How much Willie on Decker???
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I'd prefer WCS on Dekker almost exclusively. Between Towns and Dakari, we can handle Kaminsky in the post... just can't let Dekker go off, and WCS has every physical advantage over him needed to prevent that.
If Willie shuts down Dekker and holds him to something like 12 points or so, UK wins this game by a few possessions.
I think itll have to be Willie. Lyles struggled defensively against ND and really is playing out of his natural position on D. Poythress would have been perfect.
May also see one of the twins try to cover him if hes really giving us problems.
May also see one of the twins try to cover him if hes really giving us problems.
We have a few options there. Good things is our guys know about the game he had against Arizona. No one on our team will take any of these guys lightly.
I would rotate Willie, Dakari, and Lee on Kaminsky. That would help keep Karl out of foul trouble. I feel UK has plenty of guys that can guard Decker and keep him from going off.
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To be fair to Lyles, he is 6'10 and is playing a small forward type position. He was having to guard guys who were 6'5 and much quicker than he is. Despite that he did a pretty decent job. Against Dekker he'd be going up against a 6'9 guy. I think that WCS on him would be outstanding, but would also like to see WCS on Hayes simply because it would allow WCS to stay around the basket more and help against Kaminsky and to help protect the basket. Not sure either way would be a terrible decision really.
I agree. That's why I noted he was playing out of his natural position on D.
Yes Lyles was guarding a smaller, quicker 6'5" player. Problem is Dekker is that quick, with those handles, and is 6'9". So itll still be a very tough cover for Lyles. Im not sure he can do it.
Doesn't matter who guards who...Kaminsky will take DJ or KAT out to the 3 point line and leave the lane open. I said this all year that Wisc. is the perfect team to take away our shot blocking inside andgo to the pick and roll. We better learn to defend that pick and roll. Also Kaminsky will also drive and try to get KAT in foul trouble. Will it work....? We will see. GO CATS !!!
Dekker only averages around 13.9 ppg, and that includes his latest anomaly this weekend. He was 31% from 3 all year until his one big game against AZ. I'd say hold him to his average and shut down Kaminksy (which we should do - I think he is soft, awkward and will again be intimidated by our size and athleticism), and we'll be fine. Nigel Hayes is the only other guy that could have a big game, but he's got to do his thing against guys that are going to be tougher than he's seen all year.
I think Lee's biggest problem is he overthinks a lot. He doesn't just play. In over thinking things he gets lost from time to time. Against Wisky he needs to just go out there and play and make sure his head is on a swivel. If he does this then his length and quickness can certainly give Dekker a hard time.
Could we see Hawkins? If I were Bo Ryan, I play exactly like ND did. Pick and roll until UK proves they can figure it out. Decker/Kaminski could be dangerous.
I just don't see Dakairi being effective in this game. Maybe Lee.
Also, does Cal change the strategy of switching and jumping the ballhandler in the pick and roll? Seems to be where we got lost, but that's not a sober assessment of the game.
I just don't see Dakairi being effective in this game. Maybe Lee.
Also, does Cal change the strategy of switching and jumping the ballhandler in the pick and roll? Seems to be where we got lost, but that's not a sober assessment of the game.
Karl wouldn't have any foul trouble if he would drop all the little "tricks" he picked up from his time on the Dominican national team. Refs see those. There's no way to hide them. They're mostly ignored in the pro game, but they're seen. One of the first things I discovered as a teacher, is that in a standard size classroom, teachers see everything. Everything. No kid is getting away with stuff w/o the teacher sighing a bit inside. I imagine it's the same for a ref.
I think we'll see more pick and pop instead of pick and roll.
UK is potentially vulnerable to it, and Wisconsin is one of the few teams in the country that has the shooters and the ball handlers to pull it off.
UK is potentially vulnerable to it, and Wisconsin is one of the few teams in the country that has the shooters and the ball handlers to pull it off.
A lot of people seem to be really worried about Sam Dekker. That kid had the game of his life against Arizona. It's probably safe to say that it's highly unlikely that he plays like that again against us.
We need to focus on Wisconsin as a unit rather than individuals. Kaminsky garners a little more attention, but the rest need to be played straight up. Hayes, Koenig, and Gasser are players that can hurt you if you ignore them.
We need to focus on Wisconsin as a unit rather than individuals. Kaminsky garners a little more attention, but the rest need to be played straight up. Hayes, Koenig, and Gasser are players that can hurt you if you ignore them.
We usually get killed from the perimeter by some unknown scrub who hasn't made a shot all season.
That's true, but it's hard to scout and prepare for something that hasn't happened all year. Just have to adjust to that if it starts happening in the game.
Dekker had the game of his life against Arizona. Problem is that he also had the game of his life just the game before as well. I worry that it wasn't a fluke but that he's in a groove. If there's any game where we need Alex the most it would be this one. Alex is the same size as Dekker plus stronger and more athletic. He was our best defender outside of WCS plus isn't afraid to dunk on Dekker (see last years game).
I worry about Wiscy flopping. I think that was a big reason WCS never even tried to back a guy down in the post against ND, he knew they would flop since they were 6 inches shorter and it would be called. I see WCS being more of a factor on offense Saturday. All year we have played better against bigger teams, it's the smaller ones that have given us the most trouble.
I worry about Wiscy flopping. I think that was a big reason WCS never even tried to back a guy down in the post against ND, he knew they would flop since they were 6 inches shorter and it would be called. I see WCS being more of a factor on offense Saturday. All year we have played better against bigger teams, it's the smaller ones that have given us the most trouble.
A different WCS better show up this weekend than did against ND or they will score at will against him.
My prediction... Willie swats one of Dekker's three-pointers into the stands. Gets into his head. All iron after that.
Wisky PG - Harrison
Wisky SG - Harrison
Dekker - WCS
Hayes - Lyles
Kaminsky - KAT
Of course, we can rotate as needed, but I think we should put our two best defensive players on their two best offensive players. That being WCS on Dekker and KAT on Kaminsky.
Wisky SG - Harrison
Dekker - WCS
Hayes - Lyles
Kaminsky - KAT
Of course, we can rotate as needed, but I think we should put our two best defensive players on their two best offensive players. That being WCS on Dekker and KAT on Kaminsky.
People are worried way too much about pick and roll. Yes, UK has struggled some with it, but you have to use the word "struggle" very loosely. After all, this is one of the best defensive teams ever. If it were that simple, more teams would do it.
Notre Dame was an anomaly. They had Jerrian Grant running the point, who happens to be a first team All-America. He's big, quick, can shoot and has a killer step back. There is nobody in the country who can do what he can, and there certainly isn't anyone on Wisconsin who can.
I'm confident that Aaron, Andrew and Ulis can shut down Koening, Gasser and Jackson (who is still clearly working himself back into game shape). They aren't going to get in the lane as easily as Grant did, and that changes pick and roll entirely.
Notre Dame was an anomaly. They had Jerrian Grant running the point, who happens to be a first team All-America. He's big, quick, can shoot and has a killer step back. There is nobody in the country who can do what he can, and there certainly isn't anyone on Wisconsin who can.
I'm confident that Aaron, Andrew and Ulis can shut down Koening, Gasser and Jackson (who is still clearly working himself back into game shape). They aren't going to get in the lane as easily as Grant did, and that changes pick and roll entirely.
We play a switching defense against screens all year, nothing will change. There is no one player on another. Yes, WCS will be on the perimeter, but the switches will leave Decker on other defenders or WCS depending upon the screens. The good news is that we have height along the perimeter except with Ulis. He may see less time in this game for that reason although with the slow offensive pace that Wisconsin uses, he could be a factor to increase their tempo. If Decker shoots the ball like he did against Zona, we could be in trouble. He was hitting shots with defenders on top of him.
The way Dekker drives it, especially right, going to need a quick like Cauley or Lee IMO. Is Townes quick enough to stop Kaminsky from driving it?
Because we switch on D and have depth you will see, (take your pick) on Decker. Look for Lyles to be the primary defender to start.
Is the Indianapolis site a domed stadium or is it a standard basketball forum? If it's a stadium, typically 3pt shooting goes AWOL.
I don't know how much Marcus Lee will play, but he is our best defensive matchup for Dekker. As someone else said, we switch all 5 defenders, so no Wisky player will draw 1 particular Kentucky defender for the whole game. But the defensive assignments will be very important. Calipari runs a players first program. If Calipari wants KAT to have a chance to solidify his draft position, he might put KAT on Kaminsky. I hope not. If KAT checks Kaminsky, then Bo Ryan will have Kaminsky drive to the basket on every Wisky possession and KAT will pick up early fouls. That would be a recipe for a loss. If we are playing to win, we open with WCS checking Kaminsky. That's a winning strategy. WCS would give Kaminsky fits. I would give Lyles a chance to check Dekker and see how Lyles' length and athleticism bother him.
Definitely. Kaminsky is not much of a driver, and when he does, it's almost exclusively to his left. If he gets cut off, he either freezes and tries to find someone to frantically pass it to, quickly gets rid of it, or just goes up and tries to shoot over the defender. Driving isn't something we need to be concerned about with this guy. Have you seen him dance?
Willie is the best defender in the nation. He's quite a luxury to possess in terms of a guy who can guard the likes of Dekker or Winslow.
There's been a ton of lamenting recently about not having Poythress; however, WCS is actually a better defender than he is, even on small forwards.
I'd put Willie on Dekker with the hopes of Willie's length bothering him. If Towns/Johnson/Lyles/Lee can somewhat contain Kaminsky/Hayes (by contain, I mean collectively hold them to about 25 points), I like UK's chances.
Wisconsin's guards would have to really be on in that equation, and I'm not sure they have enough to make it happen. We shall see, but one's things for sue - Wisconsin (in two full years) has never seen size and length like this particular Kentucky team. If they had trouble with last year's length - and they did - I'm not sure they will be more effective against this group.