I assuming we may not get Butler or Robinson back this year, or at least not full strength. Robinson sounds really bad. So going forward who needs to get the minutes. What can we do different from Texas lineup? I mean Brea and Carr look lost. Amazing for seniors. Noah at least acts like he belongs and is fearless (50% of the battle). I realize this is a stupid post because there are not really many options. Does Pope need to go scorched earth with the accountability? They play 2 games a week and are flat footed on free throw rebounds....I can't hide you.
lineup going Forward
- Thread starter canebreak
- Start date
You work with what you've got. I don't think there is a need to assume anything. Get the players on the same page. We've got leadership, it's time to step up. No need for scorched earth, remain focused on the little things, fundamentals, making good decisions. Not that far away, considering injuries have taken a huge toll.
We've got players that can and will step up. Now is the time ... and get healthy as we can get.
pretty simple. pretty difficult. all at once. Embrace the challenge and overcome !
Go Big Blue !
We've got players that can and will step up. Now is the time ... and get healthy as we can get.
pretty simple. pretty difficult. all at once. Embrace the challenge and overcome !
Go Big Blue !
Where are you seeing anything on Robinson? There isn’t any info out at all. He has a splint on, so I’m assuming he is back at some point.
Not much he can do. We have the players available we have.
Amari needs to be playing 32-34 minutes per game. He has to be on the floor. Use timeouts to steal rest in the right spots.
When BG plays, we have to do something different. He can’t facilitate on top like Amari. We have to run some sets for corner threes, stop trying to hit cutters under. It ain’t working.
Otega needs to learn to kick out on drives. He can’t seem to finish enough to be effective. He needs to trust Trent and Tyler. Doesn’t look like he does.
Need to spend a ton of time in practice boxing out. A lot of time. As well, we have to make the easy pass, very directly. Too many turnovers on lazy passes, cross court passes when there is an easy one to make.
Until we get healthy, if we get healthy, we have to protect the ball and rebound a lot better. Otherwise, we will lose games.
Amari needs to be playing 32-34 minutes per game. He has to be on the floor. Use timeouts to steal rest in the right spots.
When BG plays, we have to do something different. He can’t facilitate on top like Amari. We have to run some sets for corner threes, stop trying to hit cutters under. It ain’t working.
Otega needs to learn to kick out on drives. He can’t seem to finish enough to be effective. He needs to trust Trent and Tyler. Doesn’t look like he does.
Need to spend a ton of time in practice boxing out. A lot of time. As well, we have to make the easy pass, very directly. Too many turnovers on lazy passes, cross court passes when there is an easy one to make.
Until we get healthy, if we get healthy, we have to protect the ball and rebound a lot better. Otherwise, we will lose games.
I don’t see any changes that would make a big difference. This is the team we have available and everyone has to contribute. Each guy has to do a little more than usual. The lineup and rotation matters no doubt. But at the end of the day… play the hand you’re dealt. JMHO
Probably unpopular opinion but, other than depth being a fill in pg, we don't lose much with Robinson. He takes ill-advised 3s and avoids physical contact/paint touches at all costs.
Brea getting more minutes is better for us, except the depth issues.
Brea getting more minutes is better for us, except the depth issues.
I feel unless Carr finds his stride Almanor who has flaws has to get more minutes at the 4 with Noah, our spacing is much better with him and Noah on the floor instead of Carr.
Ride or die with the Kentucky boys.
Need less Perry in crunch time if he plays like he did against Texas. That pass to no one and what was essentially an intentional foul (could he not just guard his man?) pretty much sealed our fate. Ride with Oweh/Brea/Noah/Almonor (Carr if he plays better)/Williams in crunch time.
I don’t see it that way. Robinson can actually facilitate some, brea is a catch and shoot guy not somebody who needs the ball in his hands
I think it will depend from game to game. The Texas game was about as bad as it can get for Brea. We've also seen the good.
Carr, I think is just slowly ramping back up, his back, his confidence in his back, but also his game. Unless he has a medical setback, I think we will see the Carr from the first half of the season by SEC-T time.
But the last 5-10min of the Texas game I trusted Noah more than Brea. Most games I don't think that will be the case, but that one it was.
So ON AVERAGE, I expect the minutes to go as follows (until Butler or Robinson can return):
Williams 24
Garrison 16
Almonor 20
Carr 20
Brea 34
Noah 16
Chandler 10
Oweh 36
Perry 24
Would love to see Amari be able to stay above 30 per game. Maybe give Garrison some of the minutes at the 4; go a little twin towers for a few minutes each game. Limit Andrew's clock to the bare minimum, try to get him healthy. Right now, I feel more confidence in Brandon shooting from deep than AC as well as in his ability to stay in front of his man on defense
Starting 5
Williams
Almonor
Oweh
Perry
Noah
Subs (In order of minutes)
Carr
Brea
Garrison
Chandler
Williams
Almonor
Oweh
Perry
Noah
Subs (In order of minutes)
Carr
Brea
Garrison
Chandler
He could when this started. Tennessee (in Knoxville) exposed his inability to handle pressure. Arkansas exposed the fact he refused to beat pressure and get into the lane. Ole miss capitalized on both.
Now teams have his weakness. Unless he is willing (and he isnt) to attack ball pressure by getting paint touches and finishing/kicking out, hes not much value at pg.
I basically agree. I'll characterize my thoughts about Brea and Carr as "disappointing." I think Coach Pope has to encourage Travis Perry and Trent Noah to "fire away until they start droppin' !" It's clear to me that Brea just won't decide that he's going to go ahead and take a 3-shot, even if he's not completely wide open. I think that's a hang-up that Brea just can't overcome. As for Carr ... I can't say it better than, "Carr looks lost."
But I have to confess that I think Coach Pope has allowed the team to retreat away from what put them into the Top 10 - firing up 3's with reckless abandon. As Admiral Farragut said during the Civil War ... "Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead." Our best efforts for the entire season have been to "just out-score 'em." But that's going to depend a lot on Perry and Noah going forward ... and particularly Perry. He didn't get to become the leading high school scorer in Kentucky basketball history by passing up minimally guarded shots ! IMHO, Coach Pope must insist that each one of them keep puttin' up threes until the fat lady sings.
But, whether of not ... Go 'Cats ! ! !
Down 3 players, everyone has to play some. We need everyone to step up.
One positive, the Freshmen are getting some valuable experience that will pay off in the long run.
One positive, the Freshmen are getting some valuable experience that will pay off in the long run.
This is all about beating Vandy, LSU, and Oklahoma.
We're not touching the other three with no Robinson or Butler.
Too big of a dropoff at PG and Robinson for all his flaws could be effective without Butler and Brea in the lineup but Brea needs Butler and Robinson to be his best.
Brea just isn't a #1 guy.
Noah has to get more than 16 minutes unless other team is not guarding Brea. Brea does one thing: hit threes. Niah does that and so much more.
It’s definitely not ideal but I think that’s the kind of experience that makes you get better if you’re worth a damn. Your line up is good and makes sense and most likely what we see.
A lot is being asked of Perry at this point, he's doing his best, but almost unfair in this league. I still think Noah is a baller.
Just going off of Pope's comments a few days ago when he said they were getting a third opinion. You don't get a third opinion if things are progressing. A third opinion means you are looking for someone to tell you what you want to hear. That can't be good.
No doubt that Robinson avoids contact like the plague, and he doesn't bring any PG skills to speak of; but his loss is massive, especially when combined with Butler being out. If Butler was back and at 100% I think the team could weather Robinson being out decently (although still a problem).
Another positive is that since we play in such a tough league and have built such a strong resume already, we really don’t have to sweat much. We are going to make the tourney. Right now it’s a question of seeding. With every opponent being a quality opponent losses do not really hurt us much.
Can you guys imagine if we were dealing with this rash of injuries during a normal SEC year and losing to some poor teams and fighting for our lives on the bubble? As fans, that would be tough to deal with.
Can you guys imagine if we were dealing with this rash of injuries during a normal SEC year and losing to some poor teams and fighting for our lives on the bubble? As fans, that would be tough to deal with.
If the 3
i think it could also be they were looking for faster treatment options as well. He is wearing a splint, so that means he is trying to come back, or at least the staff is trying.
Still baffles me why Pope put Robinson BACK in the game (or played him at all) up 20 vs a putrid S Carolina team. I’ve seen where they “said” the doctors assured them it didn’t make it any worse, but I don’t buy that for a minute. Three times in the SC game Robinson screamed in pain when that wrist was hit. He shouldn’t have played at all in that game imo. We could’ve won that game at Rupp playing Horn and Darbyshire……
Jaxson is definitely allergic to contact. He visibly gets upset if things get rough. He reminds me of some of our OAD's.
The stats disagree with you and it isn’t close.
Robinson is the superior defender.
More consistent scorer.
Better rebounder
Twice the season assist (bc hes a 3 level scorer and can create off the bounce better resulting in more kick/dish opportunities
And non-measurable…far better ball handler
Ehh yes and no. They shouldn’t rush back and possibly hurt themselves for a long term injury. I broken just about everything you can break through sports, and if I’ve learned one thing it’s that rushing the process only leads to more long term issues.
If he gets a rebound its because it comes right to him. Not that brea is a world-beater there, but hes way more physical. Jaxson acts like he is made of glass.
On the defense aspect, theyre both below average. Jaxson just had the benefit of playing with two elite defenders.
I have not heard from Pope if Carr is 100 percent or not, he does not play like he did before his back problems.
Well we did get a couple of ft offensive boards that were denied with calls.
Wrong calls at that.
The thing is, the shots are dropping for Noah and Perry.
They just don't take enough.
Neither Jaxson nor Brea enjoy physical ball.
Williams has grown more into it. Garrison doesn't mind but his emotions get him out of sync. Perry isn't there physically yet. Noah doesn't care...just wants to play. Oweh eats it up. If Robinson had Owehs physique he would be close to unstoppable. Carr DID like it, but now has a mental as well as physical...hesitation I think is right.
Pope's preferred playing style is a symphony but he's playing it in a hard rock venue in the SEC this year. Gotta adapt.
Almonor is a worker but not a banger.
There's talent even with players out. Gotta find a way to blend it together. That's where the coaches get their money.
Aint the team we thought we would have, but it's the team we got. Play some basketball.
Just two cents start Noah over Brea and let Kobe go back to 6th man shooting phenom. Start Almonor and let Carr spell him .
Perry is point whether anyone likes it or not.
Gonna have to do that 'team' thing and carry him in some way.
Williams has grown more into it. Garrison doesn't mind but his emotions get him out of sync. Perry isn't there physically yet. Noah doesn't care...just wants to play. Oweh eats it up. If Robinson had Owehs physique he would be close to unstoppable. Carr DID like it, but now has a mental as well as physical...hesitation I think is right.
Pope's preferred playing style is a symphony but he's playing it in a hard rock venue in the SEC this year. Gotta adapt.
Almonor is a worker but not a banger.
There's talent even with players out. Gotta find a way to blend it together. That's where the coaches get their money.
Aint the team we thought we would have, but it's the team we got. Play some basketball.
Just two cents start Noah over Brea and let Kobe go back to 6th man shooting phenom. Start Almonor and let Carr spell him .
Perry is point whether anyone likes it or not.
Gonna have to do that 'team' thing and carry him in some way.
100% agree. I know Carr has been banged up recently, but I've never been a huge fan of Carr's game. He is too inconsistent, not the strongest kid, and when he is near the basket with his back to it, he is slow getting his shot off. Carr just isn't a back-to-the-basket, post-up guy and is more of a face-up. However, his inability to knock down shots limit this part of his game, along with the inability to put the ball on the floor with a bounce or two and get a shot off. Garrison just has a lot more upside at this point in my opinion.
I like Noah & how he plays. But like I said, it will depend on each game. In games where Brea is "on" then play the hell out of him. In games when he disappears, play Noah more.
I looked at Brea's games, and surprised myself a bit.
vs Mid-Majors (8 gms): 15.1 ppg, 56.8%, 58.8% 3pt
vs P5 schools (17 gms): 8.4 ppg, 39.2%, 37% 3pt
If you break down the P5 games more, he's had 3 "good" games, 6 "eh, ok" games, and 8 "bad" games:
3 "good" P5 games: 17.3 ppg, 68%, 72.2% 3pt
6 "eh, ok" P5 games: 9.3 ppg, 45.6%, 36.4% 3pt
8 "bad" P5 games: 4.3 ppg, 19.2%, 22% 3pt
Conclusion, in nearly half (8 of 17) games vs P5 schools, Brea is unplayable. But first you have to identify which game he is going to have that night.
