Kentucky versus Ohio State: Game thread

[justafan]

As far as questioning Cal, sure you can, have at it. If it makes fans feel better they should question every detail of every game. I've posted this before, Cals plan is to recruit at the highest level possible and hopefully out-talent the other team. By using the "I'm going to put you in the NBA" recruitment speech, he entices the players to come share minutes (as opposed to being the only star on a team).

If he fails to follow through on getting a projected draft-quality player to the draft, other teams can use that against him and entice players to their team.

If he benches one of those players, he starts a dangerous precendent with them.

Again, I'm only surprised when the fans are surprised. He's done this from day one.

[85 Fly]

I find it absolutely HILARIOUS that everyone predicts 1-3 losses in non-conference and some 7-10 overall, and when they do lose people freak out lol

This team has some issues right now, though, obviously. One BIG problem I'm not sure can be fixed. Low-post presence on both ends of the floor. We just don't have it. I don't see Cal playing Wynyard and/or Humphries enough to try to fix that problem.

I honestly think we NEED Wynyard to play. He has the size, strength, and toughness we desperately need. Just go in there be an enforcer, rebounder, and tough guy for us...that's it.

I didn't get to see the game live watched it when I got home and I kept assuring myself "...this is not 2013, this is not 2013...its NOT 2013!" Patience! Lol Yes, I am one that was not in denial I knew the expectations should not be compared to last year team. I had us losing non-conference and few conference games but I was not expecting us to lose to non-conference unranked teams.

[Joneslab]

I completely disagree we have a Skal player every year. Never in my life have I seen this situation.

Yep. This is incredibly rare, not just at UK but everywhere.

It betrays one big issue: that last year's class was super weak. Also Skal was just a unique situation and I don't think the recruiting guys got a good look at him. The guardian hid him.

And yesterday's game was horrifically frustrating. Lilpro's point about the lack of a low-post presence is spot on. None of us is going to give up; we'll be there cheering like mad against UofL. And who knows, we may turn it around. I gave up after the South Carolina debacle two years ago and we saw how that went.

But this team has some major issues, as we all saw. The low-post presence has become a huge deal but I really thought in that game Ohio State fulfilled the old cliche by "wanting it more." They just played with more fire.

[Westtncat]

Will, I think maybe at times OSU might have wanted it more but it could also be a case where you basically have four on five so it just looks like they want it more. Everybody has played on that church league team where you had the one terrible player and no matter how hard you played the one person just messed up too much to over come.

[justford]

Without a low-post presence where is our scoring going to come from?? We can't expect Murray to score 30+ every game. Briscoe and Lee can't hit free throws so they are going to get fouled around the basket. Ulis will score some but not enough to offset our lack of scoring in the post. This is a real concern to me as I really think we are going to have to run the ball and hope for some easy layups and dunks in transition.

[85 Fly]

We are going to get every teams best just because we are UK...If we don't do something about that front court its going to be a long season. These teams are not scared of going IN!!!

[Joneslab]

Without a low-post presence where is our scoring going to come from??

I think most thought it would come from the guards.

But Briscoe is going through a funk. His shooting has just created major issues and has made him easy to guard. And Ulis had a really bad game; OSU's size bothered him quite a bit. The guy plays as hard as anybody, but we're seeing the perils of a 5'9" point guard. Anytime he has to try and score over length it's an issue for him.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Cal said Willis was hurt.

Thanks ukwebfan.....had I known that I wouldn't have ask

[Westtncat]

I think most thought it would come from the guards.

But Briscoe is going through a funk. His shooting has just created major issues and has made him easy to guard. And Ulis had a really bad game; OSU's size bothered him quite a bit. The guy plays as hard as anybody, but we're seeing the perils of a 5'9" point guard. Anytime he has to try and score over length it's an issue for him.

Will I understand no one played a perfect game, all players have room for improvement and there are a few moments in that game Im sure certain individuals would like to have back. But if continue to discuss this loss and this teams woes like its anything other than skal and no presence inside then I think we are just going through the motions as fans. We will lose double digit games if this one problem is not corrected or changed. We may lose games even if it is corrected, most teams do but the blueprint for beating Kentucky is very simple and you dont need a good team to do it. If we continue with this game plan with the same result on our end all it will take is a halfway decent coach to put us away. The sad part is, if Murray doesnt have an unconscious game we get BLOW OUT by 20 by a horrible OSU team. I know I sound like a broken record but I am very concerned with this team.

[Pobilly]

I am glad I had family in and was helping with the cooking. Only got to see bits of the game. My son would yell into the kitchen what was going on. Anyway hope we can get our issues resolved quickly.

I as of the mind to say the Skal project as a starter is completely over. He needs to be coming in for no more than 10 to 15 minutes a game. Lee and Poythress need the gist of the minutes (if they can figure out how to play without fouling). Willis we need to step up and one of the other 2 bigs needs to step up for 7 to 10 minutes a game.

Guard play has to even out. If not its going to be very bumpy from here on out.

[KevinHall]

The only thing I'll say about this game is that Murray finally started looking like the player I saw during the Pan Am games this past summer. The offense is going to have to go through him as he will be the only consistent scorer on this team.

[Lighthouse]

I missed the game, and haven't watched the DVR. After reading this thread, I think I'll just delete it.

[CATHYnKY]

I missed the game, and haven't watched the DVR. After reading this thread, I think I'll just delete it.

Smart Lighthouse. I did watch it because I was at a restaurant with friends and Mitchell. It was somewhere between sad and pityful. Especially after they came roaring back and didn't finish up.

[Lighthouse]

Thanks Cathy for confirming my thinking.

[Joneslab]

Ohio State was 3-22 from three in a win against Mercer last night. I think they started 0-15.

Because of course they did.

(This is a good example of how basketball, more than any other sport IMO, is about confidence and swagger. So much can be accomplished in this sport based on desire and belief, which is why a guy like Alex Poythress will always only perform in fits and spurts.)