The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Florida Edition

[Joneslab]

It's just hard to really tell if this team has what it takes or it doesn't.

Yeah. Weird team.

Not a whole lot of--well, any--superstars. A lot of inconsistent players who can run hot to cold from half to half. But really nice inside/outside balance and well above average guardplay make them dangerous. Guardplay's the lifeblood of this sport and we're solid in the backcourt. We'd be way more than solid if we could get a much tougher, more consistent Ashton Hagans offensively.

I wouldn't bet on Kentucky to beat or get beat by virtually anyone.

[JFCats22]

The other thing about this team is how it doesn't blow out any teams but also doesn't get blown out. The biggest loss all year was to Auburn and that was a close game until the free throws put it out of reach.

It's just hard to really tell if this team has what it takes or it doesn't.

Really hard for me to get a gauge on if this UK team is good. They certainly seem to be improving and playing well. But, the SEC is really bad, I mean nearly total garbage. I read today that the entire SEC combined (other than UK) has one win against the Net top 25. That's pretty rough. Additionally the SEC is rated as the lowest Power 5 conference in Sagarin and KenPom conference rankings.

There are some really positive things I see with this UK team but some things that suggest they are ripe for a 1st round 5/12 or 4/13 upset. I would really like them to get to a 3 seed.

I wouldn't be surprised if this team lost their first game or if they made a 2014 type run in the tourney.

[Dwight Schrute]

Yeah. Weird team.

Not a whole lot of--well, any--superstars. A lot of inconsistent players who can run hot to cold from half to half. But really nice inside/outside balance and well above average guardplay make them dangerous. Guardplay's the lifeblood of this sport and we're solid in the backcourt. We'd be way more than solid if we could get a much tougher, more consistent Ashton Hagans offensively.

I wouldn't bet on Kentucky to beat or get beat by virtually anyone.

The only other national champion from the past decade or so that I can think of that compares to this team is the 2014 UConn team. They had a couple of guys that played in the NBA, including Shabazz Napier but they weren't what you would call an outstanding team. I think they lost by like 30 to U of L at the end of the season.

I don't believe this team has any 30 point losses in them but you can see a team that's not blessed with individual talent but does things just well enough to win games and doesn't flinch down the stretch.

[Dwight Schrute]

Really hard for me to get a gauge on if this UK team is good. They certainly seem to be improving and playing well. But, the SEC is really bad, I mean nearly total garbage. I read today that the entire SEC combined (other than UK) has one win against the Net top 25. That's pretty rough. Additionally the SEC is rated as the lowest Power 5 conference in Sagarin and KenPom conference rankings.

There are some really positive things I see with this UK team but some things that suggest they are ripe for a 1st round 5/12 or 4/13 upset. I would really like them to get to a 3 seed.

I wouldn't be surprised if this team lost their first game or if they made a 2014 type run in the tourney.

I think if they keep winning it'll be hard to keep a 5-6 loss Kentucky team off the 3 line - if they kept winning they'd be in the conversation for a 2 seed but they probably can't get there barring some weirdness.

That Evansville loss is gonna stick with them for sure but Utah might as well. The other thing against them is that the wins over Michigan State and Texas Tech don't look as good now as they did back then, and the loss to Ohio State looks like a harmful loss as well. In Kentucky's favor is that they've gone into a lot of hostile gyms and won. LSU is a pretty good win, and South Carolina isn't as bad a loss as it seemed back then.

You'd really have loved for them to gotten had that Auburn win on the road.

[40bill]

From what I've read/heard/watched I agree with all these assessments. This isn't a team I'd want to put a bet on. But yeah, like Dwight plated they don't get ran out of the gym either. Kind of hang with the other team...if the opponent makes a run they kick up the defense or hit a few in a row and get back in it. Kinda team that you don't know if you're gonna be reaching for Jack Daniels or Maalox.
fun bunch kids...frustrating when they go through those oooopsies like Hagans does, but neat to see how they do.

total collapse would be a shock, early tourney loss not so much. Also could make a real unlikely run at tourney time. Who knows?

[Lighthouse]

l like this team too and they are fun to watch except the drama at the end of some games. My only concern at the tournament approaches is that we are one injury away from a, not near as good team.

[85 Fly]

Thanks for GBU Will... sorry about your son, my daughter had that happen to her when she played HS ball had to get "clean up" surgery and she missed first month of AAU season.
Speedy recovery young man! Does he play AAU?

[Joneslab]

Thanks for GBU Will... sorry about your son, my daughter had that happen to her when she played HS ball had to get "clean up" surgery and she missed first month of AAU season.
Speedy recovery young man! Does he play AAU?

He does. He'll be playing for the Louisville Defenders this summer, which is run by former Louisville player Brandon Bender.

He should be good to go in three or four weeks. Luckily the MCL isn't nearly as devastating an injury as an ACL. He can run and jump right now, he's just not nearly as nimble. I think with some rest he should be fine.

[Joneslab]

I think if they keep winning it'll be hard to keep a 5-6 loss Kentucky team off the 3 line - if they kept winning they'd be in the conversation for a 2 seed but they probably can't get there barring some weirdness.

That Evansville loss is gonna stick with them for sure but Utah might as well. The other thing against them is that the wins over Michigan State and Texas Tech don't look as good now as they did back then, and the loss to Ohio State looks like a harmful loss as well. In Kentucky's favor is that they've gone into a lot of hostile gyms and won. LSU is a pretty good win, and South Carolina isn't as bad a loss as it seemed back then.

You'd really have loved for them to gotten had that Auburn win on the road.

Texas Tech was a hell of a win. Saw a thing last week that since we beat them, they're the best team in the country in these analytical measures.

Think they've lost two games since, one against Kansas. Both losses were by 3 points.

[Joneslab]

[Dwight Schrute]

Texas Tech was a hell of a win. Saw a thing last week that since we beat them, they're the best team in the country in these analytical measures.

Think they've lost two games since, one against Kansas. Both losses were by 3 points.

Perhaps I am cornfused. I had thought they were struggling but I should’ve checked that before typing.

[JFCats22]

Texas Tech was a hell of a win. Saw a thing last week that since we beat them, they're the best team in the country in these analytical measures.

Think they've lost two games since, one against Kansas. Both losses were by 3 points.

TT was a good win. But, they aren’t a great team by any measurement.

6-2 since we beat them and just 8-6 since 2020 started. They have won 5 of 6 but lost to a terrible OK St team just last weekend.

[Joneslab]

TT was a good win. But, they aren’t a great team by any measurement.

There are no great teams out there.

As much as Texas Tech the team, the environment we had to beat them in was impressive. Saw a UK writer say he'd never seen anything like it.

There are some much better UK teams than this one who could not have won that game.

This team has done some interesting things. They've sort of grown on me. They play with fire a lot and that's always dangerous when you're talking the NCAA Tournament, but I have to say they've got some guts.

This game tonight is going to be very tough IMO.

[Dwight Schrute]

Some of Cal's more pedestrian teams have won pretty impressive road games. The win against WVU in their gym a couple years ago was pretty darn impressive.

Buzz has A&M overachieving and they will be tough. We should win, but it's going to be a tough game.

[J.Jennings]

If this game tonight goes South and we end up losing tonight, don't jump ship and lose the faith, we still going to be okay....