Wasn't a pretty 40 minute performance from the Cats but a strong second half performance allowed Kentucky to push past Arizona State. Here are eight takeaways.
1. Relax: Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I hope you all share those opinions on this thread, but the Cats won today. UK has lost just one game, a tough true road test to a talented team. No team plays a perfect 40 minutes every night. I get the frustration because UK has rarely played a good or just OK 40 minutes, but they're working through their issues while winning. That's all that matters.
I'd guess Arizona State makes the tournament. Probably will be on the bubble, but they're a quality opponent that was clearly motivated to play on the big stage. UK never trailed and cruised to a double-digit win. Again, this team makes you want to pull your hair out at times but UK fans are spoiled. This team is still on track, even if it may be a different road than previously thought.
2. Skal: Here is where I'm at watching Labisisere play: He was clearly a bit overrated. Overrated by everyone including myself. Let's move past what we thought he would be and focus on what he currently is as a player.
He's a project. UK's probably better right now with him on the bench, but he's clearly going to get plenty of minutes and when he's on the floor he's still an offensive weapon.
Let's start to watch his growth. He's going to get better. He's going to do some good things, but that won't be as frequent or consistent as we imagined. Hell, I don't think it's crazy to consider him like we did a freshman Marcus Lee. He's going to do some good things, he's going to make some mistakes, but as long as UK doesn't have to rely on him then it's OK. I'm not saying give up on Labisisere, but realize he has his own process he's going to go through.
3. Poythress: Even as a media member, I cringed when I heard he injured his knee. I'm glad he's OK. But as I've said in the past, his performance against Arizona State just reiterated it- he's UK's most important player. When everyone was freaking out during the first half, when the offense stunk and UK couldn't get a rebound, it was when Poythress was in the locker room. It's no coincidence when came back in the second half the Cats cruised.
Poythress will be UK's muscle, he will be a large part of Kentucky's interior scoring and his leadership and experience is also undervalued. He's not going to be the vocal one in the huddle, that will be Briscoe or Ulis, but he's going to be the calming influence.
Funny moment with 4:20 to play in the second half Labissiere was guarding the wrong man on an in-bounds play and Poythress didn't say a word, just pushed him to where he was supposed to be.
4. Shooting: It's going to be a streaky team when it comes to shooting, but what we saw in the second half is what I thought this team would do on a regular basis. UK shot 50 percent from three, hitting five and look more composed on offense as a whole. As I've said after every game, I'm still OK with Murray shooting an open three, I'm still OK with Ulis shooting when open. Same with Willis. Those guys will continue to have open looks and they'll have games where they are hot, and they'll have off nights.
If UK isn't as successful this season, it won't be because of shooting.
5. Lee: Probably should have discussed Marcus Lee earlier. Huge game from him and with Labisisere going through some growing pains he's going to be a very important player for the Cats. He had a great line tonight, but I was extra impressed with his defense. He reminds me of Cauley-Stein in that he can guard so many different positions and if he gets switched on someone it's not a big deal. 14 points, seven rebounds and five blocks was as impressive of a line as we've seen from the junior.
His energy was also huge for the Cats. Other players feed off that and he really helped UK stay semi-composed when things weren't go their way in the first half.
6. Murray: Pretty bad first half for Murray but here's what changed in the second half- he started attacking. I don't know how many times in the first half he'd catch the ball at the perimeter, shake like he was going to attack and get his man off balance only to pass out.
In the second half he started putting it on the floor and going at the rim. He had three assists, had a few hockey assists and also was able to score or get to the line. He's going to be fine going forward and very important offensively for the Cats.
7. Dribble-Drive: We saw that a few times tonight where UK had Ulis, Briscoe and Murray all passing and dribbling with one another at the perimeter then when one had a step they'd attack. I didn't keep track of how many points UK scored off that but it seemed like a quite a few. While they didn't play this style of offense the entire game, it was clear Arizona State started playing differently after getting beat on this so many times.
The Sun Devils began to play off, the bigs were more eager to leave their man and come out and Lee and Poythress benefited from this play, too.
8. Crowd: Credit to the crowd. Rupp has a reputation for having a lazy crowd for non-sexy games. This wasn't the sexiest game you'll ever see but the crowd was involved and loud. It was strange because although Arizona State isn't a big name it had a big game feel. Crowd was here early, stood a lot of the game and even Calipari coached like this was a big game. I sit on the opposite end of the floor but he was as loud as I've heard him in a very long time.
1. Relax: Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I hope you all share those opinions on this thread, but the Cats won today. UK has lost just one game, a tough true road test to a talented team. No team plays a perfect 40 minutes every night. I get the frustration because UK has rarely played a good or just OK 40 minutes, but they're working through their issues while winning. That's all that matters.
I'd guess Arizona State makes the tournament. Probably will be on the bubble, but they're a quality opponent that was clearly motivated to play on the big stage. UK never trailed and cruised to a double-digit win. Again, this team makes you want to pull your hair out at times but UK fans are spoiled. This team is still on track, even if it may be a different road than previously thought.
2. Skal: Here is where I'm at watching Labisisere play: He was clearly a bit overrated. Overrated by everyone including myself. Let's move past what we thought he would be and focus on what he currently is as a player.
He's a project. UK's probably better right now with him on the bench, but he's clearly going to get plenty of minutes and when he's on the floor he's still an offensive weapon.
Let's start to watch his growth. He's going to get better. He's going to do some good things, but that won't be as frequent or consistent as we imagined. Hell, I don't think it's crazy to consider him like we did a freshman Marcus Lee. He's going to do some good things, he's going to make some mistakes, but as long as UK doesn't have to rely on him then it's OK. I'm not saying give up on Labisisere, but realize he has his own process he's going to go through.
3. Poythress: Even as a media member, I cringed when I heard he injured his knee. I'm glad he's OK. But as I've said in the past, his performance against Arizona State just reiterated it- he's UK's most important player. When everyone was freaking out during the first half, when the offense stunk and UK couldn't get a rebound, it was when Poythress was in the locker room. It's no coincidence when came back in the second half the Cats cruised.
Poythress will be UK's muscle, he will be a large part of Kentucky's interior scoring and his leadership and experience is also undervalued. He's not going to be the vocal one in the huddle, that will be Briscoe or Ulis, but he's going to be the calming influence.
Funny moment with 4:20 to play in the second half Labissiere was guarding the wrong man on an in-bounds play and Poythress didn't say a word, just pushed him to where he was supposed to be.
4. Shooting: It's going to be a streaky team when it comes to shooting, but what we saw in the second half is what I thought this team would do on a regular basis. UK shot 50 percent from three, hitting five and look more composed on offense as a whole. As I've said after every game, I'm still OK with Murray shooting an open three, I'm still OK with Ulis shooting when open. Same with Willis. Those guys will continue to have open looks and they'll have games where they are hot, and they'll have off nights.
If UK isn't as successful this season, it won't be because of shooting.
5. Lee: Probably should have discussed Marcus Lee earlier. Huge game from him and with Labisisere going through some growing pains he's going to be a very important player for the Cats. He had a great line tonight, but I was extra impressed with his defense. He reminds me of Cauley-Stein in that he can guard so many different positions and if he gets switched on someone it's not a big deal. 14 points, seven rebounds and five blocks was as impressive of a line as we've seen from the junior.
His energy was also huge for the Cats. Other players feed off that and he really helped UK stay semi-composed when things weren't go their way in the first half.
6. Murray: Pretty bad first half for Murray but here's what changed in the second half- he started attacking. I don't know how many times in the first half he'd catch the ball at the perimeter, shake like he was going to attack and get his man off balance only to pass out.
In the second half he started putting it on the floor and going at the rim. He had three assists, had a few hockey assists and also was able to score or get to the line. He's going to be fine going forward and very important offensively for the Cats.
7. Dribble-Drive: We saw that a few times tonight where UK had Ulis, Briscoe and Murray all passing and dribbling with one another at the perimeter then when one had a step they'd attack. I didn't keep track of how many points UK scored off that but it seemed like a quite a few. While they didn't play this style of offense the entire game, it was clear Arizona State started playing differently after getting beat on this so many times.
The Sun Devils began to play off, the bigs were more eager to leave their man and come out and Lee and Poythress benefited from this play, too.
8. Crowd: Credit to the crowd. Rupp has a reputation for having a lazy crowd for non-sexy games. This wasn't the sexiest game you'll ever see but the crowd was involved and loud. It was strange because although Arizona State isn't a big name it had a big game feel. Crowd was here early, stood a lot of the game and even Calipari coached like this was a big game. I sit on the opposite end of the floor but he was as loud as I've heard him in a very long time.
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