did they steam roll? He only made 1 final 4 at both places. Sans in 2008 his teams were beat at memphis with teams with less talent in the tourney
The SEC is shaping up to be a tough Conference
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I was referencing his two final four runs. Neither of his teams had problems matching up against and beating power conference teams, whether in the reg season non-con or in the tourney. Getting no name programs like UMass and Memphis to that point where they are going to FFs and competing with no issues against power conference teams are two of the best coaching jobs in turning around programs in NCAA history. You can't just be a "recruiter" only to turn around programs in the manner he did.
I wouldn't say Cal didn't care about UK. He moreso cared about getting his guys to the NBA. That was a higher priority for him. But he still cared about UK, just not to the level he did about getting dudes to the pros.
Look at me having to defend Cal, hahaha.
Memphis basketball had a far better basketball history when cal arrived then what Auburn had when Pearl arrived. I think the reason cal now struggles is freshmen talent is not what rules college basketball. The portal era ruined Cal. Old dudes that come from smaller schools and developed late rule college basketball now. 4 of Auburns top 6 players started at Moorhead st., Florida International, University of alabama Huntsville, and Northwest Florida community college.
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Time to throw your traffic cone color orange pom-poms in the trash for some in burnt orange, BLOCKHEAD.
I don't know, the little bit of NBA I do watch, it looks like some teams are pretty physical, but they play so many games, they can't play that physical every game, they would all be injured as much as Anthony Davis is every year.
Compare the defense in the nba the last 15 years to the defense in the 80s and 90s in the nba
Yes, no doubt Pearl has done a fantastic job at AU. He deserves all the praise he gets.
As for Cal, he has actually done quite well in the transfer portal over the past five years. Reid Travis, Nate Sestina, Kellan Grady, Oscar Tsiebwe, Jacob Toppin, Antonio Reeves, Johnell Davis, etc. He has done quite well for himself.
He just can't coach in game like he used to. He hasn't adjusted well to how basketball is now played.
Must have JC, congrats on the win. UT did not play particularly bad, y'all just played very well. It was a most disappointing loss.
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Exactly...which is why us UK fans were wanting him gone years ago. The game passed him by. He still has no problem accumulating talent, he just sucks on the court now.
That’s 100% right, Cal is not close to the game coach Pitino is, but recruiting is part of it.
Cal's problem is, somewhere around 2020, he started making promises to bad players, players that had future potential, but were unpolished beanpoles that didn’t care about college ball.
Calipari also put winning on the back burner, the NBA draft became more important. So, when you make promises to kids, like Justin Edwards and BJ Boston, you lose a lot of games while better players sit the bench and watch.
Cal had a very obvious lineup last year that was the best in college basketball, by a large margin, but he refused to play it, because playing Edwards and Wagner was more important. #promises
If Calipari buckled down and concentrated on team play, team goals and winning games, he would find that not only would the team be successful, but each player would thrive and look much better.
But, Cal has to make promises to get these kids, because these kids have realized his offense is awful and they don't need Cal, or UK to get to the NBA. They are going to the NBA no matter where they go to college.
Cal's 95/96 UMass team beat UK's best team of all time in November that year, then made it to the title FF by beating some damn good teams with Marcus Camby and a bunch of low rated kids. Cal was a motivated coach back then.
The game is more spread out now. Back in the 80's and 90's, nobody perfected the 3 point shot, scoring was all about getting the ball to the rack, so yeah, it's going to be more physical. But Steph Curry has changed the game. The wrestling matches in the paint just aren't there, but you can't blame the refs or players for that.
Ah yes, of course UT peaked in November (since that's when they beat the absolute shit out of Louisville). 😂 Probably has nothing to do with playing better competition now.
When UK won in Knoxville (Go Big Blue Arena 😁) the narrative from the haters on here was abput how UT lost the game, UK didn’t win it, UT lost it.
Those people are nowhere to be found now. The bottom line is, UK is good, but matchups and injuries still matter. There are teams UK would lose to that UT would curb stomp and vice versa.
Two things about UT:
1) when they ratchet up the defense, it is incredibly stifling, one of the toughest I've seen in a long time.
2) Rick Barnes is incredible in timeouts, they score every time off some really impressive action. A lot of times, it's an eady alley oop.
This win goes to shit if we crap the bed in Austin, Saturday. I THINK we will have Lamont back but not Jax. Win at Texas, save face at home against Vandy, and that leaves you with @Bama, @Sooners, and at home against Auburn in the span of a week.
Go 5-2 in our last 7 games and we should be pretty firmly on the 3 line for a run.
Go 5-2 in our last 7 games and we should be pretty firmly on the 3 line for a run.
You think Butler will be back this Saturday? Have you heard something new today?
If Butler plays, my money is on UK, but damn, going on the road without Butler, KK and Jaxson, would be a nail biter at best.
Lamont was absolutely incredible last night, he’s the key to what this team can be.
That sequence when he tracked Gainey down, who was on a breakout, got in front of him, stole the ball, then ripped the ball up the court to Brea (I think) for a bucket, was next level. Game changer.
Auburn wont win at Rupp. UK could have 5 walk ons starting at it wont happen
I think its more than that. Talent is more spread now. He hasnt had near the ovwrall talent asvantage since about 2016
Well, it's not that far fetched, road games are hard, heck, Auburn almost left South Carolina with a loss.
If UK has Butler and Robinson, I give UK a shot as ling as Auburn didn’t lose just before they come to Rupp. They were pissed off last night and Vandy felt that right off the bat.
They were two different games, so the narrative should be different. Game one UT chucked up 45 3's and missed a bunch of them. The second game was played completely different with UT shooting a respectable 42% from the field. I think y'all just had a good game. You hit a lot of contested 3s and drove inside, so that is just good on y'all. Our defense was guarding you pretty well and much better than other teams, but you hit for above your average despite that, again good on y'all.
The only problem with our defense running around with their hair on fire is that it is very hard to slow it down on offense and thus it leads to rushed shots. It is just the price we have to pay. I wouldn't trade it.
I love Rick Barnes. He is a great coach, a gentleman and a Christian. He has elevated our program to a consistent winner. He has us going to higher levels in post season consistently better than ever before. UK fans are gleeful that you upset UT twice in one season and you have every right to be. Before Barnes, y'all would have been ho hum, I remember those days. We dropped to 6th on KENPOM after the loss. I can live with that.
This is what I saw posted on RR. Sounds encouraging. I imagine a vast majority of BBN thought he could be done for the year after he went down. Me included.
Agreed we should win at Texas with everyone but KK and Jax. Noah and Perry have really stepped up lately to fill the scoring void left but some of our guys being hurt.
It’s absolutely incredible how much better our defense was with LB on the court vs without him.
Do you really believe you guys have no shot? Not going to lie, I would be over the moon if we finished the stretch of Bama, OU, and Auburn 2-1. I think 1-2 is most likely. I’m not expecting to beat Auburn fwiw
You guys will be just fine. Barnes was classy as always after the game.
In the SEC almost anyone can beat anyone on a given night. UF beat UT by 30 and then lost to UT by 20. Is just an example of crazy.
Last time UK beat UT, y'all moved up in the rankings. Of course, you smoked Florida, so thst helps, maybe you'll move up again.
Who else is 4-0 against the Kenpom and NET top 5 (4-1 against current AP top 5)? Lets see those hands.
The biggest thing is, Texas doesn't pressure the guards anywhere near as hard as Tennessee does, so we might be able to get away with using Perry, Oweh, Williams and Brea to bring the ball up, but it’s soooo much better with Butler on the court.
I dont expect to win at Rupp. That and pope seems to get UK for the top teams and than suck against the bottom. Kentucky will probably beat Auburn and alabama. Then lose to LSU and UGA
