TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: Cal says Cat's not ready to be compared to other great teams

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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-19-2014, 10:30 AM:

He is smart and will not let this team get over confident.

When asked what he thought to coaches like Roy Williams, Rick Pitino, Larry Brown and others comparing UK to the best college basketball teams ever, Calipari joked Thursday he thought the question was comparing him to the best all-time coaches.

“I understand that’s not going to be said,” he joked.

But he also noted that his team has no place in the all-time best team discussion 11 games into the season.

“I think when you start talking about some of the teams, that we’re the great teams, they had Hall of Fame players on them. We have yet to prove where we are in that regard,” Calipari said. “I think we’re a terrific team. I think what we’ve been doing to keep reinforcements coming has made us even better and made it even easier for each guy to perform at a high level.

“Let this season play out before they talk in terms of those teams. Because, again, some of them had three Hall of Famers on their team. Their college team had three. To compare us to those teams, come on.”

He said he didn’t know if coaches might be trying to add pressure to his team.

“Maybe they’re looking at us compared to the other college teams the last couple years. I don’t know,” the UK coach said.

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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-19-2014, 10:49 AM:

It isn't easy getting your team ready for all the teams the Cats play as you can bet all of the coachs we face are staying up nights thinking of ways to beat the Cats. These coach's didn't get their jobs by not being awfully good at what they do and they all have the experience of playing very good teams.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-19-2014, 08:35 PM:

THe great thing about this team, unlike some great teams is depth. These guys battle everyday. Fighting hard against some of the best talent in the country day in and day out makes you tougher.
When you face a different opponent the game ends up being easier because you've worked every day against the best!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-19-2014, 09:20 PM:

Deepest team I can remember that's for sure.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-19-2014, 09:22 PM:

Cal is doing his darndest to keep the boys focused on the next opponent. The hardest thing to do is keep them from reading the press clippings, internet, facebook, Twitter

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-19-2014, 09:28 PM:

I think this team is smart enough to know that if they don't work hard bad things can happen. The coachs are on them every single day and if they ever lose (which may never happen) it won't be because the didn't give it their all.

[ 12-19-2014, 09:29 PM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-19-2014, 09:50 PM:

These guys are awfully young. I'm sure Willie is doing his best to help lead these guys and not let themselves get too over confident!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-19-2014, 09:59 PM:

At some point freshmen become sophomores and with the schedule we play it doesn't take long before they get to the point where they get used to playing big games away from home. The other thing that helps is all our players have traveled a lot playing basketball on summer league teams playing the best talent in the country. Things have changed for the younger players of today especially the highly recruited ones like we get are ready to go by the time they come to Kentucky.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-19-2014, 10:05 PM:

They are 11 games into their 1st season and haven't faced an opponent yet on their (the opponents home) floor!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-19-2014, 10:24 PM:

imo I don't think that is a good thing to do especially for freshmen as they should have the opportunity to play games with a hostile environment as when it's conference time we play half our games on the road against hostile fans. I would think it would at least help some to play teams at hostile environments before conference play.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-20-2014, 07:21 AM:

I guess in one week we'll see how they react to hostile environment!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-20-2014, 11:06 AM:

The Yum center is definitely a hostile environment and if we can go in there and win we can play anywhere.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-20-2014, 11:07 AM:

Our young Cats will be called names that they didn't know existed. [Wink]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-20-2014, 01:42 PM:

Yeah, but they better save the Thug name for some of their own players. IE.... Harrell

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-20-2014, 01:45 PM:

Harrell is a bad dude.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-20-2014, 02:07 PM:

He'll be a mad dude when he faces talent of his equivalent in that game next Saturday too!

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-20-2014, 02:13 PM:

I'm not sure our boys are ready to be compared to GREAT TEAMS yet either. I have to see their entire body of work. The whole season before I'm ready to label them!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-20-2014, 02:13 PM:

I don't think he will be messing around with any of our bigs. I just wish Pothress could have guarded him.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-20-2014, 02:14 PM:

You get Poy mad and not much would be left of Harrell.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-20-2014, 02:37 PM:

Montrez has some size on Poy!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-20-2014, 02:52 PM:

Both Poy and Harrell are listed at 6-8..

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-20-2014, 03:21 PM:

Yeah, but what do they go weight wise?

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 12-20-2014, 03:25 PM:

Poy 238 Harrell 240 and Poy is quicker and stronger imo