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Why having experience matters....

runt#69

All-SEC
Dec 13, 2010
8,384
4,486
113
Morganfield, KY.
Over the many years I've watched Kentucky basketball, many of us have seen it all.

Including, now, apparently, an opponent throwing a shoe to stop a Kentucky player from dunking.... 😂

I thought it might be interesting to start a thread on things we all have seen as to why it's important for Kentucky players to have experience.

Bring prepared for hostile crowds is one thing, but knowing it gets pumped to a special level for Kentucky means we need to be poised, confident and play smart basketball, maybe moreso than other teams.

Knowing we're going to suffer through some really bad officiating should give the players an edge knowing it's a two edged sword...

Hit our free throws as if each one was worth pure platinum, especially on the road ... As well as playing smart and under control to limit the other teams opportunities at the stripe goes a VERY long way towards winning.

I love that this team isn't fouling much, but playing physical, smart basketball. Kudos to the team and coaches for getting this message across.

Expecting that one player is going to get hot as usually happens is another thing. Limit the other players from doing the damage can be the difference in winning and losing.

For years, pistol Pete scorched Kentucky teams, but LSU lost those games. Why? Simple. Pistol Pete got his, but the others DIDN'T.

This Kentucky team did this well enough against a fine dUKe squad, and Cooper Flagg.

There's going to be many other tests of this as we go along this year.

Lastly, I'll finish up my own thoughts on the matter :

Just being prepared for the other team's best shot, that they're going to play harder to beat Kentucky than they will when they play Podunk University, should let our players know we have to go into each game with an attitude to exceed the other teams energy and our hustle them for each win.

There's plenty of other ways being experienced and being prepared can lead to victory.

Your thoughts, I would surely enjoy to hear!

Go Big Blue!
 
Last edited:
Good points. The biggest advantage I'd highlight is just the little things that experienced players know how to do in critical situations. Boxing out, valuing the ball, staying in between your man and the basket, moving your feet and defending without hand checking......

Essentially all the things that weren't considered a priority in AAU or Elite ball. These guys have all been around long enough to know what doesn't fly in big time NCAA games.
 
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