Can someone tell pope you don’t have to give 4 feet of space to every shooter?

[wildcatsincebirth]

What’s the plan with that strategy? Are we afraid big Z is going to drive to the basket or what? I know none of our players are great defenders but pope does them absolutely no favors with that drop coverage

We did the same thing to Tennessee and they missed every 3 and lost by 4. Pope takes the ‘numbers say they’re not good shooters so let them shoot’ thing way too far in my opinion.

Why did we not try any pressure or zone at any point? They scored on just about every single possession in the second half why would you not TRY SOMETHING ELSE

 

[Dreklie]

Shit is mind boggling, either our players are extremely stupid or Pope has no idea that you can indeed guard the 3 pt line. Which is it?

 

[wildcatsincebirth]

Shit is mind boggling, either our players are extremely stupid or Pope has no idea that you can indeed guard the 3 pt line. Which is it?

No way that part is on the players. They are clearly coached to give their man a ton of space on the 3 point line cause all of them do it. Yes they are bad defenders also but like I said the defensive coaching makes zero sense to me.

 

[NoDef]

We don't close out good. Garrison closed out terrible in the Vandy loss. I just watched a little bit of that game, but it was obvious. You have to watch tape and know what kids can do. Some kids you jump at to make them put it on the floor. Other kids you don't close out hard because they want to put it on the floor. The really hard kids to guard can shoot the three and drive around you if you close out hard. Big Z isn't driving around anyone...jump him from three every time.

 

[rolaid]

It’s unreal what are you doing Arkansas shoots 23% because the other teams guard them
This soft ass defense worked at UT but it want tonight so do something else

 

[KY Long Rifle]

Our defense is a major problem. I’m hopeful that Pope will take a hard look at it in the off season, and develop a different approach.

 

[Soupbean]

What’s the plan with that strategy? Are we afraid big Z is going to drive to the basket or what? I know none of our players are great defenders but pope does them absolutely no favors with that drop coverage

We did the same thing to Tennessee and they missed every 3 and lost by 4. Pope takes the ‘numbers say they’re not good shooters so let them shoot’ thing way too far in my opinion.

Why did we not try any pressure or zone at any point? They scored on just about every single possession in the second half why would you not TRY SOMETHING ELSE

This is the story in a nutshell of this team and why I’m afraid we can’t to much in the tournament. This game is 80% whose guarding who the closest simple that. All the other X and O and metric crap is about 20% and you see over and over again lesser teams beat others dimly because they are the aggressor.

 

[BIG BLUE GURU]

You do realize with what this team and Pope faced with trying to put together a team in one month was impossible right? There was no scenario that we were going to be awesome. Even with the great wins we are what we are. A team with little to none defensive ability and we lose if the shots aren't falling. Pope did what he could under the circumstances. Kentucky has still been a huge success this year. Just listen to any of the talking media pundits. It is Kentucky fans who have created unreasonable expectations.

 

[ukwazoo]

Maybe Pope just looks at numbers and not the actual tape.

 

[Warf2012]

He’s done that shit since all the way back against Gonzaga. That’s piss poor coaching when you don’t change when the opponent is clearly going to keep making shots.

 

[jedwar]

It’s called hope they miss defense. Worked against Tennessee but it’s asinine to not try something different to show them different looks.

 

[jedwar]

Maybe Pope just looks at numbers and not the actual tape.

He relies too much on analytics and lacks feel for flow of games. He said post game Arkansas was better against zone and that’s why he didn’t go to it. Needed to do something to throw them off.

 

[NoDef]

Maybe Pope just looks at numbers and not the actual tape.

They scored 16 points more tonight than they normally do and it was on the road. Maybe at least try a zone..