Sheppard: Inexperienced UK won't win title, not a fan of one and dones

[LarryVaught1]

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — He was a Final Four MVP on a national championship team at Kentucky, still lives in the state and supports the UK basketball program any way he can.

Yet Jeff Sheppard admitted Saturday at the Ohio UK Convention that he didn’t think Kentucky’s inexperienced team could win the 2014 national championship.

“I am 100 percent for UK and the program and want them to win all their games and win a national championship, but I am not going to predict that. I am going to predict they will not be as bad as last year. I just don’t believe that a team this young can win a national championship,” said Sheppard. “I hope this year’s team proves me wrong.  Maybe the talent level will be so much greater that I will be proven wrong, and I hope that I am. All I can do is speak from my experience, and that experience gave us such an advantage when we were playing.”

Kentucky returns three players — senior Jarrod Polson and sophomores Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein — with extended experience off last year’s NIT team to go with eight signees, including six McDonald’s All-Americans.

Sheppard was on UK’s 1995 team that lost to North Carolina in the Elite Eight — “and we should not only have won that game but the whole tournament,” said Sheppard. He was on UK’s multi-talented 1996 national championship team and a redshirt on the 1997 team that lost to Arizona in overtime in the NCAA title game. He led UK to the national title in 1998 as a senior and then watched in 1999 when many of his former teammates lost to Michigan State in the Elite Eight.

“The Final Four atmosphere is different,” Sheppard said to defend his stance on UK’s lack of experience. “There is just something different about playing in a Final Four. If you have never played in the NCAA Tournament, that is a real disadvantage no matter what team or coach you play for. There are arguments against that, but I just believe NCAA playing experience is very valuable.

“A lot of players on those great Kentucky teams I was on had a lot of experience. When we showed up at the Final Four we were not celebrating just being at the Final Four. We were there to finish the last third of the NCAA. A lot of teams when they make the Final Four it is almost like they won the championship itself. If you are a first-year player and make it to Final Four, that is a very dangerous trap to fall into thinking we have won the championship already and not finish the last two games strong.”

Sheppard said UK coach John Calipari is “doing a great job playing the game he has to play now” with so many players leaving UK early for the NBA draft — 17 overall draft picks in the last four years and only two were seniors.

“You get great players on campus and then they are out of here,” Sheppard said. “It is a shame because Kentucky fan loves to know the player on the court but also off the court. What I learned during my career, and especially after, is the love fans have for the individual. You know things about me most fans don’t know about players. You want to get to know those players and follow them and see what they do and how they develop. All those things that you have traditionally been able to follow and build on has changed.

“I don’t like it. I don’t think the Kentucky fan overall likes it. We have had to accept because it is working. We have won a national championship, and that’s the way it is. I wish the NCAA or NBA would put in policies to change that. I think would make college basketball stronger.

“I don’t know how coach Calipari gets his guys together in such a short time. When adversity comes if you are really not a closely knit group, it can bust it up quickly. The individuals try to take over instead of letting the team take over. The neat thing about being part of a team is understanding how important that role is and sticking to it.”

Sheppard knows not every UK fan will feel the same as him and emphasized he meant no disrespect to Calipari for the “phenomenal” job he’s done at Kentucky.

“I don’t want to take away from the run coach Calipari has had at Kentucky. It has been phenomenal,” Sheppard said.

But here comes the old-school in Sheppard, a five-year player.

“I think too much emphasis is put on celebrating first-round draft picks. I would rather celebrate national championships,” Sheppard said. “But that is where the high school athlete is. To recruit, you have got to show a track record of putting players into the NBA. I am all for that as long as it is the by-product of team performing well and the team succeeding.

“I think it is a dangerous time when putting players in the NBA is put ahead of team success. We as Kentucky fans are not as excited about the draft as people think. We want our boys to do well, but we would rather our boys win national championships.”

[anderwt]

Its a slippery slope either way...My question to Jeff is, would you rather have John Wall, Cousins, Davis, Knight, MKG, Teague, Harrison Twins, Randle, and Young playing for you or against you...Cal wants the program to succeed just as much as the players to be NBA first round pick, but he is going to take care or the 18-19 year old kid first, not the 40 year old fan who wants to only see UK get to final fours.

[anderwt]

It is also not surprising to see guys like Sheppard and other fans start to go down this path a little bit...This will sound odd, but Cal needs a big run this year to the final four, if not, guys like Jeff Sheppard will get a voice out there to the media and will spin it stating that UK needs to be finished with the one and done type player. Maybe we should get more Sheray Thomas type players, develop them...

[CitizenBBN]

This is going to end well.

That Zona 97 team was really short on experience, they did OK. Sure experience is great, I love it, and pure talent wont' do squat, as last year proved, but talent PLUS the right attitude and maturity can most definitely overcome college experience. Wish we could have both, and so does Cal.

Personally I'm very excited about the draft. No it doesn't replace titles, but we do root for the kids to do well (goes to his point about our relationship with them) and it's crucial for the program as well.

[CitizenBBN]

It is also not surprising to see guys like Sheppard and other fans start to go down this path a little bit...This will sound odd, but Cal needs a big run this year to the final four, if not, guys like Jeff Sheppard will get a voice out there to the media and will spin it stating that UK needs to be finished with the one and done type player. Maybe we should get more Sheray Thomas type players, develop them...

Last year will give people who didn't like the approach an opening to express it no doubt, but I don't think it's all that widespread yet. Now if we miss the dance this year, all bets are off and it will get ugly.

[GhettoBird]

It is also not surprising to see guys like Sheppard and other fans start to go down this path a little bit...This will sound odd, but Cal needs a big run this year to the final four, if not, guys like Jeff Sheppard will get a voice out there to the media and will spin it stating that UK needs to be finished with the one and done type player. Maybe we should get more Sheray Thomas type players, develop them...

Oddly I agree with you. Cal has 2 final fours, a title and elite 8 in 4 years, yet I do believe some UK fans believe he must make it to the final 4 or win it this years team. Silly really.

[anderwt]

Last year will give people who didn't like the approach an opening to express it no doubt, but I don't think it's all that widespread yet. Now if we miss the dance this year, all bets are off and it will get ugly.

We need a run to the final four...really is no excuse with the talent he has 1-7....I don't care if they are all freshman and sophomores. I will be extremely extremely disappointed if UK is not playing that final weekend.

[Darryl]

Guys, Cal does HAVE to make the Final 4 this season (maybe even win it all) or there will be multiple questions
concerning this ones and done philosophy. Of course, hundreds of teams with tons of experience and ZERO 1 year
players will also not win it all.

Darryl

[CitizenBBN]

Oddly I agree with you. Cal has 2 final fours, a title and elite 8 in 4 years, yet I do believe some UK fans believe he must make it to the final 4 or win it this years team. Silly really.

It wouldn't be so bad except he missed the NCAA altogether. Prior to BCG we hadn't missed the tourney since probation. It's really a special and rare accomplishment in the modern era for UK to be that bad. Go in as a 4-5 seed and have a bad night, OK it happens, but to be so bad all year you don't make the dance then lose the first NIT game? You've had an historically bad year at UK.

If you have 8 future 1st round picks on the roster expectations will be high, but what last year does is leave the jury out on whether this recruiting approach works or not. Got a title, then got the NIT. People are wondering which one is the fluke. Unfair given 2010 and 2011 but for those in that group IMO that's how it's played out.

Had he had an OK year this wouldn't be an issue, but now people are wondering if we'll just collapse and be awful. Has people more amped than usual.

[UKHistory]

Shep played on two of our national title team and was the MOP in 1998. His experience is at the highest end of our great program.

I celebrate national titles and Final Fours. I also celebrate the success of our players. Great teams that win titles usually are composed of great players who go to the NBA.

The more Shep talks on this subject, the worse he is looking.

[UKHistory]

The 2012-13 season was a downer as we went to the NIT. How well did our most experienced players play in the loss to Robert Morris?

Also a season ending injury to a team's best player is going to hurt any team. Most programs that win a title with a veteran team usually does not repeat and has some level of a down year.

The 1996-97 UK season and the 1998-99 are more the exception than the rule.

[CitizenBBN]

We need a run to the final four...really is no excuse with the talent he has 1-7....I don't care if they are all freshman and sophomores. I will be extremely extremely disappointed if UK is not playing that final weekend.

I'll be disappointed b/c to me it begs the obvious question: if we can't get there with this much talent, how will we ever get there?

It's not completely fair b/c IF we keep a few guys we end up with a mix more like 2012 and this last year just really put a break in the whole works. Hopefully while Alex and WCS don't have NCAA experience they have plenty of basic college experience and it will be enough to carry us through along with all the ability and the sheer toughness of these guys.

IMO that's what we'll see change in Cal's recruiting: not a move from one and done but a move to one and dones that he feels have the initial mental toughness and attitude and work ethic to compete right away and not have to be cajoled into doing the right things. THey can be young and talent, they cant' be young, talented and have no clue how to approach the game.

[CitizenBBN]

The 2012-13 season was a downer as we went to the NIT. How well did our most experienced players play in the loss to Robert Morris?


The were the two worst players on the roster, which speaks to just how much trouble we were in last year.

[Kacat]

Doesn't matter what strategy you use. Coaches at KY and other places will be criticized. Roy Williams has 2 titles and is on thin ice. Self has multiple FFs and a title but has to win it all with Wiggins. Pitino has back to back FF and the title yet a couple of years ago was about to be run out of town. It's the endless argument like the chicken and the egg. It's a debate without answer. Which weighs heavier talent or experience. That being said, Cal actually did win the title with a very young team and this team does have some experience coming back.

[BigBlueBrock]

I'm so tired of this horse hockey.

[blue2ksr]

I really, really respect Jeff for giving his honest, personal opinion instead of saying what everyone wants to hear.

I loathe "yes" men, and obviously Jeff isn't one (not that anyone that disagrees with him is).

I like that.

[anderwt]

Well we are about to see if he can take the heat

[CitizenBBN]

Doesn't matter what strategy you use. Coaches at KY and other places will be criticized. Roy Williams has 2 titles and is on thin ice. Self has multiple FFs and a title but has to win it all with Wiggins. Pitino has back to back FF and the title yet a couple of years ago was about to be run out of town. It's the endless argument like the chicken and the egg. It a debate without answer. Which weighs heavier talent or experience. That being sad, Cal actually did win the title with a very young team and this team does have some experience coming back.

Excellent points. It's lonely at the top.

Heck, Pitino was about to be run out of town as of January of last year. His methods were totally discredited, his time all but elapsed.



I put FAR more value on the experience brought back by WCS and Alex than Kyle. Alex so far seems to be committing to the right course, and as a frosh I was more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt where Kyle was already a soph and still needed to adjust his thinking. WCS never had an issue with his approach, and was just starting to show those glimmers of greatness last year as he got comfortable being out there.

Those are the two guys who will have to help us on the college experience front, and IMO those were always the two who we'd rely on for it. Are they so different from TJ and Doron after their frosh years? We lack a Darius Miller, that's a big difference, but we do have far more depth, so on a given night we do have more chances to find someone who steps up and has that big game like Allen Edwards in 96 at Georgia. I can easily see Hawkins or Lee having that one game where the rest of the team is a little flat and they give us that spark. Darius could do it game after game, but with the added depth we may only need it here and there this year.

I LOVE, I Mean LOVE the attitude of this group of guys, and when people say "experience" a lot of the time what they mean is "maturity" and "toughness", and this team has a lot of maturity despite their years.

[CitizenBBN]

Well we are about to see if he can take the heat

He's going to feed off it. Already is IMO when you look at the depth on this roster and how he's broadening his net in future classes.

[KSRBEvans]

Kenpom tracks experience level. For Cal's UK teams, their national rankings were

2010: 341
2011: 312
2012: 340
2013: 334.

So he's already gone to an Elite 8, a Final and won a national title with some of the youngest teams in college basketball. If Cal's way stops working, maybe Shep will have an argument at that point.

[UKHistory]

Whatever Shep's motivation and intentions this is the national view of his comments. Here is Mike DeCoursey.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2013-07-22/kentucky-john-calipari-jeff-sheppard-john-wall-nerlens-noel

[kingcat]

Whatever Shep's motivation and intentions this is the national view of his comments. Here is Mike DeCoursey.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2013-07-22/kentucky-john-calipari-jeff-sheppard-john-wall-nerlens-noel

"During his career, Sheppard played for NCAA championship teams in 1996 and 1998; he was named Most Outstanding Player at the 1998 Final Four.

That season was Tubby Smith’s first as Kentucky coach. However, all the things he talked about—players developing, getting stronger, staying on campus for several years—occurred during Smith’s tenure. What didn’t happen after that first season, transacted almost entirely with players recruited by Rick Pitino, was the sort of high-level success coach John Calipari has delivered in his four years."


Ouch!

I'd like to hear who Jeff see's as final four material.

[Darryl]

He's going to feed off it. Already is IMO when you look at the depth on this roster and how he's broadening his net in future classes.


I think Ander meant Sheppard getting the heat.

Darryl

[CitizenBBN]

I think Ander meant Sheppard getting the heat.

Darryl

Oh, gotcha. Probably not well. He won't like what's going to come of this.

[dan_bgblue]

Thanks Larry V. I really appreciate Shep's willingness to be open and honest in his thoughts on a subject he knew was controversial among the fan base. It is not often we get to read the thoughts of a former player, a 5 year player at that, who's experiences at UK tend to carry weight in my mind.

[Genuine Realist]

I doubt Cal has all that much disagreement with Shep. He'd love to season the mix with a little experience.

[blue2ksr]

Thanks Larry V. I really appreciate Shep's willingness to be open and honest in his thoughts on a subject he knew was controversial among the fan base. It is not often we get to read the thoughts of a former player, a 5 year player at that, who's experiences at UK tend to carry weight in my mind.

Me too, Dan O!!

[UKHistory]

I agree. Unfortunately Shep created an image of the one and done model as Cal's brainchild and that Cal did not really apppreciate UK's tradition.

Laughable considering that Shep played for Pitino. I also really disliked the off handed way Shep said "championships" and then added "at least one". I took that turn of phrase to be critical of Cal unnecessarily.

Shep's tone, word choice, and the reference to however fleeting that Cal is the enemy was beyond horrible.

Shep brought Laettner into Rupp and consider the UofL head coach to not be the enemy?

WTF? Seriously WTFF? I am not for the one and done and unless Shep or anyone is willing to call Cal a liar, our head coach does not either.

Cal is doing what every coach in America is doing. Cal is recruiting the best talent that he can to come and play for him. The combination of Cal plus UK means Cal is getting some of the very best talent out there. In today's world that means a lot of those players have a chance to be drafted early.

I used to be bothered myself by Cal not touting graduation enough. But he does. At best Shep really used poor judgment.

Cal and Robic are the enemy. We played UMass 5 times in the 1990s. We won 4 of the games including two NCAA tournament games. Pitino is the enemy if we are going to use such strong terms to describe our rivals.

WTF!?


I doubt Cal has all that much disagreement with Shep. He'd love to season the mix with a little experience.

[Darryl]

Sheppard is in business with UL organizing their ex-player's autograph tours. He has no working relationship with UK.
Methinks his remarks are very self serving. As of now, I am not much of a Sheppard fan.

Darryl

[blue2ksr]

Sheppard is in business with UL organizing their ex-player's autograph tours. He has no working relationship with UK.
Methinks his remarks are very self serving. As of now, I am not much of a Sheppard fan.

Darryl

Final 4 MVP be damned?
Are all the good, sometimes great, moments he brought us now all forgotten?
He has brought us a million times more good than bad.
I prefer to give him credit for the good/great memories, and the benefit of the doubt.
Don't we owe him that, at least?

[Darryl]

Final 4 MVP be damned?
Are all the good, sometimes great, moments he brought us now all forgotten?
He has brought us a million times more good than bad.
I prefer to give him credit for the good/great memories, and the benefit of the doubt.
Don't we owe him that, at least?

Right now, I care more about Wall, Cousins, Davis, MKG, etc. They are 100% Cats; Sheppard seems to be aligning himself with
UL and Pitino. He is going to appear on Jones' radio show tomorrow. It will be interesting to listen. IMO, it is his business to not
like the ones and done. But his remarks about Cal favoring 1st rounders over titles have the potential to harm UK's program.

The ones and done system is growing the ex-UK players fraternity exponentially. Bledsoe loves UK every bit as much as home
grown Cats do. So does MKG, Kanter (he stated he would love BBN forever). The players/kids Cal is bringing in make very good
grades, have gotten into no trouble at all; UK may be the cleanest they've ever been regarding NCAA rules, they seem like very
classy guys, and the Cats are kicking butt on the court.

Shep was out of line here, and as a grown man he must take responsibility.

Darryl

[UKHistory]

I can root for Shep the player. But his decision to reach out to Laettner for that game bothered me. I had forgotten and moved on but Shep's comments in Ohio trouble me.

The fact that he has business interests with UofL (along with an understandable personal relationship with his former coach) does color his comments on Cal and the one and done players at UK.

My love for UK and hatred for our rivals gains me nothing monetarily. It can negatively impact my health. Certainly takes my time and money. I don't agree with Cal on everything and say that here.

As a former player who owes a great deal of his life to being a Wildcat, Jeff should understand his comments are going to be scrutinized more closely by UK and the national media.

My criticism of Jeff tonight does not impact my appreciation for his UK career. My affection for him as a player saddens me when I watch what he said.

As a fan, I find it "uncomfortable" that Rick Pitino, a man I liked and rooted for even prior to coming to UK because he lost his son tragically, is now my enemy.

And if you coach, play, root for UofL or work to better their athletic department then you are my freaking enemy.

[blue2ksr]

I seriously doubt that Shep's comments will really ever hurt the program. If it does, then it didn't take much to hurt it.
Also, I doubt that Cal will lose much sleep over it.
One final thing, Rick Robey has done tons of business with UL people also, as has Walter McCarty. Should we alienate them too?
I'm saying all this as an anti UL man until the day I die.

[UKHistory]

It is sticks and stones. But it made the Sporting News today and I find a former UK player's comments to be construed as critical of UK as a negative. It is not the end of the world but it is not that cool either from point of view.

[anderwt]

I think Ander meant Sheppard getting the heat.

Darryl

You would be correct

[blue2ksr]

It is sticks and stones. But it made the Sporting News today and I find a former UK player's comments to be construed as critical of UK as a negative. It is not the end of the world but it is not that cool either from point of view.

I can't necessarily disagree with your post (not that it matters what I think).

[Darryl]

NBC Sports picks up the story:

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/22/jeff-sheppard-isnt-a-huge-fan-of-caliparis-one-and-done-style/

Darryl

[UKHistory]

It matters to me. Not that we need to agree but your opinion and the others on this board I look forward to reading. It is one of the reasons I am. Althought Badrose's models is my #1 reason these days.


I can't necessarily disagree with your post (not that it matters what I think).

[blue2ksr]

It matters to me. Not that we need to agree but your opinion and the others on this board I look forward to reading. It is one of the reasons I am. Althought Badrose's models is my #1 reason these days.

The feeling is certainly mutual, my friend. Folks like Darryl, yourself and the other folks here are why this is the most classy, enjoyable UK forum on the planet.
I love it!

[Darrell KSR]

I will let you choose any one team and I will go on record as saying they will not win it. I will give you even money odds that I will be correct.

Sent using Forum Runner

[Darryl]

The feeling is certainly mutual, my friend. Folks like Darryl, yourself and the other folks here are why this is the most classy, enjoyable UK forum on the planet.
I love it!

Blue, the feeling is reciprocated. It upsets me that Shep did this. I was not crazy when Mash stated he pulled for UL. Heck, I am not
evan a big UL/Pitino hater (I reserve that for IU and **UNC). Hopefully tomorrow he can elaborate a bit on this. I may go home and
re-watch the Stanford and Utah Final 4 games and I bet my love for Jeff will come roaring back.

Darryl

[Darryl]

I will let you choose any one team and I will go on record as saying they will not win it. I will give you even money odds that I will be correct.

Sent using Forum Runner

Darrell, how about teams like 1967 UCLA, 1996 UK, etc? I think 2014 UK will be in that group.

Darryl

[Padukacat]

This is disappointing...shep should keep his mouth shut considering a)cal is philanthropic about helping kid to the point of being nuts. B). We won a freaking title and our win percentage is sick, #1 in cals yrs? C) the fans are all happy as a lark!

#fail

[Darrell KSR]

Darrell, how about teams like 1967 UCLA, 1996 UK, etc? I think 2014 UK will be in that group.

Darryl

Yup, even those. I will lose some of them, and we always know after the year which ones, but I will take my chances with the field.

Sent using Forum Runner

[blue2ksr]

Blue, the feeling is reciprocated. It upsets me that Shep did this. I was not crazy when Mash stated he pulled for UL. Heck, I am not
evan a big UL/Pitino hater (I reserve that for IU and **UNC). Hopefully tomorrow he can elaborate a bit on this. I may go home and
re-watch the Stanford and Utah Final 4 games and I bet my love for Jeff will come roaring back.

Darryl

LOL! You are a good 'un, Darryl!
Your passion and love for the Cats is certainly admirable and unquestioned!
I might give our heros of yesteryear too much slack when they do or say something we dont like.
I'm having a hard time cutting Richie much slack though, lol.

[ukpumacat]

Well, as I said on the other thread, I actually agree with Jeff that I think its unlikely we win it all this year. Obviously, there is a chance, but if I was placing money on one team today, it wouldn't be UK (not sure who I would place it on, but the more I have thought about it the more I have an answer). I am probably beating a dead horse, but its one thing to go into the tourney like we did in 2012. That was a young team. But, that was a team with Final Four experience. This team's experience makes that team look like Senior Citizens. Again, one minute of tourney experience on the entire team (Polson in mop duty against WKU in 2012). I think it hurts us, and I think we lose in the Elite EIght or Final Four.
Having said that, I do not think that is a criticism of Cal's One and Done philosophy. Heck, I love his philosophy. I think more than anything else, last years team flaming out hurt this season's experience. If we had made a tourney run last year, I would be less concerned.

All in all, I think this will be a fun, entertaining, and at times dominant year. But, I do think we will fall short of the NC in a similar way to 2010.

Hope I am wrong, and more than willing to change my mind.

[ukpumacat]

Sorry, one more note. I don't believe that there has to be a choice between talent and experience. Cal doesn't either. This year is hopefully an aberration.
But, if I had to choose one or the other...I, like Cal, go talent every year (I just wish we had a tad of tourney experience to go with it).

[Thedonnie123]

I don't understand the fascination with "tournament experience." To these kids, this is just another collection of games, and at that point, they've played 30+ together.

[ukpumacat]

I don't understand the fascination with "tournament experience." To these kids, this is just another collection of games, and at that point, they've played 30+ together.

If those 30+ games were tournament style with the pressure of a one and done elimination and unique atmosphere of the NCAA tourney I would agree. But the NCAA Tourney is a whole different ball of wax. And of course the Final Four is on an entirely different level from that.
This is why 2010 is such a great comparison. People talk like 2012 was such a young team...and they were in age. But a few of the key players had incredible experience from the Final Four the year before.
If you go back and look at 2010, Patrick Patterson, Ramon Harris and Perry Stevenson were the only guys that played at all who had any Tourney experience, and for Patterson (the only starter) that was one game in 2008.
I happen to think that played a part in them losing in the Elite Eight. Obviously, shooting was a weakness on that team. But so was tournament experience.
I would love nothing more than for this very talented team to prove me wrong, but I think tourney experience matters.
Heck, don't trust me...ask any player who has ever played in the NCAA Tourney if tourney experience matters. Jeff Sheppard won't be the only one who says it does.

[LarryVaught1]

Darryl, Shep has done quite a bit with UK. Did lot with Teague, Julius Mays and some others. Just limited by what Cal lets him do there like most of us are. Not many in the Cal inner circle. Heck, he won't even give me an interview for the Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook preview I am doing

[anderwt]

Darryl, Shep has done quite a bit with UK. Did lot with Teague, Julius Mays and some others. Just limited by what Cal lets him do there like most of us are. Not many in the Cal inner circle. Heck, he won't even give me an interview for the Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook preview I am doing

Larry I hate that for you, but I think I know who you can blame for the way cal treats the local writers...

[UKHistory]

Patrick was injured in 2008 and did not even travel with the team to the NCAA tournament. The 2014 team is comparable to the 2010 team in that no one has any real experience save for Polson.

Experience did not help with Wiltjer or Harrow. Harrow was the most experienced point guard who has started for Cal at UK. It did not help.

I am giddy with the talent but need to see the team play before I can talk about it being one of the elite teams. And the part of the 1 and done I hate is when a guy does not win a title or is not a top 5 pick and leaves without a title.

For me there is a little hollow feeling. I won't begrudge them at all. But to me there is unfinished business to consider.

With that said no one can win it every year. I sure hope that the talent, mental approach to the game, and the chemistry come together for another great, great year.

[UKHistory]

Larry,

To me any isolation you are getting from Cal is a regrettable negative. I can't defend, dismiss, or justify that decision. Any reason Cal could come up with for keeping you at arm's length is wrong.

As for Shep, who I have always really, really liked since he came to UK, I believe Shep's comments might prove to Cal why you keep certain people at arms length.


Larry I hate that for you, but I think I know who you can blame for the way cal treats the local writers...

[Darryl]

It is a bit ironic that Shep (a 5 year UK guy) is seemingly more loyal to his old coach than
to his alma mater. It would appear the one year guys care every bit about Kentucky as
he does.

Darryl

[dan_bgblue]

Darryl, I am not sure that all of the former UK players felt welcome at UK prior to Coach Calipari arrived on the scene. If that is truly the case, it would make sense "to me anyway" that former Pitino players gravitated more toward him than they did to UK. It has also been said, and I agree with it 100%, that Pitino tried his best to make everything that happened at UK during his tenure to be about him and not about UK. That attitude likely rubbed off on some of the players.

[Darryl]

Dan, Shep's coach left him to coach the Celtics and now is at hated UL. His reasoning seems odd.

Darryl

[ukpumacat]

Patrick was injured in 2008 and did not even travel with the team to the NCAA tournament. The 2014 team is comparable to the 2010 team in that no one has any real experience save for Polson.

Experience did not help with Wiltjer or Harrow. Harrow was the most experienced point guard who has started for Cal at UK. It did not help.



Thanks History, I had forgotten about PP being injured that year. 2010 was even worse than I thought.
And just to be clear...I am not talking about "experience". I am talking about "tourney experience". Big difference to me.
I just think there has to be a balance of both. Maybe 70/30 Talent to tourney experience...something like that. Last year's team was low on both.
This year's team is loaded with talent (which will take them far), but the tourney experience is non-existent.

[UKHistory]

ukpumacat,

Tournament experience I agree is critical. In fact the AAU curcuit with one meaningless game after another could hurt the focus of a team.

I felt great about our chances last year because of the 2011 Final Four.

For UK, next year is what it is. Is it just tournament experience or tournament success? The positive to me is that some national title teams have no real Final Four experience which is the most important characteristic.

Off the top of my head...

2008 Kansas, 1980 UofL, 97 Arizona, IU 87, Michingan 89, UConn 99, UCLA 95, Arkansas 94

We just have to play to win and stay focused.

[anderwt]

I don't think so, but I also don't think Shepp speaks for all the fans when saying they are tired of the OAD UK way..I see a lot of fans wearing 2012 NC and final four shirts..his comments sound like an argument I get into with IU and UL fans all the time..

[BarristerCat]

It is a bit ironic that Shep (a 5 year UK guy) is seemingly more loyal to his old coach than
to his alma mater. It would appear the one year guys care every bit about Kentucky as
he does.

Darryl

That's just the way it is with most all of Pitino's UK players. We've talked about it on here before. With a couple of notable exceptions, they are all loyal to Pitino over UK. Sheppard just proved to us that he is just another Pitino guy. I, for one, am glad to know it.

[DanISSELisdaman]

Is the sky falling or something??? IMO, we couldn't be in much better shape to win it all than we are this year. I wouldn't trade our team for any other in the country. With this bunch of kids, you will see toughness and maturity by March. They expect to win and I think they will do it big time.