Post game Pope

[billoliver40]

Outplayed in every way.

Just what I'm picking up on: Pope us VERY WELL AWARE we don't have one or two players that can take over a game 'consistently'. When players try to do that, they get themselves AND the team out of sync. For this team to win, it has to be in the system...passing, cutting, finding the open man. Relying on each other. It's hard for these guys that WANT to win and really WANT NBA folks to recognize them to not fall back into 'superman' mode....because in fact none are. That's not being derogatory...it's just the way it is.
Pope took responsibility for defensive lapses.
Team is STILL better than I anticipated, but one guy cannot carry this crew. It's gonna have to be sacrifice for the team as a whole.
Tough job. Maybe it'll stick in time.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Maybe Pope should play more zone.

 

[bnewt]

Honest statements
Maybe some need some pine time

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Honest statements
Maybe some need some pine time

Agreed

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

Love the coach.Love the offense, love the players. My hope for this season was to make the dance. This team is not nearly as good shooting as I had hoped. To be special they MUST shoot better.

 

[Fox2monk]

Honest statements
Maybe some need some pine time

Exactly, sucks but we have one more game where we can actually do that and win. I was super disappointed in how Butker played tonight. We needed the effort against UofL but tonight he tried to do too much. Robinson again played soft as hell, he missed two wide open dunks.

 

[Zissou87]

Honest statements
Maybe some need some pine time

I don't think this team can afford the "pine time". Given the lack of quality talent, they need to utilize their depth. However, once Kriisa gets back, I don't think the freshmen should play.

 

[Fox2monk]

Love the coach.Love the offense, love the players. My hope for this season was to make the dance. This team is not nearly as good shooting as I had hoped. To be special they MUST shoot better.

I believe they can shoot it a lot better and we have in some games. Need to get back to the system, passing, and hitting the open man. That’s how we will win. We cannot one on one our way to victory this year.

 

[Fox2monk]

Anyone have a link to it?

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Exactly, sucks but we have one more game where we can actually do that and win. I was super disappointed in how Butker played tonight. We needed the effort against UofL but tonight he tried to do too much. Robinson again played soft as hell, he missed two wide open dunks.

Williams and Garrison didnt set the world ablaze either.
Listen, we wont win many games shooting 4 of 24 from 3.
That's Georgetown ish.

 

[NociHTTP]

Exactly, sucks but we have one more game where we can actually do that and win. I was super disappointed in how Butker played tonight. We needed the effort against UofL but tonight he tried to do too much. Robinson again played soft as hell, he missed two wide open dunks.

He has had an awful possession where in fast transition he CHOSE to drive into traffic. That's NOT the sign of a leader. I didn't say it in the game thread, but he reminded me of Wheeler tonight.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Maybe Pope should play more zone.

If "we're the best team in the country" ("and it isn't close"), why would we need to play zone?

 

[bnewt]

Love the coach.Love the offense, love the players. My hope for this season was to make the dance. This team is not nearly as good shooting as I had hoped. To be special they MUST shoot better.

Had numerous open 3 point shots but couldn't hit them. Numerous inside shots as well

 

[Digger-Cat]

Anyone have a link to it?

 

[CatFanInIlliniLand]

I like Pope’s ability to articulate things. It’s a bad lose, but I like the answers I hear.

Otega looks like he took it hard and he’s ready to put in the work. Coach put an encouraging hand on his shoulder after Otega mentioned needing to be better next time “and we will” (something to that effect).

 

[NociHTTP]

Great post-game Q&A. I'm troubled that these guys, with the collective experience they have, aren't ready on game-day to get after it. That should not be an issue. Totally agree with Mark on the need to change the "default response" to adversity. I think that's something that ALL of us can learn from.

 

[BlueRunner11]

Seems it happens every year, team ball til about January then guys start to get worried about their futures. Hopefully it’s not the case with this bunch.

 

[maysvilleky]

I was hoping for a 20 win season and a 4/5 seed in NCAAT. I think UK will exceed those!

 

[Fox2monk]

View embedded media

Thanks

 

[ManitouDan]

Love the coach.Love the offense, love the players. My hope for this season was to make the dance. This team is not nearly as good shooting as I had hoped. To be special they MUST shoot better.

Some fools gold early in the season , teams didnt have film on us , teams didnt get physical with Brea , teams let A Williams turn left .. things get tougher once the season kicks in . I think the wins are going to get tougher .. our freshman have not developed yet ( I'm talking Chandler Perry and Noah ) and the weaknesses of Jaxson R and Brea are GLARING .. soft as melted butter , neither can defend and if you face guard Brea and make him put it on the floor he can be neutralized . We cant afford Butler having an off night , hes the glue and the engine both . Yesterday is what we get if he has abad game .

Exactly, sucks but we have one more game where we can actually do that and win. I was super disappointed in how Butker played tonight. We needed the effort against UofL but tonight he tried to do too much. Robinson again played soft as hell, he missed two wide open dunks.

Butler will be fine , panicked a bit as he wanted to lead us back , But hes one I dont worry about . I'm VERY concerned about J Rob and Brea .. you cant be soft as a UK player , everyone brings 110 % effort against you , you have to fight back . Those guys need some toughness about them , but it's not in the makeup .

 

[cal=8]

Pope has a big problem to solve, Robinson and Brea are our best shooters but a huge defensive liability.

Amari, can't finish at the rim or dribble the ball for that matter and his free throw shooting is atrocious.

We need Garrison to continue to develop as well as Chandler.

Butler, Oweh and Carr are our best players and they wouldn't start for most of the teams we'll face in the SEC.

Pope has done a tremendous job so far but now that we've been scouted he's going to really have to figure out how to get the most out of this roster. It's gonna be a tough job.

 

[WallMashKyBall]

Wright said no one has tried a grind it out slow the game down against us, he was wrong, Clemson did and now Ohio State followed that script. Other teams will try to bully us. We need more red meat junk yard dogs challenge their manhood and less team building sleep-over parties and plays.

 

[billoliver40]

Wright said no one has tried a grind it out slow the game down against us, he was wrong, Clemson did and now Ohio State followed that script. Other teams will try to bully us. We need more red meat junk yard dogs challenge their manhood and less team building sleep-over parties and plays.

So less team building but more fighting for each other????

Well.....okay.

 

[65pacecar]

Nice to see the coach after a tough loss rather than trotting some poor assistant out there to take the heat.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Pope has a big problem to solve, Robinson and Brea are our best shooters but a huge defensive liability.

Amari, can't finish at the rim or dribble the ball for that matter and his free throw shooting is atrocious.

We need Garrison to continue to develop as well as Chandler.

Butler, Oweh and Carr are our best players and they wouldn't start for most of the teams we'll face in the SEC.

Pope has done a tremendous job so far but now that we've been scouted he's going to really have to figure out how to get the most out of this roster. It's gonna be a tough job.

Good points, except saying those three would not start for most teams we face that’s not true at all

 

[Bluesbrother]

If "we're the best team in the country" ("and it isn't close"), why would we need to play zone?

If Rupp was one of the greatest coaches to ever roam the sidelines, why did he play zone regularly?

 

[Zissou87]

If Rupp was one of the greatest coaches to ever roam the sidelines, why did he play zone regularly?

Rupp hasn't roamed the sidelines in over 50 years. A lot has changed since then.

 

[Mash 2.4]

I like Pope’s ability to articulate things. It’s a bad lose, but I like the answers I hear.

Otega looks like he took it hard and he’s ready to put in the work. Coach put an encouraging hand on his shoulder after Otega mentioned needing to be better next time “and we will” (something to that effect).

You could tell at the end Oweh was pissed. Teams are overplaying us daring us to beat them off the dribble or back door. We’re gonna have to put in some old Princeton type stuff to do that. Cause our guys aren’t beat you off the dribble guys. That will open up better 3 looks. I have faith in Pope and the staff to do that.

 

[Digger-Cat]

If Rupp was one of the greatest coaches to ever roam the sidelines, why did he play zone regularly?

My post to our biggest homer was in jest.

But still, you're not going anywhere in today's game if you have to go zone for long stretches because you can't guard.

 

[Bluesbrother]

My post to our biggest homer was in jest.

But still, you're not going anywhere in today's game if you have to go zone for long stretches because you can't guard.

I don't think we are disagreeing on your basic sentiment, at all. I do think using a zone, at times, strategically is wise, if it serves a tactical purpose. Rupp used it this way, but he had players for four years to teach it.

 

[blackcat714]

Maybe Pope should play more zone.

What i was thinking he tried but gave up on it

 

[megablue]

What i was thinking he tried but gave up on it

If you cannot stay in front of them and stop penetration, try some zone for a while … don’t just tease with it. If they shoot you out of it, then switch back to man.