What is certain, right now ...
- Thread starter megablue
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I worry about a couple things. I'm afraid we didn't adequately replace Brea and that Pope's offense needs guys like that. Maybe Noah/chandler can be that guy. Time will tell
I'm also concerned that Lowe doesn't have the body or fortitude to play in the physical SEC. I keep saying it, but he really gave me Wheeler flashbacks last night and that's only because I forgot about Harrow.
We need to develop a stretch 4 as well. Carr is harder to replace than some people like to thing.
Oh and one last thing, We crushed Cal for trying to play 2 bigs all the time. Low and behold, Pope is replicating that.
I'm also concerned that Lowe doesn't have the body or fortitude to play in the physical SEC. I keep saying it, but he really gave me Wheeler flashbacks last night and that's only because I forgot about Harrow.
We need to develop a stretch 4 as well. Carr is harder to replace than some people like to thing.
Oh and one last thing, We crushed Cal for trying to play 2 bigs all the time. Low and behold, Pope is replicating that.
I am not saying we need two bigs playing, but we could not rebound down the stretch when he tried to go smaller. This team has defensive issues and I am concerned it is not the players. The team only plays defense when it wants too and that should not be the mindset. Defense has to become a priority!
Bigger worry is we were told Pope's offense needs a guy like Amari Williams. So under-appreciated in hindsight. He facilitated it all from the top and pulled the opposing bigs out of the lane. If you're a good passer from that position, you're very hard to guard and that's Pope's special sauce. Is JQ going to play that role for UK? Because Garrison is CLUELESS.
To be an elite team, you need a majority of players than can play on both ends of the floor. I didn't think we had that last year ... and I'm not sure we do this year. To be really good, we need shortstops that can hit for a high average AND be stellar in the field ...
My opinion on college basketball this offseason was that about 15 programs bought themselves far superior rosters with few holes and considerable depth. Louisville and UK were both in that group in my mind.
Nothing has changed my mind on that still being the case.
Nothing has changed my mind on that still being the case.
We had more field goals than they did (32-31). Out rebounded them 42-40. Only made one less three pointer, 12 compared to 13. But committed 14 turnovers, to their 6. It seemed as though they scored off of every turnover. They also got to the line more. Kentucky has to learn to value the basketball. Especially against evenly matched teams. You can't gift teams easy points and expect to win.
Despite the sloppy play and bad decisions, UK still fought back and gave themselves a shot in the final minutes. However, whenever they cut the lead to single digits, they turned it over or made bad decisions with the ball. If they can fix those mental mistakes, this team has a very high ceiling. Physically, we're fine.
For much of the season that WAS our offense. That offense from BYU was nowhere to be found at some point.
I believe we had a better starting 5 last year (when healthy), but we're deeper this year.
I thought that going into this season. That opinion hasn't changed.
I thought that going into this season. That opinion hasn't changed.
Guys need to learn their roles and stay with what they do best. That would be a start.
Agree, the points off turnovers killed Kentucky. With all their problems, Kentucky made runs at the end of both halfs. I think their depth was wearing Louisville down, but the hole they dug was just too deep to climb out of