What does this team do well?

[4UK]

I'm trying to figure out what the identity of this team is going to be, and frankly, I'm struggling to see it. They are very limited offensively, but they're not very good defensively either.

On offense, this is a historically bad shooting team. The trouble is, they don't really have any post offense either. They are almost entirely dependent on getting in the lane, but then they can't shoot free throws, which greatly impairs that type of offense.

On defense, they are pretty good at ball pressure, but there is zero back line support if the guards get beat. I've never seen a team that is so poor at shot blocking, still leave their feet on EVERY single shot fake.

This isn't really meant to be a bash. It's just with all good teams, you know if they do "this" or "that" they're going to win, and I don't know what "this" or "that" is for this team.

 

[throatpoker]

Brick jumpers

 

[UkCats9]

Drive it to the paint and throw up prayers.

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

Jump on shot fakes.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Right now they do not have one. This team better pray Camp Cal helps cure some ills and maybe give some confidence on jumpers.

 

[thecatsareback#8]

Jump on shot fakes.

Briscoe might be the best fast break player Cals had since Wall? Other then that I've got nothing

 

[KyLegacy]

I'm trying to figure out what the identity of this team is going to be, and frankly, I'm struggling to see it. They are very limited offensively, but they're not very good defensively either.

On offense, this is a historically bad shooting team. The trouble is, they don't really have any post offense either. They are almost entirely dependent on getting in the lane, but then they can't shoot free throws, which greatly impairs that type of offense.

On defense, they are pretty good at ball pressure, but there is zero back line support if the guards get beat. I've never seen a team that is so poor at shot blocking, still leave their feet on EVERY single shot fake.

This isn't really meant to be a bash. It's just with all good teams, you know if they do "this" or "that" they're going to win, and I don't know what "this" or "that" is for this team.

My thoughts exactly. The horrendous 3pt shooting and free throws is baffling. Also, not sure if it's the new rules but man other than Tyler, I have not seen anyone be able to stay in front of their man.

 

[JerseyCat84]

Brick jumpers

 

[sambowieshin]

As I stated earlier in the game thread, this team is very young and has a long way to go. I think ultimately our front line will determine how far this team goes. The guards will continue to improve and gel as a unit. But if Lee and Poythress are what they are and Skal turns out to be what we see.....this will not be anywhere close to a Final Four team. Just enjoy the ride regardless of where this season takes us as fans.

 

[kghighroller]

They get blocked out and stripped of the ball pretty well.

 

[fabcat]

They don't remotely resemble the team that played against Duke. Where that team went is baffling

 

[Fancatstik]

Get under Jay Williams skin.

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

Piss off us

 

[TheKentuckyKid]

Win

 

[EvilMD]

beat Duke

 

[CUT-NETS]

Cal is a HOF coach guys. There's no way this team has flaws with him coaching it. He's 46-2 in his last 48 games. This team is awesome.

 

[thecatsareback#8]

Cal is a HOF coach guys. There's no way this team has flaws with him coaching it. He's 46-2 in his last 48 games. This team is awesome.

Dudeeee. Go rub one out. Lol.

 

[TriCountyCat]

They can dribble pretty well. In all seriousness we could be really good but that all depends and whether or not we learn to defend or not. Can't guard our shadow and have very little rim protection.

 

[Deli owl]

Turn the ball over

 

[kyjeff1]

Cal is a HOF coach guys. There's no way this team has flaws with him coaching it. He's 46-2 in his last 48 games. This team is awesome.

We get it, you can quit now. Jeez you're a tool.

 

[HoopsDavid]

Take it to the hole right into the teeth of the defense and hope for a foul, muscle it through 2/3 guys, and hope for a rebound.
The kick out is a waste with no shooters.
Looks similar the Goodwin team and regular season Harrison frosh team.

 

[Bkocats]

make us crazier than we already are and cause the message boards to explode

 

[Blue_Reality]

They look really good in warm ups...since Duke this team has degenerated...

 

[BBUK]

I am really laughing...I see this, expect it, and I still laugh. If you do not trust this team, trust in Cal. He has always told us the truth about where this team and all his teams are at. He does NOT coach speak the BBN in this area. There are some talented players on this team and myself, (though I am no basketball guru, never will be.) I see a team that has not learned their roles yet. I see a team that wants to please but doesn't know how, YET.

I see a coach that likes his team. I see another big body coming in. I see a good, good, effort at the foul line today. I see NO turmoil except for the regulars on this site.

I am not worried in the LEAST. I am looking forward to the ride. This is going to be a great ride. If UK wins it all, it's super but this team will be there at the end competing. They have to. They are not losers.

 

[3Bluefever325]

Holy poop! It's amazing the crying and whining people do. Cal is a HOF coach. He IS 46-2 in his last 48. And you arnt satisfied. Wow! If you can't enjoy these special years we are having with cal as our coach, I'd say find something else to do with your life. How the hell anyone could be that down on cal and this team is borderline insane. Maybe we don't make the final four this year. So that would still be over 50% right, for cals tenure. That's something to be upset about? Crazy.

 

[FiveStarCat]

Lots of negativity in this thread and I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree with a lot of it... BUT I would love to archive this and repost it after Cal has this team rolling in the Tournament as he has almost every season at UK. The "Cal can't coach crowd" is ridiculous as is but if Cal gets this team to the Final Four, those guys should never be seen again.

 

[3Bluefever325]

Lots of negativity in this thread and I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree with a lot of it... BUT I would love to archive this and repost it after Cal has this team rolling in the Tournament as he has almost every season at UK. The "Cal can't coach crowd" is ridiculous as is but if Cal gets this team to the Final Four, those guys should never be seen again.

Except of course for the simple fact that cal averages better than 50% at getting his teams at UK to a final four. I'd say that makes a hell of a lot more sense than the "cal can't coach crowd".

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

We are a balanced scoring team.
Now STFU.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

Not sure how anyone thought we could replace 7 draft picks and several sophomores and juniors with what most people perceived as an overall weak high school class coming in along with missing out on 2-3 guys. This will be an interesting team. I think we make the tourney but probably get bounced in the second round. Every year won't be a final four....just enjoy.

 

[EvilMD]

Our two best players aren't playing like it. When we figure out how to get Murray and Skal in synch on both ends of the floor, we'll win a lot of games.

 

[truth79]

Wow is all I can say. All this negatively from our own fans . I'd be lying if I said I was shocked!!

 

[michaeluk26]

Briscoe might be the best fast break player Cals had since Wall? Other then that I've got nothing

Best since MKG. That dude was flat out brilliant on the fast break.

 

[thecatsareback#8]

Best since MKG. That dude was flat out brilliant on the fast break.

Ahh Yes. Forgot MKG.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

So basically, this team sucks, but this isn't meant to be a bash.......GOT IT.

 

[Jkwo]

We're 8-1, all wins by double digits, including a neutral top 10 win.

The loss was an away game vs a raucous crowd with our best player still banged up and our best post out for the game.

And those are the results without our two highest-potential kids even scratching the surface yet.

There's not much collective identity, but lots of individual talents (Ulis facilitating and D, Briscoe driving and D, Murray a bit of everything, Lee's automatic oops, putbacks and rebounds, etc) that can be molded into something dangerous in March - and that's what Cal always does.


This board is going to be so boring about a year after Cal retires when half of you commit suicide because you had no perspective on how golden this era is... or how absurdly spoiled you guys have been to be #$%^&ing about a team who has performed like this at their worst.