thats why you dont get excited about Poy

[brianpoe]

Not the guards fault totally, but they play a significant role. Alex and Lee are not Cousins or Randle. You can't pass and forget with them. Poythress generally is a one dribble kinda guy. Lee needs it moving toward the rim.

You gotta play with what you got and that's what we got.

That is my point I guess, I dont want to bash Alex, he is what he is. He is a role player that many of us here believe has tremendous potential to be the guy or at the least a consistent guy. But he's not. Really good players want the ball, demand the ball, and fight for the ball.

 

[ZenCatFan73]

Neither Poy or Lee have strong hands. Seems like they get stripped constantly.

 

[ZZBlueComet]

Posterizing Poythress one game, Powder Puff Poythress the next.

 

[kybassfan]

That is my point I guess, I dont want to bash Alex, he is what he is. He is a role player that many of us here believe has tremendous potential to be the guy or at the least a consistent guy. But he's not. Really good players want the ball, demand the ball, and fight for the ball.

Well, they can do what they can do. For example, Alex has a lightning quick move off the baseline. He has another if he gets the ball facing the basket in the paint. He has a few others to go with that. Guards were getting him the ball against AL in the right spots. Generally he converts or draws the foul. He does those things exceedingly well. Even in his best game he's never been a create a shot with the ball 20 feet from the basket kinda guy. I don't think it's a lazy Alex versus beast Alex question. It's more a use Alex for what he can do question.

 

[CloverforkCat]

His game against Bama was fool's gold. Any team that restricts his path to the basket contains him. He just doesn't have the tools.

EXACTLY, great athlete, very average player.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Alex has shown on numerous occasions that he can dominate a game. He gets so much criticism because everyone knows he can do it, but he's far too tentative most of the time. I think it's mental with him, but I obviously have no clue why. Does he really love the game? Who knows. Does he defer too much? Yes. Alex can be the best player on the floor, but it just happens far too seldom. I'm sure Cal would like to know the answer too.

 

[Bkocats]

I think Poy will do a great job if he chooses to be a financial advisor, or something similar (His degree is in something like that). NBA player? No; and I believe we all knew that a while back. Had hopes that he would really break out this year - and he will have good games, but nothing consistent.. We all know who Alex is, let's just be happy when he plays well and deal with it when he doesn't.

 

[BourbonBalz]

It seems like we expect more from Alex than he does from himself. That in and of itself could be part of the problem. He is just too easy going and nice. That's a great quality to have off the court, but not on the court.

 

[brianpoe]

Well, they can do what they can do. For example, Alex has a lightning quick move off the baseline. He has another if he gets the ball facing the basket in the paint. He has a few others to go with that. Guards were getting him the ball against AL in the right spots. Generally he converts or draws the foul. He does those things exceedingly well. Even in his best game he's never been a create a shot with the ball 20 feet from the basket kinda guy. I don't think it's a lazy Alex versus beast Alex question. It's more a use Alex for what he can do question.

This team needs a low post scorer and Alex is the closest thing to it. 4 games over 10 points. 25% of the time will not cut it, He will not face small backcourts that play man defense in the tourney.

Great kid but we may be expecting too much.

 

[kybassfan]

This team needs a low post scorer and Alex is the closest thing to it. 4 games over 10 points. 25% of the time will not cut it, He will not face small backcourts that play man defense in the tourney.

Great kid but we may be expecting too much.

It'll come down to this. The guards will either learn to consistently exploit what he can do or we will attempt the tourney playing 3 on 5 on offense. To that extent, the guards share a responsibility.

Best example of this I can think of was the UCONN game where they packed in the defense around Cousins. Try as he might, Wall could not consistently get the ball in Cousins hands. Perimeter shots weren't falling and we went home.

It's easy to sit back and say Alex is passive sometimes (which is wrong, but that's another discussion). The issue and solution is a lot more complex than that.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't partially looking towards next year when we have 5 starters who want to be here. I'm getting tired of the Poythress experiment and his attitude is costing the team, more than just his own performance. He's almost the anti-MKG.

Hope the best for him, I'm sure we'll get a few more great performances out of him, but his time is running out and so are the excuses. I'm becoming about as apathetic towards Poythress as he is towards the team.

 

[dave5164]

I knew after the Bama game if POY didn't get his Double/Double tonight fans would be talking on the boards tonight. One positive is we outrebounded Miiss. State by a dozen or more and Poy had 8 and Lee had 9. I wished that Poy would have scored 20 again and we all know what his capable of and hopefully that is something Coach Cal can drill in his head that he can get double/doubles every night and if him and Lee can both come close in doing that we will be fine. The only problem that has arose is that Lee has been getting into foul trouble in last 3-4 games. Both Lee and POY can get double/doubles each night and that to go along with Ulis, Murray, and Briscoe in backcourt and how they have played last 2 games is what we need in March Madness!

 

[PhattyJ4UK]

Best example of this I can think of was the UCONN game where they packed in the defense around Cousins. Try as he might, Wall could not consistently get the ball in Cousins hands. Perimeter shots weren't falling and we went home.

Think you're mixing up your losses

 

[kybassfan]

Think you're mixing up your losses

Hells bells, you are correct. West Virginia.

Jeez, that's embarrassing.

 

[Chuckinden]

This team needs a low post scorer and Alex is the closest thing to it. 4 games over 10 points. 25% of the time will not cut it, He will not face small backcourts that play man defense in the tourney.

Great kid but we may be expecting too much.

I agree. I don't expect anything out of Poy. Trying to get him involved in the offense is excruciating to watch.

 

[brianpoe]

I agree. I don't expect anything out of Poy. Trying to get him involved in the offense is excruciating to watch.

Well Chuck, if Skal was as great as we thought, Alex would still be who he is, but he would look like a beast. Very typical athletic player who can make exciting plays once in awhile and even more often when he is not a focal point.

 

[Poetax]

Poy had a good last min. or so, when he hit the FT ,do not know why he was not posting up when they went to a man..

Alex just needs to remember everyone knows his spin move inside and they are going to flop whether he hits them or not. He just needs to pull up and shoot the short jumper, it's working for Briscoe.

 

[Poetax]

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't partially looking towards next year when we have 5 starters who want to be here. I'm getting tired of the Poythress experiment and his attitude is costing the team, more than just his own performance. He's almost the anti-MKG.

Hope the best for him, I'm sure we'll get a few more great performances out of him, but his time is running out and so are the excuses. I'm becoming about as apathetic towards Poythress as he is towards the team.

I think you are mistaking attitude for what his personality is. He isn't boastful or a a braggart, in fact he seems ok with others getting the limelight. He's a follower not a leader and that wouldn't be so bad if Skal had worked out but Skal too is a timid soul.

 

[.S&C.]

Willis stunk on defense i concur but so was murray and the rest...Cals teams dont give up this many 70 plus games

First of all, and I keep seeing this, Murray is Better on defense than Willis. Willis does NOT even go hard at his man. Add to it, Murray is out there being a table setter and there ya go.

willis is actually a very average ball player all the way around. I just smh at that nonsense.

 

[.S&C.]

Poy is lazy...end of discussion.
He only gives effort when the coach or teammates are on his a$$. It's a damn shame, because he could be a draft pick.

Personally, he's just taking us space on our roster at this point, and I really hate saying that. One area I disagree with Calipari is the minutes he gives Poythress. Poythress doesn't want to play basketball and anyone who has ever played the game at a higher level knows it. Accommodate him.

Bench.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Willis gets them breathing room at end of half then sits til 8 mins left...mindboggling

Willis doesn't play defense and constantly gives up threes and drives to the rim. So no, it's not mind-boggling.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Op hates everyone but Willis.

And he apparently lives in a universe where defense doesn't matter.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

We won and I still love Shannon Spake......That is all.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Not the guards fault totally, but they play a significant role. Alex and Lee are not Cousins or Randle. You can't pass and forget with them. Poythress generally is a one dribble kinda guy. Lee needs it moving toward the rim.

You gotta play with what you got and that's what we got.

I think Cal was pissed as Poythress because he was silent on the offensive glass until later in the game. I think it's clear the zone doesn't do AP any favors from an offensive standpoint, but AP wasn't rebounding out of it and creating anything for himself.

He should have had at least 10 rebounds last night. He ended up with 8.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I dont disagree, but that is what many want and frankly this team could use that. If Skal is not going to come around and Alex is going to continue his once every 5 game "beast mode" act then this will be extremely difficult in March.

I think in the scenario you offered, UK bows out in the first weekend. They desperately need an interior threat on a game-by-game level.

It's a shame, too. If playing as an upperclassmen, for an NBA spot, with all the minutes in the world as a gift from John Calipari isn't enough to get your going as a player, I'm not sure what will do the trick.

 

[Lukie]

Willis gets them breathing room at end of half then sits til 8 mins left...mindboggling

No, what's mind boggling is you don't realize he gives up double the amount of points on defense.

 

[yoshukai]

The main problem I have with him tonight and most every game is rebounding. I'm not expecting him to have 25pts. a game like at Alabama. But there is NO excuse , considering his strength and athletic ability, to not average 10 rebounds a game . Especially since he is on the low block for every free throw the opponent shoots . All he lacks is desire .

 

[GLR5555]

We have some dumb ass fans. All I got.

 

[kyjeff1]

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't partially looking towards next year when we have 5 starters who want to be here. I'm getting tired of the Poythress experiment and his attitude is costing the team, more than just his own performance. He's almost the anti-MKG.

Hope the best for him, I'm sure we'll get a few more great performances out of him, but his time is running out and so are the excuses. I'm becoming about as apathetic towards Poythress as he is towards the team.

We do this all the time and I hope you're right but we always think the next round of recruits coming in will be so much better than the ones we currently have but that is ususlly not the case. They are going to have flaws that are going to drive many on this board nuts. We need some of our better players from this team to return or we are headed for a 2014 regular season. Freshmen need time to learn.

 

[kyjeff1]

Is it possible that Mississippi State, with their zone and athletic front line, should get some credit for Alex's lack of offensive performance? We all know Alex, we've seen this for 4 years now snd I will agree that his effort level was down again but hats off the MSU. They played hard on both ends of the court and they have some talent in the middle. I think Howland did a good job with that team and I bet they will win some games against some good SEC teams this year. They had A&M beat. Some are saying they suck but that's not what I saw.

 

[truebluewildcat]

Love AP...

Love that he came back...love that he has heart...love his talent...love the flashes of amazing we've seen...love his potential...

with that said...he is a basketball enigma if there ever was one...

kind of like Big Foot...there have been glimpses of something spectacular and they're always so exciting...but always so brief...and no body knows for sure if what they saw is real...no hard or consistent evidence...always left with more questions than answers...

 

[CUT-NETS]

I dont disagree, but that is what many want and frankly this team could use that. If Skal is not going to come around and Alex is going to continue his once every 5 game "beast mode" act then this will be extremely difficult in March.

God just think if we could have had Poythress and Randle on the same team. That team would be unstoppable

 

[JohnnyGentle]

randle was and is a bad player

 

[Bddandy]

Not much room for bigs last night zone packed in left the 3's wide open.

 

[brianpoe]

God just think if we could have had Poythress and Randle on the same team. That team would be unstoppable

Just think if you went away, never to post again...

The joy would be unstoppable.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I think you are mistaking attitude for what his personality is. He isn't boastful or a a braggart, in fact he seems ok with others getting the limelight. He's a follower not a leader and that wouldn't be so bad if Skal had worked out but Skal too is a timid soul.

I think it's a bit of both at this point. It's true he's not flashy or needs the spotlight. That's good, sometimes. But he also lacks confidence, let's bad play get into his head, and has serious motivation problems. That is part attitude. He's a senior at this point, not a freshman or a sophomore.

We do this all the time and I hope you're right but we always think the next round of recruits coming in will be so much better than the ones we currently have but that is usually not the case. They are going to have flaws that are going to drive many on this board nuts. We need some of our better players from this team to return or we are headed for a 2014 regular season. Freshmen need time to learn.

Agree 100%. But I more mean mentality and attitude. Yes, we always seem to have 1 or 2 recruits a year who aren't quite there, possibly overhyped, taking longer to adjust, etc.

But we rarely have recruits who just mail it in like Poythress, for 3+ years now, no less.

THAT'S what drives me nuts. I really don't care about mistakes, missed FT's, bad games, poor shooting, defensive mishaps... Giving 100% is all that matters to me. Most recruits are fine with that. Poythress, IMO, has missed the mark there.

 

[CharlieT71059]

I agree Poy is lazy

 

[wkycatfan]

Nothing against Poythress as a player or person, but he should probably obtain a passport to play his basketball.

 

[.S&C.]

People calling Poythress simply lazy are off. He's an incredibly hard worker.

In. The. Classroom.

UK has a tremendous library where he doesn't seem to want to leave. My father and I spoke to an assistant coach who's no longer here about Poythress during a early season tournament. He told me all I needed to know.

Poythress is not in love with this game. He's half in it, half out. The kid enjoys other aspects of college. When you don't out all your energy into it, and he doesn't, you will get left behind by the boys around u putting in the hours. Others want it more.

That's what's wrong with Alex. Others improve because they want to play and get better. Alex plays because hes told he's got the body for it.

 

[Poetax]

I think it's a bit of both at this point. It's true he's not flashy or needs the spotlight. That's good, sometimes. But he also lacks confidence, let's bad play get into his head, and has serious motivation problems. That is part attitude. He's a senior at this point, not a freshman or a sophomore.

Some players never seem to extend themselves past their comfort zone. Alex last night didn't seem to realize that he was watching the game more then being a part if it. One time him and Briscoe went up for a rebound and Briscoe just took it away and Alex allowed it. Now I know Briscoe is a teammate and on the same team but if I am a big, that's my rebound.