The #8 Florida Gators came into Rupp Arena tonight to challenge the Kentucky Wildcats' #1 national ranking. They left very much as the other 47 consecutive teams who have attempted the same feat left -- with an "L", and a bad memory.
This was not the best game that the Gators have managed this year. Yes, Kentucky's defense was typically incredible, but in fairness to the Gators, they missed numerous open looks from outside that could have changed the game early and made it a completely different contest.
With that said, the Gators simply could not respond to the relentless Kentucky offensive efficiency. Florida tried to speed up the game -- a good strategy for them, since transition is where they get a lot of open looks -- but it didn't work. Every time the Wildcats would get sped up, John Calipari would call time out and remind them that Florida cannot defeat the Wildcats in a half-court game, they are simply too small and have too few options outside the three.
Worse, Florida, as other guard-oriented teams before them, discovered that there is simply no dealing with the insane length and defensive skill of Anthony Davis -- you can't drive on him and make him foul, he simply will not allow it. You can't throw the ball inside and dominate him with superior strength, he's just too long and will defend without fouling post players. Davis creates problems that no team has solved, and Florida was just as confounded as every other team has been when Davis has been able to see extended minutes.
But kudos to the Gators for doing what they could. They played the only game plan that could possibly have worked, they just couldn't get their shots to fall when it mattered, and the result was a lopsided Wildcat victory. To their credit, their press and pressure did force 13 Kentucky miscues. A victory of a sort, I suppose. But the Gators are a very good team that will be there in March, and their great guard play will serve them well in the NCAA Tournament.
This game serves as a reminder that the Wildcats have reached where they should be right now. This is the team I have been waiting for all year, and as I have said in a few posts over the last couple of days, this team has in no way reached it's potential -- it still has a long way to go. But at this point in the season, they still should have room for improvement.
Yes, I know, these nits are tiny, and Kentucky was ... well, let's face it, they were awesome. This game was a message sent to the college basketball world, and you can believe me when I say that it was received throughout the land.
There is really no doubt at all right now who the best team in the nation is. I don't say that with hubris, but with honesty. There are three or four others who are capable, but Kentucky, right now, is not just beating teams, they are choking the life out of them and beating the corpse into protoplasm. Killer instinct? Right now, it's more than that, it is an appetite for destruction.
Trust me when I tell you that the Gators are not the only team in America shaking their head right now. They have a lot of company.
0 recs | 111 comments
The better team won.
I have a feeling there’s gonna be a circle jerk here. ya’ll are the jerks. Yeah, I’m bitter, big deal.
yourgatoroverlord - February 7, 2012
Heh.
You guys are better than you showed. You just don’t match up well at all with UK.
Glenn Logan - February 7, 2012
i don't think anybody matches up with you guys.
you guys pretty good.
yourgatoroverlord - February 7, 2012
and please forgive my vulgarness.
could be worse. we could at least all laugh at tennessee.
yourgatoroverlord - February 7, 2012
You guys are going to go far this year
Just look at the Cuse/Gtown game tonight. I think right now, you could beat either of them, you darn near did before and they were better then, you all are better now.
sweasyf - February 8, 2012
Wow
This team is a Juggernaut right now. I hope we can keep this up through March.
20 points vs a good #7 Florida team, and it wasn’t that close. If not for the awful refs (and I can say they were awful without shame since we blew them out anyway), it would have been 30.
I honestly can’t remember us being this good. Maybe 1996? I feel like we’re better than we’ve been in the last two years or 2003.
Just don’t peak too soon guys!
EEWildcat - February 7, 2012
"peak" ...
… may not apply to this team. Their upside is vastly greater than most.
Glenn Logan - February 7, 2012
It dawned on me tonite
Listening to Cal’s post game pressed…. I bet on the night of the championship game, he will be telling his team that they need to get out there and work on getting better. That is his way of keeping them grounded and focused.
memphis wildcat - February 8, 2012
Let me also second what Glenn said
The cats really have been showing the killer instinct, and that has been the difference. They have been putting the hurt on teams hard when they are down, and that’s what championship teams do. Early in the season they would get a 15 point lead, and let the other team get back in. Minus a 5 minute slip in the 2nd half, the cats really kept the pedal to the metal the whole game. That was great to see!
EEWildcat - February 7, 2012
OK, so Jimmy D says the only way to compete with UK is to turn up the pressure and press them into mistakes.
And, admittedly, they did have a couple miscues during pressure. But short of the UK women’s team, I want someone to tell me who out there is playing 40 minutes of on ball pressure defense that is creating that many T.O.’s?
And secondly, no one can play the press for that long when they have to work that hard on the offensive side of the ball to try and get points.
I only worry about one thing, and that is if this group understands that the pressure is only going to get higher from here. Every game is going to be the next “must win”…..They are going to be hearing it from the media, the fans, and probably from their peers at other schools.
If this team can handle the pressure cooker that they are going to be playing in for the next 55 days, they will be hoisting a trophy. But it is going to be more and more and more every time out of the gate.
But there is no doubt that they are the best in the country right now…..and I hope that does not stop.
Greg Alan Edwards - February 7, 2012
What is the likelihood of that happening?
As usual, Dykes is just blowing hot air. Who, outside the NBA has the manpower to play 40 minutes of hard press against this team?
More likely, this team can be beaten from the 3-pt line. Any team can be beaten by a hot 3-pt shooting team due to the extra 50% scoring capacity of the 3-pt shot. Who’s up next on the schedule?
BlueCollarMan - February 8, 2012
Syracuse might...
as they go 8-9-10 deep.
The fact is I believe you are going to see Cal setting up all kinds of straw men to keep the team focused on getting better. Complacency seems to be the greatest enemy right now.
memphis wildcat - February 8, 2012
Melo vs Davis
Now that would be a final exam. That kid is a monster. Plus ’Cuse’s 2-3 zone could give us a lot of trouble unless Lamb & Miller are hot from the 3 point line. Of all the good teams out there Syracuse worries me the most. And Boeheim certainly has been there before.
Bluegilla - February 8, 2012
We'll just have Cal watch tapes of Louisville beating them
They probably have the best record against Syracuse than anybody. If the Cards can whip them on a regular basis than we won’t have a problem.
KansasUKCat - February 8, 2012
Davis would be too much for Melo.
Melo is not a particularly skilled player, and he is fairly slow afoot (much slower than Davis, at least). That actually works to his advantage, as he is less likely to jump on shot blocks. He’s athletic enough, but he isn’t quick off his feet, and his stamina is not sufficient to keep Davis from running out on him.
Davis is far more agile, and Melo far more foul prone, averaging 3 fouls per contest, which doesn’t seem like much, but it’s more than you think. He has been DQ’d on fouls 3 times this season. Melo cannot hope to guard Davis away from the basket.
I’d take that matchup anytime.
Glenn Logan - February 8, 2012
Agreed
G’town is making Melo an after thought. They ust don’t go there. I don’t think you can do that with AD. I haven’t seen anybody go right at Melo either. That is what scares me most this year, since we really haven’t seen it. If Sullinger comes directly at AD, can he handle it? Do we switch out and try to match TJ with Sullinger? A strong big man could give us problems still.
sweasyf - February 8, 2012
Ohio State can bring the pressure...
They’re the only national team that I think can hang with the Cats for 40 minutes. Of course, it’s still a month before the tourney so I’m all about Cal’s mantra: go out and get better
BeachBubbaTex - February 8, 2012
OSU's ball pressure is really good.
Aaron Craft is considered a great defender, and I think he’s underrated. He is a fabulous defensive guard.
Glenn Logan - February 8, 2012
OSU is really the only team that worries me
kcgard2 - February 8, 2012
The next game is a "must win" and the next and the next
and the next. Can they keep it up? Spot on Greg.
sweasyf - February 8, 2012
Nits
It really is difficult to be critical when you beat the #7 team in the nation by 20 points. A few of the 13 turnovers were of the aggressive type, i.e., throwing the ball away trying to make an offensive play or charges (I remember 3). Florida’s pressure in the press was pretty good, so I can’t be too upset with the turnovers. On the other hand, limit these and you make progress toward perfection.
The defense was strong, as usual.
jdogblue - February 7, 2012
Charges Yes
At least three calls where the UK player jumped and the defender ran underneath. I definitely subtract those and I think even the turnover numbers were not that bad. I recall few turnovers resulting in direct offensive opportunity.
So I totally agree with you.
LyricSmith - February 8, 2012
The rule must be changed.
If the offensive man has left his feet for the shot, the defensive man must already be in position to draw a charge. If he is moving at all, it should be a block.
kywineman - February 8, 2012
Agree
they’ve gotta do something. And they’ve got to do something about flops too. It’s an epidemic.
kcgard2 - February 8, 2012
There were so many flops in the Duke/UNC game
you couldn’t keep up with them. I think Zeller got a triple double, 21 points 10 missed freethrows 11 Flops.
kywineman - February 8, 2012
That Is Funny
Tracking Flops. I always thought a Flop should be a foul. Illegal Acting or something.
LyricSmith - February 13, 2012
After watching Ohio state at home Vs. Purdue.....
Ohio State cannot hang with the Cats. They are not fast enough and they do not execute with enough precision.
Want to watch Syracuse tomorrow and see what they really have on the floor. Having 10 players is great, and I love deep benches, but they all have to be spectacular to overcome what the Cats are doing.
Greg Alan Edwards - February 7, 2012
Syracuse is better.
But I don’t think they’ll do to Georgetown what we did to Florida. But to be fair, Georgetown matches up with them far better than Florida matched up with us.
Glenn Logan - February 7, 2012
That to me may be the only other thing we need be concerned about.
Who matches up well with us? Find someone who can shut down Davis, and we have ourselves a ballgame.
Greg Alan Edwards - February 7, 2012
aka
North Carolina and IU. Get him in foul trouble. We won the nc battle but barely. I think Vargas is seeing more time for that reason.
tenken - February 8, 2012 via mobile
He Has To
Somewhere along the line, possibly in either upcoming tournament, Davis will get into foul trouble. There goes 90% of our inside defensive intimidation not to mention those fabulous throw down dunks. Vargas needs to be ready to put in some valuable minutes in that circumstance. Eloy needs to Elongate!
Bluegilla - February 8, 2012
exactly
I think Cal is hungry for that title. He recognizes that Vargas may be needed. I like that he put him on the floor last night. I have watched Cal coach for years. He has become a really good coach. Getting good players is great but you have to coach them well. He has seemed to figure out both.
tenken - February 8, 2012 via mobile
Why will he get in foul trouble?
He’s shown since the Indiana game he can play without fouling and still put up his numbers. Don’t see it happening. In fact the whole team has bought into Cal’s idea of 6 fouls per half. Check it out, they are staying near that mark every game now.
UK1972 - February 8, 2012
Yep
Even my Buckeye of a wife admits that.
You ever notice in baseball that the best pitching staff doesn’t always win? Rather the team with most dominant two or three pitchers tends to win. Exhibit A…the Atlanta Braves of th 90’s.
Doesn’t matter how deep Syracuse is, they can only put 5 on the floor.
darkandbloody@gmail.com - February 7, 2012
OSU is not the defensive team UK is
They gave up 84 points to Purdue that is not that talented a team. Purdue shot well tonight, but as Dykes pointed out, the OSU defense against the on ball screen was not good out of Sullinger and the other bigs.
jdogblue - February 7, 2012
Curious
Dang I missed that game. Is it really that obvious watching Ohio State that we are a much better team?
michael26 - February 7, 2012
They are not a good defensive team at all right now....
They may improve, but they do not run set plays very well, unless they get a bad matchup on the floor with someone. And they are weak without Sullinger who got hurt again tonight.
Greg Alan Edwards - February 7, 2012
They are lazy on defense
Would not fight thru screens or switch. Purdue had OPEN threes, yes they hit them but there was no pressure
memphis wildcat - February 8, 2012
Not sure what you're watching, but OSU is a premier team defensively.
Last night was a fluke. They’re also #1 according to kenpom. I know you’re not a stat guy, Greg, but there’s a reason why kenpom shows up on ESPN and everyone talks about it.
http://kenpom.com/index.php?s=RankAdjDE
mrmondaynite - February 8, 2012
I just looked at the game I saw last night. They had their hands full with Purdue at home, and as far as I know Purdue has nothing
to worry anyone. Game may have been a fluke, not sure, but they didn’t show anyone anything last night until the last 3 min.
Greg Alan Edwards - February 8, 2012
If you have time, Greg, watch the big games they've played. They're solid.
Florida, Duke, Kansas (a loss, I know), Michigan. They may play down to their competition – they gave up 66 to South Carolina.
mrmondaynite - February 8, 2012
aha....we have suffered from that in the past
Greg Alan Edwards - February 8, 2012
Yep.
But not anymore! UK pastes the bottom feeders!
mrmondaynite - February 9, 2012
Having watched almost every OSU game this season,
you are, on the whole, correct.
mrmondaynite - February 8, 2012
I looked over the kenpom....the numbers do look pretty good. Makes me wonder what happened last night at home.
Greg Alan Edwards - February 8, 2012
OSU
Married to a Buckeye I see a lot of OSU and by extension the Big 10…I know what the numbers say, but my eyes tell me something different.
Last night was how OSU looks most games, pretty good offensively for a while and good defensively then it goes. Over the past few weeks UK has pulled away from OSU and my wife agrees with that.
In regard to Purdue last night they finally looked like the team one suspected they would be at the beginning of the year.
Coach has ever coach’s dream doesn’t he? If he can get his guys to compete, which he is doing, it doesn’t really matter who they play. What a great feeling that must be.
darkandbloody@gmail.com - February 8, 2012
Did you watch the Wisconsin game?
Sadly (in the context of sports), I live in Columbus. On the whole, I have been more impressed with OSU defensively than offensively. The only “lazy” player – on both ends of the floor – is Buford.
Pomeroy’s numbers don’t lie. I don’t know if OSU is #1 defensively, as Pomeroy suggests, but I’d say they’re top 10.
mrmondaynite - February 8, 2012
Saw the OSU UW game
And in no aspect of the game did either team impress me. I love Bo Ryan and what he accomplishes, but not this year’s team. Although I do like #40.
And yes, Buford is a bit lazy on both ends. Which is unusual. Most guys who can score like him work to get points.
darkandbloody@gmail.com - February 8, 2012
Aaron Craft and Sullinger are defensive monsters.
I believe Craft is the recruit Bruce Pearl had to house house for a BBQ.
mrmondaynite - February 8, 2012
*HIS HOUSE
mrmondaynite - February 8, 2012
Savor every moment!
That was the #7/8 team in the nation?
Really, no disrespect intended, but if that is a fair analysis of their ability as a team, we are witnessing history.
Despite Cal’s comment that they had the “heebie jeebies” early on, UK never panicked, never departed from their mission and just dom-in-ated this game in every way.
Throw the stats out the window with this team.
They are right on the cusp of being “something special and unique” as Cal has hinted they could and would be if they all got on the same page.
If tonight is any indication, they are not only on the same page, they are writing a new book with compelling new chapters every single game.
May it never end until the banner flies!
Something special, indeed.
This team is simply a pure, unadulterated pleasure to watch.
Savor every dunk, block, no-look pass, defense stop and every other element of the most unselfish TEAM of superstar players I have ever witnessed in the college game.
ukfastcat - February 7, 2012
Yes.
Glenn Logan - February 7, 2012
Kentucky
Another great post game report. I have no need to look at any others. I just love how you break it down. Thanks for doing it.
The game tonight showed me that if your going to beat UK, you have to find a weakness and right now we dont have any. Our offense is so balanced that no one can stop every player. And even if that happens, good luck to the other team trying to score more points. Our D will win us the title.
michael26 - February 7, 2012
Thank you.
And, I have nothing to add to your comment. :-)
Glenn Logan - February 7, 2012
special
Oh and just watching this team you know how special they are. There chemistry is off the charts. Its so obvious when you watch them. They love to play together and really care about each other.
Every since Davis was tackled at LSU, its been lights out for the other team. LSU woke up a sleeping giant.
michael26 - February 7, 2012
exactly right
Their body language and facial expressions says it all. It’s hard to beat an average team that’s as tight as the Cats are. It becomes almost impossible when a team has the talent these Cats do..
kydamcat - February 7, 2012
There's something to that
Those wonderful smiles have been appearing ever since that game. It sure is good to see the kids having fun.
sweasyf - February 8, 2012
still
Want better defending of the three. Florida missed some easy shots. Like Glenn said… if they make those… different ballgame.
tenken - February 8, 2012 via mobile
Missed Threes
It seemed most of those open looks were in transition defense. UK needs to get back quicker on teams like Florida whose bread & butter is scoring in the open.
Bluegilla - February 8, 2012
+1
We need to enjoy and love them while they are here.
kydamcat - February 7, 2012
Yep
This one is special. I hope they finish the job, but this is a great team we are watching.
sweasyf - February 8, 2012
Granted it is only early February, but...
Strangeite - February 7, 2012
Love watching this team
I only hope that if we beat Vandy that those 2 AP voters that were still voting for Cuse will change their minds….
floundringaround - February 7, 2012
Couple things to add...
Glenn, i try to write my comments before I read yours so I’m not stealing any thunder.
You just nailed it again tonight.
I want to say once again: if the season ended tonight, if the Cats were all beamed up simultaneously to Planet Ant, if Adolph rose from the grave, HEAD COACH JOHN CALIPARI of the University of Kentucky Wildcats IS the Coach of the Year in college basketball.
GO, you lovable Supercats!
The only new unis Nike needs to make have a huge “S” on the front.
SUPERCATS all the way to Number Eight!
ukfastcat - February 7, 2012
You have inspired me despite my bourbon stupor to whip this up....
Strangeite - February 8, 2012
Darn it, Jorts got left out again, oh wait!
kywineman - February 8, 2012
I am thinking the "K" is not big enough......lol
Greg Alan Edwards - February 8, 2012
Dan Parker wanted me to tell you this was great.
He’s having some trouble logging on. I agree. +1
Glenn Logan - February 8, 2012
I can see it now.
Some moron, probably from the NYT or LH-L, will say “Look at that. Five sets of KKKs. That just proves they are racists.”
UKCat - February 8, 2012
Hood is not in a wheelchair!
sweasyf - February 8, 2012
Love it!
Almost wish we had red in our colours… almost.
blenheim bard - February 8, 2012
We can play better - much better - but I'm satisfied with the win
Everyone played pretty good but Miller and TJ had sub-par games. Really can’t understand why TJ in some games is unstoppable and like tonight just didn’t bring it. Played only 19 minutes and wasn’t mush of a factor at all. Miller had for him a somewhat off game and can and will bring it in the next few games I know he will.
Teague I thought played very well and handled the ball well against Florida’s pressure. His turnovers that made him look bad were the charges again – I’ll forgive him those at least he was being aggressive.
As Jimmy Dikes stated the only weakness we exhibited was shaky ball handling against the press but Cal can and will have that straighten out for the next time we meet the Gators.
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if when we go down to Vandy we play a much better overall game.
KansasUKCat - February 8, 2012
Wow
You gotta love these guys. MKG is the key. He plays with an intensity which I haven’t seen in a 19 year old. His first fast break layup set the tone for the team.
Teague has improved more than any of the Frosh. Bring on the Dores!
big-cuz fan - February 8, 2012
SportsCenter
Gotta love watching ESPN on mornings like this:
“Did ya see, did ya see what #1 Kentucky did to Florida? CHOMP!”
cthom - February 8, 2012
Teague's turnovers
I know 5 seems high, but I think we set the bar extremely high sometimes. For my money, the fact that his held Walker to 0 points on 0-6 shooting, more than off sets the turnovers.
UK1972 - February 8, 2012
Teague played very well.
His defense was outstanding.
Glenn Logan - February 8, 2012
You are right
Take a look at Erving Walker’s line in the boxscore. Teague did a superb job of defending a very good SEC senior. He fought over screens and refused to let Walker “juke” his way into the lane. That defensive job was a thing of beauty.
jdogblue - February 8, 2012
+1
sweasyf - February 8, 2012
Box Score
Why did MKG play 39 minutes in a blowout? He’s the last guy we need to be worn out when it comes Tournament (both SEC and NCAA) time.
Haha, if this is the only thing I have to complain about, this team is pretty awesome.
mrmondaynite - February 8, 2012
no worries,
he’s got nine lives.
BigSkyCat - February 8, 2012
The only theory I can come up with for keeping the starters on the floor so late is "Experience".
Experience is the one thing Cal’s teams have lacked at UK.
Maybe that extra 5-6 minutes per game will add up.
My best guess.
bob in bg - February 8, 2012
Nice win, Cats.
Not that I personally had a problem with Calipari’s comments, but at least anyone who is whining can now know that he is serious.
Best of luck in the post season this year!
skandrewj62j - February 8, 2012
Coaching
What I’ve come to see now is that Cal doesn’t get his just due when it comes to coaching. His use of the timeouts during the games is masterful, and last night was another example of stopping momentum before it starts for the other team. He was better than Donovan last night in game prep. It’s a shame he never gets mentioned for coach of the year, and if he doesn’t get SEC COY this year, he’ll never get it. Of course he’ll never get Stalling’s vote, that’s why he got his shots in last night about scheduling and bench locations during his presser. I think he’s showing his own “swag” lately.LOL.
UK1972 - February 8, 2012
Calipari COY
Actually Calipari has been prominently mentioned as a COY candidate by more than one source.
Wild Weasel - February 8, 2012
Protoplasm?
I have to say that I have never seen nor heard any reference to protoplasm and basketball in my adult life. A first and very unique!
Bluegilla - February 8, 2012
Was it Dale Brown that had the amoeba defense?
Plenty of protoplasm there.
kywineman - February 8, 2012
I don't wanna play with you guys Saturday
Hoping mom lets me stay home
VandyGold28 - February 8, 2012
WHAT????
Don’t believe in Memorial Magic?
Bluegilla - February 8, 2012
Not this year
Cleveland State, Indiana State, Xavier in OT, Miss St in OT are all losses at home this year. After starting 7th in the nation and falling into oblivion I don’t believe in anything this year. That all changes if we win tonight and Saturday but I’ve watched both of these teams closely this year and they are heading in different directions.
VandyGold28 - February 8, 2012
Memorial is always a scary place.
Kentucky will be ready, but Memorial’s advantage is like no other.
Glenn Logan - February 8, 2012
Saturday might not be Vandy's superbowl,
it might be their NCAA tournament. A few more losses and they are definitely on the bubble. I feel they will play like there is no tomorrow.
kywineman - February 8, 2012
Playing us will raise their RPI ... this is a dangerous game for UK ... but I think we are ready for the challenge - I'm actually looking forward to the Pre-Game report ... the best UK info on the web is right here @ASOB
ukcris - February 8, 2012
Fun...
I love watching this Wildcats team play! They hustle everywhere they go on the floor, they fight and scrap for rebounds and loose balls and they all have a big smile on their face while they do it. This is how basketball should be played! No matter what happens with the rest of the season, this will be a UK team I’ll never forget.
Hillbilly Bennett - February 8, 2012 via mobile
those
Little nits will what can get us beat in NCAA tourney. Just as we picked up on OSU nits last year. I am proud of this team. Improvement needs to made. But these guys are fun to watch. Like Donavan said their personality shows on the court. A couple of questions…
Why was Pearl there?
Will we be satisfied with anything other then title number eight?
tenken - February 8, 2012 via mobile
I can maybe see Pearl attending but to have a premium seat is bewildering - how did he swing that
No I won’t be satisfied without a number 8 – I’m selfish I guess.
KansasUKCat - February 8, 2012
Anthony Davis
Have heard the comments from several bobbing heads that AD has a chance to be: (1) Freshman of the Year, (2) Defensive Player of the Year, and (3) National Player of the Year. To anyone’s knowledge has this ever been accomplished before?
He might very well be a player of a lifetime folks. Let’s give this young man every accolade and fan support that we can muster. I feel very privileged to be a Cat Fan during this time of my life.
Bluegilla - February 8, 2012
Amen brother!
I get giddy thinking about watching this team. AD and MKG are Batman and Robin… or is it Robin and Batman… They certainly are the dynamic duo…
big-cuz fan - February 8, 2012
AD would have to be Batman,
he has the longer wingspread and bats the ball all over the place.
kywineman - February 8, 2012
After Review
Didn’t get to see game live — combined birthday party for 2 70-yearolds (whippersnappers) — but did view it around midnight and again this morning. By now it’s an accepted fact that Cats have markedly improved, and acknowledged by most that there remains room for further development. Thus the following observations:
Areas of improvement:
1) Defensive fundamentals: improved stance, aggressive approach to screens, quick switches which I would attribute to better communication. Two most improved are Lamb and Wiltjer.
2) Better, stronger rebound position.
3) More comfortable in offense, particularly the ability to play fast but not hurry.
4) Better understanding and acceptance (no minor feat) of individual roles.
5) Comfort and confidence at FT line.
Areas with room to improve:
1) Dribble penetration — not a truly good ball handler and perhaps there won’t be. Teague is most adequate but still lacking. Without the ability to take players off the dribble many offensive opportunities are missed.
2) Part of Donovan’s game plan was to give AD the open 17-19 footer at the top of the key and after missing his first Davis refused several, finally making one late. As good a touch as he has on FT’s, no reason that the jumper shouldn’t be part of his game and it would provide a scoring supplement to what now is dominated by dunks — fun, exciting but variety would render him unguardable.
3) Offensive rebounding. Considering athletic ability and size I’m really bewildered by the lack of put backs.
4) Better passing. Don’t think this team could be characterized as great at the ability of sharing the ball in a crisp, efficient manner. With the exception of the lob for dunk there is nothing really noteworthy.
Probably seems overly critical for a #1 team with recent dominating performances but outside of pure enjoyment it’s why I watch.
Wild Weasel - February 8, 2012
rebounding
Offensively has got to get better. It leads into the transition game too. I was so excited that they passed the test. As vitale said last night though…. neautral court can make huge difference. Vandy will be a great test. IU like atmopshere with a team that is better then IU. Vandy is a great team who has under performed. They will be gunning for us. They match up to our size. All in all… this will be a good game to really test our Cats. We got all excited about Florida. But it was at home.
tenken - February 8, 2012 via mobile
ok
They don’t match our size but closer then most :)
tenken - February 8, 2012 via mobile
Vandy needs a good win for their NCAAT resume...
Saturday will be a great chance to get it and they know it
memphis wildcat - February 8, 2012
Let's just hope the refs don't know it too.
UKCat - February 8, 2012
I think your comment about Davis' jump shot is spot on.
If he can develop that with consistency inside the arc, he will be unguardable. But right now, it is a modest vulnerability.
Offensive rebounding is a little tough to judge in a good shooting game like this. We won the OR battle, if not convincingly.
Rebounding with this team is always going to be a bit of a tradeoff. Florida sagged back in their defense, making it easier to block out the bigs coming from the perimeter. But I think we can be better than we are, Terrence Jones could do more than he did last night on the offensive glass.
Glenn Logan - February 8, 2012
Davis posters
The UK Sports department has begun their push to get Davis his post season rewards, including POY. Why else would they single out just him for a poster. Don’t think it has ever happened before.
UK1972 - February 8, 2012
I think they did something similar with Chuck Hayes.
Glenn Logan - February 8, 2012
John Wall versus Evan Turner?? .... i can't recall
ukcris - February 8, 2012
I definitely remember them pushing Hayes
They set up a web site and everything. Kept promoting him with the tagline “All he does is win” or something of that ilk. I remember thinking it was a very cool thing for them to do.
Acdixon - February 9, 2012
Just reviewed the game on DVR,
and I’m not as sanguine as you guys about the effort (sorry, wineman, the “glass half empty” bent is coming out a little).
I thought the Cats just kinda walked through the motions until 4:50 remaining in the first half when both MKG and DM ended up on the floor chasing the same deflected pass. From then on until halftime, it was intense!!
Then, the first 2:30 of the second half was more of the same, until Miller suddenly put some defensive pressure on his man at the top of the key and the Cats just exploded again.
I still believe, and always probably will, that the team with the superior athletes should push the ball any time they have a numerical advantage since the inferior athletes will be forced to react and, by definition, will be athletically inconsistent in doing so.
This team, with the best athletes I’ve seen this year (possible exception: UNC) just seems content to let the defense dictate everything until late in the shot clock, then they use their athleticism to score. It happens time and time again.
I guess I just don’t see the killer instinct that you guys talked about. Now, they did have fun, and the game really never was in doubt, so maybe I expect too much. But, I felt like, as I watched the replay that UK should have won that game by 30+, but were just content to be up by 20.
All that said, this is a great, great team and I have high expectations for continued improvement the rest of the season. Also, I fully recognize that what is seen on TV is often less revealing than what is seen in person, so I’ll defer to wineman and others who saw the game, but . . .
oldcat'69 - February 8, 2012 via mobile
they did have some lapses oldcat....you are not wrong.....
the start was slow, the lapses were noticable, and they gave Florida some really good open looks. But what they did do was rattle Florida so badly, that they couldn’t hit a brick wall behind a basket with the ball. Not sure why, but they really did rattle Florida once they decided to get down to business.
Greg Alan Edwards - February 8, 2012
There was definitely an ebb and flow to the game,
as there always is. I don’t think it is possible to play 40 minutes of flawless basketball. There were many factors going on but what I have noticed about UK is they seem to take a few minutes to feel out an opponent and once they get a handle on them they start to have their way with them. Part of this are the timeouts that Coach Cal calls to draw their attention to the details of the game. I am not the least bit concerned about this team’s performance. I think they are just saving a little for when it really counts.
kywineman - February 8, 2012
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