[Old School Hound]

I know it's difficult for you, OSH, to admit that you're incorrect, but this time you are.  The Granny Bears will NOT be back in fans of the BBN until something significant is done about our problem.  I didn't even watch yesterday's fiasco and I'm thankful that I didn't.

I'm not sure what has happened in your life to make you so insecure about people who believe in God.  To mix that statement, "If you want to be primed for a deep March run, you can't be depending on guys who were raised on stories of Noah's Ark and Lot's wife(she was rather salty , anyways). Those type of kids might lead you to a revival meeting but not to a Final Four." in with your post makes no sense to me at all.

Now you've asked what exactly Cal did to deserve this hostility.

1-He's not an x & o coach on the bench, relies on his assistants
2-He's not concerned with the heritage of Kentucky basketball, which by the way is paying his millions.  He's much more interested in getting individuals to the pros, whether or not they're ready
3-He does not prepare, not does he have his assistants prepare, our team for the upcoming games.  Case in point, UK vs Oakland
4-He recruits well, but is now saying he will no longer recruit Freshman because our team at an average age of 20 just had to play a team that averages an age of 24-25.  So #4 is that he makes excuses and makes senseless statements like this one.
5-He takes NO accountability.  None.  Nada.  Zero.  Everything else and everybody else is at fault, but not the Coach.

If the Coach has no accountability, what the hell are we paying him millions of dollars for?  He certainly takes the credit for victories!!

And I'm NOT alone in my opinion!!

USA Today
It’s time for college basketball’s premier program and the sport's most underachieving coach to go their separate ways and do something different.

The Athletic
The question Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart must now answer is as simple as it is complicated: What is the price of the program’s dignity? What’s it worth to expel a Hall of Fame coach who can neither recapture the magic nor ever offer even a coherent theory as to why?

Courier Journal
While coaches of Calipari’s stature and pedigree don’t often get fired, even from a program as storied and demanding as Kentucky, the Wildcats’ postseason struggles have at least prompted fans to angrily wonder whether a change at the helm of the program is necessary.

Wildcat Blue Nation
When Kentucky got sent to Pittsburgh as the No. 3 seed in the South Region, it was a homecoming for John Calipari, Adou Thiero, and Tre Mitchell, but after the Oakland Golden Grizzlies upset the Wildcats 80-76, Big Blue Nation would prefer that Coach Cal stays home for good.

There's a ton more, but it would do no good to list any more.  I doubt you will even read them, let alone take them seriously.

Now, my point......

I've answered YOUR question to the very best of my ability.  Now I would appreciate if you would reciprocate.

Tell me. 
1-What has Cal done right?
2-What has Cal done wrong?
3-When has Cal accepted responsibility for anything negative without throwing our kids under the damn bus first?
4-ANY areas you think Cal should improve?

Now Cal wants to recruit post grads to play.  Hopefully he won't take your suggestions to look toward those who are one step out of prison.

There are so many inaccuracies in those five points that I barely no where to begin.

1.  If Cal is no  x's and o's coach who just relies on his assistants to coach, then I guess it's his assistants , and not Cal, who is to blame for last night's debacle. Fact is, they lost, not because of x's and o's, but because the young kids played tight and scared from the outset, despite the coach doing everything he could prior to the game to get them loosened up.

2. Just an absolute falsehood.  You obviously don't listen to his radio shows. Cal has indicated ad nauseum the respect he has for KY basketball heritage. Time and time again he has brought back former players who were an important part of UK's past.  He embraced Coach Hall, who became a dear friend of Cal's right up until his death. There is not a single show that he does that he does not state that BBN fans are the best fans in the world. Does he care about the kids he coaches and want them to realize their dreams at the next level and achieve a measure of financial security? Of course, he does. Who wouldn't want a man like Cal caring for your child and wanting the best for them? I know I'd want a fine man like that coaching my kid.


3. An insidious misrepresentation, whether  intentional or not.  Are you serious, here?  You really think Cal and his very capable assistants did litttle or no prep work in getting ready for Oakland? No film work, no walk throughs, no teaching of how to attack the zone, no reminders of staying disciplined on defense. I've got news for you- the KY coaches did ALL of these things. I teach kids. Sometimes they listen; sometimes they don't. Sometimes they execute the gameplan and sometimes they fall on their faces in sheer and utter fear of failure and terror of the moment. Reed Sheppard shot the ball five times, and looked like he was terrified to let those go. The game was lost, not because of x's and o's , but because all but two players were terrified of the Big Show.



4. The freshmen played scared and crapped the bed. The two 24 y.o.'s played like the seasoned veterans they were. You want more freshman that will crap the bed in March? Give Cal a break when he tells you what's needed to win in March and you've just seen it right before your eyes.


5.Again, you don't pay attention to what Cal says in his call-in shows. Numerous times I've heard him contemplate decisions that he made and reflect that maybe he made a mistake and might have to do something differently. Is Cal perfect? No, and he has said as much. Is he stubborn? Hell yes, he is. Has he ever said that he is not to be held accuntable for anything that goes wrong? of course not. Like a lot of UK fans right now, you are angry, distraught, and emtional. And like some, you have an inherent bias against arrogant northeasterners. By next November, you and others will have calmed down, gained perspective that life is still good and worth living and will be cheering for our new crop of young superstar "five stars."

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I won’t be back either without changes. I just won’t. I probably wouldn’t have this year except for being curious as to how Reed Sheppard would perform. I will not subject myself to more of this, it’s just not worth my time.

It bothers me how much if affects everything about my day and my mood. I wish i was like my life and just say, "I hope both teams just have fun!"

And it bothers me that it bothers you. People that say that it's more than a game... well, they need a therapist, or the Universe to give them a real kick in the groin.