Solid win against a solid ball club

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,509
26,052
113
1. Good offensive showing
2. Typical crap Pope defensive showing
- Not a clue on ball screens.....never switch up on trapping it, won't body up the ball handler before screen, etc...just lackadasical coaching on defense.
- Two guys on the ball way too often....open shooters at 3pt line constantly
- Lack of communication...rotations are slow as Christmas
- Close out on 3pt line with hands down vs. up to push the shooter
- Way too many ball drives to rim
- 7 measly TO for JMU
- Only plus 4 on boards with all our length and size

3rd year at UK...and the same Pope pussified effort on defense.
 

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
2,384
2,397
97
i thought Pope going small with 3 guards finally shut them down on 3’s. We were much more active and aggressive on defense than the first half.
Make no mistake JMU is good. They will be in the tourney.
this won’t be the last team with quick players we can’t play Ousemane and Frank.

Good the see Kam back. I think we got us a team!
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
21,176
38,200
113
1. Good offensive showing
2. Typical crap Pope defensive showing
- Not a clue on ball screens.....never switch up on trapping it, won't body up the ball handler before screen, etc...just lackadasical coaching on defense.
- Two guys on the ball way too often....open shooters at 3pt line constantly
- Lack of communication...rotations are slow as Christmas
- Close out on 3pt line with hands down vs. up to push the shooter
- Way too many ball drives to rim
- 7 measly TO for JMU
- Only plus 4 on boards with all our length and size

3rd year at UK...and the same Pope pussified effort on defense.

Yeah nothing looks very different. Is there any doubt, win or lose next Tuesday, that UK will come out uninspired and get down double digits n first half?

Its the Mark Pope Special.
 

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
1,534
2,735
113
JMU was better than a 25+ pt underdog.
Ark St giving Bama a decent game
St Louis beats Missouri

I’ll take our effort with the 2 MM’s having off nights.
we got 10 starters to choose from 💙
JMU lost to Miami OH by 9 points so spare me the JMU is better than people thing stuff.

and this wasnt an "off night" by moreno. he is an 8 ppg, 7 rpg player and thats what he gave you. this is his normal performance.
 

Catastic5

All-Conference
Sep 12, 2026
894
2,251
93
JMU was better than a 25+ pt underdog.
Ark St giving Bama a decent game
St Louis beats Missouri

I’ll take our effort with the 2 MM’s having off nights.
we got 10 starters to choose from 💙
St. Louis’ coach should be coaching at Kentucky.
 
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BBNinSCar

All-Conference
Apr 23, 2013
1,864
3,509
81
JMU was better than a 25+ pt underdog.
Ark St giving Bama a decent game
St Louis beats Missouri

I’ll take our effort with the 2 MM’s having off nights.
we got 10 starters to choose from 💙
It is amazing to me that St. Louis wins against Missouri. The SLU roster looks like a bunch of 35 y/o rec league players. Imagine what Shertz would do with Kentucky-caliber talent
 

Bluegrass79

All-Conference
May 4, 2006
671
1,048
61
I know this.... They run a pretty good offense to get three-pointers. They had those boys all over the place for a while.


Look having any hope in the Pope Line Defense is not a winning ticket LOL.

It looks like the defense of a team that's going to give up 70 plus a game.

If you give up more than 71 you're in....
uhohh territory.

And they're definitely giving somewhere between 70 and 79 every damn game I would bet with 80 plus during losses.
 

MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
11,263
23,039
66
I know everybody’s upset because the margin wasn’t higher, but thus game had UNCW, Evansville, VMI, Gardner Webb written all over it. Teams that routinely make double digit threes can hang around if you let them.

My biggest concern through two games is team defense, especially stopping dribble penetration.
 

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
1,534
2,735
113
I know everybody’s upset because the margin wasn’t higher, but thus game had UNCW, Evansville, VMI, Gardner Webb written all over it. Teams that routinely make double digit threes can hang around if you let them.

My biggest concern through two games is team defense, especially stopping dribble penetration.
i dont think many thought this would be a good defensive team so my concerns about defensive issues are minor. this was supposed to be a good offensive team and its been anything but. we seem to be average shooting the 3 and moreno is not playing like a top 5 big man in the country. he was supposed to be our 2nd or 3rd best player. at best he is 4th.

if we cant outscore teams.....its going to be ugly
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
12,160
21,100
103
i thought Pope going small with 3 guards finally shut them down on 3’s. We were much more active and aggressive on defense than the first half.
Make no mistake JMU is good. They will be in the tourney.
this won’t be the last team with quick players we can’t play Ousemane and Frank.

Good the see Kam back. I think we got us a team!
I don’t see N’Diaye being much of a factor as the competition gets stronger. His game just doesn’t seem like it is going to translate at this level. Not a high energy player at all.
 

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
1,534
2,735
113
I don’t see N’Diaye being much of a factor as the competition gets stronger. His game just doesn’t seem like it is going to translate at this level. Not a high energy player at all.
i think pope needs to move him to backup center. frank just doesnt give you anything really and just isnt mobile enough. i think ndiaye can pop a three in here or that and get some hands on balls because he moves better.

this will free up the 4 spot for both mcbride and hawthorne. kam williams and hawthorne can split back up SF duties.
 
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tls

Heisman
Nov 7, 2007
7,907
14,538
81
i thought Pope going small with 3 guards finally shut them down on 3’s. We were much more active and aggressive on defense than the first half.
Make no mistake JMU is good. They will be in the tourney.
this won’t be the last team with quick players we can’t play Ousemane and Frank.

Good the see Kam back. I think we got us a team!
Ousmane was +11 in the plus/minus so it wasn't his defense that was a problem
 

tls

Heisman
Nov 7, 2007
7,907
14,538
81
There is a limit on how ha
1. Good offensive showing
2. Typical crap Pope defensive showing
- Not a clue on ball screens.....never switch up on trapping it, won't body up the ball handler before screen, etc...just lackadasical coaching on defense.
- Two guys on the ball way too often....open shooters at 3pt line constantly
- Lack of communication...rotations are slow as Christmas
- Close out on 3pt line with hands down vs. up to push the shooter
- Way too many ball drives to rim
- 7 measly TO for JMU
- Only plus 4 on boards with all our length and size

3rd year at UK...and the same Pope pussified effort on defense.
"Not a clue on ball screens.....never switch up on trapping it, won't body up the ball handler before screen, etc...just lackadasical coaching on defense."

The limiting factor is only three guards ... did you happen to notice what happened when Wilkins got 2 quick fouls
 
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JimmyCleatusBob

Sophomore
Nov 4, 2026
120
121
43
i dont think many thought this would be a good defensive team so my concerns about defensive issues are minor. this was supposed to be a good offensive team and its been anything but. we seem to be average shooting the 3 and moreno is not playing like a top 5 big man in the country. he was supposed to be our 2nd or 3rd best player. at best he is 4th.

if we cant outscore teams.....its going to be ugly
Yes if you don't outscore tbe other team you're going to lose
 

tls

Heisman
Nov 7, 2007
7,907
14,538
81
There is a limit on how ha
1. Good offensive showing
2. Typical crap Pope defensive showing
- Not a clue on ball screens.....never switch up on trapping it, won't body up the ball handler before screen, etc...just lackadasical coaching on defense.
- Two guys on the ball way too often....open shooters at 3pt line constantly
- Lack of communication...rotations are slow as Christmas
- Close out on 3pt line with hands down vs. up to push the shooter
- Way too many ball drives to rim
- 7 measly TO for JMU
- Only plus 4 on boards with all our length and size

3rd year at UK...and the same Pope pussified effort on defense.
"Not a clue on ball screens.....never switch up on trapping it, won't body up the ball handler before screen, etc...just lackadasical coaching on defense."

The limiting factor is only three guards ... did you happen to notice what happened when Wilkins got 2 quick fouls
 

MarkPftw

All-American
Nov 19, 2016
5,339
7,000
96
I'm not going to judge UK harshly for this 9 point win vs. JMU. 15 effing 3 pointers made is ridiculous and I'm not bashing the defense. Yes, some of it is poor defense but Rupp Arena has been a place where good, bad, mediocre, and flat out terrible teams come into and shoot lights out, especially from 3, since the Tubby Smith days. I think it was almighty Sam Houston St. that made EIGHTEEN 3s vs. Coach Cal's first UK team with John Wall, Patrick Patterson, Demarcus Cousins, etc in Rupp Arena. The Crispin Brothers shooting a combined 13-23 from 3 for Penn St. in Rupp Arena. And there's always some no name scrub that averages 5 ppg scoring 20 in Rupp Arena. It's not just in Rupp Arena as shown by WVU only making 3 point field goals for the entire 1st Half vs. UK in the Elite 8. Ole boy for Oakland going the eff off vs. UK in the NCAA Tourney. It's the worst in Rupp Arena though. And 90% of the time, the next game that team plays, they shoot horrible ! The no name scrub that scored 20 vs. UK, scores 4 points his next game. Or the team that made a ton of 3s on 47% 3 point shooting vs. UK shoots 5/27 from 3 their next game. It never fails.


This was just another one of those ******** games where a no name team shot lights out. No matter the defense, the other team still has to make the damn shots and boy, they sure do make em vs. UK. Just through 3 exhibition games and the first two games of the season, I've already seen other teams' players making some very difficult shots, shots they probably wouldn't make 8 or 9 times out of 10. It's annoying as ****.
 

JimmyCleatusBob

Sophomore
Nov 4, 2026
120
121
43
I'm not going to judge UK harshly for this 9 point win vs. JMU. 15 effing 3 pointers made is ridiculous and I'm not bashing the defense. Yes, some of it is poor defense but Rupp Arena has been a place where good, bad, mediocre, and flat out terrible teams come into and shoot lights out, especially from 3, since the Tubby Smith days. I think it was almighty Sam Houston St. that made EIGHTEEN 3s vs. Coach Cal's first UK team with John Wall, Patrick Patterson, Demarcus Cousins, etc in Rupp Arena. The Crispin Brothers shooting a combined 13-23 from 3 for Penn St. in Rupp Arena. And there's always some no name scrub that averages 5 ppg scoring 20 in Rupp Arena. It's not just in Rupp Arena as shown by WVU only making 3 point field goals for the entire 1st Half vs. UK in the Elite 8. Ole boy for Oakland going the eff off vs. UK in the NCAA Tourney. It's the worst in Rupp Arena though. And 90% of the time, the next game that team plays, they shoot horrible ! The no name scrub that scored 20 vs. UK, scores 4 points his next game. Or the team that made a ton of 3s on 47% 3 point shooting vs. UK shoots 5/27 from 3 their next game. It never fails.


This was just another one of those ******** games where a no name team shot lights out. No matter the defense, the other team still has to make the damn shots and boy, they sure do make em vs. UK. Just through 3 exhibition games and the first two games of the season, I've already seen other teams' players making some very difficult shots, shots they probably wouldn't make 8 or 9 times out of 10. It's annoying as ****.
Ah the old familiar "they was makin circus shots" refrain.
 

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,509
26,052
113
There is a limit on how ha

"Not a clue on ball screens.....never switch up on trapping it, won't body up the ball handler before screen, etc...just lackadasical coaching on defense."

The limiting factor is only three guards ... did you happen to notice what happened when Wilkins got 2 quick fouls
Can’t zoom and Mason Williams play guars spots when Wilkins is out?

And Wilkins played second half and we were tied with 10 minutes left in game. It was we rhe same crap defense scheme and execution
 
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