Kentucky Basketball: The Long Night Ends, the Blue/White Dawn Breaks

Now the only door watching will be to see which players exit the program in the next few weeks…

Its interesting, this morning on Mike and Mike they read an article from the Courier-Journal from Rick Bozich opining that he wanted Izzo two years ago and he still thinks Izzo was the man for the job this time. Mike Greenberg then went on to say that he was confused because everywhere else he turned it was positive commentary. I chalk it up to just a guy in Louisville trying to sell newspapers, but its still disheartening to see it the very day that the man is going to be introduced.

On the national level, the very same Mike Wilbon who just two weeks ago said he hopes UK never wins another game said on Monday that Calipari will have Kentucky playing for national titles in two years.

Its interesting how fast the winds of change can move.

This is going to be a time like no other at Kentucky. Take a personality like Calipari… add in ESPN picking up the contract for SEC games… voila instant hype machine!

Well, at those odds, I feel really comfortable chicken-counting. :-)

how the whole pursuit unfolded. All the talk of Donovan then the 180 turn and Calipari being sought. I don’t think it will shoe to be a “home run” by Mitch. I’d bet Mitch was pursuing the “safe” hire of Donovan then others took over and got Cal.

Yes, I still have a problem with Mitch.

with bitch burnfart. :)

Everyone is right, Tru can write with the best of them

As I read your post this morning I am moved to happy tears. Happy tears dangit. I did not want this hire three days ago. But as I saw all of us getting into it, I changed my mind. For over a week now, I said on my byline “I don’t care who is coach as long as Kentucky is Kentucky”, that wasn’t about wins……….it was about this stuff. The community and the love that I grew up with in Kentucky. The excitement of Kentucky basketbal uniting the fanbase. Last night I changed my byline. I am so proud of this fanbase. We so needed this. There are many other things I am happy about with Cal that has surpised me over the past few days but I will go over that later. Thanks for the great post.

….but there is limited info on privately owned air strips…..WELCOME to Kentucky!

everyone…….we don’t know ALL the facts surrounding the last two years. He made a great hire yesterday and I am very proud of him right now. I have accused him before of not caring enough about the bball program at UK while trying to raise every other sport at UK up. I gladly say now………that is not the case.

has a live stream for the Coach Cal press conference as well.

… has been broken.

I can’t get the press conference at work

I got it

http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=kty&media=111914

Bobby Perry sighting, upper left!

It’s just not the same, though.

I love Les.

the stream from CBS?

MyFoxMemphis and WKYT

… missed the press conference talking to a client about, of all things, blogging!

… In Louisville.

quite literally his whole family is there

Everywhere I go for live audio or video, buffering or loading

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Wont shut up so I can hear what they are saying!

Somebody is wrong, either John Scott or them. :-)

… zeroed in on UK as well.

Cool.

I AM SHOCKED!!!

… smart.

among the first mentions by mitch

1530 in Cincinnati finally went to it after Mitch was talking………

C. Trent Rosencrans is a fat pig on that station, and a UK hater

welcome to the BIG BLUE NATION coach Calipari.

The rest from other sources.

— Barnhart.

YESSSSS

let him talk.

—Barnhart.

how our boys are feeling right now

— Barnhart.

… he has there.

—Calipari.

he just HAD TO GO THERE………..Mrs Keightly……..oh gosh……..tears are flowing

Talking about Mr. Bill Keightly. Classy.

… talked to Sutton, Hall, Pitino and Tubby Smith, as well as Kyle Macy.

is as smooth as they come.

… spoke to Rex, Nazi, Tayshaun and others.

…“The Sun Shines Bright….”

this guy loves UK…………WOW! I think he truly gets it!!!!!!

… when he was here, and that’s what sold him on UK.

Said leaving Memphis was hard, not coming here.

but the frenzy may increase. This guy is sooooo smooth. Nice presence.

Heh.

That has been a criticism.

“if you want something to happen in a year, don’t hire me”

Hmmm. Someone else said that – I believe.

Oh wait, what….

… of people with terminal goose bumps.

Doesn’t make a lot of promises as a basketball coach. Makes commitments, and makes commitments to players first.

staff, players, Commonwealth.

No wonder he gets all the recruits

Everything working together to get it done.

Wants to create an environment that fosters discipline. On and off the court accountability. Wants to make Commonwealth proud by performance on, and integrity off.

That’s why he wants to be here. It was hard to leave Memphis.

Looks like the cat that ate the canary

“There will be no bigger cheerleader for this place than me.”

Janice………he did NOT say he wasn’t leaving Memphis…..he said he is “happy” in Memphis.

Deflects it with humor.

Told the team on Sunday he would talk to UK. Says it was a dream of his. Asked players how many of them had dreams to play in the NBA. This was his dream.

Told players individually and in person yesterday. Was emotional, one upset, but they understood because they were “a family.” Did he plan on it? No. But if he passed on it, he would have regretted it.

Feels obligation to do so.

DID YOU CHASE THAT GUY?

But makes a joke of it.

When he was hired by Umass, without Pitino’s support, he would not have been hired.

thanks for the comments!

Says he will get along fine with Rick Pitino. Praises his work.

But that’s what you buy into when you come here. Says won’t make promises, but will run a program that we will be proud of. Told players he wants them to have fun. Says if he has done his job, that’s what you will see.

Knows Jodie “scored a ton,” but doesn’t know that much about the team. Excited about opportunity, and his job is helping them reach their dreams. Program is about them.

… Ritchie Farmer mentioned. Said Commonwealth takes care of its own.

is my new Hero. This guy is so good in front of the camera. Not to make a Dig, but BCG needs to pay attention.

How does he feel about being second-guessed?

The final four championship game where decisions he made were questioned by everybody. If you foul and you win you are a genius. If it doesn’t work, why did you do it?

It used to bother him. Not anymore. He has gotten older and wiser. Doesn’t mind being questioned. Can’t get on a computer so knows crap about them. Will respond to all mail with a return address. Doesn’t listen to talk shows. Said he was wrong once – 1978. :-)

how he seems to be honest with us……not just blowing sunshine up our rears

Calipari says he will implement it here. Says it unleashes players. Told team “if you can’t play, come see me — you are in the wrong place.”

… We will make mistakes early, make turnovers, quick threes, etc.

Says kids watch it, and want to play that way.

find out who on the team wants to do it. The key to winning: 1) have really good players 2) same as 1 3) same as 1 and 2.

He can recruit the best of the best. We want those guys.

Said he would meet individually with players. Changing culture is not easy. Asks to bear with him when he stubs his toe. Does not know people he should know.

…then come for REAL!!

its bad news for any of our players……..he just wants them to be teachable

Has not spent much time on any of that. Says at the beginning of next year with 12-13 guys on scholarships. Wants all players who signed with Memphis to go to Memphis.

Told some of Memphis players that it’s good that he left. Some of them weren’t getting the PT that they may get under others.

Can’t call any players signed with Memphis. Violation of NCAA rules.

… Had calls from every league wanting to come to Memphis.

All coaches recruit everybody, because it creates conflict.

Ultimately, he did not answer the question, though.

… he wouldn’t have accepted if he couldn’t make a difference. Says basketball program at Memphis brings everyone together. He felt he could make a difference there, and that’s why he went.

Talks about his foundation for kids in Memphis. Hopes he can make a difference here, but doesn’t know the community yet.

Said yes, but not if it would take a lot of time. Mike Pratt was at the meeting. Had things in common with Mike. From that meeting, it went fast. Everyone did due diligence, including him.

“What you find out when you look deep, this is the right place when you’re trying to win national titles …”

Felt really comfortable, and does not throw kids under the bus at the first sign of trouble.

… got thrown off the team permanently. Came back a changed man. Let him back on the team, and said it wasn’t popular, but it was right. Hunt graduated from Memphis and now plays in Europe.

Says this program is big, but not bigger than the kids.

Says he doesn’t know yet. Will watch and see, and then will be honest with him. If they are good enough, OK, if not, he will tell them the truth. Says UK will not be for every player in this country, or in this state.

UK is the biggest game on any team’s schedule. He said he lived that at Memphis, and knows what it takes to deal with it.

Says he gave everything he had in that community and to the team for nine years, and hope they respect that UK was a dream for him and his family. Says it was easy to want to be here, but hard to leave Memphis. Hopes they will see he made the place better. Will talk more about that later.

I gotta work.

sayanara Harrellson.

…just to chat…..more free PR

but I would like to know what the Kentucky players say…someone please update

want to say this……..Memphis is NOT Kentucky and I know that but yall need to realize that in the city of Memphis its the same as in the state of Kentucky. So he was being very honest there. He will feel things on a much larger scale but he knows passionate fan bases.

Slick John rolled into town and charmed the socks off of the media and those watching.

on ESPN NEWS

just isn’t strong enough. I’m totally won over now. Took a few jabs to win the audience “yes, we’ll play zone”, etc. but overall a great start.

The had part begins.

on WKYT NOW!

says that Billy’s downfall was throwing the players under the bus……..said that Rupp did that too though. He said that today’s players don’t like that.

His style may not be a good fit for everybody.