When They Choose To Play!!

[LmdCat]

This team clearly demonstrated in the last couple of minutes of the game that they can play hard nose defense when they want to. I am very pleased they won last night, but at times it is too painful to watch this team play matador defense. Imagine if this team played defensive an entire game the way they played the last couple of minutes. It doesn't mean they won't make mistakes, but at least you would be able to see effort. This team's defensive issues is simply a lack of effort. I believe Mark is doing all that he can to not go crazy because of their refusal to play. Much needed win!

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Totally agree. Fundamental defense is a cornerstone of winning programs.

 

[NociHTTP]

This team clearly demonstrated in the last couple of minutes of the game that they can play hard nose defense when they want to. I am very pleased they won last night, but at times it is too painful to watch this team play matador defense. Imagine if this team played defensive an entire game the way they played the last couple of minutes. It doesn't mean they won't make mistakes, but at least you would be able to see effort. This team's defensive issues is simply a lack of effort. I believe Mark is doing all that he can to not go crazy because of their refusal to play. Much needed win!

Hopefully Mark is seeing that a deep bench is a GREAT motivator for players that don't want to perform on both ends of the court. Right now they're all just saying "uh huh", knowing that Mark won't pull them.

 

[Blueisbest]

This team can play decent defense in spurts. They just can't maintain it for longer lengths of time

 

[The_Answer1313]

I think it's just easier to lock in when you know you absolutely have to or your going home with an L.

But even then, the second to last possession I think it was for OU......played OUTSTANDING defense for a large portion of the possession but then we fouled them and bailed them out. I just think this team finds it difficult to sustain that defensive shape for an entire possession. There are too many guys on this team that cannot keep their man in front of them

I think at times this team has very much bought into the whole "this is what you are on offense, this is what you are on defense......just outscore ppl"

 

[The_Answer1313]

This team can play decent defense in spurts. They just can't maintain it for longer lengths of time

Yep exactly.

And I think while it's easy to sit here and us say "well why don't they just do that all the time" I don't think it's quite that easy in reality for this team.

 

[LmdCat]

Yep exactly.

And I think while it's easy to sit here and us say "well why don't they just do that all the time" I don't think it's quite that easy in reality for this team.

If not doing it all the time, it should be done most of the time. If other teams can do, there is no reason why Kentucky can't. If it is a conditioning issue which I don't think it is, they should get their butts in shape. You might give them a pass, but I am not. When you come to Kentucky, there is a high expectation for your performance. If you can't cut it, you shouldn't be on the team.

 

[LmdCat]

This team can play decent defense in spurts. They just can't maintain it for longer lengths of time

I don't think it has anything to do with can't. It is all about not wanting to. They don't seem to have any issues getting out on the break.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

If not doing it all the time, it should be done most of the time. If other teams can do, there is no reason why Kentucky can't. If it is a conditioning issue which I don't think it is, they should get their butts in shape. You might give them a pass, but I am not. When you come to Kentucky, there is a high expectation for your performance. If you can't cut it, you shouldn't be on the team.

Well, I don’t think it’s that simple. It’s easy to get someone to do something that isn’t a fundamental skill for them sometimes, but sustainability in performing something outside their basic skill set on a regular basis is where it gets harder. That would be like saying that Brandon Garrison should never miss a three point shot if he has shown that he can make a few.

 

[LmdCat]

Well, I don’t think it’s that simple. It’s easy to get someone to do something that isn’t a fundamental skill for them sometimes, but sustainability in performing something outside their basic skill set on a regular basis is where it gets harder. That would be like saying that Brandon Garrison should never miss a three point shot if he has shown that he can make a few.

Surely you are not trying to compare basic hustling on defense to shooting 3-pointers. As I stated earlier, you should always look like you are giving effort. You have to look the part before you will ever have any success at doing it. I have never seen a good defensive player who didn't look like he was giving it his all. That isn't a skill, it is a want to.

 

[wildcat_nation28]

I just hope Kentucky doesn't draw an athletic quick team first round

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Surely you are not trying to compare basic hustling on defense to shooting 3-pointers. As I stated earlier, you should always look like you are giving effort. You have to look the part before you will ever have any success at doing it. I have never seen a good defensive player who didn't look like he was giving it his all. That isn't a skill, it is a want to.

Some players just won’t look like they are trying hard for many reasons…so yes, I think the comparison is just fine. There is a probability to making a shot and there is also a probability to the opponent making or missing a shot while you are guarding.

 

[LmdCat]

Some players just won’t look like they are trying hard for many reasons…so yes, I think the comparison is just fine. There is a probability to making a shot and there is also a probability to the opponent making or missing a shot while you are guarding.

When they absolutely needed to, they didn't have any issues with looking like they were giving effort. At times they act like NBA players by skating on defense until crunch time. For college players, that is a dumb approach at the game.

 

[LmdCat]

Some players just won’t look like they are trying hard for many reasons…so yes, I think the comparison is just fine. There is a probability to making a shot and there is also a probability to the opponent making or missing a shot while you are guarding.

Playing hard defense doesn't mean you will stop your opponent from scoring, but it does mean that your opponent will have earned it.

 

[runt#69]

To my eye test, this year's Kentucky team has had these issues :

Lack of hustling and effort in defending, recovering once a player makes a move or drives by (giving up on the play) not helping enough off ball (the on-ball defense has been very good when we have had a full roster).

Rebounding is also an area that requires extra effort and staying engaged WHILE the shot is going up. Too many times, we've seen players stand still, not get or even attempt to get into rebounding position to block out. The other times, it's just seemed like they make the effort, and then the ball bounces straight to the opponent ...

They all are guilty of taking plays off, or not giving 100% effort. A lack of fundamentals on some players' parts have hurt us in games as well as poor decision making in crunch time.

This is not to start nit-picking because any teams can have these things said about them and few teams have had as much success this year with these issues and the injury situation piling on the difficulty level - on top of simply being Kentucky - the one team EVERYONE sells out for and puts in maximum effort to beat.

But it's absolutely fair to say it's been frustrating at seeing how these issues have bitten us this year.

I think some of the problem is that the older guys that, maybe they aren't talented AND GIFTED enough from the get-go to overcome some of the bad habits they have clung on to in playing for other programs throughout their careers. It's difficult to get an older player to change his game to make the adjustments that overcome lack of fundamentals and taking plays off / lackluster hustle.

At Kentucky, our guys collectively should be putting every ounce of energy NON-STOP in every play, every game. Clearly, they have had their collective moments where they have not, and they have been beaten because of it.

But there is more than hope and optimism in moving forward.

Finish strong, stop doing those things that have gotten this team beaten this year, and that'll go a long way to a DEEP NCAA tournament run.