Let's Look at the SEC and Where Kentucky Fits

[Joneslab]

Kansas is in there too.

A lot of big wins for UK to get, obviously. We're still positioned well in terms of the Net, but in the statistic models we've plummeted based on the three SEC games. The offense was once in the top 15 and now it's hovering around the top 25. That's a fairly sharp drop in just 10 days' time.

Playing too slow.

[Joneslab]

I know it won't play out like this -

I don't see how we win on the road against even mediocre teams. That means losses to Auburn, Vandy, Florida, Miss St, UT, Ole Miss (6 losses)

We're at Missouri and at Georgia. They'll win those two and Vandy.

Not sure about the others. Tough games BUT we wouldn't be hurt too much if we lose those seed-wise.

[Lighthouse]

With our inconsistencies on both ends, I still think this possibly is a 10-12 loss team. It seemed we surged some when Green left, but have reverted back quite a bit. I sure hope I'm wrong.

[Joneslab]

To lose 12 games we would have to go 8-9 from here on out. That would probably put us in the NIT.

I think we rebound the ball much too well to have that happen. I tend to think the downswing we've seen the last three games hasn't been that different from how we usually play under Cal at the beginning of the SEC season. This is about the time of year where he was calling Terrence Jones a selfish mfer and John Wall was saying he wasn't having any fun. It's also right around the time that the 2015 team had to win two games against average teams in overtime to save an undefeated season.

Usually we're able to kind of right the ship going into February, particularly later on in February.

This team still reminds me of 2014.

[Joneslab]

Of course they could lose 10 in the regular season and then drop a couple in the SEC Tournament/NCAA Tournament to get to 12. I can see that.

But that would put them right around the 2013 team as the worst in the Cal era. They're much better than that.

[KCKUKFan]

To lose 12 games we would have to go 8-9 from here on out. That would probably put us in the NIT.

I think we rebound the ball much too well to have that happen. I tend to think the downswing we've seen the last three games hasn't been that different from how we usually play under Cal at the beginning of the SEC season. This is about the time of year where he was calling Terrence Jones a selfish mfer and John Wall was saying he wasn't having any fun. It's also right around the time that the 2015 team had to win two games against average teams in overtime to save an undefeated season.

Usually we're able to kind of right the ship going into February, particularly later on in February.

This team still reminds me of 2014.

I think 2014 had an advantage, in that this team doesn't have a player anywhere near as good as Julius Randle. Otherwise, I'd say it's an apt comparison.

[Blue Heaven]

We will not get to where we want to go if PJ and Travis aren't effective low post scorers.

[Joneslab]

I think 2014 had an advantage, in that this team doesn't have a player anywhere near as good as Julius Randle. Otherwise, I'd say it's an apt comparison.

No, but I do like this team's guardplay better. Ashton Hagans has shown that he's in another class than freshman Andrew Harrison. Also think Herro is a more well-rounded player than Aaron Harrison.

[Joneslab]

No, but I do like this team's guardplay better. Ashton Hagans has shown that he's in another class than freshman Andrew Harrison. Also think Herro is a more well-rounded player.

Yep. PJ in particular can't be a 6-point-a-game scorer. We don't have a chance if that continues to happen.

I'll cut all of the frontcourt guys some slack for the other night though. That defense Vandy was playing would've been a nightmare for big guys. It was basically five in the paint for much of the night.

That's where Hagans can be a blessing and a curse. You have to have him out there, but when he is out there teams can slough like mad on him. We're going to see that type of defense from here on out. Even if teams aren't in a weird zone, they're going to put Hagans' guy in the painted area. That gives an easy, automatic double team when you enter the ball to Travis or Washington. It also makes just entering the ball that much harder.

[Lighthouse]

Here's my thinking. We have 3 losses now. Add 1 at Auburn, 1 if we don't play well against Kansas, 1 at Florida, 2 to Tennessee, and we go to Ole Miss and Miss State. We must at least split with UF and MSU. I really don't see us losing 12, but 10 is a certain possibility is we on't begin to peak in February.

[Joneslab]

Yep. PJ in particular can't be a 6-point-a-game scorer...

Oops. Meant to quote Blue Heaven with this post. Software was being glitchy today.