Kentucky Sports Radio


T.J.’s TAKES: Calipari cost UK on Saturday

Well. That was a bad loss for UK and the head coach is at fault. The Cats lost to Seton Hall 84-83 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, falling to 7-2 on the season.

Here are five takeaways from UK’s loss.

1. The Loss:

There’s not much you can say besides it was a really, really bad loss for UK. There were some positives for the Cats, but there weren’t for John Calipari, who cost Kentucky the win.

It stinks for fans and players. UK’s players fought. PJ was locked in. Keldon wanted it badly. Reid was Reid but obviously him fouling out was huge. Kentucky’s players seemed to have an answer after every wild Seton Hall shot. Yet, because of Calipari, Kentucky is heading back to Lexington with another loss on the road.

2. Coaching:

There is absolutely no excuse for Calipari not calling a timeout after Hagans’ made free throw to push the UK lead to two. There’s no excuse for Calipari not calling a timeout after Seton Hall’s three with about 10 seconds to play. There’s no excuse for Calipari not calling a timeout after Ashton Hagans patiently brought the ball up the court to setup the offense that there wasn’t time to see.*

There was no excuse for those mistakes. I think most on this website and most in this fan base appreciate Calipari and wouldn’t want anyone else, but today was one of his top three coaching blunders and that’s saying something.

I know the talent is there for Kentucky. We all saw it in the Bahamas. What in the world happened over the course of three months?

3. PJ and Keldon:

The worst part of today’s loss is that PJ finally was engaged and worked his ass off trying to get the win. Keldon, too. I loved seeing that fight from those two and we all know Reid is going to bring it every night. Those three are good enough to make UK a dangerous team, but there has to be some help elsewhere.

I wish Keldon didn’t take so long to get going. That seems to be an issue with several players, but that happens in college basketball, especially with younger players. Maybe this will be a wake-up call to come out and fight from the tip? Regardless, UK wasted a phenomenal performance from PJ and some big time plays late from Keldon.

And dammit, that shot woulda been such a memorable shot.

4. Guard play:

It’s a major issue for Kentucky. I think Kentucky should roll with Ashton Hagans at point moving forward. He’s far from perfect, but he plays hard, he’s good defensively and he will do more good than harm. But besides Hagans, your guess is as good as mine with who steps up for UK. Quade Green is equally as inconsistent as he was last season. I like Quickley but my issues with him as a high school player are still prevalent. He does plenty of nice things but isn’t great at one thing. Tyler Herro has flashes but if he isn’t hitting outside shots he doesn’t do enough of anything else to warrant playing time.

So, until UK finds some dependable guards the play is going to continue to be average.

5. Moving forward:

Today was a huge blow. Momentum will continue to be low. Many fans who were late to buy in will jump off the train. Some fans who were still waiting to buy in won’t support this team at all. It’s just a complete disaster. We thought this UK team would be a top three or five team all season and now they don’t deserve to be in the top 25 in my opinion. UK has struggled against bad teams, have gone to the wire against average teams and was completely embarrassed by the only great team its played all season.

Kentucky’s a complete mess and if Calipari coaches like he did today it won’ t be fixed this season.

UPDATE: It should be clarified that coaches aren’t permitted to call timeouts during live ball situations, i.e. Ashton Hagans bringing up the ball on the last play, only players can. Coaches are allowed to call timeouts before or during inbounds plays, but once the ball is on the court, it’s up to the players.

Article written by TJ Walker

185 responses to “T.J.’s TAKES: Calipari cost UK on Saturday”

  1. BigolBlue

    Start the Fire Cal movement sooner than later.

    1. cats1534

      You’re an idiot

    2. Booby Petrino

      Fire Bigolshit. Keep Cal. I saw where you called this team trash in another thread. Why do you continue to follow trash? If that’s how you feel, you’re the idiot for sweating a team you think is trash.

    3. bigbluebanana

      All this time bigolblue and I’m still waiting on who you think would do better. Man up and drop a name or names, otherwise, just shut up already, we get it, Cal is the worst thing that ever happened to UK, blah…blah…blah.

      And yes, I still love this team, this coach, and this school. I still know this team will be scary come March. There’s not another team or coach on the planet I’d rather root for, which is more than I can say for your fair weather arse

    4. BigolBlue

      “Scary” haha. No team is scared I can promise you that. Hilarious

    5. KYCat4EVER

      Hey BANANA, why is it that you tell all of us how Much You Know is Going to Happen, but need to ask “who to hire if we fire Cal?”
      I mean, you know this team will be scary come March” right? Then stop asking questions and just tell tonight’s lottery numbers, what stocks to invest in, and who takes Cals place when he’s gone!??

    6. TB112162

      bigbluebanana don’t you know all these experts on here know everything.Don’t you know they grow Hall of Fame coaches on trees you just shake the tree and one falls out

    7. chris gettelfinger is not walking through that door

      He’s not a fair weather fan. He’s a UL fan, formerly known as Slater.

    8. KYCat4EVER

      SPOT ON BigoBlue….
      You, and the writer of this article, are willing to hold Coach Calipari ACCOUNTABLE, while the same diatribe of UK fans can’t pull their heads out! LOL,

      Of course the writer missed a bigger statement that should be addressed than “There is absolutely no excuse for Calipari not calling a timeout after Hagans’ made free throw to push the UK lead to two. “…
      There is absolutely no excuse for Calipari returning to coach UK next year…

    9. satcheluk

      Do you know what diatribe means, lol?

    10. wyatts1

      Coach Cal has said that with such a young team we was gonna have to use some games as if they was a extended practice. Trying to see how his team (and Hagans) can handle late game situations, and he got his answer, at this point in the season. Coach Cal has always had some X’s and O’s Issues but make no mistake his recruiting has always made up for any coaching flaws and both are hand in hand. As the season continues and he learns this team and they learn him things will come together and yes, this team will be SCARY good come March. We got a damn good team and basketball program but if your to stupid to realize it then there’s nothing anybody on this post or site can do to fix that. But I can say from all the real UK wildcat fans to you… STFU, and please go find another team to run your mouth on, cause this team doesn’t need you

    11. Kelkat

      1st off coaches can’t call timeouts so TJ Walker needs to learn the rules. 2nd…Calipari has stated previously he doesn’t like to call time outs because he doesn’t want to allow the other team to set their defense…he likes them scrambling. 3rd, Cal had a screen called on the play and Richards never set it. You can make an argument that he should call a timeout but one can also make an argument not too. TJ Walker stated his opinion as if it’s fact that the smart thing to do in that situation was to call a timeout…that is his opinion. It is all opinion. What is fact is this…#13 for Seton Hall had one of the all time great games against the Wildcats. He was hitting double clutch fade away 3 pointers…not much you can do when a player is in that kind of zone. Coaching had nothing to do with it…just a great individual effort against UK. I don’t want to pile on Hero because so many are doing it at the moment…but his 0-6 effort from 3 point line…if he just hits 1 or 2 it’s a different game. I hope the kid gets it figured out soon. It was a game to learn from. I am sure lot of fans are tired of these early struggles the last couple of years but Calipari has earned the right to do it his way and his way usually has a good team at end of year. This team will improve. OK…now you all may continue to complain and say crazy things like fire Calipari…LOL

    12. KYCat4EVER

      Blah… Blah…. Blah….
      You made THREE POINTS…
      And here is a fourth you didn’t make…

      Coach Cal is paid to Coach our CATS and WIN National Championships… and he’s done a very disappointing job of each… for what he’s paid, and the program he’s representing!

      HE IS ACCOUNTABLE!… Which even KSP writers are printing…

      Your “This Team Will Improve” prediction is hilarious! LOL Real Stretch!

      Perhaps you mean we will eventually BEAT TEAMS that LOUISVILLE beats? LOL

    13. catheaven

      This article is garbage. How can you be a UK fan and write for KSR and write what you did in the manner it was written? Go write for UL. The only articles worth reading on here anymore are Tyler’s and Drew’s. Used to read this site several times a day. Now it’s maybe once a week because of the poor articles and poor writers. How dare you disparage our coach and the manner in which you did it. My hope is Matt feels the same way and you are out of a job.

    14. syrin23

      Let’s look at some facts. PJ let his guy get to the basket for a wide open lay up THREE times because he was watching the ball, and not his man. The game winning three was the guy he was supposed to be guarding, but he stood 15 feet away from him guarding an area, not a person, an area. He’s a punk with his posing stare downs, when he should be making outlet passes. He will suck the next four games because that’s what he does. Tyler may be a great shooter, but right now he’s absolute shit. EVERY shot is short. It’s all in his head, but right now, our best shooter is our worst shooter. Hagans can’t shoot. He hustles and plays D, but is an offensive liability. Cal isn’t working to develop Richards or Montgomery. Montgomery has the most potential of any of our bigs, and he isn’t getting the touches to develop. Reid is average. He’s not a pro-player, and it looks like Cal is playing him to showcase him for scouts, but guy misses a lot of lay ups. Qade is just awful on defense, but sadly might be our best shooter.

      It seems like every game we have a guard on the other team that gets hot and never misses. That guy doesn’t hit those shots in practice. At some point you would think they would come back to the mean, but we seem to get snake but a lot. That guy hit three contested threes that were behind the NBA line, one being a turn around fade away.

  2. Shively1978

    But Cal will say “We have sent countless players to the NBA and that’s what matters”

    1. Miller45

      More of the same

  3. ScoggDog

    They’ll lose to Louisville. No doubt.

    1. BigolBlue

      Gonna be bad

    2. Miller45

      Louisville, auburn, tennessee will be bludgeonings

    3. bigbluebanana

      Good thing we have fans like you guys, you’re all pathetic. Want to be frustrated after that bad loss? Go ahead, that’s fine. But to just sh!t on our school and our team and have zero sense of pride or optimism is embarrassing.

    4. Miller45

      Incompetence from anyone on the staff should not be rewarded with blind loyalty. Calling that out is not sh*tting on anything or being unsupportive in ANY way. I’ll admit saying that they will get bludgeoned in those games was a little tasteless on my part, even though it is heading that way…

    5. Just saying

      If we could play like football does – offensive team and defensive team, we may be better. Some players are ok on one end and terrible on the other. Big difference in getting the elite players and those in the 15-20 + range.


    Cannot disagree with the majority of this.

    1. Bill3

      You forgot to point out how Cal was responsible for our poor shooting, especially in the first half. Couldn’t throw a rock in the ocean if we were standing in the surf. He also is why we had silly turnovers. And why does it take so long for these kids to mature? He has to be at fault for this. A hugh blow? Really? Seriously? I’m not sure you will make it to March.

    2. Han

      If they’re shooting poorly, he has to have the offense play differently. Drive more, find the big men, rebound harder. Coaches have to respond to poor shooting.

    3. lecantrell

      Exactly, if the shot is not falling, make plays to get layups and dunks! Oh, my bad, that might require some actual “coaching”.

    4. Kelkat

      “call plays to get layups and dunks”. Wow…it’s that easy. LOL Calipari had a screen called on the last play…Richards didn’t set it. That’s Cal’s fault right? And Richards is not a one and done too by the way. UK has the 2nd youngest team in the NCAA right now. It’s going to take time. #13 was going crazy hitting fade away double clutch 3 pointers…our top shooter went 0-6 on what was mostly open looks. That’s why we loss.

  5. will1497

    if you think the season is over then you must have mental illness

    1. BigolBlue

      If you think this team is good and can make a run at a title you are already insane

    2. TB112162

      See 2011 and 2014 idiot

    3. zoupman

      If we had attacked the basket and made a layout, you wouldn’t be fussing about a timeout. Cal is a great coach. Quit acting like a know if all TJ. No one is buying it and you are embarrassing yourself.

  6. catsfan1995

    You seem like a joy to be around, T.J. lmao I’m honestly not sure why UK doesn’t hire you? You clearly know it all!!! F*ckin idiot

    1. BigolBlue

      Why? Because he speaks truths?

    2. catsfan1995

      The truth??? LMAO you’re a dumbass, “BULEolBLUE” who else you want bub?

    3. jstrunk

      Unless you’re blind you can’t disagree with TJ. As bad as I hate to say it, he wrote the truth.

    4. ukwildcat1991

      He wrote the truth with a lot of b!tching in it. If he wants to act u professional and write how it’s the coaches fault this and that then so be it but don’t act like it’s the end of the world. Jesus it’s just a game. I got mad, sure. But 10 minutes later I moved on to the next thing in my life. Leave it up to kysportradio to act all childish.

    5. Irish son

      He is exactly right. Cal needs to get off his fat ass, eat some salad, spend some time on an exercise bike, then get some top 5 players in here. If we depend on his coaching we’ll lose 15 games a year

  7. Bobbum Man

    Was a bad loss but I’m not sure it’s a “complete disaster” we’ve lost to bad teams before, we’ll lose to bad teams again… no doubt big coaching mistakes were made and we certainly have to get our guard situation figured out. But you got that kid hitting step back fade away double pump threes and was basically unguardable… games over if not for the circus shots they continued hitting where we played great defense.

  8. jim tom

    It’s time for a damn change period

    1. bigbluebanana

      Please present examples of what or who you’d like to change. I’ll wait.

    2. njCat

      People act like we can’t have a top program without Cal. That is patently false. There are many good coaches out there that would put the program on a more positive footing. It’s been trending down since the loss to Wisconsin 4 years ago.

      Biggest piece of evidence is Cal getting NONE of the top players he coached during the U18 championships last year. People have figured out that he is a terrible in game coach.

    3. bigbluebanana

      Who? Good god you people are dense. I’m over here asking who exactly you want, and your only argument is “somebody”.

    4. njCat

      Any one of the coaches of the top 20 teams. You can look them up.

    5. syrin23

      I agree, but unless we get Brad Stevens, then who else would you prefer? We still have to get players, and we may go through a decade of Tubby years with someone else.

  9. pcashen

    Somone needs to meet with cal to teach him how to coach this team is too talented to go out there and lose to the likes of teams like that.

  10. drew_123

    Thank you for being one of the few in the UK media to call out Cal.

  11. Booby Petrino

    Feeling dramatic today, TJ? Even if he had called a timeout, there’s no guarantee the outcome is different.

    1. StuckinLville

      The ending isnt the point. Giving his team the best chance to win is the point.

    2. BigolBlue

      booby is right up there with banana and 4 ever on cals ballsack

    3. bigbluebanana

      Yeah, we like our team, one I’m sure many of us have loved for decades. We are the terrible ones ey? The loss isn’t fun, but in zero realities does it mean the season is over and you can’t still cheer for your team. UK will be just fine this season, you bigolblue, however, will always be a miserable pr!ck.

    4. Booby Petrino

      Bigol is right up there with horse$hit when it comes to life itself. Fire cal!LOL

    5. Booby Petrino

      The ending is the point when TJ Kris crying that we lost just because Cal didn’t call a timeout. Do I wish he would have? Yes. But do I believe that would’ve changed the outcome of the game? No.

    6. Booby Petrino

      *keeps, not Kris.

  12. katfan33

    I completely agree. Well said.

  13. Nickytoonuthugger

    Cal you are done. Coach k owns you now. You have fell victim to your own poison!!! Fire cal!!!!

    1. Bobbum Man

      So, because there’s one coach that’s doing better we should fire our coach? And go after who exactly?

    2. BluesBrother

      And recruits obviously see that K is a much better coach than Cal.

    3. Booby Petrino

      Well we aren’t getting K. Who do you think we should hire? I guess someone who’s won more than cal. Who can we get that has won more games or championships than cal?

    4. bigbluebanana

      There’s no one booby, and they know this. Absolutely no one better than Cal can or will come here. They all think Jay Wright or Brad Stevens would drop their own legacy to come here and they’re delusional.

  14. Jiminy Crickets

    When it comes to end of game coaching, Calipari will mess up 99/100. Cost him at NC at Memphis, has cost him several big games here. He will come out and say “I should have called a timeout, these guys are young”. But next game, same situation, same thing will happen

  15. cats1534

    TJ, what team have you ever coached? There will be situations this year where the players are going to have to figure it out late in the game. I’d rather they learn that lesson now rather than in February or March

    1. nadkin

      I totally agree to this, its the same crap every year BAND WAGON FANS, you all will be lickin Cals peanuts if we win the ship this year, these are the same losers that bash the football team. FIND ANOTHER TEAM you too TJ

    2. wyatts1

      A-man, I totally agree, it’s early December and coach Cal even said he was gonna have to use some of these games like they was a extended practice in order to have the best possible version of UK basketball come March that this seasons team is able to offer. Coach Cal always has top 3 recruiting classes and that alone will always make us competitive come March even when some (like myself) do worry about his X’s and O’s Coaching ability I also know we aren’t even close without some of the talent he lands year after year. Those bitching and complaining about coach Cal needs to take a chill pill and relax, this team will be a monster come March and all these bandwagon fans will be all smiles again praising coach Cal.

  16. BTownUKFan

    If you listened to Cal’s post game comments you’d know he gave them a play to run. Nick didn’t do what he was supposed to. Cal didn’t miss a single shot or make a turn over the entire game. No one beat Cal off the dribble or hit a 3 pointer over him. Kids have to execute. Herro has to find his shot, Reid has to make better decisions, Johnson has to be more consistent.

    1. bankerbh

      I didn’t hear Cal’s post game comments, but here is what I heard you describe. Cal gave them a play to run and sat back and became a spectator. Relinquished all responsibilities as a coach because he drew up a play that they were too stupid to run. The ball was brought up the court entirely too slow and Cal should have recognized this and called a timeout with 5 seconds left. He was asleep at the wheel…once again. Call the time out and draw up another play. That is presuming Cal had one. He is entirely too stubborn and is his own worst enemy. Change or move on.

    2. michaelb

      He can’t call the time out

  17. Clyde X

    Saying that “Hagans is good defensively” ring a little hollow when Powell hung 28 on him. That include 6 made 3’s for a team that only averages five made 3’s per game for the whole team. Hagans may be the best defensive guard we have. That hardly makes him “good defensively”.

    1. Booby Petrino

      Not a lot of guys on any team could defend the shots he was hitting in the 2nd half. He was just on fire. 1st half he sucked.

    2. A_Blue_Wildcat

      Lets be real, Powell hit about 4 threes that were heavily contested. Even Powell was smiling after some of the crazy shots he hit. Second, if you watched the game you would’ve notice they were setting many off ball screens to get Powell free, that’s about total team defense to let him catch and shoot rather than just defense on Hagans. Hagans played by far the best of all the guards today, Quade is the player more people should be talking about, how Quade was ranked in the top 100 coming out of highschool blows my mind.

    3. JusSayin

      He wasnt guarding him on that last play.

    4. TB112162

      Powell didn’t hit the last shot SMH

  18. bankshot

    Nothing new. Cal is just not a good bench coach…period. This team is not dominate so the youth shows. Herro has to be able to make wide open threes or we won’t make the tourney.

  19. CatsfaninFL

    So he should call a timeout? Like he did right before halftime and what did that get us? Missed shot. We need to face the fact that when we have this much turnover year in and year out we won’t be good in November, December, even sometimes January. But Cal tends to turn things around by tourney time. This loss hurts but man we are acting like we got BCG at the helm and our teams haven’t looked infinitely better in March than they do in December every year under Cal.

    1. notFromhere

      Excellent points

    2. bankerbh

      Cal has one banner in his 10th season. He is no BCG but there are other bench coaches much better. Just look at some of the coaches who have beaten.

    3. bigbluebanana

      Who banker? Who on earth do you think we will get that’s better than Cal? I ask this same damn question every day here, haven’t gotten one answer yet.

    4. b2h3slin

      Chris Holtmann

    5. njCat

      There are probably 20 coaches out there that would do better than Cal. Just look at the coaches of the top 20 teams. Every one would be better.

    6. bigbluebanana

      Okay, name a top 20 coach that could for sure do better that will come here? Can other coaches come in here and be successful? Absolutely. Will any of them win ships every year like our delusional fans demand? No way. The only coaches that have won more ships than Cal would never come to UK. I could be wrong, but the only active coaches with more than Cal are Roy, K, and Jay Wright…none of those guys are coming to Kentucky. I almost can’t wait until Cal is gone and we go another 20 or so years without a championship so I can see you guys eat crow. I’ll still be supporting the team and the coach, and y’all will still be complaining. Bet on it.

    7. njCat

      Cronin and Miller would both be better.

    8. wyatts1

      Exactly catsfaninfl, but some people just don’t understand what should be common sense, then some are trolls just trying to stir the pot cause we beat the brakes off of their team at some point. Any short comings he has on the coaching side of things he more then makes up for it with the recruiting thing, and when the nba decides to make college kids go for two years and this one and done crap is over with we will truly see the ability of this HOF coach. Until then you’d think that some of our fans will understand that coach is human and will have bad games just like anyone else that coaches in D1

    9. Arch Stanton

      Holtmann is a damn good coach and he’s from Nicholasville. He’d come in a heartbeat.

    10. TB112162

      Your and idiot Chris Holtmann is never ever going to be UK’s coach

  20. Jarisn02

    Fire Cal,this is an embarrassment to the tradition of UK. Cal can’t win with 8 McDonald’s all Americans. Yet Pitino went to the final 4 with four white guys from eastern Kentucky.

    1. Booby Petrino

      Great comparison, Cal owned Rick.

    2. Jarisn02

      I don’t care about head to head matchup…I care about championships. Pitino won with division 3 talent. Cal can’t win with 5 star talent

    3. bigbluebanana

      Cal has as many ships at UK as Rick did. In fact, Cal has as many as ANY UK coach since Rupp.

    4. Booby Petrino

      You care about championships? Cal has as many as Rick.

    5. Booby Petrino

      Can’t keep counting 2013,it’s long gone

    6. njCat

      Sometime research Cal’s teams’ final ranking versus Rick’s while at UK. It’s not even close.

    7. wyatts1

      Don’t compare the unforgettable story some random D3 players dummy. Those boys had heart, and played just as big a part on the turnaround for UK as Rick Pitino did, and deserve that respect. I wisht some of these boys we get through recruiting had 1/2 the heart the unforgettables had.
      Also I left race outta it, just like you shouldve. Only color I see for our wildcats is blue and white.

  21. eddiesuttonsliver

    man some of you need to step back from the ledge.

  22. BTownUKFan

    Also, it is the players that have to call the time out. They could have called a TO.

    1. crwally

      He told them if they score they’re playing it out. So yeah, he basically told them not to call timeout.

  23. StuckinLville

    TJ is right. We have 3 pgs but none would start anywhere else in power 5. Was EJ there today? Herro went 0-6 on 3. This team was badly over hyped and there is no star. Cal’s recruiting misses are rearing their ugly head and he has continued to cost us games due to his coaching. I’m so sick of hearing how it’s his fault and him not correcting it. He wouldn’t allow his players to do that. Maybe 10 years enough. Bring in a coach that actually cares about winning.

  24. Booby Petrino

    Far cal! We suck! End of the world! Wahhhhhh

    1. WatchutalkinboutWillis

      Exactly! I wonder if these people act like this in their personal lives? “Check engine light is on! Time for a new car! Ahhhhhh”

    2. njCat

      When your preseason #1 ranked team looks like crap 10 games in a row people have a right to be pissed. It’s supposed to be fun watching UK games. It hasn’t been fun for a while, so people want to see something change.

  25. sp

    He just threw the kids under the bus and said they need to call timeout. Wow. His ego knows no bounds.

  26. BluesBrother

    I agree 100%

  27. justgettingstartedbro

    Great TJ. Maybe now you can save us from your takes on this team for the rest of the season

  28. Matt10

    Three terrible shots and three terrible turnovers on 6 straight possessions the first half and no time out. Leaving Tyler in far too long when most shots were basically turnovers.
    Letting ONE player beat his team the second half. I mean, seriously?!
    Not calling timeout the last play was inexcusable. I don’t care if he did guve them a play. You could tell after the first two or three seconds after throwing it to Hagans they had already blown it. Call the TO and get ‘em set, coach!!

  29. dhard

    Getting beat by a bad team is bad, but the lack of structured offense is worse. What’s the game plan on offense?

  30. michaelb

    Why doesn’t anyone else think the player should have called a t.o.? Why is that ONLY coaches fault ?

    1. sp

      Because when you choose to recruit and play with inexperienced freshmen it’s on you to know when to call timeouts. Not players fresh out of high school that have never been in that situation before.

    2. StuckinLville

      Because he is the coach and Hagans has been playing college basketball for a month now.

    3. drew_123

      I don’t know because maybe he’s the leader of the team. Are you serious with this comment? What 18 year old kid is overruling Cal?

    4. michaelb

      Well he just said himself they should have . Quit being so butt hurt just cause uk lost a meaningless ball game

  31. abmorris27

    “Complete mess”… “Complete disaster”… TJ, Not sure I’d characterize this team that way. Growing pains. Struggling to find its way. But not a mess or a disaster.

  32. Willis talkin bout....

    Play zone till these kids can actually man. Change the offense. It’s the same old bs the past 10 years. Doesn’t work with this team and several others. Cal need to set his ego down and practice what he preaches. Give yourself the to the team. Do what’s in the TEAMs best interest. You know. That servant leadership thing.

    1. Shively1978

      One thing I can say though seems like no matter who the opponent there’s always a dude that could throw the ball up over his hard backwards and it would go in. Some of those late shots where contested well except for the last one. However sometimes D is really bad and why do we always fall for the shot fake. Dicky V could fake some if these guys out.

  33. oldcatsfan

    TJ, just curious, how much coaching experience do you have???

    1. Duey Lampier

      Doesn’t take a coach to be able to identify a bad one. You’re out of your mind if you think Cal is elite. He will never win another championship! He wouldn’t have won in 2012 if Coach K was recruiting one and done kids. Imagine that…Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist in Duke uniforms.

    2. TB112162

      He is elite dumbass he is in the Hall of Fame clown

    3. Skeps

      Just curious,how much do you have?

    4. jaws2

      Yep, he’s only in the Hall of Fame because he can’t coach!

  34. crwally

    +1 every word

  35. SanDiegoCats

    T.J. is for the most part positive on this group. What he said today was right. Only thing I will expand on is Herro’s inability to hit an open shot. That’s 90% the reason he is in the game. Bummed we haven’t seen any real growth from our veterans outside of PJ

  36. bradbcats

    Amen brother! I want a coach! Not just a recruiter! Even my wife asked why he didn’t call timeout. I’m not the type to give up on teams and I haven’t given up on theses players but I’m starting to give up on coach Cal

  37. notFromhere

    They should sell popcorn in this comment section… It’s like reality tv, cause almost no one has a grip on reality.

    Please continue. I’ll hang up and listen

    1. wyatts1

      Lmao, exactly!!

  38. RealCatsFan

    I’m pissed too, but I want to hear the “Fire Cal” crew name the coach that they want to succeed Cal. Because I can’t come up with any. Hopefully Barney has a few – maybe you guys can help. I’m listening, let’s hear some names.

    1. makeitstop

      The Duke fans were in an uproar when Duke was stagnant a few years and time passed Coach K by, and they got over that. Of course, the old gargoyle adapted, and Cal isn’t adapting real well right now. But the habitual lack of TO in those situations is just mind numbing. How on earth does he not LEARN?!

    2. bigbluebanana

      I’ve been asking these folks that for weeks now, still not been given one single name.

    3. KatFan48

      Try the Tennessee football message boards. They like so many of those who post here have names for every situation and must win every game. If we aren’t careful a great basketball program can go the way of their football program

    4. RealCatsFan

      Still waiting guys. I guess we’re doomed. But face it, barring a scandal, Cal is here until he decides to leave. Hopefully something will happen to turn him into a coaching wizard. Because if he were forced out by the fans, no decent coach would come here.

    5. bosch8184

      Seriously? You can’t think of any on your own? Off of the top of my head of guys who would definitely leave their current jobs for UK and would get more out of this group, or any group, than Cal can: Bobby Hurley, Eric Musselman, Buzz Williams, Chris Holtman (maybe), that doesn’t even mention the Brad Stevens and Billy D pipe deams

  39. makeitstop

    Maybe they will develop into the G-League team they are capable of becoming but right now I have a nightmare of going 0-6 against Duke, UNC, UL, KU and UT.

  40. Tango98

    Damn TJ, a little harsh. Total disaster is a little dramatic. Are we as good as we thought, no. But we’ll still have a shot at a deep run in March. And who cares if some “fans” jump off or don’t jump on the bandwagon. Those aren’t real fans.

    1. ClutchCargo

      Surefire way to generate about 200 responses to a post: post some knee-jerk comments out of frustration on KSR right after a loss.

    2. njCat

      You’re probably one of the people who said ‘real fans’ would support Joker.

      Everyone with a critical comment who has their eyes open us a ‘fair weather fan’.

      Critical fans are what are needed to get programs turned around. Sycophant fans perpetuate mediocrity.

    3. michaelb

      Can’t believe you just mentioned joker and cal in same breath hehehe

    4. njCat

      I did not mention them in the same breath genius.

      I was talking about the sycophant fans, not the coaches.

  41. bluebew

    Cal is a good coach but not a great coach. And he cannot out-coach his ongoing recruiting misses. If he doesn’t have elite talent, and he does not have elite talent anymore, he is just above average. That’s where we are, and based on recent recruiting misses, also where we are headed. Buckle up!

  42. bigbluehank

    If Cal isn’t pulling in one of the top two or three recruits each year, he really doesn’t bring much else to the table. He’s shown time and time again that he struggles in late game situations. The offensive sets he draws up are at a high school level. If he is able to somehow get his team playing adequately at the end of the season, it’s all for naught, as most of the guys leave right after the tourneys, and the process begins anew the next season.

    1. bosch8184

      Thank you. We watch terrible basketball all year with terrible scheduling all for the hope they pull it together for 2 weeks in March – only for Cal to screw it up with coaching boners and lose to a team we have no business losing to every year, save for 1.

      Rinse repeat. I’m over it.

  43. CKTermy23

    We need a Black coach ASAP!!!!!!

    1. wyatts1

      Are you serious?? Not saying a black guy couldn’t do it but this isn’t the place for your race baiting you ignorant pos!! Take Your skewed ideology somewhere else. We got a great coach, just give him time

  44. Catfan24

    All tj is doing here is stating facts that are obvious to anybody that knows anything about basketball. No one is saying cal is a bad coach, were just saying that we just saw him refuse to call a timeout or attemp to make any changes at crucial points in a game that they struggled all day in. Would a time out or drawing up a play garunteed us a win? Not at all. But if you arent going to do those things as a coach to show you will do everything u can to hell your team win then what are you doing?? How many more times is gonna say i should have called a time out. In his post game comments He also immedietely blamed the last possession on the players and even said that the players should call the timeout in that situation not the coach.

  45. VirginiaCat

    Perhaps TJ’s analysis was a bit hyperbolic, but he is fundamentally right. Lets not kill the messenger. Lets not throw the players under the bus, either. For you ardent defenders, is this really the kind of basketball that you enjoy watching? Have you noticed in recent years that we start the year highly regarded and quickly deteriorate? Have you noticed that we struggle through the regular season with hopes that Cal will pull a rabbit out of the hat in March, and lately the rabbit is missing in action? Everyone says, “If not Cal, then who?” Is that tantamount to keeping Cal because he is the devil that we know? I am tired to beating cupcakes only to lose to good teams. I am exhausted by “Cal speak.” I just think it is time for new leadership who that will offer a fresh approach.

    1. makeitstop

      He gets a couple years to change. The change in the NBA rule will be a major disruptor. Can he adapt and win w the Rivals 10-20 guys when Duke isn’t getting the top 5 every year? Not sure. Bill Self has changed, Beilein seems to have it figured out, Lord knows Jay Wright does it w a mix of top talent and experience. I have my doubts Cal can adjust but he’s earned the right to try. This, however, is painful.

  46. VirginiaCat

    He said that the players should call the timeout? Really? Sounds like to me that he scapegoating his team. When you see that your young point guard is bringing the ball up too slowly in a critical game situation, I guess that it’s okay to watch quietly with timeouts in your pocket. I would rather him say: “I recognize that not calling a timeout was a critical mistake on my part. I understand that I tend to use poor judgment in late game situations. I am going to do some serious soul searching, take a hard look at my coaching acumen, and become a better coach.”

  47. Shively1978

    Dude because people complain dosent make them bandwagon fans. True Kentucky bleed blue die hard fans don’t accept mediocrity. 9 and 10 loss seasons losses to Kansas State last year Seton Hall are not acceptable. This is Kentucky basketball its not football. Loosing one recruit after another to Duke and others is unacceptable. I like Cal I’m not saying fire him but he does seem like he’s lost his passion for this thing. Could retirement be on his mind who knows maybe. Could be he told the truth when he got here. Other than Rupp this has been about a 10 year job. It ages people it’s hard on them. This team has talent that is not debatable. It’s there but can Cal once again bring them together as a team because right now there individuals. They do play hard I believe they try hard but they still don’t have a point guard set in stone and you can’t go 10 minutes without a field goal.

  48. jsanchez859

    We are still so early in the season. Just because this team hasn’t clicked yet doesn’t mean you need to bash the coach. Greatest thing about Cal is watching these teams grow and get better throughout the season. Y’all should be use to the process by now. We lost…who cares? We’re not goin undefeated…appreciate the process and success. Stop making it seem worse than what it is. Btw…seton hall is no scrub team.

    1. njCat

      Bet you loved the past two years as well, sprinkled with mediocre play, loosing streaks and zero shot at a championship.

  49. RAGE

    Honestly no one has protected Cal more than me… Or been a bigger fan of him than me… I was upset and wanting Mitch fired when he hired BCG and not Cal the Tubby got on the plane… But honestly Cal refusal to change how he coaches has me frustrated… I know it is important to get his players ready for the NBA.. But Cmon man this is college ball and you can run a little zone or maybe use a full court press and trap the ball… I think this team would benefit so much from a Pitino style type of press or loose play… Instead we stay man to man all the time even when it ain’t working and our offense always looks so stagnant… one person dribbling the ball in the half court and four people standing there.. I just wish we would try something a little different every once in a while to try and get more fast break points.. or more transition 3s…I know we will be a better team by March but man we have too many talented players to be struggling this year like we are…. I mean I can’t defend Cal when I say that we have as many or more MacDonalds All Americans than everyone in the country yet we still don’t look like a top 25 team… it is easy to jump off the ship when things go bad like today but give Seton Hall some credit they made some tough shots… But really should they even be that close to start with

    1. RAGE

      I will stay on the bandwagon and try to stay positive… but does anyone else feel like I do… I mean at some point the game has changed and we failed to change with it… I think that has negatively affected our recruiting

    2. RAGE

      But let me be clear… I don’t think Firing Cal would be the answer… I still have faith that Cal can’t get it done and win more championships here at Kentucky… But I do think something needs to change maybe bring in some new assistant coaches or something

    3. CstlCAT22

      Feel much the same. He looks foolish preaching change to his players… But doesn’t fix his own mistakes, and clearly isn’t willing. It’s frustrating for sure.

  50. KatFan48

    T. J. Please move back to Knoxville. You sound like a UT football fan. The tone of your comments is completely unacceptable. EVEN IF you were a hall of fame commentator you would still be out of line.

  51. RealCatsFan

    So if the UK job ages coaches so quickly, how come the dook job doesn’t do the same? (Other than the fact tha K is a 400 year old vampire) What about UNC, Mich St, even Kansas? Is it because of the fans? Are we just in some weird time warp?

    1. Shively1978

      Im just saying I have heard Cal say that before. I’m not saying it’s true I don’t think it should be any different than Duke or any other major program. I still believe the problem is no matter how many 5 star guys you get if you play with all underclassmen year in and year out its hard. I think it’s to easy to get drafted anymore. We have had several draft picks that would have benifited by coming back both them and the team. Experience still wins titles.

  52. wildcatincarolinas

    TJ how about you go root for another team. Did they make mistakes, yes, did they forget about the kid who continued to nail the 3’s, yes. They had their chances, hoping they learned about playing rough and tough as this was Big East basketball. But one thing you missed is there is a rule that the player has to call the time out! Maybe you will change your mind when they beat cry boy Roy in two weeks and send Self back to Kansas with a loss in January. Yes they will lose some games in the Spring but by tournament time they will be playing much better defense and will be in position to make a run at playing in Minnesota in April.

  53. kybirdieman

    Cal didn’t call time out because he has no half court offense. All he says on the bench is go go go!

  54. BGrassKY

    Wow TJ! Is this your first year watching Cal coach at UK? It’s not what you think. Yeah, they start off not being very good. It’s frustrating to watch since they have such insane potential. Then, he coaches them and they get better. And, you won’t believe this part — They will even have a chance to win it all in March. I can’t believe they gave you the keys to the blog your first year watching college basketball.

    1. njCat

      This team has a one in a million chance in March. They may not even be top 50.

  55. Voice of Reason

    TJ Walker < moron

  56. Skeps

    How dare you, TJ! No critical thinking allowed. The comment section here doesn’t welcome criticism, only blind loyalty to the coach.

  57. JMFATZ47

    The other teams can always get to the rim AT WILL against us

  58. CopenhagenCat

    Ill be honest. I feel like im watching Tubby ball all over again. The defense is awful. Cal has no clue who to play at guard. Herro is nothing great. Takes to many bad shots. PJ had a great game. But save the trying to act like your a bad ass after you win the game. Freaking terrible.

    1. KatFan48

      Tubby would be available immediately as would Billy Clyde. If their fans are like ours so would Ole Roy and Coach K.

  59. UK Maine-iac

    Some of you people deserve BCG as your coach.

    1. Skeps

      Yes you do.

  60. AtlKatFan

    Big issue with the stink face bad ass looks after one good play. I’d tell Cal to shut that down quickly. Doesnt fly with a mediocre team or a good team. no place hereand dissrespectable

  61. KYCat4EVER

    WOW! Wyatts1! I’m impressed with you knowledge and ability to predict the future!
    Is that like “good … but cold chills up the spine too”??? LOL ?
    Let me guess… you must have even predicted Louisville beating Seton Hall, and Seton Hall besting our CATS?
    Funny, didn’t read it on hear anywhere??

    Heck… since your SO into predictions… got any lottery numbers? Or Hot Stocks? Or do we have to wait until AFTER it happens??

  62. Kat4Life

    I’m as frustrated as the next guy, but TJ’s emotions got the best of him. This team still has a chance to be really good. Need better guard play, more consistent play in general. I am still not sure these guys can shoot.

  63. dgtuk

    Hey TJ…how bout learn the rules..coaches cant call timeouts anymore you POS.

    1. michaelb


  64. TB112162

    TJ stick to football let’s see are supposed best outside shooter is 0-6 from 3 pt line he is killing us he had 5 wide open 3”s and didn’t make 1 and if you watched the game Powell hit about 4 3’s with guys in his face.In the last 10 years we have to be in the top 5 worse teams when shooting a wide open 3

  65. SGD

    This team is not good and will not be a serious contender later. Cal will never be a great coach and when he gets consistently outrecruited he his teams struggle. The BS about this being his best shooting team, what a joke. His run is over, he will not be the coach to hang #9.

    1. TB112162

      Is in the Hall Of Fame and your and idiot

    2. TB112162

      He is in the Hall of Fame Jackass

  66. Kylematf

    I can finally comment after scrolling down this page for 5 mins because of ads!! Woo Hoo. First of all i love this team and theres no doubt come march they”ll be a complete team. I personally dont think this game should have went to overtime to begin with, the officiating was horrible and the elbow to PJ’s throat was a flagrant foul!! I think its about time these officials be held accountable for their horrible clear to see fouls like these.They should be fined for these missed calls that anyone could see!! In overtime at the end when we where up by two with 20 something seconds left and it was their ball i would have fouled them. With a team draining 3″s like they were, due to our horrible perimeter defense, i would have fouled. Worst case they tie the game, but we would have got the ball back with enough time to run a play for last shot. Anyways I love this team and we will be fine, its only two losses.

  67. Alleykat16

    You people not all but a lot call yourselves fans well you just hangers you hang on when the team wins and holler I’m a UK fan and when they lose you yell for this coach the same as y’all did with Stoops. Your cry babies that sound like a bunch of baby ducks. If I felt like that I wouldn’t be a fan if that’s how I felt about Cal. But I’m not I’m a fan and we will get this worked out. And if we don’t there’s always next year and for you hangers go get back I’m your parents basement and find something to bitch about

  68. BlueInVA

    TJ’s take is ignorant. Sounds like an emotional frustrated fan lashing out in ignorance. Herro was 0-6 from the 3s and played atrocious defense.

  69. Joe B. Y'all

    In a game where his team couldn’t hit a shot for most of it, and made many stupid turnovers, Cal lost it for them? It’s hilarious you had to update this to clarify that Cal couldn’t do what you criticized him for not doing. This article is as worthless as your recruiting updates. Matt is wasting money on you.

  70. Swizzle

    Tj is an idiot

  71. kybirdieman

    Maybe the solutuon is to have Cal sit in the stands like Bahamas

  72. Bill the Cat

    (Apologies in advance for the length of this) why is this a ten year job? IMO, because there are no pro sports in KY and because UK basketball means so much to so many, the coach for the flagship university has many, many demands in his time. Recruiting visits that drag him across the country non-stop. That alone can drive you insane. Anyone that has ever traveled for their job/work can attest to that. But it doesn’t stop there, when he gets home, the coach must attend to civic functions where he is the key note speaker, radio shows, TV interviews. I would argue, no other college coach in America has as many extracurricular demands on their time as does the coach at UK. Many other programs come and go but the blue bloods always remain at the top because their coaches work their tails off year round. But the one thing that separates Uk from all the others is the passion and the reach of the fan. UK fans are everywhere and not afraid to show it. That’s great when the team needs support but I can only imagine how it makes it difficult as the coach, or the player, in trying times. Yeah, he’s paid very well but it has to wear on him. Could any of you handle it? Could this also be why we have lost out on a few recruits? It takes a special personality to handle the UK job and Cal has handled it well. But, for those wondering why Cal has called UK a ten year job? Try walking in his shoes for a week during scouting season, then get back to us. Try answering questions every day about a poor performance for a week, then get back to us. Leave game performance and all out of this, the outside influences of the job alone would kill me. I think Cal is tired. He has aged during this job and it’s very apparent. We as fans need to Dial back our passion just a tad and let our coaches breathe just a bit. Our passion, while it can be an asset during tournaments and bowl games, it can be a liability when a current coach is trying to work through something OR, perhaps most importantly for the AD when he asks someone new to become our coach. And yes, maybe on the recruiting trail. Many, many schools pay alot of money for coaches these days. If I can make a million coaching at Auburn and fly under the radar or make 2 million at KY and age in dog years, it becomes a tough choice. Yes, UK will always attract coaches and we should have no problems finding good ones but many will likely remove their names from consideration for all the reasons I mention here simply bc they dont want the headaches. I’m not saying Cal needs to go, not saying this Team is bad, just trying to help some people see why the UK job has, as Cal has called it, a 10-year lifespan. WE are the ones that can make this job tough. WE are the ones that go back and forth on these mindless boards and post articles with differing opinions 24/7. WE are the assets and WE are also the liabilities. And sometimes, WE need to step back and let people breathe! WE are UK!

  73. Dark Soul

    This writer needs to go jump on dukes bandwagon. If u don’t like these cats don’t watch. Dude from seton was hitting some unbelievable shots. It happens

  74. kurofmi

    You are your record. You are your statistics. You are your recruiting.
    I see someone waning past the equinox. With each passing day and week the shadows inch longer. At some point artificial light will not contain the inevitable winter solstice. It was a nice ride. Now we will see how many more seasons he will ride it out?

  75. lecantrell

    Anyone else tired of hearing the commercial in which Cal refers to UK as the “Gold Standard” of college bassketball? A “Gold Standard” program team doesn’t lose to a team like yesterday. A Gold Standard program should have had at least five championship banners hanging in Rupp during Cal’s time at UK. We need a coach instead of a Recruiter that lives for the spotlight!

    1. BlueInVA

      Every great program has bad losses. A gold standard is 5 championships in 9years?? Bahahahaha… Rupp didn’t have 5 championships in 41 years. Lol. Bahahaha

  76. michaelb

    I think he got fired over this post . Was wrong about the rules of the game and wrong for bashing cal on ksr. Sounds like a big nono