Me likey.
Kentucky, Florida, UConn, Duke are the only teams in T10 in both O&D Eff.
Purdue? No. 1 Offense. FOURTY-SIX in D.
Kansas? 34 & 20 (Ranked 29th Overall- WOOF)
UNC 17 & 42 (Ranked 21)
UofL 2 & 36 (Ranked 11th)
Early Kenpom Numbers
- Thread starter bbnkat02
- Start date
Me likey.
Kentucky, Florida, UConn, Duke are the only teams in T10 in both O&D Eff.
Purdue? No. 1 Offense. FOURTY-SIX in D.
Kansas? 34 & 20 (Ranked 29th Overall- WOOF)
UNC 17 & 42 (Ranked 21)
UofL 2 & 36 (Ranked 11th)
Shameless bump.
Anyone have any thoughts? Definitely early. Any surprises here to you so far?
Anyone have any thoughts? Definitely early. Any surprises here to you so far?
To have only really played well in 3 of 4 halves this year, that offensive rating is extremely surprising. Not much to be gleaned from playing scrubs, but still.
I don't think Pope is getting the credit he deserves for prioritizing defensive ability in his portal recruiting. We may have our concerns about the offense after the two outings before tonight, but there's no doubt the defense looks better so far. He got a lot of flack from the fan base for the defense last season, unfairly so IMO given the rebuild on the fly he had to do and late start he got on it compared to other coaches, not to mention the injuries to a team that was already athleticially limited, but he wasn't stubborn, he didn't dig in his heels and think he knew it all or that his style was the only way like some coaches would. He heard the the criticism, and of course also watched the games with his own eyes, and he was willing to adapt and change his "offense first" approach a bit.
Last year almost feels like a fever dream...that team overperformed and Pope way overperformed for the position he was put in. A (what many considered) unproven lukewarm coach comes late into the picture, into a pressure packed situation (pressure because it's UK and pressure because of the extreme Cal frustration) and wins a bunch of games, wins a bunch of top 25 games, and goes to the Sweet 16
. He didn't have any players, didn't have any coaches or trainers, didn't have an organizational structured with the people he wanted in the positions he wanted them in. He was late to the scene for contacting recruits and transfers; many players already had their new homes. He hadn't formed the relationships with the people he'd need to move the money. He had to interweave himself back into Lexington and UK Basketball society; he'd been gone a long time. Pope gave us a Mighty Ducks or Major League (the movie) season and it'll forever be part of UK Basketball Lore.
I keep saying this. That man made an incredible adjustment. It shows he’s willing to do whether it takes to win, not scratch his own ego like Calipari. He wants to WIN.
Pope completely went away from his bread and butter and what he prefers to do. He went for the win.
Offense is going to come with this team. It’ll be there. He’s working on defense to win the SEC. Why people were down on it I have no idea.
My thoughts are while this is very early, this actually matters more than what people think.
Contrary to popular belief, lots of teams usually just perform to their pre season expectations. Of course you are going to have your surprises and your massive disappointments, but on the whole it's surprising to see that you can very much predict pretty accurately where teams will end up.
The question for UK isn't is this a very good team. We know this. You don't get top 10 in the Human polls and computer polls if you aren't going to be a good team. The question becomes whether we are one of the 6 to 8 teams that come March can cut down the nets. And as far as that goes, it's a bit less clear right now as it is for like 99% of the teams.
Are we 1? Are we 2? Maybe. Maybe not. Our ranking will flucuate quite a bit in the coming weeks and it'll be interesting to see exactly where we pan out.
It was an issue later on in Cal's tenure. We had some very good teams but we were always on that tier right below the teams that can actually contend. To me this UK team will either be in the top tier or the one right below.
Realistically come March, you can usually just point to a group of say 6 to 8 teams that can win it all. UK needs to be in that group. And preferrably a 1 seed. Then you hope for maybe an easy path and that you're playing your best ball at that time and ......well who knows.
Contrary to popular belief, lots of teams usually just perform to their pre season expectations. Of course you are going to have your surprises and your massive disappointments, but on the whole it's surprising to see that you can very much predict pretty accurately where teams will end up.
The question for UK isn't is this a very good team. We know this. You don't get top 10 in the Human polls and computer polls if you aren't going to be a good team. The question becomes whether we are one of the 6 to 8 teams that come March can cut down the nets. And as far as that goes, it's a bit less clear right now as it is for like 99% of the teams.
Are we 1? Are we 2? Maybe. Maybe not. Our ranking will flucuate quite a bit in the coming weeks and it'll be interesting to see exactly where we pan out.
It was an issue later on in Cal's tenure. We had some very good teams but we were always on that tier right below the teams that can actually contend. To me this UK team will either be in the top tier or the one right below.
Realistically come March, you can usually just point to a group of say 6 to 8 teams that can win it all. UK needs to be in that group. And preferrably a 1 seed. Then you hope for maybe an easy path and that you're playing your best ball at that time and ......well who knows.
A lot of what your saying, depends on JQ and others health. If we have everyone playing in March, I will feel really good about things
It's funny how some of the same people saying 2 games isn't enough to say a player isn't playing well and jumping on people for pointing that out now say this is important. You have to love Rupp's Rafters,lol.
Actually it's the same exact premise tho.
There's a reason why UK is rated highly to begin the season. It's because based on the data we have from previous years and the current roster we believe that UK should be rated that highly.
It's the EXACT REASON why people AREN"T flipping out over two games from Kam when a year of data tells us otherwise.
People aren't high on UK based on these two games. They are high on UK based on previous information about the players on this team. The two games from this season are just single points that confirm things.
It's silly to think that a guy that hit 40% of his threes last season all of a sudden forgot how to shoot. That's just ridiculous.
If you say so but the bright lights of UK are different than at Tulane where people don't give a **** about basketball. A guy like CJ melted under pressure.
We have a higher defensive rating than Houston! I know it’s early. However, our defense passes my eye test! Especially with Aberdeen playing! Dude is a MENACE and a pro IMO.
One word.
DEFENSE !
Defense and rebounding were the achille's heel of Pope's first team. They have solved that issue. Funny how a marked improvement in the "eye test" category, do you see them doing all the little things that collectively show why they are THAT far ahead at this point of the season.
Now we get to measure up in a hostile environment. The sky is the limit for these guys.
Go Big Blue !
DEFENSE !
Defense and rebounding were the achille's heel of Pope's first team. They have solved that issue. Funny how a marked improvement in the "eye test" category, do you see them doing all the little things that collectively show why they are THAT far ahead at this point of the season.
Now we get to measure up in a hostile environment. The sky is the limit for these guys.
Go Big Blue !
Sure. Maybe some do. Others don't. Brea did just fine when he transferred here.
Either way it's kinda ridiculous to conclude that from two games.