Let's Go To Minneapolis: Kentucky/Auburn Game Thread

[Joneslab]

The NBA is really torn on Keldon Johnson. I follow a couple of scouts who are always debating his future. They seem genuinely puzzled about what kind of pro he can be. One of them I follow is always asking whether or not Johnson is a good player at all.

I chalk this up to how erratic he was during games. He'd go minutes of dominating followed by minutes of having every shot blocked. He's also a poor defender, and that's being polite. Just a very unusual player.

[KCKUKFan]

ESPN apparently did a segment last night asking whether Cal's job is in jeopardy. They've lost their damn mind.

Their god Zion took an L, so they were desperate for content to fill the space. Complete and utter nonsense.

[J.Jennings]

Their god Zion took an L, so they were desperate for content to fill the space. Complete and utter nonsense.

Yep i agree, maybe Coach K needs to go, he's the one that lost with the greatest basketball player ever, not Kentucky and Cal

[Dwight Schrute]

The NBA is really torn on Keldon Johnson. I follow a couple of scouts who are always debating his future. They seem genuinely puzzled about what kind of pro he can be. One of them I follow is always asking whether or not Johnson is a good player at all.

I chalk this up to how erratic he was during games. He'd go minutes of dominating followed by minutes of having every shot blocked. He's also a poor defender, and that's being polite. Just a very unusual player.

Drew Franklin's hot take was that he'd take Tyler Herro over Keldon and I don't disagree.

[Dwight Schrute]

Matt Jones with a good take: he thought this Kentucky team would've been better with K, and Duke's team would've been better at Kentucky.

[J.Jennings]

This year i am not even mad at Cal, we hit freethrows we win, plain and simple. For all the good things PJ did and his development, he walked up to the line with a smirk on his face confident he had this and then missed,. It was a issue last year and he blew it again, plain and simple....

[Joneslab]

Drew Franklin's hot take was that he'd take Tyler Herro over Keldon and I don't disagree.

No question.

I like Keldon a lot but he doesn't do anything at an elite level. Herro can be an elite scorer and I think that'll be enticing in the Golden State era of NBA basketball.

Johnson's ticket is that he's a big, physical body with some guard skill. I tend to think they'll overlook how inconsistent he was and somebody in the middle/end of the first round will take him.

[J.Jennings]

Matt Jones with a good take: he thought this Kentucky team would've been better with K, and Duke's team would've been better at Kentucky.

Not with Barrett, yeah he scores points but that dude is a ball hog and just couldn't accept the fact that Zion was going to be the man. He had better get used to being second or 3rd, maybe 4th, NBA is full of stars.....

[KCKUKFan]

Not with Barrett, yeah he scores points but that dude is a ball hog and just couldn't accept the fact that Zion was going to be the man. He had better get used to being second or 3rd, maybe 4th, NBA is full of stars.....

I watched a lot of Duke this year and I didn't get any sense that there was jealousy amongst the players. They all seemed to genuinely like each other and play well together. Their problem was the same as it was in November: the roster was front-loaded, there were too many holes on the front line, and they couldn't shoot consistently. It wasn't a chemistry issue.

I still think that Barrett is going to be a fantastic pro -- think Jayson Tatum. People had the same criticisms about him when he was at Duke, and now he's one of the best players in the eastern conference.

[justford]

No question.

I like Keldon a lot but he doesn't do anything at an elite level. Herro can be an elite scorer and I think that'll be enticing in the Golden State era of NBA basketball.

Johnson's ticket is that he's a big, physical body with some guard skill. I tend to think they'll overlook how inconsistent he was and somebody in the middle/end of the first round will take him.

With a weak draft KJ may have a chance at first round.

[J.Jennings]

I watched a lot of Duke this year and I didn't get any sense that there was jealousy amongst the players. They all seemed to genuinely like each other and play well together. Their problem was the same as it was in November: the roster was front-loaded, there were too many holes on the front line, and they couldn't shoot consistently. It wasn't a chemistry issue.

I still think that Barrett is going to be a fantastic pro -- think Jayson Tatum. People had the same criticisms about him when he was at Duke, and now he's one of the best players in the eastern conference.

I don't know man, something about Barrett i don't like, maybe it's his body language or selfish play, something about him rubs me the wrong way.

Speaking of talent, what did Coach K do for Bolden his 4 years at Duke, nothing!!!! I wonder if Duke losing this year shifts the balance of recruiting back towards us once again, Coach K and Duke proving it's hard to make it work even for a Hall of Fame coach....

[Catsrock]

I don't know man, something about Barrett i don't like, maybe it's his body language or selfish play, something about him rubs me the wrong way.

Speaking of talent, what did Coach K do for Bolden his 4 years at Duke, nothing!!!! I wonder if Duke losing this year shifts the balance of recruiting back towards us once again, Coach K and Duke proving it's hard to make it work even for a Hall of Fame coach....

Bolden is no star. But he just finished his junior season. He's one year older than Hagans.

[ralph helm]

I still want to tickle Laettners kneecaps-----with a LOUISVILLE SLUGGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[catfaninin]

This year i am not even mad at Cal, we hit freethrows we win, plain and simple. For all the good things PJ did and his development, he walked up to the line with a smirk on his face confident he had this and then missed,. It was a issue last year and he blew it again, plain and simple....

Hard for me to place any of the blame on PJ. The guy had his foot in a cast for week and it was clear he still wasn't quite right. Yet he played 37 minutes and carried the team. It was obvious before he shot free throws that he was gassed.

I wish we would have saw EJ and Nick enough to give some of the other guys a breather. Maybe even block a few of those shots at the rim that Harper and Brown were getting over and over. If not block the shot give a foul and wear them down and make them earn it at the line rather than shoot layups.

UK had 5 guys play 35+ minutes, while Pearl ran guys in and out continuously. To the tune of 9 guys with at least 12 minutes. Combined stats for Spencer, Dunbar and McCormick were 3 points and 6 rebounds, so it's not like they were exactly killing it. But they gave 36 minutes of defense and beating and banging on the UK guys. I'm totally convinced if Nick and EJ had been given 20-25 minutes between the two of them we would be looking forward to watching them play in the Final Four. Instead.......

[J.Jennings]

I suppose you can say i have accepted us losing but not going to lie, once the Final Four tips off this weekend i am going to have the blues.....