The UL game just got REAL
- Thread starter etowncatfan
- Start date
Yes, this is true Godfather. Louisville benefited in that Mich St game from 2 things primarily.
1. Mich State took them lightly, expecting an easy win at home.
2. Their 2 best players being relatively unknown.
They took Mich State by surprise, which won't happen to anyone else. Once Mich St woke up, they came back and won.
And as for UK's loss to UCLA, it was as much a matter of the Bruins playing and shooting out of their minds and UK dealing with injuries as it was a matter of UCLA being 10 points better. I'd like another shot at UCLA on a neutral court, but that is unlikely. Talent-wise, UCLA is much better than Louisville. The Cards don't have a guy even close to as good with his back to the basket as Parker. They also don't have a point guard even close to the level of Bryce Alford. Nor do they have a 7-footer who can shoot 90% on 15-footers. (though word has it, neither does UCLA, but they did last Thursday) The differences are many.
Aside from all that, the game is at Rupp, the Cats should be back to full health, UK's big men will have a few more games under their belts against better competition than the Cards are facing, and the Cats will also have an extra big body available in Wynyard. The game may not be as big a blowout as I expected to begin the season, but I still think UK wins by double-digits.
I'd actually like UK to play them again on THEIR court. I don't think that game will ever play out that way again...even with the same players.
Looserville had the chance to lay the wood to a top five team on their opponents court when their opponent played it's worse game and could not pull it off. UofLsucksville sucks.
I think the team is going to be fine. They came out looking and playing much better in the second half of that UCLA game. The Bruins were playing out of their minds, especially the 7ft kid. I don't think he missed a shot in the second half on that pick and pop. Sometimes it's just not your day. Last Thursday was not UK's day. But it WAS the Bruins' day, without question. They were hyped. They were seeking respect and revenge. They were returning the vast majority of a team that got slaughtered last season by UK and scored 7 points in the first half. They wanted redemption. Meanwhile, 2/3 of the players UK played in the game probably didn't even see last year's game and had no idea what to expect. This was this UK team's first true road game. All these factors add up. Truly, the game could have been a 20 point+ blowout. I was impressed with the way our Cats kept fighting.
Now, sure, the game exposed some weaknesses. The first half was a huge wake-up call for this team. I think they woke up a bit. Ulis wasn't 100%. Lee was out for the game. Poythress was in foul trouble all night. So, it was our freshmen who had to get it done, and I was impressed with the grit and determination of Briscoe. He fought to the end. I also thought Murray stepped up a bit. Willis also stepped up. But Labissiere was not ready for that game, without a doubt, and our upperclassmen not contributing hurt UK in a big way. This was a huge learning experience for our Cats. How will we respond? That's the big question.
But I really think that game was just as much about UCLA playing the game of their lives, seeking redemption, out for revenge, and just making shot after shot, as much as it was UK not being healthy and our freshmen needing to see first hand what a true road game against a talented opponent looks like. That is the first of many this season. I hope they learn and realize what is required to win those. We shall see.
They did make the sweet 16, but that team still wasn't too great. I believe the talk before the tourney was they shouldn't of even been in they just got hot at the right time.
They were ranked 28th in the final poll so despite the beat down we gave them they were not a "very bad team". Plus they returned some veteran players.
We ran into a buzz saw and they could have beat any team that day the way they played.
Some times it is not about how bad we played but our opponent playing great.
That was the 39th game Cals team has loss since he came here. We're not gona win them all.
1 - Our front-court is very good, I can't believe you would say it "blows". If you don't think we have a significantly better front-court compared to UL...I really don't know what to tell you, other than watch both teams more.
2- Not saying they don't have decent guards. But if you don't think we have a clear advantage in the back-court...I really don't know what to tell you, other than watch both teams more.
A win against Ole miss is more important to me than one against Louisville...
yeah right. They are our top rival and that is the fun of it. Even when we have a team that is stacked I don't feel super comfortable playing them. I know the recent record is in our favor (by a lot) but Pitino teams always play good defense and create easy score off of it so no matter how iffy their front line is or how erratic their guards are, they can always put up a fight. Being in Rupp helps but until I see Ulis and Lee healthy I will be a little nervous. If we get them back 100% and Cal gets these guys to click on both sides of the ball we will be fine. If we give up tons of rebounds and play half hearted they will come in a carve out a little revenge...which will suck.
yeah right. They are our top rival and that is the fun of it. Even when we have a team that is stacked I don't feel super comfortable playing them. I know the recent record is in our favor (by a lot) but Pitino teams always play good defense and create easy score off of it so no matter how iffy their front line is or how erratic their guards are, they can always put up a fight. Being in Rupp helps but until I see Ulis and Lee healthy I will be a little nervous. If we get them back 100% and Cal gets these guys to click on both sides of the ball we will be fine. If we give up tons of rebounds and play half hearted they will come in a carve out a little revenge...which will suck.
You guys are assuming UL is gonna play the Michigan state game at Rupp....bad assumption...look at the schedule...UL caught Michigan state at awesome time..4th game in 7 days and heavt jet lag. We get Cards on 4th game in 8 days and we have weekly spaced out games and camp Cal
It's absolutely possible but isn't likely. Same scenario as every season.
Once again I think we are a bad matchup for UL. Our primary strength is in our guards, both offensively and defensively, and our weakness is physical frontcourts. They don't have the latter and in fact their front-court isn't good at all, so I think it's unlikely they have any success exposing that weakness. That leaves them having to rely heavily on Lee and Lewis as they did in the MSU game. Granted, both of those guys played great in that game and accounted for 66% of UL's offense yet they still fell short. They will need to repeat a game like that in which Lee and Lewis both have great games to beat us and I just don't think that is likely with Briscoe and Ulis defending them. I do expect their bigs to have better than average games, and their guards may manage to get their points but my guess is that it will be in an inefficient manner. Ultimately they fall short.
Once again I think we are a bad matchup for UL. Our primary strength is in our guards, both offensively and defensively, and our weakness is physical frontcourts. They don't have the latter and in fact their front-court isn't good at all, so I think it's unlikely they have any success exposing that weakness. That leaves them having to rely heavily on Lee and Lewis as they did in the MSU game. Granted, both of those guys played great in that game and accounted for 66% of UL's offense yet they still fell short. They will need to repeat a game like that in which Lee and Lewis both have great games to beat us and I just don't think that is likely with Briscoe and Ulis defending them. I do expect their bigs to have better than average games, and their guards may manage to get their points but my guess is that it will be in an inefficient manner. Ultimately they fall short.
I'll say this:
I agree that the "We're EVERYONE'S superbowl" thing gets overstated. We're that for most of our OOC opponents and virtually everyone in the SEC. But, we aren't Duke's. Duke thinks they should win it all. We aren't UNC's. They think they should win it all.
Louisville fans--whether you realize it or not..December 26th is your superbowl.
I agree that the "We're EVERYONE'S superbowl" thing gets overstated. We're that for most of our OOC opponents and virtually everyone in the SEC. But, we aren't Duke's. Duke thinks they should win it all. We aren't UNC's. They think they should win it all.
Louisville fans--whether you realize it or not..December 26th is your superbowl.
I think the matchup is in our favor big time. We're at home. Our biggest weakness is our lack of big bodied players except for Isaac and I'm not sure he's ready to break out just yet. But UL's bigs are thin which will let Skal and Lee compete... and Skal can shoot lights out. Where we continue to struggle is FT's and I don't think that will be nearly enough to let UL win. I really like our chances.
Anything can happen......but this is a very reasonable way to look at it. Especially 2-4.
IMO, to have success against Pitino's defensive system - and he's a system coach, make no mistake - you need multiple guys that can handle the ball. The reason - one reason - Cal has so much success against Rick is we have multiple guys comfortable with the ball (and also he teaches a toughness, which comes in handy against UofL's hackery). That's never been more true than this year, with 3 point guards playing together......
Agreed.
Could we lose? For sure..it's college basketball. But the odds are we win, and I'd be very surprised if we didn't.
You guys are about to be put on probation for cheating. Hookers in dorms. Enjoy being BANNED from the NCAA tournament.
P.S. Mark it down
While you are right the UL players will be on campus they sure won't be practicing 3 times per day near the UK game. UL has games on Dec 22 and Dec 23 only two days to get ready for uk
You better believe UL will be spending 75% of its practice time for the uk game and 25 % for the two cup cakes before Christmas
My newborn daughter is due the 21st. Iam gonna be home holding her in her little UK cheerleader outfit...that spells UK victory.
I like it, but i agree with Heisenberg, they aren't very good and we've had a couple of bad games to bolster their confidence. I like the set up for major disappointment and the little brother meltdown.
Yes they do have games on the 22nd and 23rd against those powerhouses UMKC and Utah Valley! I'm sure they aren't thinking about UK until they get past those huge challenges!
Also:
December 2006
December 2005
December 1996
December 1995
December 1992
November 1983
Pitino is such a good coach he will make any mediocre team play good, but this is not one of pitinos usual teams, I just do not know how to take his team with two graduate transfers is there best players...I think UK will win by double digits, but anything is possible in a rivalry game..
