Former Kentucky guard Derek Anderson has been a fan favorite of Wildcats fans since he helped UK win the national championship in 1996, but his comments on Louisville radio this week may turn some Kentucky fans against him.


Anderson appeared on ESPN 680 in Louisville, and his interview started out nicely enough - talking about the Kentucky Derby, his foundation, a movie project, how Rick Pitino has changed since he was his coach at UK and other topics.


Then, came the friendly fire.


"If Coach Cal wanted to keep these kids and develop them, he should tell them that. He’s just running them in and out. ... Like Dakari Johnson. I hope he makes it, but he’s a 7-footer who can’t jump. What’s he going to do with no degree when he’s done in two years?”

Next targets? The Harrison twins - who left school despite being projected as second-round draft choices.


"It’s sad to see this man," Anderson said. "I never would have thought .... if I was the coach, I wouldn’t allow this to happen. I would keep my players and develop them and teach them there’s a better, there's a different way to do this. ... It's just sad watching this."


Anderson also said coaches these days only coach, they don't teach. He said there is a difference between the two. Anderson said he and his contemporaries had high basketball IQs, but the players these days don't - and the coaches are teaching them.


"If you are denying me the ball, I should know to go backdoor," Anderson said. "These kids, they keep running to the mid court line and get it. What are they going to do with the ball 40 feet from the basket? Last year when (Kentucky) went to the Final Four with (Julius) Randle and them, it was because of pure talent, and the reason we lost? Coaching. Why did Louisville beat (Connecticut) by 30? They pressured their guards. We let the kid Shabazz Napier - he walked the ball up and just shot in our face the whole night. I’m like, ‘did you not watch the tape of Louisville beating them? It's coaching and teaching that comes into play."


Anderson said that despite his criticisms, Kentucky fans haven't showered him with ill will. In fact, he said the Big Blue Nation often feels the same way he does.


"I had one guy on Facebook say, ‘Well, he’s doing pretty good, he’s 30-something and 0, he’s doing really well, he’s going to the Final Four.’ And every time at the end of the game, end of the season, we don’t win a championship. I said, ‘Are you happy now? Since you want to give coach all this praise?’I love Coach, I think he’s a great guy, he helps people out, he brings us back, he’s treated me with nothing but respect, but I’m talking about coaching. I'm not talking about personal ... If you’re going to coach these kids, let’s make them play the game the right way.“


For good measure, Anderson didn't discriminate. He also said Pitino did a poor job handling his Louisville team at the end of the Michigan State game in the Elite Eight.


"I told Coach Pitino, ... you shouldn't have allowed anybody to shoot the ball but (Wayne) Blackshear at the end of the game. As good a game as he had, he was 11-for-11 (from the free-throw line), he makes shot. Give him the ball. He's a senior. He let the point guard, Snider - why was he getting a shot at the end of the game?"