First Cal era like game under Pope

[AJG-15]

Hmmm for those who compare Coach Calipari to Coach Pope, let’s remember one game from last year at Rupp vs UNC W. Similar situation our PG ( Wagner) was missing and we lost the game. The difference is that team had Rob D and Reed S, on the floor , which one would argue were superior talent to Robinson playing PG just by the simple fact they are currently in NBA and Robinson is still playing in college. However, last year team under John Calipari lost that game . This year TEAM , which was missing the starting PG and the back up won the game.

I think this enhances the argument that this year we have a TEAM and good coaching staff.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Definitely not baller Cal. Let’s just say my name might’ve had something to do with Cincinnati.

You were not missed. A different coach, different team, better results but you still just post to bring a team down

 

[rick64]

Pope put this team together on a wing and prayer. Did one h3ll of a job IMHO. Got two big W's over Duke and Gonzaga. Cats are 9-1 going into the U6 game at Rupp the the Ohio St game at MSG.

 

[oldsports_]

You were not missed. A different coach, different team, better results but you still just post to bring a team down

There are several new accounts made after Cal left. They are mental midgets who complain and cry every day here.
"A leopard 🐆 can't change its spots"

 

[KY_First]

No Butler or KK

A horrible team sandwiched between two big games.

Not what we want to see but games like this happen. Just come out ready to play Saturday.

They flew to SC last Monday, played on Tuesday then back to KY, flew to Washington a day later, back to KY, caught up on school work and practice, had a game on a Wednesday night. Their 3rd game in 8 days. People are insane if they don’t think these kids are tired.

I was a GM; when you have stretches like this, you get nervous because the mental toll is worse than the physical. Athletes start slipping and you can end up on a losing streak.

This team needs a break.

 

[bbncal02]

They flew to SC last Monday, played on Tuesday then back to KY, flew to Washington a day later, back to KY, caught up on school work and practice, had a game on a Wednesday night. Their 3rd game in 8 days. People are insane if they don’t think these kids are tired.

I was a GM; when you have stretches like this, you get nervous because the mental toll is worse than the physical. Athletes start slipping and you can end up on a losing streak.

This team needs a break.

They get one after Saturday for a bit. Then there’s like a 10 day stretch. I agree on the mental toll. But that’s how you develop toughness. The NCAA and SECT can be grinds.

 

[TopCatCal]

I think we are a pretty good team.
We are not an excellent team.
I think we end up with 10 losses on the year:
11-7 SEC
1 SEC Tournament
1 NCAA Tournament.
This assumes we beat Louisville on Saturday and Ohio State in NYC ....
10 losses is a pretty good year, especially with the SEC so damn tough this year.

We lost 11 games last year ... fwiw

This UK team has already won 9 games & we're still in early December. That's the same number of wins that our 2020-21 team coached by Calipari had all season.

 

[Creed Bratton]

I'm just going to say Evansville and UNC Wilmington.....at least we played like dog crap and still won so it could be worse.

 

[KY_First]

They get one after Saturday for a bit. Then there’s like a 10 day stretch. I agree on the mental toll. But that’s how you develop toughness. The NCAA and SECT can be grinds.

I think because of their age, most are already as tough as they’ll get under these circumstances and those you mentioned. We’ve all been tired before.

The league play is conference scheduled, meaning it’s aligned by all members to provide balance. It’s why we typically play Tuesday/Saturdays for example. Because it’s so grueling and extensive, it’s designed to avoid things like what we just did.

Parody in the NCAA tourney is partially due to this and you’re correct in that regard.

The upside? A sharp coach that will adjust. We need everyone available though to avoid slips.

 

[Smashcat]

I'm assuming now UL fans think they can beat us Saturday. 🙃

 

[MegaBlue05]

What was your previous user name?

I think it’s BallerCat aka BallerCal.

Posting styles are similar.

 

[RunninRichie]

I think it’s BallerCat aka BallerCal.

Posting styles are similar.

@Cold Stout Beer is ballercal

 

[chevyman 50]

If Cal had been coaching we would have lost.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

LOL at the overreactions with the starting QB sitting on the bench. The gamethread was a dumpster fire. This is pitiful.

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

Pope needs to figure out why guys were standing around on offense tonight. We're 10 games in, come on.

That's my biggest observation. The team we saw moving well, shooting well, and fighting for loose balls the first 4 games looks less motivated right now for some reason.

That said, missing Butler and now Kriisa *has* to have a major impact. I think many of us agree Butler is probably the team's most valuable player, and the PG spot is critical. Forcing Robinson into it as a third option is not ideal.

The shooting numbers are becoming more a trend than an outlier, too. Noticeably, most are wide open looks from outside, too. Oweh starting to shoot like he did at Oklahoma two years ago, and Robinson looks like a poor outside shooter.

 

[flacat22]

What was your previous user name?

What was yours? Evil Dead is one of my favorites, and I KNOW I haven't missed 5400+ posts from you using this name on this site since 2022.

 

[aikenite4uk]

You made 39 post since 2009?

🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

Well, UaVel fans haven't had much to crow about lately. LOL

 

[UKSanders]

As important as not having our best 2 point guards, we have to move Robinson from the 2. We replace him with Brea at the 2. Brea is not nearly as quick and active as Robinson, thus slowing our offensive flow. Defensively Robinson lacks the quickness to guard the point and Brea lacks the quickness to guard a 2. This caused all kinds of problems tonight. I also feel Carr is much more effective offensively with Robinson at the 2 because of better spacing. We MUST have Butler back by conference play. He is the glue for this team.

I think you are right about Jax/Brea not guarding the PG/SG well, but we can have Jax, OO, and Brea in together. In the Gonzaga game, a shift that I thought helped the defense with those guys in together was:

OO guards PG
Jax guards SG
Brea Guards SF

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

I think you are right about Jax/Brea not guarding the PG/SG well, but we can have Jax, OO, and Brea in together. In the Gonzaga game, a shift that I thought helped the defense with those guys in together was:

OO guards PG
Jax guards SG
Brea Guards SF

This. Just switch it up on defense. You don't have to guard the person assigned to you going the other way, this isn't youth league! Ha.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

That's my biggest observation. The team we saw moving well, shooting well, and fighting for loose balls the first 4 games looks less motivated right now for some reason.

That said, missing Butler and now Kriisa *has* to have a major impact. I think many of us agree Butler is probably the team's most valuable player, and the PG spot is critical. Forcing Robinson into it as a third option is not ideal.

The shooting numbers are becoming more a trend than an outlier, too. Noticeably, most are wide open looks from outside, too. Oweh starting to shoot like he did at Oklahoma two years ago, and Robinson looks like a poor outside shooter.

During the Duke game when we were losing, you went down the list of our players and said none of them were good enough.

Funny stuff.

 

[yoshukai]

Slightly disturbing trend last 3 games. Subpar 40 minutes at Clemson. Terrible 1st 20 minutes vs Gonzaga. Painful 40 minutes against Colgate. Louisville is solid this year. Cats need steady solid 40 to beat them

Hyperbole much ? There’s not a team in college basketball that doesn’t have “off” performances . I don’t think you’ll see many (if any) teams win at Clemson this year. What about the final 20 minutes vs Gonzaga? So when we were ahead 17-0 against Colgate it was “painful “ ?

 

[UKAlum84]

All I can Say is, we must of been tired and uninspired to win against colgate.........yet coach pope found a way to win.

 

[bluefaithful]

I’d love to know how many times we gave up a layout by getting blown by off the dribble. It was happening consistently in the second half.

Not nearly as much as last year, we are currently 28th in KenPom. Last year we were lucky to break 50.

 

[AshWilliams]

What was yours? Evil Dead is one of my favorites, and I KNOW I haven't missed 5400+ posts from you using this name on this site since 2022.

I had a name change from Mike-McD. Army of Darkness is one of my favs.

 

[Bkocats]

I never felt at any point we were watching Calipari ball
I was never worried we would lose this game
Like many of you, I have been a bit concerned about “less than” effort..I like to think that’ll be corrected in the coming weeks
It was a crappy game. No excuses
But there’s also no real indication that will continue

 

[Blue wood]

Pope put this team together on a wing and prayer. Did one h3ll of a job IMHO. Got two big W's over Duke and Gonzaga. Cats are 9-1 going into the U6 game at Rupp the the Ohio St game at MSG.

These threads are just stupid by stupid people

 

[champs-r-us]

Hyperbole much ? There’s not a team in college basketball that doesn’t have “off” performances . I don’t think you’ll see many (if any) teams win at Clemson this year. What about the final 20 minutes vs Gonzaga? So when we were ahead 17-0 against Colgate it was “painful “ ?

Nothing overstated or exaggerated just simple analysis. The opinion which you clearly are offended by was a composite of the past 3 games spanning 120 minutes of play. I guess I should have said game should have been called when Cats were up 17, now that's hyperbole.

 

[CalCat57]

Loserville has like 5 players out.. Won't matter being a rivalry game but not like they are making the NCAA tournament this year..

They have two players out.

 

[CalCat57]

Slightly disturbing trend last 3 games. Subpar 40 minutes at Clemson. Terrible 1st 20 minutes vs Gonzaga. Painful 40 minutes against Colgate. Louisville is solid this year. Cats need steady solid 40 to beat them

Totally stupid post. Pope had about a month to put this roster together and it's a miracle he got the players that he did. Enjoy the ride anything, anything we do this year is a bonus.