Do we miss Cal yet?

[LineSkiCat14]

It was Cal's choice to run this program the way he did. He chose to churn the roster over every year and it doesn’t take a genius to see that if you aren't getting top 5 kids, you shouldn’t flip the roster. Cal stopped getting the top ranked kids after the 2016 class. How many years did he need to see it wasn't working before he stopped doing it?
Pope is getting blasted for the guys he brought in this year, but you're giving Cal a pass for something we all knew was going to happen eventually.
You ain't winning titles with lower rated high school kids. If you're going to roll with one-and-done, you better get John Wall type guys every year, but that’s if winning titles is your goal. It’s clear winning titles wasn’t Cal's priority his last 5 years.

I dont have a problem with his system. It worked many times over. His final season it WAS working despite all 3 bigs being meh, he just choose (purposely, out of spite, because of promises?) To not play his two best guards.

The Ty and Grady years, again at one point we were the best team in the league by many pundits. We were blasting teams. His system was working. Then those two guards go down and we look totally different.

So his system is fine to me. And if anything its gonna get a little easier for him now because theres no more 5th and 6th year players. That tipped the scales in the favor of the experienced teams. I dont think its a coincidence that Cals worst years were when covid let every teams seniors come back for another year. And his system happened to not have that ability. Honestly the covid extra year helped every team BUT Kentucky. Now granted, Cal could have shifted his plan, but i do think he was starting to get some experience to stick around, some guys like Thiero coming back and embracing the transfers a little bit with Grady and that other white guard who was always injured. Forget his name.

 

[CELTICAT]

I don’t miss Cal, but I do have tremendous respect for him and the way he left actually benefitted our program.

 

[UKortho]

cal got to a sweet 16 last year
and his recruiting class was better this season, and they are 11-2 and have several stars, maleek, acuff, and brazile, either of the three would be the best on our team

Cal is going to beat Mark two times in a row also.

 

[Anon1759768907]

Cal is going to beat Mark two times in a row also.

badly

 

[LineSkiCat14]

@LineSkiCat14

I get that Cal didn’t like how things were going at UK and maybe you're right, maybe he felt like he didn't have the support he wanted, but damn, UK made him a star, Mitch gave him a lifetime deal and also made him the richest coach in college basketball.

Heck, Alabama had to give Nick Saban a raise, Cal was making more than he was and NS had like 5 titles at that point.

Where would Cal be without the stage he had at UK?

Isn't Cal to blame for the lack of support, or at least partly responsible?

So after everything UK did for him, I think it's messed up that he decided to mail it in his last 4 years.

Honestly, I don't think he lost on purpose, I think he lost his fire. It takes a lot of energy to run this ship the way he was running it. Just the recruiting alone would be exhausting. He probably got some energy back when he went to Arkansas, but still, I'm not impressed with the job he has done there.

For me, its a "takes two to tango". Cal had his problems. Stubborn, word vomit press conferences, etc. Hes not innocent here.

Yeah I can only assume what he was thinking the last four years, and I dont disagree, thats a ****** way for him to handle his tenure here. I think he lost his fire, true. But I also think he really got fed up with fans and KY media, who I believe he thought, shouldnt have been questioning him so soon. And the trouble with Mitch. Like ive said for years now.. it was a messy divorce in the making. He wasnt going to just leave that salary on the table. He was going to do things HIS way, the way he wanted, regardless of if we won or not. And thats why he had to go and why he cant ever come back. Its bad what he did! Im not denying it. But I also understand it a bit, I think he was teaching the fans a lesson, thumbing his nose. Not good, I dont agree with it, but I get his reasonsing... if that makes sense.

 

[yoshukai]

nm

 

[kyjeff1]

cal got to a sweet 16 last year
and his recruiting class was better this season, and they are 11-2 and have several stars, maleek, acuff, and brazile, either of the three would be the best on our team

They are 11-3, not 11-2 and Mark pope also made it to the sweet 16 last year too. Mark Pope had a far better season last year (3 seed vs 11 seed). Cal had the better roster.
Also, Arkansas got to play a home game against Tennesee today, we had to play at Alabama, who is a much tougher team to guard.
And no, they do not have three players batter than what we have. We have a lottery pick Lowe and Oweh are right there with Thomas and Acuff.

 

[kyjeff1]

I dont have a problem with his system. It worked many times over. His final season it WAS working despite all 3 bigs being meh, he just choose (purposely, out of spite, because of promises?) To not play his two best guards.

The Ty and Grady years, again at one point we were the best team in the league by many pundits. We were blasting teams. His system was working. Then those two guards go down and we look totally different.

So his system is fine to me. And if anything its gonna get a little easier for him now because theres no more 5th and 6th year players. That tipped the scales in the favor of the experienced teams. I dont think its a coincidence that Cals worst years were when covid let every teams seniors come back for another year. And his system happened to not have that ability. Honestly the covid extra year helped every team BUT Kentucky. Now granted, Cal could have shifted his plan, but i do think he was starting to get some experience to stick around, some guys like Thiero coming back and embracing the transfers a little bit with Grady and that other white guard who was always injured. Forget his name.

Okay, so Tyty and Grady were injured and UK lost to Saint Peters with a generational rebounder in the paint.

Didn't Pope have to navigate injuries this year? Why does Cal only get to use that excuse?

Lowe is playing with a bad shoulder and we just got our lottery pick on the court. We don't lose to unc if those 2 guys played.

What will we say if Arkansas loses by 15 or 20 at Alabama? That very well could happen the way Alabama plays.

 

[Bobby2pops]

Dude you’re absolutely crazy and I mean CRAZY if you think they are comparable to Acuff or Thomas. Holy Moly. Lmao.

 

[kyjeff1]

For me, its a "takes two to tango". Cal had his problems. Stubborn, word vomit press conferences, etc. Hes not innocent here.

Yeah I can only assume what he was thinking the last four years, and I dont disagree, thats a ****** way for him to handle his tenure here. I think he lost his fire, true. But I also think he really got fed up with fans and KY media, who I believe he thought, shouldnt have been questioning him so soon. And the trouble with Mitch. Like ive said for years now.. it was a messy divorce in the making. He wasnt going to just leave that salary on the table. He was going to do things HIS way, the way he wanted, regardless of if we won or not. And thats why he had to go and why he cant ever come back. Its bad what he did! Im not denying it. But I also understand it a bit, I think he was teaching the fans a lesson, thumbing his nose. Not good, I dont agree with it, but I get his reasonsing... if that makes sense.

You have to be really pissed to crap on what was a heck of a career, just hecause you don't like how things around you are going. Winning fixes everytbing and it sure looks like he was trying to win to me, he just refused to let go of his nba draft first mantra. You can't have both unless you have the best players.
Cal only knows how to coach one way. He has 1 offense and 1 defense and they demand grest athletes to execute, he wasn't getting those guys, but he didn't change.
I would feel different if he was killing it at Arkansas, but he sucked last year and so far this year, I'm not impressed.

 

[kyjeff1]

nm

Lokking at those stats tells me we have the slightly better coach. Pope accomplished his stats with far less talent.

 

[Bobby2pops]

Sweet 16 is not sucking. The only losses they have are to Top 10 teams. You need to wake up.

 

[Bobby2pops]

Arkansas and Kentucky are not comparable this year. Arkansas will boat race Kentucky this year.

I’m sorry but I’m a realist, Kentucky was a better team last year and got beat at home by Arkansas. Arkansas is light years better than Kentucky this year and it’s not even close.

 

[kyjeff1]

Dude you’re absolutely crazy and I mean CRAZY if you think they are comparable to Acuff or Thomas. Holy Moly. Lmao.

I never said they were lottery picks and this isn’t the NBA, this is college.
Acuff and Thomas are lottery picks because they have potential.
Flagg was the #1 draft pick, but he and all those other first rounders lost to a bunch of college journemen.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Okay, so Tyty and Grady were injured and UK lost to Saint Peters with a generational rebounder in the paint.

Didn't Pope have to navigate injuries this year? Why does Cal only get to use that excuse?

Lowe is playing with a bad shoulder and we just got our lottery pick on the court. We don't lose to unc if those 2 guys played.

What will we say if Arkansas loses by 15 or 20 at Alabama? That very well could happen the way Alabama plays.

Well I apply the same standards to coaches i love and coaches I hate. Pope didnt just have injuries this yesr. He had them last year, too. Both years have been hampered by injuries. Although I think the injuries to Ty and Grady really burned us quite a bit. And fwiw.. Duke probably beats UK last year if not for the two most impactful players in that game going down with injuries.

As for Ty and Grady.. we were COOKING with them. Because they made an undersized guard in Wheeler work a heck of a lot better. We were the hottest team going into the tournament, but we found our that those two, especially Grady, were shells of what they were in February. If we have them healthy, we probanly get a Final4. We just couldn't adjust, and you need guards in march.

I mean you watched that team right? It was like watching two completely different teams. Night and day. Theres a whole other side to this, and that is that UK has been maybe the most injured team over the last 15 years. Unreal the injury luck we have, and still have now.

 

[kyjeff1]

Arkansas and Kentucky are not comparable this year. Arkansas will boat race Kentucky this year.

I’m sorry but I’m a realist, Kentucky was a better team last year and got beat at home by Arkansas. Arkansas is light years better than Kentucky this year and it’s not even close.

Oh goodie, Arkansas fans are here, they must have won today.
Arkansas has more talent, just like they did last year, but trust me, y'all are going nowhere.

 

[yoshukai]

Arkansas and Kentucky are not comparable this year. Arkansas will boat race Kentucky this year.

I’m sorry but I’m a realist, Kentucky was a better team last year and got beat at home by Arkansas. Arkansas is light years better than Kentucky this year and it’s not even close.

Arkansas will beat us by 20 . But I don’t believe they will make it past the first weekend of the tournament.

 

[ABLCommenter]

He took the banners down because he didn't want the focus to be on the NBA draft, he wanted the focus to be on UK basketball. How can you hate that?
Cal turned UK into an NBA farm system and it sucked. UK comes first.
You can **** on Pope for a lot of things right now, but that ain't one I will agree on and how the heck does that give anyone the feeling that we were cooked? That makes no sense.
Did Rick Pitino and Adolph Rupp hang NBA banners in the locker room? No.

Because that’s all kids think about today.

 

[kyjeff1]

Well I apply the same standards to coaches i love and coaches I hate. Pope didnt just have injuries this yesr. He had them last year, too. Both years have been hampered by injuries. Although I think the injuries to Ty and Grady really burned us quite a bit. And fwiw.. Duke probably beats UK last year if not for the two most impactful players in that game going down with injuries.

As for Ty and Grady.. we were COOKING with them. Because they made an undersized guard in Wheeler work a heck of a lot better. We were the hottest team going into the tournament, but we found our that those two, especially Grady, were shells of what they were in February. If we have them healthy, we probanly get a Final4. We just couldn't adjust, and you need guards in march.

I mean you watched that team right? It was like watching two completely different teams. Night and day. Theres a whole other side to this, and that is that UK has been maybe the most injured team over the last 15 years. Unreal the injury luck we have, and still have now.

Right, so shouldn’t we give Pope the same crutch you're giving Cal? Any time a starter, especially a pg, is out with an injury, you're team is going to struggle.
Pope really screwed up by not getting another good pg. He had 22 million to spend, he should have done a better job with player evaluations and roster construction.
But man, he really has no idea how to coach this team. They are doing everything wrong.

 

[KentuckyFan1965]

I’ll admit, I wanted him gone, but dang, I think we’re all in real trouble with this guy!

Atleast with Cal we were competitive.

This is all on Barnhart.Popes not ready for this “ assignment”.

Hell No

 

[Bobby2pops]

You just sound moronic. Kentucky was better last year and lost to Arkansas. Fact.

Arkansas is way better this year. Fact. A little deductive reasoning instead of sounding like a child that doesn’t want to admit something again sounds moronic.

 

[kyjeff1]

Because that’s all kids think about today.

Not the teams winning titles. Florida, Houston, duke, Auburn and many other teams played like they wanted to win it all last year.
Gonzaga, Alabama and Michigan state sure played us like they cared about winning too.
You don't have a point here, especially considering we only have 1 guy on our roster that will play in the NBA.

 

[kyjeff1]

You just sound moronic. Kentucky was better last year and lost to Arkansas. Fact.

Arkansas is way better this year. Fact. A little deductive reasoning instead of sounding like a child that doesn’t want to admit something again sounds moronic.

Translation: "my daddy can beat your daddy up"
Beat it kid.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Okay, but for this excersize, are we getting 2009-2015 Cal, or are we getting the Cal we just got rid of?
I know the answer to this.
If we were guaranteed to get 2010 Cal back, every single dude on here would take that, but that Cal is long gone.
So do we compare Pope to the current version of Cal? We should, because that's the only Cal that exists.

Same guy.

Honestly this notion that somehow Cal has "changed" needs to stop.

The results changed. The process didn't change.

If Cal came back to answer the question...........most likely it would be a mix. We'd have up and down seasons. The ups would be very good the downs might be bad.

But at this point, I'd settle for that. I'll trade in a season or two for say a title or a final four.

 

[ABLCommenter]

Not the teams winning titles. Florida, Houston, duke, Auburn and many other teams played like they wanted to win it all last year.
Gonzaga, Alabama and Michigan state sure played us like they cared about winning too.
You don't have a point here, especially considering we only have 1 guy on our roster that will play in the NBA.

Kentucky has a better tradition than all those programs and you can only make an argument for Duke. There is no question that tradition matters far less in the NIL era.

 

[Bobby2pops]

And you’re right I’m an Arkansas fan but not one that came here to troll. Fact is I can’t stand half of our fat uneducated fans.

I came here to talk ball. Period. I actually like when Kentucky is good and competitive. It’s better that way.

 

[kyjeff1]

Same guy.

Honestly this notion that somehow Cal has "changed" needs to stop.

The results changed. The process didn't change.

If Cal came back to answer the question...........most likely it would be a mix. We'd have up and down seasons. The ups would be very good the downs might be bad.

But at this point, I'd settle for that. I'll trade in a season or two for say a title or a final four.

Wait, wait, wait, you think the 2009-2015 version of Cal, is the same Cal that lost to Evansville, Saint Peters, uncw, Richmond and Oakland? Same guy that didn't sniff a 1 seed for 9 years? Same guy that couldn't win the SEC his last 4 years? Same guy that won 1 tournament game in 5 years? Come on now.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

When was the last time Cal got a 1 seed?
What was he last year?
The regular season matters too. Cal is washed up and his priorities are not in line with what UK requires. I'm glad we are no longer an NBA farm system.

So if you don't get a 1 you're considered washed? lol.

He had a 2 and a 3 in two of the last three seasons here.

We were definitely contenders those years. They were good teams. They just happened to choke.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Same guy.

Honestly this notion that somehow Cal has "changed" needs to stop.

The results changed. The process didn't change.

If Cal came back to answer the question...........most likely it would be a mix. We'd have up and down seasons. The ups would be very good the downs might be bad.

But at this point, I'd settle for that. I'll trade in a season or two for say a title or a final four.

Yeah but there’s no denying that Calipari’s defensive efficiency numbers fell off a cliff post-Covid. I’m not a Cal hater and you don’t ever have to worry about me bashing the guy — I still have an affection for all our former coaches. I’m a history guy. Cal was absolutely in decline toward the end — it was time to go. Unfortunately, we may have plugged the wrong hole with the the wrong plug lol. Most fans chirped about Cal’s offense, but it actually was still good —- even late career. So we went to fix offense, and now we are still having the same issues with our current coach. We can’t defend enough to win at an elite level.

Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2002

Offensive Efficiency - 29

Defensive Efficiency - 9

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2003

Offensive Efficiency - 5

Defensive Efficiency - 4

Meets Criteria for Contender - Yes



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2004

Offensive Efficiency - 26

Defensive Efficiency - 7

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2005

Offensive Efficiency - 29

Defensive Efficiency - 3

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2006

Offensive Efficiency - 19

Defensive Efficiency - 75

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2007

Offensive Efficiency - 15

Defensive Efficiency - 34

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2008

Offensive Efficiency - 104

Defensive Efficiency - 67

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2009

Offensive Efficiency - 91

Defensive Efficiency - 27

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2010

Offensive Efficiency - 22

Defensive Efficiency - 6

Meets Criteria for Contender - Yes



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2011

Offensive Efficiency - 8

Defensive Efficiency - 16

Meets Criteria for Contender - Yes



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2012

Offensive Efficiency - 2

Defensive Efficiency - 7

Meets Criteria for Contender - Yes



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2013

Offensive Efficiency - 38

Defensive Efficiency - 88

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2014

Offensive Efficiency - 14

Defensive Efficiency - 32

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2015

Offensive Efficiency - 6

Defensive Efficiency - 1

Meets Criteria for Contender - Yes



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2016

Offensive Efficiency - 5

Defensive Efficiency - 39

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2017

Offensive Efficiency - 12

Defensive Efficiency - 7

Meets Criteria for Contender - Yes



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2018

Offensive Efficiency - 24

Defensive Efficiency - 22

Meets Criteria for Contender - Yes



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2019

Offensive Efficiency - 14

Defensive Efficiency - 8

Meets Criteria for Contender - Yes



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2020

Offensive Efficiency - 24

Defensive Efficiency - 52

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2021

Offensive Efficiency - 84

Defensive Efficiency - 35

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2022

Offensive Efficiency - 5

Defensive Efficiency - 36

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2023

Offensive Efficiency - 17

Defensive Efficiency - 68

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2024

Offensive Efficiency - 7

Defensive Efficiency - 109

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2025

Offensive Efficiency - 10

Defensive Efficiency - 51

Meets Criteria for Contender - No



Kentucky Wildcats Season - 2026

Offensive Efficiency - 36

Defensive Efficiency - 30

Meets Criteria for Contender - No

 

[kyjeff1]

And you’re right I’m an Arkansas fan but not one that came here to troll. Fact is I can’t stand half of our fat uneducated fans.

I came here to talk ball. Period. I actually like when Kentucky is good and competitive. It’s better that way.

You came here to troll. I'll believe you when you come here when the roles are reversed. We only see you morons when you win.
Not only that, you're awful mouthy for someone that "just came here to talk ball".

 

[ZaytovenCat]

HELL NO! Just because Pope is *** doesn’t mean Cal was worth a crap here. I’ll never miss that POS.

 

[kyjeff1]

So if you don't get a 1 you're considered washed? lol.

He had a 2 and a 3 in two of the last three seasons here.

We were definitely contenders those years. They were good teams. They just happened to choke.

It’s not just the one seeds. You're a smart guy, do you really need me to list all the differences? Surely you don't.
Just the wins and losses should be enough to prove my point.
There was no way Cal could keep up the pace he was on. He lost his fire, simple as that.
In his early days, he got in players faces, he would rip Terrence Jones, he got in Cousins' face many times, but in his later days, he babied players. Heck, he catered to Wheeler for christ sake.
He got extremely soft his last 5 years.

 

[Anon1759768907]

They are 11-3, not 11-2 and Mark pope also made it to the sweet 16 last year too. Mark Pope had a far better season last year (3 seed vs 11 seed). Cal had the better roster.
Also, Arkansas got to play a home game against Tennesee today, we had to play at Alabama, who is a much tougher team to guard.
And no, they do not have three players batter than what we have. We have a lottery pick Lowe and Oweh are right there with Thomas and Acuff.

"cal had the better roster" exactly my point

we overperformed for who we had

they didnt necesarily underperform + their roster is better this year so they might go further

our recruiting js worse so thats why we are on a downward trajectory

 

[Bobby2pops]

You take mouthy for being factual. I personally do not like Cal. I like the recruits he brings, that’s about it. I liked Mussellman more but he left and the chicken man hired Cal. I hate Tyson chicken too if that helps.

I'm sorry that it hurts your feelings that I’m telling the truth that Kentucky basketball is awful this year.

Arkansas basketball was awful until tournament time last year. I know how to admit that Cal sucked most of last year and the team sucked. Truth is the truth, I’ve watched Pope and he’s in over his head. The Kentucky team this year is nowhere close to what the Kentucky basketball team I’ve watched since the 90’s.

They are 11-3, not 11-2 and Mark pope also made it to the sweet 16 last year too. Mark Pope had a far better season last year (3 seed vs 11 seed). Cal had the better roster.
Also, Arkansas got to play a home game against Tennesee today, we had to play at Alabama, who is a much tougher team to guard.
And no, they do not have three players batter than what we have. We have a lottery pick Lowe and Oweh are right there with Thomas and Acuff.

You have to be really pissed to crap on what was a heck of a career, just hecause you don't like how things around you are going. Winning fixes everytbing and it sure looks like he was trying to win to me, he just refused to let go of his nba draft first mantra. You can't have both unless you have the best players.
Cal only knows how to coach one way. He has 1 offense and 1 defense and they demand grest athletes to execute, he wasn't getting those guys, but he didn't change.
I would feel different if he was killing it at Arkansas, but he sucked last year and so far this year, I'm not impressed.

I never said they were lottery picks and this isn’t the NBA, this is college.
Acuff and Thomas are lottery picks because they have potential.
Flagg was the #1 draft pick, but he and all those other first rounders lost to a bunch of college journemen.

Oh goodie, Arkansas fans are here, they must have won today.
Arkansas has more talent, just like they did last year, but trust me, y'all are going nowhere.

You came here to troll. I'll believe you when you come here when the roles are reversed. We only see you morons when you win.
Not only that, you're awful mouthy for someone that "just came here to talk ball".

 

[Wunky]

Dumb thread. We’re 9-5, not 9-16.

 

[kyjeff1]

"cal had the better roster" exactly my point

we overperformed for who we had

they didnt necesarily underperform + their roster is better this year so they might go further

our recruiting js worse so thats why we are on a downward trajectory

I don't disagree. But Pope should get credit for how the team "overperformed" last year right?

Shouldn't Cal take some responsibility for how Arkansas underperformed last year too?

Also, we can't act like this season is over. A lot can happen here. Injuries can happen and who/where you play matters.
For example, they had UT at home today, tgey are 1-0, we had to play at Alabama, they drilled us, we are 1-0. But eventually they have to play on the road and we get to play at home. That matters.
Plus, we know Cal has serious limitations when it comes to holding a lead in the tournament, we know how their season is going to end, we saw it over and over for 15 years.

 

[kyjeff1]

You take mouthy for being factual. I personally do not like Cal. I like the recruits he brings, that’s about it. I liked Mussellman more but he left and the chicken man hired Cal. I hate Tyson chicken too if that helps.

I'm sorry that it hurts your feelings that I’m telling the truth that Kentucky basketball is awful this year.

Arkansas basketball was awful until tournament time last year. I know how to admit that Cal sucked most of last year and the team sucked. Truth is the truth, I’ve watched Pope and he’s in over his head. The Kentucky team this year is nowhere close to what the Kentucky basketball team I’ve watched since the 90’s.

Yup, Pope is on over his head, we're all literally saying that very same thing, but that doesn't mean I want Cal back, no freaking way.

 

[Anon1759768907]

I

I don't disagree. But Pope should get credit for how the team "overperformed" last year right?

Shouldn't Cal take some responsibility for how Arkansas underperformed last year too?

Also, we can't act like this season is over. A lot can happen here. Injuries can happen and who/where you play matters.
For example, they had UT at home today, tgey are 1-0, we had to play at Alabama, they drilled us, we are 1-0. But eventually they have to play on the road and we get to play at home. That matters.
Plus, we know Cal has serious limitations when it comes to holding a lead in the tournament, we know how their season is going to end, we saw it over and over for 15 years.

once again, i agree pope should get credit for last year, matter of fact i think hes a decent coach, i just think its a roster construction and recruiting issue before its a coaching issue, BUT its his job to be a good recruiter

also keep in mind its a coaches job to do as good as he can with the best roster he can create, not "overperform" for having a lucklaster roster

 

[kyjeff1]

once again, i agree pope should get credit for last year, matter of fact i think hes a decent coach, i just think its a roster construction and recruiting issue before its a coaching issue, BUT its his job to be a good recruiter

also keep in mind its a coaches job to do as good as he can with the best roster he can create, not "overperform" for having a lucklaster roster

I agree with all of that.
Pope has failed at everything to this point. It’s disturbingly bad.
I mean, he had 2 weeks to prepare for this game and it’s like he thought we were playing St Johns.
His defensive gameplan was the worst possible game plan you could possibly have for Alabama and our offense is incredibly bad. Nobody passes the ball, nobody is cutting, nobody plays for each other and nobody can shoot. It’s about as bad as it can be.
9 assists and that's because nobody even thinks about running an actual.offense.
Alabama might have the worst defense in the league too.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

It’s not just the one seeds. You're a smart guy, do you really need me to list all the differences? Surely you don't.
Just the wins and losses should be enough to prove my point.
There was no way Cal could keep up the pace he was on. He lost his fire, simple as that.
In his early days, he got in players faces, he would rip Terrence Jones, he got in Cousins' face many times, but in his later days, he babied players. Heck, he catered to Wheeler for christ sake.
He got extremely soft his last 5 years.

The wins and losses is what earns you a good seed.


We had good teams in 2022 and 2024.

We also happened to choke in the biggest games of those seasons in March

Both things are true.