First time logging in since the conversion/sale/merger/whatever. Here are my thoughts:
1. This game was played this early for a reason, and that reason was to negate any advantage UK might have had if they played over a month from now (namely, JQ, and there's just no other justification). Credit to Kelsey and the Cards for pushing for it, making it happen, and catching UK with their pants down. They were geared up, ready, and likely spent the entire summer / early practices talking about the preparing for UK. The YUM Center was primed and ready, too, and it reminded me of Assembly Hall when IU / Watford happened and they won their national title in December. It happens. We move on.
2. Mark Pope has no idea what his rotation is right now. None. He is just mixing, matching, observing, and making some bad decisions. I expect that to work itself out over the next month ... that said, I'm a bit concerned that he has too many options, which can be a problem. He needs a clear separation between starters, a few backups, and "break glass in emergency" mode guys on the bench. Going 11 deep isn't ideal for college basketball. Coach K proved that his entire career. Calipari's best work was done with short rotations (sans the platoon outlier year - but that was an anomaly and rosters won't be built that way in the NIL era).
3. Aberdeen (until we see JQ) is the team's best player. I firmly believe that. Needs to be the leader, demand the ball, go get a bucket type of guy. It's NOT Oweh.
4. Lowe looked like he was rushing everything and uncomfortable last night. Consider it coming off an injury but that timeline is short before we need to get concerned.
5. Oweh has been a disaster thus far. Let's just be honest. You can blame the toe all you want, but his attitude sucks, his level of energy is poor, and he is playing like an entitled "star" who got paid and is coasting. Why is he taking so many threes other than to impress some scouts and get drafted higher? It's not his game, never has been, and his broken jumper is gross ... only MKG's and Wayne Turner's were worse. His game is driving, attacking, and energy, and he's not bringing any of it right now. I actually wish he would have just sat out last night and UK would have had a built-in excuse for the loss (no Oweh, no JQ = free pass from all).
6. Garrison is a mid-major talent. Sorry. He better play 6-7 minutes per game when JQ is healthy and not in foul trouble or many remote controls will be broken around BBN. Probably should transfer to a lesser program, to be honest.
7. Moreno is a bright spot. Brings us lots of hope for a strong freshman season ... cautiously optimistic he won't think he's a pro and he will end up returning to be a huge piece as a sophomore.
8. Chandler has the Koby Brea, Antonio Reeves, Reed Sheppard green light in my book. I'm not as confident when he shoots for some reason, but you can't deny his numbers since March of last year. Fire away, son.
9. Jelavic had 6 points in 10 minutes, looked decent, didn't play the 2H. Why? (Pope has no idea what his rotation is ...)
10. Kam Williams needs run. Looked great. You have to have his offense and length out there, I don't care if he misses a few defensive assignments. Why didn't he play the 1H? (Again, Pope has no idea what his rotation is ...)
11. I'd consider Mo D at the 5 when the other team is not even trying to throw the ball into the post for 95% of the game. Or Jelavic. This Garrison/Diaboute/Oweh trio is pretty much an unplayable trio if you need to score points.
I think the Michigan State game tells us quite a bit. Reserving judgment until then. We are DUE to beat them. They aren't loaded. This is a game UK should win.
I like my team.
1. This game was played this early for a reason, and that reason was to negate any advantage UK might have had if they played over a month from now (namely, JQ, and there's just no other justification). Credit to Kelsey and the Cards for pushing for it, making it happen, and catching UK with their pants down. They were geared up, ready, and likely spent the entire summer / early practices talking about the preparing for UK. The YUM Center was primed and ready, too, and it reminded me of Assembly Hall when IU / Watford happened and they won their national title in December. It happens. We move on.
2. Mark Pope has no idea what his rotation is right now. None. He is just mixing, matching, observing, and making some bad decisions. I expect that to work itself out over the next month ... that said, I'm a bit concerned that he has too many options, which can be a problem. He needs a clear separation between starters, a few backups, and "break glass in emergency" mode guys on the bench. Going 11 deep isn't ideal for college basketball. Coach K proved that his entire career. Calipari's best work was done with short rotations (sans the platoon outlier year - but that was an anomaly and rosters won't be built that way in the NIL era).
3. Aberdeen (until we see JQ) is the team's best player. I firmly believe that. Needs to be the leader, demand the ball, go get a bucket type of guy. It's NOT Oweh.
4. Lowe looked like he was rushing everything and uncomfortable last night. Consider it coming off an injury but that timeline is short before we need to get concerned.
5. Oweh has been a disaster thus far. Let's just be honest. You can blame the toe all you want, but his attitude sucks, his level of energy is poor, and he is playing like an entitled "star" who got paid and is coasting. Why is he taking so many threes other than to impress some scouts and get drafted higher? It's not his game, never has been, and his broken jumper is gross ... only MKG's and Wayne Turner's were worse. His game is driving, attacking, and energy, and he's not bringing any of it right now. I actually wish he would have just sat out last night and UK would have had a built-in excuse for the loss (no Oweh, no JQ = free pass from all).
6. Garrison is a mid-major talent. Sorry. He better play 6-7 minutes per game when JQ is healthy and not in foul trouble or many remote controls will be broken around BBN. Probably should transfer to a lesser program, to be honest.
7. Moreno is a bright spot. Brings us lots of hope for a strong freshman season ... cautiously optimistic he won't think he's a pro and he will end up returning to be a huge piece as a sophomore.
8. Chandler has the Koby Brea, Antonio Reeves, Reed Sheppard green light in my book. I'm not as confident when he shoots for some reason, but you can't deny his numbers since March of last year. Fire away, son.
9. Jelavic had 6 points in 10 minutes, looked decent, didn't play the 2H. Why? (Pope has no idea what his rotation is ...)
10. Kam Williams needs run. Looked great. You have to have his offense and length out there, I don't care if he misses a few defensive assignments. Why didn't he play the 1H? (Again, Pope has no idea what his rotation is ...)
11. I'd consider Mo D at the 5 when the other team is not even trying to throw the ball into the post for 95% of the game. Or Jelavic. This Garrison/Diaboute/Oweh trio is pretty much an unplayable trio if you need to score points.
I think the Michigan State game tells us quite a bit. Reserving judgment until then. We are DUE to beat them. They aren't loaded. This is a game UK should win.
I like my team.
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