From an outsider to BBN..

[GermantownDawg]

I want to preface this by saying I believe you guys will run the table in SEC play pretty easily, but if there was one game that made you most "nervous" in conference, which game would that be? Also, give me a team outside of the SEC that would give UK the best game or even potentially beat UK. Thanks!

 

[ktbug]

South Carolina at their place Saturday has me worried. The best overall match up is probably UVA.

 

[SomeDudeCRO]

imho, games in baton rouge, athens, gainesville or columbia are potentially losable if the home teams are hot and get their crowds going.

Arizona, Wisconsin, and maybe Duke are most capable of beating UK

 

[Samwise Ganjee]

I guess of the ones remaining it would be 1) At Florida (even though they aren't playing well) and 2) at LSU (good team, decent coach, maniac crowd)

OOC, of the ones we've already played, I don't want to see Texas again as I think we caught them at a good time and they can match up with us (at least on paper)

Ones we have not played would be Syracuse (hate that damned zone they play and we could be had if our shooting isn't there, especially in a dome) or UConn (they just seem to have our number)

 

[TY U 2 WCS 4 9]

Literally every SEC game will come with a hint of worry until I see that we have come to play at least our B game. Those first two got my attention plenty. Not as concerned with the big name national teams because we should be zoned in for anybody that stands a decent chance of beating us ,according to the national media at least.

 

[bigbluelou]

@ Georgia and @ USC are the most concerning for me. We usually play pretty well at Fla IMHO.

OOC I still think Duke is the best team. Arizona is talented but their guards don't scare me. Virginia hasn't played that tough a schedule yet so the jury is still out for them in my mind. Gonzaga intrigues me...haven't watched them much yet but if they shoot well, they could be a tough out.

 

[wild mandu]

SEC - The road games

Tournament - Duke, Wisconsin

I'm of a different mindset, OP. I don't think UK runs the table in the SEC, but I do think we win the championship. There will be a team, whether it's SC, Florida, Georgia, etc. that will catch us on a bad night on the road. But in March? Nobody is better equipped to handle 6 games on a neutral court than Kentucky.

 

[bigc45157]

I think we slip somewhere with the 'right'/wrong circustmances (cold shooting, low energy, opposing team hitting fall away shots, and a manic crowd).

I'm just enjoying the process. This team is really fun to watch; so many weapons.

SEC tourney and NCAAT will be fun to watch, but the latter will be full of anxiety!

 

[BoulderCat]

I think the consensus around here is no one can beat us if we play well. And there are plenty of other's not associated with UK who think the same. But all teams have off games.

The game at SC worries me a bit. They've pulled off a couple big upsets over us in recent year's. Heck really most of the SEC road games. The crowds are usually rowdy and the other team fired up. Our fans are always there though. Always.

As for the rest of the country Duke, Wisconsin, and Arizona remain the teams I think can at least nearly match UK well in terms of athletes and skills. Perhaps a couple of other's but I don't know. I mean before last night KU was ranked 10th, and you probably know what UK did to them. It's like a Alabama fan said, "it's like Varsity v JV".

 

[caneintally]

At LSU is by far the toughest game we have left and it is not even close.

At UGA is 2nd toughest

Arkansas at home would be 3rd

At UF would be 4th

and UGA at home would be 5th .

those are the games i worry about .

 

[Gator Fever]

I have a feeling @LSU will be pretty tough.

 

[ok-cats-computer]

In the conference I would say that road games at Florida, LSU, USC, and Georgia are games in which Kentucky could lose. OOC I would say Virginia, Duke, Wisconsin, Arizona, and possibly Gonzaga have the talent to put up a decent fight against Kentucky. I actually suspect we will take a conference loss on the road. Some team like Florida will come out on fire and catch us on an off night. Almost happened already at Texas A&M. Still, I fully expect a conference championship and deep NCAA Tournament run.

 

[dalehollow]

Cats will not go undefeated but I am not worried about that. Any road game in the conference and in this order Duke, Wisconsin, Cuse, and North Carolina (they are playing much better). But a number of team could beat us. We must be ready especially in March and early April.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

At Florida and at LSU. If the best refs are assigned these games little worry. Chances of that not great though. But IMO we could stumble in a lot of games left.

NCAA tournament after the first round a lot of teams could get us on a given night. Look at the better teams with plenty of size and shooting. Probably will need those two things to have a chance.

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

South Carolina lost to Auburn last night. Let that sink in.

 

[kyjeff1]

The people bringing up Florida obviously haven't seen them play…. this year. This isn't January of 2014, this fla team is awful. Uk will not lose to that team and they won't lose to Georgia or USC either. Best thing that ever happened to UK was the 2 overtime games. It woke them up.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Originally posted by kyjeff1:
The people bringing up Florida obviously haven't seen them play…. this year. This isn't January of 2014, this fla team is awful. Uk will not lose to that team and they won't lose to Georgia or USC either. Best thing that ever happened to UK was the 2 overtime games. It woke them up.

Agree they aren't a typical FL team. But they have enough shooters and decent players, with the right refs, could be a problem. And we have seen against Ole Miss and TX A@M, on a given day with bad refs assigned, what can happen.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Originally posted by Gator Fever:
I have a feeling @LSU will be pretty tough.

Hell they lost to Texas A&M.

 

[uky8unc5]

Has to have a tough inside player. Only Georgia left in the conference.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

@UGA or arky at home (we don't always play well at rupp). @USC would be third, as they seem to play well against us lately.

Not worried about LSU. THey're probably the worst-coached team in the SEC. Not overly worried about UF, as they are just lacking this year.

If UT had their usual talent level, I would worry about them a bit in Knoxville. Tyndall is a good coach. But, they are not very talented this year and we will have a ton of fans there, so not too worried about that one.

 

[ORCAT]

At Georgia is the one I gave in another thread the other day and I'm sticking with that one.

 

[Bkocats]

OP -

I'm with the others on this one - @Athens, @Baton Rouge, @Columbia


OOC - I'm actually concerned w/ Playing Texas again, Duke doesn't make me as worried as they DID ,but still capable.

Btw - nice win over the Gators yesterday; was a good game

 

[Seth C]

Originally posted by Samwise Ganjee:
I guess of the ones remaining it would be 1) At Florida (even though they aren't playing well) and 2) at LSU (good team, decent coach, maniac crowd)

OOC, of the ones we've already played, I don't want to see Texas again as I think we caught them at a good time and they can match up with us (at least on paper)

Ones we have not played would be Syracuse (hate that damned zone they play and we could be had if our shooting isn't there, especially in a dome) or UConn (they just seem to have our number)

LSU has one of the worst major conference coaches in the game today, so no. He's in over his head and has absolutely no clue how to coach basketball.

This post was edited on 1/18 5:20 PM by Seth C

 

[pascat]

Based on what I've seen, a team that can play very tough man to man defense against Kentucky has a chance of beating us. Conventional wisdom says that UK struggles more against a zone, but UK has been destroying zones lately with good shooting and good ball-handling.

An in-your face man to man might work because UK only really sees it in practice and we don't have a lot of guys adept at driving the lane to compensate for an over-extended defense. Man to man is really the only way to force UK into turnovers because UK does not tend to give up the ball on the press (another benefit of having tall guards) or against a zone.

Under normal circumstances, Florida's strategic defense that double teams the post and leaves all but 1-2 shooters open would be a decent strategy. Not this year--not with UK passing out of the blocks so well and making so many 3's.

This year, I think South Carolina, which plays almost exclusively man to man, will pose the biggest threat to UK. Their defense is solely dedicated to taking away threes and layups--which are a big part of UK's offense. Their weakness is that they allow mid-range jumpers all day and are not very good at anticipating several crisp passes in a row. As a result, UK will attack them and get several alley-oops against them, even if this means turning the ball over. Lyles will have the chance at a big day as well, as he has a phenomenal mid-range game.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

I will be pleasantly shocked if our Cats go undefeated in the SEC although I think we are better than last year's Florida team.

1) At Georgia 2) At Florida. You can throw away their record because Billy D has been around the block a time or two and in big games. All SEC road games make me nervous until the final whistle.

Out of conference I don't want to face North Carolina again.
This post was edited on 1/18 5:46 PM by Sawnee Cat

 

[jrm693]

Duke is he one that concerns me, even more so since they thumped Lousiville hard in Louisville, I believe a team with great three point shooting plus they have the aircraft carrier in the middle.

 

[EMMCAT]

Biggest threat in SEC is Florida. Best coach and an improving team.
Best chance in March is probably Texas (big, deep and experienced against UK so they won't be shocked by our size and length), UVA is next (slow down. great coach, good three point shooting) Duke, ( good 3 point shooters+ willingness to play a zone, one great player, great coach). Each of these opponents have serious match up weaknesses and depth problems versus UK except for Texas.
If we play like we played against Bama, no one has a chance. and.... we are getting better!!

 

[K-Town Kat]

I'm not "worried" about anybody. My thoughts are Florida ran the table last year, so why would I believe this Kentucky team won't?

 

[caneintally]

Originally posted by Bert Higginbotha:

Originally posted by Gator Fever:
I have a feeling @LSU will be pretty tough.

Hell they lost to Texas A&M.

and you do realize A&M right now is a damn formidable team . They have a good record and almost beat us and have won every SEC game besides against us . Next year ,like LSU they will be top 20 all season long.

 

[runt#69]

Not nervous in the anticipation for any SEC games yet to be played, but the outside shot to beat us (in my book) is the game @LSU. It comes three days after the trip to Florida. Looks like the LSU game that could get us in the SEC. If not that one, @GA. could be the one, but I think if we make it to that point, the guys will be bearing down extra hard to finish of an unbeaten SEC run and Ga. won't pull the upset.

Outside of the SEC, Duke would head the list, then Wisconsin and Arizona - in that order. Possible Notre Dame could give UK a good game, with their style and good guard play, and a lot of things go right for them.... Maybe Virginia, but I like UK's chances against all of the competition this year.

 

[GermantownDawg]

Originally posted by Bkocats:
OP -

I'm with the others on this one - @Athens, @Baton Rouge, @Columbia


OOC - I'm actually concerned w/ Playing Texas again, Duke doesn't make me as worried as they DID ,but still capable.

Btw - nice win over the Gators yesterday; was a good game

Thanks, man. That was big for us. We don't often beat them, so I'm glad that we capitalized on probably one of their worst teams in a while. I could see us posing a challenge to the Cats for a half, but y'all simply have too much depth and too much length for us to handle. I'm hoping we can keep it respectable (8-10 point losses) or something like that.

 

[LordEgg]

We would murder Wisconsin. Just sayin.

 

[BBN3240]

Originally posted by Gator Fever:
I have a feeling @LSU will be pretty tough.

Yep. Jordan Mickey. LSU has a pretty good team on paper. If they had a coach they might be dangerous

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Originally posted by BBN3240:

Originally posted by Gator Fever:
I have a feeling @LSU will be pretty tough.

Yep. Jordan Mickey. LSU has a pretty good team on paper. If they had a coach they might be dangerous

Some of their players still there have played well against us like Mickey and Quarterman for instance. And the timing of the game not the best. So yeah, I'm wary.

 

[kitkoodle]

more worried about LSU and even Arky at rupp..Arky will come in with no fear since they beat us last year, and Anderson will have them convinced they swept the NCAA runnerups and believing they can do it again

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Originally posted by kitkoodle:
more worried about LSU and even Arky at rupp..Arky will come in with no fear since they beat us last year, and Anderson will have them convinced they swept the NCAA runnerups and believing they can do it again

Portis and Qualls can beat us if we don't go after those two personally with a chip on our shoulder. Hope a big part of our game plan is to make those two guys miserable.

 

[KYcatsfan4ever]

Living in SC, these are the two games I have tickets to see! I just think they have rededicated their defensive effort and the last 2 games has showed that. Hopefully they bring it to every game, but those two in particular for me! Georgia actually concern me more, they are playing well right now. Hopefully the "buzzsaw" per Cal, will show up!

 

[Kampus Korner]

Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas could whip us if we are not on our game and they play exceptionally well. These days any team that takes another team for granted does so at its own peril. Ask Duke about Leigh.

 

[K-Town Kat]

Whip us? Lol

 

[LineSkiCat]

SEC - Any road game. Away games are difficult environments for any team, especially one as young as Kentucky. We look pretty good on the road so far, but our toughest away games are still to come. Will we play like we did in 2010 and 2012.. or like 2011/2013.. can't say for certain.

Tourney - Good threepoint teams (Irish, Zaga) or teams with great guard play (Maryland, Uconn) should be a concern for any team. The former is poised for upsets while the latter is a big factor for taking home the title. That said, no one specific really worries me. We will run Wisconsin out of the gym, not sold on UVA quite yet, we hammered the Big12, Duke won't beat us unless the refs get involved...