Cal won many games early on that I remember fondly. 2011 team played out of their head. Brandon Knight team is one of my favorites CAL did an excellent job coaching that team in particular. Problem is CAL is trending the wrong way needs to get the fire back and a lot of the fan base too. Hopefully this disaster of a season CAL eats a little humble pie and makes KY the Gold Standard once again.

7 hours ago, John Anthony said:

Okay, I meant late March runs as a whole.  Doesn’t change the fact we lost all of the games I mentioned when we had the better team each time.  I just want to get back to late March runs, if it’s truly “random” we’re due for another F4 and or title.  We need to put ourselves in position to get there first.

Since Cal has been here. When UK has been in the tournament, UK has basically had late March runs every year except in 2016. 2016 was the only time they didn’t make it past the first weekend. 
 

Every big name coach had had losses in the tournament to teams they probably should have never lost too. It sucks when it happens, but people like to think when it happens to Cal it must be because he can’t coach. When guys like Pitino lose to Morehead State in the first round, coach K has multiple first weekend and first round losses with better teams. It happens, yet with Cal some people seem like they only want to mention the times he has failed or lost. 

7 hours ago, Tomcats1990 said:

Cal won many games early on that I remember fondly. 2011 team played out of their head. Brandon Knight team is one of my favorites CAL did an excellent job coaching that team in particular. Problem is CAL is trending the wrong way needs to get the fire back and a lot of the fan base too. Hopefully this disaster of a season CAL eats a little humble pie and makes KY the Gold Standard once again.

Here is the thing, some of you all were acting like it has been horrible before this year ever started. This year no doubt was a disaster, no one will argue other wise. 
 

However, the run from 2011 to 2015 was not realistically sustainable with four final fours in five years. Yet, people seem to think that is how it always should be, and it has been horrible since then. That simply is not true. Until this season, it had only slightly gone done, because there was no where to go down from where they were at. He has had three teams in contention that had great chances to win it since 2015. The 2017 team probably was the second best team in the country, and took a last second shot from the best team in the country to knock them off. The 2019 also was another team that was literally one shot away from the final four. Which if they win that elite 8 game, would have loved their chances in that final four. The 2020 team was an experienced team and literally had everything a team could want in terms of a team that usually can make a run for the title. Unfortunately Covid took that season away from us. 
 

Now this year was horrible, and if came in a not normal type of year. So we do need to see if this was the start of the end for Cal, or if this was truly just an exception. Which I do think this type of year honestly is going to end up being a good thing for UK and Cal. 

5 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

Since Cal has been here. When UK has been in the tournament, UK has basically had late March runs every year except in 2016. 2016 was the only time they didn’t make it past the first weekend. 
 

Every big name coach had had losses in the tournament to teams they probably should have never lost too. It sucks when it happens, but people like to think when it happens to Cal it must be because he can’t coach. When guys like Pitino lose to Morehead State in the first round, coach K has multiple first weekend and first round losses with better teams. It happens, yet with Cal some people seem like they only want to mention the times he has failed or lost. 

You win 9 games at UK with the #1 recruiting class and miss the tourney, you start to lose equity from 2012 and 2015.  I know you will call me crazy but I think next year is crucial for Cal to restore order.

Just now, John Anthony said:

You win 9 games at UK with the #1 recruiting class and miss the tourney, you start to lose equity from 2012 and 2015.  I know you will call me crazy but I think next year is crucial for Cal to restore order.

If this was the first year people said much, we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion. However, people like you were acting like it has been horrible since 2015 before this year even happened. Hence, the consistent discussion me and you keep having. 
 

This year no doubt sucked. Cal will have to prove that this was just an exception in a crazy year, and not the start of a new normal for him and falling behind. I do agree that next year is a big year for Cal to show he can turn it back on after this disaster of a year. 

5 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

If this was the first year people said much, we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion. However, people like you were acting like it has been horrible since 2015 before this year even happened. Hence, the consistent discussion me and you keep having. 
 

This year no doubt sucked. Cal will have to prove that this was just an exception in a crazy year, and not the start of a new normal for him and falling behind. I do agree that next year is a big year for Cal to show he can turn it back on after this disaster of a year. 

Not horrible since 2015, I think it went almost per expectations at a program like UK.  Keep in mind that’s without a final 4, or Natty appearance, I’m trying to be generous here.  

2 minutes ago, John Anthony said:

Not horrible since 2015, I think it went almost per expectations at a program like UK.  Keep in mind that’s without a final 4, or Natty appearance, I’m trying to be generous here.  

At the end of the day it is not even realistic to expect a final four every five years or so. Now it would be a bigger issue, if they weren’t even at least in contention to make final fours during that period though. However, Cal has put teams together that literally have been right there. Twice one shot away from a final four. Shoot one blown non shot clock violation from an undefeated second national title. It sucks in a one and out post season, that literally one play can make the difference between a win or a lost. 
 

With that said Cal is going to have to actually get this team to be able to push through that barrier again, and not just keep getting close. Next year is definitely a big year to see the direction this program is going under him. 

10 hours ago, futurecoach said:

Since Cal has been here. When UK has been in the tournament, UK has basically had late March runs every year except in 2016. 2016 was the only time they didn’t make it past the first weekend. 
 

Every big name coach had had losses in the tournament to teams they probably should have never lost too. It sucks when it happens, but people like to think when it happens to Cal it must be because he can’t coach. When guys like Pitino lose to Morehead State in the first round, coach K has multiple first weekend and first round losses with better teams. It happens, yet with Cal some people seem like they only want to mention the times he has failed or lost. 

This thread has been hijacked. Let's keep it on Archie Miller and Indiana.

Given that Brad Stevens is 99.9% not coming to IU and Pitino  is about 85% not coming, who are other possibilities IU is considering/talking to?

Scott Drew & Chris Beard are the top seeds in the Texas bracket.  John Beilein & Thad Matta from the Unemployed region.  Porter Moser & Dane Fife from the Archie Miller Memorial Mid-Major bracket.  Pitino & Bruce Pearl from the Redemption region.

It's going to be a big name, i.e. Drew or Beard, or someone like that.  Whoever the source of the "philanthropic donation" was, they didn't give $10 million for the buyout, just for IU to hire another up-and-comer.

At this point, I don't care who it is...just win.  Missing the tourney being held in Indiana...losing to Purdue for 798 consecutive games (that's what it feels like)...it's getting old.  This team has pretty good talent, and whoever takes over could win at a solid level right away.

Indiana should offer Rick 12 million per year, for 5 years tomorrow.

56 minutes ago, Parrott said:

Scott Drew & Chris Beard are the top seeds in the Texas bracket.  John Beilein & Thad Matta from the Unemployed region.  Porter Moser & Dane Fife from the Archie Miller Memorial Mid-Major bracket.  Pitino & Bruce Pearl from the Redemption region.

It's going to be a big name, i.e. Drew or Beard, or someone like that.  Whoever the source of the "philanthropic donation" was, they didn't give $10 million for the buyout, just for IU to hire another up-and-comer.

At this point, I don't care who it is...just win.  Missing the tourney being held in Indiana...losing to Purdue for 798 consecutive games (that's what it feels like)...it's getting old.  This team has pretty good talent, and whoever takes over could win at a solid level right away.

Honestly I really like the Bruce Pearl idea too for Indiana. 

8 hours ago, Bert said:

Given that Brad Stevens is 99.9% not coming to IU and Pitino  is about 85% not coming, who are other possibilities IU is considering/talking to?

Beard Bennett Drew and Mussleman

Thad Motta?