Florida vs. Kentucky: Game Thread

[KCKUKFan]

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.

We just lost to Florida by two. We lost to Kansas by four. We were up by 14 against South Carolina with ten minutes left before we lost our minds. We were up big on UCLA before we lost our minds, and we were up 8 at halftime against Tennessee.

I'm not trying to make roses out of crap, but it's not like this team is just getting smoked every night, either.

[UK8STL11]

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.

Nobody on this team is even close to being as good as Knight or Jones

[KCKUKFan]

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.

Again, I didn't see a lot out of some of his other teams in January that made me think they were going to click, either. Even last year, when we were giving up constant drives down the middle in our home loss against Kansas, I saw the same sort of postgame reactions that I'm seeing tonight. I know I'm coming across as way too positive -- look, I'm not very happy about the week we've had, but I'm not ready to throw in the towel and consider the year a loss, either. I'm gonna ride this ship out until it's over, and if it does what it looks like it might -- crash and burn -- then, we'll address the problems at that time. Until then, all I can do is keep cheering and hope that they can put something together.

[KCKUKFan]

Nobody on this team is even close to being as good as Knight or Jones

That is definitely the truth, which is the only reason I hesitate.

[George]

Again, I didn't see a lot out of some of his other teams in January that made me think they were going to click, either. Even last year, when we were giving up constant drives down the middle in our home loss against Kansas, I saw the same sort of postgame reactions that I'm seeing tonight. I know I'm coming across as way too positive -- look, I'm not very happy about the week we've had, but I'm not ready to throw in the towel and consider the year a loss, either. I'm gonna ride this ship out until it's over, and if it does what it looks like it might -- crash and burn -- then, we'll address the problems at that time. Until then, all I can do is keep cheering and hope that they can put something together.

I hear you.

The big difference, though, which we've already discussed ad nauseam, is our lack of a real star (and no, Will, it isn't Kevin Knox). Even when the Fox/Monk, Murray/Ulis, and Harrisons/Randle teams were playing like idiots, you still knew there was the possibility - likelihood, even - that the stars would eventually take over.

Happened with Fox; happened with Murray; happened with Aaron and Randle, to an extent.

This team doesn't have a guy like that. So while Cal's always done a good job late in the season, these are uncharted waters of the deepest, murkiest variety.

[justford]

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

I think it may be when he screams and yells. He walked way out on the court to have words with Richards and Richards just kept on walking like he was ignoring Cal. If yelling and screaming is getting the job done then by all means keep it up. This team just doesn't seem to be responding to this and may be why so many players are talking back to Cal. It also could be a young team not mature enough to handle the pressure if big time basketball. I am for whatever will get this team playing well.

[KCKUKFan]

I think Kevin Knox is a super talented kid; probably not on the level of the guys you just mentioned, but I think he's also a guy that could put it together.

The fact that he wasn't on the floor for the last possession is telling, though.

[George]

I think Kevin Knox is a super talented kid; probably not on the level of the guys you just mentioned, but I think he's also a guy that could put it together.

The fact that he wasn't on the floor for the last possession is telling, though.

Maybe I just don't know enough about basketball, but I'm not seeing it.

He's a wimp, and he's one-dimensional.

[KCKUKFan]

I like his mid-range game a lot more than I like his outside shooting. Yeesh. For a guy with as pretty of a stroke as he's got, the ball never comes close to going in the basket.

[Katmendo]

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.

OR... like I've very pointedly been saying: This team doesn't do ANYTHING well.

I'll repeat it. This team has five guys on the floor, 7 deep going into the bench, who are NOT #1 options (JV aside, because we just haven't seen enough to really conclude that). Every one of these guys would play, wherever they were, I think. But, they would be the 6th-8th man in that rotation. They would be getting 10-14 minutes per game, and not 25+.

[Katmendo]

I think Kevin Knox is a super talented kid; probably not on the level of the guys you just mentioned, but I think he's also a guy that could put it together.

The fact that he wasn't on the floor for the last possession is telling, though.

I think Kevin Knox is 6'9", and can shoot okay. He's slow, no vertical, poor handles, limited court vision, not strong (young), not physical, and, frankly, pretty lazy.

In no way is he near first round talent.

That being said, if he gets motivated, gets some strength in his body, particularly his legs, he can develop into a player (edit: should say, next season).

Though I'm sure he sees himself in the Kevin Durant model, the absolute undeniable truth is that, today, he's a heckuva lot closer to being a Matt Bonner.

[Jload]

Knox wasn’t n the game at the end because he isn’t any good right now. I am tired of hearing about his potential the here and now is the ONLY thing that counts in the Cal system because Knox will be long gone by the time he realizes any of this potential. The state of UK basketball is very uncertain at present. Without question Cal has missed in recruiting the last few years, it is really understandable since the level of talent he must recruit to be successful is probably unsustainable year in year out. When Cal misses we suffer. I for one wish he would change gears and try building a team for once. Don’t really see it happening however. So we are where are until Cal moves on, can’t happen soon enough for me.

[KCKUKFan]

So we are where are until Cal moves on, can’t happen soon enough for me.

You've got a rude awakening coming.

[Jload]

Yes tell me again how Cal is the only coach that can lead us to victory, and ANYONE we hire will be another Billie G.

[UK8STL11]

All I know is that the Miss st game is now an absolute must win. Lose that and UK is definitely trending towards the NIT.