98 Cats & 25 Cats

[HerrosHeroes]

When you work together as a “team” “getting your own shot” is simply of little or no consequence.

This is basketball, not Tennis or Golf.

Its a Team Game.

This version of Kentucky basketball plays old school Rupp style team racehorse basketball.

Please pray for the rest of the NCAA.

 

[JonathanW]

Lol. Not talented?? You mean the team that would later take Duke to OT in the regional finals. A Duke team that went on to win the NC???
And, I'm pretty sure Tubby's first team actually WON THE NC. Wouldn't that make them a national championship caliber roster???

Stop hating on Pitino. The man worked miracles at UK to have started out with about 4 local players on the roster when he got here. Pitino built those championship rosters at UK. At least give him credit for what he accomplished while he was coach at UK.

One man re-built a championship program and one man destroyed a championship program.

Those were DIFFERENT teams. To many of you think player X was what he became (years later). No!!! Players improve, some more than others. You also are ignoring the fact that one of the best players in the history of UK basketball was on that team that took Duke to OT in the E8, and he was not on Pitino's first team.

I'm not hating on Pitino. If anything you are hating on him for not recognizing the amazing miracles he pulled off, especially his first 3 years there, starting out with 4-5 guys who belonged in the OVC, and a probation (No tournament and No TV) that made recruiting nearly impossible.

As for Tubby. He did a great job. Pitino himself has said that he wouldn't have won a championship with the 98 team. Tubby failed at recruiting (other than 1-2 classes), but was a good coach. But you are confusing OUTCOME with Potential. That 98 team had no star players entering the season, no go-to scorer, no backup PG, a C who couldn't make a FT, yet had enough COMPLIMENTARY players and good coaching to pull it off. We weren't the best team that season, or a top 5, but we got hot at the right time.

 

[cal=8]

What I've seen is that yes, ball movement is very important in this offense. And with any offense, when shots aren't going in, it's hard to score.
But also, Oweh can get to the rim with the ball. Butler can too. I think Robinson was more than just a 3pt shooter at BYU, and can create his shot too, although haven't seen that yet from him.
To me, rebounding is a bigger concern. But every team has a concern or two.

I think 10 losses is certainly a possibility (say 40%), but so is just having 6 losses. But given our schedule and how good the SEC has gotten (this isn't your daddy's SEC), probably 8-11 losses is the most likely #. But teams also play more games than 30 years ago too. Last year, outside the top 3 teams, everyone else had 7+ losses; there was a 1-seed with 7 losses, 2-seeds with 7 & 8 & 8 & 9 losses. So having 10 losses in this era is not the same as it was 20-30-40 years ago.

I agree with everything you said. Robinson in the little I've seen him reminds me a bit of Reeves in his first year at Ky, although Robinson is really lighting it up I 'd like to see a little more. If he can get to the basket and finish in the paint, we become much more dangerous.

After watching the second exhibition the second time I'm feeling a little better. I believe Pope is the right guy, just feeling a little nervous about this year. I do give him some serious kudos for assembling this roster, it could certainly be much worse.

 

[Codeartist]

Reading through this thread made me realize just how unproven Pope is compared to some of the great coaches we have had. For the historians what other coaches were largely unproven before they took the Kentucky head coaching job and did any others find real success here?

 

[JonathanW]

Reading through this thread made me realize just how unproven Pope is compared to some of the great coaches we have had. For the historians what other coaches were largely unproven before they took the Kentucky head coaching job and did any others find real success here?

Hall had never been a varsity head coach.
UNC and Duke current coaches are at their first head coaching job.