Why all the Cal hate?

[Kyhoward1]

While I was happy with the success he brought our program, I was never a big fan of his. He's arrogant and condescending as can be. He thinks he's the greatest to ever coach the game and he's not even that good. He's a world class bullshitter who can recruit. I enjoy watching him get humbled.

Agree with 2 1/2 sentences. As a recruiter, he definitely hauled in the 5 stars so if that is the definition of a great recruiter, he was. My take is a little different in that he didn’t recruit a team of complimentary players but just stars and then tried to mould them into a team. This worked well until the 2015-16 season onward.

He wanted superior athletes with wingspan and great leaping ability and he would teach them basketball skills. I prefer basketball players who might have less than elite athleticism but strong basketball skills and IQ. All of us know losing to St Peter’s, Oakland and others that were grossly inferior athletically but with solid fundamental basketball skills that played well together. The one year rentals led to little continuity from year to year and few 3-4 year players in the program

Today’s portal and NIL mess has magnified the number of 1 year rentals but, at least, all schools are experiencing these problems.

 

[IH8bluedevils]

4, final 4s ... 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015... His first six years were as good as it gets, other than the first round exit of the NIT in 2013, but Noel's injury had a big part in that. "But" his last 9 here was less than good, esp the 9-16 season.

 

[m4CatKY]

St. Peter's, Oakland, 9-16 while making the most money in the game. Perennial NBA Superstars, one national championship.

 

[theKybluedude]

What are you talking about? Stoops did us a HUGE solid restructuring the payment deadline which allowed Stein to come in and do some things he wouldn’t otherwise have been able to do. That would’ve sunk the program back to Joker depths. He didn’t have to do that.

I dint think that was a big give by Stoops. He already has more money than he can spend from his inflated salary.

I would be more impressed if he cut the amount. He’s still taking every cent just over time.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Once he's not at a relevant school and especially not in the SEC I will cheer for him again. But not at this moment.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

I dint think that was a big give by Stoops. He already has more money than he can spend from his inflated salary.

I would be more impressed if he cut the amount. He’s still taking every cent just over time.

Don't hold that against Stoops. That’s a Barney issue.

 

[CNJ1966]

I think it stems from St Peters, Oakland, Kansas State, SEC tournament comments, Shadey Sharpe, Basketball Bennies, Little House on the prairie, want to see my dogs, Chin Coleman, I haven’t seen him, not playing his best players at times to spite the fans, players first to a fault, all of the NBA talent with one championship etc.

I don’t hate Cal, but his last 5 years erased the first 10 in some ways, fair or not.

Dude, that’s a pretty good rundown of the reasons…kudos. Lol

 

[Vek96]

Numerous reasons that I’ve mentioned. Another reason is when he said “Winning isn’t the most important thing. Helping families is my number 1 priority“.

 

[Vek96]

And by the way, anyone who thinks he just walked away from that insane contract to help out Kentucky, is insane. He violated his contract, and had no option to continue coaching here.

 

[@BigBlueFanGA]

I still cannot believe people claim that Cal doesn’t prioritize winning. What a laughable statement. Even after seeing it hundreds of times, I still smile.

I guess it is hard for some to grasp such a deep concept, but when you prioritize getting draft picks and building them up into superstars, the winning sort of takes care of itself. If he didn’t prioritize winning, do you think he’d have the win percentage he does?

Cal is all about winning. Sad that his last few years here turned out the way they did. He had the most amazing run I have ever seen by any program in my lifetime.

Sorry but you're a bit too fond of Cal to recognize his issues.

His ego was massive but we overlooked that his first 10 seasons.

He went from praising the fans to openly mock them.

He absolutely didn't prioritize winning. This one makes me think you're pretty young. Winning is not automatic when you're playing certain players over others. Wow, you seem as arrogant as Cal so no wonder this goes way over your head. It was obvious to anyone serious that Cal played his promised few rather than sitting them on the bench where they belonged. Im still in a state of disbelief that you are squarely in Cals blind spot. I could go on but I imagine I'm wasting my time.

The final few seasons were an absolute mess. Cal didn't have his soldiers and winning came a lot more difficult.

 

[Phil_The_Music2]

You're way off on this, as far as making it a sweeping statement. I hate Cal, do not expect to win every game, don't expect a final four every year and I'm one of the people defending Pope.

Yup. Me too.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

This can’t be a serious post…

1.) He’s an insufferable douche canoe.

2.) He thinks he’s better than UK fans and likely southerners in general.

3.) He thinks we are all a bunch of morons who doesn’t have half the basketball knowledge that he does. Funny considering he’s one of the worst bench coaches in the country.

4.) He went out of his way to try and prove fans wrong, that his ways were the right ways. This was mainly with lineups and playing time. It cost UK countless games the last 7-8 years he was here.

5.) He didn’t prioritize winning at UK. His top goal was always to get his precious kids in the nba. Fox even said this in an interview.

6.) He wasted more talent here than anyone in CBB history. To only have one title with the teams he had is unthinkable. You’d almost have to try to screw up as bad as he did. At MINIMUM he should have won 2 titles here. Truthfully he has nobody to blame but himself for not having won 3 titles here and he realistically could have won 4. This is the most unforgivable sin.

That’s just a few reasons off the top of my head. I wanted him at UK bad when we hired him. At one point I thought the world of the guy and absolutely loved him. Those days ended many years ago. Now I wouldn’t piss on him if he were on fire.

This right here!

 

[wkycatfan7]

Cal wanted to win, and I believe he did a good job promoting UK, but he cared most about coaching as many NBA players as possible. Ultimately it was about him, not the University of Kentucky. UK was just a means to his goals. He was a lazy coach at times especially at the end.

 

[gracetoyou]

We beat Arkansas, but lets not kid ourselves, Arkansas has a team that can & probably will go very deep into March.

 

[Artlaibesghost]

Yes he stayed too long, but he got us a title, 3 FF's and a runner up. Then when he did move on he did it without costing the university a huge buyout. I just see so many posters taking glee in him losing. I don't know I just don't get it.

If you don't get it no amount of explain will help you. You must have been in cryogenic hibernation the last 5 years he was here.

 

[Wunky]

I actually don’t get it either. He did UK a huge favor by leaving without asking for his buyout. Stoops on the other hand wanted every penny and our fans seem to still like him.

I still respect Cal but have zero empathy for Stoops.

Huh? Stoops allowed UK to pay him over time instead of lump sum like idiot Mitch agreed to when the contract was written. Stoops left with more grace than Cal did. Stoops’ legacy with the fans matters to him. Cal not so much. They just moved the “university of calipari” south, remember?

 

[MichaelGray]

This can’t be a serious post…

1.) He’s an insufferable douche canoe.

2.) He thinks he’s better than UK fans and likely southerners in general.

3.) He thinks we are all a bunch of morons who doesn’t have half the basketball knowledge that he does. Funny considering he’s one of the worst bench coaches in the country.

4.) He went out of his way to try and prove fans wrong, that his ways were the right ways. This was mainly with lineups and playing time. It cost UK countless games the last 7-8 years he was here.

5.) He didn’t prioritize winning at UK. His top goal was always to get his precious kids in the nba. Fox even said this in an interview.

6.) He wasted more talent here than anyone in CBB history. To only have one title with the teams he had is unthinkable. You’d almost have to try to screw up as bad as he did. At MINIMUM he should have won 2 titles here. Truthfully he has nobody to blame but himself for not having won 3 titles here and he realistically could have won 4. This is the most unforgivable sin.

That’s just a few reasons off the top of my head. I wanted him at UK bad when we hired him. At one point I thought the world of the guy and absolutely loved him. Those days ended many years ago. Now I wouldn’t piss on him if he were on fire.

This 1000%

 

[MegaBlue05]

I certainly don’t hate Cal. I appreciate him for what he did for our program his first 7-10 years. His name belongs in the rafters of Rupp Arena one day.

That said, I was ready for him to go. I thought he got complacent in his final years and used our program as a place to carry out his mission of ending generational poverty for young basketball prospects. He also went from being “our” guy to seemingly at war with his own fanbase. The two super embarrassing NCAA losses on the heels of 9-16 were his undoing.

Furthermore, if he would’ve gone to a Big 10 or ACC school that wasn’t a rival, I’d probably root for his team today. But, he stayed in our conference and I wish him zero success at Arkansas.

 

[Beatle Bum]

I don’t hate Cal. I wanted him to have success here so we would have success. That was not happening toward the end of his tenure. When he quit and darted to Arky, I certainly did not want him to dominate us. The loss at Rupp last year was tough, but I think Cal had more talent. I suspect he has more talent this year as well. So, the win at Arky was sweet.

 

[OGtruebluewildcat]

People dogged Tubby for the longest time too. Some will still get a comment in once in a while.

Same goes for Pitino.

It’s also ironic folks yapping about Cal while whining about Pope.

Cal did literally what everyone kind of wants Pope to do without coming out and saying it.

Don’t like Tubby, Cal, Pitino or Pope…who the hell do ya like?!

 

[kfwa]

I think Arkansas is going to quickly see what UK fans grew tired of.

As an Arkansas fan they want to see Cal pissed that his team lost to Kentucky, not the "oh well, we learned something from the loss" attitude he has. The not answering the question from the reporter, then going on a rant on whatever he thinks he needs to talk about part of it as well.

The hard truth is Cal had momentum from his hard work lasting until 2015 but that momentum started well before the 2012 championship

After he won the championship, he had nothing left to prove and decided it was time to expend the goodwill he generated on his own personal agenda. I honestly believe he never had the same motivation to win after the 2012 championship.

Anyone think Cal would make the "you're gonna hate me" video today? Wouldn't even consider it.

The issue is, whether its age, motivation, whatever, Cal isn't the coach from 2009. I'm not saying he doesn't have another final four in him, but given the grind that UK fans are going thru with trying to decide if Pope is the answer, and then seeing that Pope has a better record than Cal?

I mean, why would anyone even talk about wishing Cal was still here or ask why did they chase him off?

also, I saw where someone said his son looks like he should be selling gold chains by the inch in a mall and its an image I'll never get out of my head now.

 

[kfwa]

I still cannot believe people claim that Cal doesn’t prioritize winning. What a laughable statement. Even after seeing it hundreds of times, I still smile.

I guess it is hard for some to grasp such a deep concept, but when you prioritize getting draft picks and building them up into superstars, the winning sort of takes care of itself. If he didn’t prioritize winning, do you think he’d have the win percentage he does?

Cal is all about winning. Sad that his last few years here turned out the way they did. He had the most amazing run I have ever seen by any program in my lifetime.

Narrator: The winning did not take care of itself

 

[ZaytovenCat]

I still cannot believe people claim that Cal doesn’t prioritize winning. What a laughable statement. Even after seeing it hundreds of times, I still smile.

I guess it is hard for some to grasp such a deep concept, but when you prioritize getting draft picks and building them up into superstars, the winning sort of takes care of itself. If he didn’t prioritize winning, do you think he’d have the win percentage he does?

Cal is all about winning. Sad that his last few years here turned out the way they did. He had the most amazing run I have ever seen by any program in my lifetime.

One of our own players said out loud that Cal didn’t prioritize winning. What little motivation he had to win a title went out the door after he got it in 2012. It was plain as day for anyone with eyes. Hell he even said the most important thing to him was “changing families” and “creating generational wealth.” He told you, a former player told you and the fans told you what he was about so if you don’t believe it then that’s on you.

De'Aaron Fox says John Calipari "couldn't give a damn about winning college basketball games"

Former Kentucky star De’Aaron Fox will be the first to tell you he loved his time in Lexington and playing for John Calipari. Averaging 16.7 points, 4.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest, the 6-foot-3 guard quickly established himself as one of the best players in college...

www.on3.com

You left #7 off your list. HOF coach.

Ahh yes, I remember it fondly. He was inducted into the HOF and then proceeded to choke away what would have been the greatest season in CBB history the next day.

4 final fours*

Surprised no one pointed out that error yet. Hatred for Cal probably over riding that I assume

In the first 6 years*

Followed by continuous underachievement and disappointment the following 9 years.

 

[HappyBlue]

If you don't get it no amount of explain will help you. You must have been in cryogenic hibernation the last 5 years he was here.

If you don't have any reading comprehension by now you never will, but let me try to help you. I said he stayed to long, but he did give us a hell of a ride for several years, UK fans wanting him to move on is understandable, I was one of them and glad when he left, but I am not going to talk about him like he is scum on the bottom of someone's shoe. I wish him no ill will and I don't take glee in him failing.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Numerous reasons that I’ve mentioned. Another reason is when he said “Winning isn’t the most important thing. Helping families is my number 1 priority“.

oddly enough, he only wants to help your family if you have a son who is very good at basketball. weird coincidence

 

[HappyBlue]

This can’t be a serious post…

1.) He’s an insufferable douche canoe.

2.) He thinks he’s better than UK fans and likely southerners in general.

3.) He thinks we are all a bunch of morons who doesn’t have half the basketball knowledge that he does. Funny considering he’s one of the worst bench coaches in the country.

4.) He went out of his way to try and prove fans wrong, that his ways were the right ways. This was mainly with lineups and playing time. It cost UK countless games the last 7-8 years he was here.

5.) He didn’t prioritize winning at UK. His top goal was always to get his precious kids in the nba. Fox even said this in an interview.

6.) He wasted more talent here than anyone in CBB history. To only have one title with the teams he had is unthinkable. You’d almost have to try to screw up as bad as he did. At MINIMUM he should have won 2 titles here. Truthfully he has nobody to blame but himself for not having won 3 titles here and he realistically could have won 4. This is the most unforgivable sin.

That’s just a few reasons off the top of my head. I wanted him at UK bad when we hired him. At one point I thought the world of the guy and absolutely loved him. Those days ended many years ago. Now I wouldn’t piss on him if he were on fire.

And with all you said, if he kept winning at the same pace he was, bringing in FF's maybe another title or 2, you would be praising him, just like I am sure you were his first few years here.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

i like Cal. i look forward to welcoming him back like we did with Rick. also what he did at UMass and Memphis is historic
but i think it was time to go. 10 great years, 5 middling years.
and St Peters and Oakland. you can lose one of those and it's a fluke. lose two and a pattern is developing.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Hate is a strong word. I try not to hate anyone.

As a coach I appreciate his first 10 years… he really messed up his last 5 years here on top of banging heads with the refs, the AD, the fans and the rest of program.

He's not a guy I’d have a beer with, unlike Pope lets say

 

[0BigBlueCat0]

oddly enough, he only wants to help your family if you have a son who is very good at basketball. weird coincidence

Ridiculous. We can agree that the mission as coach is win games. Win titles. It’s not a coincidence that a basketball coach did his job and recruited basketball players. Was he supposed to be our head basketball coach and recruit cross country players?

Of those 50 draft picks just at UK. How many billions did they generate contract money alone?

Yea that only helped those basketball players. None of them had family. No cousins no aunts uncles mom dad brother sister family friends.

None of those players donated millions to random strangers. None of them held school drives. Passed out food. Paid for strangers college tuition. Set up foundations.



Hate Cal all you want he deserves it but some of yall are so simple minded and ridiculous. Seriously

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

And with all you said, if he kept winning at the same pace he was, bringing in FF's maybe another title or 2, you would be praising him, just like I am sure you were his first few years here.

Yeah I could deal with the swagger when he was winning. It’s like Auriemma or K, they get away having prickly personalities because they are winners

 

[Restricted Airspace]

And by the way, anyone who thinks he just walked away from that insane contract to help out Kentucky, is insane. He violated his contract, and had no option to continue coaching here.

This! In fact, it was quite the opposite intent by CCC of “helping out Kentucky.” Cal tried to leverage the offer from Arkansas to get more money from Kentucky, and it backfired. By talking to Arkansas without informing the AD, Cal dug his own grave with his arrogance, thinking he was untouchable.

Report: John Calipari asked Kentucky to counter Arkansas offer, Mitch Barnhart refused

Gabriel reported that Barnhart declined to counter the offer made by Arkansas in order to keep Calipari at Kentucky.

www.on3.com

Dick Gabriel of the UK Sports Network reported this in an interview on Kentucky Edition on Tuesday. Within it, he explained how Calipari attempted to flip the leverage in their offseason conversations with Arkansas’ offer. However, in looking for a counter offer to bring him back, Barnhart and UK declined against it.

“Calipari, going into that meeting with Mitch Barnhart, didn’t have much leverage,” Gabriel said in regards to their end-of-season meeting. “Mitch had the leverage. But, now, when you’ve got somebody else in your corner who is a viable candidate for your services? I mean if, you know, a junior college team had tried to hire him? No. This is Arkansas – powerful school with deep, deep pockets and all kinds of booster money out there from Tyson Chicken and Wal-Mart. They come in and say, ‘We want you and we’ll do what it takes to get you.’ That’s leverage.

“Calipari, as I’m told, said, ‘Here’s what it’s going to take to keep me’ and UK said, ‘I don’t think so,'” said Gabriel. “As I understand it? Now, if the deal isn’t done? It’s going to be done.”

It would have been interesting to see what a counter from Kentucky could even have looked like. He was already on a $86 million lifetime contract at an average of $8.5 million per year. The ‘lifetime’ aspect of that deal was a role as a special assistant to the athletics director and university representative after this season if he so chose. That move would have paid him $950,000 annually.

Barnhart apparently drew the line on Calipari, though, after this maneuver. He and the university did not go for this idea, especially with how the past few seasons have gone with Calipari, for the program and university, and in regards to the fans.

 

[blackcat714]

People dogged Tubby for the longest time too. Some will still get a comment in once in a while.

Same goes for Pitino.

It’s also ironic folks yapping about Cal while whining about Pope.

Cal did literally what everyone kind of wants Pope to do without coming out and saying it.

Don’t like Tubby, Cal, Pitino or Pope…who the hell do ya like?!

Rupp and Joe B one has to pass away to get on the most popular list

 

[TFCat11]

Over time we will love him again, but it will be a long time. He, like Pitino, could have picked 100 better places to go.

Calipari courted Arkansas solely because of their NIL opportunities, as every other high major coach will do when considering employment, because without it, you can’t compete.

Me personally, I’m neutral on Calipari. I very much appreciate the first 10 years of his tenure, could they and should they have been a little better considering the talent, yes, but they could have also been way worse, even with the talent, had NIL been a thing then as we are witnessing now.

He’s probably 1a and K is 1b when it comes to the greatest pre-NIL recruiters of all time, and K was allowed to do “things” that Calipari would’ve never been allowed to do!

 

[kywildcat1021979]

One of our own players said out loud that Cal didn’t prioritize winning. What little motivation he had to win a title went out the door after he got it in 2012. It was plain as day for anyone with eyes. Hell he even said the most important thing to him was “changing families” and “creating generational wealth.” He told you, a former player told you and the fans told you what he was about so if you don’t believe it then that’s on you.

De'Aaron Fox says John Calipari "couldn't give a damn about winning college basketball games"

Former Kentucky star De’Aaron Fox will be the first to tell you he loved his time in Lexington and playing for John Calipari. Averaging 16.7 points, 4.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest, the 6-foot-3 guard quickly established himself as one of the best players in college...

www.on3.com

Ahh yes, I remember it fondly. He was inducted into the HOF and then proceeded to choke away what would have been the greatest season in CBB history the next day.

In the first 6 years*

Followed by continuous underachievement and disappointment the following 9 years.

People bring up that he's a hall of fame coach......

1) They hand out the Hall Of Fame inductions like the free store food bank.
2) After he was inducted he proceeded (as you said above with choking away the greatest season in college basketball ) to have a few other stellar seasons to go along with a 9-16 season , a 1st round loss to St Peters , and another 1st round loss to Oakland.... Yes those are really some stellar numbers for a coach that should be in the Hall of Fame. He hasn't done nothing but piss down his leg since being inducted into the Hall Of Fame. I'm just glad that dirt bag is in Arkansas and we don't have to deal with him anymore.

 

[cmc1124]

Let me know when Kentucky wins another Natty. Truly hope it is soon. Been a Kentucky fan since the Joe B Hall era. Really a big fan of Pitino's teams. Before you flame me out, I actually played for a Kentucky assistant coach that was somewhat infamous in the Knight/Hall slapping incident. As most of you probably know, that was Coach Pope's coach at the University of Washington.

 

[Cats4321]

Cal will get a standing ovation in Rupp one of these days. He had a lot of success the first half of his time here, and we will eventually appreciate that contribution. But it felt like he thought he was bigger than the program, I'm just happy he is gone. I also want to see us have more success than him.

 

[Cats4321]

People bring up that he's a hall of fame coach......

1) They hand out the Hall Of Fame inductions like the free store food bank.

I completely agree. The Hall of Fame thing pretty much means nothing. It's basically like that in every sport. If you are slightly above average long enough, then you've got a shot to get inducted.

 

[Jaime Chitwood]

Every coach that leaves the program will be "hated", regardless of success or failure.

 

[Crestcat]

I completely agree. The Hall of Fame thing pretty much means nothing. It's basically like that in every sport. If you are slightly above average long enough, then you've got a shot to get inducted.

They should not let anyone in the HOF until they retire

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

No hate, just happy he is gone. It was past time. Hope we beat him every time we might meet him going forward.