2 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

I haven’t cared for several years, I get it. ?

LOL!!

So...outside looking in, what is your assessment of UK & Cal?

1 minute ago, Voice of Reason said:

I can honestly say I am not all that disappointed because I had low expectations. I didn't think this team was anywhere as goid as people were saying. The one thing that got my expectations up a little was the draw UK had. Still, I  thought they could lose on any given night. I definitely didn't expect it to be this one though.

They were never going to beat Purdue. That's a nightmare matchup for this UK team. 

8 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

I honestly believe his best years are behind him.  There's no excuse for the worst tournament loss in school history and the worst regular season last year.

That said, I don't know where you turn.

I'm sure I'm one of few but I don't give a damn what happened last year, with COVID causing major disruptions, and losing Terrance Clark (RIP) all year.  For me that doesn't remotely factor into the conversation.

Tonight sucks.  It sucks really bad.  A major blemish, but I've watched Coach K have major blemishes. Tom Izzo.  I've watched Tony Bennett have major (the biggest in tournament history) blemishes.  So I'm torn.  Like you said, where do you turn?  I don't think there's a better option personally.  So I don't need to say it but I'm ride or die (or maybe "ride and die" for some) with Calipari until he's gone.

I'll repeat, no excuse for tonight.  Its embarrassing.  Losing to UNC on a last second shot in the Elite 8 (with Fox & Bam) is not embarrassing to me but people use that has reasons for him to be out sometimes.

2 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I can honestly say I am not all that disappointed because I had low expectations. I didn't think this team was anywhere as goid as people were saying. The one thing that got my expectations up a little was the draw UK had. Still, I  thought they could lose on any given night. I definitely didn't expect it to be this one though.

First time UK fans could fill out a bracket and pick Kentucky in 3 years.  This is a tough night.

3 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

LOL!!

So...outside looking in, what is your assessment of UK & Cal?

It won’t be popular, but I think @John Anthonyhas been spot on about it. Cal has been an elite recruiter most of his career. When he doesn’t get the top 1-5 guys, he struggles. Too many teams are too good now days to use the “roll the ball out there” coaching style. I tend to think he hangs his players out to dry with some of his comments as well. 

3 minutes ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

I'm sure I'm one of few but I don't give a damn what happened last year, with COVID causing major disruptions, and losing Terrance Clark (RIP) all year.  For me that doesn't remotely factor into the conversation.

Tonight sucks.  It sucks really bad.  A major blemish, but I've watched Coach K have major blemishes. Tom Izzo.  I've watched Tony Bennett have major (the biggest in tournament history) blemishes.  So I'm torn.  Like you said, where do you turn?  I don't think there's a better option personally.  So I don't need to say it but I'm ride or die (or maybe "ride and die" for some) with Calipari until he's gone.

I'll repeat, no excuse for tonight.  Its embarrassing.  Losing to UNC on a last second shot in the Elite 8 (with Fox & Bam) is on embarrassing to me but people use that has reasons for him to be out sometimes.

I think that's a perfectly fair viewpoint.  I also think it's fair for people to be frustrated with Cal.  

This just feels similar to Tubby IMO.  As much as I love him, Tubby's best coaching was behind him when he left UK.  

1 minute ago, TheDeuce said:

It won’t be popular, but I think @John Anthonyhas been spot on about it. Cal has been an elite recruiter most of his career. When he doesn’t get the top 1-5 guys, he struggles. Too many teams are too good now days to use the “roll the ball out there” coaching style. I tend to think he hangs his players out to dry with some of his comments as well. 

Do you accept Venmo?

1 minute ago, Randy Parker said:

I think that's a perfectly fair viewpoint.  I also think it's fair for people to be frustrated with Cal.  

 

Totally.  But it would be real boring around here if we all agreed haha!

23 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

Haha your using fellow UK fans and probably the most unrealistic fan base in the country as your reasoning? 

Well, that and both the AP and Coaches Polls that BOTH had UK as the preseason number one.  They went from that to unranked before finally playing up to their potential.  There's no other way to look at that team other than it underachieved until right before the postseason and then lived to to it's potential. That was not a scrappy band of underdogs.  

1 minute ago, TheDeuce said:

It won’t be popular, but I think @John Anthonyhas been spot on about it. Cal has been an elite recruiter most of his career. When he doesn’t get the top 1-5 guys, he struggles. Too many teams are too good now days to use the “roll the ball out there” coaching style. I tend to think he hangs his players out to dry with some of his comments as well. 

You can trace Cal's decline from the moment WWW stopped being closely associated to college basketball. 

9 minutes ago, John Anthony said:

First time UK fans could fill out a bracket and pick Kentucky in 3 years.  This is a tough night.

I didn't even do a bracket this year. First time in 30 years. I just didn't feel it at all this year. I loved Oscar though. Who doesn't?

1 minute ago, Voice of Reason said:

I didn't even do a bracket this year. First time in 30 years. I jyst didn't feel it at alk this year. I loved Oscar though. Who doesn't?

I genuinely think he's my favorite player under Calipari.  I'd have to think hard about my nostalgia picks but maybe ever, especially if he comes back!

3 minutes ago, John Anthony said:

Do you accept Venmo?

John, I don't think you're talking to Deuce.  Someone has obviously hacked into his account.  

Just now, MJAlltheWay24 said:

I genuinely think he's my favorite player under Calipari.  I'd have to think hard about my nostalgia picks but maybe ever, especially if he comes back!

He's my second favorite Cat ever, behind only Mashburn.

Just now, Voice of Reason said:

 

2 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

You can trace Cal's decline from the moment WWW stopped being closely associated to college basketball. 

1000%.  The WWW, Pastner, Coach A, Strickland, & Payne era, was the college basketball version of Goodfella’s.