Post game interview

[billoliver40]

Coach Pope clearly as frustrated as I've seen so far. No positives on any player. Stated 2 games in a row 15 offensive boards given up. Thinks something is causing distractions. Mentioned some combinations not clicking well.

Us old timers know this is often the time of season where a team suddenly seems to be lost. The January to mid February dregs. Coming out of it usually entails a come to Jesus meeting...or two.
Coach pointed out what we all know...two true road games...two true losses.
Right now Coach is a large unhappy individual.

 

[catben]

The 2 kids(Robinson,Williams) he brought in to be our leaders, have NOT been able to produce consistently and it has KILLED our chances for a big run in the toughest SEC UK has faced since the 90's.

We lack toughness which allows opponents to get too many offensive rebounds and makes it too difficult to score against physical teams.

Heck, if we would just block out and shoot the first open look we get, it would help a lot. This team passed up too many shots trying to get a better one, which isn't easy against most of the SEC. Coach Pope KNOWS this.

Hope he can figure something out to counter this because we are going to see it from now on.

 

[CapnBlubs]

I hope Pope lets them know over and over until they change it and change it for good.

You don't win titles or even make second weekends without busting your ass. Even if you're NBA talent.

And oh by the way, you'll get your lazy ass handed to you at the pro level. Much worse. Wake up!

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Robinson has been a HUGE disappointment and really believe Pope needs to bring them off the bench. I just don’t think he deserves the starting spot over Brea. Williams looks decent in spurts but Garrison was a bright spot last night and hustles. He deserves to start.

 

[rick64]

Williams is lazy. I've seen him make zero effort to alter/block a shot attempt. Just watches the ball go over his head. Infuriating!! Garrison doesn't pass as well but I'd give him more minutes.

Carr is limited as an athlete. As pointed out he can't jump well. Struggles vs better athletes.

Jax is off way more than he's on. I think I'd have him come off the bench and start KB.

And for crying out loud finish at the basket!! Why are you passing up layups??!!

 

[Basscat1987]

Williams is lazy. I've seen him make zero effort to alter/block a shot attempt. Just watches the ball go over his head. Infuriating!! Garrison doesn't pass as well but I'd give him more minutes.

Carr is limited as an athlete. As pointed out he can't jump well. Struggles vs better athletes.

Jax is off way more than he's on. I think I'd have him come off the bench and start KB.

And for crying out loud finish at the basket!! Why are you passing up layups??!!

Worst group of finishers I think I’ve ever seen. Honestly can’t believe we are number 6 in the country on January 8. The success of this team early on has been a blessing. We are about to start piling up losses unless the effort/energy stuff starts to improve. Effort/ urgency on the defensive end and rebounding is a major issue

 

[rodgersl]

Worst group of finishers I’ve seen since my high school cheerleading team…🤔

 

[CatPatrick13]

I think next year Pope will add a real physical presence off the bench. Prob from the portal.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Robinson has been a HUGE disappointment and really believe Pope needs to bring them off the bench. I just don’t think he deserves the starting spot over Brea. Williams looks decent in spurts but Garrison was a bright spot last night and hustles. He deserves to start.

Yep. In these physical games brea has to play over jax. Has to. Also need to see more alminor. He isn't athletic but blocks out. During our first big run vs Florida, it was generated because alminor blocked out letting our guys get rebounds.

 

[catman15]

Williams is lazy. I've seen him make zero effort to alter/block a shot attempt. Just watches the ball go over his head. Infuriating!! Garrison doesn't pass as well but I'd give him more minutes.

Carr is limited as an athlete. As pointed out he can't jump well. Struggles vs better athletes.

Jax is off way more than he's on. I think I'd have him come off the bench and start KB.

And for crying out loud finish at the basket!! Why are you passing up layups??!!

I've watched Amari Williams not jump for more rebounds than any big in history. There was one late in the game that a Georgia guy got flat footed and they called a foul on it. I'd take Stanley Hudson over Amari at this point

 

[phunterd]

Yep. In these physical games brea has to play over jax. Has to. Also need to see more alminor. He isn't athletic but blocks out. During our first big run vs Florida, it was generated because alminor blocked out letting our guys get rebounds.

Agree that we need to see more Almanor vs the SEC.

 

[Cats192]

Williams is lazy. I've seen him make zero effort to alter/block a shot attempt. Just watches the ball go over his head. Infuriating!! Garrison doesn't pass as well but I'd give him more minutes.

Carr is limited as an athlete. As pointed out he can't jump well. Struggles vs better athletes.

Jax is off way more than he's on. I think I'd have him come off the bench and start KB.

And for crying out loud finish at the basket!! Why are you passing up layups??!!

Yup.

I'm guessing Williams didn't have to compete for rebounds at Drexel. Probably not a lot of guys with his size/strength at that level. So you learn you don't have to jump/compete for boards.

He needs to unlearn that. Fast.

He's absolutely unplayable half the game.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

This entire thread reads like we are a 4 and 13 team. Good grief!!

These guys are THAT bad but have beaten FL, Duke. Gonzaga, etc?? Get off the ledge. The #1 team was down by almost 40 last night. They’ll be good day and bad days. Geez.

 

[FiveStarCat]

This entire thread reads like we are a 4 and 13 team. Good grief!!

These guys are THAT bad but have beaten FL, Duke. Gonzaga, etc?? Get off the ledge. The #1 team was down by almost 40 last night. They’ll be good day and bad days. Geez.

If the players were giving full effort, I think most reasonable people would accept that the roster is what it is. But when it’s lack of effort or toughness like you see with Robinson and Williams, it can be infuriating.

Give me a lineup of Butler, Brea, Oweh, Carr, and Garrison and at least we’ll go down fighting the whole way. I think Kerr coming back will be huge - he’s high energy and passes that along to his teammates which is something some of our guys need badly

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

If the players were giving full effort, I think most reasonable people would accept that the roster is what it is. But when it’s lack of effort or toughness like you see with Robinson and Williams, it can be infuriating.

Give me a lineup of Butler, Brea, Oweh, Carr, and Garrison and at least we’ll go down fighting the whole way. I think Kerr coming back will be huge - he’s high energy and passes that along to his teammates which is something some of our guys need badly

I’ve said the exact same about Kerr.

How,. We could be 15-0 and at least two players would get trashed here.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

This entire thread reads like we are a 4 and 13 team. Good grief!!

These guys are THAT bad but have beaten FL, Duke. Gonzaga, etc?? Get off the ledge. The #1 team was down by almost 40 last night. They’ll be good day and bad days. Geez.

Yeah but to make a deep run in March and win more SEC games then lose some things need to change

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Yeah but to make a deep run in March and win more SEC games then lose some things need to change

A deep run in March in Pope’s first year with a roster thrown together on the fly would be a miracle yet some act like its supposed to happen. But i get it, we live in a gimme gumme gimme world. smh. The sane among us are happy to even be in the conversation this year as this a total bonus.

 

[trueblujr2]

Yup.

I'm guessing Williams didn't have to compete for rebounds at Drexel. Probably not a lot of guys with his size/strength at that level. So you learn you don't have to jump/compete for boards.

He needs to unlearn that. Fast.

He's absolutely unplayable half the game.

That's why Garrison plays the other half. Williams only averages around 20 minutes per game.

 

[Cats192]

That's why Garrison plays the other half. Williams only averages around 20 minutes per game.

Williams is bipolar play-wise.

He's so bad, he's unplayable at times. And then he's absolutely amazing at times. Just nuts.