You have it or you don’t. You have to have NBA level players to win. I’ll let you do the math on where that takes us in the future. I don’t think Uk can compete in this current version of college bb. Unless….. we get a new visionary AD
Talent Matters
- Thread starter canebreak
- Start date
Amen, that’s what I’ve been saying too. That’s why Rutgers is my favorite to cut down the nets
Effort matters, too. Something this team tends to lack at times. If you're giving everything you've got, and still get beat, then you got out-talented.
Creighton led Auburn through an entire half of basketball while you typed this.
We havnt lost yet. Are you pre-crying?
We haven’t been competitive for the last 4-5 years in the tournaments. Cal needed to leave. We have 3 NBA level recruits coming in and likely will be very prominent in the portal. Pope had one of the best seasons we have seen in many years until we started having major injury issues. We have somehow stitched together a team that ran away with last nights game. Will Illinois be an uphill battle, yes. Does that mean we aren’t on the right track, no. Pope has shown all the requisite skills to be an excellent coach.
Talent……matters? YOU… are trying to tell ME… that talent matters!? By god I think you’re right! Someone promote this person immediately!
You also need motivation and coaching. Talent can only take you so far. Look at what Pope did with bench players from BYU and Oklahoma, the Coastal Athletic Association, the A10, 3 freshman, one that hasn’t played for two years in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
But I’m sure you already knew that
But I’m sure you already knew that
Are you guys really doom worrying about the program because Calipari made the S16? Lmao please go outside. Some of you seem quite unhealthy.
I don’t know where this narrative began. The truth is that a healthy starting five of
Butler
Oweh
Robinson
Carr
Williams
is good enough to win a title this season.
Kentucky has the talent and the coaching, we’ve been horribly snakebite with injuries.
Butler
Oweh
Robinson
Carr
Williams
is good enough to win a title this season.
Kentucky has the talent and the coaching, we’ve been horribly snakebite with injuries.
So what's the problem over the past 5 years when we've had NBA guys out the whazoo?
The fans need to get over that but the op isn’t wrong, talent helps and Pope I’m sure would say the same
God some of the people on here are absolutely pathetic.
Just so there’s no confusion, I’m talking about OP and people like OP.
Just so there’s no confusion, I’m talking about OP and people like OP.
Well. Sometimes stating the obvious is necessary. In fact, It’s done all the time. Pick a cliche. I only say it because it is starting to feel like some fans think you can XandO to a Championship. You can’t.
Does tying a record with 8 top 15 wins in a season matter?
Exactly that’s why we moved on from the last coach.
Whats the point of it? "Talent matters" uh ok..and? No kidding. Pope has thrown together plenty of talent in the little time he had to make a roster and had it going like a machine til half the roster got injured. And we still have a good chance of making at least the S16. We're a top 3 seed playing in the r32 tomorrow and threads like these are getting made? Why? Because Cal beat a team that can't shoot worth a lick? OK. Good for him lol. Like wtf is wrong with some people here?
Each and every piece of a team matters, from the managers to the staff to the video people and such. Cal has proved too many times that talent does not mean a victory.
This year for UK, Coaching, medical staff, players developing has mattered more. UK can beat anyone, but can also lose to anyone. Guess what, you can same the same thing about each and every team in the tourney.
Knowing you can win the game (confidence), preparing to win the game (preparation), will to win the game (desire), knowledge to win the game are what will win the game tomorrow.
Which ever players consume all the information, all the desire, all the know how is going to win. Talent might get you a few baskets. Can get you an advantage but does not win you anything. Just ask Jamal Mashburn. See how many championships he has under his belt. One of my all time favorite players and was typically unstoppable.
This year for UK, Coaching, medical staff, players developing has mattered more. UK can beat anyone, but can also lose to anyone. Guess what, you can same the same thing about each and every team in the tourney.
Knowing you can win the game (confidence), preparing to win the game (preparation), will to win the game (desire), knowledge to win the game are what will win the game tomorrow.
Which ever players consume all the information, all the desire, all the know how is going to win. Talent might get you a few baskets. Can get you an advantage but does not win you anything. Just ask Jamal Mashburn. See how many championships he has under his belt. One of my all time favorite players and was typically unstoppable.
It does.
We've also beaten teams that are more talented than us this season with an entirely new roster that Coach Mark Pope had to build on the fly with only one player that knew his system. During a transfer portal where nearly every coach had a several week head start on him. With all of the top high school talent already committed somewhere else. For a program whose brand had been embarrassed by early first round exits vs. mid-majors two of the previous three seasons. And he still guided his team to the best NCAA Tournament seed of all the new head coaches this season.
If you only view this season through the lens of UK history and expectations, then you'll be disappointed. As for me, I actually take into account the circumstances for both the roster construction and the late season "struggles".
I'll give you this much: the athleticism has to improve and be more of an emphasis when evaluating talent. Same with the ability to score inside and with good touch around the basket, especially any big men we're looking to bring in. I'll always want us to press more and be more disruptive on the defensive end because that's the style of play I grew up watching, but I also don't want it to completely be at the expense of what we did offensively when this team was completely healthy. There has to be a balance.
I would argue talent, health, continuity in the system, experience, and matchups are all important factors in the NCAA Tournament.
We've also beaten teams that are more talented than us this season with an entirely new roster that Coach Mark Pope had to build on the fly with only one player that knew his system. During a transfer portal where nearly every coach had a several week head start on him. With all of the top high school talent already committed somewhere else. For a program whose brand had been embarrassed by early first round exits vs. mid-majors two of the previous three seasons. And he still guided his team to the best NCAA Tournament seed of all the new head coaches this season.
If you only view this season through the lens of UK history and expectations, then you'll be disappointed. As for me, I actually take into account the circumstances for both the roster construction and the late season "struggles".
I'll give you this much: the athleticism has to improve and be more of an emphasis when evaluating talent. Same with the ability to score inside and with good touch around the basket, especially any big men we're looking to bring in. I'll always want us to press more and be more disruptive on the defensive end because that's the style of play I grew up watching, but I also don't want it to completely be at the expense of what we did offensively when this team was completely healthy. There has to be a balance.
I would argue talent, health, continuity in the system, experience, and matchups are all important factors in the NCAA Tournament.
Unfortunately for Kentucky, the ultimate "great coach" and can also get "elite talent" guy in the sport wasn't interested in the blank check Kentucky wanted to offer him.
Dan Hurley.
If Kentucky fans wanted the "next Calipari", he was it.
Dan Hurley.
If Kentucky fans wanted the "next Calipari", he was it.
I REALLY believe some of our “ fans “ sit at home and think of some of the dumbest **** imaginable to post. Just absurd.
You should've seen the quotes about Calipari before he was the Kentucky coach.
"Slimeball"
"Cheater"
"Can't coach"
"Kentucky would never hire him due to his baggage"
"Cheated with Camby, cheated with Rose"
Does having a NPOY (who lost to St. Peter's in round 1) matter?
It's NCAA Tournament success or bust.
It's NCAA Tournament success or bust.
I disagree to a point, Uconn was not loaded with NBA players the last two years, Cal had more players drafted than Uconn and Cal couldn't do crap the last 5 years. I think the teams that win it now will be staffed with older players.
That's not true at all about UCONN.
2023 title team had 4 guys drafted with 2 lottery picks.
2024 had 4 players drafted with 2 top 10 picks.
No, they are a projecting a loss to Illinois which is most likely, but not certain.
Talent matters.
Coaching matters.
Attitude matters.
Intelligence matters
Effort matters.
Confidence matters.
Experience matters.
Size matters
Quickness matters.
Execution matters.
Health matters.
Depth matters.
A little luck doesn’t hurt.
Coaching matters.
Attitude matters.
Intelligence matters
Effort matters.
Confidence matters.
Experience matters.
Size matters
Quickness matters.
Execution matters.
Health matters.
Depth matters.
A little luck doesn’t hurt.
I didn’t think any of our best teams had talent.. that Anthony Davis sure didn’t have a lot of it.
I watch cal and pitinos teams and now byu and this uk team has no effort compared to these teams. My girls team would always say “hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle”. It’s truth
Losing 13 games wouldn’t have been ok here. If you’re happy with it, good. No hate from me. My coach is doing good too