Biggest Difference I See

[weatherbird]

The biggest difference that I see in Kentucky over the last couple of games or so, is togetherness. Now don't take this the wrong way, I am not saying that they have become selfish, or that they are trying to look out for themselves, but they aren't playing together like they were early in the year. I've noticed that they aren't sharing the ball as much as they were. They don't seem to be as trusting of each other as they were. It goes for the defensive side of the ball as well. They aren't helping and rotating like they were. Now I'm not sure the origin of the problem. It could be that over the break, some "clutter" got to the players. It could be that Cal has "chewed" on some players for different things and it has resulted in confusion. Not sure why, but I can definitely see a difference in the team from a togetherness standpoint. Even the bench doesn't seem to have as much enthusiasm as it once did.

The good news is that it can easily be turned around, and when it does, the teams left on the schedule will feel the same wrath as the ones on the early season schedule. This is a problem for all the other teams in college basketball, as what it means is that there is no special formula for beating this team. The only way for any other team to beat this Kentucky team is for this Kentucky team to be divided. The odd thing is, if it is the "clutter", then they need to quit listening, as it hasn't helped anyone raise their draft stock.

They need to get back to playing together, regardless of the reason they stopped. Get back to flying around on defense, and trusting your teammates to cover your mistakes. Sharing the ball on offense, meaning feed the ball inside, but the inside can't be a black hole. Get back to celebrating on the sideline after made shots and great plays. Get back to having fun, because this not having fun is causing me blood pressure issues.

 

[stenchymouse]

It's very hard for a young team to remain focused over the course of a long season.

The team kinda took a breath after the non conference was over and let up a little.

The grind of conference play has kinda caught them off guard.

They'll adjust and refocus and we'll see the old form again in a few weeks.

We still may lose one or two before we crank it back up I suspect.

 

[UKMallard86]

It does seem like there hasn't been as much togetherness as the first half of the season, but I think the guys are trying to work on individual things. Cal said they were working on individual skills with the guys during Camp Cal. I think the guys have been trying to do some of the things they worked on in these first couple games of conference play. They probably didn't expect Ole Miss and Texas A&M to give them as tough of a game as they did, but they still buckled down and got the W. I don't think they're getting more selfish, probably just working on a couple other things and trying to get back into the swing of it after the holidays. We'll be fine.

 

[cats2010]

Originally posted by stenchymouse:
It's very hard for a young team to remain focused over the course of a long season.

The team kinda took a breath after the non conference was over and let up a little.

The grind of conference play has kinda caught them off guard.

They'll adjust and refocus and we'll see the old form again in a few weeks.

We still may lose one or two before we crank it back up I suspect.

What type of grind can there possibly be with two games in your first week. The first one being a home team. Going to A&M should have been a much easier task than going to UofL. I saw a team unprepared on the offensive end trying to attack the zone at A&M. I use the term attack very loosely. Most of the time the first pass from Andrew to the Wing 35 feet from the basket did not come until there were around 20 seconds to go on the clock. No one was flashing to the middle and Lyles did not get a 15 foot jumpshot until the first overtime I believe. Players may have been going through the motions I don't know but either way Cal has to prepare his team better for playing against zone defenses. If they are not executing the game plan then they come out. Since no one came out, that tells me we did not have much of a game plan, just roll with the punches and see what we can make happen on the offensive end. Attacking a zone is not that difficult yet every game we face one seems like the first time our team has seen this mysterious defense.

This team, like any team will only be as strong as their leader. Not sure what Cal focused on in Camp Cal but I hope gets back to getting this team to playing like they are capable.

 

[UKGrad93]

I just seems that they ahven't been focussed on playing offnse or defense as a team like they were earlier in the season. I'm curious to see how things go from here out. It could have to do with a lack of structure in their everyday routine. Classes are out and everything is just basketball 24/7. Then the long stretch between the UL game & Ol' Miss game.

I think of it like coming back to work after a vacation. Sure, you should be energized and refreshed, ready to hit it hard, but sometimes you struggle to regain focus and get back into the flow.

When the game gets down to the end, it seems that they focus a little better and play together better.

Cats will get back to business tonight.

 

[armchairpg]

This reminds me of a random observation last game, it seems like we hardly ever that extra pass on a fast break. I can understand wanting contact and getting an AND1 but you can dump it to the guy trailing and still get that opportunity. In fact you are spreading the defender so he is less likely to be in position to do anything but hack or fail trying to take a charge.

I don't know if that is a togetherness thing or not. In general, we have good kids and he is always praising their coachabilty so maybe it is just growing pains of a young team (new guys meshing with returning players, etc).

 

[stenchymouse]

Originally posted by cats2010:

Originally posted by stenchymouse:
It's very hard for a young team to remain focused over the course of a long season.

The team kinda took a breath after the non conference was over and let up a little.

The grind of conference play has kinda caught them off guard.

They'll adjust and refocus and we'll see the old form again in a few weeks.

We still may lose one or two before we crank it back up I suspect.

What type of grind can there possibly be with two games in your first week. The first one being a home team. Going to A&M should have been a much easier task than going to UofL. I saw a team unprepared on the offensive end trying to attack the zone at A&M. I use the term attack very loosely. Most of the time the first pass from Andrew to the Wing 35 feet from the basket did not come until there were around 20 seconds to go on the clock. No one was flashing to the middle and Lyles did not get a 15 foot jumpshot until the first overtime I believe. Players may have been going through the motions I don't know but either way Cal has to prepare his team better for playing against zone defenses. If they are not executing the game plan then they come out. Since no one came out, that tells me we did not have much of a game plan, just roll with the punches and see what we can make happen on the offensive end. Attacking a zone is not that difficult yet every game we face one seems like the first time our team has seen this mysterious defense.

This team, like any team will only be as strong as their leader. Not sure what Cal focused on in Camp Cal but I hope gets back to getting this team to playing like they are capable.

Conference games are different...

It seems that out of conference teams come in not expecting to win.

Conference opponents play hard, they know you, they're used to playing in your arena, and the don't fold.

Maybe "grind" was the wrong word but I do believe that the intensity of a conference opponent did catch them off guard a little bit.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

This trend is one reason why Coach Cal called Kentucky basketball the most scrutinized team in all of sports and they are.