I still think a S16 is more than realistic. IDK, maybe I'm crazy *shrugs*

[LineSkiCat14]

It was the best team in the nation, and we're still not near 100%. Mistakes are going to be made when the opponent is THAT good, and the coaching staff only have so much they can work with right now. Likely going to be no worse than a 4-seed, and this team has shown they can win big games, even without Butler and Jrob. Played in the best conference the NCAA has seen in 40 years, where night in and night out you're playing the equivalent of a NCAA tournament 7-seed or better.

Now I'm not guaranteeing any wins or anything.. but come tournament time, our first opponent will be severely over matched for Pope's offense. And we won't have to be nearly as good on defense to contain a non-SEC team. 2nd opponent will be at worst, a 5/6-seed. Again, likely not an SEC team, and instead a middling P5 program.. like a Maryland or Oregon. Not in any way an automatic win, but very winnable considering those teams would be 10th or worse in the SEC. 3rd game is likely against a 1/2-seed, BUT, you never know if they might get bounced first. Kentucky could be.. could be.. looking at 3 games in the tournament where not one single opponent would be able to compete in the SEC. I really like our chances because of that, because of Pope's offense, and because of how battle tested we are.

IDK, not really down on this loss today.. I think most of us expected it knowing Jrob was out and Butler was still not 100%. I really believe the NCAAT is going to be a breath of fresh air for this Kentucky team that's dying for a bit of an easier opponent, given their injuries and roster makeup. I think a Sweet16 is more than realistic, and maybe even probable.

 

[wildcat_nation28]

kentucky will have to play out of thier minds to do so

 

[the nail at the foul line]

I wouldn't have big expectations. Anything we get is good if we get a win.

 

[BBNinSC]

I really believe this team can make the S16. Every mock tournament bracket I’ve seen looks like we would win both of the first two games.
This team will win two games and then anything goes.

 

[UK67KU59]

We should be a 4/5 seed, which means we will be favored in our first game, and then the next should be a coin flip. So we really just have to not lay a stinker in the first game and then just hope we play one of our better games in the 2nd round. I think it’s certainly still possible. After that we may run out of luck if we have to play a 1 seed. You never know what matchups we might draw in the tournament setting 🤷‍♂️

 

[Chief Paducah]

It isn't out of the question but with Robinson out, it is a much tougher climb. We will probably have to beat a 13/14 seed and a 5/6 seed. I think we can beat the double digit seed, but a 5/6 seed, you are looking at teams the likes of Clemson/Oregon/St. Mary/Kansas/Maryland. Can we beat a team like that, yeah I think so. But would be much easier with a healthy Robinson.

 

[Fox2monk]

It was the best team in the nation, and we're still not near 100%. Mistakes are going to be made when the opponent is THAT good, and the coaching staff only have so much they can work with right now. Likely going to be no worse than a 4-seed, and this team has shown they can win big games, even without Butler and Jrob. Played in the best conference the NCAA has seen in 40 years, where night in and night out you're playing the equivalent of a NCAA tournament 7-seed or better.

Now I'm not guaranteeing any wins or anything.. but come tournament time, our first opponent will be severely over matched for Pope's offense. And we won't have to be nearly as good on defense to contain a non-SEC team. 2nd opponent will be at worst, a 5/6-seed. Again, likely not an SEC team, and instead a middling P5 program.. like a Maryland or Oregon. Not in any way an automatic win, but very winnable considering those teams would be 10th or worse in the SEC. 3rd game is likely against a 1/2-seed, BUT, you never know if they might get bounced first. Kentucky could be.. could be.. looking at 3 games in the tournament where not one single opponent would be able to compete in the SEC. I really like our chances because of that, because of Pope's offense, and because of how battle tested we are.

IDK, not really down on this loss today.. I think most of us expected it knowing Jrob was out and Butler was still not 100%. I really believe the NCAAT is going to be a breath of fresh air for this Kentucky team that's dying for a bit of an easier opponent, given their injuries and roster makeup. I think a Sweet16 is more than realistic, and maybe even probable.

We can make an E8 With the right path as long as we guard someone. If a school like FAU can make a final 4 or NC State last year we absolutely could. We just have to show up and everyone has to preform.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

I agree. Think the main key is Tuesday night and the first SEC tourney game. Win both of those and lock in at least a 4 seed.

From there I think it’s about the guys we have figuring things out together. The constant shuffling of roles has lessened the whole team imo.

Almonor was on a crazy heater, now he hasn’t scored in last 3 games.

Are we playing to “earn 3s” or playing to our new strength of an inside team? Oweh is a slasher, Amari has been effective close, same for Carr, and mainly same for Butler too as he’s more of a driver. Problem with going inside is our bad defense requires you to be insanely efficient inside and on the free throw stripe.

Do Perry/Noah/Almonor add value as floor spacing shooting threats or are they just guys that are weak defenders getting some cardio?

Can you get more good Brandon Garrison? Feels like BG is made up of 30% good Brandon and 70% bad Brandon.

Really tournament run starts Tuesday. We’ve taken beatings late in the year by number 1 ranked SEC teams before. Will this team respond or is it a huge shot to their confidence?

I WILL say this team has not handled following up big wins well all season. They really have one good result after a big win all year and that was against A&M without Taylor. So not a surprise their stinker came after a last second win on the road Wednesday night.

 

[Chief Paducah]

We can make an E8 With the right path as long as we guard someone. If a school like FAU can make a final 4 or NC State last year we absolutely could. We just have to show up and everyone has to preform.

I agree with this too. You get lucky draws with upsets, or sometimes you just draw a good team that is a favorable matchup (see Tennessee). I don't think this team can win a National Championship. We will more than likely have to get through at least one if not more 1/2 seeds and I just don't think we have the talent for that this year.

But if we make the sweet 16 this season after the way I felt about mid-April last year when we had no team or coach, that would be something.

 

[Fox2monk]

I agree with this too. You get lucky draws with upsets, or sometimes you just draw a good team that is a favorable matchup (see Tennessee). I don't think this team can win a National Championship. We will more than likely have to get through at least one if not more 1/2 seeds and I just don't think we have the talent for that this year.

But if we make the sweet 16 this season after the way I felt about mid-April last year when we had no team or coach, that would be something.

With the injuries we dealt with and the time we had to build a team a S16 run would be amazing. I’d love an E8. Everyone would feel great coming off that. We are hurt yeah but we have proven to step up in big games a lot this year.

 

[Blue_2_the_bone]

The first 3 rounds are all about matchups.

 

[BIG BLUE GURU]

We can make an E8 With the right path as long as we guard someone. If a school like FAU can make a final 4 or NC State last year we absolutely could. We just have to show up and everyone has to preform.

We haven't guarded anyone all year. We don't have athletic enough players to guard in this league or the top teams. It is what it is. Despite this if we win one or two games in the tournament we will have achieved more than our past teams with much more talent and beat pre-season expectations

 

[Seth_C]

It depends on the matchups but you already said it, we aren’t close go 100%. The thing is, we never will be. It isn’t happening. Jax is done. Kerr is done. Butler and Carr won’t be 100% either. It is what it is.

 

[Edgarman]

It was the best team in the nation, and we're still not near 100%. Mistakes are going to be made when the opponent is THAT good, and the coaching staff only have so much they can work with right now. Likely going to be no worse than a 4-seed, and this team has shown they can win big games, even without Butler and Jrob. Played in the best conference the NCAA has seen in 40 years, where night in and night out you're playing the equivalent of a NCAA tournament 7-seed or better.

Now I'm not guaranteeing any wins or anything.. but come tournament time, our first opponent will be severely over matched for Pope's offense. And we won't have to be nearly as good on defense to contain a non-SEC team. 2nd opponent will be at worst, a 5/6-seed. Again, likely not an SEC team, and instead a middling P5 program.. like a Maryland or Oregon. Not in any way an automatic win, but very winnable considering those teams would be 10th or worse in the SEC. 3rd game is likely against a 1/2-seed, BUT, you never know if they might get bounced first. Kentucky could be.. could be.. looking at 3 games in the tournament where not one single opponent would be able to compete in the SEC. I really like our chances because of that, because of Pope's offense, and because of how battle tested we are.

IDK, not really down on this loss today.. I think most of us expected it knowing Jrob was out and Butler was still not 100%. I really believe the NCAAT is going to be a breath of fresh air for this Kentucky team that's dying for a bit of an easier opponent, given their injuries and roster makeup. I think a Sweet16 is more than realistic, and maybe even probable.

If we had been 100% fully healthy strength today we would still have lost the game. Anyone thinking differently is dreaming. We have exceeded expectations but to think we were going to beat the best team in the nation is a fool. Auburn is today 6 to 8 points better than any team, including Duke, in the nation. We are what we are, a patched together mid level players that are SLOW but given a wide open shot, they can knock it down. Auburn does not give up enough wide open shots for our talent level to beat them. There is no shame in admitting we are not nearly as good as Auburn. Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda does not count in basketball. Keep in mind, there have been a lot of 4 & 5 seed teams that don't make it to the round of 32. We need our A game and certainly do not feel like our first opponent will be severly over matched for Pope's offense. If we are not draing threes, we struggle.

 

[Fox2monk]

I agree. Think the main key is Tuesday night and the first SEC tourney game. Win both of those and lock in at least a 4 seed.

From there I think it’s about the guys we have figuring things out together. The constant shuffling of roles has lessened the whole team imo.

Almonor was on a crazy heater, now he hasn’t scored in last 3 games.

Are we playing to “earn 3s” or playing to our new strength of an inside team? Oweh is a slasher, Amari has been effective close, same for Carr, and mainly same for Butler too as he’s more of a driver. Problem with going inside is our bad defense requires you to be insanely efficient inside and on the free throw stripe.

Do Perry/Noah/Almonor add value as floor spacing shooting threats or are they just guys that are weak defenders getting some cardio?

Can you get more good Brandon Garrison? Feels like BG is made up of 30% good Brandon and 70% bad Brandon.

Really tournament run starts Tuesday. We’ve taken beatings late in the year by number 1 ranked SEC teams before. Will this team respond or is it a huge shot to their confidence?

I WILL say this team has not handled following up big wins well all season. They really have one good result after a big win all year and that was against A&M without Taylor. So not a surprise their stinker came after a last second win on the road Wednesday night.

Almonor has to play, we need his size and his shooting. Now Noah should get consistent minutes. The X factor is Chandler. If he could ever get it going man he has the athleticism to help us. I just don’t think he has it yet, I don’t know if he has the skill to play at this level.

 

[ManitouDan]

Was a lot easier to accomplish before hearing JR is toast

 

[rick64]

All about the draw and matchups.

 

[NociHTTP]

We're automatically never going to be near 100% now that Jaxson is no longer playing. Take whatever "percentage" he represented, subtract it, and there's your base. And that's one of the factors the committe will take into account on Selection Sunday.

 

[NociHTTP]

We haven't guarded anyone all year. We don't have athletic enough players to guard in this league or the top teams. It is what it is. Despite this if we win one or two games in the tournament we will have achieved more than our past teams with much more talent and beat pre-season expectations

It isn't just athleticism stopping this team from defending. I don't remember who it was that left a guy completely wide open in the corner at the top of the tv, but he seemed to realize "hey that guy has the ball" and ran over too late to prevent the three. I honestly think that Mark doesn't put much emphasis on defending the three in practice.

 

[Fox2monk]

We haven't guarded anyone all year. We don't have athletic enough players to guard in this league or the top teams. It is what it is. Despite this if we win one or two games in the tournament we will have achieved more than our past teams with much more talent and beat pre-season expectations

I think we matchup well with most teams outside the SEC so we can definitely make a run. Teams that haven’t seen much of us this year will have some issues if we shoot the ball well. Pope needs to tighten the rotation and let our best guys left play 80% of games now. Switch defenses and try anything to mask our defensive issues. It is possible.

 

[BIG BLUE GURU]

It isn't just athleticism stopping this team from defending. I don't remember who it was that left a guy completely wide open in the corner at the top of the tv, but he seemed to realize "hey that guy has the ball" and ran over too late to prevent the three. I honestly think that Mark doesn't put much emphasis on defending the three in practice.

I disagree. If Pope hasn't realized that by now God help us. I believe he knows it and has focused on it but the players he has aren't capable of performing.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

I disagree. If Pope hasn't realized that by now God help us. I believe he knows it and has focused on it but the players he has aren't capable of performing.

Pope and the players have already acknowledged they are working almost exclusively on defense in practice. We jumped 50 spots in defensive efficiency over a few weeks and then people just conveniently pretend it didn’t happen. Sometimes personnel matters.

 

[JwUKFan11]

We will be somewhere between a 3-6 seed. If we win vs LSU I think we can lose to Mizz and nothing matters in the SECT we will be a 4.
So we should have somewhat of a favorable matchup in the first and second rounds.

 

[chroix]

S16/E8 feels like a hard ceiling to me but that level is achievable. I think we’re second tier just below Bama, Auburn and probably Duke now. Tournament is random. Maybe we catch a break and make it past the second weekend. We’re all about to find out.

 

[JRCAT14]

If we had been 100% fully healthy strength today we would still have lost the game. Anyone thinking differently is dreaming. We have exceeded expectations but to think we were going to beat the best team in the nation is a fool. Auburn is today 6 to 8 points better than any team, including Duke, in the nation. We are what we are, a patched together mid level players that are SLOW but given a wide open shot, they can knock it down. Auburn does not give up enough wide open shots for our talent level to beat them. There is no shame in admitting we are not nearly as good as Auburn. Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda does not count in basketball. Keep in mind, there have been a lot of 4 & 5 seed teams that don't make it to the round of 32. We need our A game and certainly do not feel like our first opponent will be severly over matched for Pope's offense. If we are not draing threes, we struggle.

Whatever!

 

[OliverSimmonstwinbrother]

This team is so wildly inconsistent that I could see us make the S16 or even further or lose by double digits in the 1st round.

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

I think without Robinson I’d but a S16 more in the unlikely column than realistic.

But it’s the tournament and one guy like Brea getting hot for a game can carry you into the second weekend.

 

[RondoBaller21]

We're automatically never going to be near 100% now that Jaxson is no longer playing. Take whatever "percentage" he represented, subtract it, and there's your base. And that's one of the factors the committe will take into account on Selection Sunday.

If they win these next two and a couple in the SEC tourney, then they’ll have proved they’re good enough without Robinson. Arkansas and now Vandy beat Missouri. Get the next two and they’ll be a 4 seed.

 

[FirewithFire]

If you look at the SEC non conference schedule the SEC beat the tar out of everyone else in the nation. So, if we get some weaker teams in our path then, maybe.

Right now I think the biggest key to the way this season ends is if Kobe Brea can actually step up and be a consistent threat to score. If yes, then I think we can go far. If no, then the season is probably going to be short.

 

[NociHTTP]

I disagree. If Pope hasn't realized that by now God help us. I believe he knows it and has focused on it but the players he has aren't capable of performing.

Right now history is not in his favor, as none of his previous teams (as claimed by others here) played good defense. Until he has a team that defends well, history is all we have to go on.

 

[NociHTTP]

I think without Robinson I’d but a S16 more in the unlikely column than realistic.

But it’s the tournament and one guy like Brea getting hot for a game can carry you into the second weekend.

He has to put up threes in order to get hot, unfortunately he disappears quite often. He's easy to defend, actually.

 

[blue cincy]

Now that we know Robinson is gone for the season you have to do your projections without him. Butler and 2/3 strength for the rest of the year. It will all be matchups. I could see S16, I could see E8 or I could see losing again the first weekend.

It will be matchups, I will bet 1000% that we get matched up against our worst possible matchups this tourney. We will struggle with our first game probably. If we are a 3 seed we will get a 14 seed that is more like a 10 seed. If we are a 4 Seed we will get 13 seed more in the line of a 7 seed. Then our 2nd round matchup will be against a team that plays like OSU/Clemson/UGA and so forth. Get past those 2 and we have a shot at E8.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Lot of good posts.

Again, not predicting anything. I think my main point is just that these first few opponents *should* be better matchups than all but a handful of SEC teams. And this UK team that we know is lacking some talent, all the sudden gets to play a game or two against MUCH lesser non-SEC opponents, using Pope's offense and coaching that has carried us all season. I kind of like us early in the tournament, assuming Butler can kind of settle back in.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

It's doable. It depends on the matchups.

It depends if UK can shoot well from 3 two games in a row. If they don't do that, not making sweet 16 IMO. Our D isn't gonna carry us over a 2nd round quality opponent.

 

[bryanperkey]

One tournament win is a significant step in the right direction. Anything beyond a win is a testament to the coach and team.

 

[BIG BLUE GURU]

If they win these next two and a couple in the SEC tourney, then they’ll have proved they’re good enough without Robinson. Arkansas and now Vandy beat Missouri. Get the next two and they’ll be a 4 seed.

There not winning the next two. Come on man. 1-1 is most realistic

 

[Titpwhami2014]

I think it comes down to making shots. Outside of the first Alabama game—we make 11+ threes, we usually win. If we go 7-23, or shoot like we did today—no chance. Losing Robinson hurts because he’s our second best shooter. We need one of the three freshmen to morph into ‘97 Cameron Mills in the tournament. Probably a long shot but they are going to get a chance.

 

[gharding07]

3 seed is probably off the table now because of Robinson's injury. We would need a 5/12 upset to get to the s16 imo at this point. We just can't take care of the ball or make a layup.

 

[WhiskeyCityCat]

kentucky will have to play out of thier minds to do so

lol. Ok Billy bob.

 

[Farsight]

I think the hope that this team brought the fan base early on this season is now snuffed out. I think that most fans seem like they want the season to be over. I also think more would be content with, LSU win, 1 SECT win and 1 NCAA win. Then calibrate next year.

It really sucks. What a team "they could've" been.