Well, that was a bit unexpected.
I thought UCLA played about as well as they could have. Certainly better than I expected. Some of that was UK's inability to disrupt their offensive flow and keep them from getting points in the paint. UK's defense inside was very unimpressive. Lee leaving the game hurt a lot in the long run. Poythress fouling out so early really made this game tough to evaluate in the big picture because that created some lineups that are really unfavorable. Skal has a long way to go and Humphries battled but is just really young out there.
Ulis distributed the ball well especially in the first half but shot such a low percentage. Murray shot a low percentage. Briscoe was a more efficient player but you really don't have to respect his shot.
The problems in my mind, tonight and maybe long-term:
1. Shooting. I know I'm not in a consensus opinion here but I've thought shooting is a problem for some time. Free throw shooting was not a problem tonight. They did great in the second half, getting there and knocking them down. But from deep, for most of the game, they weren't good. Again. It wasn't the difference in the game, necessarily, but they've played enough games now and the overall number just doesn't lie. When Ulis and Murray are on the court you believe that you've got a couple of dead eye shooters, although the numbers don't bear it out. And they've played eight games. But beyond those two the guards really just don't make the defense respect them enough.
2. Inside....everything. Offense, defense. Not much to say except they're weak. Literally, very finesse. Pushed around. Poythress brought some energy to the offensive glass but struggles finishing inside. Lee was out but I don't think that would have been the difference. Not sure what the long-term solution here is. Just have to hope there's enough improvement to mitigate it. Maybe by the end of the season it won't be a weakness, but it doesn't really look like a national championship front court right now. They could still accomplish that, without a doubt. But the frontcourt has major improving to do against good competition. A front court like North Carolina's would have ripped them to shreds much worse than UCLA's did tonight.
3. Youth. Came in taking bad shots. That's one reason UCLA got their lead, which they pretty much maintained throughout the game. Didn't appear poised. Briscoe and Poythress were gunning early and that's not a good game plan.
A forgettable night. I don't attribute much at all to road games in the Calipari era because home court in college basketball is a HUGE variable, even more so for Kentucky -- freshmen, at Rupp they play super inspired and the opponent's intimidated, and on road venues it's a tough environment for young players in the opponent's "Super Bowl".
I like Matthews' energy in the first half. I liked Willis' mindset in the second half. But those guys aren't going to be the difference big picture, IMO. The guards have to be efficient, the shooting has to improve. I said on the podcast this week that I thought at some point the overwhelming points coming from makes near the goal wasn't sustainable against good teams and I just don't think you can couple poor shooting with bad shot selection and the lack of a post game and have an elite product. Cal's got a lot of work to do but this is one of the worst games they'll play this year.
Bit of a sobering evening for Kentucky.
I thought UCLA played about as well as they could have. Certainly better than I expected. Some of that was UK's inability to disrupt their offensive flow and keep them from getting points in the paint. UK's defense inside was very unimpressive. Lee leaving the game hurt a lot in the long run. Poythress fouling out so early really made this game tough to evaluate in the big picture because that created some lineups that are really unfavorable. Skal has a long way to go and Humphries battled but is just really young out there.
Ulis distributed the ball well especially in the first half but shot such a low percentage. Murray shot a low percentage. Briscoe was a more efficient player but you really don't have to respect his shot.
The problems in my mind, tonight and maybe long-term:
1. Shooting. I know I'm not in a consensus opinion here but I've thought shooting is a problem for some time. Free throw shooting was not a problem tonight. They did great in the second half, getting there and knocking them down. But from deep, for most of the game, they weren't good. Again. It wasn't the difference in the game, necessarily, but they've played enough games now and the overall number just doesn't lie. When Ulis and Murray are on the court you believe that you've got a couple of dead eye shooters, although the numbers don't bear it out. And they've played eight games. But beyond those two the guards really just don't make the defense respect them enough.
2. Inside....everything. Offense, defense. Not much to say except they're weak. Literally, very finesse. Pushed around. Poythress brought some energy to the offensive glass but struggles finishing inside. Lee was out but I don't think that would have been the difference. Not sure what the long-term solution here is. Just have to hope there's enough improvement to mitigate it. Maybe by the end of the season it won't be a weakness, but it doesn't really look like a national championship front court right now. They could still accomplish that, without a doubt. But the frontcourt has major improving to do against good competition. A front court like North Carolina's would have ripped them to shreds much worse than UCLA's did tonight.
3. Youth. Came in taking bad shots. That's one reason UCLA got their lead, which they pretty much maintained throughout the game. Didn't appear poised. Briscoe and Poythress were gunning early and that's not a good game plan.
A forgettable night. I don't attribute much at all to road games in the Calipari era because home court in college basketball is a HUGE variable, even more so for Kentucky -- freshmen, at Rupp they play super inspired and the opponent's intimidated, and on road venues it's a tough environment for young players in the opponent's "Super Bowl".
I like Matthews' energy in the first half. I liked Willis' mindset in the second half. But those guys aren't going to be the difference big picture, IMO. The guards have to be efficient, the shooting has to improve. I said on the podcast this week that I thought at some point the overwhelming points coming from makes near the goal wasn't sustainable against good teams and I just don't think you can couple poor shooting with bad shot selection and the lack of a post game and have an elite product. Cal's got a lot of work to do but this is one of the worst games they'll play this year.
Bit of a sobering evening for Kentucky.
