John Calipari faces major backlash as Kentucky suffers 26-point loss at Alabama
John Calipari is facing growing backlash from the vaunted Big Blue Nation at Kentucky following a 26-point loss at Alabama on Saturday, as the Wildcats suffered their 5th loss of the season.
Several of Kentucky’s top players struggled, and Jacob Toppin didn’t finish the game with a reported injury. Oscar Tshiebwe, Cason Wallace and Toppin combined for 9 points. In the 78-52 decision, Kentucky shot 28.8% from the field, 25% from 3 and 62.5% from the line.
While Kentucky struggled, Alabama had just about everything go right, as the Crimson Tide shot 66.7% to start the second half, and at one point was 4-for-4 from 3-point range to build the lead to 29 points on Kentucky.
According to ESPN Stats and Info, this was the program’s biggest loss in series history. The Wildcats’ 52 points tie the fewest scored in a game since John Calipari took over in 2009.
Here’s a sample of the reaction:
I’m eating raw cookie dough pretending this doesn’t exist
— Anna Maria Tarullo (@tarullotweets) January 7, 2023
It goes without saying that Kentucky basketball should never be in this position. Calipari has overseen a tremendous decline. But the AD should have never enshrined this 100% false idea that one man was ever bigger than the program in a contract that takes away your control.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) January 7, 2023
Bottom line…this is on Calipari. This team should be good. And it’s been not only underachieving, it’s been embarrassing against good teams
There is no one else to blame
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) January 7, 2023
Jimbo Calipari pic.twitter.com/zUbRS0uD6W
— Norman Crow (@NCrow23) January 7, 2023
Jimmy Dykes (who loves UK and Calipari) just said “Even when they score it looks like an accident”
There just isn’t much else to say
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) January 7, 2023
John Calipari’s fall off is wild. pic.twitter.com/3aHE93H3zM
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) January 7, 2023
I’m one Kentucky Wildcat fan that is ready for Calipari to become a Ambassador of UK or whatever the administration has planned for him.
— Richard L. Locke (@RichardLLocke1) January 7, 2023
Does Calipari ever take accountability for anything? It’s always about some way the players came up short. That’s absolutely terrible.
— Sean Vinsel (@HoopsInsight) January 7, 2023
Need to add this to Calipari’s reading list. pic.twitter.com/TlGRs1wMA9
— Larosa (@JLarosa024) January 7, 2023
Time for Cal to leave. He will probably take the Texas job. It seems like he has given up on KY and no offensive strategy whatsoever
What makes you think Texas wants Cal?
This team may just be uncoachable. Think about it. Every player is making more money than he has ever made (in his life) and for what – showing up. They won’t start playing until they get hungry. When they see the gravy train coming to an end they’re going to say, “what – who me”? Then it will be too late.
Your absolutely right!! Rjohn they are not playing with the passion that there opponents are playing with. It’s like there doing there on thing.
Not trolling, but for future use.
There- basically a location. They went there for coffee.
Their- possession. They went in their car.
They’re. They are. They’re going for coffee.
Your. Possession. Is that your car.
You’re. You are. You’re going to get this.
Enjoy.
Waste of time..your loosing valuable minutes of you’re live.
I’m retired. I enjoy helping others. Hopefully he takes it with that in mind.
So you saying you don’t have a life? No hobbies bat all. Must be a terrible life to be old and want to argue with someone all the time! They beat LSU
Well darn. Sat was right. If someone makes the choice to be an idiot, so be it.
Cal for sure deserves some blame but what is he suppose do go in game and make shots for these guys. Lots and lots of open shots missed. Lots of missed free throws. Can’t blame it all on him. He puts these guys in position to score and tells them what to do on defense side but it’s simple they not listening to him. When they out of Rupp they are terrible and that has nothing do with Cal. These kids are just not as talented as everyone thinks they are. Love Big O but even he is limited to what he can do . When he goes against real athletic bigs he struggles. Same with Toppin. And the couple so called snipers looked good playing at mid majors and Iowa but now playing in probably best conference in the country. Nothing is easy no more. I blame Cal for one thing . Assembling this team. All the UK fans and media blaming Cal is doing nothing but hurting the program because eventually next years recruits are going to start believing and looking elsewhere. This season in my eyes is over and most of these kids will be gone and it will be time to rebuild the brand with what Cal knows one and dones. UK will be back under Cal just not none of the current players.
Cal has been rebuilding or whatever you want to call it since 2015, and each year gets worse.
Hope you connect with LSUSMC someday Tnaylor. They is hep fir whut ur tryn ta tel us.
Nice. That actually made me laugh out loud.
Jimmy Dykes was alluding that UK fans don’t understand basketball because they think Kentucky plays poor offensively under Cal. I wonder if after watching that debacle he gives BBN any more credit. Hey Jimmy did you see the shooting percentages, do you not know UK fans can read nowadays?
We just need Cats64 to come in and cup John Calipari’s balls and remind us all that it isn’t his fault.
Recruiting the top classes for over a decade with only one championship and getting beat in the first round of the tourney is never the coach’s fault, right? It’s all these players not wanting to win. It’s not a coach’s job to prepare the players mentally, is it? When even Matt Jones is complaining about Cal that’s just a fluke, right? Oh no, everything will be fine, “Cal will have them ready in March when it counts.” We’re all happy with an elite 8 appearance every 4-5 years, aren’t we?
Cal thinks it’s ok for him to scream and shout all the time, well the UK fans are shouting back now. Time for him to go
You only one need to go wouldn’t know basketball if it hit you in the head
Calipari is getting everything that he deserves.
And sadly, I just don’t really care anymore. I barely recognize the players from season to season. And the ones that stick around for more than one year are deemed as abject failures for not making the one and done leap. There are truly a handful of players that are really ready for the NBA after one season in college. But yet Cal pushes them out the door as quickly as he can and loves to cite how many Kentucky Wildcats are in the NBA. I mean I’m happy for them, but I’m beyond caring. Let’s put the focus back on the program and not solely about “players first”. Cal is either unable or unwilling to look in the mirror and see what he can adjust. Granted, he can’t make the shots, but he can run an actual offense that gets guys the looks that are in rhythm. He can coach help side defense. He can call an out of bounds play. He can call a time out. So see.. there is lots that he CAN do but for some reason he likes to scream on the sidelines like a toddler.
Bama had multiple instances coming out of a timeout where somebody had an open dunk or layup. See what that can do??