Pitino Apologizes

by bdub13 on Dec 1, 2008 12:02 PM EST Comment 16 comments

Sorry fans you deserve better.

Before victory is achieved, you earn it through practice. We had five practices to get ready for WKU. WKU, a dedicated group of young men who play with great purpose. Although we had only five practices, only one deserved victory. That’s a shame. Was it the arrogance of mild success? Or the ugly side of ego coming into play? In the twelve step alcohol and drug program ego is described as edging God out. In sports, ego is edging greatness out.

Our offense was to create ball movement and attack inside. Keep our challenged shots under five. We were 0-12 on challenged shots and our assist total was 8. I’ve had disappointing losses but none more disappointing than this one. Lets not take a single thing away from a better team that night. Western played with great purpose. There 1,2, and 3 men totaled 27 rebounds. Four of our guards Andre, Will, Edgar and Jerry totaled 61 minutes and grabbed 0 rebounds.

Defensively, our press could not be much of a factor due to our absurd 26.8% shooting percentage. Our 24 deflections total did not help either. Our bigs did a poor job of blitzing the pick and role allowing WKU to shoot 50.0% in the second half.

We also knew that the two Kentucky players would bring a great deal of emotion and talent to the table. And they did in a big way.

Pettigrew 17pts 12reb

Slaughter 25pts 9reb

They beat us 48-36 on the glass. Without question that is our most glaring weakness. The only real rebounder is T-Will. We must collectively do something about this weakness.

In other seasons we could point to injuries or suspensions early on which led to our demise. Now it is very simple. Practice habits create a winning formula. We did not earn the victory. WKU earned that one. They should be congratulated. Very few players can practice without purpose or intensity and suddenly bring it game night. Although Iverson maybe the exception from what is rumored. But then again his record since joining the Pistons is 6-6 and there are no Allen Iversons walking through the YUM! Center.

We will improve our practice habits immediately. We have not sustained our intensity on a consistent basis. That all changes today. We apologize to the fans who paid hard earned money and had to witness such poor execution.

We need you in Cincinnati. The SEC/BIG EAST Challenge is a big game for us. We have only sold 1,000 tickets. Your support is much needed and appreciated!

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A plus for a well written and honest summation

A negative for the lame techno music.

by Blocky on Dec 1, 2008 12:59 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Pitino

will get these guys in line. It’s hard to add so many new players and get the chemistry right. I don’t think this will happen again. Too much Jive turkey.

by DANCARD on Dec 1, 2008 2:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Classic Coach P

Aside from his winning tradition, it is posts and statements like these that keep the fans behind Rick and the Cards and calling for Koach’s head. Rick needs to sit down with Krag and give him a lesson in PR.

by LankySteve on Dec 1, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just a very intelligent post from a mature man on reality

that game was an embarrassment

and I’m glad he’s acknowledging it so openly.

Now, please do something about it, Rick.

by frankpos on Dec 1, 2008 3:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

College basketball is a game of emotion

The fiasco in Nashville — and Western’s sterling effort — certainly proved that. Since I’m an old man, I can remember attending a practice or two when Rodney, Scooter and Derek Smith were wearing the Cardinal uniform. These guys were warriors. So was Charles Jones and a few others from the past. Someone would probably do the current group a favor by playing a tape or two showing the intensity of these former Cards. Oh, we could through the Ellis Myles, Larry O’bannon team into the mix, too. Perhaps some examples on the screen — along with the sterling voice of Coach Pitino — would open the eyes of a few of our players.

Intensity, please.

theoldman

by theoldman on Dec 1, 2008 3:17 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Pretty much hit the nail on the head

He clearly outlined everything that went wrong with the game. The players still could have pulled it out if they wanted to, but they didn’t want it as much as WKU.

And hey, that’s not totally bash them. There are plenty of things that I don’t feel like doing all the time, and I half-@$$ them too. You have your good days and your bad days, and yesterday was a bad day. They just need to learn now.

I can guarantee that practice for the next week will be rough.

by CARD_G6 on Dec 1, 2008 3:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

hate to say it again

…but we were way waaay overrated in the preseason. Too much youth and headcases at key positions, C and PG.
I remember saying the same thing on CC a couple weeks ago and someone on here said I wasn’t a true hardcore UL fan (read:homer)…I honestly expected UL to lose to a team like this before January…didn’t think it would be WKU though.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Dec 1, 2008 3:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wasn’t as enamoured with this team as everyone else. The team is talented but soft and there’s a leadership vacuum.

Sosa and T-Will are head cases and will never provide consistent leadership. Earl is soft, plain and simple. He simply has to get more aggressive and I don’t think he ever will. McGee is a back up. He’s a solid but not flashy player that has a role. Jerry is probably the best all around player we have. Samardo is a freshman, and doesn’t rebound very well. Goode is also effectively a freshman. We still lack a shooter that consistently scares opposing teams. Jerry could be that player but gets cold from time to time. We still can’t shoot free throws and we still lack leadership from the PG position that we won’t have until next year when Siva gets here.

I just think T-Will’s personality influences the team too much. He’s the team leader whether he should be or not. He’s a quirky, free spirit that is erratic at times. No wonder Pitino said the team lacks focus right now.

Basically this team misses David Padgett.

by JMC1 on Dec 1, 2008 6:10 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I think I agree with your assessment of the players, but weren’t these the same guys that led us to a second place finish in the Big East and an Elite Eight tourney run? I know Padgett was important, but in no way was he single-handedly responsible for our success last year. That’s what I have trouble with. It’s not like these guys aren’t capable, they’re just not living up to their potential every night.

by centrecard on Dec 2, 2008 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Never under estimate the importance of calm, consistent leadership.

by JMC1 on Dec 2, 2008 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Man to Man

Can someone please explain to me why we were playing man-to-man defense? It looked awful.

by Quinn1979 on Dec 1, 2008 7:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pitino shows class...

I hope he runs them to death – well, not really. Still say it could turn out to be a blessing because now he really has their attention. Got to love our Coach. We’ll be back – I was surprised we dropped ONLY to #11. Personally, I’m more comfortable there than at #3. Go CARDS !

by Linda on Dec 1, 2008 11:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Will Pitino ever run a half-court offense?

I appreciate him apologizing for the loss, but it looks like he could use an editor. Perhaps Forde could proof-read all of his blog entries. Commas do exist, Rick!

We’re 42 points worse than Murray State right now. Not good. But if there’s anything I’ve learned in the Pitino era, it’s a waste of time to get concerned this early. The man just needs to learn how to draw up a half-court offense. The same motion offense is so predictable. If Pitino’s teams aren’t either creating turnovers or hitting outside shots, you can forget about winning.

by centrecard on Dec 2, 2008 11:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ugh...

I didn’t get to see that game here in the frozen tundra of central Ohio. But the results have me bummed. When OSU football fans here chide me about Kragthorpe I’ve been telling them that I didn’t know what they’re talking about as basketball season hasn’t started. And now this.

I know, I know… Pitino and company will rebound nicely and likely to make yet another Final Four run, but dropping from #3 to #11 (Coaches poll) is NOT what I needed right now.

"There is no OFF position to the genius switch" - D. Letterman

by GrogInOhio on Dec 2, 2008 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It was supposed to be different

The Courier Journal had a good editorial today that states it was supposed to be different. The writer says this season is pretty mch like the last ones but I have to agree with his opinion on how we loose so bad in the months of Novevember and December but every year I could care less if we win in those months. Pitino is a teacher and by Jan And Feb they will be ready and experienced so fans shouldnt be upset for our losses in those months.

James H Davis

by harley4950 on Dec 2, 2008 10:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Amen....

as those of us who are long of tooth remember…..Denny Crum was like that too. He didn’t worry about style points at the beginning of any season but man oh man did he always have us ready when it counted…..remember, Coach P says when he was young he watched U of L and loved Denny’s style of play. It sure shows now. WKU loss or not, we have every reason to be pumped this season. Go CARDS!

by Linda on Dec 3, 2008 9:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs