No more Rock Fights

[ORCAT10]

Thanks Coach Pope.
So much fun to watch.
Everyone looks like they can and want to shoot.
Like with Pitino, you better shoot when open.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

It reminded so much of Pitinos early teams. Really fun to watch. They will lose a few but a team no one will want to see in March

 

[BlueEmpire]

Damn right! Go down with an empty gun if you have to.

 

[SemperFiCat]

Felt so freaking good watching that! Kentucky basketball is back, baby!!

 

[Wonky]

God I can’t believe we had to put up with Cal’s lame ass basketball for so long. Had almost forgotten how the game is actually played.

 

[specialkd24]

Had it been a regular season game it would have tied the UK record for 3-pointers in a game (21) and broken the Rupp Arena record (20).

This is so refreshing.

 

[CUJO_1970]

Kentucky basketball once was lost but now it’s found.

 

[tomrain]

Our former coach used to manage to make these games close. Guess we will have to get used to it! 😆

 

[BlueEmpire]

I think I saw at times a better version of a dribble drive than what Cal even produced, save for John Wall and Fox

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Fun to watch a team coached by a real coach. A breath of fresh air.

 

[TheDude73]

It reminded so much of Pitinos early teams. Really fun to watch. They will lose a few but a team no one will want to see in March

They may lose some but I bet the losses will all be close. This will be a tough team to guard.

 

[fredmanthecatfan]

Well, it’s going to be hard to recruit to this style of play. 😂.
What elite players want green lights to shoot in a system that leads to a lot of open looks?
The NBA is a job. Jobs aren’t supposed to be fun. How can having this much fun prepare anyone for the league??

 

[Skyguyb27]

I stand by my statement they are top 15 now and top 10 by end of the year. Just think, after this game film will be watched and mistakes will be fixed. You’re gonna see this team progress. I know, such a weird concept.

 

[NociHTTP]

Our former coach used to manage to make these games close. Guess we will have to get used to it! 😆

I bet the ones who left are breathing a sigh of relief.

 

[bbncal02]

I saw the score and was impressed. Even more impressive, KW only scored 52. Some defense was actually played.

 

[EliteBlue]

I think I saw at times a better version of a dribble drive than what Cal even produced, save for John Wall and Fox

Without it being dependent on landing a top 5-regardless of class, draft pick that’s lightning quick at PG.

 

[Kuhldaddy]

Kentucky basketball once was lost but now it’s found.

We were blind but now we see

 

[bbncal02]

I think I saw at times a better version of a dribble drive than what Cal even produced, save for John Wall and Fox

Cal's DD offense is not horrid. The problem is you have to have the right personnel to run it. And Cal didn't for the last few years. It also didn't help that it's gotten a bit older and people know how to counter it. And Cal would never deviate from it at all.

It was "GOOOOO" and "RUNNNN" into the freaking packed lane and throw up a terrible shot. DD only works well when you have decent shooters that can open up the "drive" lane.

 

[Phil_The_Music]

Cal's DD offense is not horrid. The problem is you have to have the right personnel to run it. And Cal didn't for the last few years. It also didn't help that it's gotten a bit older and people know how to counter it. And Cal would never deviate from it at all.

It was "GOOOOO" and "RUNNNN" into the freaking packed lane and throw up a terrible shot. DD only works well when you have decent shooters that can open up the "drive" lane.

It sure was nice not having to watch a player, even one time, drive to the basket only to run into a dead end and have to throw up a prayer, hoping that a foul will bail him out.

 

[bbncal02]

It sure was nice not having to watch a player, even one time, drive to the basket only to run into a dead end and have to throw up a prayer, hoping that a foul will bail him out.

I hated that crap sooooo much. Like, "WTF are you doing?!"

 

[MbergCat]

I wish Antonio Reeves could've played for this team.

 

[Fox2monk]

It reminded so much of Pitinos early teams. Really fun to watch. They will lose a few but a team no one will want to see in March

It really did. That was so much fun. Brought tears to my eyes. We also didn’t hold the ball and run out the clock. What a breath of freshness. Cal would have went stall ball the last 10 minutes of that game.

 

[Fox2monk]

Cal's DD offense is not horrid. The problem is you have to have the right personnel to run it. And Cal didn't for the last few years. It also didn't help that it's gotten a bit older and people know how to counter it. And Cal would never deviate from it at all.

It was "GOOOOO" and "RUNNNN" into the freaking packed lane and throw up a terrible shot. DD only works well when you have decent shooters that can open up the "drive" lane.

That was Cal’s biggest flaw. He would run the sets he wanted no matter if they worked or not. He would go down in flames before he tried anything else.

 

[Fox2monk]

They may lose some but I bet the losses will all be close. This will be a tough team to guard.

We will go down shooting, not holding the ball trying to throw up a prayer every time down the court at least.

 

[BBNinSC]

Had it been a regular season game it would have tied the UK record for 3-pointers in a game (21) and broken the Rupp Arena record (20).

This is so refreshing.

Those records may fall early this season

 

[Phil_The_Music]

I hated that crap sooooo much. Like, "WTF are you doing?!"

It's the reason I'm bald now.

 

[JonathanW]

OP. You know it just takes one team in a game to turn it into a rock fight. That is what overmatched teams do sometimes, especially in the SEC. If Frank Martin were still at SC, you know that would be one.

 

[Anthony B]

They were swinging the ball around the floor without unnecessary dribbling. Passing up the decent shot for wide open looks. 32 assists says it all! It's beautiful to watch. Hopefully they can do it against legit competition.

 

[TheDude73]

I found myself seriously believing I could hear Moron Cal's voice screaming "goooo....run!!!" when it was quiet and we had a 50 pt lead. It was eerie and I think I need therapy to make it go away.

 

[bbncal02]

I found myself seriously believing I could hear Moron Cal's voice screaming "goooo....run!!!" when it was quiet and we had a 50 pt lead. It was eerie and I think I need therapy to make it go away.

It’s gonna take a while to get used to him not being here for better or worse. The man was here 15 years. The longest coach here not named Rupp.

It’s gonna take a bit until we get used to not seeing him on the sidelines. Heck I did it myself tonight a bit watching the replay and for a split second was like “Where’s Cal? Oh yeah!” It’s great to have Pope on the sidelines just gonna be a bit until we all become accustomed to him being our coach. But it’s refreshing already for sure!

 

[Myth Buster51]

Cal's DD offense is not horrid.

It was "GOOOOO" and "RUNNNN" into the freaking packed lane and throw up a terrible shot. DD only works well when you have decent shooters that can open up the "drive" lane.

Whatever. And I guess the picket-fence offensive scheme works well so long as you don’t get caught watching the paint dry? If’s and but’s isn’t coaching. If’s and but’s are excuses.

 

[Bkocats]

OP. You know it just takes one team in a game to turn it into a rock fight. That is what overmatched teams do sometimes, especially in the SEC. If Frank Martin were still at SC, you know that would be one.

Maybe he means we won’t t start it lol

 

[TriCountyCat]

I shouldn’t but I’m comparing this years teams to last. Although we got upset by Oakland, many people had us going to the final 4. Reeves and Reed are the only two I would take over any of these guys. Rob could get hot and hang 30 on you but would give up 20 on the defensive end. Our bigs last year are not even on the same planet as our bigs now. I don’t see us as the 7th best team in the SEC, no way.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

What I love is that we'll have 8 or 9 guys who have a green light to shoot the open three, and all of them can make that shot at a decent clip.

I still can't believe that over 200 D-1 schools didn't offer Almonor in the portal. He looks like a steal.

 

[chroix]

I shouldn’t but I’m comparing this years teams to last. Although we got upset by Oakland, many people had us going to the final 4. Reeves and Reed are the only two I would take over any of these guys. Rob could get hot and hang 30 on you but would give up 20 on the defensive end. Our bigs last year are not even on the same planet as our bigs now. I don’t see us as the 7th best team in the SEC, no way.

Good team. Shit coach.

 

[chroix]

Meanwhile… this feels familiar

 

[wardlow]

What I love is that we'll have 8 or 9 guys who have a green light to shoot the open three, and all of them can make that shot at a decent clip.

I still can't believe that over 200 D-1 schools didn't offer Almonor in the portal. He looks like a steal.

Seconded on Almonor. I didn’t watch film of these guys, mostly for the surprise.

Consider me surprised.

 

[Cleatortoises]

View embedded media

Meanwhile… this feels familiar

🐄 with double birds for the pigs.
Setting expectations early.

 

[Kycatspaws]

This team definitely has a lot of firepower!
With shooters that can fill it up!

 

[BigKari]

Will go cold in the SEC some nights and look really bad, might drop a couple by 20-25 and take some harsh criticism. I think they will be a very good and well performing team at home though! Wesleyan looked really bad and just straight up untalented, so I’m not taking much from this one. However, we did see a new style of play that looks free and unselfish, everyone looks like they understand that if they keep the ball hot they’ll get their shots and they will be open looks.