Everyone has done an excellent job of addressing what this team's issues are and what we need to do to improve. I echo all of it, namely Robinson's aggressiveness. I've been saying it all season. He and Brea need to man the F up and start driving while seeking contact instead of shying away from it.
I don't care if it's not their style or takes away from them shooting more threes. They are both capable of getting ten more foul shots a game between the two of them, while drawing fouls on the other team. They'll still have plenty of opportunity to jack up 7-10 threes a game.
I find it hilarious that anytime Brea has a clear path to the hoop, he fluidly drives and dunks with ease. We've seen him post up smaller guys and score. He also has a nice pull up game. It's absolutely criminal for him to just be hunting along the perimeter, same for Jax. If those two can get to the line more, then things should start to even out. We know Butler and Owen will continue to attack. We should be living at the foul line.
Speaking of the outrageous free throw disparity thus far in SEC play, unfortunately, as long as we are considered a soft team who avoids contact, the other teams are going to continue to murder us at the line. It's complete bullshit, but in this league, if you have a reputation as a tough, physical team then you are allowed to play that style. But if you're a team like us who aren't as physical, then we get the bullshit whistle when we try to match that style of play.
It's infuriating as hell, but this team needs to realize that the SEC is out to kill us. Everyone hates us. Everyone wants to beat us. The level of intensity that they play with is always more than that against other conference opponents. It's not going to change. We have to be ready for war from the tip in every single game. There's no way around it. You're at Kentucky. Time to man up and do things you've never done before.
