I bleed Kentucky Blue. When I finished my basement I have an entire area dedicated to UK Basketball. For instance, I have a UK Styled pool table, UK blue felt and wildcat legs on the table. I have every Sports Illustrated framed and hanging on the wall from when they won the NCAA since Sports Illustrated was first published. Huge UK Fan.

 

With that said, and a lot due to the officiating this year especially, it has gotten to be real hard to watch any of these games. Last nights game may have been the straw that broke the camels back. The officiating was so horrid against UK that it isn't enjoyable to watch a game. 60 fouls called in one game!?!?! That is beyond ridiculous.

 

Coach Cal. He is slowly beginning to wear on me. I love his coaching, I love his recruiting, what I don't love anymore is the inability for any of his teams to hit free throws. It is a Coach Cal coached team problem his entire career. If his boys could hit free throws he would have at least 2 national championships. It cost him in Memphis a national title, it has cost him every loss this year. What makes it worse is when he makes statements like he did the other week when responding to the fans concerns about the inability to shoot free throws and he said "it was not a problem, and not to worry about it. The team is fine when it comes to their free throw shooting." Sorry Coach, but if the team just shoots 65% of their free throws they win last night. If the team just shoots 70-75% on the year they are undefeated. Free throw shooting has become such a problem they allow every single team they play over the last 5 years to stay in just about every single game.

 

One other thing I have gotten fed up with. When Coach Cal talks about his players going to the NBA. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't he seem to be more concerned with how many of his kids get to the NBA than winning during the season? All you ever hear him talk about is how proud he is when his kids get drafted. He made the stupid statement a couple years ago when he said on the day that 6 players were drafted "Today is the biggest day in UK History" No Cal, No it wasn't.....I could really care less if 3, 4 or 5 players get drafted. The biggest days in UK history are the days whent he teams win championships. It's to the point where Cal has already said he can't stand tournaments and doesn't like playing in them. He's on record saying he can't stand the SEC tournament....well guess what Cal? The fans LOVE the SEC tourney. Why do you think year after year we invade whatever city the tourney is played in and paint the town blue?!?!

 

I don't watch the NBA, I can't stand the NBA, what I do watch and what I do have a passion about is UK Basketball. Do us a favor Coach, practice free throws and don't be so concerned with how many of your players go pro. This year alone there are only 2 players worthy of going to the NBA after the season, Randel and Cauly Stein. any other of your players go pro after the season will be an injustice and if you actually tell any of the other players they should go, well then maybe your priorities are so far screwed that it may be time for you to reevaluate your priorities when it comes to UK Basketball.

 

Off my soap box.

Not to steer this thread away from your topic, but I'd love to see a picture of that pool table if you wanted to post one.

Not to steer this thread away from your topic, but I'd love to see a picture of that pool table if you wanted to post one.

Sure, Let me see if I have one, if not I will have to take a pic and then post it later.

I agree in the sense that I've had a very hard time keeping my interest watching them this year. Went to bed at halftime last night. Didn't lose a wink of sleep worrying about the game. I've gotten little to no enjoyment from the games this year, so I've rarely been watching. Not sure why it is, but it's never happened before. :idunno:

I bleed Kentucky Blue. When I finished my basement I have an entire area dedicated to UK Basketball. For instance, I have a UK Styled pool table, UK blue felt and wildcat legs on the table. I have every Sports Illustrated framed and hanging on the wall from when they won the NCAA since Sports Illustrated was first published. Huge UK Fan.

 

With that said, and a lot due to the officiating this year especially, it has gotten to be real hard to watch any of these games. Last nights game may have been the straw that broke the camels back. The officiating was so horrid against UK that it isn't enjoyable to watch a game. 60 fouls called in one game!?!?! That is beyond ridiculous.

 

Coach Cal. He is slowly beginning to wear on me. I love his coaching, I love his recruiting, what I don't love anymore is the inability for any of his teams to hit free throws. It is a Coach Cal coached team problem his entire career. If his boys could hit free throws he would have at least 2 national championships. It cost him in Memphis a national title, it has cost him every loss this year. What makes it worse is when he makes statements like he did the other week when responding to the fans concerns about the inability to shoot free throws and he said "it was not a problem, and not to worry about it. The team is fine when it comes to their free throw shooting." Sorry Coach, but if the team just shoots 65% of their free throws they win last night. If the team just shoots 70-75% on the year they are undefeated. Free throw shooting has become such a problem they allow every single team they play over the last 5 years to stay in just about every single game.

 

One other thing I have gotten fed up with. When Coach Cal talks about his players going to the NBA. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't he seem to be more concerned with how many of his kids get to the NBA than winning during the season? All you ever hear him talk about is how proud he is when his kids get drafted. He made the stupid statement a couple years ago when he said on the day that 6 players were drafted "Today is the biggest day in UK History" No Cal, No it wasn't.....I could really care less if 3, 4 or 5 players get drafted. The biggest days in UK history are the days whent he teams win championships. It's to the point where Cal has already said he can't stand tournaments and doesn't like playing in them. He's on record saying he can't stand the SEC tournament....well guess what Cal? The fans LOVE the SEC tourney. Why do you think year after year we invade whatever city the tourney is played in and paint the town blue?!?!

 

I don't watch the NBA, I can't stand the NBA, what I do watch and what I do have a passion about is UK Basketball. Do us a favor Coach, practice free throws and don't be so concerned with how many of your players go pro. This year alone there are only 2 players worthy of going to the NBA after the season, Randel and Cauly Stein. any other of your players go pro after the season will be an injustice and if you actually tell any of the other players they should go, well then maybe your priorities are so far screwed that it may be time for you to reevaluate your priorities when it comes to UK Basketball.

 

Off my soap box.

I think you take way too much at face value. You are naive to believe he is not concerned by missed FTs just because he does not feed in to the frenzy. If he came out and said, "I am appalled and horrified as to what happens when we go to the line and will run these guys to death if they miss", it does no good. If I tell you not to think about an elephant, what do you start thinking about? They work on FTs. They suck at FTs (this season). There are a variety of reasons they miss FTs. I have always maintained FT shooting is more about being mentally strong and comfortable at the line. This team has not proven to be all that mentally strong. Now maybe that falls back on Cal to the type of kid he recruits. But I am willing to bet they practice just as many FTs as the rest of the country. The silly turnovers by Randle or having to issue Amber Alerts for the twins if more of a concern to me.

 

The NBA talk is all about recruiting. He has proved he can have it both ways with winning a title while having elite talent. More than half of this team will return to school. Young, Randle, and WCS I would say are the only shoe-ins to leave. The Twins would love to but their stock and others will all be on how the season progresses.

Not to get away from your post, but I thought the conversation with

Jay Williams and Greenberg (I think) between the end of the IU game begining

of the UK game was very interesting regarding the foul calls. The Big 10 refs let

those guys kill each other in the IU game then 60 fouls are called in the UK game.

It's going to be very hard for teams to adjust back and forth on this issue. It's got

to be one way or the other, these kids are going to be very hard to teach defense to

if the way the game is called changes every other night.

I agree in the sense that I've had a very hard time keeping my interest watching them this year. Went to bed at halftime last night. Didn't lose a wink of sleep worrying about the game. I've gotten little to no enjoyment from the games this year, so I've rarely been watching. Not sure why it is, but it's never happened before. :idunno:

 

I've had that same feeling with Duke. It's weird.

The NBA talk is all about recruiting. He has proved he can have it both ways with winning a title while having elite talent. More than half of this team will return to school. Young, Randle, and WCS I would say are the only shoe-ins to leave. The Twins would love to but their stock and others will all be on how the season progresses.

 

My thoughts are exactly in line with yours in regards to those three being the only shoe ins. I'm not looking past this year, but the team could be deep next year. Booker might be that deadly shooter we are looking for. Combine him, a sophomore (hopefully better) version of the Twins, with Hawkins and between those four...could be fun to watch.

I've had that same feeling with Duke. It's weird.

 

Yeah, and it's not just games like last night where, going in, I felt they would lose. Heck, I had no desire to watch the Mississippi State game.

They should know how to make free throws before they get to UK. He can make them shoot 500 a day but in the games they still miss. He can't do it for them.

 

Cal does stress the NBA a lot because he wants to end poverty in kids families. Usually a team full of Nba guys benefits us UK fans but not recently.

I bleed Kentucky Blue. When I finished my basement I have an entire area dedicated to UK Basketball. For instance, I have a UK Styled pool table, UK blue felt and wildcat legs on the table. I have every Sports Illustrated framed and hanging on the wall from when they won the NCAA since Sports Illustrated was first published. Huge UK Fan.

 

With that said, and a lot due to the officiating this year especially, it has gotten to be real hard to watch any of these games. Last nights game may have been the straw that broke the camels back. The officiating was so horrid against UK that it isn't enjoyable to watch a game. 60 fouls called in one game!?!?! That is beyond ridiculous.

 

Coach Cal. He is slowly beginning to wear on me. I love his coaching, I love his recruiting, what I don't love anymore is the inability for any of his teams to hit free throws. It is a Coach Cal coached team problem his entire career. If his boys could hit free throws he would have at least 2 national championships. It cost him in Memphis a national title, it has cost him every loss this year. What makes it worse is when he makes statements like he did the other week when responding to the fans concerns about the inability to shoot free throws and he said "it was not a problem, and not to worry about it. The team is fine when it comes to their free throw shooting." Sorry Coach, but if the team just shoots 65% of their free throws they win last night. If the team just shoots 70-75% on the year they are undefeated. Free throw shooting has become such a problem they allow every single team they play over the last 5 years to stay in just about every single game.

 

One other thing I have gotten fed up with. When Coach Cal talks about his players going to the NBA. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't he seem to be more concerned with how many of his kids get to the NBA than winning during the season? All you ever hear him talk about is how proud he is when his kids get drafted. He made the stupid statement a couple years ago when he said on the day that 6 players were drafted "Today is the biggest day in UK History" No Cal, No it wasn't.....I could really care less if 3, 4 or 5 players get drafted. The biggest days in UK history are the days whent he teams win championships. It's to the point where Cal has already said he can't stand tournaments and doesn't like playing in them. He's on record saying he can't stand the SEC tournament....well guess what Cal? The fans LOVE the SEC tourney. Why do you think year after year we invade whatever city the tourney is played in and paint the town blue?!?!

 

I don't watch the NBA, I can't stand the NBA, what I do watch and what I do have a passion about is UK Basketball. Do us a favor Coach, practice free throws and don't be so concerned with how many of your players go pro. This year alone there are only 2 players worthy of going to the NBA after the season, Randel and Cauly Stein. any other of your players go pro after the season will be an injustice and if you actually tell any of the other players they should go, well then maybe your priorities are so far screwed that it may be time for you to reevaluate your priorities when it comes to UK Basketball.

 

Off my soap box.

 

I still think this is going to be a special team and I am here for the journey....bumps and all. Beats last years journey.....

They should know how to make free throws before they get to UK. He can make them shoot 500 a day but in the games they still miss. He can't do it for them.

 

Cal does stress the NBA a lot because he wants to end poverty in kids families. Usually a team full of Nba guys benefits us UK fans but not recently.

 

Mother Theresa and Coach Cal...both fought poverty. Never quite saw Coach Cal in that light.

I think you take way too much at face value. You are naive to believe he is not concerned by missed FTs just because he does not feed in to the frenzy. If he came out and said, "I am appalled and horrified as to what happens when we go to the line and will run these guys to death if they miss", it does no good. If I tell you not to think about an elephant, what do you start thinking about? They work on FTs. They suck at FTs (this season). There are a variety of reasons they miss FTs. I have always maintained FT shooting is more about being mentally strong and comfortable at the line. This team has not proven to be all that mentally strong. Now maybe that falls back on Cal to the type of kid he recruits. But I am willing to bet they practice just as many FTs as the rest of the country. The silly turnovers by Randle or having to issue Amber Alerts for the twins if more of a concern to me.

 

The NBA talk is all about recruiting. He has proved he can have it both ways with winning a title while having elite talent. More than half of this team will return to school. Young, Randle, and WCS I would say are the only shoe-ins to leave. The Twins would love to but their stock and others will all be on how the season progresses.

It's not just this season they suck at free throws, it's just about every season under Cal no matter where cal was, his teams suck at free throws. He lost a National Championship at Memphis soley because of free throws. It's a common theme with his teams.

Not to get away from your post, but I thought the conversation with

Jay Williams and Greenberg (I think) between the end of the IU game begining

of the UK game was very interesting regarding the foul calls. The Big 10 refs let

those guys kill each other in the IU game then 60 fouls are called in the UK game.

It's going to be very hard for teams to adjust back and forth on this issue. It's got

to be one way or the other, these kids are going to be very hard to teach defense to

if the way the game is called changes every other night.

 

It is bizarre the difference in officiating. Wisconsin only went to the line 4 times against Indiana. I'm sorry but the way they take it to the basket, there in no way there was only 2 shooting fouls.

They should know how to make free throws before they get to UK. He can make them shoot 500 a day but in the games they still miss. He can't do it for them.

 

Cal does stress the NBA a lot because he wants to end poverty in kids families. Usually a team full of Nba guys benefits us UK fans but not recently.

A squad full of NBA players benefits us fans if those NBA players are at UK for several years. 1 and done has benefited us once. It's not like it benefits us every year.