edited: my comments were too harsh I think. I hope future "Keightly Classics" will have better fields, but this year's team does need some tuneup games, no matter if they are a "classic" or not
I can't tell from the UK site if the Keightley Classic is an exempt event, but they say E. Michigan is co-hosting so I'd assume that means they play a game in Rupp or somewhere not against UK as part of it, like the UKIT. If so maybe they got it made exempt but I'm not aware of any that have pulled that off.
Certainly the Keightly Cupcake Classic can't be enough reason to skip Maui.
We're not skipping Maui to have the Keightley Classic, we're having the Keightley Classic in 2014 (if it becomes a yearly thing) because we're skipping Maui (and all other 3 games/3 days tourneys). We're skipping Maui because Coach Cal feels the format of those tournaments is not conducive to early development of his young teams and are therefore of little-to-no benefit to his players or the program.
UK flounder you do realize the keightly classic was this coming up year and the would of been Maui tournament would of been in 2014 right?
let me explain attaching the word classic. We got it sanctioned as a tournament so we could get in our 31 regular season games. its like a 4 for 1 deal. Dont ask me why you cant just schedule 31 regular season games without needing a tournament but its the NCAA, they dont use common sense.
by the way, we'll find that non conference schedule as a top 10 non conf schedule so we really didnt need to add another tough team to the Keightly Classic.
We're not skipping Maui to have the Keightley Classic, we're having the Keightley Classic in 2014 (if it becomes a yearly thing) because we're skipping Maui (and all other 3 games/3 days tourneys). We're skipping Maui because Coach Cal feels the format of those tournaments is not conducive to early development of his young teams and are therefore of little-to-no benefit to his players or the program.
I'm really surpised Cal has not addressed Maui with and article on his website.
UK flounder you do realize the keightly classic was this coming up year and the would of been Maui tournament would of been in 2014 right?
let me explain attaching the word classic. We got it sanctioned as a tournament so we could get in our 31 regular season games. its like a 4 for 1 deal. Dont ask me why you cant just schedule 31 regular season games without needing a tournament but its the NCAA, they dont use common sense.
by the way, we'll find that non conference schedule as a top 10 non conf schedule so we really didnt need to add another tough team to the Keightly Classic.
I would be suprised if UK put Keigthley's name on it only to have it for one season. I look for this to become a yearly event in his honor.
I'm really surpised Cal has not addressed Maui with and article on his website.
We may yet get one, but I get the feeling it will only further incense those that had a fit about turning down the invite when Cal practically implies that the opinions of less than 1% of UK fans don't amount to anything in this particular case. A sentiment with which I agree.
I'm disappointed about the Keightley Classic. The teams in it are not compelling at all, and it seems clear that will be a yearly thing, which means the days of UK playing in any good non-conference tournament are over. We'll still have single neutral site games most years, but no tournaments like Maui or Vegas or preseason NIT. That's extremely disappointing as those are great events for the team AND for fans. And they certainly didn't hurt a young team's development in Cal's first 3 years.
That said, for this year it's an extremely strong schedule. Home schedule isn't great, and I'd rather have a good home game than the Providence game, but this year's schedule over all is great. Very happy we have two games before MSU.
I wish I was more impressed, but I'm not. There is nothing of interest prior to the MSU game, nothing that is going to challenge the team. I'd like to see something with a bit more meat on the bone. However I will say its better than last year. At least those going to Rupp will have the benefit of seeing a couple good opponents in the house (UL, Boise St) but I'd like to see 1 or maybe two more "name" games.
I'm also not expecting the Keightley classic to hang on very long if the invitees are Robert Morris, TX - Arlington, Cleveland St and Eastern Michigan. Looks too much like the defunct UKIT renamed.
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