Gonzaga, Duke, and Louisville
This year is probably shot due to multiple injuries but I kinda like what the future holds...
This year is probably shot due to multiple injuries but I kinda like what the future holds...
With a full, healthy roster Pope beat...
- Thread starter Blueathletics
- Start date
Yes, but let’s face it: It took awhile for teams to adjust defensively to our style of play. In the beginning of the year, we led the nation in three point shooting. But it was fool’s gold. As soon as teams figured us out, our offense was never the same.
But I agree, that the future is promising.
But I agree, that the future is promising.
Only one of those fully healthy was Duke.
7-0 when fully healthy.
Butler hurt his ankle in the Clemson game. Kriisa went down the next game.
What might have been?
Too late to dwell on that.
Time to make a push in March and finish strong.
Butler hurt his ankle in the Clemson game. Kriisa went down the next game.
What might have been?
Too late to dwell on that.
Time to make a push in March and finish strong.
Huge wins for sure!
But we have to be fair about this. Louisville was missing I believe two or three significant players when we played.
And I hated typing that because NOBODY hates Louisville more than I do it’s just all facts need to be stated.
But we have to be fair about this. Louisville was missing I believe two or three significant players when we played.
And I hated typing that because NOBODY hates Louisville more than I do it’s just all facts need to be stated.
Louisville sucks and UK wasn't fully healthy (neither was UL to be fair). Duke game is only game we had a 100% healthy team.
Every team deals with injuries. We have regressed as the season has played out. Those wins were a lifetime ago. I’m convinced some of these guys came in with lingering issues. It’s part of the package.
Beat #5 Tennessee with an unhealthy lineup. This team is Jeckle and Hyde.
All those wins were great and Pope exceeded expectations in pulling
them off. I think he deserves more credit for doing what he has done
to this point with the roster he has had to work with.
Our(fans) expectations exceeded reality because of our early success.
We never were as good as as some/most thought. Injuries hurt this team
no doubt, but treading water in the SEC is nothing to be taken lightly.
If we can go 1-1 to close the season the team has done more than fans
had any reasonable right to expect.
them off. I think he deserves more credit for doing what he has done
to this point with the roster he has had to work with.
Our(fans) expectations exceeded reality because of our early success.
We never were as good as as some/most thought. Injuries hurt this team
no doubt, but treading water in the SEC is nothing to be taken lightly.
If we can go 1-1 to close the season the team has done more than fans
had any reasonable right to expect.
Team can still make the Sweet 16, and even E8 if the matchups fall just the right way. But the best realistic expectation is round of 16.
It’s not so much this as much as how we match up. We will smoke any team that likes to grind out an offense. We were awful yesterday and put up 78 points. That’s a number that beats a lot of teams. We are just not good on the defensive side of the ball and were definitely not good having to use 3 - star freshman to do it.
It’s been years since we’ve beat as many highly ranked teams as we have this year.
The Auburn game sucked, but I got used to being manhandled in ranked games under Cal. It was nice to win a few of those this year.
The Auburn game sucked, but I got used to being manhandled in ranked games under Cal. It was nice to win a few of those this year.
Disagree, didn't Louisville and gonzaga have time to watch our games and 'adjust'? As the year has gone on and injuries have hit us more and more several things are cascading onto us. A lot of our offense is reading defensive movements, and with key experienced players out/diminished our inplay adjusting has gone down the tubes. Basically teams have to plan for like 50% of what they normally would. When our freshmen are playing major minutes we are usually getting killed. I will say they've improved a little. With our diminished options it is much easier to focus on certain things, like limiting oweh or defending the three. Our effective talent on the floor is way diminished and it is evident to every knowledgeable basketball fan. Pope has proven he is elite, we just have to wait on more talent.
If they make the Sweet 16 with this depleted roster Pope deserves COY
This should be pinned at the top of the board. We are decimated by injuries. It’s still why I believe Pope could be national coach of the year if we win a few games in the tournament.
Oh our offense wasn’t the same with Travis Perry, Colin Chandler, and Trent Noah getting considerable PT at the 1,2, and 3 position due to injuries? That’s crazy
And the season is still not over yet....absolutely this team could win more, its just figuring out how to do it...What are the weaknesses of our opponents? How can we remain with a semi healthy roster and win games? It's not just a sprint, it's like a marathon.
Of course it did, it directly relates completely to your point.
We've had to play 3 mid-level freshmen big minutes as backups and minutes even as starters in this year's SEC. Some on here need to look at this more objectively.
We are 4-3 against projected 1 or 2 seeds. Beat Duke, Florida, and Tennessee twice. Lost to Auburn and Bama twice.
Don’t think anyone can match what UK has done against the cream of the crop.
U6 about to be ranked ahead of us and has a brighter postseason outlook
People greatly underestimate how much Kerr Kriisa brought to the team. We had a great, experience guard who could throw a completely different look at teams. Now we have a freshman who is still struggling to find his place. It was a huge loss for our team.
And we would be ranked in the top 10 playing in their conference, easily. They won’t do anything if note in the NCAA tournament because they just aren’t that good.