Comments on: Gregg Doyel: Don’t judge John Wall

By: Guy

Guy — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:00:28 +0000

Well first of all, we appreciate you voicing your thoughts. We would like to be a forum for all perspectives, thank you. Regarding John Wall, I am not dismissing the fact that he did something dumb and illegal. He’s being penalized for it and he should be. However, it’s my opinion that this is NOT a damning offense. For that reason, he should not be judged. If this is the first in a string of misdeeds, I will regret that, but I don’t think it will be. It’s also a fact that we are quick to dismiss this because we are UK fans. We probably would be all over another school for doing this…it’s all about perspective here. If Wall comes to UK, the schools that don’t get him will heckle and complain just like UK fans would if he were at UofL or anywhere else. That’s the nature of fanhood and I think singling out UK fans for this behavior is patently unfair.

As far as John Calipari the coach goes, all I know right now is that the first 37 or so days of his tenure could not have gone any better, so I think excitement on the part of UK fans is merited. As for the DDM, it’s still a relatively new offense and it has growing to do, and admittedly has struggled against zones. A big reason for these struggles, at least in my opinion, is the fact that Memphis never really had great shooters (hello Jodie Meeks). That needs to change at UK. Regarding your ‘quality defensive team’ point, neither UT nor Missouri are very good defensively. Yeah they force turnovers and pressure you, but they are not elite defensive clubs. UCLA is elite, and Memphis destroyed Ben Howland’s team in the national semifinals 78-63 in ’08.

By: nickev

nickev — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:53:58 +0000

@questionable – nice rant but you lost me at “quality defensive team, i.e. Tennessee”

By: questionable

questionable — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:43:36 +0000

Again, you have got to be kidding. Where is the parenting? Where are the standards? If that was your house you were trying to sell, build, etc., would you want anyone any that structure doing anything at all? NO! and for you to sit there and defend a kid or any person for that matter that breaks the law is ridiculous! Again, Kentucky fans over the top. When Brandon Rush went to KU with all his problems, UK fans were all over it. When Tyreke Evans went to Memphis, UK fans were on the band wagon of he is a horrible kid. And these are just a few. Give me a break. Obviously no I am not a Kentucky fan, Kansas fan or Memphis fan for that matter, but you Kentucky fans are worse than ND fans with Fat Man Charlie. John Calipari is a joke. Yes he can recruit, but can he coach… it’s been proven time and time again no. UAB, UTEP, Houston, and Tulsa as early as this last season all should have beaten Memphis when they shouldn’t have even been on the same court with a team as talented as Memphis fielded. For you all to sit here and think Calipari will be your savior is absolutely hilarious. Will he bring in recruits, more than likely, but will he be able to win consistently as he did at Memphis, absolutely not. He was assured at least a 1, 2 or 3 seed year in and year out in CUSA. In the SEC, this will not happen. Bruce Pearl of all people has his number, and I hate UT. 3 out of the last 4 years UT has beaten Memphis. Now Calipari not only has to play Bruce twice a year, but Billy D, Daren Horn, Trent Johnson and once Alabama can rebuild in a year or two, Anthony Grant. All of these men have done more with far less talent that Calipari has done. Yes, John Calipari made it to the Championship game two years ago, but what happened in that game? Oh yeh, out coached by Bill “I’m in Love with my”Self. Your real coach is John Robic and he won’t be much longer with Calipari as many people are starting to realize who is developing the defensive schemes.

Oh and when you UK fans finally get to see the DDM offense against a zone, be prepared to be in awe, of awfulness. It is simply a three man weave at the top of the key running a cutter through either the 2-1-2. 2-3 or match up zone. Come up against a quality defensive team, i.e. Tennessee, Missouri, or UCLA, and see what happens. Memphis simply outmanned and out gunned far inferior teams in CUSA and was healthy enough in the end to make deep runs inthe NCAA due to weak conference play and freedom from major injuries. Is that going to happen in the SEC? Hell no and all of you need a reality check. When the delusion is over, give me a call and tell me, yes you were right… Kentucky sucks