First Takes

[ScWildcat3]

I was at the game. They can get in the paint, but then weak and tentative after that in getting to the basket and finishing. That reflects coach's personality, imo.

What does being at the game matter? Popes personality effects layups?

 

[chroix]

I don’t know if this is true, but my buddy told me we went 7 minutes without scoring again. We do that so often under Pope it’s crazy. To do that with our payroll against a Little Rock type opponent is really bad. I knew we had went a long while without scoring when they got it back to like down 11, but that is terrible.

Seven minutes of hell. For us. So sick of this happening.

 

[KyWideWes]

To be better than I was expecting I was looking for:

-Moreno taking a big leap
-One of the PFs showing starter quality
-Wilkins showing he could be good scorer at this level
-Zoom being better than a PG for a mediocre team with one of the best big in the country last year.
-Hawthorne being a rotation quality player.

So far, 0-5.

 

[Smeegs]

That’s false. Zoom was the first call he made upon portal opening. Zoom is a taller rob wright essentially. Rob plays zero defense but shoots it a little better.

That’s not how I remember it. Like that other poster, I recall Wright being our first PG target and not turning to zoom until after the Wright whiff.

And for good reason. Wright is the better player.

 

[Bernie4blue]

What does being at the game matter? Popes personality effects layups?

You questioned whether I watched the game. Not a huge difference, but seeing the whole court can give additional perspective. Play on the court and the aggressiveness can absolutely be a reflection of the coach's personality. Just look at the football team under Stein.

 

[ScWildcat3]

That’s not how I remember it. Like that other poster, I recall Wright being our first PG target and not turning to zoom until after the Wright whiff.

And for good reason. Wright is the better player.

Pope called him at midnight. First call of any transfer guys. Wright was never leaving byu. Also overall player I’ll take zoom. Better defensively and better size.

 

[megablue]

I appreciate most of the First Take comments and enjoyed some more than others.
My First Take has nothing to do about the game but instead trying to wrap my mind around the pre season SEC rank of #7. I know how meaningless preseason rankings are but stunned about how far we have fallen.
This new era in collegiate sports has left me in the dust and clinging to the memories of yesteryear glory. UK was always challenged for the conference top spot but even in down years, everyone knew the conference championship was inevitably through Lexington.
Hate long posts, so I’m stopping now…just miss my Cats.

I certainly understand the sentiment and I'm also struggling to adjust to this new NIL-portal era and how UK fits into it.
In much the same way, I sure miss my ROCK AND ROLL ... all this over-countrification of music has really left me "clinging to memories of yesteryear."
In an effort to cope, I'm thinking about taking up disc golf !!

 

[ScWildcat3]

You questioned whether I watched the game. Not a huge difference, but seeing the whole court can give additional perspective. Play on the court and the aggressiveness can absolutely be a reflection of the coach's personality. Just look at the football team under Stein.

That matters zero in basketball. Sorry but that’s a huge reach. You must’ve watched a different game or don’t know someone like Wilkins game. We were super aggressive going to the lane. It’s why we got there a ton.

 

[megablue]

I know it's early, but rank these line-ups:

Butler..........................Aberdeen.................Diallo
Robinson...................Chandler..................Wilkins
Otega.........................Otega........................Momcilovic
Carr.............................Dioubate..................N'Diaye
Williams....................Moreno....................Moreno

Right now, although it is quite early, I will go with Year #1, Year #3 and Year #2, as I think (and hope) this year's team should be better than last
year. I must add ... I'm not SURE of it, though.

 

[Bernie4blue]

That matters zero in basketball. Sorry but that’s a huge reach. You must’ve watched a different game or don’t know someone like Wilkins game. We were super aggressive going to the lane. It’s why we got there a ton.

Yeah I think we watched a different game. We hit 11 threes, vs their 1 three. Imagine the outcome if we hadn't done that. And no excuse for 58% from free throw line. First half overall shooting was terrible. Need to finish in the paint to get better shooting percentage. Dunks and finishing layups. Can't be timid in the paint, when going to the basket. That's not the time to be cute.

 

[ScWildcat3]

Yeah I think we watched a different game. We hit 11 threes, vs their 1 three. Imagine the outcome if we hadn't done that. And no excuse for 58% from free throw line. First half overall shooting was terrible. Need to finish in the paint to get better shooting percentage. Dunks and finishing layups. Can't be timid in the paint, when going to the basket. That's not the time to be cute.

Imagine the outcome if we hit 15-16 3’s and not 11. They didn’t hit a lot because we are long and contested most of them. Imagine if Milan shot more and Wilkins hit more. Or we didn’t miss 5-6 layups. Thing is those things you mentioned did happen. Stop living in what if world.

 

[yoshukai]

Ok, so who did last year’s team cook?

I’m talking about the dude you were responding to. I said “that guy” not “ this guy”.

 

[Beatle Bum]

There’s a reason Pope was all in on Rob Wright. Problem is he whiffed and had to run out and get Zoom. Diallo isn’t the lead guard we need here, but Pope was in a bind and had to overpay for him.

Zoom was on campus before Wright.

 

[Beatle Bum]

That’s not how I remember it. Like that other poster, I recall Wright being our first PG target and not turning to zoom until after the Wright whiff.

And for good reason. Wright is the better player.

Your memory on this has failed you.

 

[ScWildcat3]

Your memory on this has failed you.

It’s funny how people just say things like that with such confidence. Zoom was the first call pope made. He wanted both once Rob became available even though he was never really available. Rumor was he was told to leave early once it was known by staff he was using them

 

[Anon722800]

Wright was never coming. Offensively that backcourt is really good but defensively bad. Also Chandler being your second best player can’t be a good thing. Does pope get the credit for developing him also? Chandler isn’t worth what byu supposedly paid either.

I beg to differ. Rainmaker said it was a done deal.

 

[Lameguy]

I’m talking about the dude you were responding to. I said “that guy” not “ this guy”.

Sorry

 

[yoshukai]

Sorry

No need for an apology. I was just clarifying.

 

[wildcat111]

I didn’t watch a second of the game, haven’t even seen a highlight and for the first time in my life, 58 years. I don’t care. I’m already with pope in year 3 that I was with tubby in year 10 (actually worse as I at least cared then). Reading everyone’s thoughts I’m stating with my 12-15 loss season (at best). Thank God for Uk football!!!

Go with 15....no need to sugar coat it anymore.