No press, no defense.
- Thread starter Kratz
- Start date
Oh please. If you're losing faith after 6 games maybe you shouldn't have had any before the season? We were right there at the end of both of these losses and even if we had won we would still have the same issues. It's going to take a bit of the season to find a identity and execute it successfully. I think we will know more in mid January. Will the guys be mentally strong and demand success or will they lay down if we're sitting at 10-6? Then we will know if Padgett can coach at this level.
Pitino can go f himself. At best his poor management of his staff and horrible hiring robbed these kids of a normal opportunity to be good or great. Rick just loves playing the victim but the real victims are these athletes.
We have a winner. The kids and the current staff have been put in a terrible spot. They are also having to deal with a pissed off fanbase. Who knows how this season will play out.
Hank, I sure hope you aren't thinking I'm taking up for Pitino. That isn't what I was saying at all. I'm only pointing out the kids themselves seem to be looking for leadership and the old man isn't there anymore. David Padgett is more of a victim here than Rick Pitino, and I'm 100% sure the kids are.
I know you aren’t defending Pitino. Leaving the game I was so pissed at what Rick has allowed to happen that I needed to comment somewhere on my thoughts on Pitino.
Ah, I understand. He's not one of my favorite people on the planet right now either.
Instead of leadership, it only appears that some guys are trying too hard. Snider started off slow and then hit a few shots and thought all of a sudden everything was back to normal. 1-7 from 3 pt? Spaulding and Anas can’t lead from the bench.
Yep, and a good leader would take control and not allow it. Got to talk to calm people down, and I don't see much talking going on.
Sweet baby jesus there are no “victims” in any of this. The players came to play basketball at UofL on scholarship, and they continue to do just that. Padgett is a guy who wants to be a basketball coach for a living - he got the keys to a top 5 program, a 600K raise, and a chance to show what he can do. What in any of that says “victim” to you all?
Can we please drop all of that stupid victim shit and just talk about whether this team played any effing good?
No, actually I will continue to talk about victim shit. The players came to compete for championships at UofL. Rick’s actions or lack thereof are most likely going to deny another group an opportunity to maximize their potential. There are multiple threads about specific play that I’ve chimed in on that you are more than welcome to add your thoughts to.
As for Padgett, he is not ready for this “opportunity “. It is unfortunate when someone is thrust into situation that they are mostly unprepared for. Taking a drink out of firehose isn’t always great for professional development.
We lack leadership on the court. Q isn’t a natural leader; to quite. During the game yesterday my wife asked who the captains were and when I told her Q she understood the issue. Not sure we have a leader in the upper class. Some guys just aren’t natural leaders nothing wrong with that, but we need one bad. As far as Ray and Anas they don’t finish because neither are naturally aggressive. Drives me crazy. Especially Anas.
Anyone that thought Padgett was going to miraculously become a HOF coach because he’s got a top 10 team was delusional. Which is why I’ll give him a pass. He’s not a victim but he’s not prepared either. Will see how he does in time. There’s going to be a learning curve and that’s just a fact. Will see how their playing in February. But I wouldn’t have high expectations and you may be pleasantly surprised. We can always hope.
Anyone that thought Padgett was going to miraculously become a HOF coach because he’s got a top 10 team was delusional. Which is why I’ll give him a pass. He’s not a victim but he’s not prepared either. Will see how he does in time. There’s going to be a learning curve and that’s just a fact. Will see how their playing in February. But I wouldn’t have high expectations and you may be pleasantly surprised. We can always hope.
Yeah, that's kind of where I'm at. But we really need to enjoy this season b/c it is going to REALLY go downhill quick after.
I was actually sad after that game yesterday. CDP is learning and I was really hoping his team would string together some wins early to get confidence heading into ACC play.
I’m not sure he has a top 10 team and I’m not basing it on what I have seen so far. I don’t think it was coincidental that Bowen just fell into our lap. CRP knew he needed another piece to the puzzle. Not sure why a lot of posters thought King would all of a sudden become the next DM in one season. The guy only thinks about one thing, scoring.
CDP is going to have issues bringing this team together as any coach would have. We have veteran players who think they are entitled to play but with RP gone, seem to think they don’t have to play defense anymore. The FR are talented but most importantly bring effort and hustle which is good but at what point does David start playing them more. He’s giving Anas, Spaulding, King and Snider every opportunity. Adel, both good and bad probably has to be out there but he’s not a leader.
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My take is this. It is early but I see several patterns developing that I don't like.
First and foremost, Q, Deng and VJ need to stop playing hero ball. The latter two are turnover machines anytime they dribble into traffic. Quit trying to force things.
Ray and Anas need to man up. If that requires keeping one of them on the bench while the other plays, so be it. I am seeing little or no effort from them when it comes to rebounding. Yes, a stockier player will bull you around in the post (Mike Lawhon brutalized me), but you have to be aggressive on the block out. Post players have to develop an attitude that every rebound is mine. That I am not seeing.
They are still competing for championships - If you don’t think that Padgett is the guy to take them there, then you need to direct some of your ire at the administration for installing a guy who’s not qualified. Though if you’re going to do that, basketball coach is about third down on the list of positions staffed by fire hose drinkers.
Those players that came here to further a potential career in basketball still have that opportunity. They will still play in the premier basketball conference, and will face elite competition 20 times or so this year, just as they would’ve if pitino was still here. In fact you could argue that based upon the season so far, the freshman have gotten more opportunities to compete than they would have under pitino.
Not every - actually most players who are drafted don’t actually play for a HOF coach believe it or not. Those guys that excel do so because they dedicate themselves to their craft and do twice as much individual work as mandatory stuff.
BTW - Padgett could’ve said no.
Zipp is rubbing off on you. If you don’t think these guys have been dealt a crummy hand, then I don’t know what to say. Padgett is not the guy to “take them there”. There weren’t any other viable options though, thus most of my ire is focused on the source of the issue.
I think it’s unfortunate that these guys have been put in a tough situation just like I felt bad for Trey and Damion.
Wow, that’s a low blow - lol. There’s no question the situation is far from optimal and isn’t of the player’s making but, that still doesn’t IMO make them - or any of them victims. I guess we just have a different definition of the word.
Everyone needs to chill about Padgett, Pitino, and where this team is headed. We know--or should have--where this team is headed. You don't lose a $6 million dollar coach, drop in a guy making a fraction of that, and clock along with no hiccups. You're LUCKY if there are just a few hiccups, and you were in denial believing otherwise. If you walked out of yesterday's game pi$$ed off, you were one of those river-in-Egypt guys. And your state of mind is on you and your lack of judgment, nobody else.
Who's responsible is another matter, and it's not all on Pitino. He was a primary player and deserves to be gone. He was NOT 100% responsible--that's oversimplified analysis. Worse yet is even AFTER his screw-ups, we could have still been in a better place than we are today.
Let's have that debate again if anyone wants. Me, I'm just gonna support Padgett and our players and hope for something unexpected. It won't be because these clowns made lemonade out of lemons...
Who's responsible is another matter, and it's not all on Pitino. He was a primary player and deserves to be gone. He was NOT 100% responsible--that's oversimplified analysis. Worse yet is even AFTER his screw-ups, we could have still been in a better place than we are today.
Let's have that debate again if anyone wants. Me, I'm just gonna support Padgett and our players and hope for something unexpected. It won't be because these clowns made lemonade out of lemons...
C'mon man, they might be experienced but there are a ton of weaknesses on this team too. We have exactly zero in the post. VJ was terrible on defense last year, he's actually a little better on d this year than last.. The team doesn't have a leader, and the most likely person to step up as a leader is probably one of the freshman, how crazy is that..
I like Padgett and fully support him. Hell ole Ricky has lost his share of games like this early on too. Be patient. Can you imagine the mindset of these kids ? They have been through the ringer. They went from having the coach they were used to with a 5 star player coming and being talked about as one of the best teams in the country this year, to losing the coach and the 5 star , and not knowing what the future had in store for them. Pretty big adjustment in a short period of time.
The team leader was Pitino. A new leader won't be crafted overnight.
According to KenPom adjusted D rankings, UofL is #12 defensively. THe adjusted O ranking is #57.
Clearly, defense isn't the team's biggest issue right now.
The argument can be made that the team has actually exceeded expectations up to this point in the season.
According to KenPom adjusted D rankings, UofL is #12 defensively. THe adjusted O ranking is #57.
Clearly, defense isn't the team's biggest issue right now.
The argument can be made that the team has actually exceeded expectations up to this point in the season.
