Calhoun was just on Mike & Mike, said Kentucky is the best team this year but is not a great team. He said that 2012 was better and mention a couple of his UCONN teams being better( 1999 and 2004). He said we aren't unbeatable but that doesnt mean that we will get beat, and that his main concern was that we dont have "that guy" and he had concerns with the offense.
Jim Calhoun
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Kentucky IS without question a great team. Question is whether they will be a championship team.
And I agree with him that I would give the edge to the 2012 team as well.
And I agree with him that I would give the edge to the 2012 team as well.
Still don't like him... but he makes a good point. In 2012, AD was one heckuva "that guy" for us. If we do need that, KAT's performance in the last game suggests that he could be the one during the tournament.
We don't have "that guy?" Has he seen what Towns has been doing lately? He's put the team on his shoulders and carried us to a win a few times in the last month or so.
Also, we have this dude named Aaron Harrison on our team. You know, the guy who hit not one, not two, but three game winning shots in the biggest games in his career up to that point.
Also, we have this dude named Aaron Harrison on our team. You know, the guy who hit not one, not two, but three game winning shots in the biggest games in his career up to that point.
I'm still trying to figure out why you have to have that 'one' guy to be great.
Why doesn't he talk about how we come at them in waves? Why doesn't he talk about the best defense in recent history?
It's quite interesting that everyone just wants to say, "Well they're not the greatest team ever."
Why doesn't he talk about how we come at them in waves? Why doesn't he talk about the best defense in recent history?
It's quite interesting that everyone just wants to say, "Well they're not the greatest team ever."
That 1999 UCon team was great. 2004, not so much.
Given how bad college offense has gotten, I have a hard time agreeing that offense is a concern for this UK team. Towns is "that guy" now, he will get the ball when UK needs a score and he will either get the basket or get fouled and make the free throws.
Given how bad college offense has gotten, I have a hard time agreeing that offense is a concern for this UK team. Towns is "that guy" now, he will get the ball when UK needs a score and he will either get the basket or get fouled and make the free throws.
I think this team is just slightly better than '12 simply because of its numbers and the way it can defend. 1996 is the only team I've seen in my lifetime that I would say is clearly better than this bunch. I think the reason we don't have "that guy" is simply because we have such a depth of talent. On any normal team, Towns would undoubtedly get the ball virtually every time down the court.
One thing that has to be remembered with Calhoun is his bitter feud with Cal. These comments aren't coming from nowhere.
And it's a good thing people are making comments like this. Hit pieces, minor smacktalk, criticism, people picking against us--all that is good, because Cal can use it as ammunition. When you haven't lost a game the coach has to manufacture anger.
One thing that has to be remembered with Calhoun is his bitter feud with Cal. These comments aren't coming from nowhere.
And it's a good thing people are making comments like this. Hit pieces, minor smacktalk, criticism, people picking against us--all that is good, because Cal can use it as ammunition. When you haven't lost a game the coach has to manufacture anger.
The thing I remember most about 2004 is how much they underachieved during the regular season. I think they went in as a 2 seed.
And it's funny that that's been a trend for UCONN even going back to last year. I think the reason they have so much success is because they're built--much like Cal's teams--around defense and rebounding. They're the anti-Gonzaga.
I would agree the 2012 team was better for one simple reason. Do I really need to mention his name? And yes, UK is beatable, but I'm not so sure we don't have "that guy" His name is Karl Anthony Towns! If we HAVE to get a basket, a foul, or both he's the guy I think has to "touch" the ball.
I, too, have concerns with the offense. As far as being "great" is yet to be determined. The 2012 team wouldn't have been labeled great if they hadn't won it all.
The 2012 team wasn't undefeated. (Edited to add: I know you weren't saying they were, but this team is just a different animal completely and should IMO be looked at at this point a little differently than any Kentucky team in the modern era.)
And I think offensively Aaron needs to be going for us to be at our best. We can obviously win without him, but the times this team has been a really top-notch offensive team, Aaron's been part of it. He's the guy we look to to get us baskets in tough situations, we call his number a lot--when he struggles it tends to kind of bleed over onto the team.
He's 7 for his last 35 from three going back to the first Florida game. He needs to revert to his postseason form last year and I think you'll see a much smoother, much more dangerous team on that end of the court.
This post was edited on 3/13 10:32 AM by Joneslab
This team could has several "that one guy" if they were on a different team. The unselfishness is what makes this team special. On any given night a different player can go off, not to mention the sheer size of this team.
As good as the 96 team was, they really didn't have much of an interior presence. Honestly, could Mark Pope body up Towns for a whole game?
As good as the 96 team was, they really didn't have much of an interior presence. Honestly, could Mark Pope body up Towns for a whole game?
Calhoun is basically a semi-ignorant old man who knows a whole lot about one narrow subject -- the X's and O's of college basketball. He certainly knew how to coach a team, but he's just not intellectually sharp enough to make helpful assessments of other teams as a commentator. They pay him the money, so he has to say something on TV. I think he just says mostly what he thinks the TV audience wants to hear.
Just MHO, of course
Just MHO, of course
Spot on... regarding this year's team. Due to our depth and chemistry, we haven't needed anyone to be "that one guy" for us. That kind of player may be needed for the tournament, however, which is what Calhoun was referring to, I think. The kind of guy that if needed in a crunch... will take the ball EVERY TIME. Mash comes to mind... and KAT certainly has it in him.
As for '96, Antoine Walker could handle the interior pretty well, IIRC... but it may just be very happy-but fuzzy memories on my part.
According to KenPom we are 8th in Offense Efficiency. Not shabby for everyone to be so concerned about our offense. After listening to so many "experts" talk about how bad our offense is and what teams need to do to win, you have to wonder if we are the worst 31-0 team ever.
Anthony Davis was "THAT GUY" in 2012, and scored 6 points in the National Championship Game. Went 1-10 as well. And was STILL named Final Four MVP.
"THAT GUY" doesn't mean the guy who scores the most points.
"THAT GUY" doesn't mean the guy who scores the most points.
Mike & Mike þ@MikeAndMike 2h2 hours ago
"Jahlil Okafor will be a better NBA player than ANYBODY on this current Kentucky team." - Jim Calhoun
"Jahlil Okafor will be a better NBA player than ANYBODY on this current Kentucky team." - Jim Calhoun
True, but kind of ironic in that case. But when your "that guy" can make a 3-point shooter panic and get a walking call*... he doesn't have to score as many points as usual. There's no stat for that!
(*probably my favorite play of that game)
Kevin Durant is a better pro than anybody on Florida's team in 2007, How did that work out for Texas?
My biggest concern for todays game is Billy Donovan. He is one of the best coaches we have faced this year. He knows what it will take to beat the Cats. I look for a lot of driving to the basket challenging Townes and Caluey-Stein every opportunity they have.
I realize thats going to be a huge challenge, but getting those two in foul trouble is almost a must if your going to beat UK., If you look back at past Florida teams, they have always played UK very tough. .
I think UK will prevail, but its going to be a very close game. Go Cats.
I realize thats going to be a huge challenge, but getting those two in foul trouble is almost a must if your going to beat UK., If you look back at past Florida teams, they have always played UK very tough. .
I think UK will prevail, but its going to be a very close game. Go Cats.
Hopefully, Okafor can start meeting with agents and NBA people A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE anybody on this current Kentucky team.
Does it matter what it is due to? That's like saying a guy is only a billionaire because he hit the lottery not because he worked hard. He is still a billionaire for Pete's sake.
This post was edited on 3/13 12:23 PM by meeksfor3
Yeah I heard what he's been saying. Maybe he's right, maybe he's wrong. Still got to finish up the season before I can make any grand, all around announcements like the kind he's been making. I prefer to let it all play out then make my due, diligent and thoughtful comments on placing this year's UK team in perspective with the rest.
Would that many more analysts would take heed and do the same ....
Would that many more analysts would take heed and do the same ....
