**OFFICIAL KENTUCKY VS OAKLAND RD. 1 GAME THREAD**

[jameslee32]

NBA guys talking about college basketball is so dumb.

 

[Girthang]

How quickly would UK move on from Cal if he lost tonight?

Not.quickly.enough

 

[UK96GOAT]

If a loss tonight equals Cal not being here next year, I would make that trade in a heartbeat.

 

[Warf2012]

I asked Microsoft Copilot...

If a basketball player is hitting 3 pointers at will (7 for 13), what strategy should the opposing team employ?

To counter a basketball player who is successfully hitting 3-pointers, the opposing team could consider the following strategies:

Switch to a 2-3 Zone Defense: This can help disrupt the shooter’s rhythm and force them to take more contested shots1.
Employ the On-Off Technique: Within the zone defense, the bottom defender gets ON the shooter to heavily contest the shot, then bumps OFF once the initial shot is stopped, allowing the top defender to recover and defend1.
Extend the Defense: Use a one-two-two extended zone with taller players in high positions to defend against the 3-point shot, ensuring all shots are contested with both hands up2.
No-Help Defense: Assign the best defensive player to the 3-point shooter and do not provide help, making it difficult for the shooter to find open looks3.
These strategies can help reduce the effectiveness of a player who is proficient from beyond the arc. It’s important to adapt the defense to the flow of the game and the specific strengths of the offensive player.

Cal doesn’t know how to use Google.

 

[michaeluk26]

We lost our advantage within the first 6 minutes of the game by rolling out a starting 5 with only one real scorer. Edwards reverted back to form by missing easy layups. We allowed Oakland to miss shot after shot without paying price for it. Tre hasn't done anything in weeks and yet CCC thought it was a good idea to start him tonight.

Yep. Missed their first 10 shots and we couldn't take advantage.

 

[NociHTTP]

The irony is that Cal's career might end tonight where it also began.

I hope it happens, but I have no faith in UK brass giving two sheets to make it happen.

 

[Kentucky2022]

Defend one guy and we cruise is it that hard cal

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

This is what Kentucky basketball has been relegated to....struggling to win a NCAA 1st round game against a #14 seed.
Anyone who thinks Calipari is still the right guy to lead this program is either insane or a UofL fan.

 

[MbergCat]

How quickly would UK move on from Cal if he lost tonight?

As sickening as it is, I think he still keeps his job. And IF we lose and IF he keeps his job, I'm officially checking out.

 

[LmdCat]

We're gonna start the 2nd half with a big run lead by Shepherd. Did Thiero get 2 fouls?

How could he possibly get 2 fouls with the little time he played? We need his physical play under the basket.

 

[ukjenning44]

Cal couldn’t coach the Warriors to a Final Four against college teams.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Won’t be quick enough whatever happens. Mitch should fire his ass in the tunnel as he goes to the lockerroom.

And the recruiting class isn't good enough to worry about losing either. Quaintance will get bulldozed next year against the SEC's grown men, and Fland is the equivalent of a year-one Immanuel Quickley.

We're going to be bad next year anyway.

 

[BigKari]

If Rob doesn't start the second half I might throw my tv.

Congrats, you’re about to get the upgraded model of your TV.

 

[kywildcat41086]

How quickly would UK move on from Cal if he lost tonight?

Hopefully faster than a speed of light…

 

[RunninRichie]

As sickening as it is, I think he still keeps his job. And IF we lose and IF he keeps his job, I'm officially checking out.

Same here. I’ll be regulated to paddock and lair duty.

 

[Bill Teaby]

You watching t

It all stopped when Cal put the lid on Welch.

Yes, he and stoops has a lot in common.

 

[NociHTTP]

Then Rupp may look as empty as this gym in Pittsburg.

Sadly, I doubt that would happen.

 

[Old_Red]

A team needs only a moderate to mediocre offense to beat this Kentucky team if they can play a defense that gets us taking such rushed shots.

 

[Lovebaskelball]

I think we will end up winning but not a good look.

 

[michaeluk26]

We're gonna start the 2nd half with a big run lead by Shepherd. Did Thiero get 2 fouls?

He left holding his shoulder. Never got back in.

 

[wccat2969]

And now we are in panic mode. Three guys are going after ONE guy and you still can't stop him. We should not be surprised. This team hasn't played defense all season. We would be crazy to think it would/can change.

 

[permdaddy]

How quickly would UK move on from Cal if he lost tonight?

He's not going to get fired no matter the outcome of this game.

 

[BBUK]

If Cal is ever allowed to set foot in Rupp again, that is on the University of Kentucky... He must be banned...

Sure would love for Barn Door to cart him out at half time...

 

[rick64]

Lineup change to start the 2nd half?

 

[jrbraddy]

I think the Oakland coach baited Cal to play through the post with his comments. Seems to have worked, putting the ball in the hands of our secondary scorers and out of the hands of our best shooters. Reed and Dilly haven’t scored yet. Great strategy and it worked because of Cal’s ego.

 

[catben]

How quickly would UK move on from Cal if he lost tonight?

Only if Cal chooses to. Thanks to Mitch, Cal holds all the cards, which is RIDICULOUS!!!

Our only hope is that the criticism from everyone gets so bad that his ego won’t allow him to continue here.

 

[Fox2monk]

DJ Wagner has completely regressed and he wasn't that great to begin with.

I’d like to know what happened when him and Edwards really broke out a couple weeks ago. Where did that go?

 

[UKCat4Ever]

Won’t be quick enough whatever happens. Mitch should fire his ass in the tunnel as he goes to the lockerroom.

If there's ever an off-season to do it, this is the one. Have a class full of "meh" talent that might take years to develop if they stay. No probable stars besides JQ maybe his sophomore year.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

June 20th or whatever day the draft is, that’s our national title woo-hoo let’s go. Kings of draft night

 

[ThunderMash]

And the recruiting class isn't good enough to worry about losing either. Quaintance will get bulldozed next year against the SEC's grown men, and Fland is the equivalent of a year-one Immanuel Quickley.

We're going to be bad next year anyway.

Exactly. I have a baaaaad feeling that we're in for a BJ Boston team-esque season next year. Not saying there will be 16 losses, but I can see it getting ugly.

 

[Kentucky2022]

Please don’t let this be the last tournament game I watch I love this tournament but when we lose I have no interest been awhile since I watched past the first weekend

 

[kywildcat41086]

Cal was talking before the game about his NBA players making over 4 billion in pro contracts. When is someone going to ask him why our record in the NCAA tournament is so bad lately with all that talent and him being a hall of fame coach. Something doesn’t add up, maybe his coaching is overrated, looks that way to a lot of people.

I know I couldn’t believe it like let’s talk about the tournament and what’s in front of you but no let’s talk about what actually means the most to you!!!

 

[HenryMuto]

Need a good start to the 2nd half to say the least.

 

[ck-2]

Wonder why our shooters always struggle to get open looks but our opponents are always wide open? Must just be they’re all more talented than the Cats.

 

[RunninRichie]

I think the Oakland coach baited Cal to play through the post with his comments. Seems to have worked, putting the ball in the hands of our secondary scorers and out of the hands of our best shooters. Reed and Dilly haven’t scored yet. Great strategy and it worked because of Cal’s ego.

Unbelievable

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

As sickening as it is, I think he still keeps his job. And IF we lose and IF he keeps his job, I'm officially checking out.

I'm with you. I love this program more than anything outside my faith, family, and friends, but it's not fun anymore. Calipari has killed BBN's passion and turned it into drudgery.

 

[blubo]

what adjustments will coach make in 2d half? 🙄

 

[LmdCat]

If you are the second highest scoring team in college basketball, the last thing CCC should have done is tampered with it for this game.

 

[sefus12]

What does any of this have to do with believing Reed’s parents are in the locker room?

I’ve said 100 times I don’t care if Cal stays or goes. I just think the constant blaming everything on him is silly. How anyone watched the first half and didn’t think Reed was a nightmare amazes me.

I don’t give a sh*t about the parents.

You keep bagging on Reed but refuse to blame the coach who doesn’t run a play to get Reed or Rob or Reeves open and who also won’t do anything different on D to keep Oakland from killing us with screens that get their shooters open.

 

[CatPhight]

How quickly would UK move on from Cal if he lost tonight?