The House of Blue

Someone please explain something to me. Cal keeps complaining about some players not playing hard and doing what needs to be done to win or be team players. Jon Hood comes in and plays 4 minutes for the game and is more productive in that short time span then Poythress, Harrow, and Wiltjer are for the entire game. Then you add in the fact that Goodwin continues to make the same bone headed mistakes he was making at the beginning of the season and only playing for his own stats, yet still is rewarded for it with playing time. What is the motivation? Play hard and be productive and get 4 minutes? If players are not giving the effort and are not doing what you tell them to do then send them to the bench. I know that there is no bench(which is also Cal's fault), but get their attention and put walk ons out there in their place. Sure you will lose, but what is the difference? Perhaps it may motivate some of these guys. This should have been done a long time ago. There is no better motivator than the bench.

As for my bench comment, Cal has sort of set this scenario up by not recruiting any players that will stay in school and can be develped and depended upon to give stability when the others go pro. I am not saying that he should not get the best players. All I am saying is that there needs to also be some scholarships given to players like the Harrelsons, Millers, Liggins, Hayes, Fords, Pelphreys, Woods, etc.. Those guys define your program and provide leadership. Had this been done, you would not be depending on wasting a scholarship on players like Mays and Harrow.

Now before you all start jumping all over me for questioning Cal, I am not saying he is a bad coach or that he should be fired or anything like that. All I am saying is that there is no reason that we should be on the brink of missing the tournament. I think Cal needs to perhaps rethink a few things and look at the long term. I dont expect a championship every year. All I want is a team that plays hard. I dont see where Cal is building for the long term of the program. To be consistent you cant try to rebuild your roster every year.

"The coach came into this season having recorded seven consecutive seasons with at least 29 victories, advancing to at least the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in six of those campaigns, the Sweet 16 in the other. "

This.......^^^ One bad season in the last 8, which included a championship??? Are you kidding me? I will take an occasional bad season, it does not diminish the coaching skill and recruiting prowness that Calapari demonstrates year in, year out. So you guys just cool it, and chalk this year up to an aberration. Cal knows what he is doing in running this program and I would not trade him for any other coach in America.