Kentucky Tourney Loss is a Warning to Memphis...

[SmokeyOneKenobi]

He has worked very hard to get where he is. He got his his teams to work very hard at both schools and overachieved at both schools. He put together the team at Larenburg Prep which started our run to the Elite Eights and then rose to the top with his "WWW one and done recruits".

The last group was the best and they went to UK with him for the 35 million dollar Elite Eight, and lost not because he can't coach, it's because he gets out coached at high levels of competition.

basically what I have been saying. The guy is a PR and recruiting machine, but can't coach his way out of a paper bag. He relies on talent and a "novelty" offensive scheme. He is a decent defensive coach as long as his opposition doesn't change their strategy; once that happens all bets are off. He is initially proactive on defense, but when he is required to react he doesn't recognize until it is too late.

Glad he isn't our problem anymore.

[kmorales]

If I had a penny for every starting lineup argument...
The bottom line is no one knows yet. There are probably at least 8 guys who could start, it will play itself out. And as always its not who starts, its who finishes.

Calipari definitely got outcoached, but people are blowing it out of proportion. The coaches get too much credit when they win and too much blame when the lose. They hit a couple of 3's and he's a genius. Just like if Chalmers misses the 3...

[BealeStreetTiger]

Will Barton is most likely to be a starter either a the 2 or 3 guard spot because of his height and the fact that he's probably the most NBA-ready. Think of Witherspoon at the 4 spot in the role of Rashard Lewis for the Magic. A guy who can spread the floor and shoot the 3. It just provides mismatches for traditional power forwards. And come to think of it, Rashard Lewis was one of the guys from Houston, TX who Pastner coached when he was in high school. He's turned out alright. Spoon just needs to add more strength and gain some more weight.

Even though Spoon has said his primary reason for returning is to play the 3 spot, many are still placing him at the 4. I don’t get it. IMO he’d probably be better at the 2 than the 4 with the midrange game we know he has. Spoons main problem is guarding PFs who are bigger & stronger and I can’t see him gaining enough strength & weight in eight months to be a solid 4. If that were the case then why didn’t he bulk up this past off season as he probably knew he was going to be asked to play that position?

I don’t know what the lineup will be but from the info I’ve read Spoon was guaranteed his natural position, the 3.

[memphismo23]

Will Barton is most likely to be a starter either a the 2 or 3 guard spot because of his height and the fact that he's probably the most NBA-ready. Think of Witherspoon at the 4 spot in the role of Rashard Lewis for the Magic. A guy who can spread the floor and shoot the 3. It just provides mismatches for traditional power forwards. And come to think of it, Rashard Lewis was one of the guys from Houston, TX who Pastner coached when he was in high school. He's turned out alright. Spoon just needs to add more strength and gain some more weight.

Good mention of Spoon at the four especially the Rashard Lewis reference, I see your a guy who knows what he's actually talking about....

1)Jackson 2 or 3) Williams/Barton 4) Spoon 5) Coleman

Barton will Start

Spoon will spend a majority of his minutes at the 3 limited to the 4 for starting purposes and 4 the 4 guard line up Coach likes so much from his Zona days

[althor]

If I had a penny for every starting lineup argument...
The bottom line is no one knows yet. There are probably at least 8 guys who could start, it will play itself out. And as always its not who starts, its who finishes.

Calipari definitely got outcoached, but people are blowing it out of proportion. The coaches get too much credit when they win and too much blame when the lose. They hit a couple of 3's and he's a genius. Just like if Chalmers misses the 3...

I can see what you are saying but I think you are wrong. If it happens it happens. Thing is with Cal teams is you can go back and watch every loss he has had over the past 5 years and you will see the exact same thing occur in each of them. After all these years you would think he would make atleast some adjustment but he doesnt. He ignores it and hopes that he will overwhelm the other team with talent. That is directly on the coaches shoulders. What Huggins did last night, we as Memphis fans, have seen over and over and over. Each season people criticize the same aspects and each season it is exactly the same. Players changed, teams changed, Cal still has not. Pack in a tight physical zone, and foul if they get to the basket. On offense you use screens. The curl screen was great, flash back to Missouri taking it to us last year. But any type screens work, more the better, and then take it to the hole for open layups.

[BealeStreetTiger]

The problem I see with Cal is he’s always reactive as to proactive, especially in hard tight games.

[PAWR]

Cal is a choke artist when the chips are down...

[QuitoTiger]

Don't know I'd take it as a "warning" per se, but think we have a coach who's pretty astute with getting the big picture together. He certainly has visited these concerns and will take those in to next season. He's a teachable teacher.

[uskjtc02]

... Experience and upperclassmen leadership is important for an NCAA Championship run. Haters can blame Cal's coaching miscues as they always do in the Kentucky loss, but what I saw were young frosh overly frustrated and losing composure as they game went on (as well as taking bad shots). As heralded as Memphis's class will be next year, the Kentucky game solidified the importance of having Elliot Williams, Witherspoon, and even Sallie back for next year.

Totally

[QuitoTiger]

Agree ^, but will be surprised if Sallie figures in the picture next year. Do you think UKarma had a prima dona syndrome? That is a coaching problem. That's why I have confidence in JP's leadership. He's not a narcissist, like their other. The sink hole shows up when it's not inside, out.

[hellothom]

... Experience and upperclassmen leadership is important for an NCAA Championship run. Haters can blame Cal's coaching miscues as they always do in the Kentucky loss, but what I saw were young frosh overly frustrated and losing composure as they game went on (as well as taking bad shots). As heralded as Memphis's class will be next year, the Kentucky game solidified the importance of having Elliot Williams, Witherspoon, and even Sallie back for next year.

Good post Pedro...

I think your point is exaggerated, as from what I saw, an incredibale lack of leadership from the head coach. Not a hater, just what I saw....

I mean really... where was the coach when the team continues to shoot threes (i.e. 32 for the game?) when you have a clear advantage at size and bigman? Counsin's and Patterson should have had 25 points each.

In typical "X" fashion, his team was abismal from the line? Out of 334 Division 1 schools, Kensucky ranks 225 in FT %.

In typical "X" fashion, he failed to put his team in the best position to win the game. WVU had no ball handlers on the court for the last 7 minutes or so and Kensucky failed to pressure the ball for the majority of that time. It is inexcusable for a guy getting $4 million a year to make that kind of mistake.

Yes, I think experience on the floor helps, but when the coach is MIA all the experience in the world is not going to help you. See '08 Tigers.

[hellothom]

Cal is a choke artist when the chips are down...

[hellothom]

Please stop it! The man is not the greatest x's and o's, but he is not the worst. Criticize coaches from game to game with the decision they make and you talking about the not fouling, most coaches before that happen wouldn't foul, including Bob Knight and he was a real bad coach. I keep saying it at Umass he had ONE NBA player who was not highly recruited, and won constantly. Also, he has the eye for diamonds in rough players, Marcus Camby, Joey Dorsey,Carney, CDR, AA, Dozier, and others. When he was here y'all didn't present this arguement, hey I hate the man for what he did but give credit were it is do, those four years was amazing and it took us to heights we never been before(1 seed, 2 seed, 1 seed, 2 seed) and do y'all remember the years before he got here was like? plus we not Kensucky, so we be ok with an Elite 8, and won't complain. lol

Uhhhh.... yeah I did. When he was here I knew, heard from others, & said myself the man

1) was no floor coach & needed to find a good assistant to help him with that on the bench &,
2) needed to work more on fundamentals like FT, boxing out, etc...

I don't think any of this is a BIG Secrete

Known to all but u, those drinking the Cal-Cool-Aide, and Califairy himself.

[hellothom]

What I saw out there IMHO, was a pretty decent attitude by Wall. Cousins, Orton, and Bledsoe on the other hand Jeeezzz they acted so ignorant.

Oh yeah Darius "Technical Foul" Miller was acting pretty crazy to. (The DeMarcus Cousins slap to the nuts on the West Virginia player was uncalled for should have been a flagrant foul)

Also, I do not know if yall noticed but at one time Daniel Orton was trying to Coach UK during a timeout and you could reads Cal's lip he was like shut up don't listen to him and listen to me. This is a great example of the inmates running the asylum (Cal).

I really thought the Kentucky players played well and handled themselves pretty well. Esp given the void in leadership.

I didn't see anything to show the Cousins slap was intentional. I think it was pretty stupid for a BIG to pick up a foul that way. I think the refs looked it over pretty well (i.e. they did review it via video) and handled it.

As much as I dislike "X", I hold no grudge against the players @ Kensucky. I think they handle themsleves much better than the players at say a school like UT.

I think the UT players costantly act like thuggy, overconfident, smart as s es, who pull dirty stunts at evey possible turn.

[cscottl1981]

Regardless of age or experience, Cal had the most talented team in the tournament. He sucks as a coach; he would have lost the Olympics with the Dream Team.

[southgrl66]

The problem I see with Cal is he’s always reactive as to proactive, especially in hard tight games.

DING DING DING!! Winner!

[Killer_Squeed]

Cal does a great job of getting his players to play hard and with intensity for an entire game (something that, frankly, was missing from a couple of our key guys at times this year). X's and O's are overrated. Kentucky missed their shots. End of story.

[pedro_lee]

Who is this Weatherspoon kid I keep hearing about?

Sorry Wesley, I typed this out this morning without drinking my morning coffee.

[pedro_lee]

so the importance of senior leadership isn't a myth?

It isn't just the haters blaming Cal, it is the entire CBB community. Cal is NOT a good bench coach, and last night was yet another illustration of his deficiencies. He refuses to make defensive adjustments; he always has until it is too late. Watching last night's game was eerily similar to the Memphis / Missouri game from a year ago. The man is a PR and recruiting machine, but I've seen better coaching at my local community center.

Cal sucks and I'm glad he isn't our problem anymore.

Look, I'm not saying Calipari is an awesome bench coach or he wasn't outcoached, but my main contention is that if it was a more "experienced or mature team" Kentucky could have pulled out a win. There have been horrible bench coaches or coaches who played bad strategies, who have found NCAA success. With the talent Kentucky had this year, they should have beat WVa.

[pedro_lee]

It's all about attitude. Derrick and Tyreke didn't have any problems by the time the NCAA tournament started and they sure didn't play like freshman.

They were frosh who still experienced struggles and were supported by "experienced" upperclassmen. Rose had Dorsey, Anderson, Dozier, CDR in the starting lineup. Tyreke had Anderson, Dozier, Taggart in his second year, Mack, etc. Kentucky had Bledsoe, Dodson, Cousins, Wall, in the starting lineup with an Orton also backing them up, and an immature Liggins. Kentucky rode their frosh to their record.

[AFTiger]

Thanks for the expert warning. We'll be sure to pass it on to our coach.

[hellothom]

They were frosh who still experienced struggles and were supported by "experienced" upperclassmen. Rose had Dorsey, Anderson, Dozier, CDR in the starting lineup. Tyreke had Anderson, Dozier, Taggart in his second year, Mack, etc. Kentucky had Bledsoe, Dodson, Cousins, Wall, in the starting lineup with an Orton also backing them up, and an immature Liggins. Kentucky rode their frosh to their record.

But esentially the result was the same in both cases that you cite. Yes, the '08 Tigers went a little farther. However, the absence of an adequate floor coach esentailly doomed (i.e. were not able to go the distance) both teams.

[hellothom]

Thanks for the expert warning. We'll be sure to pass it on to our coach.

[pedro_lee]

Yeah this post was fail. Two reasons.
1. Cal has lost time and time again this exact way and has done nothing in 10 years to correct it. Zone is the biggest weakness to DDM. Any team that packs in a tight, physical zone has a better than average chance to beat KY. A good team with long talented players that packs in a tight, physical zone is gonna spank a Cal team's rear. Proven year in and year out. Thank goodness we no longer have Cal in Memphis. He will never get further than his freshmen talent can carry him.
If you think this loss, and all of his past losses, arent strictly on Cal's shoulders then you havent watched enough of Cal basketball to make a decision. "We make them when it counts."
2. Did you guys see the way WV owned KY with that curl screen to the basket? Over and over and over. Remind you of anything? Perhaps the Missouri game last year in the Elite 8 where they scored on us at will with a curl screen to the basket?
No adjustments were made in any way for either of the above points. Hasnt been an adjustment made in 10 years. Stomping your feet and calling the players p$$$$$s doesnt help them in any way.

I thought my post was pretty good and not incompatible with your two points.

[hellothom]

Cal does a great job of getting his players to play hard and with intensity for an entire game (something that, frankly, was missing from a couple of our key guys at times this year).

X's and O's are overrated. Kentucky missed their shots. End of story.

on the first part.

They missed their shots cause they were horrible shots. X's and O's is about getting the right shots. I don't ever see how good fundamental play is ever "overated".

If you want to go the distance, I would think its good to have both.

[Killer_Squeed]

I guess i don't equate fundamentals with x's and o's. Cal's teams play with a lot of freedom on offense so they are prone to taking bad shots (fundamentals) and missing free throws (fundamentals) here and there. Should he have told his team to post up Cousins (x's and o's) at least once every possession? Maybe. But they got wide-open looks anyway, and they just failed to knock them down.

I agree that it's best to have all of your ducks in a row-- playing hard/intensity/focus, fundamentals, and x's and o's, but when you have the most talent in the NCAAs, playing hard trumps everything else in my book.

[hellothom]

... Experience and upperclassmen leadership is important for an NCAA Championship run. Haters can blame Cal's coaching miscues as they always do in the Kentucky loss, but what I saw were young frosh overly frustrated and losing composure as they game went on (as well as taking bad shots). As heralded as Memphis's class will be next year, the Kentucky game solidified the importance of having Elliot Williams, Witherspoon, and even Sallie back for next year.

I thought my post was pretty good and not incompatible with your two points.

The only problem I see with your post is that your automatically dismiss anyone critical of "X"'s coaching as a "hater"???

Essentailly, you give him a pass and toss all the blame to his players to make your point.

Either you're a slippery, slimy "X" lover. OR you just picked a really stupid example to make your point. Lay off the X-juice, you'll make out much better.

[pedro_lee]

Thanks for the expert warning. We'll be sure to pass it on to our coach.

Just a Tiger fan giving an observation to other fans, lol.

[hellothom]

I guess i don't equate fundamentals with x's and o's. Cal's teams play with a lot of freedom on offense so they are prone to taking bad shots (fundamentals) and missing free throws (fundamentals) here and there. Should he have told his team to post up Cousins (x's and o's) at least once every possession? Maybe. But they got wide-open looks anyway, and they just failed to knock them down.

I agree that it's best to have all of your ducks in a row-- playing hard/intensity/focus, fundamentals, and x's and o's, but when you have the most talent in the NCAAs, playing hard trumps everything else in my book.

Squeed... they missed 28 threes. After the first 15 misses or so, don't you think someone might say.... hey guys looks like our legs are a little tired eh? Let's try to get it inside?

[hellothom]

Just a Tiger fan giving an observation to other fans, lol.