Calipari told ESPN today...

[Ricky1Moore]

That he tells his players every year that the Conference Tournament "is just for seeding" and apologies that they even have to play in it... A few things...

For starters, I'm glad the BE Championship means something. Even when we have been the best team in the league / top 5 in country, and focusing on an NCAA championship, we have always valued our tournament championship.

Also, I like that our coach wants to win EVERY trophy, even though he's got everything Squid ever wanted, and then some

 

[TRest]

He's a and the SEC blows. Next.

 

[Ricky1Moore]

Thanks for your insightful commentary

 

[TheChamps990411]

That he tells his players every year that the Conference Tournament "is just for seeding" and apologies that they even have to play in it... A few things...

For starters, I'm glad the BE Championship means something. Even when we have been the best team in the league / top 5 in country, and focusing on an NCAA championship, we have always valued our tournament championship.

Also, I like that our coach wants to win EVERY trophy, even though he's got everything Squid ever wanted, and then some

and that is why hes never won anything and will continue to go without a title.

 

[61cygni]

Well, I think there's some truth there... the National Championship is the be-all and end-all of measuring sticks for basketball programs. Is the mindset of wanting to win every single game perhaps the hallmark of teams that win the whole thing? Probably. But for Calipari, he can go undefeated every regular season, win the SEC championship every year, and it won't mean a thing to the UK fanbase if he doesn't bring home the NCAA championship.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

SEC tournament title is worthless. BET is worth something. SEC blows so Kentucky has an easy path almost yearly.

 

[Ts5034]

When Uconn wins the Big East tournament its usually a sign of good things to come.

1990- Elite 8
1996- Sweet 16
1998- Elite 8
1999- NATIONAL CHAMPION
2002- Elite 8
2004- NATIONAL CHAMPION
2011- NATIONAL CHAMPION

It seems like winning the BET can provide a lot of momentum. Thats another reason why i had a feeling we would make a deep run last year.

 

[dogpause]

We definately could use a little momentum.

 

[djct1999]

Especially in a win or out scenario like march madness, i find it less and less likely that 18 year kids can simply flip on a switch after a poor showing. You could argue both sides I guess. Didnt Syraucse a few years back win 4 improbable games to win the big east tourney and make the dance, only to lose in round 1. Sounds to me like Calipari is trying to do some damage control, as if he feels his team is about to lose.

 

[UofCT]

Good move by a coach to tell his team that basketball games are worthless. Very NBA like

 

[Cassius Klaiber]

Kentucky has won the last 2 SEC tournaments. Perhaps he should begin telling his players that the NCAA tournament is worthless instead?

 

[traitor71]

"But my thing to you will be this: If we ever won a national title and no player was drafted, I would be excited for our fans, excited for our school and our program, but I’d be disappointed"

Really tells you all you need to know about where is mind is at.

 

[TheRogers]

"But my thing to you will be this: If we ever won a national title and no player was drafted, I would be excited for our fans, excited for our school and our program, but I’d be disappointed"

Really tells you all you need to know about where is mind is at.

It's typical self justification. He lessens the luster of an NCAA championship he has not achieved (good luck with that) and puts the spotlight on a milestone he has achieved.....recently (players getting drafted). Spoken like a coach who has not won it all.

 

[upstater]

"But my thing to you will be this: If we ever won a national title and no player was drafted, I would be excited for our fans, excited for our school and our program, but I’d be disappointed"

Really tells you all you need to know about where is mind is at.

I can't even wrap my mind around this. Kentucky is not just a farm team for the NBA. It's also a school. And a college basketball team. Huh?

 

[Rico444]

"But my thing to you will be this: If we ever won a national title and no player was drafted, I would be excited for our fans, excited for our school and our program, but I’d be disappointed"

Really tells you all you need to know about where is mind is at.

Agree or disagree with this all you want, but statements like this are a big part of why he's able to get so many great recruits.

Having World Wide Wes at your disposal doesn't hurt, either.

 

[ktuck911]

I really like the players on the Kentucky basketball team, but honestly, I don't like the way that team is constructed year in and year out... WITHOUT penalty? WTW? We get a 2013 Tourney ban for academic crap 10 years ago and Kentucky, year in and year out, brings in one and dones? or two and dones? Am I missing something? Yeah, it happens with maybe one player on a team, but Kentucky loses like 3 or 4 players (ALL UNDERCLASSMEN) a year it seems that go to the league.. and not reprimands? (smh)

 

[UCweCONN]

Winning the BE championship is nearly as difficult as winning a national championship. Teams are going to need to beat 3-4 ranked teams in 4 days to win it as opposed to four ranked teams (granted the last two against top teams) over a three week period.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Thanks for your insightful commentary

Actually, I thought he was spot on!

 

[freescooter]

That he tells his players every year that the Conference Tournament "is just for seeding" and apologies that they even have to play in it... A few things...

For starters, I'm glad the BE Championship means something. Even when we have been the best team in the league / top 5 in country, and focusing on an NCAA championship, we have always valued our tournament championship.

Also, I like that our coach wants to win EVERY trophy, even though he's got everything Squid ever wanted, and then some

Sad to say I agree with Calipari. What exactly does the Big East Tournament mean exactly? It is essentially a fund raiser for the conference and a money maker for ESPN. Nothing more. sdon't get me wrong, it often has very good exciting games, but in the Giant schme of the season it is usually no more important than winning the Hawaai tournament. You think Boeheim would trade his 2003 national Championship with BE Champ Pitt? It is usually an interesting and exciting event, I think the venue is the primary reason for that, but it is for seeding in the real tournament, and often even not for that.

 

[prankster]

Winning the BE championship is nearly as difficult as winning a national championship. Teams are going to need to beat 3-4 ranked teams in 4 days to win it as opposed to four ranked teams (granted the last two against top teams) over a three week period.

In a particular year (last year, for example) winning the BET is actually more difficult than winning the NCAA tourney....

 

[Kitaman]

Sad to think that people thing conference championships are worthless. I guess if you have National Championship pedigree then you may think so. But its about pride, recognition and bragging rights. In the BE you have (had) the best coaches in the land and some memorable moments.

It may not count for seeding but that's not the purpose, beating all teams (at least the ones you play) in your league in one week, is the goal. Nothing wrong with that.

btw: National Champs is a dream for most kids but Conference Champions is achievable for all. Its all about the kids.

 

[upstater]

Sad to say I agree with Calipari. What exactly does the Big East Tournament mean exactly? It is essentially a fund raiser for the conference and a money maker for ESPN. Nothing more. sdon't get me wrong, it often has very good exciting games, but in the Giant schme of the season it is usually no more important than winning the Hawaai tournament. You think Boeheim would trade his 2003 national Championship with BE Champ Pitt? It is usually an interesting and exciting event, I think the venue is the primary reason for that, but it is for seeding in the real tournament, and often even not for that.

What does the NCAA tourney mean? It's a fund raiser for the NCAA org and a money maker for TV.

 

[Ricky1Moore]

Sad to think that people thing conference championships are worthless. I guess if you have National Championship pedigree then you may think so. But its about pride, recognition and bragging rights. In the BE you have (had) the best coaches in the land and some memorable moments.

It may not count for seeding but that's not the purpose, beating all teams (at least the ones you play) in your league in one week, is the goal. Nothing wrong with that.

btw: National Champs is a dream for most kids but Conference Champions is achievable for all. Its all about the kids.

Yes, this is exactly the point. It is REALLY hard to win a National Championship, and oftentimes the "best team" doesn't even win just due to the tourney format. If you are trying to do right by your kids I think it is better to show them the value in a Reg Season Champ, Conf Tourney Champ, AND NCAA Champ...

 

[caw]

Sad to think that people thing conference championships are worthless. I guess if you have National Championship pedigree then you may think so. But its about pride, recognition and bragging rights. In the BE you have (had) the best coaches in the land and some memorable moments.

It may not count for seeding but that's not the purpose, beating all teams (at least the ones you play) in your league in one week, is the goal. Nothing wrong with that.

btw: National Champs is a dream for most kids but Conference Champions is achievable for all. Its all about the kids.

Exactly.

It's demeaning to other conferences and other teams in your conference to say it means nothing. Most of the time Conference Tournaments are the only way a lot of kids will get to play in the NCAAT and/or on TV. It's a big deal to the majority of programs. I like the fact JC has never stepped away from that as a goal, not the goal but at least 1 going into the season.

I don't understand why anyone would "apologize" for it. It should at the least be a fun time for the kids.

 

[freescooter]

The other problem with the Big East tournament, and all conference tournies for that matter, is that they make the regular season meaningless...who was the 2010 regular season big East Champ? and don't look it up? In fact for a few years, the big East didn't even recognize a regular season champion...And then there is the format...bizzarre...in what other tournament do you play 5 consecutive days while somebody else palys only 3 and others play 4? I like it as a spectator but I don't rank winning it as any more valuable than winning 3, 4 or 5 games during the season. In some ways UCONN has been the exception taking the Big East title and going on to win the national championship. For the most part, the Big East Champ has tended to flame out once the real event starts.