What the Auburn game means for the season
[caption id="attachment_151535" align="alignnone" width="595"]
Image via Laura Chramer | oanow.com[/caption]
Most people who follow Kentucky basketball are looking forward to Saturday’s SEC war between powerhouses Kentucky and Florida, but the Cats still find themselves faced with a tough road game against Auburn today. Unlike us, the Cats don't have the luxury of looking forward to the big game and the way they handle this game could tell us a lot about how this team has grown and matured.
Not Looking Ahead
As I just mentioned, most Kentucky fans have feasted their focus upon the matchup of two teams with National Championship aspirations in Kentucky and Florida Saturday. Kentucky on the other hand, although a nine-point favorite, could find themselves on the losing end tonight in Auburn if they prematurely focus on their hunger for some Gator.
Earlier this season, it's arguable that this freshman laden Kentucky team looked forward to the Louisville game along with all the glory and expectations it brings. The Cats found themselves falling short on the road to North Carolina and struggling with a clearly inferior Belmont team. At this point in the season, Kentucky is looking to prove they are a team to take serious and the Florida game is the perfect stage. But you still have to get through the Auburn game first. Slipping up and taking a road loss to the Tigers could kill momentum going into the Florida game and easily mean back-to-back losses for Cal's squad. Something like this could ruin the momentum and confidence for the rest of the season, which could hurt the Cats down the stretch. They still have rematches with LSU and Arkansas and a season finale in Gainesville.
Not Overlooking Teams
Several times this season, the Cats have struggled with teams for a large chunk of the game that they should completely dominate. There could be several explanations as to why Kentucky has struggled putting away, and in the case of Arkansas and LSU, beating mediocre teams. My theory is the Cats, coming in as the top freshmen and having the name "Kentucky" across the front of their jersey, figured they could show up and teams would bow down. That, by far hasn't been the case this season. Teams don't fear Kentucky and love when they get a chance to knock off these glorified freshmen everybody loves to talk about. This team now knows that, but elite and championship teams don't overlook any opponent and for this team to take the next step they have to be able to focus on lesser teams. Beating Auburn tonight would give UK four straight wins against unranked teams with three coming on the road. Kentucky could be taking that step in maturity, which is needed in March.
Learning From Experience
[caption id="attachment_151526" align="alignnone" width="525"]
Image via Rich Sugg | Kansas City Star[/caption]
Tonight in Auburn will be the second time the Cats have played a duo of explosive scoring guards. The first time in Columbia, Missouri, Jabari Brown and Jordan Clarkson poured on 61 points against Kentucky. Chris Denson and K.T. Harrell are similar in their scoring abilities and rack up 39.5 ppg between them. If Cal can't get this group to contain them, it will be ugly for whoever finds themselves guarding these two on the wing. On the other hand, it will be a great sign for the growth of this team if they can limit Harrell and Denson by showing they are learning how to adjust and be better when they face similar talent. For this team to reach the seemingly unlimited ceiling that is possible, they have to be able to learn from where teams carve them up and get better from it the next game. We still might need the team to take a class on transition defense seeing how they still haven't grasped that concept.
All this being said, the Auburn game seems to be a little more important than seen on paper. The Cats have a lot at stake and could greatly benefit or suffer based on how tonight plays out. I really don't see Kentucky losing this game although it would still be discouraging to see another slow start, Denson and Harrell go off, and their transition defense being unable to stop people again. They could prove a lot to themselves and the BBN with this win. Now just show us you've learned from your mistakes.
@CodyDanielKSR
Image via Laura Chramer | oanow.com[/caption]
Most people who follow Kentucky basketball are looking forward to Saturday’s SEC war between powerhouses Kentucky and Florida, but the Cats still find themselves faced with a tough road game against Auburn today. Unlike us, the Cats don't have the luxury of looking forward to the big game and the way they handle this game could tell us a lot about how this team has grown and matured.
Not Looking Ahead
As I just mentioned, most Kentucky fans have feasted their focus upon the matchup of two teams with National Championship aspirations in Kentucky and Florida Saturday. Kentucky on the other hand, although a nine-point favorite, could find themselves on the losing end tonight in Auburn if they prematurely focus on their hunger for some Gator.
Earlier this season, it's arguable that this freshman laden Kentucky team looked forward to the Louisville game along with all the glory and expectations it brings. The Cats found themselves falling short on the road to North Carolina and struggling with a clearly inferior Belmont team. At this point in the season, Kentucky is looking to prove they are a team to take serious and the Florida game is the perfect stage. But you still have to get through the Auburn game first. Slipping up and taking a road loss to the Tigers could kill momentum going into the Florida game and easily mean back-to-back losses for Cal's squad. Something like this could ruin the momentum and confidence for the rest of the season, which could hurt the Cats down the stretch. They still have rematches with LSU and Arkansas and a season finale in Gainesville.
Not Overlooking Teams
Several times this season, the Cats have struggled with teams for a large chunk of the game that they should completely dominate. There could be several explanations as to why Kentucky has struggled putting away, and in the case of Arkansas and LSU, beating mediocre teams. My theory is the Cats, coming in as the top freshmen and having the name "Kentucky" across the front of their jersey, figured they could show up and teams would bow down. That, by far hasn't been the case this season. Teams don't fear Kentucky and love when they get a chance to knock off these glorified freshmen everybody loves to talk about. This team now knows that, but elite and championship teams don't overlook any opponent and for this team to take the next step they have to be able to focus on lesser teams. Beating Auburn tonight would give UK four straight wins against unranked teams with three coming on the road. Kentucky could be taking that step in maturity, which is needed in March.
Learning From Experience
[caption id="attachment_151526" align="alignnone" width="525"] Image via Rich Sugg | Kansas City Star[/caption]
Tonight in Auburn will be the second time the Cats have played a duo of explosive scoring guards. The first time in Columbia, Missouri, Jabari Brown and Jordan Clarkson poured on 61 points against Kentucky. Chris Denson and K.T. Harrell are similar in their scoring abilities and rack up 39.5 ppg between them. If Cal can't get this group to contain them, it will be ugly for whoever finds themselves guarding these two on the wing. On the other hand, it will be a great sign for the growth of this team if they can limit Harrell and Denson by showing they are learning how to adjust and be better when they face similar talent. For this team to reach the seemingly unlimited ceiling that is possible, they have to be able to learn from where teams carve them up and get better from it the next game. We still might need the team to take a class on transition defense seeing how they still haven't grasped that concept.
All this being said, the Auburn game seems to be a little more important than seen on paper. The Cats have a lot at stake and could greatly benefit or suffer based on how tonight plays out. I really don't see Kentucky losing this game although it would still be discouraging to see another slow start, Denson and Harrell go off, and their transition defense being unable to stop people again. They could prove a lot to themselves and the BBN with this win. Now just show us you've learned from your mistakes.
@CodyDanielKSR
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