People are right when they say Arkansas lost their point guard and they are actually playing better; what you are not saying is how is that possible?
Might be the player running the offense is in his second year with the same coach, playing with 2 other players he knows surrounded by SEC players who have played in the SEC and understand the difficulty of playing in this league. Then you factor in how strong the SEC is this year, you have no games where you can make the adjustments needed when you lose a player to an injury.
When I see our freshmen go in, I think about the term, "baptism by fire" for them.
The team Coach Pope put together had never played one single minute together, no one. You tell me who has ever done something like this before? SMU after their death penalty years?
As a whole, this team is good, has weaknesses but many of them can be covered up with their strengths in other areas. To lose one player is tough, to lose three is a season killer. Carr is back but it is clearly obvious he is not 100%.
When you have to have a 7ft center handle the ball in the open court, you know your team is trying to make adjustments.
Bottom, line, this team had 0 room for error; as a whole, they are difficult to guard. Butler being out has thrown everyone out of their comfort zone; this after Coach Pope has worked so hard on getting each player to know each other, understand each others game, how to play together and know without thinking where their teammate will be at for a pass and then to have everyone of them move into other roles this late in the season is not easy especially in a league like the SEC.
I see now why others think us UK fans are spoiled. These injuries suck and suck big time.
I read posters who think Kerr being out is not that big a deal and wonder why they feel this way. Take Ole Miss; look how they played in your face defense and think how annoying that would be to have to play with someone constantly up in your face the whole game.
Kerr brought that kind of mentally into the game. Energy and hustle off the bench is huge for a coach to have.
6 months ago, UK had not a single player on its roster or a coach and today we bitch after the excitement a new coach and set of players have given us all due to the team being dealt with these types of injuries.
People say Pope is too soft but complain about a guy like Hurley, Bob Knight, Barnes, Beard being a jerk. I find it a little refreshing to have someone coach UK that is not a jerk, talks to fans with respect, and represents UK like it should be. Pope is a modern version of Tubby when it comes to class. Tubby liked his ball line defense and scores in the 50's where as Pope wants to score one more point then the other team no matter the score. But come the end of the game, both coaches had class.
Enjoy the ride and STFU if you don't like it.
