Lamont butler thinks were a bit underrated has pieces to win

[jeffky]

Lamont Butler feels Kentucky is 'a little underrated,' has pieces to win a championship

Can this good Kentucky team be a potentially great one -- a true championship contender? Lamont Butler believes so.

www.on3.com

A championship man what a change 15 years of getting players to the green room has now changed to winning championships you go Lamont

 

[NociHTTP]

We toyed with the first two exhibition opponents, and I strongly believe that as this team further gels they're going to toy with the rest of the nation.

 

[CB3UK]

This team is full of potential. Once they fully gel, it's going to get nasty.

 

[YardCat]

We just need a full season without injury. We have been a player or two short the last few years, but I feel like we have a full team this year and are being undervalued due to not playing together before, we will soon find out!

 

[NociHTTP]

We just need a full season without injury. We have been a player or two short the last few years, but I feel like we have a full team this year and are being undervalued due to not playing together before, we will soon find out!

I think a dirty little secret is that the guys under Cal weren't nearly as injured as he made them out to be. I think the problem was that he was trying to minimize exposure that might damage their draft stock, and was dealing with crap from kids he made promises to but "couldn't hide any longer".

 

[Bluegrass79]

Everything's underrated except for the rebounding.

The Rebounding sucks.

 

[BlueSince92]

We toyed with the first two exhibition opponents, and I strongly believe that as this team further gels they're going to toy with the rest of the nation.

Yeah. There is going to be that uncomfortable adolescent period for a while. During which I really hope we can out-heart and out-range Duke among some other opponents we have to face in there. But come maybe early February when we've started to get a pretty good handle on what Coach Pope more or less talks about as ~"the stuff that's not guardable," I pity the team who has to face that with the tools any other team has demonstrated this early season. (Or even their projected ceilings for the most part.)

 

[mrjuk]

Everything's underrated except for the rebounding.

The Rebounding sucks.

I’m with you. Can’t believe I was actually yelling at them already for not rebounding, during an exhibition game. I’m tired of yelling.

 

[crxohio]

We just need a full season without injury. We have been a player or two short the last few years, but I feel like we have a full team this year and are being undervalued due to not playing together before, we will soon find out!

We were a head coach short the last few years.

 

[Wonky]

Everything's underrated except for the rebounding.

The Rebounding sucks.

Thankfully, rebounding is largely EFFORT and technique, and less about talent and athleticism. In other words, it can be corrected. And you can rest assured that Pope will.

 

[know1]

I agree with Lamont.

 

[BC_Wader]

Gonna be nice having experience and coaching. Can't think of a better player leading this team other than Butler who has big game experience. Outside of that tourney run, I never paid Butler no mind, really. He's a heck of a PG, a good leader, and fits the mold of players we've been wanting for for years.

 

[jeffky]

Everything's underrated except for the rebounding.

The Rebounding sucks.

Like last year God they sucked got worst as the season went on too glad that's in Arkansas nba green boys want play defense and rebound hard scared of getting hurt and lose all those millions

 

[jeffky]

I’m with you. Can’t believe I was actually yelling at them already for not rebounding, during an exhibition game. I’m tired of yelling.

You must have stayed hoarse all year last year all those green room boys were really soft defensively and on the glass

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Anybody with 2 brain cells would say the same damn thing.
Ranking this group #23 is nothing short of a slap in Kentucky’s face.

Get ready to be vindicated my big blue brethren.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I agree the 23rd ranking is low if you are into that meaningless stat.

I also don't put any stock into rankings. The only rankings are the ncaa top 16 preview (to gage where you are) and the ncaa tournament bracket rankings.

All this other stuff is meaningless window dressing. Win the big games against good teams in and out of conference and you will be ranked well in the ranking that matters.

 

[UKSanders]

Everything's underrated except for the rebounding.

The Rebounding sucks.

I’m with you. Can’t believe I was actually yelling at them already for not rebounding, during an exhibition game. I’m tired of yelling.

I agree the rebounding needs work, but there was rebound in the last exhibition game that gave me major hope for this team's rebounding.

Upon the Minn St miss, the Cats had boxed out so well the ball actually just bounced on the floor between 2 UK players.

I don't think Cal EVER taught/emphasized boxing out. He just expected the length/athleticism of his players to be enough to control the boards. Truthfully, it was MOST of the time. However, if he had also emphasized the fundamental of boxing out, they should've never been outrebounded and would've absolutely dominated the glass. Instead, there was more emphasis on "2 hands" than getting position and boxing out. As long and athletic as most of his players were, they could've easily grabbed the rebound with 2 hands if they first focused on being in the best rebounding position.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

I agree the 23rd ranking is low if you are into that meaningless stat.

I also don't put any stock into rankings. The only rankings are the ncaa top 16 preview (to gage where you are) and the ncaa tournament bracket rankings.

All this other stuff is meaningless window dressing. Win the big games against good teams in and out of conference and you will be ranked well in the ranking that matters.

Yeah and the top 16 is tough to get into if you start out #23; esp w/the SEC stacked the way it is this season.
Preseason rankings matter!
Its absolute hs.

 

[gobigbluebell]

To watch a team come out and not play down to their opponent, to take an exhibition seriously, to not let off the gas, etc etc…

Is something I haven’t seen in a long time.

Competition is back. We’re playing basketball again. F your dreams. We’re playing to win.

 

[JonathanW]

Thankfully, rebounding is largely EFFORT and technique, and less about talent and athleticism. In other words, it can be corrected. And you can rest assured that Pope will.

Agree!!!

I was a decent rebounder, even though 5'11.5 and with NO vertical. But I blocked out, I moved when the shot went up (most just stand still) often finding an opening on the weak side (where probably 2/3 of misses come off to), and even if I was on the perimeter I would crash if I could find an opening.

Same can be said for defense, where effort is the key.

 

[FirewithFire]

I think a dirty little secret is that the guys under Cal weren't nearly as injured as he made them out to be. I think the problem was that he was trying to minimize exposure that might damage their draft stock, and was dealing with crap from kids he made promises to but "couldn't hide any longer".

Yep, gotta protect that draft status. That's what's important, right? So glad that is someone else's problem now.

I really like that UK is ranked low. It gives this team another reason to play hard and prove people wrong. I hope they stay under ranked for most of the season. Let teams underestimate them and get smoked.

 

[UKSanders]

Yeah and the top 16 is tough to get into if you start out #23; esp w/the SEC stacked the way it is this season.
Preseason rankings matter!
Its absolute hs.

Honestly, I kinda think the opposite when it comes to the SEC.

Seems like in the past, UK was in a no win situation. If the Cats won a conference game, they didn't really get any credit to boost their rank. However, if they lost, they were punished in the rankings.

Unlike times in years past when the league was viewed so poorly, the SEC is viewed as being quite strong, so there will be numerous opportunities for wins against ranked teams that will elevate UK's rank. Likewise, b/c the league is strong, a loss to a stronger team doesn't cause a massive drop to the Cats.

 

[Slowwalker]

I think a dirty little secret is that the guys under Cal weren't nearly as injured as he made them out to be. I think the problem was that he was trying to minimize exposure that might damage their draft stock, and was dealing with crap from kids he made promises to but "couldn't hide any longer".

lol….how does that tin foil hat fit?

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Yeah and the top 16 is tough to get into if you start out #23; esp w/the SEC stacked the way it is this season.
Preseason rankings matter!
Its absolute hs.

It absolutely does not. Win the damn ooc games and we will be top 5 in no times.