Oldercoach

Just saw Pope landed Kris Kira’s from WVU confirmed by ESPN. Now have a quality rotation. Keeping my fingers crossed that Thero comes back. He would undeniably be a major difference maker that BBN would view as almost “Unforgetable” status.

Just saw it was confirmed by ESPN. Coach Pope landed a major talent with Brea whose 3pt game will fit right into Pope’s style. He became only the 4th player in NCAA history to hit 100 3s in a season.

Can anyone confirm that Koby Brea has just committed to the Cats?

Maybe you missed my comment that the analysis had to go back 6 years to include the last time Ky made more than a token post-season appearance. Perhaps you prefer I went back only 4 years to where the post-season record would have been 2 wins and 7 losses for 22.2%. It took the regional finals loss of 2019 season to up that percentage to 40% you claim is unfair. If anything all the trends simply wore BBN down with continued annual optimism generated by great incoming prospects to annually going home early. Simply we haven’t lived up to the polls, the expert opinions, NCAA seeding, nor Cal’s hype.

Valid and well made points. But a 33.3% postseason winning rate over last 3 seasons and a 40% postseason winning % over last six pretty clearly evidences something needed to change. Cal clearly admitted he wasn’t going to change how he did things.

As to your 1st paragraph, got to go way past 6 years to get Cal’s aggregate winning % up to anywhere near 75%. Added to BBN’s disappointment is the fact that annually Cal had one of, if not, the top rated recruiting classes in the country. Agree 100% with your 2nd paragraph.

Maybe or maybe not, but after going to great expense to travel and support the team, BBN rightly expected more than token preparation for the SEC tourney and to not be so obviously out-coached in the NCAAs. Cal has shown an undeniable ability to recruit top-flight talent and coach them to disappointing year end results. Probably finally sealed his credibility this year after his “this team is built for March” comments that were followed by a 1st round loss in SEC tourney and a 1st round loss in NCAA tourney. Remembering the definition of insanity, it was time to take Cal’s hard headedness elsewhere.

Always heard that the Greendevils always watered the field to keep faster teams from scorching them.😁 Don’t remember either Skip or Tom Ferguson having any problems smacking us in the mouth and running away from us for hard earned yards.

Historically most of BBN thinks UK, Kansas and Duke have generally been regarded as the elite long-standing programs in college basketball. Recently UConn, Gonzaga and others could be argued, but my research has been limited to the original three in the last 3 year and last 6 year seasons. I had to include 6 seasons to find more than a token post-season appearance by UK. Post-season games/record conference tourney and NCAA tourney: Last 3: Duke - 18 (5-2) and 8-3; Kansas - 17 (5-2) and 8-2; UK 8 (1-3) and 1-3. Last 6: Duke - 27 (10-2) and 11-4; Kansas - 25 (8-3) and 10-4; UK - 15 (2-5) and 4-4. Total season and post-season victories and winning %: Last 3: Kansas - 85 77.3%; Duke - 86 77.5%; UK - 71 70.3%. Last 6: Kansas - 170 78.7%; Duke - 156 76.5%; UK - 135 69.6%. Post-season winning %: Duke - 77.8%; Kansas - 72.0%; UK- 40.0%. Early on Coach Calipari announced he ran a players first program and in so many words he inferred his program would focus on preparing and getting players to the NBA. Mission accomplished with a google search revealing season opening rosters and 2- way contracts with Ky having 26 players, Duke with 24, and Kansas with 13. It just hasn’t found our Cats being cohesive teams by the end of the season when it matters most (subjective, I know) and most of us assumed that his program would produce tourney victories and banners, which it has not for a very long time. BBN frustrations were well earned.

I ,so hope, Thiero comes back. The silence is painful. If any of last years 7 footers were the warrior he is, they would have controlled the paint like AD did.

Sorry, just think it’s the money (unfathonable financial rewards for most of us) and not the NBA vs college game. 99+% of college players never play one minute in the NBA and know that is the probable outcome when they tie their laces. The college game and that jersey means a lot to them.

Agree that Reed made the only economic decision that made any remote sense to people like ourselves. But, I disagree with your premise that the days of playing for the name on the front of the jerseys is over. I believe Reed came to his legacy dream school seeing himself as a 3/4 year player and hoping that along the way he would develop his skills to where he might have an NBA chance. I don’t think he played a second for anything but the TEAM. The rewards for this came much earlier than anticipated and with the NBA salary structure it was time. Good luck Reed, BBN will always love you and your efforts.

Wall Street source quoted as the deal is for $28million for 8 years and includes a shoe deal. Under Armour offered $16million over 4 years and two other shoe companies were originally in negotiations with her agents.

Just saw where Nike is signing her to a $20million deal. Details to follow. I guess this shows the generational impact this young phenom has had on women’s basketball. Sure hope the impact continues to grow in the presently almost invisible WNBA.

Walkoff grandslam, behind 2-0 going into last at bat. BC had only 1 hit to that point. Walk, HP, single, out, walk, HR. What a finish.