Pope's adjustments on the pick and roll

[kyjeff1]

I thought Pope made some nice adjustments. Credit Texas Tech for going to the PnR over and over early, but it looks to me like Pope pressured their guards way out high and took that away. I thought that was a really effective way to neutralize what they were doing.

TT is a tough team and I know it was an exhibition, but both teams wanted this one, we got the W.

 

[WallMash]

Lots on here are singing the praises of Williams but few are praising what he does on their pick and rolls. He's our best guard at fighting through a pick and still guarding his man. Even pope won't keep him on the bench after he watches the tape.

 

[chattanooga_wildcat]

More like Pope's adjustments on my *** and hole.

 

[Loucatfan30]

I thought Pope made some nice adjustments. Credit Texas Tech for going to the PnR over and over early, but it looks to me like Pope pressured their guards way out high and took that away. I thought that was a really effective way to neutralize what they were doing.

TT is a tough team and I know it was an exhibition, but both teams wanted this one, we got the W.

Pope coaching was legendary

 

[KYAnywhereEverywhere]

Where are the mods tonight? The guy above is putting some of the worst derangement in the history of Rafters on the board tonight. Methed up level madness. I'm not one for posting the "don't feed the trolls" rhetoric because that ironically feeds them, but this guy is coming unraveled and needs to go on permabanned ASAP.

 

[HolySmokes]

Its the beard

 

[phunterd]

More like Pope's adjustments on my *** and hole.

That’s quite a way to admit you’re gay.

 

[ScWildcat3]

I thought Pope made some nice adjustments. Credit Texas Tech for going to the PnR over and over early, but it looks to me like Pope pressured their guards way out high and took that away. I thought that was a really effective way to neutralize what they were doing.

TT is a tough team and I know it was an exhibition, but both teams wanted this one, we got the W.

The first 2 scores of the game the pick and roll up top was guarded fine. Milan just disengaged too early leaving the roller under the rim wide open. It got fixed after that. Also Wilkins started changing up his coverage throughout the game as did the other guards. Would jump it, ice it, go under, squeeze through. The multiple looks really had the screener lost sometimes. Anybody who says poor can’t coach just don’t like pope. He has other flaws but he can coach the game. Watch his ATO’s. They are usually great as are his opening scoring plays like the one to zoom and last year to Oweh a lot.

 

[Anon722800]

Brilliant coaching by a brilliant coach. Sky is the limit

 

[kyjeff1]

The first 2 scores of the game the pick and roll up top was guarded fine. Milan just disengaged too early leaving the roller under the rim wide open. It got fixed after that. Also Wilkins started changing up his coverage throughout the game as did the other guards. Would jump it, ice it, go under, squeeze through. The multiple looks really had the screener lost sometimes. Anybody who says poor can’t coach just don’t like pope. He has other flaws but he can coach the game. Watch his ATO’s. They are usually great as are his opening scoring plays like the one to zoom and last year to Oweh a lot.

Yeah, the "Pope can't coach" crowd is clueless. Pope is actually a very good tactician and really good at adjusting.

The other thing he's good at, is designing plays out of a timeout, we seem to score every time.
With our previous coach, we rarely scored.

I see too many people on here mad at Pope because he took the job that was offered to him. Why would he not take the job? He obviously believes in himself, I would and they would too.

Pope has obviously studied the game and has a ton of tricks up his sleeve.

Does he have quirks and weaknesses? Sure does, so does everyone else.

This looks to be Pope’s best team and they looked really good at times, especially on defense surprisingly.

Something tells me the torch and pitchfork crowd is going to be upset a lot this year.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Yeah, the "Pope can't coach" crowd is clueless. Pope is actually a very good tactician and really good at adjusting.

The other thing he's good at, is designing plays out of a timeout, we seem to score every time.
With our previous coach, we rarely scored.

I see too many people on here mad at Pope because he took the job that was offered to him. Why would he not take the job? He obviously believes in himself, I would and they would too.

Pope has obviously studied the game and has a ton of tricks up his sleeve.

Does he have quirks and weaknesses? Sure does, so does everyone else.

This looks to be Pope’s best team and they looked really good at times, especially on defense surprisingly.

Something tells me the torch and pitchfork crowd is going to be upset a lot this year.

I tend to agree. I told everyone during the first exhibition that I was pleased with what I saw. Most people look at things like whether or not we make the jumpers or what the score is. That’s not how to do analysis. I see a team that works in great harmony, with a lot of complementary parts, has abnormal positional size, are willing defenders and threats to shoot from anywhere at anytime. Those shots will start dropping — I think this team is a 4 seed, Sweet 16 team. If Moreno can step up to the level we would need him to be, we can be better than that. He’s quick to give up on defensive plays and rebounds, can’t have that — he needs to be in relentless pursuit.

 

[bleedsblue5]

I love that Pope can draw up plays and adjust to things.
I do not love how his players seem a bit out of it at times, if he can ever get them to lock in with some intensity we could be great.

 

[kyjeff1]

I tend to agree. I told everyone during the first exhibition that I was pleased with what I saw. Most people look at things like whether or not we make the jumpers or what the score is. That’s not how to do analysis. I see a team that works in great harmony, with a lot of complementary parts, has abnormal positional size, are willing defenders and threats to shoot from anywhere at anytime. Those shots will start dropping — I think this team is a 4 seed, Sweet 16 team. If Moreno can step up to the level we would need him to be, we can be better than that. He’s quick to give up on defensive plays and rebounds, can’t have that — he needs to be in relentless pursuit.

I agree, but if this team stays healthy, Zoom improves, NJ improves, Moreno gets tougher,Wilkins settles in and our defense keeps getting better, sweet 16 could be the floor.

I was so impressed with our defense. The last 2 years, our perimeter defense wouldn’t defend outside the arch, but last night, they were putting great pressure on some very good guards, way beyong the arch and it bothered them.

I was really impressed with TT's guards, they are going to beat a lot of good teams and our guys did a great job taking them out of what they wanted to run.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

I agree, but if this team stays healthy, Zoom improves, NJ improves, Moreno gets tougher,Wilkins settles in and our defense keeps getting better, sweet 16 could be the floor.

I was so impressed with our defense. The last 2 years, our perimeter defense wouldn’t defend outside the arch, but last night, they were putting great pressure on some very good guards, way beyong the arch and it bothered them.

I was really impressed with TT's guards, they are going to beat a lot of good teams and our guys did a great job taking them out of what they wanted to run.

Yeah this year’s Kentucky team should be Pope’s best defensively. I did not expect that before watching the exhibition games. N’Diaye is an absolute stud defensively, Mason Williams is a good defender and despite the awful start, I thought Wilkins gave outstanding effort on the defensive end. Bring back a healthy Kam and get Moreno to step up and I can absolutely see an Elite Eight run being on the table.

 

[chroix]

Good progress from exhibition one to two. That first one had me worried but this team is better than last years and if they play to their potential should be fun to watch.

 

[chroix]

Yeah this year’s Kentucky team should be Pope’s best defensively. I did not expect that before watching the exhibition games. N’Diaye is an absolute stud defensively, Mason Williams is a good defender and despite the awful start, I thought Wilkins gave outstanding effort on the defensive end. Bring back a healthy Kam and get Moreno to step up and I can absolutely see an Elite Eight run being on the table.

N’Diaye had a couple defensive moments where he was really impressive. Hell of a presence when he’d get low and lock in.

 

[ScWildcat3]

N’Diaye had a couple defensive moments where he was really impressive. Hell of a presence when he’d get low and lock in.

He has impressive foot speed and lateral quickness along with length.

 

[Anon722800]

Yeah this year’s Kentucky team should be Pope’s best defensively. I did not expect that before watching the exhibition games. N’Diaye is an absolute stud defensively, Mason Williams is a good defender and despite the awful start, I thought Wilkins gave outstanding effort on the defensive end. Bring back a healthy Kam and get Moreno to step up and I can absolutely see an Elite Eight run being on the table.

Elite 8? Dude this team is loaded. Any less than Final 4 will be a surprise to me

 

[Anon722800]

Yeah, the "Pope can't coach" crowd is clueless. Pope is actually a very good tactician and really good at adjusting.

The other thing he's good at, is designing plays out of a timeout, we seem to score every time.
With our previous coach, we rarely scored.

I see too many people on here mad at Pope because he took the job that was offered to him. Why would he not take the job? He obviously believes in himself, I would and they would too.

Pope has obviously studied the game and has a ton of tricks up his sleeve.

Does he have quirks and weaknesses? Sure does, so does everyone else.

This looks to be Pope’s best team and they looked really good at times, especially on defense surprisingly.

Something tells me the torch and pitchfork crowd is going to be upset a lot this year.

I could see this team finishing the job we couldn't close out in 2015. 40-0!

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Elite 8? Dude this team is loaded. Any less than Final 4 will be a surprise to me

Ok, troll. We get the schtick.

No, I don’t see Final Four. Would absolutely love to be wrong. I think we still look vulnerable on the boards, are susceptible to high turnovers and bad shooting nights. I’d doubt we are an elite defensive team, probably just a good one.

 

[HipTer]

I thought Pope made some nice adjustments. Credit Texas Tech for going to the PnR over and over early, but it looks to me like Pope pressured their guards way out high and took that away. I thought that was a really effective way to neutralize what they were doing.

TT is a tough team and I know it was an exhibition, but both teams wanted this one, we got the W.

I liked the adjustment as well. Defense has always been my biggest concern with Pope. Like a good offense, a good defense is based on fundamentals and schemes. But coaching defense is a lot more about the ability to motivate intensity than offense. This was Pitino’s strength, especially earlier in his career, as well as guys like Bruce Pearl and Bob Knight – they motivated in very different ways, but they got the needed intensity and focus on detail. (As an aside, those are a just a couple of old examples, and I don’t think you have to be a person of bad/flawed character to be a good motivator as a coach.)

I believe Pope has the know-how – likely better than most even at the Div. I level. However, I’ve questioned his ability to motivate on defense. Still, questioning and being confident in knowing are two different things. And even if my suspicion was correct, growing is just as possible in coaching as any other endeavor.

 

[TrueBluePhil]

If I recall didn't pope say that Fox is in charge of the defense this year so maybe this is why we are seeing a difference in how they are playing. I don't know if anyone remembers this but Donavan at Florida did the same thing. He hired and assigned an assistant coach that was in charge of the defense only. I think he won 2 NC's after that. Maybe this might be the move that gets Pope to the next level. We shall see if it works or not this year.

 

[ScWildcat3]

If I recall didn't pope say that Fox is in charge of the defense this year so maybe this is why we are seeing a difference in how they are playing. I don't know if anyone remembers this but Donavan at Florida did the same thing. He hired and assigned an assistant coach that was in charge of the defense only. I think he won 2 NC's after that. Maybe this might be the move that gets Pope to the next level. We shall see if it works or not this year.

Aboya is going to help on defense too. He’s known as a defensive guy especially playing under Ben howland while at UCLA

 

[UKCowboys]

Yeah, the "Pope can't coach" crowd is clueless. Pope is actually a very good tactician and really good at adjusting.

The other thing he's good at, is designing plays out of a timeout, we seem to score every time.
With our previous coach, we rarely scored.

I see too many people on here mad at Pope because he took the job that was offered to him. Why would he not take the job? He obviously believes in himself, I would and they would too.

Pope has obviously studied the game and has a ton of tricks up his sleeve.

Does he have quirks and weaknesses? Sure does, so does everyone else.

This looks to be Pope’s best team and they looked really good at times, especially on defense surprisingly.

Something tells me the torch and pitchfork crowd is going to be upset a lot this year.

I think year one was a little better, but that team might have been FF with some health luck

 

[RunninRichie]

o

If I recall didn't pope say that Fox is in charge of the defense this year so maybe this is why we are seeing a difference in how they are playing. I don't know if anyone remembers this but Donavan at Florida did the same thing. He hired and assigned an assistant coach that was in charge of the defense only. I think he won 2 NC's after that. Maybe this might be the move that gets Pope to the next level. We shall see if it works or not this year.

I feel pretty damn good, knowing that Mark Fox is our defensive coordinator. 2 national titles on the way.

 

[chroix]

He has impressive foot speed and lateral quickness along with length.

Big long dude too. He could be something special in the defensive end.