Indiana vs. Kentucky: Game Thread

[Pobilly]

I think the gameplan was good in theory. IU couldn't really guard anybody all year.

When it was clear it wasn't going to work, we should've ditched it. Instead we came out in the second half and kind of started it over again.

Having said that, the players are always more important than the gameplan. I loved Alex, sad that he's gone...but he never could put it together for some reason. We really needed him today.

No doubt we needed AP more than ever today. SKAL and lee couild not guard 31. Why not try Hump. He might get beat out top. He might of played great. We will never know.

[Katmendo]

Soo.... CLEARLY I have a bias on this,

But did anyone else find it nauseating the way the game crew kept on lamenting about the UK/IU series? They even *pleaded* to continue the series. It was disgusting to me.

With all due (and it ain't much) respect to Rafftery, Hill, and Nantz, I couldn't care less how badly ****THEY**** think the series should resume. Because they don't want it for EITHER program, and it was patently obvious. They want it for themselves.

[Jload]

Blue Cincy I disagree. IUs bigs WERE better than ours. As for " developing" the bigs he had, please, Lee , just doesn't have the basketball skills, Alex has very poor hands and poor footwork, awful with his back to the basket, plus I feel his injury last year really set him back. I thought Cal made some poor moves in last years Final Four but this year he just didn't have the horses up front. He expected Skal to be a dominant big man. The kid got on campus late and never delivered.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Only thing making me feel better right now is Kansas is destroying UCONN

[BobS]

If you are a NBA scout tell me why you would draft Skal this year. Can you imagine what NBA big men would do to him.

The GM that wastes a first round pick should be fired.

But he will go and honestly, that's OK with me. Wish him luck. He will need it. Tired of hearing about our guys and the NBA honestly.

[Pobilly]

Only thing making me feel better right now is Kansas is destroying UCONN

I hate UCONN a ton more than KU. So I am happy that KU is beating them.

[Pobilly]

Love the fight in Butler / Virginia game. those guys are playing hard.

[Lighthouse]

Can we really say that? My point being, Calipari really hasn't run that offense (And, I don't mind, because he's been a tad over .500) I think everyone in America should throw away the notion of identifying that offense with Cal, or Cal with that offense.

With this much history, I think it fair to say that Calipari HAS no offensive identity. In fact, not being nasty, he doesn't really run an offense at all. He might signal a play for a player, but he doesn't have drilled systems that result in an "option 1, option 2, option 3" type of player movement.

And, I'm sure it's entirely because you can't teach systems to one year players.

Bingo. No coach can teach much of a set offense with one-and-done's because he just doesn't have time. Also why we don't block out very good, or shoot FT's well. Cal spends early practices stressing defense, and that's where his time goes, this year it didn't work very well.

[Pobilly]

Bingo. No coach can teach much of a set offense with one-and-done's because he just doesn't have time. Also why we don't block out very good, or shoot FT's well. Cal spends early practices stressing defense, and that's where his time goes, this year it didn't work very well.

Very well said. I think you have to have a couple of plays that you learn in the early season that works for your teams. Not talking about our guards but our bigs dod not have the BBALL IQ to help much.

[KevinHall]

Lack of quality big men ended this teams season. I think we all knew it would at some or another. Cal blew it in recruiting. Skal was woefully overrated and apparently Cal was banking on him. As for Poythress I think when someone as talented as he is doesn't put it together consistently then they probably don't really love to play the game. They have probably played because they think have to or are expected to. He's a find young man and will be a success in life but he should have played his college basketball at a lower level. He probably would have been happier.
Oh well another season is over. We will see who leaves and who comes back. We will tee up again in about 6 months.

[Lighthouse]

Very well said. I think you have to have a couple of plays that you learn in the early season that works for your teams. Not talking about our guards but our bigs dod not have the BBALL IQ to help much.

Katmendo had the original idea, I just expanded it a bit. You may be right about our Bigs BB IQ. Sure hope it's better next year.

[ukwebfan]

I agree. I also say the dribble drive stinks.

We were beat today by the dribble-drive. When we tried to do it, we got an offensive foul.

[KCKUKFan]

Our bigs continued their year-long no-show.

Disappointing end to what is sort've a "new" thing since Cal has been coach: aside form the year that we didn't quality for the tourney, we haven't been bounced in the first weekend. 26-9, SEC champions, SEC tourney champions, second round loss.

It was a good season, right? Especially with the holes in the roster.

[Westtncat]

We were beat today by the dribble-drive. When we tried to do it, we got an offensive foul.

My point was, he tries to sell us as having this amazing offense when the opposite is true. We seem to struggle so often.

[J.Jennings]

Soo.... CLEARLY I have a bias on this,

But did anyone else find it nauseating the way the game crew kept on lamenting about the UK/IU series? They even *pleaded* to continue the series. It was disgusting to me.

With all due (and it ain't much) respect to Rafftery, Hill, and Nantz, I couldn't care less how badly ****THEY**** think the series should resume. Because they don't want it for EITHER program, and it was patently obvious. They want it for themselves.

Rafferty used to be my favorite announcer but did you notice he was pulling for IU without saying it??? I think he has a problem with Cal and it all goes back to his love affair with Pitino......

As for the series, why risk playing in Indiana when the damn crowd don't know how to act rushing the court? You don't see UK fans rushing the court ever.........