***** Official Arkansas Vs Kentucky Game Thread *****

[The_Answer1313]

UK's overall efficiency margin before the game: 19.48
UK's overall efficiency margin after the game: 19.34

Which makes sense given we were predicted to win by 8 and won by 6.

At the end of the day, come March we want this number to be as high as humanly possible.

 

[Bkocats]

Let's not have this go unnoticed.

We got this lead, and played the best basketball over the last 80 minutes.. when Shep played the point over the last 7 or 8 minutes.

Oh it was absolutely noticed
At least in our house

 

[ukfan117]

Arkansas fans whining about the loss and so glad we beat them. I have never liked them, especially in the 90's.

 

[ukfan117]

Oh it was absolutely noticed
At least in our house

Shepherd has to start and run the point the rest of the year. Him and Reeves sealed Arkansas's fate.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Which goes to show how just being awful offensively and playing a lower scoring game can gain defensive reputation points. Arkansas is a retarded offensive team. Musselman's weakness is offensive basketball. They play like guys who just met at a Camp or Rec Center and are playing Open Gym. There's no plan-it's get the ball--iso--go at it and throw some **** up and pray it goes in. Last year in Rupp they hit everything from deep. The last 2 games in Fayetteville are how his teams usually look offensively. Bad.

So KenPom ratings are moved because the opponent couldn't score 60 if you made them shoot 3's with opponent watching from sideline. Good to know KenPom is so thorough. Or is it because they beat Duke earlier in the season at Full strength because Duke struggles with speed/athleticism this year? (ACC sucks btw but NOBODY will speak that truth on ESPN as we know which should help Kentucky come NCAA Selection time seeing they are 3-0 against the ACC including the 9-0 1st place Heels)

Not exactly. Remember Kenpom is on a per possession basis. You can score a low amount of points and still have a high points per possession. You can give up a bunch of points and still have a low points per possession.

It wasn't just that we held them to 57 points. It was than we held them to 57 points in a 70 possession game. Had this been say a 60 possession game our defense would not have gotten a bump (tho our offense would not have taken as large a hit either)

 

[cathouse]

Props to Cal for pretty much finding a lineup that was playing well and sticking to it (minus swapping Ugo for Bradshaw for a bit).

This.^^^^^^^
Those 5 that finished this game need to be the 5 that start the next game.

No excuses.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Honestly tonight didn't look good. Usually bad offensive basketball looks ugly tho lol.

That being said, while I know Arkansas isn't some offensive giant I think tonight will prove important going forward. We won a game without our offense firing on all cylinders. And we did it on the road in a hostile environment.

 

[BC_Wader]

Honestly tonight didn't look good. Usually bad offensive basketball looks ugly tho lol.

That being said, while I know Arkansas isn't some offensive giant I think tonight will prove important going forward. We won a game without our offense firing on all cylinders. And we did it on the road in a hostile environment.

We needed the SC smackdown and then win a close one tonight. Sometimes a young teams need a stretch like this one. We haven't forgot how to score. Two home games coming up. Will tell a lot about this squad.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

Not exactly. Remember Kenpom is on a per possession basis. You can score a low amount of points and still have a high points per possession. You can give up a bunch of points and still have a low points per possession.

It wasn't just that we held them to 57 points. It was than we held them to 57 points in a 70 possession game. Had this been say a 60 possession game our defense would not have gotten a bump (tho our offense would not have taken as large a hit either)

I get KenPom is very popular. I'm not against analytics at all but I do draw a line sometimes. Watching a lot of Georgetown basketball, KenPom always loved JT3's teams, overrated them and was shocked they would lose in March. Why did they lose? They were offensively awful in terms of pace and playing what I call "Socialist Basketball" where everyone handles/gets the ball and this is a sport of monarchy-where your best better have it more than not. They played low possession basketball which automatically keeps less talented opponents in the game. His numbers always love teams like that. NCAA "defensive stats" for years always had Princeton as a great defensive team when reality was they were playing keep away. That's NOT defense or great defense it's just playing to slow game down (not a knock as that is what they had to do to compete/win) and lower the possessions as more possessions the more talented team is going to win.

So while you make a solid and good defense of his rankings--I always view him with a side eye for his takes due to his like of teams like JT3, Tony Bennett, Ivy League keep away and Dick Bennett Wisconsin over teams who can score and play faster paced/higher possession basketball. Analytics matter and are important but so is the ability to understand the game and how pace dictates/manipulates stats/numbers which he often refuses to do.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

Honestly tonight didn't look good. Usually bad offensive basketball looks ugly tho lol.

That being said, while I know Arkansas isn't some offensive giant I think tonight will prove important going forward. We won a game without our offense firing on all cylinders. And we did it on the road in a hostile environment.

Hope you are right and winning is always superior to playing/shooting well and losing. You learn nothing from losing except that you weren't good enough, didn't coach well enough, and lost.

No silver lining at all. Know that's not popular but I hate that negative things always are how people are going to "learn". You can learn from success if you choose to light into team for their breakdowns and take minutes for F' Ups.

 

[gharding07]

Cal sleeps fully erect tonight knowing that he actually held a team under 60.

I think we all a little are lol

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

If Shep is going to run the point DJ playing off the ball is useless. Teams have figured out he can only drive left. DJ should be on the bench and play Shep at the point with Reeves and Dillingham. Then sub DJ in as needed. But no way Cal will do this. He’s about keeping promises and personal relationships over winning.

It can work, Wagner is atleast decent defensively

 

[Soupbean]

Blueprint is out. Press up on our guards and we fold like a wet napkin. We simply don't know how to play against tough defense, because we don't face it in practice. Going to be a long slog here till they figure it out.

Yep we do like space and struggle when it is taken away. But so does everybody. We just don’t know how to play that kind of defense in our end yet

 

[yes_takeaside]

Self, Mussselman, Jay Williams, Coach K. But yea, Bilas sucks!!!

You forgot Seth Davis

 

[yes_takeaside]

This is why I could never gamble. Shoulda been a 12 point win easily cover the 5.5 spread.
Instead we foul and one reed misses a free throw and the score another one.
UK still covered but damn that woulda ruined my night if I was betting if the got it to 5

I will say Reed didn’t really try on that FT. Just flipped it up without any real focus. Missed it very badly. Maybe just ready for it to be over.

 

[cathouse]

I get KenPom is very popular. I'm not against analytics at all but I do draw a line sometimes. Watching a lot of Georgetown basketball, KenPom always loved JT3's teams, overrated them and was shocked they would lose in March. Why did they lose? They were offensively awful in terms of pace and playing what I call "Socialist Basketball" where everyone handles/gets the ball and this is a sport of monarchy-where your best better have it more than not. They played low possession basketball which automatically keeps less talented opponents in the game. His numbers always love teams like that. NCAA "defensive stats" for years always had Princeton as a great defensive team when reality was they were playing keep away. That's NOT defense or great defense it's just playing to slow game down (not a knock as that is what they had to do to compete/win) and lower the possessions as more possessions the more talented team is going to win.

So while you make a solid and good defense of his rankings--I always view him with a side eye for his takes due to his like of teams like JT3, Tony Bennett, Ivy League keep away and Dick Bennett Wisconsin over teams who can score and play faster paced/higher possession basketball. Analytics matter and are important but so is the ability to understand the game and how pace dictates/manipulates stats/numbers which he often refuses to do.

Someone needs to pin this post so the slow kids can read it and understand if you have more talent, slowing the ball down on offense and "grinding" in the halfcourt, allows a lesser talented team the best opportunity to beat you........

Play to YOUR TALENT.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Someone needs to pin this post so the slow kids can read it and understand if you have more talent, slowing the ball down on offense and "grinding" in the halfcourt, allows a lesser talented team the best opportunity to beat you........

Play to YOUR TALENT.

The problem is the other team has the ball the same number of possessions as we do.

If you aren't forcing turnovers on defense (and we don't), there's not a whole lot you can do on that end to really speed things up. If a team wants to hold onto the ball for 30 seconds, they can do so and we really cannot help that.

 

[warrior-cat]

That call was total BS. They do everything they can help those POS.

The right arm/hand came down purposely on the defender's hand after the shot was released.

 

[TFCats11]

I will say Reed didn’t really try on that FT. Just flipped it up without any real focus. Missed it very badly. Maybe just ready for it to be over.

It’s almost as if the refs, coaches, and key players in key moments, are instructed to do certain things to save the gambling industry from losing their money…

Nah, there would be thousands of examples over the years of that happening if that were the case…

Oh, wait🎯

 

[JoeBeeHall]

It's his job as a headcoach to actually coach, run plays and MOTIVATE THEM

He did a good job coaching in a tough environment. Congratulations coach on a hard fought win.

 

[cathouse]

The problem is the other team has the ball the same number of possessions as we do.

If you aren't forcing turnovers on defense (and we don't), there's not a whole lot you can do on that end to really speed things up. If a team wants to hold onto the ball for 30 seconds, they can do so and we really cannot help that.

Lol. You have got to be kidding.

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

Nearly March and we still don't understand the simple concept of staying on your man regardless of where the ball is

 

[pauled]

Z is an offensive weapon!

 

[KyCatFan]

Might put up 120. I'm sure Cal will call off the dogs here soon and start milking the clock.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Score 90 and lose by 30? wow !

 

[JwUKFan11]

Are you guys this drunk?