Will UK Make the Tournament?

[Joneslab]

South Carolina was our worst loss. Not Georgia. But yeah.

Yep. For some reason I was thinking that loss to Georgia was South Carolina.

Wheeler played 40 minutes in the South Carolina loss. That was when we were really bad. Then we got it back together before we dipped again...but that second dip, no Wheeler.

[Jeff ROCKober]

Kentucky has actually turned into a pretty decent free throw shooting team and is up to over 70% as a team. Reeves, Livingston, and Wallace are all over 75% and Oscar has gotten his up to 72%. Toppin is only starter under 70%. If they can continue this trend this should bode well at tournament time.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Kentucky has actually turned into a pretty decent free throw shooting team and is up to over 70% as a team. Reeves, Livingston, and Wallace are all over 75% and Oscar has gotten his up to 72%. Toppin is only starter under 70%. If they can continue this trend this should bode well at tournament time.

I think this team can make a run. I know it's been bad and unbelievable at times but against Auburn this team hit a gear i didn't think existed, that was a old fashioned old school beat down. I know Auburn isn't as good as it has been and yes it was at Rupp but still, to run them out of the gym by almost 40 points ( i say 40 because the one minute bench allowed a 7-0 run), Saturday felt pretty good and rewarding as a UK fan, almost felt like we told the National media we are back.....

[Joneslab]

Kentucky has actually turned into a pretty decent free throw shooting team and is up to over 70% as a team. Reeves, Livingston, and Wallace are all over 75% and Oscar has gotten his up to 72%. Toppin is only starter under 70%. If they can continue this trend this should bode well at tournament time.

Another thing that was aided by Wheeler being removed.

He was shooting an almost ludicrous 53%.

[Lighthouse]

How do you know this?

Cal knows how to coach. Our recent success has more to do with proper lineups qnd pulling Oscar away from the basket moreso than any particular play calling.

To act as if Cal doesn't know how to draw plays or coach sets feeds into the old "roll thr balls out" narrative, which was always crap. Cal's biggest downfall is his stubbornness; to act like his assistants understand basketball coaching more than he does is nonsense. Just ask Bruiser Flint and Orlanda Antigua how that worked out for them.

It's not nonsense to me! All you need to do is look during timeouts to see the assistant coaches more involved. Nobody is more happy with our turnaround more than me, I made up my mind about Cal last year, and he has done little to change it. Somebody convinced him to try another out of bounds play, and they tried another slow ball play. I think he has realized how bad he needs superior players to be successful and has asked his assistants for the help he needs with this team of just above average players.

[George]

It's not nonsense to me! All you need to do is look during timeouts to see the assistant coaches more involved. Nobody is more happy with our turnaround more than me, I made up my mind about Cal last year, and he has done little to change it. Somebody convinced him to try another out of bounds play, and they tried another slow ball play. I think he has realized how bad he needs superior players to be successful and has asked his assistants for the help he needs with this team of just above average players.

But this still assumes an awful lot about what the assistants are saying in the brief moments the cameras are on them, and discounts hours upon hours of weekly instruction that none of us witness.

[Jeff ROCKober]

Another thing that was aided by Wheeler being removed.

He was shooting an almost ludicrous 53%.

....and Wheeler shot 78% from the line last year and nearly 74% at Georgia his last year. The fact that Oscar was not 100% in shape and clearly Wheeler was not either aided in Kentucky's early on struggles. Wheeler looked like Arnold from "Different Strokes" dribbling up the floor.

[KentuckyWild2020]

If Wheeler did come back 110%, who you going to sit, Cason Livingston Reeves Toppin Oscar??

I hope he does play off the bench in case of injury foul trouble etc but when game is tight, our 5 is set, same for CJ...

[Joneslab]

If Wheeler did come back 110%, who you going to sit, Cason Livingston Reeves Toppin Oscar??

I hope he does play off the bench in case of injury foul trouble etc but when game is tight, our 5 is set, same for CJ...

He was play off the bench in his last handful of games minus the one where Wallace was out. Why wouldn’t he do that when he returned?

[KentuckyWild2020]

He was play off the bench in his last handful of games minus the one where Wallace was out. Why wouldn’t he do that when he returned?

I don't know the team attitude or vibe with Wheeler's situation at this point but if it was to create any kind of problem at all, we good without him. Maybe he transfers and plays another year elsewhere at this point i don't know but I don't want break what the momentum and defensively he still a huge liability especially against bigger seasoned guards. If he could come accept his role limited minutes fine but if he is a competitor at all, obviously in his own mind he's going to think he should be on the floor when it counts, just my opinion.Still need a backup PG a few minutes a game but maybe Thiero can fill that role if needed....

[Lighthouse]

But this still assumes an awful lot about what the assistants are saying in the brief moments the cameras are on them, and discounts hours upon hours of weekly instruction that none of us witness.

Of course we don't. But before, they weren't interacting with players at all during timeouts, and now they are. I will make a wild guess that they are instructing them about things to do to make them better.

[KCKUKFan]

Of course we don't. But before, they weren't interacting with players at all during timeouts, and now they are. I will make a wild guess that they are instructing them about things to do to make them better.

Which is their job, and if Cal is giving the assistants a longer leash during games, then good on him for adjusting.

But to act like Cal doesn't know how to coach basketball flies in the face of almost three decades of contrary evidence.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Of course we don't. But before, they weren't interacting with players at all during timeouts, and now they are. I will make a wild guess that they are instructing them about things to do to make them better.

I have noticed coaches have also picked up talking on the sidelines as well but then again, maybe i wasn't paying as much attention until the wheels started falling off and everything was put under a microscope. Maybe ULIS is starting to rub off on the players off the court more now that he has his boots on the ground, not sure.

Regardless, if Cal isn't the greatest X's and O's coach (more of a motivating stomping feet type of coach) , then yes the assistant coaches need to pick up the slack and let Cal know what's going if needed. Not sure if he would listen but still needs to be aware...

[KentuckyWild2020]

Which is their job, and if Cal is giving the assistants a longer leash during games, then good on him for adjusting.

But to act like Cal doesn't know how to coach basketball flies in the face of almost three decades of contrary evidence.

I don't think Cal is Rick Pitino yet he owned Pitino at Louisville which actually blows my mind.

For sure Cal knows the game and sometime i think "are they players even listening" which could be a problem itself, Cal can't make the shots lock in on defense or hit the free throws...

The other night Cal said something that really stuck with me about defending and it makes perfect sense. You keep getting burned on defense your confidence goes to the pits and it translates on the offensive side of the ball. Individuals finally started playing D and boom, offense started coming around as well, CALIPARI not stupid, that's why he's the coach and im not lol lol....

[Lighthouse]

Which is their job, and if Cal is giving the assistants a longer leash during games, then good on him for adjusting.

But to act like Cal doesn't know how to coach basketball flies in the face of almost three decades of contrary evidence.

Look, I said I gave up on Cal last year and have made it clear I would be happy if he left Kentucky tonight, and that is the way I feel. Cal was exactly what we needed when he first became our Coach He recruited very well and nearly all of us enjoyed his success. Then he changed, and said he was more interested in sending players to the NBA than winning at Kentucky. That was the beginning of my distrust in him. He has proven over and over that he is not a good bench coach, he needs superior talent to win. And, how many times have we talked here about his slow ball tactic and not calling a TO late to set up a needed play. And I can go on. I'm not one to get back on Cal's bandwagon because of a few wins like some are. In the last few seasons our program has been going downhill and he is at fault simply because winning is what UK pays him for. I believe if we play the rest of the season like we played against Auburn, we could win it all this year, and it's about time.