UK/KU Game Thread

[TrueblueCATfan]

Someone posted this last night but Kansas hit a 3 at the 10:33 mark in the second half to give them a 1 point lead.....they did not score another FG until the 4 minute mark

that is a lot of free throws in that 6 minute span

[Westtncat]

Will, Briscoes tech was one of those times where I thought the ref should have just said, hey calm down guys. It wasn't really even a real shove. Should have been a no call IMO

[Westtncat]

I look forward to the assessment by lighthouse on this one.

[KevinHall]

Of course,, he's a top 5 pick this year. Every team just chomping to build a franchise around him, i get it..................

This has nothing to do with the pros. Ulis is a fantastic college player. Murray is till learning. He can be great at times and very bad at others. When he gets to the level of Ulis in college then we can talk.

[KevinHall]

This was a great college basketball game. If you couldn't enjoy watching this one then you will never enjoy one. The officiating wasn't that good but what do you expect when Pat Adams is doing a game. One of the worst out there and I shuddered when I saw he was doing this game. Unfortunately he and the other two didn't disappoint. But I don't the think they caused the loss though. Kansas was a very big team. Much bigger than UK. When that happens the bigger team will get the bulk of the calls. It happened for UK all last season and in most seasons Cal has been here. That's the reason I will take talented size over any other choice you have. Size will win out most times.

Ulis is sensational. Probably the best all around point guard I have seen at UK. he's fearless in a game and smart with the basketball. But Cal has to rest him more in a game. he can't play 40+ minutes every game. I think he wore down just a little in this game and was the main cause he turned it over a couple of times. Also he is going to get worn down by the end of the season and not be nearly as effective. Not to mention more risk of injury. Even though Cal hates to rest him he is going to have limit to around 35 minutes a game or you will not see a nearly as effective Ulis by the end of the season.

On that last play of the 2nd half. I'm quite sure Murray was supposed to to rotate to the corner or at least swing back to the top of the key for Ulis to pass to him. It was set up just right but for one thing. Murray just stood there like a house beside the road. I think this shows Murray still has a long way to go in basketball smartness. Very talented but just not very smart most of the time. If ever gets that he can be a very fine pro.
The defensive adjustment made by Self was very good. The difference in that game IMO. That totally shut off the drives by Ulis and Briscoe. UK never adjusted back. I'm quite sure Self was groping in the dark for something to stop UK guards and that just happened to work. Also I doubt Cal and staff had ever seen Kansas use this defense and were caught off guard. So you can't fault them all that much.
A great effort by UK. They went in the toughest place to play and win and were only a play away from doing just that. They need to build on this and take off from here. How they respond to this tomorrow night may go a long way in defining their season. The schedule makers gave UK no mercy here. After going to the toughest arena in the nation to play they now have to go to Knoxville which has been the toughest place for UK to win in SEC play in their history. I don't envy Cal in getting this UK team back so quick and ready to play.

[BBNalldayeveryday]

The opening of that game was the loudest I've ever heard an arena.

When I saw that crowd I thought we were absolutely dead. Dead.

Then we went out there and got right to work. Still can't get over that this is the same team that lost to Auburn.

I wish the crowd at Rupp would get like that at times. I don't think I've ever seen that type of energy at Rupp to begin a game.

[BobS]

The Cats almost pulled this one out. And maybe should have. A bounce here, a goal there a blind ref swallowing a whistle.

The bad stuff:

1. You cannot beat good teams on the road shooting 21% from 3 if you are going to take 23 attempts. Just cannot. And this is still closer to who we really are unfortunately. Kansas threw a junk zone at us and we had no answer from the outside. Playing Hawkins, who had 4 WIDE OPEN shots didn't help either. Shooting will be our downfall in the tourney. Cannot win 6 games in a row shooting like we do. This is the main reason Oklahoma is not only the best team in America but equipped to win it all. They have ELITE shooters.

2. Briscoe missing FTs. Missed 4 in OT. It really is a broken record but as much as he brings to the game you cannot have him at the line late.

3. Skal. 32 minutes and got the same amount of rebounds as a dead guy. ZERO...NONE. NADA. He is 7 friggin foot tall. You would think he could trip into a rebound. His last rebound in a game was 3-4 games ago. Folks...that is lack of effort, not weight, talent or anything else. Rebounding is all about effort and he gives NONE. I am glad he is hitting a shot now and then, but if he had held onto that rebound late in this game, then it is likely our win.

4. Lack of defense for much of the game.

5. The OFFICIALS. We would have won in spite of them. Maybe should have won. But good Lord almighty. If that wasn't a joke effort by those refs, especially in the 2nd half, then I don't know what to tell you. Just awful. No wonder it is so hard to win there.

But there was lots of good.

1. Tyler Ulis is the best PG in America. I have watched all the names out there. He does more for his team and can change the game. If you don't think so, then kiss my grits. We will miss him a ton next year regardless of the talent coming in.

2. Poythress was excellent and once again played like he should be playing all along but does not.

3. Rebounding from all positions (except Skal) was spot on. One and done for KU quite a bit.

Kids played hard. Gave all (except for one player). I did not think they would win and honestly, had KU hit FTs, we would have lost by double digits in regulation. But they didn't and we scared the crap out of them.

I hope this effort translates to more good road efforts in the SEC because we will need them. Starting tomorrow.

[Katmendo]

Well, it's been a couple days to simmer diwn, so I thought I'd give some thought on the game.

First of all, UK ("Tweeeet")... wait a minute.... Sorry, there was just another foul on Kentucky as someone walked in to the practice gym..... wow. Looks like someone is calling The Jayhawks to get them to the line for a 1 and 1....

But anyhow, the Cats played so under control, and with such poise, that it was clear they were not some big underdog, but the better team. I was very proud of the fact that Alex looked like ("Tweet!")... wait. Oh crap. Looks like the officials have called Alec for a foul as he blocked a guy out on the buffet line. ...yep... looks like.. looks like KU has hustled Selden out of class to take these shots. What a warrior, and with his grandpa listening in his car.

We'll. I'll get back to this later, it looks like Briscoe has just pushed his plate away, while at the table. And Adams was in a great position to see it. He's got his arms crossed and it looks like an intentional foul for unnecessary contact... they're heading to the monitor in the campus security office, to take longer look. We'll get back to the rest of the season, in a few days.

[Joneslab]

but anyhow, the cats played so under control, and with such poise, that it was clear they were not some big underdog, but the better team. I was very proud of the fact that alex looked like ("tweet!")... Wait. Oh crap. Looks like the officials have called alec for a foul as he blocked a guy out on the buffet line. ...yep... Looks like.. Looks like ku has hustled selden out of class to take these shots. what a warrior, and with his grandpa listening in his car.

lol........

[justford]

As old as Selden is, I doubt his grandpa had a car. More likely he was in a horse drawn carriage.

[Lighthouse]

Well I just finished watching the game again and doing the Officials thing. Here are a few observations now. We made a lot of dumb fouls early which made the last couple on some players crucial. One play that stands out to me happened late in the game. Skal had a rebound in his hands and a stronger KU player simply took it away from him. Then we stole the ball when it came down and started down court, then they took the ball back and hit a 3. It was a critical 5-6 point turn-around. I know there was a big difference in FT attempts, but how many first shots of a 1&1 did Briscoe miss? I wouldn't trade Ulis for 2 of the KU players. I realize the officiating wasn't the best, but I really don't think they beat us. We had the opportunity to get a big win, and just couldn't pull this one off. We're growing up, and I hope we get there in time.

[KevinHall]

Well I just finished watching the game again and doing the Officials thing. Here are a few observations now. We made a lot of dumb fouls early which made the last couple on some players crucial. One play that stands out to me happened late in the game. Skal had a rebound in his hands and a stronger KU player simply took it away from him. Then we stole the ball when it came down and started down court, then they took the ball back and hit a 3. It was a critical 5-6 point turn-around. I know there was a big difference in FT attempts, but how many first shots of a 1&1 did Briscoe miss? I wouldn't trade Ulis for 2 of the KU players. I realize the officiating wasn't the best, but I really don't think they beat us. We had the opportunity to get a big win, and just couldn't pull this one off. We're growing up, and I hope we get there in time.

I agree with LH. Officiating didn't beat UK. They made enough mistakes on their own and missed some key foul shots that could have made the difference.

[BobS]

The only reason officiating did not beat us is that Kansas was awful from the line. Had they hit their FTs and won by 8--9 in regulation, I doubt we could say the same.

The officiating in the 2nd half was dreadful. Dreadful. But since KU sucked from the strip, it gave s a real shot at winning which we blew.

[85 Fly]

This was a good loss/valiant effort. Briscoe knock down more free throws, front court hang in there with the fouls down the stretch, Selden doesn't carry KU on his back and you are talking a different outcome. I feel good (if there is such a thing) about this loss because I see us turning the corner...now, if we can win at least 2 out of 3 games coming up against Florida, South Carolina and Texas A&M along with the rematch game against LSU and the games we should win too then I really feel good about us come dance time...hell, we should win the SEC title if we keep moving forward in a positive direction.