I don't get it.

[Firewalker_]

Earlier in the year they were a beauty to watch. The 3-4 passes until someone was open, the back door passes, the pick and roll. The open 3's. Everyone rooting for each other.
Now all I am seeing is selfish ball. Just looks like dribble drive to me. What has happened?

 

[RexShepcat]

Teams have picked up on our weaknesses

 

[ala_kat2]

Earlier in the year they were a beauty to watch. The 3-4 passes until someone was open, the back door passes, the pick and roll. The open 3's. Everyone rooting for each other.
Now all I am seeing is selfish ball. Just looks like dribble drive to me. What has happened?

I think the better teams (most of the SEC) have figured out how to beat us. Crowd the three’s and bait Williams into dribbling and throwing the ball at the rim. And to boot, most teams lately are quicker and more determined than those early season teams.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

Earlier in the year they were a beauty to watch. The 3-4 passes until someone was open, the back door passes, the pick and roll. The open 3's. Everyone rooting for each other.
Now all I am seeing is selfish ball. Just looks like dribble drive to me. What has happened?

Agreed, too many guys decided he's shooting early on nomatter what. Only one I'm ok with doing that is O.

 

[taydaddy]

Competition is better

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Defenders playing football and we are taking dance lessons

 

[Butters' Dad]

Teams have picked up on our weaknesses

We also don't have the depth to overcome injuries, which are inevitable.

 

[gharding07]

The country figured out we are very bad defensively. Our 5 men play bad for too long of stretches and our pg is a nightmare at the FT line.

 

[wildcatsincebirth]

Uhhh we are playing much more athletic teams now and they have effectively scouted our gimmicky offense and it’s really easy to shut it down. Also we simply don’t have anyone that can play consistent defense. Oweh and butler are our best defenders and even they get blown by all the time. Also butler has forgotten how to not make horrible passes. I know he’s hurt but what he’s doing is just mentally stupid.

If we played Duke again we might lose by 40

 

[KA4Prez]

In Kentucky's four losses, not against Alabama, they are a combined 26 for 97 from three.

This is only 6.5 makes per game, but more importantly, only 24.3 ATTEMPTS per game.

Pope said this is a "free shooting" team who needs to take 30 a game. They won't always fall, but you can't just not shoot.

 

[KA4Prez]

The team is also worn down to an extent too. Need to get more from Perry, Noah and Chandler, at least SOMETHING offensively, if you're going to play the style Pope wants.

 

[NociHTTP]

Teams have picked up on our weaknesses

That's fine, every team has weaknesses, but it doesn't explain why we're not doing the things that OP mentioned. You can do the fundamentals and miss open shots. Problem is, we're not doing the fundamentals.

 

[Cawood86]

Teams have picked up on our weaknesses

This right here. Defense is still an issue too.

 

[wildcatsincebirth]

In Kentucky's four losses, not against Alabama, they are a combined 26 for 97 from three.

This is only 6.5 makes per game, but more importantly, only 24.3 ATTEMPTS per game.

Pope said this is a "free shooting" team who needs to take 30 a game. They won't always fall, but you can't just not shoot.

Other teams extend their defense out on us to keep us from shooting. It’s not choosing not to shoot; we simply can’t get shots off with the players we have. Combine that with a frontcourt that is sometimes useless on offense and you have a performance like today.

 

[shaudyshaud]

It’s going to be tough for an offense to look smooth and pretty in the SEC. The games are physical . It’s up to the players to adjust to it

 

[Eccain01]

We suck on defense and teams just crowd the 3pt line because outside of Carr our bigs have no offensive game and outside of butler and maybe oweh our guards struggle to beat guys one on one

 

[KA4Prez]

Other teams extend their defense out on us to keep us from shooting. It’s not choosing not to shoot; we simply can’t get shots off with the players we have. Combine that with a frontcourt that is sometimes useless on offense and you have a performance like today.

Disagree.

This game Kentucky got looks. They had way too many turnovers, and at least 5 turnovers trying to initiate driving and cutting action with sloppy ball-handling by Butler. At least 2 turnovers trying to get Williams/Garrison the ball at the foul line post.

They weren't even running the offense to get three looks.

Also, every time Jaxson, Oweh, Butler or a big man shoot a shot from 8-15 feet, it's a bad shot. Even if they make it. Those shots are not 50% easier than a three, despite them being worth 50% less points.

 

[cathouse]

Without Carr in the lineup or even when he is not 100%, we have zero inside game. This makes it easy for a team to guard the three point line, especially when you only have a couple of shooters that can make a 3 in the lineup.

 

[RexShepcat]

That's fine, every team has weaknesses, but it doesn't explain why we're not doing the things that OP mentioned. You can do the fundamentals and miss open shots. Problem is, we're not doing the fundamentals.

Defense, Rebounding, Free Throws have been an issue in most every game, even the wins.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Two things:
- better comp
- better scout