Keys to the W on Tuesday……

[TTTblue24]

-Robinson has to have a big game, 20 or more
-foul trouble, bigs gotta stay out of it along with butler I think & oweh
- butler and oweh knocking a few down
-turnovers, we’ve taken care of the ball but this is a step up from what we’ve played
-I think Carr needs a big game & think he will have one.

 

[ScottGreene22]

Brea needs a Big game along with Robinson and think Carr needs to get going, if he doesn’t #15 needs his minutes.

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

Butler really needs to look like a veteran floor general. He was Wheeler-level rough against Bucknell and Pope had enough of it when he yanked him out.

Oweh or Robinson needs to show some attitude and become a star.

More Williams, less Garrison.

Brea keep hitting - no disappearing act a la Kellen Grady or Antonio Reeves on the big stage.

 

[Louis_Skunt]

With our kind of offense, I think it all comes down to how well we shoot from outside.

If UK is dropping 3’s at a high clip, we win.
If they’re clanking, it might get ugly.
I don’t think we’re gonna have much success driving.

 

[megablue]

Both teams will take a lot of threes in the game.
The team who shoots them best will win.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

I’m a little worried about our overall athleticism. Also a little worried about Butler and Kerr just making the good pass as opposed to trying to make it a highlight pass. Brea and Robinson need to come out hot. Carr needs to show something. Protect the ball and rebound like it’s a priority…..cause it willl be.

 

[travisbickle_rivals252984]

I’m going with Butler and Oweh making it difficult for Duke to initiate offense. First pass denial on Flagg as well. Timely help/dig downs coming from different spots when he does catch it. Make him uncomfortable and make him make decisions. He’s going to get his but make him work. He seems already to be susceptible to cramping up in the second half.

 

[4Frusciante#]

I’m a little worried about our overall athleticism. Also a little worried about Butler and Kerr just making the good pass as opposed to trying to make it a highlight pass. Brea and Robinson need to come out hot. Carr needs to show something. Protect the ball and rebound like it’s a priority…..cause it willl be.

I expect them to have a more serious attitude playing against Duke. I can't see them doing anything dumb just to be flashy in that game. Kriisa's no look passes were flashy but they were on the money every time.

 

[MonsterMash79]

Yeh… I’d like to see Wake forest Carr out there

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

How creighton beat UConn at home last year is what Kentucky is gonna need to happen Tuesday night

 

[Catzman]

I think its as easy as defending without fouling. We haven't experienced foul trouble yet, and I hate to play into the trope, but my fear is Oweh, Butler and Williams getting in foul trouble early and clipping our wings that have allowed us to fly high so early on. If we can defend hard but smart and avoid foul troubles, and hit a solid clip from deep, we are tough to beat.


I dont know how we defend flag as he's a match up nightmare for us. Someone we'd typically put a Thiero type player on, but we have none of those. I almost feel like putting Oweh on him and harassing him to put his ball handling to the test and forcing him to be a jump shooter. Or we let Carr just do his best and shut down the other 4 on the court and just accept Flagg will get his.

 

[NociHTTP]

Make them shoot from deep.

 

[Panthur]

Our second chance defense is pretty shaky right now. Exacerbated by our weak rebounding although I was happy to see that improve a bit yesterday. Imo if we can shore up our weak defense to the point where Duke doesn’t feast on us like a swarm of vultures because of it, then we can contend with them on offense and we have a decent chance to beat them by outhearting them. We don’t have several of the flashy advantages they have offensively but we do have a few unappreciated advantages offensively and I’m okay with that.

 

[Cleatortoises]

With our kind of offense, I think it all comes down to how well we shoot from outside.

If UK is dropping 3’s at a high clip, we win.
If they’re clanking, it might get ugly.
I don’t think we’re gonna have much success driving.

Oweh won't have trouble driving.

 

[chroix]

Butler really needs to look like a veteran floor general. He was Wheeler-level rough against Bucknell and Pope had enough of it when he yanked him out.

Oweh or Robinson needs to show some attitude and become a star.

More Williams, less Garrison.

Brea keep hitting - no disappearing act a la Kellen Grady or Antonio Reeves on the big stage.

I think this. And they’re capable of all of it.

 

[SemperFiCat]

Can't we just boat race them? Flag could get 35, but can't we just run and gun'em out of the gym? Rely on our experience to trump their inexperience? Mix in a press, mix up def, and just run and let it fly.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

I think its as easy as defending without fouling. We haven't experienced foul trouble yet, and I hate to play into the trope, but my fear is Oweh, Butler and Williams getting in foul trouble early and clipping our wings that have allowed us to fly high so early on. If we can defend hard but smart and avoid foul troubles, and hit a solid clip from deep, we are tough to beat.


I dont know how we defend flag as he's a match up nightmare for us. Someone we'd typically put a Thiero type player on, but we have none of those. I almost feel like putting Oweh on him and harassing him to put his ball handling to the test and forcing him to be a jump shooter. Or we let Carr just do his best and shut down the other 4 on the court and just accept Flagg will get his.

Oweh probably needs to guard Knueppel...that dude may be a better scorer than Flagg. This may be a game where we see some gimmick defenses: box/1 or triangle/2 type stuff?

 

[Runt#1969]

Need a solid game from everyone, a complete team effort is needed to pull this off. Just compete and rebound like crazy, play with poise, under control, ditch trying to be overtly flashy in this game. Gameplay will speak enough in the end for how well they are perceived. I'm certain the gameplan and scouting will be spot on, so we need to execute and be as well prepared as we can possibly be for this one.

I'm really pleased to see us get dUKe as an early season test for our team!

Defense needs multiple guys to step up. Play physical and punch them in the mouth. Everyone says "how will Kentucky fare when someone punches them in the mouth?" well... how about the Blue Devils getting punched in the mouth ... gut punched too ?? I say we punch them hard. Set the tone early and often.

Rebounding, I think, will be the key in who wins this game. If we outrebound them, we can, and will, win this game. I look for big games from Robinson and Brea. Williams and Carr need to play smart and watch out for foul trouble issues. Just play within ourselves and maximize effort. Out hustle the Blue Devils. Play confident and within ourselves.

I think dUKe will play us straight up, and that's fine with me.

I like us to make for a 2 point win. Would be a great result ! We're playing with house money on this one, folks.

Go Big Blue !

 

[megablue]

Duke bigs pump fake a lot.
Carr and Williams better take note.

 

[lazycat75]

I'm just not worried about much. Pope will have the team ready when the bell rings this time Kentucky doesn't have to depend on Fr our top 10 has seen big games dUKe's hasn't. #GBB

 

[Cleatortoises]

Oweh probably needs to guard Knueppel...that dude may be a better scorer than Flagg. This may be a game where we see some gimmick defenses: box/1 or triangle/2 type stuff?

I think he is. That is the match up I am looking forward to.

 

[JasonRDunn]

Somewhat concerned when both Butler and Oweh are in the game at the same time and they sag off them, if they are missing outside shots. Changes how we like to play and clogs up the game.

 

[PoBilly]

Play hard, play smart, run our stuff, know our stuff and play decent to good defense. We will win. Our guys do not have trouble shooting or cutting so far. Yes things will be harder. Both teams have looked good against lesser opponents when it matters. We have disrupters in our 2 starting guards, we have one mental disrupter and then we have a wrecking ball of a middle guy, with pieces all around.

 

[bucsrule8872]

If we shoot the 3 well, especially to start the game, we have a shot. The pressure is on then to win. They are favored and none of the talking heads are really paying much attention to UK. Come out and make some 3s and force them to guard us tight on the perimeter and it will open things up for Oweh, Butler, and Robinson to drive the lane. We come out cold and it could be a long night.

 

[podgejeff_]

I've seen multiple people say that Carr needs to get going or show something. He's averaging 11 ppg/3rpg/2apg. He's scored as many points as Robinson. Not to mention he's stretching defenses and opening up lanes and running the floor well in transition.

He's doing fine.

 

[nssdigitalchumps]

Eh. I think we will be ready. Duke has all the pressure.

 

[TTTblue24]

Brea definitely has to stay hot and hopefully Robinson and others catch a little fire as well, if we’re not hitting then where does the scoring come from?? Kinda what we would say during the Pitino days until we got Mercer, DA & mashburn types coming here. I think Robinson is and has to be that guy this year but this game and big road games, outside shooting will be the key all year.

 

[westerncat]

I feel better about the game because we have a coach and a staff that studies the team we are playing against.

 

[nssdigitalchumps]

I feel better about the game because we have a coach and a staff that studies the team we are playing against.

That helps a lot. Such a foreign concept the last 10+ years.

 

[WildcatNC]

Main thing to me is we just play fast and loose with a chip on our shoulder because everyone has us getting whipped by Flagg and a title favorite Duke team.

Pressure is on Duke. Just hit 3s and smile at the Duke bench running back on D.

 

[Aike]

The two teams play similarly, and have similar statistical profiles at this early point in the season.

If one team can both win the rebounding battle and force more turnovers, they probably win the game.

Basically need to rebound like our lives depend on it, value the basketball, and generate more transition opportunities from our defense than Duke does.

 

[bigbluefattycat]

I don't think this team is dependent on a specific person having a good game or avoiding a bad game. I think we need someone to take advantage of the miss match and the team needs to feed the hot hand. Who knows who that will be. God help the opposing team when all hands are on fire.

 

[TheDude73]

Can't we just boat race them? Flag could get 35, but can't we just run and gun'em out of the gym? Rely on our experience to trump their inexperience? Mix in a press, mix up def, and just run and let it fly.

Yes, but also take what they give us, like Wright St. If the lane is open or a player is open near the basket, hit that first before just launching threes. So far we tend to do that.

Passing crisp and quickly.

Rebounding, both defensive and offensive.

Hit a minimum of 12 threes while getting in the paint as well.

AVOID MIDRANGE JUMPERS AT ALL COSTS!

 

[HICATFAN]

Defense….Rebounding…

Offense will take care of it’s self…

AlohaCat

 

[Mozzie]

I've seen multiple people say that Carr needs to get going or show something. He's averaging 11 ppg/3rpg/2apg. He's scored as many points as Robinson. Not to mention he's stretching defenses and opening up lanes and running the floor well in transition.

He's doing fine.

Plus he has experience beating Duke, which he did last year with 18 points in the game.

 

[UKAlum84]

All I can think of is, do not go on a scoring drought or settle for open jump shots. Do not be afraid of contact.

 

[UKAlum84]

Hope the team gets in extra practice at the neutral site of the game.

 

[anonymous_2024]

Per Joe Adams if we score more pointd than Duke we will win.

 

[G-PIP]

Oweh won't have trouble driving.

Yeah, I don't see Duke preventing Oweh from driving, or Butler for that matter. But you obviously want them doing that when it's advantageous, and not the old putting the head down and just going.

 

[EliteBlue]

I've seen multiple people say that Carr needs to get going or show something. He's averaging 11 ppg/3rpg/2apg. He's scored as many points as Robinson. Not to mention he's stretching defenses and opening up lanes and running the floor well in transition.

He's doing fine.

Yeah. The downfall of Carr has been greatly exaggerated. He’s playing within himself and averaging double figs in a guard oriented offense. I’d like to see him hit an occasional 3 to go with the interior game and putbacks, but other than that he has done his job