Defense finally punched back...about effing time!!!
Auburn also shot for shit - klunk![[laughing]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/laugh.r191677.gif "Laughing [laughing]")
Auburn also shot for shit - klunk
Was Our Defense Better?
- Thread starter ala_kat2
- Start date
I don't care who attempts to give credit to what. It was a great win for this team. We really didn't play all that well offensively, either. The defense was much better and yes, Auburn missed some shots. The psychology of this game was in UK's favor. Odds makers said it was Auburn in a landslide. Auburn coming off a 40pt win over a good team in SC that beat UK earlier, and they couldn't miss in that game. UK being questioned by everyone and a loss was expected by all. A road win was very unlikely. So, I'll take that all day. It's been a long time since UK won a game when I was expecting a loss.
Defensive effort noticeably better. Added benefit of AU missing some open shots. But, make no mistake, our defensive intensity was the highest it’s been this year by far.
Like the Arkansas game. Neither them or Auburn have guards that can consistently take the UK guards off the dribble. Makes all the difference in the world
Nice. His offense wasn't there, but as you have recognized and gave credit for, the defensive intensity was there and set a tone.
1. Ugo 36 minutes…and 2 for Bradshaw…
2. T Thiero thrives for this team in physical games
3. I liked the adjustment the not try to cheat on a side on those ball screens…stay in front..go under screen and recover
4. Feels lkke dilly and Edwards are playing strong
2. T Thiero thrives for this team in physical games
3. I liked the adjustment the not try to cheat on a side on those ball screens…stay in front..go under screen and recover
4. Feels lkke dilly and Edwards are playing strong
We played better defense, for sure. But that will change when Cal runs Tre out there for 33mpg again.
Wagner playing big minutes hurts us offensively, and Tre playing big minutes hurts us defensively (and also offensively lately).
Wagner playing big minutes hurts us offensively, and Tre playing big minutes hurts us defensively (and also offensively lately).
I thought that about Reed also and his box score tells you nothing. DJ simply kept Auburn off balance and if he hits FTs, we might not need much scoring from him.
Reed had 5 steals again tonight. He has had 5 steals in 3 out of his last 4 games.
Now we need to work on
5. DJ stick to dribble drives and lane jumpers and leave the triples to Reeves, Shep and Dilly
We stayed between our man and the basket. Our guards moved their feet! Most impressive in my view.
DJ should have gotten the defensive player of the game.
I thought our defense was much improved tonight. If we can keep playing defense like tonight we will be fine. Plus I think this is one game this year that we lead from start to finish. Good to see.
With our athletes we don’t even have to be great on D. But we can’t be atrocious as we have been.
Both Pearl and one of their players (Jones) specifically credited our guards' ball pressure in the post-game presser. Something to watch moving forward.
It was absolutely the combo platter. We did play better but could have still lost if they'd hit a decent % on their wide open threes. We still need to get better on defense but there has been encouraging improvement.
I didn’t care who it was as long as one got healthy but he’s 2000% better than he was last year. Imagine if he got the summer healthy.
Better defense. More physicality. I thought Edwards played great.
Yeah give the guy shit for phantom calls sure. He played well. Defended. scored a couple and hustled. Didn't hurt us out there.
Damn right it was better.
I give a hell of a lot of credit to DJ Wagner for being right at the defensive point of attack. He came out and IMMEDIATELY told his man and the rest of Auburn that he wasn't taking their Scheisse. I loved that!
Our whole team played with the kind of championship effort that it takes to send a proper message right from the beginning: you're in for the fight of your lives tonight. Nothing will be easy. DJ imposed his will on his man--it was super important to get maximum ball pressure and he did that exceedingly well tonight. Auburn was off all nighgt because we initially made them uncomfortable and it didn't stop until the final seconds. We weren't supposed to be that good!
DJ led the way. He got in a stance and maintained it. He had great footwork and positioning. His man was not effective offensively like he has been this year and ultimately got into major foul trouble, and huge key to this win. DJ's offense will be better, although he did very well knocking down free throws and driving to the basket. For the first time this year, we played championship caliber defense. DJ was the leader of that and it's the reason he starts and should continue to start.
The Kid has a long way to go but he has upside. I hope he keeps working hard to improve his game.
They didn’t kill us in the paint with their guards. Something that has happened all year. They missed shots we missed shots. Our defense played a huge role in the reason for victory tonight
Good defense doesn't mean you have to be in your guys face all the time, but if you are half the time, the other half when your not he is expecting it. That can and often times will upset their rhythm and timing which leads to misses.
The defense was tons better. It all boils down to physicality and discipline. This team was more physical yesterday than it has been all yr and its not even close.
They were more disciplined in their help defense. I didn't see as much crashing the lane keaving open shooters on the weak side as previous games.
They were more disciplined in their help defense. I didn't see as much crashing the lane keaving open shooters on the weak side as previous games.
We had a bit of good luck with regards to Auburn’s shooting. I think they were like 2010 West Virginia game levels of bad shooting from more than 5 feet from the hoop.
Forcing them to take those bad jumpers is good though. We load the dice in our favor that way.
Forcing them to take those bad jumpers is good though. We load the dice in our favor that way.
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