Kansas vs. Kentucky: Game Thread

[KentuckyWild2020]

All these comments blaming game on Wheeler are just mind blowing. Let's see was he responsible for us having o second chance points to KU 18-no. Did he miss7 free throws in the first half-no. Did he go 2 for 13 from 3vpoint range-no.Did he grt beat repeatedly on back doors and ball screens at the rim-no. Was he responsible for us being out rebounded - no. We're these the main reasons we lost tonight- YES

Wheeler didn't cost us this game but he didn't help either. At the end of the day it lands on Calipari, he put the ball in his hands last year and this year which is why we are praying for a NCAA bid at this point.Unbelievable with the returning college player of the year and veterans...

As for Wheeler himself,good kid nothing against him but would rather he buy some pom poms and go sit at the end of the bench and cheer like it's 1999,sorry not sorry. He offers nothing, no defense no shooting no offensive IQ nothing,just a body on the floor taking up space, Polson was better in my opinion..Let's be honest, we could all lead the nation in assist if we just threw it down low to Oscar everytime, it's that easy on most nights...


Anyways,make the NCAA is all i ask at this point....

[Catgrad7072]

Anyways,make the NCAA is all i ask at this point....

I realize I'm 'shootin' for the moon' here but, they really, really, really need to make it out of the first weekend.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I realize I'm 'shootin' for the moon' here but, they really, really, really need to make it out of the first weekend.

Lot of other teams in the top 25 lost yesterday and i think we are as good as alot those teams but the bad losses are killing us..

As for the Kansas game, they played like us on the road at Tennessee, every call ever loose ball bounced there way it seem, just one of those games...

Still believe if we can make it, we can still make a run...

[Joneslab]

As for Wheeler himself,good kid nothing against him but would rather he buy some pom poms and go sit at the end of the bench and cheer like it's 1999,sorry not sorry. He offers nothing, no defense no shooting no offensive IQ nothing,just a body on the floor taking up space, Polson was better in my opinion..Let's be honest, we could all lead the nation in assist if we just threw it down low to Oscar everytime, it's that easy on most nights.......

LOL.

Last year's team and this year's are radically different. Wheeler could operate last year because that team could really run. This team can't run well for a few reasons, and what's weird is that when they do run they don't tend to play well even if they score on a few possessions. Last night at the beginning of the game we were pushing it (without Wheeler in there) and I thought the pace of the game ended up actually helping Kansas. I saw us run off a made Kansas basket once; first time I've seen that all year. And I think it ended up being a negative for us as the game went on.

This is a team that needs to play slow-ish and more traditional. That ain't Wheeler's game, obviously.

However when you've got five people who can play then you need any bench help you can get. Sometimes bench players just come in and hold the line and they help you. Don't have to necessarily do much, just don't screw up. I thought that might be the case with Wheeler last night, but the problem became CJ Fredrick couldn't throw it in the darn ocean so you were stuck with that inferior lineup.

The margin for error on this team is SUPER tight. The five guys who can play pretty much have to play well or squirrelly things happen.

[KentuckyWild2020]

LOL.

Last year's team and this year's are radically different. Wheeler could operate last year because that team could really run. This team can't run well for a few reasons, and what's weird is that when they do run they don't tend to play well even if they score on a few possessions. Last night at the beginning of the game we were pushing it (without Wheeler in there) and I thought the pace of the game ended up actually helping Kansas. I saw us run off a made Kansas basket once; first time I've seen that all year. And I think it ended up being a negative for us as the game went on.

This is a team that needs to play slow-ish and more traditional. That ain't Wheeler's game, obviously.

However when you've got five people who can play then you need any bench help you can get. Sometimes bench players just come in and hold the line and they help you. Don't have to necessarily do much, just don't screw up. I thought that might be the case with Wheeler last night, but the problem became CJ Fredrick couldn't throw it in the darn ocean so you were stuck with that inferior lineup.

The margin for error on this team is SUPER tight. The five guys who can play pretty much have to play well or squirrelly things happen.

I feel like a A hole talking about Wheeler, maybe i just blame it on Noah Hickman from here on out...

As for CJ, great shot looks like it's going in everytime but nothing, we need him hitting shots, makes or breaks like last year with Grady, he stopped hitting we started loosing...

[Joneslab]

As for CJ, great shot looks like it's going in everytime but nothing, we need him hitting shots, makes or breaks like last year with Grady, he stopped hitting we started loosing...

It's weird with CJ, I actually *don't* think it's going in a lot when he shoots.

Great form but strangely it seems like it's coming off crooked sometimes? Or something? I knew every shot last night was off as soon as it left his hand.

I think he's in a shooter's funk, probably because he's having to play a more intensified role on this team. Notice he's the one having to chase on defense a lot.

[KentuckyWild2020]

It's weird with CJ, I actually *don't* think it's going in a lot when he shoots.

Great form but strangely it seems like it's coming off crooked sometimes? Or something? I knew every shot last night was off as soon as it left his hand.

I think he's in a shooter's funk, probably because he's having to play a more intensified role on this team. Notice he's the one having to chase on defense a lot.

He still injured?

I agree, he's in a mental funk. Living out his dream playing for Kentucky wanting it so bad probably hurts him in some ways I don't know. hope it turns soon...

[Joneslab]

I don't think he's injured. He'd been playing really well before last night.

In the two or three games before Kansas he was arguably our best player (minus Oscar's historic night).

Great defense, solid offense, surprisingly good playmaking ability. Very well-rounded player.

Last night wasn't his night. And on a team where you essentially have five players that hurts you.

It's why Kentucky didn't need the triple whammy of losing Sharpe, Hopkins, and Brooks. You lose three capable players like that and it puts you in a situation where you've got a team like this.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I don't think he's injured. He'd been playing really well before last night.

In the two or three games before Kansas he was arguably our best player (minus Oscar's historic night).

Great defense, solid offense, surprisingly good playmaking ability. Very well-rounded player.

Last night wasn't his night. And on a team where you essentially have five players that hurts you.

It's why Kentucky didn't need the triple whammy of losing Sharpe, Hopkins, and Brooks. You lose three capable players like that and it puts you in a situation where you've got a team like this.

No doubt, Sharpe Hopkins and Brooks would have looked great on paper but they way Calipari struggles with rotations and keeping everyone happy, not sure if we would have worked. Still you put Sharpe in this lineup minus Reeves or CJ, man wouldn't that be something. Watched Sharpe a few times in Portland, he is definitely different upper level...

[Ratt]

I feel like a A hole talking about Wheeler, maybe i just blame it on Noah Hickman from here on out...

As for CJ, great shot looks like it's going in everytime but nothing, we need him hitting shots, makes or breaks like last year with Grady, he stopped hitting we started loosing...

I don’t. I don’t care if he is a nice kid. Got to roll with guys that actually give you a chance and he does nothing good to improve your chance of winning and it’s obvious. Will likes to talk about last year but it was the same, the team just played better hiding his shortcomings. When he’s in, there is no threat from that position on the floor on either end. He’ll maybe just put Chin out there.

[Lighthouse]

Cal’s new way of trolling the fans. Each of the last few losses he has figured out between the final horn and the post game press table just who should have played more. Perhaps his staff points it out in the locker room?

I wish Cal would let his staff make more decisions.

[KentuckyWild2020]

What happened to Thiero or Collins? They in the dog house?

This is why even if Hopkins and Brooks had returned not sure it would have mattered, seems Cal has a problem getting rotations and keeping everyone involved and happy.

Do other teams have this problem when they have 8-10 talented individuals or do they get everyone to buy in?

Of course if Sharpe returned no brainer he starts but Toppin Brooks Hopkins Livingston, been a problem in my opinion...

After all these years, I still don't understand Calipari's method to his madness....

[Lighthouse]

What happened to Thiero or Collins? They in the dog house?

This is why even if Hopkins and Brooks had returned not sure it would have mattered, seems Cal has a problem getting rotations and keeping everyone involved and happy.

Do other teams have this problem when they have 8-10 talented individuals or do they get everyone to buy in?

Of course if Sharpe returned no brainer he starts but Toppin Brooks Hopkins Livingston, been a problem in my opinion...

After all these years, I still don't understand Calipari's method to his madness....

Great question., especially Thiero. Last nights loss was all on Cal. Yes he had a problem because SJ was playing so bad, but he made the call to sit Livingston, he made the call to go away from Oscar when he was scoring at will, he made the call to play Wheeler and Ware together, he made the decision to spend valuable time yelling at the officials. Terry Oglesby had the opportunity to whack Cal in the second half and if he had, Cal might have earned a secon
d one and Bruiser would have Coached us to a win. IMO.

[Matt Dillon]

Great question., especially Thiero. Last nights loss was all on Cal. Yes he had a problem because SJ was playing so bad, but he made the call to sit Livingston, he made the call to go away from Oscar when he was scoring at will, he made the call to play Wheeler and Ware together, he made the decision to spend valuable time yelling at the officials. Terry Oglesby had the opportunity to whack Cal in the second half and if he had, Cal might have earned a secon
d one and Bruiser would have Coached us to a win. IMO.

Thiero is an interesting case. His dad played for Cal at Memphis and Cal is good friends with the family. You'd think Cal might lean a bit in Thiero's favor, instead he seems to be punishing the kid.

[Joneslab]

Do other teams have this problem when they have 8-10 talented individuals or do they get everyone to buy in?..

This team doesn't have 8 to 10 talented players.

It probably has more like 3 and 1/2. Couple other guys who are system players and vets so they hold the line out there.

This team is certainly more talented than Cal has made them, and he's over-complicated the heck out of the thing, but we don't have hardly any ballers out there. A couple, really, with Oscar and Wallace. Toppin and Reeves can do some amazing things but only sometimes.

When the five who play together well all are out there buying in like we saw against Vandy and Georgia and Tennessee then they can be okay, but this team would be stomped by almost every good Calipari team.

This isn't an apology for Cal because he caused this. And as I said we should never be in the shape we're in. But this team is flat not talented in a way where somebody should say, "Man, they should be stomping teams!" or whatever. They're just not built like that.