There's really no reason UK shouldn't win this game due to the experience factor alone.
Kentucky currently a 7.5 point dog against Dook
- Thread starter Smashcat
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There's really no reason UK shouldn't win this game due to the experience factor alone.
If experience trumps youth, as has often been said, we should win … I agree.
They may very well do so. But it is definitely NOT going to be anything resembling a lopsided blowout. That's as far as I would go if I were a confident Blue Devil fan. I just don't see them covering 7.5 at all, personally. Too much experience on the floor for UK.
I'd bet the farm on that.
I think you have to fight to keep Flagg off the boards, and otherwise play him straight up. Don’t double and turn him into a playmaker.
He’s a nice player. In some ways he’s like a taller version of Reed. Excellent feel, very active, and tends to make the right read.
That experience factor is a great advantage to have. I agree UK has that here, and I’m very glad. But Proctor, Foster, James, Gillis and Brown are no slouches to have in that department either, right? My guess would be without James, Gillis and Brown, UK would win by 10 points or more. Against those guys, I still can’t help but like UK for the (closer) win. Call me a homer.
I like our chances. I'd think unlike the last roll the ball out 13 years, we have coach who will be watching film on the opponent and will have a good game plan ready. Pope knows this could be his and Kentucky's coming out party on the national stage. I think he is waiting in the tall grass ready to pounce IMO.
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If Cats can rebound like they did last night they got a shot. You can't give a 3pt shooting team offensive rebounds and 2nd chances. Could see the Cats figuring some more things out in 2nd half Tuesday. I'm going with our Cats, F#$* PUKE
I agree with that. Except that Flagg puts me in mind of a more skilled Tyler Hansbrough, rather than a young player with game feel on par with Reed Sheppard. I tend to think the attribute that most separates Flagg from other freshmen is his confident aggression – and he has enough skill to make it useful aggression.
I am hoping for a good game. This UK team is made up in a way that many of you have been calling for, for years. A team with talent, depth and great experience. Duke is built like they have been for years, similar to Cals UK teams. They have supposedly great talent but, inexperience. I am hopeful the experience wins out this time. A concern moving forward is that Duke may have a higher ceiling. Their freshmen and sophomore talent may take greater (in season) strides than a UK team with players that are 3 to 4 years older. jmo I will worry about that in March.
You’ve probably watched him more than I have, but Flagg seems to be all over the court, while TH was mostly a bulldog under the rim.
Flagg definitely gave me those Reed/Luka/Joker kind of vibes from the brief times I’ve watched him, as far as feel for the game and nose for the ball.
Even if we lose, it shouldn't affect the fans. And why would it? This team was put together really fast but Pope has them playing cohesively at this juncture of the season. I'm highly impressed so far.
Agreed. Win or lose Tuesday night, the future looks bright.
I do not bet on sports.......but if this is an indicator of who wins.....its all hype.
Basically Duke's Cooper Flagg is about all they talk about....Wonder who else they got?
The story will be who out defended who.
I wanna believe we got some fight in us to defend this year.
Basically Duke's Cooper Flagg is about all they talk about....Wonder who else they got?
The story will be who out defended who.
I wanna believe we got some fight in us to defend this year.
They have two other freshmen who are projected first round draft picks. One seems to be an elite shooter who has been Dukes leading scorer through the first two games and the other is a 7’2” big man who played for South Sudan in the Olympics this summer.
They return two guards, a sophomore and a junior, who have been good in college but not exceptional. Duke obviously hopes they make a jump in their respective years.
They bring in a transfer big from Syracuse who was very efficient for them but not a volume scorer.. A transfer guard from Tulane known for defense and driving to the basket. And a transfer guard from Purdue who is a really good shooter and was Big Ten Sixth man of the year last year.
Those with Flagg are their top 8.
Well we are a 7 point underdog and they’re ranked 15 spots ahead of us in polls and we returned ZERO players from last year which is insane and it’ll only be their third game playing together so I’m not sure “there’s really no reason to lose”. It would be considered a massive upset if we won.
Yeah, I think Duke has much more experience than some seem to realize.
Duke goes as far as those Freshman will take them however. Ky relies on zero freshman to carry or take them to # 9
Yes, but they're not working without a net like we used to do too often.
You are knowledgeable and smart. You are the first UK poster to acknowledge that Duke has PLENTY of experience for that not to be a determining factor.
I have no idea what to expect. How will a completely new “team” respond to this atmosphere…..how will Duke’s freshmen respond to this atmosphere? I don’t see how anyone can have a feel for how it will go .
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Well said. Anyone calling this team a bust if they lose to Duke is NOT a UK or Pope fan. He has done a fantastic job thus far, the system he has in place is superb. No team is going undefeated.
Our team individually have played in huge games in their college careers. Dukes Freshman have not. I could be wrong but I believe Coach Pope is also the better Coach. I believe we have more shooters and will have a better game plan. 82-78 Kentucky. GO CATS!!
If the line moving vs Bucknell was any indication it might go down even further lol.
It’s way too early to get any true understanding of where either team is right now based on opponents played thus far. I have to think the line is based on the public’s interpretation that Duke has a returning coach and Flagg and built roster while we have a new coach and somewhat new roster. Public view is that our team is still learning a new system. I’ll comfortably take UK to cover (but won’t bet on us to win)
I am not impressed by anything that I have seen from Duke. Their primary scoring is expected to come from their frontcourt. With this being the case, I will take our 3-point scoring against their 2-point scoring.
Just took Kansas -5 and Kentucky on the money line. 50 pays 300
History has nothing to do with the upcoming game. Not a single player for any of those previous losses are on this current team.
I think that Duke will have an issue defending Kentucky. The good guys win this one, UK by 10+
Like 85% of your posts on here have been about Duke, you always claim you went to UK.
Haha I just looked, this post was my favoriteLike 85% of your posts on here have been about Duke, you always claim you went to UK.
"A good get for us, but I wouldn’t call it a recruiting win over UConn or Duke. Both stopped recruiting after getting top 20 guards in Mullins for UConn and Boozer for Duke. Until we beat out someone either really wants through the very endc, I’m not ready to declare our recruiting prowess is back."
Every team in the country wanted Acaden.
I recall reading a headline prior to the Bucknell game stating that Kentucky would have issues with the Bucknell center. Well, that didn't happen. Eventually Kentucky will lose a game which will give all of the know-it-alls an opportunity to say, "Pope wasn't the right choice for the job." I feel this way, because not a single reporter who has suggested Kentucky would struggle with an opponent has stated anything positive about Kentucky after their easy victories. It is like they are hoping that Kentucky would lose.
Butler, Oweh, and Robinson will need to play at their best in order for UK to win. They're going to sag off of Butler and make him shoot. Robinson and Oweh need to play like NBA draft picks in this game. Williams has to stay on the floor. I hope UK stops taking those awful 18 footers. We missed five straight mid-range shots yesterday and it destroyed the flow of the game. Have to play with our heads above water and fight for every breath in a game like this.
I've thought Duke was 6 points better from a talent level going back to the summer. Even still, UK has the pieces to win this game. After all, it's still Scheyer on the other sideline.
I've thought Duke was 6 points better from a talent level going back to the summer. Even still, UK has the pieces to win this game. After all, it's still Scheyer on the other sideline.
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When Kentucky wins this game, some will look to the next team Kentucky has to beat to gain respect. At some point, Kentucky will be given the credit that it deserves.
Well I understand that. I was addressing the guy that said he didn’t like any UK team that loses to Duke . Says it’s a season breaker. I was just pointing out that he’s disliked some pretty good UK teams over the years.
My post had nothing to do with Tuesdays game.
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