UK vs USC

[Ratt]

Here's a supercut from the NBA of the "floppy" action Kentucky runs most every time down. One of the most basic sets in basketball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQXLAPMk82Q

The one thing I see in all of those plays --- actually screening. Something that this UK team doesn't know anything about.

[lilproUK98]

Also and going on with that, what's happening with Kentucky can be traced back to effort.

We know that because look at their defense. Look at how they deal with screens. This is offensively too--we don't set screens. We intentionally whiff. Watch Oscar. Guy is playing either not to get hurt or playing in such a way where he doesn't really care how the play is run. He sets no screens, ever.

Defensively it's the same. We don't even try. We "go under" so much that it's ridiculous...and in this day and age everybody knows you can't go under with hardly anybody. That isn't even Basketball 101, that's the stuff they teach on the grade school level.

There's only one reason why that would be happening: effort. They've quit.

Look at the stats. We turned it over like 5 times. We shot it well after the start. And we just couldn't get anything going because we couldn't guard a good high school team.

The coach can change up scheme and we could go to a zone and do some stuff, but if you aren't playing hard in this game you're doomed. This team is a zombie team full of guys--including Oscar--who do not want to put in the work to be good. And that comes back, always, to the head coach.

Very perceptive observations and a big part of the problem is simply effort and commitment to execution. It's been going on for a while.

[Spiritof96]

Also and going on with that, what's happening with Kentucky can be traced back to effort.

We know that because look at their defense. Look at how they deal with screens. This is offensively too--we don't set screens. We intentionally whiff. Watch Oscar. Guy is playing either not to get hurt or playing in such a way where he doesn't really care how the play is run. He sets no screens, ever.

It has been widely reported that we COACH players to intentionally whiff on screens to avoid fouling. (at least with Oscar)

I agree with you about effort generally but this particular piece is partially a "strategy".

[DA#23]

^ A former coach here used to coach that the refs can't call all of the fouls....

[Joneslab]

It has been widely reported that we COACH players to intentionally whiff on screens to avoid fouling. (at least with Oscar)

I agree with you about effort generally but this particular piece is partially a "strategy".

I just assumed they were trying to brush screen and then go into a roll or pop with Oscar. Or something. It's so bad it's impossible to figure out what the purpose of any of it is.

I also don't think Oscar does what he's supposed to be doing a lot. Because we're in "reads" and not plays, the players have leeway to take the thing in the direction that they want. Our communication is so bad on most every possession that there's a ton of confusion, which generally leads to Sahvir Wheeler just dribblin'.

[Catsrock]

I just assumed they were trying to brush screen and then go into a roll or pop with Oscar. Or something. It's so bad it's impossible to figure out what the purpose of any of it is.

I also don't think Oscar does what he's supposed to be doing a lot. Because we're in "reads" and not plays, the players have leeway to take the thing in the direction that they want. Our communication is so bad on most every possession that there's a ton of confusion, which generally leads to Sahvir Wheeler just dribblin'.

Apparently we’re illiterate.

But seriously—if we’re setting screens that are not supposed to work—for the purpose of avoiding fouls…I hope we have a new coach before Saturday.

[Joneslab]

I don't know where even to put this comment because Everything is Awful All the Time with UK basketball, but somebody on Twitter notes that over the last 6 games Kentucky has the 14th worst defense in the nation.

No emoticon exists to express my emotions toward that.

[40bill]

That's a scary stat Will. I think we all remember the coaching adages that offense may leave you but defense won't.

I'm not sure what Kentucky is doing on the court, but it ain't any defense (or offense) i can think of.