It will most certainly depend on the othr teams size.

This team held their own v #1 KU and 7’2 Dickenson on neutral floor. actually should have won the game if Reeves doesnt ball hog and Shep plays about 9-10 more mintues.

Need to be getting plenty of reps in at the free throw line; among other things.
I do wonder why we cut back on the 3's... especially Shep.
Defense I think will come around with time.

Most curious seeing how KU does against a FF caliber Marquette team.

Whew, what a nail-biter of a game!
Anywho Here is the game from tonight in case you missed it or didn't get to see the game. I'll have it in 2 formats a stream and download links.

Stream one will be up first and I'll have a download link to follow in case you need a copy for your own collection.


Stream - WATCH HERE
Download - DOWNLOAD THE GAME

If he gets let go, I would love to get him on staff in some capacity. I know he will look for another head job at a lower level I am sure. But he would be a great hire.

Not sure how strong the comp is in the Patriot League?
He sure does remind me of someone who played QB for us.

There's some crazy stats so far:

Tre Mitchell: 17 assists. 2 turnovers

Rob Dilly: 12-26 from 3 (46%)

Team: 93-40 A/TO ratio

Reed: 2nd on team in blocks with 6, 17 steals

Is this a MUST win for Mark Stoops and the Football Program? What do you think Happens if we LOSE?

Login to view embedded media This response is a bad look. Stoops have been given pretty much everything he has asked for and has the talent to be way better than what they are. Complaining about the schedule is a weak look and is kind sad

With game on line - Reed has a turnover, DJ shoots an unnecessary lay up and Dilly commits a foul. I love all three of them . From a coaching stand point - you must have the win but you always like specific teaching points after a game like this . This game will help them down the road.

Has been the radio analyst for years

Anyone else like these kids?
They pass the look test for me.
Photos show them on a visit to East Lansing.
Maybe not SEC or a big need this year?

Hello HOB. We’ll have Mark Stoops joining us today to speak about the Cats’ regular-season finale against Louisville in the annual Governor’s Cup clash. He’ll be taking questions at approx Noon ET. Stay tuned for the latest news and notes…

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MARK STOOPS Q&A:

* Obviously in a better mood today than he was Saturday night, but it’s good to move on to another week, another game, against a big rival. It’s an important game. We have some players who have been around here for a long time, some new players who haven’t been thru it, probably the last opportunity with this complete group of players with NFL opportunities, the portal, etc.

* It gets hard to watch a game where you had so many opportunities and just let it slip away. But you have to watch it and learn from it. Team is disappointed but not defeated. Will show their resovle they’ve always had to get back up for this week’s game.

* First drive of the SC game, have the 3rd down converted, get a penalty. “That’s just bad football.”

* A lot of respect for Coach Brohm, the turnaround that they’ve had, and the team he has. They’re better in a lot of areas. Fundamentally sound in all areas. Very aggressive, disruptive on defense. Good RBs, good scheme. Efficient in the running game, so sets up the balance he’s looking for. Did a good job in the portal.

* On the season falling short of the excitement they felt in the summer… Hard to pinpoint. Not the time to point fingers. We’re all in it together.

* Regarding the ongoing 3rd-and-long defensive issues. Several factors but thinks lack of pressure is the main issue.

* Plummer is a guy who is really comfortable in that system, what Brohm wants from his QB.

* Need a good plan for protection in this one. UofL brought pressure almost every snap in 2nd half of Miami game. The tipped passes have been a concern as well.

* On confidence vs. false bravado…. Hopes that they’re well past the latter. This is the fourth Top 10 team they will face, so he doesn’t want to see any of that.

* On head-to-head result of Louisville game and how it factors into recruiting… He says he’s not sure. Never say never, but they’re having a good year in the state during a disappointing season where Louisville is playing really well on the field.

* On Deone Walker… Really had a good game. Thought he made disruptive plays all night. One of the guys who can consistently pressure and draw attention. We need some others around him to step up.

* On how well he knows Jeff Brohm… Not big friends or anything, but always liked him back to his days with WKU. A lot of respect for him and his brother. Family of coaches, much like ours.

* This game doesn’t make up for disappointing losses they’ve had, but it is important. Knows how big it is. Has always embraced that.

* Last week was inexcusable. Not running and hiding from it. Thought heads were in a good space, but you‘re not going to win a game on the road while losing the turnover battle like that.

* Running game doesn’t look bad when you look at the overall numbers, yards per carry, but it’s still not up to their standard. Thinks the penalties that keep putting them behind the chains and changing what you can call has affected that.

* Asked if this might be the last time they play Louisville for a while when the SEC adds Texas and Oklahoma and eventually goes to 9 league games… Notes that next year is locked in, and he’s not a big fan of hypotheticals.

* I would desperately like to keep that trophy here, and keep it here for a while. It’s an important game to both teams. Good for the state. Would hope to have a better record the next go-around, but it would be fun for both teams to have a great record.

* Asked about “pony up” again, Stoops says he doesn’t really want to revisit it, but would like people to go back and listen to the whole conversation and not just that one part. But as far as he’s concerned, it was just something he lightheartedly said to that one person. Won’t make any excuses.

* On “portal season” … Several positions they’ll look at. Won’t comment at specific positions, but they’ll need to address some areas and will look into those.

*****

UPDATED UK DEPTH CHART:

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It seemed under Gran we could run the ball even when everybody knew we were going to run the ball and the first year after he left. Has there been a fundamental change in the way the running backs and the line is trained? Gran is still on the staff I think he sure could help our running game.

Let's get it on...

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So there's no question Kentucky's defense has to improve and they obviously missed the big guys who were out.

St. Joseph's is not nearly as bad as they showed against Texas A&M Commerce. They're a pretty good A-10 team and played at a high level tonight.

In the first half St. Joe's was able to keep pace because of second chance points. They cleaned up a lot of garbage around the rim while Kentucky didn't get many second chance points. In the second half they shot the ball very well. Again, UK's defense has to make some of those shots higher difficulty.

Offensively Kentucky was very good. Reeves had a very good game shooting the ball. Tre Mitchell made some big plays. UK started slow again but the Rob/Reed backcourt helped them turn it around.

Reed didn't play great defense in the second half but he's always good for steals and hustle plays. Thought the whole team's defense needed to improve.

Wagner had a better game. There will be a question and conversation about how much of the action needs to be Wagner vs the other guards, but seems like Cal is really trying to get him on track. Was surprised that Sheppard wasn't on the court more when he has been pretty consistently the player who makes UK better whenever he plays this season, but they got it done.

Not a bad win, good test in overtime.

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KENTUCKY HC JOHN CALIPARI:

* Cats have tomorrow off. Cal says he's going to see three recruits. He'll miss his radio show. Didn't know there was a conflict.

* Knew St. Joes was this dangerous. Scary the way they take all those 3s.

* Amazing stat, Cal says: Reed Sheppard didn't have a single point and has a +16.

* Good to see DJ and Justin playing with more confidence tonight.

* STJ was playing with house money tonight, and it never seemed to faze his guys. Just played.

* Stunned him that DJ, despite playing so well, missed some FTs. He doesn't miss FTs.

* Need a little more discipline and organization when it's winning time, trying to put someone away.

* Shot a high %, only had 9 turnovers in a high-scoring game against a veteran team.

* St. Joes sent 5 guys to the glass tonight, big reason for the rebounding edge. But they really hustled for loose balls, too. Thinks they'll win the A10.

* We gotta get one of these big guys back. Have to. It will change this team. But they won't change how they're playing because these guys can "bounce it" and play basketball. Not just pure-post guys.

* Still trying to figure out this team. When do you let Robert go do more? Who do you use in the grind-it-out mode?

* Asked if DJ is a closer? Yeah. Doesn't matter if he's on the ball or off the ball, though.

ST. JOES HC BILLY LANGE:

* Kentucky is a great team, great program, but I thought we played well enough to win. We're St. Joes, we feel like we should win every game we play in this program. Proud of how we represented ourselves in this arena. Two teams played well enough to win, but only one can. That's basketball.

* The 15 3s are just what we do. That's us. Kentucky's a terrific defensive team. Don't read too much into that. Almost every basket, we had to earn it.

* Coached against Tre Mitchell when he was at UMass, so I know he's no freshman. Ha

* Felt like they didn't get some calls and a timeout they asked for, but you have to expect that when you come into a venue like this.

* Tre Mitchell is a great fit for Kentucky. He seems to facilitate that offense, allows the guards to move around and do their things. I was really upset when he announced he was leaving WVU and going to Kentucky, knowing I'd have to play him. He's done a great job of transforming his body in Kentucky's S&C program.

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Didn’t play great defense but got the win. Lots of coachable moments. Wagner and Edwards showed a little life. St Joes with 16 3’s and plays like us. Not sure if they are a good or bad matchup. I hope our big guys can rebound and defend when they start playing.

Did uk visit V.J. this week?

I haven't been to any games, is he going through warmups, etc. before the games? Has any of our amazing media ask Cal if he is practicing or not?

HC - worst coaching job since Stoops has been here, probably needs to quit partying so much and put more effort into earning that $9 mil salary
Grade: F

OC - Jury still out. Better than what we got last season, but a lot of issues to resolve.
Grade: C

WR - not getting it done. Not one wideout has shown improvement under Woody.
Grade: D

RB - seems to be the high-water mark on the scoring side of our teams staff. As for special teams, every part of those units has improved except for punting. Not sure changing our punters form was the right call.
Grade: A

TE - Vince is a great recruiter.
Grade: B

OL - unit showed improvement over last season. Had to deal with a lot of injuries too. The only position group that was consistently better this season than last.
Grade: B


DC - White has been atrocious this season. He has not adjusted or tweaked his scheme since he's been here and everyone else has figured him out. To make it worse, he's puckered up and tried to be more conservative which has only made us easier to rack up yards and then score on.
Grade: F

CB - Collins has not gotten it done. He was a stretch when we hired him due to budget limits, but he had potential. That potential never materialized. He hasn't brought in enough talent, and what he has brought in hasn't shown enough improvement. Portal losses have hurt too, because he apparently can't keep guys in his room happy.
Grade: F

Safety: I forgot Frank Buffano was even a coach. This explains how good he is at his job.
Grade: F


LB - Mike seems like classic nepotism. He's got the resume to do that job, but he's a huge drop-off from his predecessor. Not expecting us to do anything here, we're stuck with him as long as Mark is the head guy.
Grade: F

DL - arguably the most talented group on our team, but production has been well below expectations. We have multiple 4 and 5 star players, yet we aren't as good as we were when we had 2 and 3 star guys starting for us a few years ago. Stewart hasn't been a good recruiter or developer. This is where I would start my house cleaning.
Grade: F





I'd cut lose Stewart, Collins, Mike Stoops, and Woody. White probably needs to find a new gig as well. Defense should have been great this season. No excuse for their pathetic display. I still think Coen is being handcuffed by Mark Stoops overall game strategy. Lots of changes need to occur this off season.