Kentucky vs. Texas: Game Thread

[Joneslab]

Per the last couple of games, I'm starting this one early for good luck.

Texas comes in on a slide, losers of 3 of their last 4 and coming off a beatdown to Alabama this week. They're led by one of the best scoring freshman in the nation, Tre Johnson, and Kentucky's old pal Arthur Kaluma, both of whom can really hurt you if you don't watch them. Johnson in particular is a gun, but in his best games he's lit up the scoreboard...and as we all know, Kentucky has had trouble against players like that this season.

Kentucky is 2-0 all-time against Texas, the last game being in the '14-'15 season during the SEC/Big XII Challenge.

The game is at 8:00 tomorrow night on ESPN.

[Matt Dillon]

GBB!

[TrueblueCATfan]

GO CATS!!!!

on the road without 2 starters will be tough

[40bill]

It sounds like we will be playing with this lineup for a bit. I guess we can keep our fingers crossed on Butler and Robinson playing through pain, but it's sounding like the rest of the month will be the "new" lineup.

Should Travis Perry have to run point and I assume he will, he will see a lot of pressure.

Wins during this stretch will be kinda storybook Kentucky legend stuff.

Good luck to all these guys.

[Lighthouse]

If they play defense like the last two games, we should get a win. Perry will play some point so that will hurt some especially on defense. Brea, Oweh and Williams will be important factors if they stay out of foul trouble. GO CATS!!!

[40bill]

Ya know...we really have had those 'one way' point guards before. Guy named Macy wasn't speed or quickness blessed. Travis Ford usually left us 4 on 5 on defense. Sean Sutton? Saul Smith?

We've had to make do (in history) before.

[Lighthouse]

Ya know...we really have had those 'one way' point guards before. Guy named Macy wasn't speed or quickness blessed. Travis Ford usually left us 4 on 5 on defense. Sean Sutton? Saul Smith?

We've had to make do (in history) before.

You're right, but Sutton and Smith were not in the ball park with Macy and Ford.

[KCKUKFan]

Robinson and Butler officially out.

[CATHYnKY]

Robinson and Butler officially out.

Gonna be tough

[Joneslab]

Just looking at Texas's last two wins, wildly different stories in both games.

They held LSU to 2-15 shooting behind the line and just dismantled them.

But then they beat Texas A&M, not easy to do, and A&M shot over 50% from three in the game...which they virtually never do. A&M also destroyed Texas on the glass, but Texas got 30 points from Tre Johnson. Showing you how lethal he can be individually.

They also took both Tennessee and Auburn down to the wire. And beat a tough Missouri team.

This...is going to be hard as heck. A game that could easily go off the rails a la Ole Miss if we don't buckle down.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Ya know...we really have had those 'one way' point guards before. Guy named Macy wasn't speed or quickness blessed. Travis Ford usually left us 4 on 5 on defense. Sean Sutton? Saul Smith?

We've had to make do (in history) before.

Exactly, great point. A Kentucky kid gets scrutinized for every little flaw.


Let's talk about all the other SEC guards who are getting cooked by Hubbard, Clayton Jr., Zieglar, Mark Sears, Jason Edwards, the list goes on and on. If Perry is getting cooked, he ain't the only one in the SEC...

[Joneslab]

Exactly, great point. A Kentucky kid gets scrutinized for every little flaw.


Let's talk about all the other SEC guards who are getting cooked by Hubbard, Clayton Jr., Zieglar, Mark Sears, Jason Edwards, the list goes on and on. If Perry is getting cooked, he ain't the only one in the SEC...

He can get cooked, but he can't get cooked and commit bad turnovers and not score. All three of those things make him a value-less player.

At Tennessee he got cooked a little, but he hit shots and he only had the one turnover that I recall. So: value.

He's the kind of offensive player who could go out there and hit 5 or 6 threes in a game. He's that lethal with the way he can score. As a point guard, he's obviously got a lot to learn.

[KentuckyWild2020]

He can get cooked, but he can't get cooked and commit bad turnovers and not score. All three of those things make him a value-less player.

At Tennessee he got cooked a little, but he hit shots and he only had the one turnover that I recall. So: value.

He's the kind of offensive player who could go out there and hit 5 or 6 threes in a game. He's that lethal with the way he can score. As a point guard, he's obviously got a lot to learn.

Reality is, he's really not a point guard in my opinion but what choice do we have? I understand he needs the shots to fall to warrant being out on the floor, if breaks even I think it's a win for us meaning his plus/minus while on the floor.

I haven't looked it up, any idea what his PLUS/MINUS is this year?

[KentuckyWild2020]

Let's get this W, hopefully starting the game day thread early continues to be a good luck charm..

[Catsrock]

Pope’s comments—he’s great at being complimentary to opponents—players and coaches—make Johnson out to be Curry-esque. As in takes a lot of shots that you would normally think are terrible shots, but they’re not bad shots at all because he makes them. In truth he is a good shooter, but not other worldly so. Shoots 3’s pretty much at the same clip as Jaxson Robinson, Lamont Butler, and actually our team as a whole.

So, stick to him and Kaluma like glue—I mean really pride yourself on defense, and hope for the best on the road.

Brea needs to continue to focus more on defense but also shoot every time he can. Missing 3 guards he has to realize it’s his time to lead. Step up young man!