Why having experience matters....

[runt#69]

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!

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

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.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

How close is the Alamo Dome to the actual Alamo?

 

[jedcat]

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......

I think it's noticeable when you watch our experienced players play defense, and something our younger players over the last several years have struggled with.

 

[Deli owl]

They can buy alcohol

 

[LineSkiCat14]

We for sure lose to Duke if Cal is here with the makeup of his teams.. and I bet one or two of these cupcakes, we don't look great, and maybe even are down at one point, before coming back to win (or heck, who knows, maybe Lipscomb would have just been this years Evansville).

It's so nice watching experienced teams. Yes, this team might ultimately run into a team with star power, and that might be what sends us home.. but that problem is going to be fixed as soon as next year with a top3 class coming in (and who knows, it might not be a problem at all this year, we already beat probably the most talented team in the nation).

Pope might be the next big thing, man. Especially as Hurley continues to kind of step on his own dick. I saw another video on social media today where I think Matt Jones and others were saying "It's really not too soon to be very excited about this team and Pope" and "They truly might be one of the 3-4 best teams in the nation". He's literally doing all the right things.

 

[NociHTTP]

I think it's noticeable when you watch our experienced players play defense, and something our younger players over the last several years have struggled with.

Cal didn't care to make them do it. He let his kids hold the team hostage. Too many promises and draft picks. 100% if he'd held people responsible, the defense would have been better.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

We will be spoiled with having fourth oldest team in the country and the success it will bring. Already half of our team next season will be freshmen and sophomores. Can we win big with that like we are doing now?