Florida vs. Kentucky: Game Thread

[KCKUKFan]

Cal has always yelled. He's yelled when we're winning championships and he's yelled when we're losing at home to scrub SEC teams.

The only time people care is when we're losing at home to scrub SEC teams.

And, yes, Blue Heaven, the basketball IQ is unacceptably low. A lot of times that is the case with freshman-dominant teams. And that's Cal's fault. But he's shown that he can get it turned around by March, which is why I'm not pushing the panic button yet.

[Blue Heaven]

He's survived (thrived) because typically he's able to get it right by March.

I'm starting to doubt that this team can get it right, at least to the extent that they need to make any sort of run in March.

Wrong. They traditionally start clicking NOW. By now, I mean a steady progression. This team still looks like week one of the season. They haven't gotten any better. Had a couple game stretch where we played good but can't sustain it. This team is reverting. Not a good sign in late January.

[George]

He's survived (thrived) because typically he's able to get it right by March.

I'm starting to doubt that this team can get it right, at least to the extent that they need to make any sort of run in March.

But to always be in the "will they/won't they figure it out" situation is beyond tedious, at this point.

If he isn't going to land the Zions and Barretts, then he has to change his strategy and get these guys to stay. Yes, Cal - even the ones who might have a chance at the first round.

Other coaches can do it. You can, too.

[Joneslab]

So to sum it up just not a good team at this time.

No. I thought before the season that our best chance to be good was if Wenyen made huge strides, Killeya-Jones was ready to play, Richards was better than the player I saw in high school, and Quade Green was also better.

None of those things have come true.

Shai has really been the only true surprise. You add in Diallo's atrocious funk and Kevin Knox's inconsistency and you've got a team that is going to have to fight to even make it to the NCAA Tournament.

[Blue Heaven]

Why are some of you so concerned about Cal's yelling? All coaches yell.

For real. All coaches yell. Cal is rather light compared to most.

[George]

Wrong. They traditionally start clicking NOW. This team still looks like week one of the season. They haven't gotten any better. Had a couple game stretch where we played good but can't sustain it. This team is reverting. Not a good sign in late January.

Not exactly. February is when we tend to heat up.

Though I'm losing my belief that this team's temperature will rise.

[KCKUKFan]

“That’s a veteran team and we had our chances,” Cal said of Florida. “I’m saying this: I’m good. I know there are people out there that will be panicked and all this. Be panicked. I’m glad I’m not sitting with you because I am fine. Do we have a ways to go? Yeah. I have to clean up some stuff. but if they don’t share the ball. If they don’t play with a spirit to try to win games, all of that other stuff doesn’t matter. They shared the ball today. They defended pretty well. We defended well enough to win this game. that’s what is disappointing.”


Partially coach-speak? Yep. But I also think he believes it.

[KCKUKFan]

Wrong. They traditionally start clicking NOW. By now, I mean a steady progression. This team still looks like week one of the season. They haven't gotten any better. Had a couple game stretch where we played good but can't sustain it. This team is reverting. Not a good sign in late January.

No, they don't. The twins' first team didn't start clicking until the SEC tournament. Brandon Knight's team barely won an SEC road game the entire year... they also were terrible all the way up until the SEC tournament.

[Blue Heaven]

When I start sounding all Crazzed like then something is broken. That's what this team is. Broke. You got a PG that can't handle, a SG that can't shoot, and a SG/SF who can't shoot and neither plays any defense. Recipe for disaster if you ask me. This is a guards game. I never even touched on the frontcourt. They are bad but not as bad as our backcourt.

[Joneslab]

Cal has always been big on saying things in the hopes that he can psych his team out.

Bad shooting team? He'll go on TV and say that they're not bad, or even good. Can't hit free throws? He'll say, "My team hits them when it counts." Guy struggling? "He's doing fine."

Cal is always trying to send messages and get in his players' heads.

In truth I'd say he's as scared as we are that this thing is a sinking ship.

[George]

“That’s a veteran team and we had our chances,” Cal said of Florida. “I’m saying this: I’m good. I know there are people out there that will be panicked and all this. Be panicked. I’m glad I’m not sitting with you because I am fine. Do we have a ways to go? Yeah. I have to clean up some stuff. but if they don’t share the ball. If they don’t play with a spirit to try to win games, all of that other stuff doesn’t matter. They shared the ball today. They defended pretty well. We defended well enough to win this game. that’s what is disappointing.”


Partially coach-speak? Yep. But I also think he believes it.

Spare us, Cal. Please.

This team isn't fine.

[BobS]

I thought Richards was ok tonight. I would take that Richards most of the time. Between he and SKJ, we had a decent 5 combo.

Got nothing most of the time from Knox. Most underwhelming 5 star to play for Cal? (Other than Skal)
Green was ...er... Worse than bad. Needed him tonight. No show.
Diallo remains terrible.
SGA played ok. Wish he could open for more outside shots. Has a really slow release.
JV just needs more time.
Washington was fair. Gabriel was fair.

But who is the go to guy? There are games where we have a hot player but it's scattered.

Must win Tuesday. Grow up kids.

[KCKUKFan]

Spare us, Cal. Please.

This team isn't fine.

He said the same thing about his other teams that struggled in January.

[Joneslab]

Brandon Knight's team barely won an SEC road game the entire year... they also were terrible all the way up until the SEC tournament.

I'll actually dispute this.

That team was very close. They lost almost every game they lost by 1 or two points. And they shot it great all year.

The thing is, Kentucky fans don't want to hear, "We're close." Because you've always got the crazzed's of the world sitting over there saying it's terrible.

That team just needed to figure out how to flip those close games.

[George]

He said the same thing about his other teams that struggled in January.

I know. And that's the only thing keeping me in it right now. That, and I love Kentucky.

But I'm not seeing much out of these guys that makes me think something's going to click. I'm fairly confident you aren't seeing it, either.