Florida vs. Kentucky: Game Thread

[Joneslab]

That's a little different argument than this; "Hawkins was in on so many things in that second half that it was unbelievable".

How so?

[Uncle Dave]

Bam Bam's last two games:

40 points, 30 rebounds.

Decent.

My thoughts exactly. He's been playing REALLY well the last six games. He's being active, getting boards, scoring the ball...He's a big reason we've been on this winning streak IMHO. This team has chinks in it's armor, but it just keeps on winning. Hopefully, some of the top ten teams get upset and we can move up a bit.

[Lighthouse]

I had to take my Grandson to tennis practice and sat in my truck and listened to Tom and Mike which was enjoyable. So proud of our CATS, and the way they stepped up as a team. Monk scoring 30 the second half and he and Bam combining for 42 of our 48 points is outstanding. Can't wait to watch the game tomorrow. Great Win CATS!

[KCKUKFan]

Without Hawkins, we lose today.

Saying he can't play at this level is complete nonsense.

[BJD]

Without Hawkins, we lose today.

Saying he can't play at this level is complete nonsense.

What's nonsense is saying we wouldn't win today without him.

The guy does play to the best of his ability. That ability is OVC level.

Been that way for 4 years.

[Los Gatos]

What's nonsense is saying we wouldn't win today without him.

The guy does play to the best of his ability. That ability is OVC level.

Been that way for 4 years.

Do you even watch the game when we are on defense?

[Friendsofcoal]

It's fine for you to disagree. I completely disagree with your take on him. Lets see where he gets drafted to settle it.

Aaron Harrison didn't get drafted...what's your point? 😂

[Jload]

My three sons and I dissect UK team every year. I am often wrong but not this year. I told them I thought the key to a U.K. Title run this year would be Bam. This team very much reminds me of the last Duke team that won title. Justice Winslow was the key to that team and he improved dramatically as season progressed. UK is a different team with Bam playing at his current level. If he continues to improve in the next month we WILL be a factor in March. He seems to be growing comfortable with the college game, especially with his positioning and learning what is a foul in college and what isn't. Just a different player down the stretch of games where he isn't saddled with 3 or 4 fouls. Last 2 weeks he has started blocking shots and pulling down rebounds. In the end we will go as far as he can take us.

[Blue Heaven]

Agree Jload. Would like to see him make a move other than going to his left shoulder. He actually went right on one play today and nobody was there. He scored on it. He seems to be getting it lately. Would like to see some 10 foot jumpers because he has a nice looking shot.

[SCBlu]

I had to take my Grandson to tennis practice and sat in my truck and listened to Tom and Mike which was enjoyable. So proud of our CATS, and the way they stepped up as a team. Monk scoring 30 the second half and he and Bam combining for 42 of our 48 points is outstanding. Can't wait to watch the game tomorrow. Great Win CATS!

We were traveling from SC to Bradenton Fl. Tuned in the game about the time we passed thru Gainesville. Listened to the whole game through the blue + orange tinted glasses of the Florida announcers. They were NOT happy campers. We were! GO CATS!

[Owllycat]

Highlights.

[Jeff ROCKober]

What's nonsense is saying we wouldn't win today without him.

The guy does play to the best of his ability. That ability is OVC level.

Been that way for 4 years.

Without Hawkins in Louisville game the other year, Kentucky loses. He is better than OVC level. Pure BS. Hawkins very well is probably the best athlete on the team or at least one of the top three.

Without Hawkins effort today, Kentucky loses. You can hold your stance but that is 100% nonsense and the proof is the win yesterday.

[Joneslab]

I don't think it's any coincidence that the defense was better yesterday.

You remove Fox, the worst defender on the team by far, and you insert Hawkins, the best.

The long closing sequence where we baffled them defensively likely does not happen with Fox in the game.

It's a catch-22 though because he's so valuable in other ways. But he's a very, very poor defensive player.

[BJD]

Without Hawkins in Louisville game the other year, Kentucky loses. He is better than OVC level. Pure BS. Hawkins very well is probably the best athlete on the team or at least one of the top three.

Without Hawkins effort today, Kentucky loses. You can hold your stance but that is 100% nonsense and the proof is the win yesterday.

My opinion is BS? Well, I can say the same, I think your opinion is BS. We win the Louisville game without Hawkins. Without Hawkins we win against Florida.

Wonder why Cal keeps this all star on the bench? Get delusional much?

And the nyth about his defense continues to grow as well.

Dayum!! I guess Fox has lost his starting job due to injury. How will he ever get back on the floor now that Hawkins has been discovered??

Were you one of the naysayers that said we couldn't beat Florida without Fox? There were plenty of them. You must have known all along that the OVC dude was here to save the day?

Now, if you want to get serious and say we wouldn't have won without Monk or Bam or both then I would agree. But a scrub that gets 3 points on 8 shots was not the difference in a 10 point win.

Except at this site.

[Joneslab]

Except at this site.

Nope. I read many of them. Hawkins has gotten credit on every site I've seen and on the postgame radio show yesterday. As he deserved.

And Calipari himself spent a pretty good amount of time talking about Hawkins yesterday, so it isn't just fans.

I don't even really dispute that he's an "OVC talent." He's a guy that you plug in to give you very particular things, like a utility infielder. But those guys can from time to time be intricately involved with how a game is won. Sometimes the stuff they're doing isn't even registered on the stat sheet.

This is pretty conventional basketball wisdom going back to the peach basket era, I assumed.