Game Thread: Vandy vs. Kentucky

[George]

Advice taken, wild times to be a Kentucky fan...

Not that he was a program-changer or anything, but I still think about EJ Montgomery sometimes. If that guy couldn’t be convinced to come back, I’ll never count on any of them returning until I see them checking into a game while wearing a UK uniform.

Even then they could pull a Whitney or Quade.

[justford]

I notice that David Sisk on Twitter is talking about one change Cal is going to have to make assuming he stays is: what's going on with all the injuries?

The teams are completely being disassembled by injuries as the year goes on. It's been a plague on the program for almost five years.

Is something happening? Are we doing something differently? Is it the make-up of players today vs. six or seven years ago?

I don't think it's possible that it's simple bad luck. It seems too widespread and it has carried over team to team since 2017 or '18.

I read a article that said the increase in the amount of games players are participating in prior to college, is causing the injuries in college. It somewhat makes sense and I don’t know if injuries have increased across the board or just at UK.

[George]

I don’t know if injuries have increased across the board or just at UK.

That’s what you’d have to figure out.

Also thought we brought in a new S&C guy for this very reason…

[Catgrad7072]

I read a article that said the increase in the amount of games players are participating in prior to college, is causing the injuries in college. It somewhat makes sense and I don’t know if injuries have increased across the board or just at UK.

Makes sense to me also.

In fact, SI had a rather lengthly article a few years ago concerning injuries to young athletes. A big part of the problem, according to the article, is the fact that youngsters start early and specialize in one sport (not switching sports from season to season) in an effort to get a college scholarship and ultimately make it in the pros. Thus, over-use injuries occur in younger and younger players.

Same principal could be at work here.

[Joneslab]

Going back to the game a sec.

Vandy is on a heater. They’re getting a lot of lucky stuff and not just against us. That late-shot clock heave the guy threw in last night was a mirror of the shot at Rupp.

Basketball is such an interesting sport because of how much it rewards confidence.

[Catsrock]

Makes sense to me also.

In fact, SI had a rather lengthly article a few years ago concerning injuries to young athletes. A big part of the problem, according to the article, is the fact that youngsters start early and specialize in one sport (not switching sports from season to season) in an effort to get a college scholarship and ultimately make it in the pros. Thus, over-use injuries occur in younger and younger players.

Same principal could be at work here.

I remember reading that. Think it was brought on primarily by baseball injuries/Tommy John surgery in teenagers. Was pretty negative about travel ball as well as the early specialization into a single sport. John Smoltz has been very outspoken against kids playing one sport and too much of it.

[George]

I remember reading that. Think it was brought on primarily by baseball injuries/Tommy John surgery in teenagers. Was pretty negative about travel ball as well as the early specialization into a single sport. John Smoltz has been very outspoken against kids playing one sport and too much of it.

Ugh. Don’t get me started on travel ball.

[Lighthouse]

Back to last nights stubbornness. Why did he play CJ? He added absolutely nothing positive for us. I applaud him for giving it a try, but whatever that contraption is, it is uncomfortable for him because he constantly pulls at it around his waist. The one play where he was on defense and the Vandy player drove right past him for a lay up, was evidence he couldn't guard. And the one shot he took was awkward and a brick. Yet he played almost 14 minutes. Any healthy player on our bench could have done as good and most likely better. Cal has to leave.

[Catsrock]

Back to last nights stubbornness. Why did he play CJ? He added absolutely nothing positive for us. I applaud him for giving it a try, but whatever that contraption is, it is uncomfortable for him because he constantly pulls at it around his waist. The one play where he was on defense and the Vandy player drove right past him for a lay up, was evidence he couldn't guard. And the one shot he took was awkward and a brick. Yet he played almost 14 minutes. Any healthy player on our bench could have done as good and most likely better. Cal has to leave.

Agreed on CJ. Nasir Watkins clearly could have given us more. I’m not sure the Vandy player noticed CJ when he went by him.

[Catsrock]

Ugh. Don’t get me started on travel ball.

Hear ya. My boys have wanted to travel so we have a quite a bit. I’ve coached some. But it’s winding down for my family. Mainly school ball now though my youngest is on a spring league basketball team.

[George]

Hear ya. My boys have wanted to travel so we have a quite a bit. I’ve coached some. But it’s winding down for my family. Mainly school ball now though my youngest is on a spring league basketball team.

No judgment here, but my wife and I agreed a long time ago that we refuse to get our kids involved in travel ball. School sports? Fine. Awesome. Heck yeah. Play ‘em all.

I’ll stop there.

[Catsrock]

No judgment here, but my wife and I agreed a long time ago that we refuse to get our kids involved in travel ball. School sports? Fine. Awesome. Heck yeah. Play ‘em all.

I’ll stop there.

No judgement here either. One of the many decisions every family has to make for themselves. In my town they draft baseball teams for little league, you’ve got about 2 weeks to practice, games run for about 5 weeks to be done in time for all stars. If you make all stars you keep going for the rest of the summer. Otherwise you played ball for 5 weeks. You fall behind real quick if you play ball for 5 weeks of the year. So you travel to develop and hopefully the family enjoys spending weekends at the park. Once you’re over 12 years old there’s no more city league. At that point school ball may be enough. But those who are hoping for scholarships still travel.

[George]

But those who are hoping for scholarships still travel.

This is one of our primary concerns. We’re both in education and have seen so many kids and parents become consumed with the chase for a scholarship. They devote so much time and energy to the athletic pursuit that the academics fall down their lists of priorities and ironically doom them in the end.

[Joneslab]

Going back to the game a sec.

Vandy is on a heater. They’re getting a lot of lucky stuff and not just against us. That late-shot clock heave the guy threw in last night was a mirror of the shot at Rupp.

Basketball is such an interesting sport because of how much it rewards confidence.

Looks like Vanderbilt's magic might be waning. Texas A&M is handling them.

I just turned it on so I don't know what's going on in the game, but not really surprised. TAMU is much tougher defensively and would turn away those Vandy drives.

[Catsrock]

This is one of our primary concerns. We’re both in education and have seen so many kids and parents become consumed with the chase for a scholarship. They devote so much time and energy to the athletic pursuit that the academics fall down their lists of priorities and ironically doom them in the end.

Agree completely. That ain’t us. Sports should be for fun for all but the very top few percent. And some of those burn out—or as this discussion started with—wear out their young bodies.

All too often it becomes not fun for the kid.