Kansas Board Mixed About The Game Too.
- Thread starter KYtotheCore
- Start date
Kansas fans know the way Kentucky has kicked that ass over the years in their gym. I'd be worried too. Frank Mason sucks. He wouldn't start over Ulis, Briscoe, or Murray. Kansas fans know this too. The other top point guard in the class last year, Brunson, would be starting for them at point right now. Instead he went to Villanova and starts. Mason will lose the game today for them.
They haven't exactly playing well while UK is trending up but I would feel pretty good about UK's chances if this one was in Lexington so I'm surprised any KU fan is really handwringing.
Today's game is an uphill climb for us. Kansas seldom loses in AF. I have no illusions about it. This isn't Missouri. Although we have played 3 strong games in a row, our baseline is still vulnerable at this competitive level. Matchups make college basketball games. From Bill Self's point of view, today's game is not a very good matchup. Our backcourt is better, and Briscoe will create defensive pressure on Kansas' guards. If we get a solid game out of Poythress, Ulis, Murray, and Briscoe, we can win today. If Labissiere has a strong game, Kansas would be in real trouble. But if our guys take poor shots and get into foul trouble, we will get beat. Nobody should underestimate the problem we face today with Kansas' baseline. They may not be the best in the country, but they are at home, and they are more physical than we are.
Kansas' front court is better than ours. This is the kind of game that will exploit weaknesses in Willis' and Labissiere's games. Poythress is our only front court player with enough physical skills to hold his own against Kansas' front court. In order to win today, we need a strong game from Poythress and a dominant game from our guards. And as you say, our players must play tougher than they have played in road games prior to this. We have had a tendency in road games to get impatient and take a lot of bad shots, resulting in 30-35% shooting from the floor and lots of run-out baskets by the other team. Our shot selection will have to be more disciplined today, and Poythress and Lee must hit the offensive glass hard.
we have better guards and are better at the 5 spot. so yeah they should be worried.
but its in their gym so...
but its in their gym so...
I think most Ku fans are at the point of when it comes to Ku/Self vs Cal, Cal is going to win no matter what. It's why Ku fans hate Cal so much today.
I know the odds of winning at Phog are pretty low, i actually feel pretty good about our odds of beating Ku today. Let's be honest. Today's game will come down to is Murray knocking down his shots or cold as ice. This is the type of game Murray lives for. He is going to be pumped for Ku. I don't know if that is a good thing, or a bad thing. I guess we will find out later on today. I do know one thing. The ball is going to be in Murray's hands this evening and is going to get his shots. Let's hope those shots are falling. If Murray is hiiting, we are winning this game. Our guard play is going to be too much for Ku to deal with. I'm not too worried about Ku's post play. It's not like any of their bigs are any better than our lack of post play.
I know the odds of winning at Phog are pretty low, i actually feel pretty good about our odds of beating Ku today. Let's be honest. Today's game will come down to is Murray knocking down his shots or cold as ice. This is the type of game Murray lives for. He is going to be pumped for Ku. I don't know if that is a good thing, or a bad thing. I guess we will find out later on today. I do know one thing. The ball is going to be in Murray's hands this evening and is going to get his shots. Let's hope those shots are falling. If Murray is hiiting, we are winning this game. Our guard play is going to be too much for Ku to deal with. I'm not too worried about Ku's post play. It's not like any of their bigs are any better than our lack of post play.
![[roll]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/roll.r191677.gif "roll [roll]")
Double edged sword on these kind of games. If you win today it is a monster win because it's on the road against a top 10 RPI team. Would be huge for your resume and a win like this today would likely value Kentucky into the protected seed range (top 4 seed) and a loss really won't hurt you likely keep you right where you are on your seed and resume. Now if you play the game at home and win you still pick up a huge win which is more likely to happen at home but you don't get as much credit for the win in both RPI and in the eyes of the committee for a home win but losing at home hurts much worse as you now drop much farther in RPI (than a road loss) and hurts much more in the eyes of the committee for your resume.
For Kentucky to have a shot at a protected top 4 seed this year I think they must win either the Kansas or the Texas A&M game. Those are the only 2 top 10 type teams remaining on the schedule and both are road games. If they fail to win both and don't win the SEC tournament I doubt they will get above a 5 seed.
For Kentucky to have a shot at a protected top 4 seed this year I think they must win either the Kansas or the Texas A&M game. Those are the only 2 top 10 type teams remaining on the schedule and both are road games. If they fail to win both and don't win the SEC tournament I doubt they will get above a 5 seed.
