I’ll take only giving up 49 points and still scoring 69 points shooting missing easy shots. Kansas gave up 62 to a terrible Pitt St team and only beat them by 18.
Let’s not forget the 2012 team was down by 1 at the half to Little Rock in January of 2012. The final score ended up being 73-51. This was mid season rounding the corner to a championship run and not an exhibition game.
The 2012 championship team was down one at the half against Little Rock in Jan of 2012. In January! UK eventually won the game by 22. To say that they had to beat them by 50 in the preseason is a bit much.
This team could turn out really good. What will ultimately matter is what’s played on the floor and not how many or how few stars they had in HS. Clayton Jr from Florida was technically a nobody by CBB ranking standards. He was 69th overall and 17th for PG’s.
Nobody really knows what Hawthorne can and will do in game action. He may be the X factor as to how good this team will be. We just don’t know yet. Ultimately the tournament usually comes down to guard play.