Will UK Make the Tournament?

[Joneslab]

^^^^^ So it is a possibility that 3 of our losses were from # 1 seeds. The UK team that beat Auburn would have been a more competitive game against those three.

Alabama is a terrible match-up for Kentucky.

I actually think we could beat Kansas playing like we are now. Ditto UCLA.

The problem for Kentucky will be if we get a team who can hurt Oscar with length inside, if Toppin reverts, and if we can't get any outside shooting from Reeves and Wallace.

The reason we pulled away like that yesterday was three-point shooting. Many times this year the game is close not because we aren't playing well on offense, but we're only hitting 3 or 4 threes. That's a hard way to win in the tournament. Have to hit outside shots to get space on teams. In that St. Peter's game last year they were hitting threes and we were feeding it to Oscar every time for twos. The math begins to not work out when you play that way, which is why guard play is so essential in the postseason.

[Joneslab]

^ And that's assuming UK's defense doesn't improve and we don't just start locking people down.

Yesterday we played good defense but then again, Auburn quit. Most of the time we're mediocre--or worse.

You can hit just 3 or 4 threes and win games if your defense is on point. Ours rarely is, so those three-pointers become crucial in spreading the lead out and putting pressure on other teams. Generally Kentucky is playing very tight games because (1) the defense is very suspect, and (2) we're not hitting threes and teams are hanging in because they are.

This is why Reeves and Wallace are so essential. Wallace shooting like that yesterday is monumental for this team. It makes us super dangerous.

[Joneslab]

Oh, and that Michigan game I mentioned is today.

Looks like Michigan is going to win an unbelievable game in overtime.

Think that will probably give Kentucky a 6th Q1 win for now.

[Jload]

A 5, 6,7seed is essential for us to advance to Sweet 16 Imo. If Kamsas is a 1 and we are in their bracket we might beat em. Don't see us beating Arizona. Purdue or Bama unless everybody plays out of their mind

[Joneslab]

Looks like Michigan is going to win an unbelievable game in overtime.

Think that will probably give Kentucky a 6th Q1 win for now.

Looks like no move for Michigan or Kentucky, unfortunately.

[KCKUKFan]

A 5, 6,7seed is essential for us to advance to Sweet 16 Imo. If Kamsas is a 1 and we are in their bracket we might beat em. Don't see us beating Arizona. Purdue or Bama unless everybody plays out of their mind

Purdue just got blown out at home by Indiana. We could easily beat Purdue.

[Joneslab]

Purdue is flailing a little but they've got a guy who would be a really tough match-up for Oscar. Edey would more than likely have Oscar in some serious foul trouble.

Purdue also leads the nation in rebounding margin so they could negate the thing we do best, which is grab our own misses.

I'd much rather have somebody like Houston if we're put in the 8/9 game.

[KentuckyWild2020]

We should be tournament bound at this point but still want to finish the regular season with wins.

Come SEC tournament time, would not bother me to take a L just to keep SWAGGY CAL humbled and his comments in check, also to give the team a taste of what losing feels like right before the big dance....

[DA#23]

^ If they don't understand the taste of losing by now, then they simply don't hate it enough.

[Lighthouse]

We should be tournament bound at this point but still want to finish the regular season with wins.

Come SEC tournament time, would not bother me to take a L just to keep SWAGGY CAL humbled and his comments in check, also to give the team a taste of what losing feels like right before the big dance....

I think they already know the pain of losing. And why.

[Joneslab]

This isn't one of those teams that needs a loss. Confidence has been a major thing for them. I'd like to see them go in hot.

[KCKUKFan]

They've felt the pain of loss nine times.

If they don't know it by now, they're not going to.

[justford]

^ If they don't understand the taste of losing by now, then they simply don't hate it enough.

If each loss tasted like castor oil, they would never lose again (yes I’m old)

[KentuckyWild2020]

This isn't one of those teams that needs a loss. Confidence has been a major thing for them. I'd like to see them go in hot.

Calipari made a great point tonight on his radio show and to be honest, never really thought of it this but yes it's true, even from my days hooping back in the day. If you are guarding someone and continued to get torched and cooked on defense, hard to play confident on the offensive end as a individual. Defensively this team has turned it around and offensively it shows...


On a side note maybe far fetched but personally I think Wheeler has quit behind closed doors. We will never know and it would never become public but this ankle injury is a little beyond believable at this point, players usually bounce back fairly quick unless it's something major and that doesn't seem to be the case, just my opinion....

[justford]

On Wheeler coming back. IF and it is a big IF he does return he will not be in shape to play. You can’t get any cardio with a bad ankle. I personally agree with Will in that he has quit. Hope I am wrong🤷‍♂️