This team gets a total pass for last night

[AshWilliams]

We just won comfortably over a scrappy team that it is almost impossible to get motivated for, just four days after a super emotional overtime victory over a top-five team, while missing both of our point guards.

Most teams are not designed to win without point guards. We have gone 2-1 since losing both of them.

Some of you need to calm down and realize that Coach Pope knows what he’s doing. His team is not perfect, and I do not expect us to win the title this year. But I do see that we are a good team that fights for every game.

One other thing I am noticing is that the trolls have gotten tired of waiting for us to lose games so they are just starting to complain when we don’t win by 30. You guys need to watch out for those people. Don’t get wobbly in the knees this early in the season.

 

[bbncal02]

I see very little of that. My only concern from last night was the lackadaisical effort on defense. I don’t cared how tired you are, giving up uncontested layups is not ok.

Team really missed But,ear’s and Kerry’s energy thats for sure.

 

[AshWilliams]

I see very little of that. My only concern from last night was the lackadaisical effort on defense. I don’t cared how tired you are, giving up uncontested layups is not ok.

Team really missed But,ear’s and Kerry’s energy thats for sure.

There’s a thread on the board right now, started by a troll, that is comparing our coach to coach Cal.

 

[bbncal02]

There’s a thread on the board right now, started by a troll, that is comparing our coach to coach Cal.

Is it a majority of the threads? No. It’s not. Lot of pot atirring trying to be done on both sides.

 

[AshWilliams]

Is it a majority of the threads? No. It’s not. Lot of pot atirring trying to be done on both sides.

Stop moving the goalposts by asking yourself easy questions.

 

[NociHTTP]

You can't expect any team to win it in a given year. Too many things have to happen for a natty win. Still, no excuse for the selfishness and laziness I saw last night.

 

[bbncal02]

Stop moving the goalposts by asking yourself easy questions.

How did I move the goalposts? I said “very little”. Is one a large number now? Geez.

 

[bluefaithful]

How did I move the goalposts? I said “very little”. Is one a large number now? Geez.

You have Cal in your name, people will think you are a troll plus you defend him a lot.

 

[bbncal02]

You have Cal in your name, people will think you are a troll plus you defend him a lot.

Yeah I forgot. Being objective these days is a sin.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

The main issue with the thesis of this thread is that if you take mental holidays in the SEC (at home or on the road), you'll end up with a loss.

Last night just showed me that we don't have mental consistency right now.

That's an issue if your destination is the Final Four.

 

[megablue]

The main issue with the thesis of this thread is that if you take mental holidays in the SEC (at home or on the road), you'll end up with a loss.

Last night just showed me that we don't have mental consistency right now.

That's an issue if your destination is the Final Four.

This is a valid point. Especially for veterans, who should know better.

 

[CatFanInIlliniLand]

The main issue with the thesis of this thread is that if you take mental holidays in the SEC (at home or on the road), you'll end up with a loss.

Last night just showed me that we don't have mental consistency right now.

That's an issue if your destination is the Final Four.

Yes, it is an issue.

Especially since it’s been years since we’ve made it to a Final Four. Sometimes I just hoped to get out of the first weekend. Get us back on track, Pope.

 

[know1]

I'm not sure about a total pass. I'm happy with the win, but it definitely showed some things to continue to work on. It's good to identify those and still get the W.

 

[Wonky]

I'm not sure about a total pass. I'm happy with the win, but it definitely showed some things to continue to work on. It's good to identify those and still get the W.

I agree. I won’t give a total pass just because a lot of the problem last night was effort and focus. I did like the fact they kept shooting despite being cold in the first half. Eventually they are gonna start falling and those 4 triples in a row were too much for Colgate to overcome. Liked what I saw from Noah. It’s obvious this isn’t the same team without Butler and Kriisa though. The importance of both those guys cannot be overstated. Someone is going to have to step up and fill the vocal leader/energy bringer role. Not to mention we just make more extra passes and cuts when they are in the game. Hard to knock Pope for this one, IMO.

 

[AJG-15]

Like Calipari would say “they are not robots” but they are a TEAM that will make BBN very happy at the end of the season.

 

[TankedCat]

what I think happened is UK jumped to that 12-0 lead and Pope realized this had the potential to be a huge blowout on a team coming in with a 2-8 record, Pope puts in Noah, juggles the line up so that the "A" team isn't on the floor and that sends the message to the team that you don't have to keep your foot on the gas.

It backfired a bit when Colgate started taking advantage of UK coasting and , I'll use the word , intentionally , not blowing them out, after that Colgate had some confidence and was hitting some shots.

Honestly I wouldn't have got much enjoyment from UK having a score of like 31-5 on a 2-8 team in Rupp, so I don't really read much into that game.

 

[thebluestripes]

I kinda thought we were through with these type performances. If I had paid to go see the game I'd be pretty ticked

 

[bbncal02]

what I think happened is UK jumped to that 12-0 lead and Pope realized this had the potential to be a huge blowout on a team coming in with a 2-8 record, Pope puts in Noah, juggles the line up so that the "A" team isn't on the floor and that sends the message to the team that you don't have to keep your foot on the gas.

It backfired a bit when Colgate started taking advantage of UK coasting and , I'll use the word , intentionally , not blowing them out, after that Colgate had some confidence and was hitting some shots.

Honestly I wouldn't have got much enjoyment from UK having a score of like 31-5 on a 2-8 team in Rupp, so I don't really read much into that game.

I don’t kind a Rick fight here and there but man the end of the first and start of the second were just dog crap. It was lazy basketball.

 

[$Z71$]

Sloppy games against inferior opponents happen to every team. The conditioning and fatigue I saw in some of our guys was my only concern. We had several guys sucking wind with 10 minutes left in the game, need to get that condition up by mid January at the latest.

Let’s also not forget we were without our top two options at PG. That’s a huge blow regardless of the opponent .

 

[chroix]

Last night was worrying but most teams won’t look great without PG 1 and 2 available so not a giant red flag but a red flag. Shooting needs to improve. Defense needs to improve.

Also, last year we lose that game and get to hear about how scrappy Colgate won the rock fight and how his guys got to want it more.

 

[$Z71$]

Last night was worrying but most teams won’t look great without PG 1 and 2 available so not a giant red flag but a red flag. Shooting needs to improve. Defense needs to improve.

Also, last year we lose that game and get to hear about how scrappy Colgate won the rock fight and how his guys got to want it more.

Yep this is the Evansville or UNCW type game Cal loses at Rupp. We played bad down both our PGs and in reality still won comfortably.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

If this were the first meh-bad game In a while, then for sure Kentucky gets a pass. The problem is this a pattern of bad play since the Jackson state game. They have looked bad and unorganized in every game, minus the 2nd half vs Gonzaga

 

[Cawood86]

Up 17-0 Coach Pope tried different sub combos and it didn't work. He learned and the team learned.

Definitely need Butler back at PG. Coach Pope comments in presser were obvious he wants that for sure.

 

[WallMashKyBall]

I watched the game after I knew the score and thought it would be a total shiz the bed show. It wasn't. we played without starting point guard. Brea got his 3 going. Garrison caught some good passes down low. Carr wasn't bad. Robinson was a okay, not great at PG, but didn't turn the ball over. Unfortunately Perry..... I think it's in his head, bright lights too big and bright for him. Defense was not as aggressive as it should have been, but I'm with the OP, I'm gonna give this team/game a pass and move.

 

[uk78]

This was the type of team Cal lost to on our home court.

 

[IFerg1969]

The main issue with the thesis of this thread is that if you take mental holidays in the SEC (at home or on the road), you'll end up with a loss.

Last night just showed me that we don't have mental consistency right now.

That's an issue if your destination is the Final Four.

True, but UK has had teams that didn't show "mental consistency", as you put it, at this point in a season that still went to the final 4. 1998 comes to mind. I never at any point during the season thought that was a FF team until about 2-3 games remaining in the regular season when they finally started putting beatdowns on teams. They had lots of closely contested conference games in a time when the SEC really was not good on the whole. This year's team will be fine but they do need everyone to be healthy and to contribute.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

I see very little of that. My only concern from last night was the lackadaisical effort on defense. I don’t cared how tired you are, giving up uncontested layups is not ok.

Team really missed But,ear’s and Kerry’s energy thats for sure.

For some reason "But,ears" made me think of Dave Baker, and lmao

 

[Wonky]

If this were the first meh-bad game In a while, then for sure Kentucky gets a pass. The problem is this a pattern of bad play since the Jackson state game. They have looked bad and unorganized in every game, minus the 2nd half vs Gonzaga

Too bad we don’t have a stellar player like your boy Cooper Flagg to get us over the hump. Oh wait…

It amazes me how you act like chicken little, get proven to not know shit from apple butter, and then are right back to chicken little mode in a matter of days. And your username is ironic AF.

 

[Disappointed Cat]

We just won comfortably over a scrappy team that it is almost impossible to get motivated for, just four days after a super emotional overtime victory over a top-five team, while missing both of our point guards.

Most teams are not designed to win without point guards. We have gone 2-1 since losing both of them.

Some of you need to calm down and realize that Coach Pope knows what he’s doing. His team is not perfect, and I do not expect us to win the title this year. But I do see that we are a good team that fights for every game.

One other thing I am noticing is that the trolls have gotten tired of waiting for us to lose games so they are just starting to complain when we don’t win by 30. You guys need to watch out for those people. Don’t get wobbly in the knees this early in the season.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

I watched the game after I knew the score and thought it would be a total shiz the bed show. It wasn't. we played without starting point guard. Brea got his 3 going. Garrison caught some good passes down low. Carr wasn't bad. Robinson was a okay, not great at PG, but didn't turn the ball over. Unfortunately Perry..... I think it's in his head, bright lights too big and bright for him. Defense was not as aggressive as it should have been, but I'm with the OP, I'm gonna give this team/game a pass and move.

Travis did press a little last night, but I think his defense is at least equal to Kerr's...it's good enough to let him get clock if his shot is falling! If he's not making shots it becomes something of an issue.

 

[Disappointed Cat]

We just won comfortably over a scrappy team that it is almost impossible to get motivated for, just four days after a super emotional overtime victory over a top-five team, while missing both of our point guards.

Most teams are not designed to win without point guards. We have gone 2-1 since losing both of them.

Some of you need to calm down and realize that Coach Pope knows what he’s doing. His team is not perfect, and I do not expect us to win the title this year. But I do see that we are a good team that fights for every game.

One other thing I am noticing is that the trolls have gotten tired of waiting for us to lose games so they are just starting to complain when we don’t win by 30. You guys need to watch out for those people. Don’t get wobbly in the knees this early in the season.

Yes, they should get a pass for last night. However, last night's performance would probably get us 0-18 for the SEC schedule.

 

[Fitch44]

A few things on last night. First, Duke played a god awful team Tuesday night and was up 28-21 at half. Looked awful energy wise in the first half. They pulled away better than we did but point is still the same. We will play 35+ games this season, they just aren’t going to play like it’s Duke or Gonzaga every game.
I bet Pope ripped them last night in the locker room. I know he doesn’t do it post game interviews and such, but I imagine he lays into them behind closed doors, etc when they aren’t playing with energy/effort/passion he expects them too.
Lastly, I remember a coach getting interviewed on selection Sunday a few years ago and he said something along the lines of…
As a coach you know with over 30 games you will get about 20 ish where your team plays good ball, about 4-5 where they play insanely hard/well and another 4-5 where they just don’t have it. You just hope the 4-5 games they just don’t bring it/have it that they can pull it out and you also how they don’t happen in March.

All learning lessons.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

It was a meaningless game no one cared about without our two point guards. It happens to all teams.

 

[MachineHead1]

The main issue with the thesis of this thread is that if you take mental holidays in the SEC (at home or on the road), you'll end up with a loss.

Last night just showed me that we don't have mental consistency right now.

That's an issue if your destination is the Final Four.

Before the season we would have been Daffy giffing at the thought of a Sweet 16

 

[Padsfs07]

I see very little of that. My only concern from last night was the lackadaisical effort on defense. I don’t cared how tired you are, giving up uncontested layups is not ok.

Team really missed But,ear’s and Kerry’s energy thats for sure.

Y’all sure are whining a lot for a game against Colgate. The team will be fine.

 

[chroix]

Handing out passes is how Cal ended up where he ended up. I don’t think we need to freak out about that game but they haven’t been hitting the same way they were early on. Camp Pope coming?

 

[Padsfs07]

The main issue with the thesis of this thread is that if you take mental holidays in the SEC (at home or on the road), you'll end up with a loss.

Last night just showed me that we don't have mental consistency right now.

That's an issue if your destination is the Final Four.

I really doubt the NCAA tournament is the same as a mid week December game against Colgate, sandwiched between Gonzaga and Louisville.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Most bipolar fanbase in the country.

We beat some crap team by 40 and we’re final four bound.

Only beat some crap team by 11 and we’re never going to win anything of importance ever again.

I feel like some of yall must have amnesia. These games happen every November/December and are usually outliers.

Last night had all the makings of a classic trap game:

1. Midweek game, opponent 2-8 ✅
2. Heavy favorites ✅
3. Game sandwiched between two big games against name programs ✅
4. Key player(s) out with injury ✅

Our rotation was off due to the injuries, coach experimented with a few lineups that were questionable at best and the 17-0 start sent us to coast mode prematurely.

 

[westerncat]

You can't expect any team to win it in a given year. Too many things have to happen for a natty win. Still, no excuse for the selfishness and laziness I saw last night.

I was wondering if they might have been looking to play this Sat. and overlooking this team last night ?

 

[bnewt]

I see very little of that. My only concern from last night was the lackadaisical effort on defense. I don’t cared how tired you are, giving up uncontested layups is not ok.

Team really missed But,ear’s and Kerry’s energy thats for sure.

Williams is terrible about this. He just stands and watches guy shoot layups & doesn't even raise a hand.
Plus he misses so many easy layups.
The entire team missed numerous layups and free throws