Wildcat Basketball

I hope this guy comes to Rupp Arena. Maybe he can come to my Elementary PE class and teach how to do jumping jacks!

CJ Leslie and Quincy Miller Expected In Rupp This Weekend

Major Talent at LCA's Central Bank Classic in Lexington

Central Bank Classic at Lexington Christian with list of featured players

CJ Leslie's team 9-4, while he averages 24.4ppg

Quincy Miller leads Quality Education to Double OT win

Frosh Hicks headed to UK for game

The Georgia Bulldogs come into Rupp Arena for the 1st SEC game for Coach Cal and the Young Wildcats. If you have ever been in Rupp Arena for a SEC game you know there is a totally different vibe than an out of conference game. This is when the real season begins. Georgia comes into Rupp Arena with an 8-5 record and just beating their archrival Georgia Tech. Georgia, known for their football, likes to remind everyone about their football program, even when winning in basketball.



Since Kentucky has already beat Georgia in football, I am wondering why we have to play Georgia in basketball. If we beat the Bulldogs in football, then the basketball team should get an automatic 2 wins. They are automatic anyway, so I guess it will be a good time for Jon Hood to get some playing experience. Maybe Mark Krebs will finally shoot the 3 at the end of the game. He isn't going to get too many more chances!!

Adolph Rupp won instantly at Kentucky. The Wildcats went 30-5 in his first two seasons playing in the Southern Conference before joining the SEC. The Wildcats won the SEC's first title, in 1933, and ruled the conference under Rupp for four decades.







Adolph Rupp coached Kentucky to four national titles and set an NCAA record by winning 129 consecutive games at home.



Though college basketball was low scoring when he arrived at Kentucky, his fastbreak style quickened the tempo of the game. Kentucky became a national power in the 1940s. From 1943 to 1954, Rupp's teams won 10 SEC titles, three NCAAs and one NIT. The Baron of the Bluegrass, known for quick quips and quick teams, received little argument. He coached 42 years at Kentucky, winning 82 percent of his games, 27 Southeastern Conference titles and four NCAA championships. His overall record was 876-190. Four times he was chosen the national coach of the year.

John Calipari's has won instantly at Kentucky. The Wildcats are 15-0 in his first season at UK. The Wildcats are predicted to win the SEC title in 2010, and are expected to rule the decade. Though Kentucky was a mess when he arrived, the Dribble Drive Motion offense has quickened the tempo of the game. Kentucky has became a national power in the 2010s. Coach Cal, known for political type speeches and 1 and done players, has received little argument from his fanbase. His record speaks for itself. 460-140 in 17 seasons coaching NCAA basketball. Twice he has been chosen as Naismith College Coach of the Year.



Coach Cal's charisma is comparable to Rupp and has taken over the state with Big Blue Madness. Everyone knows the State of the Union speech that Coach Cal gave at the inaugural event.

John Calipari has already broken Coach Rupp's record for most wins to start a career at the University of Kentucky. He is 15-0 and climbing the National Rankings to where the Cats are #3 in the AP and Coaches Polls. The biggest thing that Calipari has done is that he has rejuvenated a fan base that was at it lowest point in history. He has gave swagger to a program that needed their swagger back.

Coach Rupp was swagger in his time. When Adolph Rupp, a 29-year-old high school coach, interviewed for the University of Kentucky job in 1930, he was asked why he should be hired. "Because I'm the best damned basketball coach in the nation," Rupp replied. I think think if John Calipari said the same statement during the interview process at Kentucky that no one could really argue him. After his 1st 15 games I don't see how anyone can still argue that point. Every media outlet that is talking about College Basketball right now is mentioning the University of Kentucky. We, as Big Blue Fans, owe this all to Coach Cal, the modern day Rupp.

Source

Before there was Coach Cal, there was Billy Clyde. In fact, the thought of hiring Calipari seemed too much of a risk. Many fans felt it he was trouble , just waiting to happen and we have some old forum post as a reminder.



Looking back on it now it seems that the Johan Calipari hire was a no brain-er. And it's hard to see anything wrong when your winning, but unfortunately those skeletons do live in our Coaches closet. It's just a question of whether we can keep them there! He's never been personally mentioned in any of the NCAA's reports regarding violations at both Massachusetts and Memphis. I also have to believe that the UK did a thorough job in researching these issues before making him an offer.

We ran across these old post on a discussion board and it's a reminder that we didn't always want Coach Cal and many fans still have concerns. Take a read through these statements for a little blast from the past.




http://web.archive.org/web/20071116075814/kentucky.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1383&tid=105682851&mid=105682851&sid=888&style=2

“Calipari would have brought us another ...probation!”

“He's a bigger ***** than Pitino, and hasn't done jack**** as much.”

“His offense is basically 5 guys playing a pickup game. They will shoot themselves out of any chance at a national title given the chance.”

“He certainly knows how to cheat the best”

“He will never win a National Championship because he has no control over his players.”

“We would have been on probation in a month. I hear they got crap on that guy feet deep.”

“If we had hired Calipari we would be on probation within 5 years.”

“I don't think cali and his team will cut any nets, maybe some throats, but no nets.”

“We'd be on probation the week after he got here.”

“There would be, however, always the lingering doubt that the late 1980s might happen all over again.”

“UK wasn't going to hire a coach with a past involving NCAA sanctions.”

“Support our coach, he is who you should be talking up, not some two-bit cheater.”

“I wouldn't want him at Kentucky. He is not high on my list of being trustworthy.”

“Calipari would have gotten us the death penalty.”

“If you like goal is to be on probation then Calipari would have been a great fit.


Do you think Calipari will lead to any NCAA voilations in the future?