* Another intense UK-UL basketball game ... one that I am relieved that the Cats won. Early in the 2nd half, the Cats are up 16 and Murray misses an open 3pt shot to go up 19 ... after which the Cats play was not very good offensively absent a few big made 3pt shots. A bit disappointing that the Cats let the Cards back in the game with a shot to win. Can't do that and expect to win. The key stat in the game is the Cats going an unexpected 11-23 from the 3pt line. Without that, the Cats lose.
* Without Ulis today, the Cats probably get beat by 15 points. Cats with no ball-handler on the floor other than Ulis, who also made 4 big 3pt shots. One thing I don't understand is why Ulis is taking the ball out of bounds against the UL press ... not encouraging that apparently the Cats don't have anybody who can inbound the ball with good decision.
* Murray - until he is able to play composed, needs to do a few things. Catch the ball. Pass the ball. Catch and shoot the ball. Make FTs. Defend and rebound. Otherwise, when he is dribbling the ball the odds are good that something bad is going to happen - 7 turnovers + some ugly shots. Murray is a long ways away from being ready for the NBA.
* Poythress played big just about the entire game. When he got the ball in the paint he was very effective. I liked that he was assigned defensively on D. Lee on the last possession.
* It is apparent that Marcus Lee has to play over Skal. Lee is good for 8 and 8 about every game. I am not sure what to think about Skal. He played 10 minutes today. He just isn't ready ... for big minutes at UK, much less the NBA.
* Hawkins was huge today. Despite the error not to shoot on the Cats last possession, he made some huge shots for the Cats. Experience paid off today. Thought Willis provided some decent minutes as well. Matthews played some good D, but fouls limited him to 10 minutes today.
* Cats get out-rebounded by 10 and shoot 15-25 FTs .... have to do better than that.
* Trying to be objective here, even with Cats having Briscoe and Cards with Mathiang, these are probably top 20 teams ... but that's about it at this point. It wasn't a very pretty or well played basketball game.
* Up Next: Cats vs an athletic Ole Miss (10-2) next Saturday as the SEC season gets started. Cats have a lot of work to do to get better. Think it's also fair to say that the Cats must/have to protect the home court this year ... there are likely going to be some L's on the road this year .... be ready.
* Without Ulis today, the Cats probably get beat by 15 points. Cats with no ball-handler on the floor other than Ulis, who also made 4 big 3pt shots. One thing I don't understand is why Ulis is taking the ball out of bounds against the UL press ... not encouraging that apparently the Cats don't have anybody who can inbound the ball with good decision.
* Murray - until he is able to play composed, needs to do a few things. Catch the ball. Pass the ball. Catch and shoot the ball. Make FTs. Defend and rebound. Otherwise, when he is dribbling the ball the odds are good that something bad is going to happen - 7 turnovers + some ugly shots. Murray is a long ways away from being ready for the NBA.
* Poythress played big just about the entire game. When he got the ball in the paint he was very effective. I liked that he was assigned defensively on D. Lee on the last possession.
* It is apparent that Marcus Lee has to play over Skal. Lee is good for 8 and 8 about every game. I am not sure what to think about Skal. He played 10 minutes today. He just isn't ready ... for big minutes at UK, much less the NBA.
* Hawkins was huge today. Despite the error not to shoot on the Cats last possession, he made some huge shots for the Cats. Experience paid off today. Thought Willis provided some decent minutes as well. Matthews played some good D, but fouls limited him to 10 minutes today.
* Cats get out-rebounded by 10 and shoot 15-25 FTs .... have to do better than that.
* Trying to be objective here, even with Cats having Briscoe and Cards with Mathiang, these are probably top 20 teams ... but that's about it at this point. It wasn't a very pretty or well played basketball game.
* Up Next: Cats vs an athletic Ole Miss (10-2) next Saturday as the SEC season gets started. Cats have a lot of work to do to get better. Think it's also fair to say that the Cats must/have to protect the home court this year ... there are likely going to be some L's on the road this year .... be ready.
