GYERO

[Vismund]

Oweh has the worst handle I've maybe ever seen from a guard of his pedigree. Hell all UNC did was pressure our guards and we melted down.

It doesn't make sense because last year we had a GD center running the point for long stretches.

I get the feeling we are going to look back and find that that group was more talented than we gave them credit for and simply more willing to do what Pope asked of them.

This team is full of guys who want to go rogue and that just isn't going to work in this system.

 

[BradyJames]

Mitch identifies as a risk taker?

 

[k_s_t_a]

Positives:

- Oweh looked like the player he ought to be. Attacked close outs, cut to the basket, and was available for lobs, defended well. Just overall looked locked in.

- Jelavic was great overall and totally clamped Caleb Wilson.

- Moreno was solid. Went the wrong way on PnR coverage like 20x, which cost us, but he's so much better than Garrison that it's laughable.

- Despite several breakdowns, including on plays that ultimately lost the game, defense looked pretty decent overall.

Negatives:

- None of the above matters because the team just does not work together, has no real shooters (I'm not buying Colin Chandller as the second coming of Koby Brea), our staff has done a miserable job putting them together and got outcoached by Hubert Davis, and we have zero identity, especially on offense. Oh, and I don't know if anybody's noticed, but recruiting is not going very well either.

I've been telling my friends I don't think this team makes the tournament since the first half of the Louisville game. Emotional, maybe, but now I think it's very fair to question that. It looks extremely unlikely we are going to beat Gonzaga - hope I'm wrong but on paper they are a terrible matchup (as most actually good teams would be), and there's a good chance we limp into conference play with zero quad I wins. It's also extremely tough to see this team winning any sort of hostile road game in the SEC against, well, anybody.

It's also fair to start thinking about big picture stuff. If that's how things are looking, does Quaintance even bother playing for this team? He's a lottery pick as things stand. The $22 million payroll leaking was the absolute worst thing that could've happened, btw. Now that it's out there, it's inescapable. This season is a disaster by normal standards, but with that information, it becomes an unmitigated cataclysm. We’re on the fast track towards one of the most notorious bad seasons ever (not just at Kentucky). If that's my money, I am not happy with my ROI. Starts to get hard to think about running it back with a similar payroll and this staff next year.

Anyway, happy Wednesday!

 

[funKYcat75]

Rebounding. I'm no college statistics ball, but missing 30 shots and only getting 8 offensive rebounds is no bueno. Hopefully a healthy Dioubate and JQ will help with that at some point in the near future. Just awful.

Speaking of awful: Garrison. ONE rebound, and the teams only trey. That is an insane line for a 6'10" guy who really can't do anything all that well.

Not sure we can call this an all-systems failure if the system is flawed.

Go Cats.

 

[Kooky Kats]

Pubert > Pope

 

[UCL]

Built for March?

 

[Simple Man]

My honest feelings about the team,I am not throwing in the towel just yet.The team is down 3 starters and I'm not too optimistic that is going to make much difference in how this team performs. It seems at this point the roster has been poorly assembled.All of the components just don't work when you put it on the floor to play.
Go Big Blue!

 

[august-west]

Hartline to USF so now all of you chicken Littles that were worried about him going to UL can relax.

 

[Simple Man]

 

[B Rax]

I’m not off the Pope bandwagon YET, bc I’m always going to be pulling for the captain of the best team of my lifetime. But having said that, we all knew the second his hiring was announced that the potential for complete disaster was looming. We let the nostalgia hook us (credit to UK for a great marketing video) and the timing was right coming off Calipari LLC. But it’s not feeling good right now. And honestly, I could see Pope stepping away if next season is a disaster as well. Sounds dumb, but he’s the type of guy who would do that.

just hope we can get Nate Oats before UNC does.

 

[Krazykats1]

I understand Owen’s handle is not idea but the idea of having ball in hand is more about nothing else works anyway.

Also, while I did like the relief of Amari bringing the ball up the court let’s be honest no Center was really applying pressure which was the relief not Amari’s handles. Maybe let Jelavic bring it up a few times just to “collect data” on whether or not he can handle that.

We are who we are and it’s the coaches job to figure “something” out. I don’t care what he tries at this point because what we are doing isn’t working. Even the zone looked bad despite the missed shots because the shots were wide open and good teams will hit them.

Edit:

Travis Perry sure would be useful right now! I know the idea was about size/defense for him but that kid should be running this team right now and we’d look a whole lot better.

 

[Johnnie Africa]

The maddening part is last year I thought he did an absolutely outstanding job coaching. We scored like 110 against Florida in one of the best and most entertaining games in years. We were literally a joy to watch when healthy. I just can’t believe the massive 180 and it’s why I have a little bit of hope that Pope can figure it out. But the roster construction this year for his style of play is horrific.

 

[UKwizard]

The game was lost on the glass. They played great first shot defense. I give them that much. Offense was putrid as it gets but UNC was about as bad as we were. Two not very good teams.

Id have liked a three for the win at the end.

Thanks for sucking all my joy from me guys.

 

[legalbeagle123]

I'm still holding out hope that our full compliment of players will make a big difference. Allowing Aberdeen to be a 2 instead of essentially having to play the 1 and 2 the whole time he's out there can't make things worse. And JQ does the have the potential to be a game changer. If he can establish himself offensively, that may force double teams, which helps to create opportunities for others.

 

[Anon1751335390]

I'm still holding out hope that our full compliment of players will make a big difference. Allowing Aberdeen to be a 2 instead of essentially having to play the 1 and 2 the whole time he's out there can't make things worse. And JQ does the have the potential to be a game changer. If he can establish himself offensively, that may force double teams, which helps to create opportunities for others.

Offensively, JQ showed power around the rim and actually some decent passing ability. He was in the top 40ish for assist rate. I don't know how much we will post him. In the 5 out look, he looks like he might be able to pass well and then move without the ball and finish off the lob. His passing ability might allow him to do some big to big plays, much like how UNC's bigs played on some possessions.

Defensively, he's great at shot blocking. He was top 20 in shot blocking and top 25 in steals for centers.

Maybe JQ and Moreno on the court at the same time can mog some fools on the glass and around the rim lol

 

[Hank Camacho]

Hartline to USF so now all of you chicken Littles that were worried about him going to UL can relax.

That also means we almost certainly could have gotten him if we wanted him and Barnhart chose Stein -- which I believe was the right call but about as close as you can imagine.

On paper I think Hartline was slightly better as a candidate because of the immediate connections in Ohio. However, Hartline would be gone to OSU as soon as Day leaves and this could be a destination job for Stein if it works out. Plus Stein would appear to make us a force in Louisville recruiting again, too.

* I'm not even sure what to say about basketball. It appears more than just bad roster construction to me. Noah going from a possible 7th man to doghouse in about 30 minutes before the UL game seems like a canary of some sort to me, though I dont know what.

 

[B Rax]

I think Hartline is a better overall candidate than Stein but Stein was the better fit for Kentucky specifically. I’m aware that this may come across as cope but it makes sense to me.

Nicholasville opened a 7Brew and it has become a problem for me. Their sugar free energy’s have all but replaced my McDonald’s coke. Chipotle close to opening too 🫨🫨🫨

 

[WildcatBelle99]

I think Hartline is a better overall candidate than Stein but Stein was the better fit for Kentucky specifically. I’m aware that this may come across as cope but it makes sense to me.

Nicholasville opened a 7Brew and it has become a problem for me. Their sugar free energy’s have all but replaced my McDonald’s coke. Chipotle close to opening too 🫨🫨🫨

I just enjoy UofL fans squirming over Stein at this point. But definitely a good problem to have choosing between those two guys.

We have a Dutch Bros that popped up not too far from the house but it's on a side of Hurstbourne I don't go down when I'd normally get coffee. I wasn't a big fan of 7Brew.

 

[Krazykats1]

Pope can coach. I personally think there is an effort issue with some, maybe entitlement with 2nd year guys, that has Pope in a conundrum in figuring out how to handle it.

 

[cricket3]

Anyone looking to spend 3.5 million on a house that has it's own indoor pool, water damage, and mold? I can recommend the neighborhood (I didn't even know this house existed).

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4865-Tates-Creek-Rd-Lexington-KY-40515/91583890_zpid/

 

[Kooky Kats]

View attachment IMG_6439.jpeg
Bar renovation complete.

 

[BookerNoe]

I think Hartline is a better overall candidate than Stein but Stein was the better fit for Kentucky specifically. I’m aware that this may come across as cope but it makes sense to me.

Nicholasville opened a 7Brew and it has become a problem for me. Their sugar free energy’s have all but replaced my McDonald’s coke. Chipotle close to opening too 🫨🫨🫨

I swear that place went up like overnight.

 

[cole@854]

Speaking of awful: Garrison. ONE rebound, and the teams only trey. That is an insane line for a 6'10" guy who really can't do anything all that well.

He played 9 minutes. 9. A 4 minute stretch at the first break, and a 2 minute stretch at the end of the first half. 2nd half....he came in at the 14:46 mark, hit a 3 at the 13:08, went out at the 11:08 for the rest of the game.

He's 6'10 and the team's 3rd leading rebounder w/ 5 per game in 18 mpg. So FWIW when you're getting your a s s cleaned on the glass, you may want to have him at least in the game and just do what McMurphy had Chief do.....stand under the goal.

Garrison was well down the list of problems last night.

 

[Kooky Kats]

Norm stopped by to say hello. Just wondering who would be my first choice (not family) to be a guest for a drink. I chose Norm via Chat GPT.

 

[Vismund]

Coach Stein dripping an MFER (literally, not the actual word) at his introductory presser had me hollerin "One of us, one of us".

Somewhere SAE is smiling.

 

[august-west]

Coach Stein dripping an MFER (literally, not the actual word) at his introductory presser had me hollerin "One of us, one of us".

Somewhere SAE is smiling.

And then he quickly apologized to Top Button. He must be a quick study.

 

[august-west]

N/M

 

[Hank Camacho]

it's own indoor pool

An indoor pool is like swinging, imo. In theory it sounds great. In practice it is always a disaster.

 

[Nightwish]

Not saying anything groundbreaking but if things go south in the next couple years, the new AD needs to get Oats here. That's it. The secondary sports are in a good position, we've got Stein who'll likely be aggressive and fun, and if it just isn't happening with Pope, adding Oats would make me a very happy Cat fan. I'm still in shock we got thumped by GD Pat Kelsey.

 

[Wayne Dougan]

After sitting on it a few days, I think you all are being bitches re: Pope.

1. Took a completely new team to the Sweet 16 last year, something Cal hadn't done since 2019.
2. Built that team primarily with 5th year seniors, meaning we really only had Oweh, Chandler, Garrison and Noah able to return.
3. Two of the key incoming players have been hurt.
4. While we looked shaky against Louisville and Mich St, we win that UNC game 8.5 out of 10 times. Not making a basket for like 8 minutes wasn't because of lockdown Carolina D. It was because we missed a lot of open shots. An outlier, in my opinion.
5. In a macro sense, college basketball teams are going to have a lot more variation going forward given the transfer portal. There will be very little "building of programs", and more building of single year teams. Miss on a few guys, suffer some injuries, and you're cooked.

 

[cricket3]

0% chance Pope can keep this kid under control.

 

[Krazykats1]

Just because Perry didn’t come back doesn’t mean he wasn’t able to return.

He’d have come up big for us so far this season too.

 

[cole@854]

1. While we looked shaky against Louisville and Mich St, we win that UNC game 8.5 out of 10 times. Not making a basket for like 8 minutes wasn't because of lockdown Carolina D. It was because we missed a lot of open shots. An outlier, in my opinion.

Sorry, cupcake, it doesn't work like that. There is always a flip side.....UK making 16 FT's to UNC's 5 in the second half. For those scoring at home, that is an 11 pt diff. And it wasn't like UNC lit it up from 3....6 out of 20. Was that UK's D or missed open shots like UK did? See how that works? Per the so called experts, it was UK's D that caused Purdue to go brick city in that W.....doesn't work like that when UK misses? UK was at home, and UNC was also missing their best guard. If you're going to pick and choose, then the best analysis covers all the bases.

This is for chad...
Hubert
Sprinkles

 

[UKwizard]

UNc was ***. UK was just more ***. Piss off.

 

[Vismund]

Having to keep hearing about how good UNC will be when their one missing starter gets back was pretty annoying.

We have a lotto pick, our only true PG and our glue guy sitting over there in street clothes but UNC is one player from Final Four contention.

K.

 

[Btoddisabish]

he aint coming here

Having to keep hearing about how good UNC will be when their one missing starter gets back was pretty annoying.

We have a lotto pick, our only true PG and our glue guy sitting over there in street clothes but UNC is one player from Final Four contention.

K.

i would have much rather heard that than dicky V shoving as much of that euro honks penis down his throat as he could stand

 

[Kooky Kats]

@Hank Camacho

Found this…

Hank:

While it's hard to f it up if you know what you're doing, I did something pretty close to what Weissman did.



Wayne

 

[Btoddisabish]

I post this for no other reason than to find that quarter zip that this baby faced assassin is wearing

 

[Wayne Dougan]

I post this for no other reason than to find that quarter zip that this baby faced assassin is wearing

Lol... dude looks like he should be on a private school golf team. Instead he's a top 30 MLB prospect and a top 10 QB. Ha.

 

[cricket3]

4500 words to tell us we're basically f***ed even healthy because we can shoot. Compares us to last years Arkansas team. We became what we hated so much after one year.

The Kentucky Trolley Problem

Last year, the day after a day in history, the Arkansas Razorbacks played their first game of the season. Grand statements after one (1) game of basketball are, of course, really stupid. And yet: I thought it timely to write something that ended up being surprisingly prescient. An excerpt: 🏀With

www.basketunderreview.com