Ugly game but here are eight takeaways from Kentucky's win against Boston University on Tuesday evening.
1. Poythress: He was the MVP this evening. When thing became muddy, ugly and nearly unwatchable, Poythress took over. Just the thing you want to see from your senior leader. He's been in every type of game at UK and him being able to recognize the situation and do what he needs to do was impressive. I said earlier this season I thought he turned the corner, maybe he hasn't yet, but Kentucky is going to need him to do things like he did tonight.
2. Ugly: It was disappointing to see this type of game tonight. Yes, UK won by 20 and at the end of the night that's still impressive, but just too many lapses from the Cats. And it wasn't anything more than just playing lazy. I don't think UK took terrible shots tonight. I don't think Boston University played out of their mind. UK just took plays off, didn't chase down rebounds and stood still defensively. You can do that against Boston University and we'll just call it ugly, but if the Cats do that against a good opponent we'll be calling it a loss.
3. Shots: The Cats missed tonight. No doubt about it. But I wasn't disappointed with the shot selection. If Ulis, Willis or Murray have open threes I, and you, should want them to take them. Tonight they just didn't fall. That's part of the reason Kentucky didn't blowout Boston but there will be some nights shots just don't fall and that was tonight. Luckily UK was still able to cruise in time.
4. Ulis: Speaking of Ulis, he finished with 15 points, six assists and six rebounds but I wouldn't consider this a great game for Ulis. His shot was awful and he's 4-of-19 from deep this year. That's surprising to me because most of his looks are open. I still think he's a good shooter, I'm not changing my tune there, but I think he just needs to find the bottom of the net and he'll get back on the right track.
5. Zone: I tweeted early in this game that Kentucky could shoot wide open three after wide open three against Boston. I was right about that. But I said I'd be OK with UK doing that because they'd make Boston pay. I was wrong about that. BUT, I think we had a good look at what opposing teams will do this season and how UK will respond. Again, I think UK just had an off shooting night, but when teams play zone there will be a lot of good looks to go around.
Cats pass inside to Labissiere at the stripe and the defense has to collapse because of his offensive ability. When they do that, if the big men come up, Lee or Poythress should be open at the block. If the guards trap in, the guards on the perimeter should be ready to fire. Watch for it.
6. Lee: OK game for Lee. Did some solid things offensively but wish he was more assertive rebounding and on defense. Just two rebounds and one block. But the thing that was the most frustrating was his technical. I stood up for Murray's technical earlier this week, but Lee's tonight was different. The game wasn't put away yet and it was 100 percent frustration from Lee. He has to be smarter than that and keep his cool. UK needs to see some consistency from his play.
7. Willis: I really like what I've seen from Willis, and I think he's gotten so much better from last season, but it's clear as day that if he's not hitting from outside he's not going to play. He's a good shooter, but like Ulis, I think he just needs to see a few go in for him to get some rhythm. He had a few steals, was in the right place at the right time, but ultimately it's going to come down to him hitting shots and if he's not doing that Calipari will gladly play Charles Matthews.
8. Guards: Guards are the gasoline that make this machine run. They will have to be the guys that carry this team when things aren't working, more specifically Murray. At some points tonight I think he should have just tried to take over. Penetrate, draw contact and be a little out of control. Go Archie Goodwin. This UK team will clearly be at its best when they're speeding up the game and playing fast. Let a guard (Murray) do that. Don't let the defense slow you down.
Also, Briscoe, he HAS to be on the floor because of his defense but I'm not sure what UK's going to do in close games because of how poor his free throws are this season. 3-of-7 from the stripe tonight and he hasn't hit both free throws one time this season. Think about that. I don't know what the solution is there, but he's a good enough defender where you still have to play him. Maybe in close games you'll sub offense for defense.
It's a win but yet again sloppy against a bad opponent.
1. Poythress: He was the MVP this evening. When thing became muddy, ugly and nearly unwatchable, Poythress took over. Just the thing you want to see from your senior leader. He's been in every type of game at UK and him being able to recognize the situation and do what he needs to do was impressive. I said earlier this season I thought he turned the corner, maybe he hasn't yet, but Kentucky is going to need him to do things like he did tonight.
2. Ugly: It was disappointing to see this type of game tonight. Yes, UK won by 20 and at the end of the night that's still impressive, but just too many lapses from the Cats. And it wasn't anything more than just playing lazy. I don't think UK took terrible shots tonight. I don't think Boston University played out of their mind. UK just took plays off, didn't chase down rebounds and stood still defensively. You can do that against Boston University and we'll just call it ugly, but if the Cats do that against a good opponent we'll be calling it a loss.
3. Shots: The Cats missed tonight. No doubt about it. But I wasn't disappointed with the shot selection. If Ulis, Willis or Murray have open threes I, and you, should want them to take them. Tonight they just didn't fall. That's part of the reason Kentucky didn't blowout Boston but there will be some nights shots just don't fall and that was tonight. Luckily UK was still able to cruise in time.
4. Ulis: Speaking of Ulis, he finished with 15 points, six assists and six rebounds but I wouldn't consider this a great game for Ulis. His shot was awful and he's 4-of-19 from deep this year. That's surprising to me because most of his looks are open. I still think he's a good shooter, I'm not changing my tune there, but I think he just needs to find the bottom of the net and he'll get back on the right track.
5. Zone: I tweeted early in this game that Kentucky could shoot wide open three after wide open three against Boston. I was right about that. But I said I'd be OK with UK doing that because they'd make Boston pay. I was wrong about that. BUT, I think we had a good look at what opposing teams will do this season and how UK will respond. Again, I think UK just had an off shooting night, but when teams play zone there will be a lot of good looks to go around.
Cats pass inside to Labissiere at the stripe and the defense has to collapse because of his offensive ability. When they do that, if the big men come up, Lee or Poythress should be open at the block. If the guards trap in, the guards on the perimeter should be ready to fire. Watch for it.
6. Lee: OK game for Lee. Did some solid things offensively but wish he was more assertive rebounding and on defense. Just two rebounds and one block. But the thing that was the most frustrating was his technical. I stood up for Murray's technical earlier this week, but Lee's tonight was different. The game wasn't put away yet and it was 100 percent frustration from Lee. He has to be smarter than that and keep his cool. UK needs to see some consistency from his play.
7. Willis: I really like what I've seen from Willis, and I think he's gotten so much better from last season, but it's clear as day that if he's not hitting from outside he's not going to play. He's a good shooter, but like Ulis, I think he just needs to see a few go in for him to get some rhythm. He had a few steals, was in the right place at the right time, but ultimately it's going to come down to him hitting shots and if he's not doing that Calipari will gladly play Charles Matthews.
8. Guards: Guards are the gasoline that make this machine run. They will have to be the guys that carry this team when things aren't working, more specifically Murray. At some points tonight I think he should have just tried to take over. Penetrate, draw contact and be a little out of control. Go Archie Goodwin. This UK team will clearly be at its best when they're speeding up the game and playing fast. Let a guard (Murray) do that. Don't let the defense slow you down.
Also, Briscoe, he HAS to be on the floor because of his defense but I'm not sure what UK's going to do in close games because of how poor his free throws are this season. 3-of-7 from the stripe tonight and he hasn't hit both free throws one time this season. Think about that. I don't know what the solution is there, but he's a good enough defender where you still have to play him. Maybe in close games you'll sub offense for defense.
It's a win but yet again sloppy against a bad opponent.
