Murray,Murray and more Murray

[whhs22]

I really hope Cal just buys in and gives this team to Murray. Love Ulis but this has to become Murray's team. Cal has never really just went through 1 guy completely. He just has never had to.

This could really shows coaching ability and shut up a lot of critics if he goes against his everyone has a seat at the table and just gives Murray that big chair at the front of the table.

I have faith in cal and believe he is a much better coach then some give him credit for. But i also believe Cal defers to the talent to much sometimes.

 

[BBUK]

One thing about a one trick pony....you live and die with that one trick. I think this team is better than being relegated to being a one trick pony. This is way too early to go there.

 

[uky8unc5]

Notice: I "liked" both posts...because I agree with both!! Murray needs to be featured. Not healthy to sell out to that completely.

 

[Teachable Moe]

 

[WeWant9]

I'd like too see the ball in his hands a bit more, but like BBUK said we don't want to be a one trick pony. Those teams typically flame out early in the NCAAT. I would like us to start finding Murray in the corner more, dude seems automatic from there.,

 

[whhs22]

that's true probably best to feature him but keep trying to get others involved. but I do think more focus should go on getting him the ball or letting him create more from the point.

 

[Bodvar Bjarki]

The more we feature Murray then the more everything else will unclog in the middle for Skal and Poy. I say feed them all the Murray they can take until they are forced to loosen up.

 

[warddr]

Its crazy you posted this because I just talked to Billy Gillispie last night about this exact subject he just responded that this is Kentucky, this isn't Jamal Murray. Then he got really rude with me by saying this isn't a one-man team and that it was a really bad question. I have to admit, it got quite awkward.

 

[kyups01]

I totally agree with the OP, its time to unleash Murray....talents like him do not come along very often. He proved the other night what hes capable of...the offense needs to run through him.

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

Murray strikes me as a guy that just despises losing, and I think the 2nd half of the OSU game got him into break out mode for the rest of the season. I hope he has the ball in his hands more because he can score and when he draws all the attention he should be able to find lots of other guys for easy baskets. Him standinng around without the ball makes it easy for the other team. I bet we see a whole new offense and I can't wait.

 

[Deli owl]

Its crazy you posted this because I just talked to Billy Gillispie last night about this exact subject he just responded that this is Kentucky, this isn't Jamal Murray. Then he got really rude with me by saying this isn't a one-man team and that it was a really bad question. I have to admit, it got quite awkward.

 

[JerseyCat84]

He won't.

 

[blubo]

Its crazy you posted this because I just talked to Billy Gillispie last night about this exact subject he just responded that this is Kentucky, this isn't Jamal Murray. Then he got really rude with me by saying this isn't a one-man team and that it was a really bad question. I have to admit, it got quite awkward.

tread lightly, he is a texas ranger now.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

tread lightly, he is a texas ranger now.

Yeah, but he's much more Jake Spoon than Augustus McCrae or Woodrow Call.

 

[blubo]

Yeah, but he's much more Jake Spoon than Augustus McCrae or Woodrow Call.

he was more like this guy when he was at uk:

 

[kyjeff1]

The more we feature Murray then the more everything else will unclog in the middle for Skal and Poy. I say feed them all the Murray they can take until they are forced to loosen up.

I agree with this. Yes I think Murray should be the go to guy but it needs to be done a certain way. He can't just shoot when he feels leather. If it's there, take it, if they collapse on you, pass it.
Against OSU he caught fire and I said in the game thread that it might not be a good thing because those fade away, turn around, off balance three pointers are not a high percentage shot but they were going in. We can't depend on that kind of game because we will be out before the sweet 16.
Bottom line is the other guys need to step up and feed off Murray's fire, not just stand there and wait for Jamal to do something.

 

[Teachable Moe]

Since the kid has already been taken out for not shooting, I'd say this discussion is like commuters in the observation car suggesting they should take the train next time.

 

[JeffGoodmansVestigialTwin]

I really hope Cal just buys in and gives this team to Murray. Love Ulis but this has to become Murray's team. Cal has never really just went through 1 guy completely. He just has never had to.

This could really shows coaching ability and shut up a lot of critics if he goes against his everyone has a seat at the table and just gives Murray that big chair at the front of the table.

I have faith in cal and believe he is a much better coach then some give him credit for. But i also believe Cal defers to the talent to much sometimes.

Why you don't do this....Marshall Henderson and Ole Miss.

 

[kyups01]

I have a feeling that we will be seeing more Murray though going forward after what he did the last game. Not that Cal didn't already know what he could do, but the way he exploded was insane.

 

[.S&C.]

Ulis is slumping slightly after the injury but some of this is on cal. Ulis should be shooting way more floaters in the lane and it could end up being some of our best offense but he doesn't have him doing it.

 

[JeffGoodmansVestigialTwin]

Ulis is slumping slightly after the injury but some of this is on cal. Ulis should be shooting way more floaters in the lane and it could end up being some of our best offense but he doesn't have him doing it.

One of the prettiest floaters I've seen. He really doesn't shoot that shot enough

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Why you don't do this....Marshall Henderson and Ole Miss.

I'll take your Henderson and raise ya to Kemba Walker and UConn when they won the title.

 

[westerncat]

All the guys need to step up. A one trick pony won't win a lot of games. Pistol Pete was a great player but they never beat UK or other great teams.

 

[JeffGoodmansVestigialTwin]

I'll take your Henderson and raise ya to Kemba Walker and UConn when they won the title.

Fair enough on that one.

 

[jockstrap_mcgee]

They all need to find their spot.
Last year, Aaron liked that elbow 3. Probably the least efficient shot on the court, but it was his and he made a lot of them. So far, there isn't a player yet that has a shot like that.

 

[cacats]

I agree with OP, will see if Cal will make some adjustment

 

[W2R]

Until we get our bigs going and it's gonna be tough. It will open up shots for our guards. I think Murray can help open up the offense but we don't need people keying on him. We need to have multiple threats and not get deep into the shot clock

 

[wildcatwelder]

Yep, no question Murray should be the focal point of our offense. I'd also like to see Skal at the 4, as I honestly think that's his natural position, and likely to play there in the NBA. He could potentially thrive at the 4 spot, and with Murray being the 1st option, our offense might begin to has some fluidity to it.

I love Murray; the kid literally runs, flat out, all around the court to get open.

 

[aikenite4uk]

Murray is by far our best player...why shouldn't he get most of the shots?

 

[Kycatspaws]

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

I think the OP may be right. This isn't a squad, without a significantly improved Skal, that is going to be able to depend on inside play. Murray does better when he stops trying to get everyone involved and just focuses on scoring. I think we could be a bit like the UConn squad that won with Kemba Walker. They were not on anyone's radar at this point of that season, but having one guy that create his own shot and light up the scoreboarfd can cure a lot of ills.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Murray is by far our best player...why shouldn't he get most of the shots?

The funny thing is that at halftime of the OSU game many on here were calling him a bust. Funny how things can change in a matter of minutes.

 

[michaeluk26]

The funny thing is that at halftime of the OSU game many on here were calling him a bust. Funny how things can change in a matter of minutes.

Yes it is.

 

[tank2009]

Murray is mature enough, i hope anyway, to allow others to develop without sulking too much during season and then at the critical points take over games when needed.

He is a bona fide scoring machine when clicking.

 

[kybassfan]

I'm confused. Has it become posh to pick a player and promote them above the team? We have the Willis fanboi's, the Murray fanboi's, the Ulis fanboi's. . .

We have any Kentucky fanboi's left besides me?

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Murray is mature enough, i hope anyway, to allow others to develop without sulking too much during season and then at the critical points take over games when needed.

He is a bona fide scoring machine when clicking.

True, and it's because of his dad. Leach was talking to someone on his show today about Murray and the guy said that Murray's dad would have him play games where he would only take like 1 shot and pass the rest of the time, in order to instill into him the concept of teamwork, and develop other aspects of his game.

 

[kyjeff1]

I think the OP may be right. This isn't a squad, without a significantly improved Skal, that is going to be able to depend on inside play. Murray does better when he stops trying to get everyone involved and just focuses on scoring. I think we could be a bit like the UConn squad that won with Kemba Walker. They were not on anyone's radar at this point of that season, but having one guy that create his own shot and light up the scoreboarfd can cure a lot of ills.

I can't think of another team that accomplished what Uconn/Walker did other than Uconn/Shabazz.
It's definitely a rare accomplishment. I can think of a hundred teams that failed while trying to follow that same path. Duke with Rivers and Ohio State with Russell last year just to name 2.
I just hope Skal, Poythress, Ulis and Briscoe can step up and keep UK from trying to do something that is extremely tough to do.

 

[dave5164]

I believe Murray will see more after the game vs. OSU. If you watched Murray last year in the All-Star games and Pan-Am games he can easily avg. 25+ a game when leading the team. I also believe after last year we saw Ulis hitting over 42% from 3 and also hitting most shot inside the 3. Both Murray and Ulis can drain their FT's. Briscoe is the one that has to calm down when driving the lane for layups or assists. Briscoe last year also shot 48% from outside and 35% from 3. He was even better hitting FT's at 75% in High School. In the All-Star games we saw that Briscoe can shoot from the outside and 3. We need to solidify the inside game with Lee, Skal, POY, Humphries, or Wynyard. If we can get our inside game playing better and stronger that will open the outside even more. The inside game right now is important to improve for UK as a team to improve when SEC Season and March Madness is here.

 

[kyjeff1]

I know Ulis isn't 100% but I also think we are seeing the affects if what happens when you go from being the second pg that can come in and just play hard, to the featured pg that has to carry the heavy weight.
Andrew carried the weight of expectations last year, Tyler just needed to come in and be that spark plug but now he is the guy that has to carry the weight and it's a lot more difficult to do that. I think he will grit it out and eventually figure it out and when he does this team will be a ton better.
I just don't think leaning on one guy is going to be a good option.

 

[bluescat92]

I have a feeling that we will be seeing more Murray though going forward after what he did the last game. Not that Cal didn't already know what he could do, but the way he exploded was insane.

As long as we set him up with open looks that's good but when he drives he gets in trouble