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Folks, it’s going to be a loooonnnggg season…

I'm taking it for what it is.

I think most felt we were ranked a bit on a low side coming into the season. That was a massive win. That Duke team isn't going to lose many games this season, they are good. It was huge for seeding purposes and the type of big win we haven't been getting early in seasons in previous history.

We have some potential. That being said, there's definitely quite a bit of things Pope and the team need to work on before we could go on any big run here. For a large part of that game, Duke was getting whatever they wanted inside on offense. If they don't go 4 for 23 from three this game, we lose. Experience was a huge reason why we won this. Our guys executed down the stretch and Flagg for however great he is, did not.

But it was definitely a huge win and hopefully a springboard for what is to come.
And if my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle. Your 4-23 comment is absurd, give credit to UKs defense, close outs, schemes, etc. oh and also if we’d hit more 3’s we’d still won.

POLITICAL THREAD

Only negative I have is that Jaxson can't play like that again the rest of the season. It could have killed us this game but thankfully it didn't.

They ALL will have games like that at some point this season. Jaxson may have another night like that. It's possible they'll all have a game like that at the same time. It's ok. It didn't and won't kill them because this is a team, and the next man steps up. This isn't like the last admin where it's about draft stock and promises.

But it is about shooting through the slump. Playing through adversity instead of avoiding it. Stepping aside to let a different teammate take up the slack. It's almost like a sport where it all matters instead of just a month or a night.

Pretty cool, huh?

GYERO

Hard to be upset if you're either fanbase. Kentucky had a few guys provide absolutely nothing, our defense was awful (well, the officiating was, anyway) in the first half and our guys really looked lost in the last 10 minutes of the 1st half.

Duke only shot 17% from 3, Kneuppel was 5-20 and pretty much everyone not named Cooper Flagg played a mid game.

You can attribute both of those factors to the opposition playing well on defense, but it also says something about the way Scheyer and Pope coach. Saw a lot of online chatter from Duke fans that they can't keep running three freshman 35+ minutes a night and be considered a top tier team because these guys are going to burn out.

There was also a lot of familiar noise about letting Flagg play hero ball late that irked Duke fans and, in retrospect, I can see why. Duke ran some great action when their guys had legs, but really got away from it because everyone looked gassed.

Can Duke win the championship? No doubt about it. Can Kentucky? I think that's the biggest takeaway for me is that we absolutely can and have all of the pieces in place (most importantly, coach) to do so.

The balls to throw that OOB pass down court was something else.

Second half adjustments.

We started driving to the basket. Carr was put in isolation to take his man. Great adhustments by Pope.
I think this was the game changer. They had pushed us out so far because we were only looking for a 3. When the 3 ball dried up we started struggling and looked lost a little bit. You can’t live by the 3 alone and they adjusted play and made all the difference in the world.

Folks, it’s going to be a loooonnnggg season…

I'm taking it for what it is.

I think most felt we were ranked a bit on a low side coming into the season. That was a massive win. That Duke team isn't going to lose many games this season, they are good. It was huge for seeding purposes and the type of big win we haven't been getting early in seasons in previous history.

We have some potential. That being said, there's definitely quite a bit of things Pope and the team need to work on before we could go on any big run here. For a large part of that game, Duke was getting whatever they wanted inside on offense. If they don't go 4 for 23 from three this game, we lose. Experience was a huge reason why we won this. Our guys executed down the stretch and Flagg for however great he is, did not.

But it was definitely a huge win and hopefully a springboard for what is to come.

How about a shout out to Carr???

Everyone thought Robinson would be the guy who could get his own, but tonight proved he lacks elite handle to come through vs good defense.

Carr is that guy. When we need a bucket he is the guy who can get it. He is versatile and will have an advantage one way or another.

Plus in that 2 man game we saw, great pick and pop potential and there will be counters off that as teams scheme to stop it.

Bucket getter problem is no more.

How about a shout out to Carr???

I really liked that look too. Carr and 4 guards is lethal, especially with Owehs ability to guard face up 4s on the perimeter (less so more traditional 4s).

Id like to see that look more often this year. If Carr and 4 guards who can shoot can all be on fire while on the court together, it could get ugly quick for opposing teams.
I said it a few days ago and will say it again. Kriisa/Butler, JR, Brea, Oweh, and Carr are our best lineup if they can rebound enough to get consistent stops.
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Experience won this Game

UK's experience and Duke's inexperience. Down the stretch, the Cats made every play while Duke fumbled multiple times. I love having so much experience.

When you consider that this was just their 3rd game playing together, it's really amazing how good they looked together, especially at the end of that 2nd half.

Duke is very talented, maybe as talented as they've been in a long time. Great win! 😀
Polar opposite of any team we have had in many many years , and it was sweeter than honey
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Folks, it’s going to be a loooonnnggg season…

It may extend further into March than we thought…Maybe longer than that…And I’m going to enjoy every damn second of it —even the losses that are inevitable. This team has such character, and this coach is such a likeable, real person.

I was telling my son today that I truly believe there is nothing in sports like Kentucky basketball on an upswing, and nothing more exciting than being a Cats fan when the program is building toward something special.

It may take a while. But it’s coming…
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