Norlander (CBS) picks UK to win SEC

[Kentucky15]

Neither depending on the context. Just people on a spinning blue dot arguing who the good guy is —- on something entirely subjective. If Pope doesn’t turn this around, I expect his support will wane further. For now, there’s still room for people to be on the fence about it one way or the other.

Not with the 4/5 we’re talking about. No, they will support the coach at 0-28. And I’m serious, they only care about the coach, the do not care what happens to the program. You’re right, most yes. But we’re talking about 4 or 5 here, and I could name them right now as could others, who will support the coach 100% through it all even if it hurts the program. Then when that coach leaves they just pretend it didn’t happen and throw full support behind the next one. They don’t care what happens to this program.

That’s what Saul and I were discussing. He and I both know who they are and have dealt with it for 20 years. The one in question might be the worst when it comes to this. It’s just off and makes no sense. Some poeople buy in deep to coach speak man, they buy the charisma hard and can’t let go of it. I’m not talking about a fan who still thinks Pope could do this but has an objective view and thinks he’s not performed to standards as of now.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

IU was up 9 points during the first half. That game was dangerously close to being a blowout in favor of IU. Truth be told, had they kept their turnovers down and shot the 3-ball better, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.

We’ll see tomorrow if Kentucky has made a major turnaround and not just the fact that IU wasn’t a particularly good team and were playing a bad game.

I mean for what its worth you could easily argue the other way as well.

We shot the ball terrible. Had we shot it even somewhat decent we win that game by 20+ and it's not even a discussion.

 

[Kentucky15]

I mean for what its worth you could easily argue the other way as well.

We shot the ball terrible. Had we shot it even somewhat decent we win that game by 20+ and it's not even a discussion.

If I was a little richer I’d be with a model.

It didn’t happen. We don’t shoot well.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

If I was a little richer I’d be with a model.

It didn’t happen. We don’t shoot well.

We shoot a hell of a lot better than 44% from 2 and 20% from 3 lol.

 

[senonesy]

I mean that’s a fairly insane prediction based on results thus far

Nah not as crazy as you think. Fully healthy this team is probably sitting at 9-2.

Yea I mean, I won’t say it can’t happen, but talk about being an insanely wild pick. JQ would have to be shaq like for that to happen. And Oweh or someone would need to mirror Steph curry or Tony delk at minimum. Probably just clicks.

there is absolutely nothing to this point to even suggest a top 3 finish.

so you think the SEC is NBA good this year?

Heck I will be very pleasantly surprised if they even make the tournament honestly. This team and the construction of this squad is really really bad. I was a huge fan of POPE and his bball IQ I will sadly admit I was waaay off.

Good thing we haven’t seen the team at full strength all year. A fair assessment can’t be made on the first 11 games.

 

[Phil_The_Music2]

Sometimes I really wonder if there are more UK fans or closet Bama fans on this board...a lot of fans who are fans of coaches more so than fans of

That's true. It's insane how many people on this board seem to want the Cats to lose.

I'm a huge fan of UK. Not a fan at all of our fan base. Quite embarrassed actually.

 

[One2Three]

I mean for what its worth you could easily argue the other way as well.

We shot the ball terrible. Had we shot it even somewhat decent we win that game by 20+ and it's not even a discussion.

We’ve shot the ball terribly all year. The Indiana game was hardly unique in that regard. Indiana is streaky at best. Had they been on, the game would’ve been a loss.

 

[One2Three]

I'm a huge fan of UK. Not a fan at all of our fan base. Quite embarrassed actually.

“See other fanbases that hate Kentucky? I’m one of the cool fans! Not like those other, pathetic assh*les that we both hate!”

Zoomers have a very appropriate term for this behavior: “Pick me”.

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

Nice to see the check cleared to Norlander.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

We’ve shot the ball terribly all year. The Indiana game was hardly unique in that regard. Indiana is streaky at best. Had they been on, the game would’ve been a loss.

Eh an effective FG% of 54.7% is 77th in the nation.

It's not "great' but I wouldn't say horrible either. We've had several far worse under Cal.

 

[theKybluedude]

Anxious to see the 3 missing (injured) in the UK lineup and particularly after they get some practice and game time together! They might be our 3 best players. Had to be hell for the coaches trying to play and adjust without 2 of them. Experienced Pg &Pf.There’s not another team that wouldn’t dip going through that trouble. Get those 3 back in with Oweh and we should get double figures from just those 4. Let the role players around them relax and get into their spaces. Plus I’d say 3 of those 4 are in our top defensive players.

 

[seccats04]

Can we keep Lowe healthy for that long?

This is the key. And unfortunately for us, some teams in the SEC play basketball the same way the football teams do. As we saw with Butler last year, it's probably only a matter of time before he reinjures it. Just glad that goon Buzz Williams is out of the league.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Coaches have friends in the media. Not always going to be objective

What Seth Greenberg is to Cal, Norlander is to Mark Pope.

Greenberg seems to be more than a friend to Cal. Almost like he is in love with the man.

 

[jedwar]

I don’t think we will win the SEC. Just too many holes in our shooting and too many teams that are better overall.
Right now I’d have to pick these teams ahead of us.

Arkansas
Alabama
Florida
Vandy
Tennessee

I think Arkansas is the best of that group (yuck).

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

This team is good enough to win the SEC. I doubt it happens though.

I haven’t seen any evidence that this team is good enough to win the SEC. Honestly I keep hearing about all this talent, but really I see maybe 4-5 guys on this team who could play on a good team. They sure don’t play like a good team and a win over a mediocre Indiana team doesn’t change my mind. We had a terrible first half yet again against them. One that would have sank us against a real team again.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

That's true. It's insane how many people on this board seem to want the Cats to lose.

I definitely want the Cats to win, but I understand why people are upset and apathetic.

 

[RunninRichie]

I haven’t seen any evidence that this team is good enough to win the SEC. Honestly I keep hearing about all this talent, but really I see maybe 4-5 guys on this team who could play on a good team. They sure don’t play like a good team and a win over a mediocre Indiana team doesn’t change my mind. We had a terrible first half yet again against them. One that would have sank us against a real team again.

It's unreal, after 1 half of basketball, we're all of a sudden about to beat St Johns by 10 or more. Idk, maybe JQ will be so dominant we actually do. But I have 0 faith otherwise.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

If Pope wins the SEC, I’ll accept that he’s probably the coach for us. It would be some kind of miracle to correct the disaster of a season we’re having.

But I’ll believe it when I see it. I’m still thinking we’re dangerously close to at least a .500 or under season.

We are 3-4 more Michigan State like Performances from crashing and burning this season IMHO.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I mean for what its worth you could easily argue the other way as well.

We shot the ball terrible. Had we shot it even somewhat decent we win that game by 20+ and it's not even a discussion.

Yeah but shooting the ball well for this team is rare, the fact was Indiana was up 9 and could have blown it open. We were never close to winning by 20+.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

We shoot a hell of a lot better than 44% from 2 and 20% from 3 lol.

I bet against high major teams we don’t shoot that much higher than 20% from 3. Our numbers are very skewed against cupcakes.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I don’t think we will win the SEC. Just too many holes in our shooting and too many teams that are better overall.
Right now I’d have to pick these teams ahead of us.

Arkansas
Alabama
Florida
Vandy
Tennessee

I think Arkansas is the best of that group (yuck).

Exactly, I don’t think it’s particularly close with those teams either. Of those only Florida seems the most likely to drop a game they shouldn’t.

 

[Ash Williams]

That would make some on this board sad.

One trick pony strikes again

 

[Ash Williams]

I think you’re missing the point. We want to WIN to Kentucky standards. That would be winning to Kentucky standards. Many are complaining because we ARENT winning to Kentucky standards and haven’t been. Backing horrible products, like around 3/4 of you do, is not indicative of being a UK guy. UK guys want to support and protect the program. You can’t protect our program if you’re okay with constant loosing and prayers to make a miracle run at the end of the year. That’s what those guys do, they just want a miracle run and support bad basketball. Most Kentucky fans are not going to endorse that and shouldn’t. What’s hard about that?

If the way you support this program were to continue, we wouldn’t be Kentucky anymore. That’s a fact. Fans don’t need to endorse Kentucky sucking year after year.

Check his post history, his entire agenda is to bash fans

 

[senonesy]

I haven’t seen any evidence that this team is good enough to win the SEC. Honestly I keep hearing about all this talent, but really I see maybe 4-5 guys on this team who could play on a good team. They sure don’t play like a good team and a win over a mediocre Indiana team doesn’t change my mind. We had a terrible first half yet again against them. One that would have sank us against a real team again.

Not trying to be argumentive at all, but of course you haven’t seen anything that would lead you believe they could win it. Take for example if Florida had played thus far with limited minutes from Lee, Haugh and Chinyelu hadn’t played a minute. Shoot, they already have 4 losses at full strength. These first 11 games can’t be used as the measuring stick to how UK will do in the SEC seeing they weren’t at full strength without Lowe, Diabate and JQ. Not sure why this is so hard for folks to understand. If the team stays fully healthy the roster is as good as anyone’s in the SEC.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

I bet against high major teams we don’t shoot that much higher than 20% from 3. Our numbers are very skewed against cupcakes.

I'll take that bet. There's no way in hell we shoot 20% from 3 say in conference.

 

[darkshadesofblue]

This is the key. And unfortunately for us, some teams in the SEC play basketball the same way the football teams do. As we saw with Butler last year, it's probably only a matter of time before he reinjures it. Just glad that goon Buzz Williams is out of the league.

Yes. We are one Lowe shoulder-tear away from our offense being in another tail spin. Idk why nobody is talking about that

 

[chattanogawildcat]

One trick pony strikes again

STFU!

 

[Kentucky15]

Check his post history, his entire agenda is to bash fans

Yea those, guess it would be 4, I don’t really believe are UK fans. I’ve never met a fan at Rupp or anywhere else for that matter that look at you after a loss and tell you how stupid you are for expecting more. Never met a a UK guy who’s hostile at you for wanting a change in coaching for 1 1st round exists, players sitting intentionally, disrespecting the base, losing their *** to every team with a pulse.

They’re probably lousivie trolls. I’m sure it’s been that way the entire time. Best believe we win a game or two and they’ll be out in full force. I’m just simple, win to the standard or be replaced. I don’t care if you win a game or two. Win most, win decisively, or be gone. That’s all year and in the tournament.

 

[Mike-D]

That's true. It's insane how many people on this board seem to want the Cats to lose.

In other words:

I aM a BeTTaR fAn tHaN aNyoNe caLLinG tHiS tEam oUt FoR wUt iT iS.

 

[Mike-D]

This current line-up of Lowe, Aberdeen, Oweh, Mo & JQ could make some noise in the SEC. Idk about winning it. Lowe has to somehow stay healthy. Feel like we gotta get another PG for the 2nd semester.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I'll take that bet. There's no way in hell we shoot 20% from 3 say in conference.

I’m not saying from now on, I’m saying so far.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Not trying to be argumentive at all, but of course you haven’t seen anything that would lead you believe they could win it. Take for example if Florida had played thus far with limited minutes from Lee, Haugh and Chinyelu hadn’t played a minute. Shoot, they already have 4 losses at full strength. These first 11 games can’t be used as the measuring stick to how UK will do in the SEC seeing they weren’t at full strength without Lowe, Diabate and JQ. Not sure why this is so hard for folks to understand. If the team stays fully healthy the roster is as good as anyone’s in the SEC.

Of course not and yes injuries have definitely caused some issues. I hope at full strength we are way closer to our pre season prediction. We need JJ to get meaningful time and learn how to guard because his offense is really next level when he takes smart shots. That said we gave up on 3 games and that isn’t cool.

 

[AFKY_Blue_RedsBengals]

Kentucky has that potential with everyone on the roster healthy. This defense lead by a front court with JQ/Mo D are built to win in the SEC. Offense runs so much smoother with Lowe on the floor.

 

[UKCowboys]

View attachment 1082981

Then again....

 

[Uncle B.S.]

Then again....

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Norlander knows. This team is just different with Lowe and JQ on the court.

We rebounded 48% of our misses today. JQ had 5 of those 16. Moreno had another 5. That combo can be lethal on the boards.

Lowe's ability to get to the rim as well as his passing is a major plus.

And the defense that has been pretty good lately even without JQ is way better with him.

 

[Walker34]

What an insane prediction!

Want to hear something even crazier? I agree with him...

What an insane prediction!

Want to hear something even crazier? I agree with him...

They have as good of chance as anyone if Lowe plays. If Lowe misses many games. Kentucky is probably a 8/9 seed. IMO he is that important. I am more concerned about his health than JQs. I think JQ will be fine

 

[Walker34]

I'm a huge fan of UK. Not a fan at all of our fan base. Quite embarrassed actually.

I Agee. Is it the majority of the fan base though or mostly this board? I am convinced that a high percentage of posters here are not UK fans. Always been that way but it is even worse since the board changed over a few months ago.

 

[bbnkat02]

What an insane prediction!

Want to hear something even crazier? I agree with him...

Ask me in 6 games.

We could win it. We also might struggle. We just dont know. We will know very soon a Bama.

 

[Phil_The_Music2]

“See other fanbases that hate Kentucky? I’m one of the cool fans! Not like those other, pathetic assh*les that we both hate!”

Zoomers have a very appropriate term for this behavior: “Pick me”.

I Agee. Is it the majority of the fan base though or mostly this board? I am convinced that a high percentage of posters here are not UK fans. Always been that way but it is even worse since the board changed over a few months ago.

Yeah you raise a good point. Fans I know outside of this board aren't nearly this nutty.