Williams can’t defend guards. Just stop. And he’s ridiculously out of control on offense about half the time. He has absolutely feasted on inferior opponents. He’s fine, but let’s not pretend he’s some sort of poor man’s Joker.
As Much As I Like This Kentucky Team...
- Thread starter LmdCat
- Start date
Athleticism is nice but Larry Bird, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Steve Nash aren’t athletic and all were top players in the NBA. There is definitely more to the game than one trait. We got spoiled on McDonalds.
It will always require playing well. We learned that from Cal's collection of random talent.
Duke has athletic boys who will wither under the relentless pressure from athletic men. I don't think Duke comes close to beating a team like Auburn or Memphis. Heck they couldn't beat Kansas after they lost their best player. Men vs boys!!
That’s just not true. Butler is reasonably athletic. Oweh same. Robinson? Not so much. Williams is just a shade more under control than Garrison. It doesn’t exactly make him athletic. He’s way more athletic than the competition, minus Duke, than he’s played. He will be fine, but he’s not some focal point or some superior talent.
There is a difference in having a Larry Bird on your team vs an entire team of Larry Birds.
Yeah if you have a team full of Larry Birds you are the GOAT team. They can all shoot pass and defend at an elite level and won’t be afraid of anything.
I think that’s the thing. This doesn’t need to be some binary deal. This team is SUPER refreshing. I’d say probably better than most of us thought they might be. But they are also going to struggle due to lack of athleticism when they hit the meat of the schedule. Doesn’t make it a bad thing. It’s just a thing.
People really underestimate the difference production quality and camera angles has on appearance as well.
A lot of these tournaments are in smaller venues or the production crew is set up closer to the floor regardless of venue size. The camera angle in Rupp is higher and further from the court. You don’t get the same “dang these dudes are big” feel bc you aren’t right up on them. Even Amari at 7foot 240 looks average.
It’s the same phenomenon the “we done w the 90s” younger generation kids have when evaluating athleticism of the Jordan or Bird/Magic era.
Grainy low def film makes feats of athleticism look less impressive. And the rules were more strictly enforced on carries and travels so certain “moves” would have never been allowed. It isn’t that athletes have gotten exponentially more athletic as a whole….proven by guys who played in the low definition and high def eras and were just as effective in both despite aging. Same as why low production high school game tape looks unimpressive and then they are a 5star recruit and their highlight film on a high def camera and quality production looks unreal
The game was never in question. WKU played physical and mucked the game up. That was the reason there was a total of 71 free throws shot. We matched their physicality and found a way to win. Keep underestimating this team’s athleticism at your own will.
You can take jack and shit from last night's performance. These guys wanted to go home and have turkey day. A small time program was in their way and they sleep walked through the game. It didn't help that the refs seemed to have gotten on the bus in Bowling Green.
When the big lights go on this team will be ready. If they loose it will be because of missed threes, not athleticism.
When the big lights go on this team will be ready. If they loose it will be because of missed threes, not athleticism.
I am not suggesting that we become more athletic by bringing in a bunch of freshmen. If we do that, it will be Cal 2.0. We have to leverage the portal.
Some of you act like both can't be true. This team continues to win as they are doing and we increase our athleticism via the portal.
Oh, so you are saying that Larry Bird was capable of guarding the NBA's elite point guards? Surely you are not. Hell, he couldn't get the best of Magic in college or the NBA. A team of Larry Birds would make as much sense as a team of Shaq's. Neither could come close to playing all 5 positions.
No he couldn’t, but point guards sure couldn’t guard Larry Bird either lol. Way off topic at this point but I am sure you got the point without having to get that granular. I think we are gonna be ok, we are a flawed team that can play with anyone
P.S. Bird had Indiana state help lol. Not sure that was quite the “gotcha” that you think
DeVries, the white kid from WVa is more athletic than Oweh?
Now I’m not saying we are as athletic across the board as Duke…. But ppl watching a random WVU or Iowa state and thinking they are vastly more athletic and we are Hickory in Hoosiers is wild
I trust in Pope. He got the best available and they are very good. However, we rely on players being able to make cuts/get to your spots and quickness/strength/explosiveness makes that much easier against physical teams.
WKU was not a really good team and we never let it get under 6 after about 10 min in the first half. My point is that LMD is right future teams need more than 3-4 guys who can match opposing teams physicality and quickness to be elite.
Match-ups will make a big difference in the tournament and you can bet the committee will put plenty of WKU types in our bracket.
You are correct about being off topic. The point I was trying to make is that there hasn't been a player in the history of the sport who is/was so great that a team of that player could beat a great team of specialized players at specific positions. But as you stated, off topic so I am through with this. However, I did enjoy the debate.
Exactly, basketball players and a designed offense offsets athletes. Plus being able to shoot is a big plus
What excites me is, to LMD’s credit, Pope will be adding more guys with the same type of skill but are more explosive athletes going forward. This is why I see a potential dynasty brewing. It’s Pitino 2.0
We are nowhere near being a team of the needy. However, I am certain that Pope spends a lot of time studying how he can build even better teams in the future.
The (manufactured last second) statement will be mentioned more and more as the season goes on. Especially if we lose a few games. The problem is, many schools had to do a total rebuild. There are teams all over the map that had to find all of or most of their current roster. The current landscape in college sports is making it hard to follow team rosters from year to year.
Yeah but that doesn’t change the fact that continuity remains one of the most obvious traits of championship teams. Two things can be true at once.
I think all of your observations have been fair ones and I agree with most, if not all, of what you’ve said
This team, IMO will be much like the Unforgettables. They marked the beginning of a new era
We will lose some games and win some big games. I don’t think at this juncture we’re more than a Sweet 16 team
But I love what we’re seeing develop for the future
While I’ve always hated the last coach saying trust the process…I certainly am going to enjoy the ride
Unforgettables were a 2 seed elite eight team though. And were one of the least athletic teams I’ve ever seen outside of Mash. I’m not sure that 92 cats aren’t the very best example of why he is entirely wrong.
I was thinking more of what they represented rather than what they did
And all but Mash were on that 14-14 team (89-90)…that’s who I’m referring to
Ah the Bambinos…I got you. I think to your point, we are definitely more athletic than 92 and that team was good. Either way, it will be fun to see it play out. I think it will take time for fans to see you don’t have to have top flight “athletes” to be very successful
Sorry but g
sorry but just gotta disagree on the “not better than a sweet 16 team at this juncture” statement. I think our quality depth puts us in a company of very few. It’s always about shooting. We have as good or better than anyone. Good defensive efforts added to that, IMO, makes us as good a Final Four chance as anybody. After that, whoever plays better deserves the title.
I totally respect your view
And please don’t be sorry for disagreeing
To be a little clearer..I did say at this juncture, meaning that the team where it stands right now is what I believe to be sweet 16.
That is NOT to say they can’t get better and change my mind later. Just need to see some more consistency and improvement in some problem areas
Forgive me, I’m excited about this team and the direction of our program, but I’m of a pessimistic nature and very very cautious lol
And it took the defending champs getting their best player and POY having the best game of his college career, a prayer of a shot/pass, several one sided calls and an OT to beat them!
Let us not forget that there is a hell of a big difference in Conference USA teams and our SEC teams. BIG difference. Let us cool the bragging until we start conference play. That is when the rubber meets the road. I think we will do great but our cupcake, less DUKE, schedule does not tell the real story of how good we are or will be. We have hardly raised a sweat with our early schedule.
So WKU and fine we're our most athletic competition. Our best player or maybe 2nd in those games? The least athletic player that gets minutes, Mr Carr. Knowing how to play is the most important
This is important to consider.
I think we have a nice balance of athleticism, skill, and experience. And with our offensive system, teams exhaust themselves trying to defend us. Our depth and versatility are huge factors to consider too. Athleticism is great to have, but it’s just one ingredient to success.
We were athletic last year but got beat by an accountant.
2 time CAA DPOY. He’s not chopped liver and can distribute the ball on offense. High Basketball IQ.
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Obviously but we contended and won with a very athletic Duke team so I’m not too worried.
Completely agree. It gets annoying sometimes that it’s rarely possibly to have nuanced discussions on this board. I didn’t take your post as negative, it was just speaking an observation which I think we can all agree with, yet people can’t handle the slightest bit of something that isn’t glaringly positive
I mean… to play devils advocate with your point here, couldn’t our missed threes be a result of great defense from a team with long athletic wing defenders?
