA and that’s all he cares about. When he won the only national title to his credit, he said he would not stay here until age 65.,,it turns out that was a lie. He later said he would not leave until his son graduated…another lie. Most of BBN has wanted him gone ever since 2021. Now even most of his "lovers" want him gone. Sports commentators across the country are saying it’s time for a change. Does the FRAUD have no shame? Is it going to take an empty Rupp Arena to finally get the attention of Dr. Calipouto? If the FRAUD won’t do the honorable thing, then fire him and let him go to court to get his buyout. A case could be made that Barnhart had no authority to make a lifetime contract with anyone or that he was acting in a way that was contrary to the interests of the University. Another year of Calipari and we will be the next INDIANA!!!
Please don’t vote for Biden again. Let’s only worry about the good he does for the country and appreciate his for not hiding who he really is.
I was just thinking the same thing.He reminds me a lot of Trump. And I never liked his attitude either.
Do not bring Trump into this. TRUMP 2024. Got to be a democrat
Don’t start bringing politics into this. I think the majority of us on this thread agree. Cal has to go! I am so sick of his saying the team is "young"! Well who made them young???!!! You recruit highly talented freshmen, then immediately send them to the NBA! Then you start the whole process over again! Keep these young men for 2-3 years! In my day, they usually stayed for four years, and a lot of them went to the NBA, too! And Kentucky was respected – even feared! At the SEC Tournament in New Orleans in 2003, some of us were sightseeing, and a group of New Orleans schoolkids actually bowed down to us and said. "Kentucky is in the house." We were respected! I think I speak for most of the BBN when I say we want to feel that way again. It has been far too long!
He was never a good coach I hope who ever fires him Monday tell him go f@#$ yourself cal.
cal has lost his way, he complains about his young team, so hypocritical because he recruited them, when i see the contract mitch gave him, perhaps we should show both of them the door, quickly!!
He was never a good coach I hope who ever fires him Monday tell him go to hell cal.
He’s a hall of fame coach. Took 2 teams and been to several final 4s. You sir, are a moron.
Everybody declines in their profession eventually.
It’s never about what u did yesterday in a production focused career.
You people in ky be careful what you ask for look around the sec at other college after firing a coach how long it took to have a willing season look TN and after 9 years with Barnes we r not back but we are content for time being so sit back and take a big blue pill and chill he win you all lots of games be proud also these are 18-22 year old kids
Truth!!!
You are absolutely right. We still have some decent winds through out the season. These aren’t bad teams. We do need some perspective.
But the question we can’t help but ask ourselves is… Can Calapari change? Can he get better? Will he be willing to?
If does not, will not, or can’t, will Kentucky ever be a competitive post season team again under his direction?
This is arguably the worst 5 year stint in the 80+ year history of Kentucky basketball. Should the fans just accept that?
"Hey, we aren’t the worst program out there. We ain’t they bad. And that is good enough for me."
Cal has had more than ample time to change….Barnhart, was a total fool for ever giving him a lifetime contract! He sat back and did not have to try anymore…..he became complacent and self serving…..greed has destroyed him and our program. He stopped working for UK years ago as the NBA became his “court”…… so sick of his sideline behavior that he displays for all to see. My heart is most sad for all the young boys who came here under the guise of great leadership and fulfilling dreams. This man, Cal, is truly a charlatan! He and Mich BOTH need to go!
I would rather get someone new than to keep a person with his stature.And all this talent and lose year after year.
Best comment ever
Coach – I think you know it as well as all of us – it’s time to say goodbye!
Do the right thing!
All of you are not true Kentucky fans it is hard to take a new set of freshman year after year and win all the time. The one a done is Kentuckys problem coach cal is not playing young kids are they need to grow as a team longer to become a champion jump on another band wagon. You are not True blue
Yeah, the "one and done " is our problem! But it’s Cal that is doing that! I agree with whoever said this has been the worst 5 years in our 80- year history for post-season play! Up until now, I admit, I have " excused" it, but Thursday night hurt and angered me in a way I have never felt as a Cat fan!
Cal started 2 seniors and a sophomore against Oakland
It’s cals business model he chooses to employ
Friggin ridiculous. Fair weather fans. Now is time to support Cal more than ever ! It’s a game people! We will finish in the top 25 again. Be careful what you wish for. Look at the proud Louisville program. Do we want that? Billy ball sucked too. Let the man do his job! The fanbase is showing its true colors and it sucks. I love UK sports.
Alot of things that have been said about coach cal are a matter of opinion more so then truth but everyone has one, doesn’t make it facts but one fact that remains true is that there need to be change. I’m not saying the coach I’m saying the way things are done. For one, no more freshmen to lead a team. u can have a few 5 stars but they can’t lead u to your next final four or championship, times have changed. Credit that to the transfer portal and NIL but We can’t keep doing the same things and expect a different outcome. It’s great that lives are being changed and it’s great we have alot of nba players that played here but we can’t win while they are here. Is that because they are freshmen? or is it coaching? Who knows maybe a little bit of both in my opinion. For example sure a freshmen may not know or understand they can’t go under a screen on a shooter but if the team struggles man to man change that to a zone or press the whole game with that deep bench to create easy turnovers since our team struggled in half court defense these are things that could be done through coaching this isn’t on the age of a freshmen. It seems as if our teams are never fully prepared offensively or defensively when it matters the most. Whether that’s scouting report or knowing how to attack a zone or how to defend a Pick and roll that’s not on freshmen after 30 games in. My point is I love the cats my family does to and me personally I’m not yet ready to give up on our coach but there need to be a big big change starting with staff, then young freshmen mixed with older players not all freshmen, and get back to real coaching and not just thinking we got nba players our talent will prevail in these games because it don’t. It seems like we never have in game adjustments it’s like once we start the game with a game plan we stay with it the whole game whether it’s working or not. It doesn’t seem like we run plays in the half court we play one on one. I can go on and on but I’ve vented enough change has to be made soon or the results will stay the same
He isn’t going to change.It’s simple if he had planned on changing he would have already done so!!!! He doesn’t care there’s no pressure on him.He doesn’t mind if he gets fired.He still collects one way or the other. Time to cut him loose!!
Seriously only Dean Smith has wasted more talent than him! You could put 2 NBA All Star teams together with our kids and he’s got one Title to show for it? How do you lose w/John Wall and D Cousins? He can’t coach a lick!!
Mark Few or Billy Donovan
I’m a Mark Few fan, at half time against Kansas ge said we need to play defense. The 2nd half was a different game. You never hear Coach Cal say we need to play defense.
Sounds like KY fans have had enough actually I think the nil has hurt them it has always been that Kentucky paid its players now every school can pay their players now its more of an even playing field but calapri is a problem he coached at Memphis had a 10 point lead on kansas with just over 2 minutes left in the championship game and he somehow blew the game he can’t coach a lick
A good coach in college athletics needs to do three things: 1) Recruit top players, 2) Develop those players under your watch so that they are more skilled when they leave than when they arrived, and 3) Be a good X’s and O’s game coach. Cal does #1 as good or better than anyone, but he does not do #2 and he is absolutely terrible at #3. Because of the resources and draw of UK, being good at just one of these three components has been good enough to win a lot of games, pack the seats at Rupp, and keep a competitive team on the court every year. However, it has become painfully obvious to everyone who follows UK basketball that when you get to The Dance, you need to have all three components in order to go deep into the tourney. I think I speak for the entire UK fan base in saying that we need to bring in someone who can do all three. Right now. We are not tolerating another season of the Calipari show.
We should start a GoFundMe page called the “Coach Cal Contract Buyout Fund”.
Goal: $33.5MM.
There are s already a go fund me page to get rid of Cal
Well said. Mark! With UK’s resources, maybe they should keep Cal to recruit, only, & split his salary 2 or 3 ways to also hire 1 great X’s & O’s coach or a great offensive coach & a great defensive coach. But I will add, it seems to me basketball fundamentals, including playing defense, should be taught & learned in grade, junior and high school so these young kids are prepared to learn how to play at the college level once recruited. Seems we are doing kids a dis-service by only teaching "shoot, score, & get that NBA money". I feel bad for the life-long fans who have such pride in our basketball history, who camp out to get midnight madness tickets, who travel all over to support this program, only to be sorely disappointed year after year. I long for the days when UK basketball was a source of pride for so many, a program that could truly unify people across the state, something we used to get so pumped about each season–A program with coaches who preached "team" and UK, not "you" and NBA.
Well said, KW. 100%
That GoFundMe page sounds like the best ideal I have heard so far.
I honestly believe that we should get Rick Pitino back! He could of taken half as good of talent that calipari has and probably reached the final four.
No way on Pitino. He left us. I like Cal and wish the fan base would stand behind him. Maybe that’s what he needs.
Good God no, after all the trouble he got into! Did his team make it to the NCAA tourney this year?
The real wounded are the very talented players he recruits and fails to continue developing their skills. They deserved a coach who allows growth and a continued winning tradition. It is very sad these young men commit to Kentucky with talent and winning pedigrees and attitudes only to be blamed by a small man who should be celebrating much success with them. Their age did not lose the games, their ages whatever they were won their whole basketball lives and many times over more seasoned players. Talent matters and theirs should have gotten more respect from the coach they entrusted that talent.
He is hoping to get one more year. If he makes it to next April his contract will pay him 400 thousand the rest of his life if he resigns. Plus he gets 8 home game lower arena tickets and 4 tickets to home football games. I believe he is trying to get one more year.
I agree it is time to say good bye I just hope Barnhart goes with him because he is as much to blame as Cal. This one and done is wrong for any school we have seen the teams that graduates players be the fire out of them. I think the big programs are going to fall because of this . I have been a Wildcat fan for 65 years I think the program is like our country falling apart it’s time to cut him loose and get back on the riches of winning championship . , Carlos
Coach Cal needs to go and Barnhart too
for giving any coach a lifetime contract. Cal has turned Ky basketball into a training camp for the NBA. That’s all he cares about, getting players to the NBA as soon as possible so he can brag about how many players he has gotten there. A good coach cares about getting his teams championships. He has ruined Ky basketball. Look at zGonzaga, consistent winners every year.
He led his players to take a knee !!!
Exactly right my friend. The Only One that any of us should take a knee for is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Amen
Well, I guess lot’s of other Coaches need to go too then. Most of them allowed it.
Yes he did and Karma finally caught up to him
Disrespected our country and our veterans ! The border is open Cal , go ahead and leave ! Go live in a country you respect!!
Unfortunately folks as a really upset fan from the bunch up the road in many ways too under the influence if you will of coach Cal, our respective programs haven’t so much changed, but rather the game itself.
I doubt I’m alone in absolutely despising the transfer portal and NIL, though I’m not sure how much impact the latter has. I feel y’alls pain; we all love our hoops and it’s being ruined by selfishness and greed. My only hope is the market will respond accordingly and they will find all this to be unsustainable. But I’m not holding my breath.
It’s time for a change I’m a tar heel resident I’m wildcat blue nation big fan it’s time for a change COACH Cal
8 national championships, winningest team in the country, most wins by an active coach, hall of fame coach, endless. SEC championships, record final 4 appearances. My Lord what do you greedy people want? We have one of the greatest facilities in college bball, programs would pay millions to have what UK has. You, the so called fan base want a banner every year. How many young men has Cal mentored? How many of those players return to show the pride that Coach Cal instilled in them. This program will be fine as long as Cal makes a few changes. The NIL deals will make it easier. Reed will stay, big O will stay. Do a gut check and stop being such greedy monsters.
BadBob
Reality check, Bobby: WE don’t want a banner every year. We want an SEC and NCAA Tournament win ONE YEAR!!!
So agree! Cal leaves, players leave. Reed was very upset in an interview, said this was not Cal’s fault, “I don’t care what anyone says.” That was a quote from him. We don’t have to like everything about a Coach, no one is perfect.
Tina, well said. If he is allowed to stay, I hope that all the fans boycott home games. Name another coach with a stay as long as you want contract ? Empty trophy cases full of what ifs. It’s to late to hope he will change or make adjustments. I still vote for a return of the coach of the unforgettables !!!!!
If he returns. The FANS need to take a stand. Stop going to the home/away games!!
With big blue nation so many businesses are losing out exiting so quickly in these tournaments.. Big blue nation brings a lot of revenue to these cities.
The fans will be there! Just like Kansas fans, and all the others that got put out.
Thank you Tina for saying what we all are thinking
Nobody wants this job.
Not one person has the balls or enough Advil to get through one day of being the head coach of Kentucky.
Got that right! 😂
As a Tennessee fan tried and true, I should be laughing at all this verbiage about Cal and KY basketball, but I’m not. A healthy KY is good for college basketball. The truth of the matter is 2 things. (1) KY basketball has not been uber relevant on the national stage for quite some time. (2) Who in their right mind gives any coach a lifetime contract? It seems to me that it’s your AD that needs to go along with your coach. Wake up, KY! This is the era of the transfer portal and NIL… not one and done 5-stars. Also, as a member of Vol Nation, I know a little bit about spoiled fan bases. This is like KY just awakened and realized that it wasn’t relevant anymore. We did and went out and hired a great coach in Rick Barnes. We haven’t won everything that we’d like to win, but we’ve learned to appreciate the good times and accept the bad. So, go ahead and fire Cal. But it’s your AD that should also be held accountable. Be careful what you wish for, though. It can get worse in a hurry.
Gary…..Thanks for providing your input and for not laughing at us even though the program has earned it based on not having taken action on this Fraud already after the last 4 years. You make more sense than alot of our own fans, and even tho you’re a VOL fan, thank you for coming on here and just providing your opinions calmly and respectfully, and not insulting any of our fans personally or being rude like some of the other people i have seen on here tonight–so i appreciate that. I completely agree about Barnhart and the lifetime contract, I was against that from the very beginning, and I have been over CAL for many many years, long before COVID and this prior 4-yr period we mainly have been talking about. It’s not like Barnhart gave him that contract right after the 38-1 season–that would have at least made more sense–no he waits until after a stretch of years that weren’t any better than Tubby’s run here to serve up a lifetime contract. After 38-1, it was second rd loss, Elite 8 (good season), Sweet 16 (underachievement and KS ST choke job), and Elite 8 (choke job in OT against AUB). That is not a run worthy of a lifetime contract–and nobody should ever receive a lifetime contract–when u do that, u make them GOD, and that’s who CAL believes he is. Remember, this year, after the win at AUB, he himself publicly said "that’s what’s great about being KING here–u get to make decisions and nobody can change it or do anything about it". sometimes I wonder if people really pay attention to some of the things that go on with him and this program. Or some people maybe seem to have a short memory. Look, people can say or believe whatever they want–but I was over CAL after the WIS loss in 2015. And there’s a reason he has never been the same after that either. He knows deep down inside he blew it. And he has never recovered from that–and the annual results, ESPECIALLY the tournament results, totally reflect that. Every year, it has been the same kinds of choke jobs in early NCAA tournament flameouts. and the quality of play, and quality of coaching, has never been the same. But as I said, after 2015, I knew that was the end of CAL’s original run here, which it was. So from then on, I have been of the mentality "anytime CAL wants to walk, let him roll, because I have seen enough. So then after 4 yrs of a Tubby-esque run, Mitch hits him with the lifetime deal–and that day I said "that’s the worst thing that could have ever happened for KY". And look at the results since. KY needs a complete overhaul, a new start, complete from scratch, a rebirth with ABC–Anybody But CAL. And it’s for the good of the long term health of the program. Everybody is scared of going through "down years" with someone new–what do u call the last 5 yrs under CAL? if u continue on with this, u continue on with worse than down years and CAL continues to sink the grave further and further into the ground. If u go thru a couple of down years with someone new and fresh, who is trying to rebuild, maybe u see a way out of this mess at the end of the tunnel after said coach has had time to come in and build his brand and culture together……but u have to give them time!!! U have to give whoever the new guy would be reasonable time to get the program rebuilt, restarted, and inject his own brand and culture into the program.
We need a change,just for this year alone,Burks had 6 slams against Vandy,didn’t,play again,our bigs were just pitiful,who is coaching these men,we could not guard anyone,we just tried to out score everyone,how that work out.I love this university,Cal is running us into the ground.putting kids in the NBA is fine,but UK comes first,period,if he can change that he should really go,now.we will be fine,move on.
Coach Cal got UK some of their worst losses ever, were not winning anymore, no SEC titles, no banners, barely making tournaments etc etc for years since the N.I.T. loss to Robert Morris(DIV3) BAPTIST SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY, – should’ve been goodbye long time ago. Get Pitino back and be the 1st school to win a championship with the same coach different tenure- now we’re talking!
Thank you Tina for a letter that is a decade overdue. It says exactly what most Kentucky fans have been thinking throughout the last 10 years. To destroy the best fan base in the world would be tragic not to mention barbaric. Kentucky doesn’t need a hoopty car salesman, we have enough of those scattered around the state of Kentucky. We need a coach who cares about hard nosed, fast paced basketball that wins games and championships. After all, if you’re not in it to win it then what are you in it for? Oh that’s right the almighty dollar, something that seems like it’s real but it isn’t. Money is just a tool that we have been given and is no different than the tools that I have in my truck. Kentucky basketball is a tradition of excellence that I have enjoyed being a part of since around the age of seven, that’s roughly 43 years. John Calipari was right about one thing. Kentucky is the gold standard of college basketball…….that has slowly slipped away right before our very eyes
There’s talk of Mitch getting Cal a new coordinator, how come Mitch didn’t get Kyra Elzy a new coordinator and better recruiters like Cal has? After all , she had more post season wins in her 3 years , than Cal has had in his last 5 seasons. No, Mitch fired her.
That’s my favorite stat, of all the bad ones out there, and thank you for reminding me once again, Greg: Kyra Elzy has more postseason wins the last 4 years (5) than Calipari has (2)!!! And like I told Big Bad Bobby up there: not all of us EXPECT TITLES every year. But we do expect to be regularly COMPETITIVE in the SEC and NCAA tournaments each year– to be in contention for SEC reg season and tournament championships, and to make runs at the Final 4 regularly. People forget: the SEC IS KY’S CONFERENCE! supposed to be! And at KY, yes we expect to finish well enough to at least be in the regionals of the NCAA tournament every year (Sweet 16, Elite 8) because at KY, a 1 or 2 seed is supposed to be the norm–to put yourself in the best position to be in the regional finals. But right now, as I tried to explain before, all we are trying to get is ONE WIN in either SEC or NCAA TOURNAMENTS!!! something we have only experienced ONE TIME THIS DECADE!!!!! Which is unbelievable when u think about it. Our fans have a short memory–its pathetic. Their only memory spans from 2010 to 2015—those days are not coming back. A few reminders for those who need it: in some ways, the choke job against WVA in 2010 with the first team of Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Patterson was maybe a bigger one than the 2015 loss to WIS. CAL showed his curse right away that first season. In 2011, we were a 4 seed and if not for a Brandon Knight layup at the buzzer, that team was gone in the first Rd to Princeton. The 2014 team was an 8 seed, and that tournament we just had all the luck and good fortune on our side to win all those games like we did–until the final game. But realistically, that team had no business in the final game. The following year’s team DID have business being in the final game but we all know how that ended. And it has never been the same since that game. From 2016 to 2019, that run was no better than Tubby’s–2 Elite 8s and one Sweet 16, 3 SEC tournament championships–so at least thats respectable. Imagine how a run like that today would be celebrated! That’s my point, that’s all we r asking for: respectability. These ppl who get on here and bitch to our fans: go somewhere else if u dont like what u are hearing! Go outside and play golf or read a book! The run from 2020 to present has been the worst since before Adolph Rupp came to KY almost a century ago, and we the fans, have every GD right to rant and rave about it. Everybody talks Abt Billy Clyde—hey bring him back!!! He made the NCAA tournament as an 8 seed and won a couple of games in the NIT–and that’s no worse than what we have seen these last 4 years!!!! But have fun, CAL LOVERS–U will get him back again next year and will get to enjoy another year of preaching to all of us and telling us how stupid we are and how insane we are. All I can do is just hope that enough fans trash the season tickets and Rupp Arena sees record low attendance numbers. But like I said, our fans have a short memory, and by next OCT, all will be forgotten and forgiven again, and CAL knows that, and they will be eating up every word that comes out of his mouth again, when he tells us how great those freshmen are that he has coming in (those freshmen, remember, that he specifically called out for losing this NCAA tournament game) but those are the freshmen that we fans are expected to get excited about if we consider ourselves "true fans". Rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat. The entire athletic admin needs to be rebuilt but that’s a whole other conversation. The bball program definitely needs to be rebuilt because what is the KY BBALL program is gone. It just needs an entirely new fresh start, all the way over completely from scratch, top to bottom–that alone would be so refreshing. A complete and total rebuild, with somebody new–fresh energy and fresh spirit. As a lifelong fan, I am done with the toxicity and the poison that is this coaching regime. And its not even real coaching anymore. And im sick of every single March sitting in front of the TV and hearing about the newest Cinderella story that was created by CAL’s latest NCAA tournament failure. It’s an all-systems failure. Anybody who can’t see that is forever blinded by this CANCER. He has completely sucked all the life, spirit, and passion out of the lifelong fans. Anybody who still believes in him and "his philosophy, his vision" believes that UK BBALL began when he came here in 2009. Actually I would love to ask his followers what do u believe his philosophy and vision is? Im sure they would tell me Abt how many NBA all stars KY currently has. It’s funny, thats all we hear Abt now–instead of how many games, conf championships, or tournament championships KY has won, we hear about how many NBA all stars we have. The job description at KY has evidently changed. And I also think it’s funny how no NBA teams ever come calling for CAL anymore. If he was so great with his "NBA mojo", there would be an annual courting by NBA teams to him each spring like Pitino used to get every year in the 90’s. And the NBA is honestly where CAL belongs–who he is matches up with the NBA culture. But I find it so funny how NOBODY ever comes calling. I find it funny how his followers say hes the greatest ever, but how many fans out there of other college or NBA teams do u ever hear say "man we would love to get Coach CAL, we wish we could get Coach CAL". it is truly heartbreaking that our athletics dept has allowed this bball program to sink straight into the grave and, even worse, that we know they are going to let it continue to further sink. And even sadder that we have a segment of so-called fans who would put CAL over KY BBALL, and who blindly believe anything that comes out of his mouth. The death of KY BBALL came in 2020-2021—the CANCER has just been pissing on the grave in the 3 years since. Thanks, Mitch. Hope u had a good weekend with your favorite Coach, and we anxiously await your chicken sh** statement tmrrw Abt how he promised u he will make things better and get everything back on track next year. I just hope enough of our fans out there do the only thing they can do and make u pay for all of the lost revenue out of your own pocket! The system is now telling us "it’s all about money now"–so the fans need to follow suit–the fans need to make it all about money too!!!
I feel like you really need a hug or something. Are your fingers ok? That must’ve taken a LOOONG time. I tried to get through it all but I only managed til about halfway then it started to seem like the exact same stuff. You’ll be ok bud. Eventually. Hopefully.
Calipari is good but he needs to understand that we want to win championships not put boys in in pro basketball that’s fine to go to pro but we want our team to win. We don’t want to lose out in the first round
It’s sad that probably most of these comments come from people who have never played or coached in sports their entire life. Some probably lost money because they bet on the game and lost. I grew up in Lexington and became part of Big Blue Nation at a young age and have backed them for over sixty years and will continue to do so no matter who is at the helm. How long do you think a new coach will get you a National Championship and they have to start from scratch and you’ll start complaining again. We are not the laughing stock in college basketball they lost a game get over it. Does Cal need to change with the time maybe but to try and push him out because they lost a game Wow! I proudly wore my Kentucky gear the next day and will continue to do so.
Me too! If you get rid of every Coach that hasn’t brought a banner home. There wouldn’t be hardly any left.
We don’t want him to leave. We want someone that can coach. He can’t coach,if he could we wouldn’t be having these post. GET A REAL COACH, not someone who can’t answer a halftime question . Just says how the players are playing, nothing on what’ he needs to do the 2nd half. Because he don’t know.
Did u ever stop to think the coach can only teach you .He can’t make the shots in the floor.coach cal has done alot for Kentucky.some of you can’t take a loss.its always the coach that gets left go..I’m sure someone is waiting to grab coach cal.best of luck to him.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
2 words to remember. Billy Gillespie. It’s what we deserved when we ran a good man out of town who only cared about the players. It’s what we deserve if we do it again.
A. Men. People forget those days. Grass is always greener.
Thank you for you very thoughtful and powerful letter, Tina! I agree 💯%
The big blue whiney nation is speaking. Loud and clear. The big blue crybabies have spoken.
😈🤮👿😸😸😸🪼🪼🪼
Yes! And I have family in Az, they are laughing at some of the “fans” no one wins games all the time. maybe they should write a letter to all the NCAA and give their opinions to them also.
I have countless articles of blue and white clothing with UK, or Kentucky written all over them. I get laughed at now in Pennsylvania when I wear them.
Well, other than win that game, what lease have they done?
It’s great that coach Cal wants to get kids to the NBA, but if they are good enough they’ll get there anyway. I thought he was hired as UK’s basketball coach. That means to me that you should be most concerned about winning games, the SEC tournament and the NCAA tournament. His role is not a NBA recruiter. Figure it out Cal! By the way figure this out too…when your opponent (Oakland) is shooting 33% from the free throw line and 47% from the 3-point line and your down by 5 points with 2 minutes left in the game, should you be letting them jack up 3’s and make them or fouling them and sending them to the line to miss them? Duh! We need a new coach but PLEASE PLEASE not the fake, whiney crybaby Bruce Pearl!!! If that happens I’m done as a Wildcat fan!
Gregg mcDermitt. Creighton coach should replace caliparri.
As it stands with Cal he has guaranteed $44 million through 2009. If he gets fired he gets paid 33 million. Keep that in mind because that’s an $11 million difference. Now divide 11 million over five years that’s 2.2 million. Most D1 coaches make around 5 million a year. The gap between that and the 2.2 million a year that we will already be paying is 2.8 million. Now your difference is only 14 million over a five year period. It doesn’t seem quite as bad as 33 now does it?
I think some points here are valid. But are yall kidding me!? LoL. Like…..what do you think is going to happen? Someone is going to come in here and completely change it all around AND be successful. It’s sports. Crap happens. But if you think for an instant that it is going to be BETTER without coach cal you guys are crazy. I understand emotion and being mad. I’m mad. But I don’t think it gets better from here. I think if we go a different direction it certainly gets worse.
I think as a fan base we need to relax. Yes we haven’t had success in the tourney the last 5-6 years, but we are still the program with the most wins. Coach Cal is a hall of fame coach and let’s be real, who would replace him? He’s a great recruiter and that leaves if he leaves. It’s rare to get 3-5 of the top 25 highschoolers to gel as freshmen doesn’t matter who you are. These players are one and done no matter where they go whether it’s us, duke, unc, Kansas, etc. As a fan I’d rather have them then our opponents. It’ll come around, it always does. Coach K only one 4 maybe 5 titles in his career and he coached at Duke well over 40 years and majority came at the back half of his career. He has also had his fair share of 1st round knock outs. Relax UK will be fine, we will get back to the championship game and we will hang more banners.
Good points Dallas
I remember my entire family sitting around the TV, so excited to see Coach Cal and his first news conference after accepting the UK coaching job.
I remember after his speech, turning to my husband and those sitting around me and saying “this is the beginning of the end of UK basketball as we know it.”. AND I WAS RIGHT
CAL said “ I am interested in the kids that come and play here and making sure I do everything I can to help them get where they want to be, regardless of what anybody else wants.” Truly noble really. Cal was not interested in furthering the UK program, tradition, legacy. My question why couldn’t he do both???
He told us what he was going to do and he absolutely did it!! Only it has gotten worse since he got the “Life Time Contract.” Because now he didn’t have to worry at all about repercussions for no titles or championships.
He could go All In…He could recruit all the 18 year old superstars that can’t enter the NBA draft until they’re 19 years old. Basically telling them come to UK and I will give you so much playing time that it will be like having a 4/5 month NBA tryout!! Which ummm doesn’t work for a real basketball TEAM
In the NCAA tournament they are real TEAMS. TEAMS that have been playing together 2 or 3 years sometimes longer. They Have tourney experience. Have plays that they run together. We have not had that for a long time!!
I believe unfortunately that the UK program/legacy of the pre Coach Cal era, is GONE forever.
I miss the UK basketball coach that could further the kids basketball careers and at the same time make school history, pride, and spirit!! The ones that wanted to win the SEC tournament and NCAA tourney with a real basketball TEAM.
Everybody out here calling us UK crybabies just don’t get it! We are morning the loss of our entire men’s basketball program! Or at least that is what I’m doing.
Thanks for reading
Thank you Bobbi for a great post
I live in Knoxville. Boy how do you think my day going to go on Monday lol. SHAMEFUL
Good luck Larry White
Send him back to memphis.
Careful what you wish for !!!!Ever heard of Billy Gillespie ??? That is what you will end up with. Also probably none of the players on this year’s team will be back and none of the incoming freshman will be there. You are looking at 4 to 10 years of 10 and 20 seasons. And that is what you deserve.
CAL already has one of those kind of years in the books. So he’s up 1-0 on a new coach on "10-20 seasons". And actually, it wasn’t even a 10-win season—-9-16 was the final record. I love how some new coach who hasnt even been hired at KY yet already has 10-20 seasons on his resume. Some of these people on here are laughable. I don’t get why they’re here. They’re upset about something–they seem to be just so butthurt and agitated over fans being disgusted and unhappy and wanting a new coach for their bball program–wonder why it upsets them so?
Take the name off the back of the jersey until they can play for the name on the front. Sure seems like things changed after last contract was inked.
I’m a Gonzaga fan. Coach Mark Few takes far lower ranked players and gets them playing better then Coach Cals players. Mark Few also teaches Defense. That is something Kentucky needs to learn. At halftime the Zags against Kansas Coach Few told his players they needed to play better Defense. Zags won by over 20 points. Coach Cal makes 4 times what Mark Dew makes. I hope Coach Few stays in Spokane.
I would want to keep him too Montana
NBA is not important
Kentucky Wildcats is important
SEC is important
SEC Tournament is important
NCAA Tournament is important
My way or no way attitude is not wanted here
Unwillingness to change is not wanted here
Goodbye Cal
Greetings, please send polly parrot, back to university of Memphis,we will welcome him back,we are suckers for everything..
One of the all time favorite teams was Pitino’s first year. No chance for post season play, and roster with several Ky kids played their tails off game after game and ended with 14 wins. That’s the desire the fans seek again, playing for the name on the front of the jersey. Cal’s kids play for the name on the back.
Coach cal said that the sec tournament games weren’t that important but to a uk fan every game is important. Time to move on coach.
Money Talks! The entire Big Blue Nation can gripe, whine and complain however, until the money stops and a boycott of game attendance and following occurs nothing will change. President, Capilouto needs to drop the hammer and exert leadership and authority in the situation. #OustBarnhart #OustCalipari KY taxpayers and fans deserve better from the University.
All things must come to a end when they turn sour. Cal must go. I live at Indian Lake Ohio and just went through a tornado this is not near that but it is in the TOP 5 of bad things this year I . Made up a song when Tubby left need to do it again Also we don’t need Bruce Pearl as a couch
All things must come to a end when they turn sour. Cal must go. I live at Indian Lake Ohio and just went through a tornado this is not near that but it is in the TOP 5 of bad things this year I . Made up a song when Tubby left need to do it again Also we don’t need Bruce Pearl as a couch
He’s got a $hity poker face and losing all KY chips and fan base, it’s a no brainier
We owe Tubby Smith an apology! We ran Tubby out of town for a lot less than what old Biscuit Calapari has done. Why is his nickname Biscuit. Because Barnhart has allowed him to soak up the gravy for to many years!
Clever comment Larry. Had not heard that one
I love are coach he best thing for this place I don’t want him to go because we need the kids from this year that can come back we can be good cal don’t make them go pro we tell them come back because we can win like big dog are doing this year please bring back shep and dilly and wagerner and big guys we can win it next year if get they guy we love watch one that is this team come back guys with other we got come we can kick some ass next year sorry y’all hate cal but there some that love cal
Like your thinking Rufus
I agree 100% Tina. The letter you wrote is well written and accurate. To Cal, Kentucky has given you thanks, praise, good times and great players. It’s time to do the right thing. Bow out, go out as an excellent coach and well respected man. Don’t prolong the suffering. Do the right thing. 1 and done does not work here!
That would be best for both sides Cindy if a new job opened up I think but still guessing we will see Calipari coaching at UK next year
I still think Stoops should be fired! Cal has done better than Stoops has. Not to say I’m not mad at Cal and agree with many, but I don’t understand why the fan base wasn’t equally pissed at Stoops. Who did he beat? He is worse in my book.
I’m 76 years old still after all these years a Kentucky fan even with me living in Florida now. But watching Kentucky play as a team today sicken me to no end. When other teams can beat you on your own court and out play our team with better defense and offense comes right back on you Cal. Have you become unteachable to these young men or have you become lazy. We see it we feel it and it’s ugly. Big Blue
Fans our asking you to me a man and step down for everyone.
Thanks Bob for taking time to post and being such a loyal fan and still going strong at age 76
Cal just can’t coach in tight games or being ahead either I have been a ky fan since high school with Ronnie Lyons does anyone remember him I was never in favor of cal I believe he is a self promoted jerk just look at the talent he has had no ncaa trophies please call Billy Donovan or even petino with all his baggage at least they want to win cal needs to go with no money cal for once in your life do the right thing leave leave today
Huge Ronnie Lyons fan here
I love how this letter was written wanted to invite u all to join our group wildcats then now and forever. Because majority of 6k members agree and love ur letter we stand behind you and Big Blue!!!!.