great UK teams that didn't win it all? Just how good were they and what kind of style did they play? I ask because I was born in 1983 and realized I know nothing about them other than a horrendous 2nd half. Any answers would be appreciated.
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Excellent synopsis. I just looked at the average FGA per game, and the top 5 were Turpin, Bowie, Walker, Master and Bennett. All were inside players except Master.The FIRST part of the season they were tremendous. Through the first 12 games they looked like they might be an all time great type team.
But, unfortunately, they began to increasingly struggle as the season progressed. In part, because our offense was SO predictable with Joe B's relentless focus on trying to dump it inside to the bigs on nearly every possession, it started getting bogged down as teams figured out how to defend us by just squeezing our bigs with ultra-tight zones.
Even our biggest end of season wins were kinda lucky escapes. We were lucky to escape Auburn in the SECT title game, real lucky to escape Illinois on our own Rupp home court in the Elite 8 (right before the ugly Georgetown debacle). Still, most of that season was rather awesome (especially the opening game UL massacre and the Super Bowl Sunday win over Hakeem).
I’ve never seen a team go that cold that fast. I remember Winston Bennet and Georgetown’s Michael Graham getting into a tussle.
It truly was a complete and total NIGHTMARE !!!Worst 2nd half I ever witnessed us play.
Yep, Master was the only serious outside shooting threat on that team. And, on top of that, they essentially started three centers together, when you consider that Walker also played best when he was in the low post (and, as we saw in 86, played best at the center spot).Lacked shooters. Made them easier to guard. 78 had Givens. Similar minus Givens. 78 was hard to guard. I would say they were possibly the second best Bowie Team. 1980 somehow got beat in the S16.
The opening game vs. UL had a Super Bowl buzz around it and it didn't disappoint.The FIRST part of the season they were tremendous. Through the first 12 games they looked like they might be an all time great type team.
But, unfortunately, they began to increasingly struggle as the season progressed. In part, because our offense was SO predictable with Joe B's relentless focus on trying to dump it inside to the bigs on nearly every possession, it started getting bogged down as teams figured out how to defend us by just squeezing our bigs with ultra-tight zones.
Even our biggest end of season wins were kinda lucky escapes. We were lucky to escape Auburn in the SECT title game, real lucky to escape Illinois on our own Rupp home court in the Elite 8 (right before the ugly Georgetown debacle). Still, most of that season was rather awesome (especially the opening game UL massacre and the Super Bowl Sunday win over Hakeem).
Well, he was not the backup for most of that season. Beal didn’t get put into the starting lineup until near the end of the season.Roger Harden was a good back up to Beal.
I forgot about that. Weird game. Il was good too.Another memory of that season was the " blizzard" game in Champaign.
Refs couldn't get to the game so HS refs from the stands officiated the game.
Blackmon hit a jumper at the buzzer for the win
Bennett was the most aggressive freshman ever.I forgot about that. Weird game. Il was good too.
Something else I remember about that team was Joe B talking about when he took Bowie out the other team took a sigh of relief. Then they realized they had to deal with Bennett. 😆
And were WTF??🏀
UK shot 3 for 33 in the 2nd half. It was unbelievable.Worst 2nd half I ever witnessed us play.
I loved WB. Had he not gotten hurt he could have been an all time great. Never the same guy after the injury.Bennett was the most aggressive freshman ever.
T.Jones was timid compared to Bennett.