Why do we play bad at home?
- Thread starter Born and raised Big Blue
- Start date
No, it has nothing to do with the fans. Sometimes, we just seem TOO comfortable at home. Maybe our guys expect the other teams to be intimidated by Rupp, but it seems that other teams often play their best in Lexington.
But, it works both ways. Our guys seem to be more focused in road games and on neutral courts.
But, it works both ways. Our guys seem to be more focused in road games and on neutral courts.
I would say that the team plays its best on neutral courts. The neutral court games are usually against marquee programs and UK fans turn out in mass. The UK road/neutral court fans always seem more vocal than Rupp.
I just don't see the intimidation factor with Rupp. It is big, but that is about all. Crowd seems to sit quietly and golf clap. Add in that we seem to be hot or cold with shooting in Rupp - I think it has something to do with not practicing in Rupp.
I just don't see the intimidation factor with Rupp. It is big, but that is about all. Crowd seems to sit quietly and golf clap. Add in that we seem to be hot or cold with shooting in Rupp - I think it has something to do with not practicing in Rupp.
I have to agree with this. Went to the game in Indy vs Kansas on a Tuesday night at 9:30 and the crowd was loud and rowdy. The crowd at Rupp is loud, but it doesn't lead, it follows. I noticed that with about 1:30 left last night much of the lower section were sitting on their hands and looked like they were in church. When we get momentum, and the crowd gets loud, a timeout completely takes them out of it.
This post was edited on 1/7 11:00 AM by Ugoff
I never can understand this same complaint about Rupp being quiet and the fans just sitting there. While that might be somewhat true against nobody teams that we are blowing out with little excitement on the floor, it's just not true for games like last night. The crowd at Rupp last night was very loud and clearly lifted the team up at various times in the game. The players themselves have mentioned numerous times how much they appreciate the crowd at Rupp during big games or during close games. I agree, the crowd can't always be up when not much of anything exciting is going on in a game against a team that UK is destroying but that's just not the case in games against quality opponents or in close battles like last night. The crowd was up on their feet and loud last night so that just can't be used as an excuse, not buying it at all. I was there and everyone was into this game last night.
OP, do you mean why don't we play our BEST at home?
Always an issue with kids....lots of distractions....clutter, whatever you want to call it.
Plus, take into account teams that are on the road, totally focused on their coaches words, and the tasks at hand.
Its about getting a W, and nothing more.
I felt good about our chances throughout the game, as we never let it get away from us.
Expect more of the same going forward.
But, we played well against UNC, we always feel like we'll win against UL at home.
It is what it is....they're not robots!
Always an issue with kids....lots of distractions....clutter, whatever you want to call it.
Plus, take into account teams that are on the road, totally focused on their coaches words, and the tasks at hand.
Its about getting a W, and nothing more.
I felt good about our chances throughout the game, as we never let it get away from us.
Expect more of the same going forward.
But, we played well against UNC, we always feel like we'll win against UL at home.
It is what it is....they're not robots!
I was at the game last night (1st game at Rupp) and I was in the lower section 3 rolls from the floor and I can tell you everyone on my side was standing and cheering loud. Great experience.
UK doesn't play "bad" at home. I think the evidence on that is incontrovertible.
I will say this, though- this team has been somewhat like 95-96, in that there hasn't seemed to be as much intensity at home. Almost none of the real highlight performances of 95-96 (of which there were many) came at Rupp. Out of the 8 home conference games that year, UT and Georgia were kind of a slog, Ole Miss, SC, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama were relatively easy wins, most in the blowout margin range, but hardly peak performances by that team. Only senior night against Vandy did that team really seem to be clicking on all cylinders. At home.
Road games were another story. Those seemed to cause that team to focus, and they put epic beatdowns on LSU, Vandy, UT, and Florida, got an 18 point win against a Miss St. team that was considered their main competition, and only had one close game (at Georgia).
Maybe this team will be the same. I wouldn't mind that at all. We'll see how they react to a hostile SEC crowd.
I will say this, though- this team has been somewhat like 95-96, in that there hasn't seemed to be as much intensity at home. Almost none of the real highlight performances of 95-96 (of which there were many) came at Rupp. Out of the 8 home conference games that year, UT and Georgia were kind of a slog, Ole Miss, SC, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama were relatively easy wins, most in the blowout margin range, but hardly peak performances by that team. Only senior night against Vandy did that team really seem to be clicking on all cylinders. At home.
Road games were another story. Those seemed to cause that team to focus, and they put epic beatdowns on LSU, Vandy, UT, and Florida, got an 18 point win against a Miss St. team that was considered their main competition, and only had one close game (at Georgia).
Maybe this team will be the same. I wouldn't mind that at all. We'll see how they react to a hostile SEC crowd.
For what ever reason the crowd doesn't seem as loud at Rupp as it does other places(maybe it is the acoustics) also the crowd doesn't seem as close to the court.I think because the place is as big as it is we lose some of the home court advantage of a smaller venue.
Similar threads
