My concern (UK-Ark)

[Cats192]

Arkansas looks exactly like you'd expect them to look. There's no real offense executed. They do a lot of Boogie Fland iso and try to let him create. Sometimes Thiero gets it and tries to post up or go to the hoop. They're not a well oiled machine that's going to stick with us in a shoot out.

Arkansas was 0-3 going into the LSU game. I can't imagine you're any more concerned, locked in, etc. I don't think there's a world where 0-3 fails to get your attention, but 0-4 wakes you up.

They're 0-4 going to Mizzou. They got smashed. They'll probably lose to Georgia and Oklahoma.

I just don't think Arkansas has some hidden higher level of play that they're suddenly going to tap into after they're FINALLY pi$$ed off from going 0-7.

Yes, Cal has a history of getting these huge unexpected wins. At Kentucky. With NBA draft picks. Boogie Fland is probably the lone "dude" right now. And he's got a hand injury that Cal called "bad." If this goes the way of a normal John Calipari player injury: Fland will miss the next 6 weeks. During that time, Calipari won't have seen him once.

The way to beat Kentucky (unless you're elite elite like Alabama) is to play physical and muck it up in a low scoring game. That's not John Calipari's style. He wants to "run" and "go" and increase the number of possessions in the game.

 

[CatsDomain]

If Butler and Carr are 100% I'll feel better about the game.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

If Boogie Fland is out for that game, Kentucky could give a “load management” night to its starting 5 and still win.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Smother Fland and leave Wagner open from the outside. It's as simple as that.

 

[BarefootBeach]

Why wasn't this thread started the day before the actual game?

 

[-BBH-]

Pope isn’t getting any for sale signs in his yard regardless of what happens down the stretch. He’s more than exceeded expectations this year.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

My only concern is getting healthy and contending for the conference title. Arkansas is just another game we should win and need to win. If they were off to a great start in conference i might feel differently.

We can't afford to sit the players we need to get healthy. That's the issue.

And it's pretty obvious to me who is winning the SEC and it won't be much of a competition IMO.

 

[Terrapin_Station]

Well that’s certainly an interesting viewpoint. I guess you’re a somewhat pessimistic high anxiety individual?

Yeah if we’re sharing worst case scenarios that would cause us to nearly drink ourselves to death: watch Wagner go 6/8 from deep and light us up for 28. I’d lose it.

 

[JonathanW]

My only concern is getting healthy and contending for the conference title. Arkansas is just another game we should win and need to win. If they were off to a great start in conference i might feel differently.

This ^ is my thought exactly!
But seeing the daily multiple Cal/Ark threads, it is clear many on this board are obsessed with our former coach. So I started this thread about how many people on here will crash&burn if we were to lose that game especially if they were still winless in SEC. I did not start it because I am any more worried about losing to them than I am USC or Vandy or Texas or Oklahoma or LSU (actually as far as opponents go, Vandy game should be tougher).

 

[The_Answer1313]

Yeah count me in the "just another game" crowd.

Obviously Cal coming back to Rupp is a big deal. But Arkansas isn't competing at the top of the SEC. This is a game we "should" win. I can't really get all that excited about this game when we have teams like Florida, UT, Auburn, Alabama, Texas AM etc etc etc on the schedule.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Obsessed with Cal??? No, not even close. But you can say we are fascinated with the situation.

Even non-UK fans are pointing and laughing, or are standing there watching in awe.

Seriously, is there a better story in college basketball this year? No, there isn’t and we are right at ground zero in this one.

I guess we can talk about Cooper Flagg some more. Will that stop people from saying we are obsessed with Cal?

I mean, damn, the guy was the face of UK for 15 years and has been a clown show the last 4 and is continuing the clown act at a conference rival school. How can we not pay attention to this?

 

[Rockfly78]

We will always be tied to Cal, maybe a bit obsessed even. It's like a breakup. No one wants to see their ex end up with a successful attractive person. That's human nature. It's also normal to take glee when your ex starts dating a crackhead.

But it did not have to be this way. It didn't have to be as toxic as it is. But Arkansas fans and media have themselves to thank. They couldn't leave well enough alone. They spent the whole spring and summer trolling UK fans and it's undeniable. This guy and his radio show spearheaded the whole movement and now that it's blown up in his face he's trying to play the victim. Losing to them in a couple weeks wouldn't derail our season or anything but it sure would be embarrassing and that's why some of our fans are nervous.

 

[canebreak]

If for some reason Butler was out then yes....I would worry and worry a lot. Fland is a very good defender.

 

[OmahaCats]

And if he does, then guess what, Kentucky will still be fine. Probably go down a seed in the tournament

 

[kennyskywalker34]

Arkansas can't score enough to beat UK at Rupp.

They can certainly score 66. Only way UK loses is if they play like they did in NY against that garbage Suckeye team.
I think Kentucky wins. But this is one game I wish was over.
I wanna see a Kentucky 40 put beatdown win over that Cal 🤡

 

[kennyskywalker34]

Vandy will be tough! Every SEC game will be tough

They are almost always tough in that joke of a thing they call a Gym

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

Ark losses next 2, comes in 0-7 in SEC, all the pressure being on the Cats, and Ark finds a way to win.

This board blows up bigger than social media over the TikTok ban. Pope gets For Sale signs in his yard, and so on…

I feel your concern but so long as we play some zone and hit shots UK will be fine. Cal can't adjust and our 1-3-1 could spell a long night fir the Hogs.

 

[ciphercomplete]

Arkansas isn't all that great defensively and can't score.

I can see a competitive first 10 minutes or even a tied first half. But then the Calipari team will do its thing, fall behind by 10 or more, and go on mini scoring runs where they get close but can't close the gap. We UK folks have seen it a thousand times. OR UK wins in a blowout.

 

[CatsFanIL]

I think the concern is based on reality. Calipari has a trend of losing the games you think he will win but somehow wins stupidly ridiculous road games against top teams before sucking again. You really hope we don’t drop this one. I feel we will win but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it won’t be a butt puckering type of game for me

Arkansas looks exactly like you'd expect them to look. There's no real offense executed. They do a lot of Boogie Fland iso and try to let him create. Sometimes Thiero gets it and tries to post up or go to the hoop. They're not a well oiled machine that's going to stick with us in a shoot out.

Arkansas was 0-3 going into the LSU game. I can't imagine you're any more concerned, locked in, etc. I don't think there's a world where 0-3 fails to get your attention, but 0-4 wakes you up.

They're 0-4 going to Mizzou. They got smashed. They'll probably lose to Georgia and Oklahoma.

I just don't think Arkansas has some hidden higher level of play that they're suddenly going to tap into after they're FINALLY pi$$ed off from going 0-7.

Yes, Cal has a history of getting these huge unexpected wins. At Kentucky. With NBA draft picks. Boogie Fland is probably the lone "dude" right now. And he's got a hand injury that Cal called "bad." If this goes the way of a normal John Calipari player injury: Fland will miss the next 6 weeks. During that time, Calipari won't have seen him once.

The way to beat Kentucky (unless you're elite elite like Alabama) is to play physical and muck it up in a low scoring game. That's not John Calipari's style. He wants to "run" and "go" and increase the number of possessions in the game.

There's a part of me that's more worried about Arkansas now that Boogie Fland is out for the season. While Boogie has been one of the bright spots for Arkansas this year, it helps Cal with his rotation - getting more guys more time, getting more guys more shots. So I wonder if Boogie's absence is actually going to help team morale and team motivation

Sometimes when the volume-shooter doesn't play, the team gets better, gets more cohesive, etc. That's my only real concern with Arkansas

 

[Cats192]

I think the concern is based on reality. Calipari has a trend of losing the games you think he will win but somehow wins stupidly ridiculous road games against top teams before sucking again. You really hope we don’t drop this one. I feel we will win but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it won’t be a butt puckering type of game for me



There's a part of me that's more worried about Arkansas now that Boogie Fland is out for the season. While Boogie has been one of the bright spots for Arkansas this year, it helps Cal with his rotation - getting more guys more time, getting more guys more shots. So I wonder if Boogie's absence is actually going to help team morale and team motivation

Sometimes when the volume-shooter doesn't play, the team gets better, gets more cohesive, etc. That's my only real concern with Arkansas

I think we're going to be just fine. Their offense is basically give Fland the ball and hope he creates. He averages 15 a game. He's their 1 probable 1st round draft pick.

They're 0-5 in SEC play. There's no need to overthink it. They'll be worse without him. Davis may get the ball more and therefore play better. But the team as a whole isn't going to lose it's best player and suddenly be some amazing team in the SEC.

 

[KA4Prez]

Imagine Big Z guarding Amari Williams with the pick and roll action. Run it over, and over, and over, and over...