***** OFFICIAL NCAAT Illinois Vs Kentucky Game Thread *****

[TheBlueMist]

Amari Williams may cost me a couple pieces of furniture today.

 

[catfan220]

Perry hasn't played yet today.

It was time for Chandler to take his minutes

 

[wccat2969]

This guys will have you going home

He would get eaten alive out there.

I believe Chandler has taken his spot in the rotation. He has earned it.

 

[will1976]

Kylan
Boswell is the only one we can't contain so far. I'm confident!

 

[LmdCat]

Our only chance of winning is hitting outside shots because we can't make layups.

 

[NociHTTP]

Noah is a smart player

He's going to be incredible for us next year. As will Chandler.

 

[BBNWildcats4life]

Keep in mind we have the lead with Oweh out the entire half basicaly

Went out with 12+ minutes right?

If he has one of his big time second half scoring outputs we will be alright.

Worse case he soaks up some of these shots Williams and Garrison are taking lol

 

[Dreklie]

Why do I feel like we are losing?

 

[ukfan117]

I won’t be surprised if he dies of a massive heart attack during the halftime. Dude is way too worked up over absolutely nothing.

He got worked up more than Illinois coach.

 

[FiveStarCat]

Keep in mind we have the lead with Oweh out the entire half basically

Yep. Announcers acting like Illinois should be happy to be close yet we have a lead with Oweh barely playing and our bigs being massive liabilities

 

[bbncal02]

 

[BC_Wader]

I REALLY hope that Oweh doesn’t come out and feel like he needs to take the game over. We need him to play within the offense, not feel like he needs to go play hero ball.

Agreed. Just let it come to him.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

To be up 5 at halftime without getting anything from Oweh is shocking. Let’s keep it going in the second half, Cats

 

[ck-2]

Expect a whistle fest the second half.

 

[UKSanders]

When Ivisic went out, I was really hoping to see the lead stretch back out a bit, but unfortunately, the guys couldn't capitalize.

 

[CUJO_1970]

We have to stop bricking our damned free throws

 

[fatguy87]

I mean i’ll take a 5 point lead but feel like we left a lot on the table.

Few layups and free throws come to mind.

Illinois feels the same way regarding their 3 point shooting too, I'm sure.

 

[hotelblue]

UK should be up 10+

Hopefully getting Oweh back and his fresh legs helps them.

it should have been more. we were pulling away. the condensed fouls and amari/garrison missing easy shots and turning it over really hurt. i’m still happy to be up. oweh should be rested.

 

[HenryMuto]

They had their 8th turnover at 8:49 left and had 0 the rest of the way

We led 25-13 with 8:34 left rough ending lead down to 5

 

[UKWildcats1987]

We're going to need to up the offensive efficiency for the second half. I suspect Illinois won't have 8 turnovers again in the second half.

Pribablu need 80 points (at least) to win this.

 

[wccat2969]

Carr needs to get involved.

 

[UKBlueBlood]

I’m grateful for a 5 point lead at halftime. But this team is frequently infuriating how they piss away opportunities to have a game relatively on ice. They could/should easily have been up 15-20 points at the half.

 

[the dopester]

if it’s a grinder, we lose. if it goes over 80 i like our chances.

I feel like we win either way. We’ve won grind out games also.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

We are playing pretty well. Missing too many shots.

I think that changes in the 2nd half.


They can’t guard us. We just gotta take smart shots.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Perry hasn't played yet today.

Perry can be a poor man’s Cameron Mills Travis Ford type guy by his Junior Senior year.

 

[kywildcat41035]

I swear the Wildcats will be the death of me!

 

[sefus12]

Williams REALLY needs to be better. This is two games in a row he’s been a complete negative on the offensive side, and a few times on defense he was pretty awful.

 

[wccat2969]

4-8 from the foul line and at least 6-7 missed layups(although on a couple we still got points)

We will need those points

 

[TheBlueMist]

Why do I feel like we are losing?

Because we were losing from the 10 minute mark on.

 

[hotelblue]

I feel like we win either way. We’ve won grind out games also.

we have? maybe. i don’t recall.

 

[blue cincy]

Good first half, good on both ends. UK went harder for the loose balls and we held our own for the most part. Noah and Chandler again have played well. We need to come out 2nd half and hit layups or better yet, dunk the ball (looking at you Williams). Not see the stats yet but will check them out.

 

[JPFisher]

Illinois shoots only 31.4% as a team.

I was talking about BG's 3pt%. That's not great for Illinois, though. Hope they live up to it.

 

[UKSanders]

Bailed? He was mugged.

I don't think he meant the refs bailed out Noah, but more that Noah bailed out what was looking like a terrible possession by making a head's up play to draw the foul.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

We should be up 15 easy. Gave away too many opportunities.

 

[Chief Paducah]

Expect a whistle fest the second half.

Was thinking the exact same thing. And they shoot free throws well.

 

[BBNWildcats4life]

He's going to be incredible for us next year. As will Chandler.

I know it was a combination of injuries and having no other options, but the experience the freshmen got this season and so far in the tournament could pay off HUGE in the coming seasons.

**If** everyone comes back that can come back, we're going to have a squad.

Its the last big question mark Pope has compared to the last guy, will there be continuity in the program season-to-season?

 

[megablue]

There are no guarantees, of course, but I’ll be surprised if we don’t win this game. I’m not impressed with Illinois.

 

[jwphelps]

At least he works the officials. I agree sometimes coaches are ridiculous, but Pope seems to be way at the other end and I think it has hurt us. He has to learn how to work the officials throughout the game.

It has not done their coach any good so far.

 

[the dopester]

Why do I feel like we are losing?

Pessimism?

 

[LmdCat]

I will say it right now. I will be glad when Williams and Carr are gone. They are the softest big men I have ever watch play the game.