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Coach Cal: ‘Don’t expect things to change overnight’

Boise State v Kentucky

of the Kentucky Wildcats during the game against the Boise State Broncos at Rupp Arena on December 10, 2013 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Andy Lyons

I wrote two columns off of Kentucky’s loss to North Carolina, so I don’t think there is really anything else for me to say on the subject.

Others had plenty to say, however, and one of the most common responses I got from the good folks of twitter on the subject had to do with Coach Cal and his job status.

In other words, there are some Kentucky fans that think the last year and change should mean that Coach Cal should be fired.

Seriously.

That doesn’t necessarily surprise me, but it did spur Coach Cal to post a statement on CoachCal.com that included the following passage:

[D]on’t expect things to change overnight. This is going to be a yearlong process. Yes, I want to win every game I coach, but our ultimate goal is to be in that conversation at the end of the year. I know we have to be more organized, our mission has to be clearer to the players, and I have to be less emotional during the game because we’ve got a bunch of young kids. I can’t put winning before their growth.

This is about getting these players to think a different way, to think about serving each other. [...] What they accomplish as a group supersedes everything. As our team succeeds, individuals benefit. Just look what that approach did for Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. That’s what I’m trying to get these guys to understand, but the fact of the matter is not everyone is on the same timetable.


He’s right.

That 2012 team was special.

That doesn’t mean this group can’t contend, but Cal’s job isn’t going to be as easy this year.

Follow @robdauster