Andy Lyons - Getty Images
Terrence Jones played better today, but the Wildcats forward needs to rebound the basketball better.
The Kentucky Wildcats began their journey toward another SEC basketball title today by dispatching the South Carolina Gamecocks, 79-64, in Rupp Arena. Despite allowing 45 points from the Gamecocks in the second half, Kentucky carried a large lead into the locker room at halftime which Darrin Horn's team was unable to overcome.
The Gamecocks came to play today, particularly in the second half, and gave an outstanding effort characteristic of Horn's teams. Bruce Ellington is back with the basketball team for the duration now that football is over, and even though he struggled mightily shooting the ball at times, he had a lot more help this year than last, particularly from USC freshman Damien Leonard, who really played an outstanding game with 15 big points on 5-8 shooting, 3-6 from the arc. Well done to the Gamecocks, they are improving game by game and will be a team to be reckoned with next year.
Kentucky, as a team, played well for most of the game, but seemed to lose some intensity in the second half after they went up by 20 points. Another problem for Kentucky was the fact that they failed to rebound the ball on the defensive end, and struggled to get 50-50 balls and make the effort plays that South Carolina had no trouble making. If there is a troubling sign in this game for Kentucky fans, it is the effort they failed to expend fighting for the basketball.
Overall, it's hard to be critical of anything in particular other than the rebounding. Kentucky played well on both ends, and handled the scoring-challenge Gamecocks easily and were never seriously threatened. But this is only the beginning of the season, and now Kentucky must go on the road to Auburn, and even though the Tigers are not a good team this year, the road has a tendency to impact younger players.
But the road trip doesn't end on the Plains. On the way home, the 'Cats must make a stop in Knoxville to be tested by the Tennessee Volunteers, big winners today in an upset over the Florida Gators.
The SEC season is now fully engaged, and it will be a challenge. Go, 'Cats!!
0 recs | 56 comments
Louisville just blew it in double overtime
God I love it when they lose almost as much as when UK wins……not quite but still
OvaDwayneBowe - January 7, 2012
LOVE IT!
KYGRLNNM - January 7, 2012
yes mam, at home too !!
Bluehound - January 7, 2012
Double or Triple OT
blue oregon - January 7, 2012
triple I think
Bluehound - January 7, 2012
Either way. The Angry Birds have lost 3 of last 4 games (2 at home).
blue oregon - January 7, 2012
it was double....sorry
Bluehound - January 7, 2012
No worries. 2 loses at home, 2 "Big" East conference games and once again back to their rightful place to little brother status to the MIGHTY WILDCATS!!!
blue oregon - January 7, 2012
Oh yeah...one more thing...point blank period :)
blue oregon - January 7, 2012
+ 1.......hell ya !!
Bluehound - January 7, 2012
+10k
ROFLMAO. I shouldn’t delight in the dumb of a teenager like this….but I do….
jords - January 7, 2012
UofL
After losing to a bad ND team at home, the Cards will now be ranked about where they belong, in the bottom half of the top 20-25. Never seen a college bb team so grossly over-ranked in my life.
Love it!
Ken Howlett - January 8, 2012
See the University of Florida
That team is just as or more so over-rated
OvaDwayneBowe - January 8, 2012
Welcome Back TJ!
Bluegilla - January 7, 2012
All wins
In conference are great, but I do get concerned about their lack of continued effort and focus after pushing out to a double digit lead. It was nice to see TJ get back on most of his game,but team wise, this was not their best rebounding effort.
blupride - January 7, 2012
Another Cruise Control Game
Sound like another spoiled Cat fan I know but I continue to be disappointed in the team’s inability to play hard/tough for the majority of the minutes. At the risk of being tediously redundant it appears that the players are so ridiculously talented that things just come too easy, practically effortless. Giving up 16 OR’s to a smaller team and losing on most of the loose ball competitions are prime examples. Somewhere on the road, and soon, that lack of prolonged intensity will result in unwarranted losses. Even the highly motivated MK-G has his periods of timidity. It would be helpful if there was senior leadership but I’ve accepted that Deferential Darius is the real persona (or is it anima?) and he hasn’t the desire or ability to lead. Must be infuriating and frustrating for Calipari.
Wild Weasel - January 7, 2012
I don't think that makes you a spoiled Cat fan. You're an educated Hoops fan.
And you know what our boys will face if they want the National Championship. We cannot expect to walk in and win….every team will be at their best when facing Kentucky. Period. End of story. UA-LR wasn’t intimidated by our ranking, and neither will anyone else.
I do think this team has the chops to make it to #8. But they have yet to show that desire and intensity consistently as a group. When they are all playing at the top of their game we will be unstoppable and unbeatable. That said, lots of buts and ifs and whens involved in that scenario.
That said, today is a happy day. We won. UofL lost. All is well in the universe….for the moment :-)
jords - January 7, 2012
They might just pitch to the score
There’s debate about whether such a concept exists, but it does seem that they will let off the gas pedal should the other team let us. As long as that means they can turn it on long enough if needed. . .
NYCCats - January 7, 2012
Yeah.
Sometimes I wonder about that. It surely has some effect, even though it shouldn’t.
Glenn Logan - January 7, 2012
I have never seen a team
that fought 100% of any game, let alone every game. What matters is that they find ways to win. This team already impresses me more than last years team and you know they will continue to improve.
kywineman - January 7, 2012
For The Record
I carefully and intentionally didn’t criticize the lack of intensity for 100% of the game but rather for the “majority of the minutes”. I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a team to maintain focus and effort for 21 or more of 40 minutes, every game. There are many, many instances of teams with less physical talent doing so (IU comes to mind).
Wild Weasel - January 7, 2012
Enjoy!
They won big. TJ had a breakout game on offense. He had 11 rebounds v L’ville, but too many people were whining about his offense in that game.
We won by 15 already and it wasn’t that close.
Let Cal do the worrying. As fans, this is a time to encourage them in a strong performance.
BluebloodinNaptown - January 7, 2012
Only saw the first half,
but “cruise control” is about right. Let’s see what happens in SEC road games.
Keep safe guys and gals. I’m off to the Dominican Republic for a week. Eat, drink, sleep, play 27 holes. Repeat six times. Come home. Being a golf pro is a dirty job, but . . .
oldcat'69 - January 7, 2012 via mobile
Play well, old man.
Wheatgerm - January 7, 2012
When I die, I want to come back as you
NYCCats - January 7, 2012
Heh.
+1
Glenn Logan - January 7, 2012
look up Eloys mom
and tell her to call her son and tell him to get his ass in gear !! lol
Bluehound - January 7, 2012
A Question
My wife & I are considering a trip to the DR. Where do you go, stay and play?
Bluegilla - January 7, 2012
Have been twice to Punta Cana ... there are several nice all-inclusive resorts a short trip from the air port ... beaches are beautiful
ukcris - January 7, 2012
Me and two girlfriend stayed at an all inclusive resort in Punta Cana called Dreams.
We don’t play golf so I’m not sure about that but the room, service and food were excellent. We didn’t go to party just escape the husbands and kids for the week. Just enough fun to keep us entertained but nothing too outrageous. The rum was endless and a good, relaxing time. I want to go back with the husband and child.
KYGRLNNM - January 7, 2012
Casa de campo
Great food, great ocean views, great golf. I’ll tell you more when I get back.
oldcat'69 - January 8, 2012 via mobile
Have a great time, oc, keep it in the fairway and be safe.
Ken Howlett - January 7, 2012
#TerrenceJonesSaysShutUp
What a nice game by Teague. THAT’S how you do it. Let’s see if we can turn in another good effort on Wednesday.
Wheatgerm - January 7, 2012
Rebounding stunk in the game...
but happy TJ is back to being a beast
The White Mandingo - January 7, 2012
Alabama puttin it on Ga .... Lacey has 17 at half ... good player
ukcris - January 7, 2012
I think we definitely didn't play as focused in the 2nd half
which showed up in the rebounding. However, SC scored a lot more points in the second partly because a whole bunch of garbage shots started going in. We gave them some uncontested looks too, which also went in of course. The 2nd half probably wasn’t as bad as the score made it look, but the 1st half probably wasn’t quite as good as it looked either. Overall, it was a solid game.
Agree that this was pretty easily Teague’s best game of the year. Decision-making-wise, it looked like a whole different player tonight. He made the right plays tonight, very encouraging.
kcgard2 - January 7, 2012
Very happy for Teague.
bob in bg - January 7, 2012 via Android app
+1
Let’s hope he’s rounding into form. Lately UK has been better with Lamb at point, but they are at optimum capacity when Teague is performing like he did today, and Lamb is able to concentrate on tickling the twine.
Hope all is well with you guys.
Ken Howlett - January 7, 2012
After the game, I checked the stats...
Expecting to see Jones/Davis on top of all stat categories, but I was surprised that Teague had a quiet, yet VERY great game. His FG% and FT% were excellent…he was on par for assists. I also didn’t realize that Jones had the most TO’s for the ’Cats (4)…but they must have been when the D was good enough not to warrant a “why Jones?” moment :) Great game by Jones, Teague, Davis, as well as the rest.
kentuckyrules - January 7, 2012
Sidebar: anyone watching the Murray St game??
kentuckyrules - January 7, 2012
Kinda reminds me of the Unforgetables.
Those bombinos threw it up from everywhere and they threw it up often. The Racer’s big downside, is sooner or later, they will have one of those games were nothing goes in and the basket looks like a thimble. Can they pull it out and win when the touch isn’t there?
sweasyf - January 8, 2012
As long as they are playing against the Cats
I’m pulling for them all the way. It’s good to see another Kentucky team winning. Especially with WKU struggling so much.
KYGRLNNM - January 8, 2012
ARE NOT, I meant ARE NOT
KYGRLNNM - January 8, 2012
I never doubted you NewMexico
But, I have two brothers who are Murray grads; I think I would question their loyalty.
sweasyf - January 8, 2012
Right where we need to be
It’s the first week of January and we’re less than two months into the season – if this team were playing any better at this point, we would be worried about peaking too soon. I expect that six weeks from now, Calipari will finally start to see these guys playing like a team on offense. The defense (individually and as a team) is already ahead of where I expected. Can you imagine what we’ll look like when TJ, Doron, and Teague begin to give us their consistent best effort each game? This will be a special season so let’s just savor every moment from it!
ukcats81 - January 7, 2012
I'm good with this...
100% agreement. Let’s talk again at the end of January… We’ve got some consistent players, mainly MKG and Uni. Everyone else is still a bit up and down.
TJ, based on today’s performance, is getting used to the brace on his finger. To capture that point, on his FT’s he would slap hands with both of the teammates that were on the line, using both his left and right hand. Hadn’t see that from him in the past couple of games…
Teague had a really solid game today. Took the ball to the rack, when the opportunity was there, without forcing the issue. Looked to be more in charge of the offense, and played good D as Glenn mentioned above.
Doron had his usual day at the office on Offense… A very quiet 10 points except for the long 3 from the wing that go everybody going. His D, on the other hand, was really bad today. He got beat on a screen to the top of the key on 3 different occasions (that I remember) and USC East got a bucket on all 3 attempts. Don’t know if he was getting hung on the screen, or just bad footwork to maneuver through/around it??
Kyle looked to have a bit of swagger in the his game today, at least on Offense. His rebounding is still weak, kinda like him. E-roy came in and gave good minutes too…
My point being is that most of team still has some work to do to get to the point Cal, and us fans, would like them to be. Good news is that we’ve still got 2 months to work on things.
EagleTDL - January 7, 2012
After re-watching the game...
…these are my thoughts, as well.
We’ve seen that everybody CAN do it. We just haven’t seen them ALL doing it consistently. But I believe they will, and when they do, boy howdy.
bob in bg - January 8, 2012 via Android app
WKU played its first game...
…without Ken McDonald tonight, and had the largest crowd of the season. The ticket office sold over 50 season tickets today. Apparently, McDonald was less loved than I realized. Diddle was nearly full and rocking. Then the Hilltoppers lost. Again. Sigh.
bob in bg - January 7, 2012 via Android app
Ditto
BTW, no, I’m not stalking you, LOL
My impression was that KM was well liked by most WKU fans, but with a near full Diddle and the additional season tix sales, I guess that’s a misinterpretation on my part.
Ken Howlett - January 7, 2012
I assume you know, Ken
There was other stuff going on with him. But it appears that after a .500 season last year, they weren’t going to let him drop below .250 and keep his job. At 5-11 he got the axe.
bob in bg - January 8, 2012 via Android app
Coach's Post-game Comments
John Clay provides.
Wild Weasel - January 7, 2012
Strike the "maybe"
That was Teague’s best game as a Cat. So far. NofForced shots. Drive to the rim. The easy pass. Didn’t force passes. Well, that second TO was forced. Beautiful baby.
That final 8 minutes in the first half was a thing of beauty. Game over. Yes, I wish they played hard for 40, but it was so easy for them today.
Remarkable.
darkandbloody@gmail.com - January 7, 2012
I don't know that I would say it was easy for them today.
South Carolina is very athletic and physical. They really went after the rebounds. The cats had to work to win that game.
kywineman - January 8, 2012
SC
was a great deal better than I thought they were, but it was easy. SC worked the whole game which prevented the final difference from reaching 40, but the Cats were not pushed at all. Lots of growth left with this team.
BTW, I am currently watching the Man U/Man City FA Cup game and for any soccer fans out among the BBN, Kompany absolutely did not deserve that red card. It wasn’t even a foul. Refs, geez.
darkandbloody@gmail.com - January 8, 2012
Can it be that the regular season is half over? Time to get better as a team.
Now you start thinking about position for seeding. That Mid-West bracket would be the bees for us.
UK1972 - January 8, 2012
Personally, I think its a bit too early for that yet
We need to go out and see some hostile crowds. I really like the way our schedule is setup this year. We have a few games in Jan that will be testers, but basically the month is a “get your feet wet in conference” month. Feb will be a killer month and a good indicator of how far we may go this year. We all know the ceiling is real high, its just how well will it all pan out.
sweasyf - January 8, 2012
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