Injuries Beat Us

[MrHotDice]

It was not bad players, or bad coaching, or bad refs, or bad anything. It was bad luck with injuries that eventully caught up to this team. Even last night we basically had 5 starters, two of them whor braces for shoulder injuries and back injuries.

Without the injuries this team was very good and we as fans only saw a little of this team at full strength so for me, Intrust Pope will get players, I trust the BBN will support them, and Intrush Mark Pope will coach them but what I hope and my expectations are that we get lucky and put full teams on the floor. The rest will take care of itself.

 

[EliteBlue]

Yep. Ppl are tired of hearing it bc it’s been since game 7…. But it’s the truth.

Amazing what we accomplished with our duct taped roster. With Jax and Kerr we are a 2 seed and an E8 or F4 team.

Hit the portal and build on it

 

[Fox2monk]

Yep. Ppl are tired of hearing it bc it’s been since game 7…. But it’s the truth.

Amazing what we accomplished with our duct taped roster. With Jax and Kerr we are a 2 seed and an E8 or F4 team.

Hit the portal and build on it

Pretty much the truth. It’s hard to win with limited guard backups. Lamont wasn’t healthy but gave it his all.

 

[JPFisher]

Maybe. I don't blame the coaches. We were short-handed, but what lost us the game was not boxing out, not setting hard screens, not playing hard defense, and I have to assume walking in to the game assuming we were going to beat them like the other two times.

To me, it was a game of effort more so than a game of bodies. We'd already whipped ut twice with half our team on stretchers. It just is what it is. I don't buy the injury narrative.

ut just wanted it more and played like they wanted it more. Maybe we stay in it if the guys are 100% healthy, but nobody is 100% healthy. Maybe Jax goes on a heater and buries ut with five three from the half court logo. I dunno. I just have a hard time believing that.

And that's not to take anything away from these guys. At all. Point. Blank. Period. They gave us a great season despite all the adversity.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

No Tennessee ran Kentucky off the floor

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

I know we would have been different without the injuries and depleted roster. We just fell behind early on and 3 points became 6, then 7, then 10 and up to 19 and it was a struggle from there to play catch up. I wish we could have closed the gap there in the middle part of the first half before it got so wide, the game may have ended differently. We did score 2 more points than UT in the second half, though, so they never gave up and kept fighting.

 

[KA4Prez]

It has to be clarified.

Numerous teams were WITHOUT key playing for a few games, or during the conference tournament or NCAA Tournament.

However, I would agree, Kentucky being without Kerr, Robinson and Butler, but HUGE stretches of time, actually makes it tougher.

The team actually rallied after Jaxson went out, and took a step UP once they knew he wasn't coming back. It's the sheer number of games they all missed and the inconsistency that made it most impactful.

 

[KyCPA]

That was a big factor for sure. I am not worried.

 

[runt#69]

People won't truly be able to appreciate what Pope did this year with his team until a few more years have passed and you can look at it over time.

An amazing job. Might be hard for some to see it, but it's there.

Go Big Blue !

 

[KA4Prez]

The problem is, Kentucky (under Pope) will have teams that stay healthier and have more talent. And at that point, more expectation will come to Pope. Arguably, he maxed out with what he was working with by the end of this year.

It's also difficult to make it past the Sweet 16 and that will be the expectation. That's the Kentucky job.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

The lack of continuity during the season, with key guys out since around game 8, really hurt. Mostly guards, but also Carr. Carr was flat out rock solid the first half or so of the season. He was CLUTCH in the paint. He just was never the same after that back injury.

Not to mention, losing Kerr took away a different wrinkle we could throw at opponents. He was a great assist guy and glue guy. He has several triple doubles at Arizona. I didn’t know that until a couple weeks ago. Was a bigger loss than most people realize. Then you have Jax and Butler injuries.

Having said all that, what this team and coaching staff did this year with all that adversity was nothing short of incredible. What a fantastic first season. We still beat duke, Gonzaga, Tennessee twice and Florida! Just good stuff.

 

[PhattyJ4UK]

Stop it

We didn’t show up last night.

We had the shortest guy on the floor coming away with offensive rebounds.

Amari should have been able to put up 30, 15 and 5 but he only wants to make one aggressive play a game it seems.

Injuries happen. They suck. But we didn’t show up. That sucks too.

 

[MonsterMash79]

It was not bad players, or bad coaching, or bad refs, or bad anything. It was bad luck with injuries that eventully caught up to this team. Even last night we basically had 5 starters, two of them whor braces for shoulder injuries and back injuries.

Without the injuries this team was very good and we as fans only saw a little of this team at full strength so for me, Intrust Pope will get players, I trust the BBN will support them, and Intrush Mark Pope will coach them but what I hope and my expectations are that we get lucky and put full teams on the floor. The rest will take care of itself.

No. Getting slapped in the mouth and folding, beat us 👍 No more sugar coating outcomes.

Yes…. We had injuries, but last night was simply the opposing team playing better and wanting it more👍

 

[BBNinSC]

Pope was trying to build a 3 point shooting team and we lost our second and third best shooters for the season. I thought he did a masterful job cobbling this team together to a #3 seed and and S16.
I believe the coaching staff learned a few things along the way of this first season. Kentucky will be better next year.

 

[BlueRunner11]

I’m not sure Robinson or Kerr would’ve added anything to change much last night.

 

[catsfanbgky]

Injuries didn't cost us the game last night, Butler had 18. What cost us the game is the same that cost us all of our losses. Getting bullied, not rebounding, and not being able to shoot above average from 3. Every game we had a off night from 3, we lost. Facts. Injury excuse is just that. We beat the same team 2 times with the same roster. Difference is, we didn't hit 12-14 3s and Tennessee controlled the pace of the game. Too many 2nd chance points when they was cold from the field, and we was cold ALL night. it happens, this team was constructed as best Pope could do in such little time, could have used a little more athleticism and rebounding. Other than Butler, none of our guys could attack the paint and free guys up. Had to take too many contested shots because players couldn't create their own.

 

[crestcat]

Maybe. I don't blame the coaches. We were short-handed, but what lost us the game was not boxing out, not setting hard screens, not playing hard defense, and I have to assume walking in to the game assuming we were going to beat them like the other two times.

To me, it was a game of effort more so than a game of bodies. We'd already whipped ut twice with half our team on stretchers. It just is what it is. I don't buy the injury narrative.

ut just wanted it more and played like they wanted it more. Maybe we stay in it if the guys are 100% healthy, but nobody is 100% healthy. Maybe Jax goes on a heater and buries ut with five three from the half court logo. I dunno. I just have a hard time believing that.

And that's not to take anything away from these guys. At all. Point. Blank. Period. They gave us a great season despite all the adversity.

Its easier to motivate a team that has lost twice to an underdog rival.

 

[9timeChampion]

no it was injuries. we had 10 available. butler sholder still not 100 percent. carr's back had problems. actually we had 9 perry wrist was still hurt. We didn't get ran off by Tn, we got ran out of gym by bama.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Last night was certainly disappointing.

But it is injuries for the big picture. If we had a healthy Robinson, Kerr, Carr and Butler for the whole season we are having a different conversation today.

 

[vol_scott]

No Tennessee ran Kentucky off the floor

Not sure that UT beats a healthy UK team with Robinson. I think this year’s title will go to Duke or Florida, and you guys beat both of them.

Told my wife that Pope was a good hire and the fans and players would gravitate to him. It appears he is turning out to be a better recruiter than I thought, which doesn’t bode well for my Vols.

 

[catsfanbgky]

no it was injuries. we had 10 available. butler sholder still not 100 percent. carr's back had problems. actually we had 9 perry wrist was still hurt. We didn't get ran off by Tn, we got ran out of gym by bama.

Tennessee ran us off the court. It was over at the first media timeout. What game did you watch ? Also, Butler had 18, his shoulder did not bother him last night. Hell that is by far the most he scored since the Louisville game at 100%. You really think Perry was going to make a difference ? It wasn't his wrist the reason he didn't play. Ziegler would have cooked him like fine filet steak. Same outcome if Robinson would have been available, he is not a physical player, though he can create his own shot, be it a bad one or not. EXCUSES, that is all they are. Funny, when we win, injuries are not a issue.

Great year, very proud of their effort and season, reload and come back with an attitude. MUST get more physical next year, the SEC and the NCAA tournament as a whole, you face the Michigan States, Houstons, and Texas Tech's of the non SEC, you had better bring your lunch pail.

On a separate note, ban the GD football stadiums for the tournament, terrible sight lines, depth perceptions. The 2 games played in Lucas Oil stadium, Houston scored 62, Purdue 60, and UK 65. UT scored 78 but 15 from the free throw line and tons of layups.
From 3
Houston 9/23 - 39% (pretty good) 40% on the year, 9 made per game. Uzlan was cooking, 6/9. rest of the team was 3/14.
Purdue 8/27 - 29% (38% on the year)
UK 6/15 - 40% but only 6 made (38% on the year, 9.5 made per game)
UT 5/19 - 26% (35% for the year, 8.3 made per game)

 

[Wildskatfan]

It was not bad players, or bad coaching, or bad refs, or bad anything. It was bad luck with injuries that eventully caught up to this team. Even last night we basically had 5 starters, two of them whor braces for shoulder injuries and back injuries.

Without the injuries this team was very good and we as fans only saw a little of this team at full strength so for me, Intrust Pope will get players, I trust the BBN will support them, and Intrush Mark Pope will coach them but what I hope and my expectations are that we get lucky and put full teams on the floor. The rest will take care of itself.

Tennessee lost two players this year. I don't want to hear that. We beat them twice already. With less health.
We got beat because we didn't rebound, play defense, and they wanted it more.
Plain and simple.

 

[9timeChampion]

Both our Kentucky boys scored in one game against TN. Robinson scored 17 in the other. They didn't run us out of gym. Ole Miss, Alabama, Ohio State did. Outrebounded and out hustled yes. Beating someone by 10-13 compared to 20-30. Um nope.

 

[ukfan1622]

Maybe. I don't blame the coaches. We were short-handed, but what lost us the game was not boxing out, not setting hard screens, not playing hard defense, and I have to assume walking in to the game assuming we were going to beat them like the other two times.

To me, it was a game of effort more so than a game of bodies. We'd already whipped ut twice with half our team on stretchers. It just is what it is. I don't buy the injury narrative.

ut just wanted it more and played like they wanted it more. Maybe we stay in it if the guys are 100% healthy, but nobody is 100% healthy. Maybe Jax goes on a heater and buries ut with five three from the half court logo. I dunno. I just have a hard time believing that.

And that's not to take anything away from these guys. At all. Point. Blank. Period. They gave us a great season despite all the adversity.

I think it was more poise than effort; UT played their A game while Brea and Oweh looked like guys couldn't shoot. Some of our guys just weren't ready for lights that bright.

 

[9timeChampion]

TN had someone as good as Robinson out?? None of them players who were out for season was equal to Robinson. Having 9 players. Butler in the first half was avoiding contact due to injury. Carr's back was back to being bad and was avoiding contact. Perry shooting hands was hurt and scored 8 last game without Robinson.

 

[Wildskatfan]

Both our Kentucky boys scored in one game against TN. Robinson scored 17 in the other. They didn't run us out of gym. Ole Miss, Alabama, Ohio State did. Outrebounded and out hustled yes. Beating someone by 10-13 compared to 20-30. Um nope.

Tennessee is not a high scoring team. Besides Lanier, they put almost all their chips on defense. Tennessee keeping it to 15-19 almost all game was indeed them running us out the building. We never had a chance after the first few minutes.

 

[canebreak]

Maybe. I don't blame the coaches. We were short-handed, but what lost us the game was not boxing out, not setting hard screens, not playing hard defense, and I have to assume walking in to the game assuming we were going to beat them like the other two times.

To me, it was a game of effort more so than a game of bodies. We'd already whipped ut twice with half our team on stretchers. It just is what it is. I don't buy the injury narrative.

ut just wanted it more and played like they wanted it more. Maybe we stay in it if the guys are 100% healthy, but nobody is 100% healthy. Maybe Jax goes on a heater and buries ut with five three from the half court logo. I dunno. I just have a hard time believing that.

And that's not to take anything away from these guys. At all. Point. Blank. Period. They gave us a great season despite all the adversity.

This is well said. Injuries did not cause our complete lack of game prep or mental readiness. This was a total failure to prepare on every level.

 

[Jamal Sunburn]

Team had no toughness. Those are 2 attributes Kerr or Jaxon would not have provided.

 

[9timeChampion]

Team had no toughness. Those are 2 attributes Kerr or Jaxon would not have provided.

Jaxon could have hit 3s and Kerr played defense on a broken whatever against Gonzagga.. Stupid take. Jaxon hit 17 against them in the game in TN. People say I don't have eyes. First half Carr and Butler avoided contact. Also I forgot Amari hurt his back a week before as well. They all avoided contact due to injuries. Second half it was a different story but yeah first half they outrebounded us and outhustle us. Playing a team 3 x with realistically being more banged up than ever is going to catch up to you.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Stop it

We didn’t show up last night.

We had the shortest guy on the floor coming away with offensive rebounds.

Amari should have been able to put up 30, 15 and 5 but he only wants to make one aggressive play a game it seems.

Injuries happen. They suck. But we didn’t show up. That sucks too.

This. Injuries cost us at other times, but last night was all rebounding. They killed us with so many offensive boards and put backs. They struggle to score from the perimeter and, even though they shot well, giving them all those easy baskets was was too much to overcome.

Most puzzling part was we really rebounded well the last several weeks.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Injuries may have hampered the team and put a ceiling on our potential.. but not last night. I can't get around the fact that this team just did not show up. That was a very winnable game.. but we got sloppy play all around,

 

[Jamal Sunburn]

Jaxon could have hit 3s and Kerr played defense on a broken whatever against Gonzagga.. Stupid take. Jaxon hit 17 against them in the game in TN. People say I don't have eyes. First half Carr and Butler avoided contact. Also I forgot Amari hurt his back a week before as well. They all avoided contact due to injuries. Second half it was a different story but yeah first half they outrebounded us and outhustle us. Playing a team 3 x with realistically being more banged up than ever is going to catch up to you.

You have all the excuses in the world.

 

[Cawood86]

No Tennessee ran Kentucky off the floor

Same team UK beat twice....a healthy UK team was legit contender

 

[catben]

Injuries didn't cost us the game last night, Butler had 18. What cost us the game is the same that cost us all of our losses. Getting bullied, not rebounding, and not being able to shoot above average from 3. Every game we had a off night from 3, we lost. Facts. Injury excuse is just that. We beat the same team 2 times with the same roster. Difference is, we didn't hit 12-14 3s and Tennessee controlled the pace of the game. Too many 2nd chance points when they was cold from the field, and we was cold ALL night. it happens, this team was constructed as best Pope could do in such little time, could have used a little more athleticism and rebounding. Other than Butler, none of our guys could attack the paint and free guys up. Had to take too many contested shots because players couldn't create their own.

And this is EXACTLY why we will all see Coach Pope constructing a roster for next season with WAAAYYYY MORE athletic players that can ALSO score AND defend.

He KNOWS what he needs to compete in the SEC and at the top level of college basketball.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Same team UK beat twice....a healthy UK team was legit contender

Maybe, but we can’t make an excuse for last night. They kicked our ass

 

[HYTCHYE ISLAND]

Maybe. I don't blame the coaches. We were short-handed, but what lost us the game was not boxing out, not setting hard screens, not playing hard defense, and I have to assume walking in to the game assuming we were going to beat them like the other two times.

To me, it was a game of effort more so than a game of bodies. We'd already whipped ut twice with half our team on stretchers. It just is what it is. I don't buy the injury narrative.

ut just wanted it more and played like they wanted it more. Maybe we stay in it if the guys are 100% healthy, but nobody is 100% healthy. Maybe Jax goes on a heater and buries ut with five three from the half court logo. I dunno. I just have a hard time believing that.

And that's not to take anything away from these guys. At all. Point. Blank. Period. They gave us a great season despite all the adversity.

Agree with every point and word in this post! Last night for whatever reason, we watched our team not giving maximum effort. Against a team like UT you can’t just give a half ass effort and expectation to win. Our guys had to know that ut was going to bring it after us beating them 2x in regular season play?

All I know for sure is that it was one helluva first year under Pope and I’m extremely proud of him and our guys! Now it’s time to raid the portal and build a juggernaut for next year!!!!

 

[kywildcats8]

Stop it

We didn’t show up last night.

We had the shortest guy on the floor coming away with offensive rebounds.

Amari should have been able to put up 30, 15 and 5 but he only wants to make one aggressive play a game it seems.

Injuries happen. They suck. But we didn’t show up. That sucks too.

It seemed Tenn wanted it more or just had more luck- seemed every 50/50 ball, every rebound, every shot that was a brick by Tenn was grabbed by Tenn- we just could not score it seemed- start of 2nd half if we had scored on 2-3 possessions, we would have cut it under 10 but just couldn't get anything going

 

[W1LDCAT22]

It was not bad players, or bad coaching, or bad refs, or bad anything. It was bad luck with injuries that eventully caught up to this team. Even last night we basically had 5 starters, two of them whor braces for shoulder injuries and back injuries.

Without the injuries this team was very good and we as fans only saw a little of this team at full strength so for me, Intrust Pope will get players, I trust the BBN will support them, and Intrush Mark Pope will coach them but what I hope and my expectations are that we get lucky and put full teams on the floor. The rest will take care of itself.

Pretty sure all of our bigs were healthy and on the floor last night. Kerr and Robinson would not have done much in the rebounding department to sway the results from last night. Getting out hustled and out played was the other thing that beat us. Excuses are cool and all, but they definitely get old, especially when they are unwarranted.

 

[L.O.D.]

Injuries affe ted our seeding but even 100% we don't beat UTjr yesterday they were on unlike the 2 times we played during year when they were cold. Even healthy wouldn't of helped the fact we couldn't rebound . All the 2nd chsnce points and ut hitting from 3 better than they had wouldn't of mattered if we had Jax n Krissa or not or even if Butler was 100 %.

Everyone here seems to think pgvis our biggest concern ....... NO REBOUNDING is our #1 issue to address. We need guys who can get defensive rebounds. Simple as that

 

[MrHotDice]

I’m not sure Robinson or Kerr would’ve added anything to change much last night.

Good thing many on this board are not responsible for anything basketball related.