Florida vs. Kentucky: Game Thread

[Jeff ROCKober]

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.

Over the top! Hawkins is a very good player. NBA Player? Probably not! I never said he was an all star! You down played him down big time. Calling him a scrub is bs. It really is. Saying a guy that played 37 minutes and playing him as not meaning anything in the game and as a scrub it being a Thats a fact.

[Ratt]

Wow BJD - I'm the first to slam players on here but you're BS is unreal... Yes - I agree with you that Hawkins isn't anything special at all. He's not going to play at the next level - neither is 8 other guys on this roster... But to discredit his play in this game is total crap... He is a solid defensive player and this team flat out sucks on defense. He hustled his butt off and gave you exactly what they needed in the absence of Fox.

If they played Briscoe and Fox this entire game - this game could have very well been different. Those two panic and stall and often try to do too much when things start going wrong - if you haven't seen that by now then you need to go back and watch the tapes. Mulder even though he didn't play great and Hawkins gave this team the boost in other ways that was needed. Playing aggressive, playing some D, and moving the ball. Watch when Monk, Briscoe, and Fox are on the floor when things start going bad? They start standing around and watching the other guy trying to penetrate or take a bad shot.

BUT - this team is not winning anything with Hawkins/Mulder. They need Fox to play better. They need Monk to play more consistent and take over the game. They need Briscoe to contribute a little more and not make so many stupid turnovers. But Hawk/Mulder have been pretty solid lately and should be getting a little more PT...

AND Yes - you are correct. They didn't win the game because of Hawkins. Monk and Bam played great and without them, obviously this game would have been different but to flat out say that Hawkins didn't contribute is crap.

[Blue Heaven]

Bad call in slamming Hawkins. Sometimes I wonder if folks watch the games or just look at the box score.

[teamchemistry15]

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.

The NBA scouts that attended our combine said he might be the best athlete in college. It seems we have another Jworld on our hands. "He won't get drafted into the NBA so, because he can't play at the next level and be an All-Star that means he can't play at this level."

I'll repeat what 99% of the board is saying. We don't win that game without Hawkins.

[J.Jennings]

The NBA scouts that attended our combine said he might be the best athlete in college. It seems we have another Jworld on our hands. "He won't get drafted into the NBA so, because he can't play at the next level and be an All-Star that means he can't play at this level."

I'll repeat what 99% of the board is saying. We don't win that game without Hawkins.

Really, this is coming from a guy who swore up and down the Derek Willis was not worthy enough to play major minutes at Kentucky, how's that assessment working out for you? You get zero street credibility for that dumb statement, I guess it's just not possible that a kid born and bred in Kentucky could possibly play basketball in Lexington.......


As for Hawkins, go back to the summer prior to the season and I fully believed that Hawkins was capable of helping this team.....


Oh by the way, I am the guy that has always pulled for the 2 star recruits to get more clock. Players like Hood of Mays, Hawkins, Willis, even Mulder now over Briscoe. Just because a kid doesn't have NBA written all over him doesn't mean he can't be a good college player, look at Kyle Wiltjer and how stupid he made many look when he went to Gonzaga and flat out went off for two years......

[Dwight Schrute]

^^
Wiltjer wasn't a good fit for the Calipari system, but he was a McDonald's All American and a 6'9" guy who could play outside and inside. He's now in the NBA.

Regarding Hawkins, I'm under the assumption that anyone who says he doesn't belong at UK or contribute is either trolling us or irredeemably clueless. Or maybe Hawkins slept with your wife/girlfriend.

[Joneslab]

Wow BJD - I'm the first to slam players on here but you're BS is unreal... Yes - I agree with you that Hawkins isn't anything special at all. He's not going to play at the next level - neither is 8 other guys on this roster... But to discredit his play in this game is total crap... He is a solid defensive player and this team flat out sucks on defense. He hustled his butt off and gave you exactly what they needed in the absence of Fox.

If they played Briscoe and Fox this entire game - this game could have very well been different. Those two panic and stall and often try to do too much when things start going wrong - if you haven't seen that by now then you need to go back and watch the tapes. Mulder even though he didn't play great and Hawkins gave this team the boost in other ways that was needed. Playing aggressive, playing some D, and moving the ball. Watch when Monk, Briscoe, and Fox are on the floor when things start going bad? They start standing around and watching the other guy trying to penetrate or take a bad shot.

BUT - this team is not winning anything with Hawkins/Mulder. They need Fox to play better. They need Monk to play more consistent and take over the game. They need Briscoe to contribute a little more and not make so many stupid turnovers. But Hawk/Mulder have been pretty solid lately and should be getting a little more PT...

AND Yes - you are correct. They didn't win the game because of Hawkins. Monk and Bam played great and without them, obviously this game would have been different but to flat out say that Hawkins didn't contribute is crap.

Good post.

Definitely true about Fox. You don't win with role players getting a ton of minutes; you win because your stars drive the bus and the role players clear up the gaps.

Fox is essential for this team but if he plays like he did at Missouri, we go down early in the NCAA Tournament. The point guard is so essential to a team's attack that it can't be overstated. Fox's unwillingness or inability to guard has been maybe the main thing holding this team back from what it can accomplish.

That it played arguably its best basketball in a long time in the last 12:00 of that game last night without Fox on the floor is hopefully a wake-up call for him.

[J.Jennings]

^^
Wiltjer wasn't a good fit for the Calipari system, but he was a McDonald's All American and a 6'9" guy who could play outside and inside. He's now in the NBA.

Regarding Hawkins, I'm under the assumption that anyone who says he doesn't belong at UK or contribute is either trolling us or irredeemably clueless. Or maybe Hawkins slept with your wife/girlfriend.

Im not the one saying Hawkins is garbage, I am the one saying the you do not have to be a bona fide 5 star recruit to play at Kentucky. Just look at the kid from Georgia who torched us last week, look at Chris Lofton, the list goes on and on. Nobody wants to go back to the Tubby days it's obvious you need sure shots but I think coaches like Pitino has proving over the years at Kentucky and Louisville you can still win without 5 first rounders in the starting 5.

[teamchemistry15]

Really, this is coming from a guy who swore up and down the Derek Willis was not worthy enough to play major minutes at Kentucky, how's that assessment working out for you? You get zero street credibility for that dumb statement, I guess it's just not possible that a kid born and bred in Kentucky could possibly play basketball in Lexington.......


As for Hawkins, go back to the summer prior to the season and I fully believed that Hawkins was capable of helping this team.....


Oh by the way, I am the guy that has always pulled for the 2 star recruits to get more clock. Players like Hood of Mays, Hawkins, Willis, even Mulder now over Briscoe. Just because a kid doesn't have NBA written all over him doesn't mean he can't be a good college player, look at Kyle Wiltjer and how stupid he made many look when he went to Gonzaga and flat out went off for two years......

LOL lol lol lol lol lol

I was only half wrong about Willis because he only contributes in about every other game. Lol lol lol lol

If I have zero street credibility for not having confidence in Willis what do you have for being so sure Hood should've been playing more?

I never said you said anything bad about Hawkins. I certainly haven't either.

You recently said John Wall hasn't had much success in the NBA. You've essentially said Briscoe isn't going to get drafted so he shouldn't be playing as much because he isn't a shooter. This is, to my knowledge, the first time you've EVER said it's ok to be a good college player yet not be capable of making the NBA. You always like to cheer for the most popular guy on the team. That's the guy who isn't playing. I'm sure you're the biggest fan of the backup QB every year, too lol lol lol lol.

I post as the devil's advocate in peace!!!

lol

[J.Jennings]

LOL lol lol lol lol lol

I was only half wrong about Willis because he only contributes in about every other game. Lol lol lol lol

If I have zero street credibility for not having confidence in Willis what do you have for being so sure Hood should've been playing more?

I never said you said anything bad about Hawkins. I certainly haven't either.

You recently said John Wall hasn't had much success in the NBA. You've essentially said Briscoe isn't going to get drafted so he shouldn't be playing as much because he isn't a shooter. This is, to my knowledge, the first time you've EVER said it's ok to be a good college player yet not be capable of making the NBA. You always like to cheer for the most popular guy on the team. That's the guy who isn't playing. I'm sure you're the biggest fan of the backup QB every year, too lol lol lol lol.

I post as the devil's advocate in peace!!!

lol

I don't cheer for the most popular guy on the bench but I do wonder why you put a 4 years senior on the bench with a longer wingspan and play a 6'1 midget who always looked like he was running with something stuck up his you know what, what did Coach Cal have lose, team was garbage anyway??

Does Josh Harrellson become Josh Harrellson if Kanter plays? Remember, this was a kid who should have transferred because he was 3 star not good enough to play at Kentucky.

NBA?? Of course guys like Wall and others are successful, they made it. Still, I don't see Davis, Bledsoe, Cousins, Towns, or Wall putting a team on it's back and willing it's way to victory's in the playoffs. Superstars yes, Hall of Famers no at this point but time will tell. We all have a job to do but the ones that stand out get the promotion, just saying.....

Briscoe, he's a pickup playground style 21 who rebounds, defends sometimes, but not enough pluses to make up the minuses in my opinion. He may make a roster temporarily but if your a GM drafting a 6'4/6'5 dime a dozen guard, who you taking? You want a guy that can do a little bit of all or a guy who can't hit the side of the barn? Who knows, Briscoe may turn into Shawn Marion when it's all said and done, good for him....

Back to cheering for the popular guys on the team, how many Kentucky hero's have been made for the not so popular guys on the team over the years? Brassow, Shepperd, Epps, Pelphrey's, Mills, Sean Woods, and others who never really made a name in the NBA but played great college ball at Kentucky and made many memories for us fans over the years. Stars are important, nobody wants Dakota Euton staring at Center but vital role players doing there job with the stars is very important in my opinion....


On a side note, Darius Miller is garbage is all I heard for 3.5 years until Darius Miller helped a team win a Championship. Funny how a local state kid can contribute when it's all on the line......

[Joneslab]

I don't think the argument about Miller is that he was "garbage."

The argument about him is that he often didn't play up to his ability. Similar to Derek Willis. Miller simply didn't play with enough confidence until his senior season.

[J.Jennings]

^^
Wiltjer wasn't a good fit for the Calipari system, but he was a McDonald's All American and a 6'9" guy who could play outside and inside. He's now in the NBA.

Regarding Hawkins, I'm under the assumption that anyone who says he doesn't belong at UK or contribute is either trolling us or irredeemably clueless. Or maybe Hawkins slept with your wife/girlfriend.

Calipari's system has only netted 1 Championship with the best of the best recruits for like 8 years now, maybe the system isn't as good as it's cracked up to be? Love the ability to get great stars and he's a great mental coach to get all on the same page but im not sold AAU ball wins Championships. Still, who's going to replace him, no one, I accept it for what it is.....

[J.Jennings]

I don't think the argument about Miller is that he was "garbage."

The argument about him is that he often didn't play up to his ability. Similar to Derek Willis. Miller simply didn't play with enough confidence until his senior season.

Being a local kid, probably a lot more self inflicted pressure which translates to confidence in my opinion. Miller's dream was to play at Kentucky, not one and done at Kentucky, big difference...

[J.Jennings]

I don't think the argument about Miller is that he was "garbage."

The argument about him is that he often didn't play up to his ability. Similar to Derek Willis. Miller simply didn't play with enough confidence until his senior season.

And I think D. Willis would get more confidence if he wasn't splitting time with Gabriel. I understand the stats are the same but I take the experience and wanting to win for Kentucky, not the NBA. Derek Willis win a Championship, he can pass out drunk all he wants and nobody going to say nothing never as long as he's not behind the wheel, he may even top Eddie Sutton's 47 unreported cases while he was in Lexington, just saying.

[Joneslab]

Problem with that argument is that Willis was kind of the same player before Gabriel even got here.

With that said, I think Willis has had a pretty good career on the whole. He had that great run last year, and he's been in on so many games Kentucky has won this year. He's an enigmatic player in some ways because you always feel like he could do more...but De'Aaron Fox is enigmatic, as is Monk, as is Bam. They're college kids.

I like Willis and I think his career at UK, like Miller's, is going to be looked back on as a success story.