We were more aggressive. We stayed in front of guys (mostly). We had 14 steals! Carr was solid under the basket.
What did you all think?
What did you all think?
Best defensive performance of the year?
- Thread starter gbl97
- Start date
Yes they hadn't played this well defensively all year and Illinois is a very good offensive team
Even Chandler and Noah were solid on the ball.
Agree i thought it was best defensive effort as well if we can play d like this and not miss as many layups and free throws we can win it all then coach will win coach of year award as well
Pope had them prepared. Did you pay attention to his interview at the first timeout?
I'd say so. I feel like they have been steadily improving the entire second half of the season
Yep, layups are the biggest chink in the armor right now.
Best defensive game in awhile no doubt but the effort in that DUKE game early was Final 4 level
If we didn’t miss so many 2 footers we beat them by 20.
Pope gives the most detailed answers to in game interviews of any coach I’ve ever seen
Certainly one of the best. But part of it was that Illinois was very sloppy with the ball and at times they honestly made it easy for us. Underwood is a prick but I don't blame him at all for being irate at his team. Other than Boswell they absolutely sucked (and I'm glad, it's nice to watch a tournament game and feel like UK is in control for most of it).
I think it was. Some really good rotations today and very active on the boards. Williams fell asleep a few times on zs twin but thats what he does.
Butler and oweh were both huge. Butler kept their nba prospect from doing anything and oweh shut his guy down. If not for lame fouls giving them some free throws, they wouldve basically been blanked.
Butler and oweh were both huge. Butler kept their nba prospect from doing anything and oweh shut his guy down. If not for lame fouls giving them some free throws, they wouldve basically been blanked.
Houston will be really tough. I just don't see TN winning any more if they end up winning this next game. They just don't enough offense to go much further! If butler can stay healthy and play like yesterday, we are better then they are! But it's 1 game so they could get lucky😄.
Deleted my post feeling like I was going a little too far with the sacrilege but I guess I deserve to have it quoted and amplified.
Like any die-hard UK fan I have absolutely prayed for us to win as a kid AND adult even if that's not what anyone should be spending their prayers on!
Good defense, not great. Amari needs to learn how to make a layup and 2 ft jump shot. I don't think any of his points were from anything except free throws and dunks. If he can make a few shots and not dribble off his leg and everyone else do their normal thing, this team could possibly be Final Four bound.
God understands. Why do you think UT has never won one?
It sounds like there was a very detailed scouting plan and strategies tied to it. THAT is what we've missed for 15 years.
I did. I noted how much more substantial it was than most of the quick on court interviews with coaches. He was positively calling out our defensive communication and quick reactions to the complicated sets Illinois was running (except for one communication breakdown), like yeah we know what they do and we're ready for it.
Boswell was their only ball handler that matched the physicality that Kentucky was bringing. Everyone else on Illinois was uncomfortable with the ball pressure being applied. Kentucky wasn't giving them any easy passes.
And Ivisic that dude is sooo much better than his brother! I would want that guy on my team!!
A friend and i were talking after the game and we both said it was one of the best defenses they had played all year. Just need to hit those FT's . Hopefully we can play like this Friday night .
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For sure. I was mainly talking about the ball handlers. Ivisic definitely came to play. He could really flourish in Pope's system as I think he would be the feature.
