Little Rock post game thoughts

[kyjeff1]

Everyone is overpaying. The difference is what they're getting. Duke is getting guys that are future nba all stars. We're getting nobodies.

Aaaand UK has scoreboard on Duke!

 

[UkBluePrint]

Did Pope make any comments after the game?

i hope not

 

[Tri-Countycat]

You are supposed to upgrade your roster when you are Kentucky and spending this kinda money. Going into last season our guard roster was Lowe, Aberdeen, Oweh, Chandler, Johnson and Kam. Look at this year, I would kill to have last years guards healthy compared to what they have put together. We are cooked. This is a 7th to 10th place SEC team unless Milan can walk on water.

 

[kyjeff1]

the wins or losses are completely irrelevant. its not about beating a team or scoring a million points. exhibition games are about figuring out what you are good at and what you are not.

No sh*t, tell your buddies that.

and after one game, against a far inferior opponent it appears our offense needs a ton of work. and what is troubling, some of it might not be fixable. and i think many are in shock, justifiably so because we were told all off season that this team was constructed with offense first and fits with what pope wants to run. no one expected a well oiled machine in its first exhibition game, but for most of the game looked totally useless.

Tell me, what do you think is not fixable? This should be good.

Yeah, we won an exhibition game by 20, while playing like crap, but that's still miles better than losing in Rupp to Evansville, Richmond and UNCW in games that count.
Did Evansville even win another game after they beat our asses?

 

[ScWildcat3]

There were moments when Wilkins gave me Jasper Johnson flashbacks. Just chucking shots and turning the ball over.

Wilkins and Jasper in the same sentence is criminal

 

[ScWildcat3]

Everyone is overpaying. The difference is what they're getting. Duke is getting guys that are future nba all stars. We're getting nobodies.

Duke also has people funneling kids to them that we lost a long time ago when cal pissed off nike and lost world wide Wes connection

 

[AllBall]

How much total buyout money would UK be on the hook for if Pope gets canned?
Thanks to Barney we're already paying Stoops. Those two buyouts together likely exceed 40+ mil.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Ark Little Rock was a better team than expected & Travis Ford is a good coach.
You make some valid points - playing in Rupp is definitely different than playing in a practice facility.

Well you had to love the irony that we couldn't beat the press and the coach of the other team was a Pitino player who knows the full court press inside and out.

 

[ScWildcat3]

You are supposed to upgrade your roster when you are Kentucky and spending this kinda money. Going into last season our guard roster was Lowe, Aberdeen, Oweh, Chandler, Johnson and Kam. Look at this year, I would kill to have last years guards healthy compared to what they have put together. We are cooked. This is a 7th to 10th place SEC team unless Milan can walk on water.

We definitely upgraded the roster. What are you talking about. Lowe didn’t play. Johnson didn’t play. Aberdeen and zoom are a wash at best. Zoom will be better imo. Milan is better fit than Oweh seeing Oweh played the 3 for us. Wilkins is overall better than Chandler. Kam is back. Also Mason Is better than any bench guard we had last year.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Truth be told, Texas Tech will be the measuring stick. Shut up til then.

Yeah that's a well coached team. That coach would probably kill it here with our resources.

 

[ScWildcat3]

How much total buyout money would UK be on the hook for if Pope gets canned?
Thanks to Barney we're already paying Stoops. Those two buyouts together likely exceed 40+ mil.

That won’t matter if the boosters want it to happen. That’s what it all comes to really. But roughly 12-13 million.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

No sh*t, tell your buddies that.

Tell me, what do you think is not fixable? This should be good.

Yeah, we won an exhibition game by 20, while playing like crap, but that's still miles better than losing in Rupp to Evansville, Richmond and UNCW in games that count.
Did Evansville even win another game after they beat our asses?

whats not fixable.....

• diallo and wilkins being just average players
• consistency from the PF spot
• moreno in the post

comparing a pope game to other historically bad loses is not how you evaluate a coach. you evaluate the coach based on the standard you have for the program.

 

[mash_24]

Every team is different. I’m gonna wait and see if these guys develop some chemistry and brotherhood before bailing on them. It’s on Pope. This is his do or die season.

 

[ScWildcat3]

Yeah that's a well coached team. That coach would probably kill it here with our resources.

3 years averaging 10 losses. Also tech has plenty of money if they want to use it.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

We definitely upgraded the roster. What are you talking about. Lowe didn’t play. Johnson didn’t play. Aberdeen and zoom are a wash at best. Zoom will be better imo. Milan is better fit than Oweh seeing Oweh played the 3 for us. Wilkins is overall better than Chandler. Kam is back. Also Mason Is better than any bench guard we had last year.

I said to start the season. I’m not talking about what happened with injuries. Plus you are crazy if you think Wilkins is better than Chandler. Zero chance.

 

[ScWildcat3]

whats not fixable.....

• diallo and wilkins being just average players
• consistency from the PF spot
• moreno in the post

comparing a pope game to other historically bad loses is not how you evaluate a coach. you evaluate the coach based on the standard you have for the program.

What do you think is average if you believe zoom and Wilkins are average?

 

[kyjeff1]

whats not fixable.....

• diallo and wilkins being just average players
• consistency from the PF spot
• moreno in the post

comparing a pope game to other historically bad loses is not how you evaluate a coach. you evaluate the coach based on the standard you have for the program.

It’s October 17th and you think perfectly healthy and talented players won't improve at all?

Tell me more. This is fascinating.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

weird response. Taking shots at fox and monk like they didnt leave it all on the court against the crooked refs n a last second elite 8 loss. UK fans that diss players that won the sec regular season and sec tourney title and led us to 32 wins that season but prop up these players on this year's team are strange folks.

And I can promise u these guys this year arent gonna hang anything either. And it won't be close like fox and monk.

Im going to root like hell this year for the team but trashing a E8 team/ players that were cheated out of a FF is not a good take. As you stated that team had a great year.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Silliest post so far. Imagine if Anthony Davis and MKG had went somewhere else. It is depressing.

Now let's complain about scenarios that didn't even happen. Only on Rafters...

Yeah I cant do that to myself. I have legit concerns on this team so if I throw in that scenario I will need to be on a Xanax drip all season lol.

 

[kyjeff1]

I said to start the season. I’m not talking about what happened with injuries. Plus you are crazy if you think Wilkins is better than Chandler. Zero chance.

LOL, go back and watch what Wilkins did to UConn last year and fix this post. Colin Chandler couldn’t do that in his dreams and you're just focusing on the games Chandler actually showed up in, that guy would yave one good game, then disappear the next 4.

Did someone hijack your profile?

 

[FLBBNFAN]

We looked bad. Could turn it around but with the pressure Pope is under I expected to see a sharper better prepared product on the court. This looked like the same lackadaisical ******** prep that’s killed the last bunch of seasons (Cal too). Hard to get excited about any of it.

Agree and just wish Pope would say the 19 turnovers and poor shot selection wont be tolerated. Then he could of added they were tight for the first game and getting used to playing together in a real live game. That is the difference between him and Stein.

Stein preaches execution, playing smart and playing together. He also admits when he does something wrong during a game.

 

[Cats_2010]

Did it though?

Yes it actually did. I clicked a thread read one intro and hit reply and typed “what was the final” and then continued reading other threads about the game. I was already here so easy to do. Do you suggest opting out of here, opening up another browser, typing in the words results from tonight’s game KY vs Little Rock and hit search as a quicker route? Your smartass response to my question notwithstanding.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

What do you think is average if you believe zoom and Wilkins are average?

is this a real sentence?

 

[theBlues]

LOL, go back and watch what Wilkins did to UConn last year and fix this post. Colin Chandler couldn’t do that in his dreams and you're just focusing on the games Chandler actually showed up in, that guy would yave one good game, then disappear the next 4.

Did someone hijack your profile?

Wilkins also made 2 passes last night better than any Chandler made all year. Wilkins is obviously not a finished product but a person has to be blind not to see his potential.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Right? If he were a good coach he wouldn't be the HC of Little Rock in his 29th year of coaching.

Yeah Ford hasn't killed it coaching outside a few seasons but that dude sure was fun to watch when he played here.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

It’s October 17th and you think perfectly healthy and talented players won't improve at all?

Tell me more. This is fascinating.

players have months in the off season to "improve". do they? what has moreno improved on during the summer because he turned it over 4 times and couldn't post up a dude that was 6'4"?

but sure....when the season starts guys will magically get better

 

[ScWildcat3]

is this a real sentence?

Who do you consider above average? I know it’s tough to actually respond to an absurd statement like you made.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Some people just look for reasons to be down on everything. It was an exhibition where we won by 20 and played a D game at best.

That is just Milan. He always looks super calm and unstressed. Some of yall could take some notes from that and apply it to yourselves. Even he said it postgame. It’s just a scrimmage.

Milan is going to be fun to watch this year. He also seems like a good guy and a good teammate. That 3 where he went behind his back was awesome.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

LOL, go back and watch what Wilkins did to UConn last year and fix this post. Colin Chandler couldn’t do that in his dreams and you're just focusing on the games Chandler actually showed up in, that guy would yave one good game, then disappear the next 4.

Did someone hijack your profile?

Chandler won us games last year and I’ve watched Wilkins play more games than the UCONN game, if you are thinking that is what he is and what we are getting, you are gonna be so upset. Chandler hit the game winning 3, how many games last year and makes the game winning play at Tennessee and one other game. He is more athletic, can guard the ball better, is bigger and can finish at the rim better. You talk about the games where Chandler showed up, maybe you should look at what Wilkens did against lesser competition.

Nov. 19 Ohio Christian 10


Nov. 23 Queens 23


Nov. 27 Richmond 26


Nov. 28 Illinois State 25


Dec. 3 Elon 8


Dec. 6 Harvard 16


Dec. 9 Bob Jones 5


Feb. 14 VMI 8


Feb. 18 East Tennessee State 21


Feb. 21 Wofford 15


Feb. 25 The Citadel 8


Feb. 28 Western Carolina 14

That 5 point performance against Bob Jones was impressive.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

Who do you consider above average? I know it’s tough to actually respond to an absurd statement like you made.

i'd start with someone who can make wide open layups

 

[FLBBNFAN]

You talk about that Elite 8 with reverence and pull an excuse (refs) as to why they lost, but when Pope goes to the S16 and loses with a legit excuse (injuries) you scream no excuses at Kentucky. Move those goal posts

I think both teams got cheated. One by the refs and one by multiple injuries. Pope's first team here was definitely EE capable if healthy. Last year was a disaster so I hope this year is like year 1. That group had a lot of seasoned guys and Butler had FF experience.

 

[kuhlkat]

First the good:
Nobody got hurt tonight.
We're very tall. ALR shot 18-58 from the field and we bothered their shots a lot.
Momcilovic is a REAL player. He had a Larry Bird-esque moment when he dribbled behind his back in transition and then shot the three. He's going to be our guy. Hope he doesn't get hurt.

Now the bad:
Wilkins is a gunner and he doesn't deserve bullets.
Mason Williams seems to be our second best player and that's terrifying.
Moreno really should have dominated this game. He looked average and he has butterfingers.

The ugly:
We should beat our exhibition opponents by ~50. I'm afraid we're in for a very long season. We're not just going to struggle to put teams away. We will struggle to win against the top half of our conference. 10 losses seems like the floor at this point.

And yes before the haters start, I know your schtick:
1. Let the season play out
2. Let the recruiting/offseason play out
3. Can't judge until we see the product on the floor
4. March is what matters
5. Even if we flame out early in the tournament, look who we beat during the regular season as a bellweather
6. Well who are you going to get as a replacement coach
7. Who's going to pay the buyout, you?

It's gonna be a long season.....on this board.
So much negativity, posters are gonna pounce on Pope and the players every chance they get. No one cares, but I may not last the season.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

By the way, this is what Colin Chandler did in SEC play last year. Come talk to me after SEC with Wilkins stats.
Jan. 3 Alabama 3


Jan. 7 Missouri 0


Jan. 10 Mississippi State 7


Jan. 14 LSU 9


Jan. 17 Tennessee 12


Jan. 21 Texas 18


Jan. 24 Ole Miss 12


Jan. 27 Vanderbilt 4


Jan. 31 Arkansas 13


Feb. 4 Oklahoma 18


Feb. 7 Tennessee 9


Feb. 14 Florida 18


Feb. 17 Georgia 18


Feb. 21 Auburn 10


Feb. 24 South Carolina 10


Feb. 28 Vanderbilt 23


Mar. 3 Texas A&M 3


Mar. 7 Florida 2

 

[chroix]

Agree and just wish Pope would say the 19 turnovers and poor shot selection wont be tolerated. Then he could of added they were tight for the first game and getting used to playing together in a real live game. That is the difference between him and Stein.

Stein preaches execution, playing smart and playing together. He also admits when he does something wrong during a game.

Damn. 19 turnovers. Unacceptable. And you’re right, it’s impossible not to contrast the approach with Stein’s.

 

[UKCowboys]

I think both teams got cheated. One by the refs and one by multiple injuries. Pope's first team here was definitely EE capable if healthy. Last year was a disaster so I hope this year is like year 1. That group had a lot of seasoned guys and Butler had FF experience.

I thought if his first team was healthy and clicking, they might have won the whole thing. We will never now, but full strength that was a heck of a team

 

[ScWildcat3]

i'd start with someone who can make wide open layups

Guess u didn’t watch byu last night then? Rob wright missed at minimum 3-4 and Chandler missed a few too. Preseason game 1 btw.

 

[UKreturntogreatness]

We didn’t try to go inside. Guards got In the paint whenever though.

Exactly my point. We didn't go inside is coaching. Now maybe Pope just wanted them to do whatever. I, unlike many here, am not yet concluding Pope won't be great. But this game there seemed to be no coaching and maybe that's because it was an exhibition. Who knows until we see a few more games.

 

[Catman100]

I won't judge this team until about 7-10 games in. By then we will really know what we are.

With that said, I leaned towards liking what I saw. We are not very fast but we are big and I think once they get familiar with each other the team will start to get better. I think shots will start to fall. What will that look like in the SEC? We will have to wait and see.

One thing that kind of bothered me, RUPP seemed dead. Not very loud and not very enthusiastic.
As a former season ticket holder in the past, I know Rupp is diffternt for exhibitions and real games, but I really belive if we lose 3 or 4 of our first real games, Pope is going to totally lose this fanbase.

Let's hope it goes well.

 

[Padsfs07]

How much total buyout money would UK be on the hook for if Pope gets canned?
Thanks to Barney we're already paying Stoops. Those two buyouts together likely exceed 40+ mil.

It's $13.5M after the season.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Wilkins and Jasper in the same sentence is criminal

My daughter went to Furman so I always check in on how they are faring because of that . I was glad we got Wilkins and think he has the potential do very well here.

Its an exhibition game but Wilkins had some bad turnovers and had poor shot selection last night. All summer Pope commented on his upside but also mentioned Wilkins needed to cut down on turnovers and taking better shots. In fact that has been the concern by most analysts since we signed him. Some of his shots/ turnovers were similar to Jaspers.

I believe Wilkins can become a really good player but he needs reigned in .