It feels good that the 3 pointer is a weapon again for us. Like finding your soul after missing it for decades.
GYERO
- Thread starter AndyPolleydotcom
- Start date
it feels good to not hear Cal screaming like a fücking lunatic on the sidelines
Man, there is a lot to like with this group, so many parts to work with. And once we have Q 
No starting PG or C. Yeesh
Man, there is a lot to like with this group, so many parts to work with. And once we have Q
And Lowe.
Suck our white ***, basketball world.
Eat dong, SmokeyPearl.
Gonna tape a hand-lettered "BELIEVE" sign above my door.
I'm all in.
I'm all in.
Got Dillingham vibes with Jasper.
Looks like it’s gonna be a fun winter and an even better March.
Dumas Walker hittin like crack over here
How nice is it to play for the name on the front of your chest?
Refreshing AF to see offensive identity, actual sets and a team that looks like they’ve been playing together for a while in the first game of the year against near-unanimous preseason #1. Without two of our top 4-5 players.
I’m also all in
I’m also all in
Some of you apparently still have CDS, Cal Deranged Syndrome. He really did a job on the base.
how refreshing it is to not hear “GO”, actually running sets, an identity on offense, playing for the name on your chest. I’m not putting anyone down but it’s not like this is the first time we are seeing any of this. Cal just had us in such a bad spot I guess it’s gonna take some time to get past it
UL looks absolutely awful so far. No inside guys.
Fun night at Rupp. Not going to overreact to an exhibition game, but these are 5 things I liked:
1. Most obviously, Johnson is way more skilled than I expected. Still feel like he’s going to drive us crazy some nights, but that stepback 3 in the first half kinda shocked me.
2. Moreno! Knew he was a big body, but he was so physical and didn’t back down at all. And very smooth finishing in transition. Did not see that coming. I think he struggled a bit in space and he doesn’t appear to be a rim protector, but his positioning was pretty solid and the rebounding will be there.
3. Dioubate is as advertised. He can play for any team of mine any day. Love what that dude brings.
In general, we just seem to have 10-12 guys who are skilled and know how to play basketball. That’s a huge asset.
4. Between our wings shooting/passing and our bigs screening/rim-running, teams are going to have a heck of a time defending our side PnR this year. We absolutely cooked Purdue on that all night. Going to get even harder when/if Quaintance comes back.
5. My favorite play of the night: at the end of the first half, Jelavic got switched onto Smith. Predictably, Smith got him out isolated and went to work… but couldn’t get by him. Tried to pump fake, but Jelavic didn’t bite. Finally he passed out of the iso and they called TO.
I guess this makes me a dummy, but I just assumed Jelavic was a typical Euro big - skilled, but soft, and useless on defense. Big Z-ish. I figured he’d struggle to get minutes on this team. Well, I think I was wrong about that. I really liked what I saw from him. Didn’t make a shot, but that’s going to come. The movement looked really good.
Really excited about this team.
1. Most obviously, Johnson is way more skilled than I expected. Still feel like he’s going to drive us crazy some nights, but that stepback 3 in the first half kinda shocked me.
2. Moreno! Knew he was a big body, but he was so physical and didn’t back down at all. And very smooth finishing in transition. Did not see that coming. I think he struggled a bit in space and he doesn’t appear to be a rim protector, but his positioning was pretty solid and the rebounding will be there.
3. Dioubate is as advertised. He can play for any team of mine any day. Love what that dude brings.
In general, we just seem to have 10-12 guys who are skilled and know how to play basketball. That’s a huge asset.
4. Between our wings shooting/passing and our bigs screening/rim-running, teams are going to have a heck of a time defending our side PnR this year. We absolutely cooked Purdue on that all night. Going to get even harder when/if Quaintance comes back.
5. My favorite play of the night: at the end of the first half, Jelavic got switched onto Smith. Predictably, Smith got him out isolated and went to work… but couldn’t get by him. Tried to pump fake, but Jelavic didn’t bite. Finally he passed out of the iso and they called TO.
I guess this makes me a dummy, but I just assumed Jelavic was a typical Euro big - skilled, but soft, and useless on defense. Big Z-ish. I figured he’d struggle to get minutes on this team. Well, I think I was wrong about that. I really liked what I saw from him. Didn’t make a shot, but that’s going to come. The movement looked really good.
Really excited about this team.
Rewatching the game this morning. Just a few takeaways.
* Oweh is going to be Oweh, so no surprises there. It feels good to have him as the "veteran leader" of this team.
* I came away MOST impressed by Aberdeen. He may lead the team in minutes per game by the end of the year. It's going to be near impossible to keep him off the floor.
* Garrison was meh, he looks like he is getting a D+ in classes where they teach you how to run
for his meh outing, he didn't get selfish, and that's an improvement.
* Moreno is better than I thought he would be, Jasper is smooth and skilled, and Noah was doing a bit of everything last night.
Kentucky teams always mean more with Kentucky kids on the roster, and these kids are really good.
* What else is there to say? It's going to take some time with foreign kid, and Kam Williams will have games where he has 2-4 points, or 12-14 points.
* I liked the sets we ran, the pick and rolls with Moreno, our zoom action, some high low action with Garrison and Noah in the first half. We have so many different looks we can put out there.
* I like my team.
* Oweh is going to be Oweh, so no surprises there. It feels good to have him as the "veteran leader" of this team.
* I came away MOST impressed by Aberdeen. He may lead the team in minutes per game by the end of the year. It's going to be near impossible to keep him off the floor.
* Garrison was meh, he looks like he is getting a D+ in classes where they teach you how to run
for his meh outing, he didn't get selfish, and that's an improvement. * Moreno is better than I thought he would be, Jasper is smooth and skilled, and Noah was doing a bit of everything last night.
Kentucky teams always mean more with Kentucky kids on the roster, and these kids are really good.
* What else is there to say? It's going to take some time with foreign kid, and Kam Williams will have games where he has 2-4 points, or 12-14 points.
* I liked the sets we ran, the pick and rolls with Moreno, our zoom action, some high low action with Garrison and Noah in the first half. We have so many different looks we can put out there.
* I like my team.
We are going to be one of the 4-5 best teams in CBB this yr, we will belong in that group. Hell, at full strength(Lowe/JQ) we may end up being 1-2 anyway.
How refreshing and fun is it to see a KY team come out of the gates to start the season and already look like a polished, well coached team that knows what tf they’re doing.
UL got housed last night, down double digits basically the entire game. Also, Pat Kelsey is really really short.
How refreshing and fun is it to see a KY team come out of the gates to start the season and already look like a polished, well coached team that knows what tf they’re doing.
UL got housed last night, down double digits basically the entire game. Also, Pat Kelsey is really really short.
Pat Kelsey is definitely "that guy'; the one that wants to throw hands at one of his kid's youth sport games.
Pat Kelsey vacations in Gatlinburg
Mo is going to be that dude, and prove to be THE if not one of the top 3 additions. Purdue played their 3 leaders 32,31, and 28 minutes. The other 2 starters played 24 and 22 minutes. Aberdeen lead UK with 28 minutes, then Noah with 23. Everyone else only played 20 (Jelaavic) or less minutes. SO Purdue fans can save the "we was not taking the game serious" BS.
A LITTLE concerned with Chandler's shot thus far, but he is playing hard and contributing in other areas.
Had 9 players play between 16 and 23 minutes, we deep, and loaded. When we get Lowe and JQ back, UK will be a legit 11/12 deep. There will not be enough clock to go around.
Oweh - 17 minutes
Garrison - 18 minutes
Mo - 19 minutes
Jasper - 19 minutes
MY MVP- Mo. In 19 minutes, had 8 points / 9 rebounds / 1 assist / 2 blocks / 2 steals, against 1 to. Cut down on the fouls though, had 4 in only 19 minutes.
A LITTLE concerned with Chandler's shot thus far, but he is playing hard and contributing in other areas.
Had 9 players play between 16 and 23 minutes, we deep, and loaded. When we get Lowe and JQ back, UK will be a legit 11/12 deep. There will not be enough clock to go around.
Oweh - 17 minutes
Garrison - 18 minutes
Mo - 19 minutes
Jasper - 19 minutes
MY MVP- Mo. In 19 minutes, had 8 points / 9 rebounds / 1 assist / 2 blocks / 2 steals, against 1 to. Cut down on the fouls though, had 4 in only 19 minutes.
I just got to watch the game from last night and I’m trying not to read too much into an exhibition game, but…………….we weren’t playing Transylvania, and preseason #1 Purdue didn’t come to Rupp Arena just to lose.
• Mark Pope, it seems went out and fixed the weaknesses from last years roster. Athleticism being number one, which in turn, helps with the other weaknesses (Defense and Rebounding).
• They share the ball and play unselfish (at least initially). They played like they had been together for a while. It’s great to see modern offense that has a point to it and seldom looks stagnant.
• Individuals- It’s going to be impossible to keep Aberdeen off of the floor. What a great pickup.
• Dioubate gives us that physicality and Dawg that we lacked last year.
• Super impressed with Moreno’s physicality, fluidity and aggression. He’s going to do the dirty work, but he’s also got some skill around the basket.
• Jelavic is going to be a good one. He’s a better athlete and much more fluid than Big Z.
• Johnson is going to make some bone headed plays no doubt, but I love guys who play with confidence and fearlessness. He’s got that Dillingham microwave mentality.
• Oweh is Oweh, but UK’s depth and likely getting production from so many different guys might actually cost him SEC player of the year. This isn’t a bad thing.
• Noah is going to play. He’s just solid in so many areas and understands the game of basketball.
• I could go on and on, but there’s plenty of time for that. It was a solid first impression and it’s time for us to get back to the Final 4 and hang banner #9. GO CATS!!!
• Mark Pope, it seems went out and fixed the weaknesses from last years roster. Athleticism being number one, which in turn, helps with the other weaknesses (Defense and Rebounding).
• They share the ball and play unselfish (at least initially). They played like they had been together for a while. It’s great to see modern offense that has a point to it and seldom looks stagnant.
• Individuals- It’s going to be impossible to keep Aberdeen off of the floor. What a great pickup.
• Dioubate gives us that physicality and Dawg that we lacked last year.
• Super impressed with Moreno’s physicality, fluidity and aggression. He’s going to do the dirty work, but he’s also got some skill around the basket.
• Jelavic is going to be a good one. He’s a better athlete and much more fluid than Big Z.
• Johnson is going to make some bone headed plays no doubt, but I love guys who play with confidence and fearlessness. He’s got that Dillingham microwave mentality.
• Oweh is Oweh, but UK’s depth and likely getting production from so many different guys might actually cost him SEC player of the year. This isn’t a bad thing.
• Noah is going to play. He’s just solid in so many areas and understands the game of basketball.
• I could go on and on, but there’s plenty of time for that. It was a solid first impression and it’s time for us to get back to the Final 4 and hang banner #9. GO CATS!!!
Reading through the Reddit College Basketball thread for our game last night, I garnered the following :
~ "Purdue has lost it's last two exhibition games and gone on to great seasons, this is normal." I do agree they will be good this year but you played a team missing it's starting PG/C and looked like you hadn't installed your offense yet for a senior laden team.
~ "Even Painter stated he wanted to get his butt kicked." Convenient thing to say when you do actually get your butt kicked by a group of guys still learning how to play together.
~ "The officiating was all over the place, it messed up our rhythm." Hilarious comment here. I had to double take to make sure it wasn't a UK fan claiming that. It was rugby on one end of the floor and soccer on the other. I have already renewed my hatred for Doug Shows.
Final thought, we were terrible rebounding the ball last year in key moments. If Dioubate is on the floor and gets a finger tip on it, we won't have that problem at all. 9 total rebounds and some of the most impressive "physical" rebounding I've seen in some time.
~ "Purdue has lost it's last two exhibition games and gone on to great seasons, this is normal." I do agree they will be good this year but you played a team missing it's starting PG/C and looked like you hadn't installed your offense yet for a senior laden team.
~ "Even Painter stated he wanted to get his butt kicked." Convenient thing to say when you do actually get your butt kicked by a group of guys still learning how to play together.
~ "The officiating was all over the place, it messed up our rhythm." Hilarious comment here. I had to double take to make sure it wasn't a UK fan claiming that. It was rugby on one end of the floor and soccer on the other. I have already renewed my hatred for Doug Shows.
Final thought, we were terrible rebounding the ball last year in key moments. If Dioubate is on the floor and gets a finger tip on it, we won't have that problem at all. 9 total rebounds and some of the most impressive "physical" rebounding I've seen in some time.
Pope has probably already watched the tape of the UL game..
Latest
-
01
KSR
Mark Pope shares not-so-subtle response to losing Mark Mitchell
-
02
KSR
KSR's 2026 Kentucky Football Season Predictions
-
03
KSR
Mark Pope has Inspired Kirby Smart
-
04
KSR
KSR Rapid Reaction: Mark Mitchell decommits, returns to Mizzou
-
05
KSR
Charlie Strong to Call Will Stein’s Kentucky Debut in Full-Circle Reunion