BB: UK gets the win, What are people saying?

[rivercatinfl]

WHAT AI SAYS -

Kentucky finished exhibition play 3-0 with wins over Little Rock (69-49), No. 19 Texas Tech (76-65), and UCF (90-76 in OT). The results look solid on paper (especially the ranked win and a double-digit final margin against a Big 12 team), but the performances were mixed and highlighted both clear strengths and areas that need cleaning up before the regular season starts Nov. 3 vs. Manhattan.

sportingnews.com
The Good

• Standout individual performances and emerging contributors: Freshman Mason Williams was the breakout star across all three games—efficient scoring (roughly 42 points total on high shooting percentages, including 18 on 7-of-10 vs. UCF), physicality, composure, and low turnovers. He earned praise for playing beyond his years. Milan Momcilovic provided consistent scoring and shooting (led the team or near the top most nights, including 19 vs. UCF with key OT baskets; strong from three early). Malachi Moreno grew into a two-way force, highlighted by a near triple-double (16 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists) vs. UCF, plus solid contributions against Texas Tech. Alex Wilkins delivered clutch plays (buzzer-beater floater to force OT vs. UCF; timely scoring and assists vs. Texas Tech) and showed defensive progress.
  
  kentucky.com
• Defense and length: Strong team defense overall. Held Little Rock to 31% shooting and 10% from three (plus steals/blocks). Limited Texas Tech to 40.6% overall and 26.6% from three. Length bothered opponents without excessive fouling. Braydon Hawthorne showed flashes of elite length/impact (blocks and activity, especially vs. UCF).
  
  on3.com
• Ball movement improvements and free throws (selectively): Progress on turnovers after a rough start (19 vs. Little Rock → better against tougher foes, culminating in 23 assists to 12 turnovers vs. UCF). Excellent free-throw shooting in the Texas Tech game (19-of-22). Resilience and ability to close strongly (OT dominance vs. UCF after a late scare; second-half control vs. Texas Tech).
  
  on3.com
• Other positives: Balanced scoring in spots (five in double figures vs. Texas Tech). Depth flashes and leadership moments (e.g., Moreno in OT huddle). Positive injury updates (e.g., Kam Williams progressing).

The Bad

• Offensive inconsistency and execution: Clunky at times, especially early. Only 69 points on modest efficiency vs. weaker Little Rock competition, with the ball sticking and limited creativity (by design in a simplified scheme). Scoring droughts and settling for jumpers (noted vs. UCF). Zoom Diallo (and the starting backcourt more broadly) was uneven—mixed shooting, decision-making, and early turnovers.
  
  on3.com
• Turnovers and free throws: High turnovers vs. Little Rock (19) hurt flow. Free-throw issues resurfaced at times (poor vs. Little Rock; 9-of-17 in regulation vs. UCF, including key late misses by Hawthorne that forced the Wilkins heroics).
  
  sportingnews.com
• Late-game control and secondary issues: Blew a double-digit lead and nearly lost in regulation to UCF (outscored significantly in stretches of the second half). Allowed too many offensive rebounds/second-chance points in spots (notably vs. Texas Tech). Rotation tightened in tougher games; some role players had limited impact or inconsistency.
• Overall feel: Wins were not always dominant or polished. The UCF game in particular felt closer than the final score, exposing execution gaps that stronger regular-season opponents could punish.
  
  sportingnews.com

Bottom line: Encouraging foundation with talent (especially Williams, Momcilovic, Moreno, and Wilkins’ clutch gene), defensive length, and 3-0 results against varying competition. But offensive fluidity, consistency under pressure, free throws, and limiting turnovers/second chances remain works in progress. These exhibitions did their job by exposing issues for Mark Pope’s staff to address.

Nice post! Exactly on point.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Jealous aren't you

All of us wish we could make millions to play a game. So sure we all are a little jealous lol

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Coach speak for “I have no clue”. Great. We need Kam

I agree. First thing I thought when I read it too. He's still 5-0. No traffic. No physicality. That's still 2-3 weeks away, at best. I originally said Thanksgiving. When I said it, it was the one of the three (Kam, Noah, Morton) that I thought might prove me wrong. Apparently not.

 

[rivercatinfl]

I agree. First thing I thought when I read it too. He's still 5-0. No traffic. No physicality. That's still 2-3 weeks away, at best. I originally said Thanksgiving. When I said it, it was the one of the three (Kam, Noah, Morton) that I thought might prove me wrong. Apparently not.

Ugh

 

[KYFOSSIL]

And if you watch it deeper then you’ll see his defense negated the positives that he did. Multiple times getting lost on defense or not switching when he was suppose to. Even the block he made on the 3pt shot was him having to recover because he was lost on defense, a taller player and he doesn‘t get the block. There’s a reason that his +/- has been low in all 3 games.

So his 4 blocks, a steal and several deflection do not count toward defense. The vast majority of the people that watched that game and that's fans, media basketball experts thought he had a very good showing so what did they see that was so different from what you saw?

 

[Lameguy]

So his 4 blocks, a steal and several deflection do not count toward defense. The vast majority of the people that watched that game and that's fans, media basketball experts thought he had a very good showing so what did they see that was so different from what you saw?

I saw a +/- of -5 that lead me to go back and watch his total defense in which he got lost on defense multiple times that resulted in wide open threes and Dior Johnson just abused him on drives to the basket. I saw a player with the game on the line commit a foul that allowed UCF to go up by 1 then he let the pressure get to him thus missing 2 free throws. I’m not saying he’s not going to get better, he’s just a work in progress.

 

[Cleatortoises]

I saw a +/- of -5 that lead me to go back and watch his total defense in which he got lost on defense multiple times that resulted in wide open threes and Dior Johnson just abused him on drives to the basket. I saw a player with the game on the line commit a foul that allowed UCF to go up by 1 then he let the pressure get to him thus missing 2 free throws. I’m not saying he’s not going to get better, he’s just a work in process.

Aren't we all a work in proGress?

 

[KYFOSSIL]

I saw a +/- of -5 that lead me to go back and watch his total defense in which he got lost on defense multiple times that resulted in wide open threes and Dior Johnson just abused him on drives to the basket. I saw a player with the game on the line commit a foul that allowed UCF to go up by 1 then he let the pressure get to him thus missing 2 free throws. I’m not saying he’s not going to get better, he’s just a work in process.

I can agree with that, but I do feel the plus minus stat is one of the most overrated stats because it depends on who you're with and what Quality imposing team is playing at that time. But you still seem to focus on the mistakes so try to understand if he doesn't make a couple of those blocks things could've been much worse.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

I can agree with that, but I do feel the plus minus stat is one of the most overrated stats because it depends on who you're with and what Quality imposing team is playing at that time. But you still seem to focus on the mistakes so try to understand if he doesn't make a couple of those blocks things could've been much worse.

Whole lot of truth to this. Individual +/- in a one game look is almost meaningless. Far too dependent on the lineup. Extremely small scale data. If you're going to look at +/- for an individual player you've simply got to have a handful of competitive games to get any type of real usable data. For single game +/- the most accurate data is that of lineups. Then filter the player you're looking for. Unfortunately we as fans don't have access to it. Which sucks, because it's super easy to get. I have it hours after a HS game.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

So his 4 blocks, a steal and several deflection do not count toward defense. The vast majority of the people that watched that game and that's fans, media basketball experts thought he had a very good showing so what did they see that was so different from what you saw?

He gets lost off the ball way WAY too much. He also gives up way too many straight line drives. The "steal" he had was from a HORRIBLE corner to corner skip pass. You don't throw that pass against a zone, much less man defense. That was the result of a piss poor decision, rather than a great defensive play. His length is his one calling card. I know one of his blocks, and I think it was actually two, came from him getting beat and then getting back in the play (a good thing) to use his length to make the block. If he can fix the stuff that needs fixed, he could be a very good defender. As it is now, he's essentially a guy that's going to get beat or lost and have to rely on his length to try and block shots or the team will have to overhelp.

 

[Lameguy]

I can agree with that, but I do feel the plus minus stat is one of the most overrated stats because it depends on who you're with and what Quality imposing team is playing at that time. But you still seem to focus on the mistakes so try to understand if he doesn't make a couple of those blocks things could've been much worse.

Yes it could have been worse and if he didn’t get out of position on defense it could have been a lot better. He was playing 2 guard and regardless of what people say about Kam, we need Kam back and if Hawthorne comes in play him at the 3 or 4, preferably the 3.

 

[Lameguy]

Thank you, that’s all I’ve been trying to say. And for context he spent a lot of time in there with the starters minus Zoom.

 

[Seth_C]

Jealous aren't you

You are more annoying than the people you are complaining about. Am I allowed to say that? Or is criticizing you also off limits?

 

[Artlaibesghost]

You are more annoying than the people you are complaining about. Am I allowed to say that? Or is criticizing you also off limits?

Say what you like. Dont tell me however that some of the vitriol aimed at some of our players in the last few years isnt pure jealousy. People screamed for years " we should pay these players " well this is what it looks like