Coach John Calipari needs to say the right things to his team to reverse UK's recent fortune in NCAA Tournament play. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It was a long drive home from Nashville early Saturday morning. It was a drive I’ve gotten used to making. However the drive used to happen on Sunday afternoons at the SEC Tournament. That seems like a decade ago … actually, it almost was.
As I was waiting for the shuttle outside Bridgestone Arena Friday after the ass whooping UK took from Texas A&M, I noticed something different. Kentucky fans were heading to the bars, perhaps to drown their sorrows but not one fan was openly upset. There was no sparring with other fan bases like in the past. It was as if losing was okay and years ago it wasn’t.
Every team has a down year. Coaching changes, injuries and unexpected happenings can cause a team to not meet expectations. When this happens in consecutive years there are no excuses that should be acceptable.
Four years ago the expectation for Kentucky fans was always a national championship. We have now reached the point we are hoping to get through the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament that starts Thursday for UK in Pittsburgh when UK plays No. 14 seed Oakland. Times have certainly changed.
Let me state, I am not a Cal hater. I am not putting a for sale sign in his yard but there are issues that need to be addressed.
We have two projected first-round draft picks (Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham) that do not start. They come in after the first two or three minutes. There is no reason for this. What this does is start the game off with Kentucky in the hole way too often. Numbers do not lie and the numbers will read that Cal’s starting lineup is not an offensive machine.
My advice to the fans: If you partake in sports betting, always bet the first team to 10 will be Kentucky’s opponent. You can thank me later.
I used to sit on my coffee table when the game was close. I haven’t done that in years. My daughter used to text me after every Kentucky loss. She doesn’t do that anymore. The morning following a loss I would be in a funk. Some mornings I wake up and a loss is not the first thing to come to my mind. It used to not be like this.
I left my suitcase open with the essentials inside with hopes of traveling to watch the Cats this weekend. In years past I knew I would be able to go because Kentucky was going to be a high enough seed (in the NCAA) that it would be feasible. It felt good going into the SEC Tournament. However when a coach doesn’t think it is important that reflects on his team and here we are.
My love for Kentucky basketball has not faded in the least. I haven’t changed, Kentucky basketball has.
The next few weeks are important to the program. The players deserve a run. The fans deserve a run. Above all, Kentucky basketball needs to return to the top.
See you in Pittsburgh.
47 Responses
It does not matter what the fraud says to the players or the media. The problem is he has a dark hole in his heart where he decided and openly stated he is the king. That evil stand is it just an admittance to his arrogant, selfish, obnoxious character, it is also the base of his downfall.
Since April 2015 when he CHEATED UK out of #9 by not playing Booker & Ulis, & he eventually admitted he knew he should have had them I n the game the last 4 to 5 minutes… since then it has been DOWN HILL !!!
Check the VV archives & look at the MANY FACTS
the Professor posted with raw data, processed data into models & projections with phenomenal accuracy revealing the continuous drop in EFFICIENCY year after year.
It is ALL on the fraud and his financial minion Barnie! They both need fired, investigated, exposed and dealt with accordingly.
Yesssss@
Oakland is not a team of bruisers, but they can shoot. If both offenses are clicking, it should be a shoot out. We could not have gotten a better seeding and draw. It’s time for the FRAUD to produce!
UK has never had a bracket with such weak resistance that I can recall. The fraud must have some minions in the ncaa because the seed and bracket are arranged to try to help the fraud win a game or two. Even if UK players somehow overcome the destructive influence of the fraud & can avoid disruption by his ranting like a circus animal on the sideline, it won’t happen repeatedly because errant subbing will kill momentum in a big game.
Why do some fans think Kentucky is supposed to win every game there are some team can out play us
Dear, there shouldn’t be 10 or more that can outplay us in any given year!
If King Cal is really serious about winning a basketball game he’ll start Dilly and Reed.
We’ll see
No real coach, no honest coach, no coach with a conscience, would let a team dig a hole before playing dual spark plugs who lift UK out game after game.
No honest AD would give away mega-millions to a proven crook who cheats UK out of wins by playing pets ahead of talent!
$26,785 @ day
About what it cost a family of 4 to go to Nashville and watch the Cats play in a game that the coach doesn’t care if he wins or not
OMG!!!!
THAT MAKES ME SICK!!!! THINK ILL GO PUKE NOW!!!!
Tina; Very good article. Well done.
To L.B.; totally agree with you about the Wisconsin game. Why stick with Andrew
Harrison in those last 5 minutes? He was anything but a competent point guard.
Just was not getting the job done. Tyler Ulis, a pure point guard, and one of the very
best to ever play for the Cats, was sitting on the bench. We will never know if the game
would have changed with Ulis running the offense, but l firmly believe Ky would have
won.
It’s so enjoyable to read comments from genuine UK fans who understand the game & recognize the talented players who are the difference makers.
Not an honest coach in the world would refuse to start 2 guards who are potential top 5 lottery picks!
Larry, you’re right about the 2015 game against Wisconsin. We were there and it’s a game UK should have won. Talk about feeling sick afterwards. We’re still UK fans through and through but it hasn’t been the same since. Something has to change.
I agree .. Ulis was getting the ball into Townes that game. Nobody could stop Karl , but the twins had been promised playing time. It was so unfair to the other players.
Trust me – there is some serious consternation – and not just from the rank & file lifelong fans.
Tina – you’ve had some ‘on the money’ articles recently – Thanks!
💯 I Totally Agree 💯
❤️💙🏀💙 Go Big Blue 💙🏀💙❤️
This is an outstanding article, Tina. I am a lifelong UK fan. I remember listening to the play by play as a child on WPKY in Princeton where I grew up. Great memories.
Why would Coach Cal start players that the majority of the time put the team in a deficit and then bring in Rob and Reed to rescue the team? Here’s hoping this doesn’t happen Thursday evening, but it most likely will.
I’ve ride with Cal long enough and I’m sure there’s more since Friday loss. UK boosters and administration needs to address the basketball program before it’s gets in the shape like Indiana program.
Kenny Payne is available
We are in Indiana territory IMO except Califi-fraudi has guaranteed money for lifetime. I am not the least bit optimistic of our advancement possibilities because not sure this team has the constitution or the will to win on consistent basis, and this coach and his have lost most of their street creds if they ever had any.
Most of the players are just worried about getting into the league. Calipari it’s just trying to get them there so Cal can feel like a successful coach. I’m not a Cal hater but his time has past. There are many teams and coaches with a lot less talent that does a lot more. How anybody could argue for Calipari is beyond me.
The is Cal basketball. It’s not Kentucky.
It’s one and done basketball.
It’s NBA Draft basketball.
There is no standard anymore.
No standard exists.
It’s "built for March" basketball.
It’s this game or that game doesn’t matter when every game should matter basketball.
It’s cupcake early scheduling basketball.
It’s rake the fan over the coals financially basketball.
It’s too many excuses basketball.
It’s "I’m going to recruit a new team each year and then use youth as an excuse" basketball.
It’s basketball bennie basketball.
It’s "see, I told you so" basketball.
It’s "I’m going home to eat soup" basketball.
It’s "I want to play with my dogs" basketball.
It’s not Kentucky Basketball.
It’s Cal always has an excuse and how dare you question me because I have a lifetime contact basketball.
Puppy mill basketball.
I’ve been saying it since Bo Ryan ate his soul.
Cal will not make another Final Four.
Kentucky will not make another Final Four until Cal is gone.
I’ll make a new projection. Kentucky will not win another SEC Regular Season or Conference Tournament until Calipari is gone.
At least, Tubby still won the SEC most of the time.
If Calipari was black, he would have been fired immediately after the 2015 loss to Wisconsin.
What would have happened to Tubby if he announced that he is King and he’ll do what he wants?
What would have happened to Tubby if he said he didn’t care if he won this game or that game?
What would have happened to Tubby if he said your not a real fan if you criticize him?
LOL every comment the last 5 years of Tubby’s time at UK was FIRE HIM FIRE HIM FIRE HIM, regardless what a great person and coach he was.
That said, NCAA basketball has changed, not just UK. If we go back to the days of recruiting "4 year" players, those guys will be gone before they ever see their Junior year, and the losses will continue to mount. In the end, we’d better come to enjoy this new brand of NCAA basketball, or find another sport to follow. NIL, transfers, one-and-done, are all here to stay. If the NCAA tries to force longer player tenure, it will only accelerate schools banding together to form a new Power-5 League.
Fair points Fred
When watching games this past weekend, I noticed a couple winning teams where the HC and players were hugging after they won the game…the players genuinely cared about the coach and he about them…you could see the happiness and love they had for one another…I don’t see this kind of feeling at all between Calipari and his players…It’s just a business transaction between them…the players want to win but don’t get the proper coaching/or desire to do so because all they get is yelling/screaming at them from their HC during the game…I feel like there is no connection between Calapari and his players…it would appear that even his assistant coaches cannot say anything to the players or him during a game…he listens to no one but himself on the sidelines…I’m not a Cal “hater” but realize the time has come for a change after 15 years…
I think players do appreciate Cal but you could be right about relationships not quite being the same as other schools where players stay more years
I go all the way back to when I Coached round ball at KSD and Billy Vaught was the spot on sports writer in the early 70’s. So I have seen Ky basketball a few low points illy Glispie. Nuff said on that. It’s great to recruit great talent but the one and done era is over. Look at AU urn for example Peral has players for the most part that have been there and are invested in the program and spells success knows when to change defenses and stop layups. Doesn’t require a rocket man something any high school coach can do. Why put players names on jersey when they aren’t there to become invested and bust their butts for the program. Cats don’t play hard like Auburn or some other teams that’s why they can’t guard. I’m true Blue but watch other teams effort. Love my ate up or down. Don here
Good to hear from you Don and thanks for the Bill Vaught reference. He liked you a lot
When Cal has the best recruiting classes at least six times and does not win the Big Dance even once with those classes, IT HAS TO BE THE COACHING!! Cal has become too complacent, and he simply does not have (or know) good coaching skills any more.
Larry I Coached 32 years of High High school and met and talked to lots of Reporters and Billy was the very best and very professional. A truly great person who looked for the best in every situation.
You go that right Don
Agree with what others have said re playing Booker and Ulis vs WI in 2015. Calipari has half ass said it was a mistake. I’m not a huge Cal fan or apologist.
By comparison, Pitino still won’t concede a failure to guard Grant Hill’s 75 yard touchdown to Laetner in ‘92. There were no OL or DL obscuring his view.
If they hung Cal for being a basketball coach they hung an innocent man. If he can’t see that Wagner is not going to be drafted I don’t know what game he watches
Great article Tina.
Sit and listen to yourselves. Do you think 1 final four after 1958 the Commonwealth were ready to hang Rupp. NO! Cal is the only coach in the country at this time that I trust with the keys to the kingdom. I agree Cal deserves the negative press that he has received. But we do know that when his brain isn’t in the clouds, he is the best coach/motivator in the country. He is at the point in his career that I am concerned on who will troll the box when he is gone. From 2010 thru 2015 he gave us 5 elite 8’s, 4 final fours, 2 title app. And another banner and all anyone would say is " what will we ever do if he takes the road of Pitino and leaves. The BCG era worries me enough to know I don’t want Cal to leave. He has to coach at what I believe is the most demanding job in any sport, in any league, college or pro. I do agree we have underachieved since the pandemic. I have no answer for our slide from the top but I really believe that Reed Sheppard is going to take us to #9 this year. He has the heart and drive that his dad showed during our 90’s dynasty . Thanks for listening and hang in there. A homegrown hero will take us to the promised land.
Thanks Christine for sharing your thoughts here and your passion for the Cats
I agree with you . We all need to remember these are kids playing. They have problems with their girl friend the night before te game everything goes down hill.
Does anyone know, how many total points for the year, UK is down , until both Reed and Rob come into the game together? I’d skip the few games Reed started, not enough data for that.
I do not but bet someone does
In Kentucky’s realm, where blue runs deep,
Obsession with basketball, they endlessly keep.
Fans, lost in a frenzy, blind to the real,
Their obsession consuming, with an insatiable zeal.
But beneath the surface of hoops and pride,
Lies a void where real life seems denied.
Their fixation, a crutch, a shallow facade,
While the world moves on, they’re trapped and flawed.
Touch the grass, feel the dirt beneath,
Escape the delusion, break free from the sheath.
For clinging to fandom, devoid of worth,
Leads only to emptiness, devoid of mirth.
Get a job, touch the earth, feel the grind,
For life’s fulfillment, you must seek and find.
Beyond the court’s roar, there lies a truth,
That obsession blinds, robbing of youth.
So wake up, Wildcats, and face the strife,
Your obsession with basketball, a shallow life.
Touch the grass, get a job, find your way,
Before your devotion leads you astray.
here we go again matt jones is reporting that most likely no coaching changes for assistants, well not feelin good about this because this staff is awful, flint and coleman should most definitely go, martin i would keep 1 more year as well as antigua, right now the only one i trust is tyler u. and adding coach welch was the best move. think they need kenny payne to help the big man defense he was pretty good with that .