Concerns that we won't win it all.

[Bigkyfan88]

Now I'm not going off the deep end and saying that UK is a horrible team and doesn't have a shot of winning it all. However I have my concerns, some legit and some superstitious.

Only 2 of Kentucky's 8 national championship teams have lost at home. This team lost at home. 3 point shooting is atrocious and shooting in general isn't great(not including dunks and layups which UK is very good and why we have 48% FG). Coach Cal seems reluctant to play our best 3 point shooter, because he isn't a good defender(the 8 guys that let UCLA score 97 points are CLEARLY much better defenders). Something else that is troublesome is the fact that coach Cal encourages Briscoe and Fox to shoot jumpers(guessing for NBA draft stock and to raise their confidence). Fact is they aren't great shooters, but that's ok. We don't need them to be good shooters. They are really good at other things that help this team be a title contender. They need to understand their role on the team and sacrifice for the greater good of the team to succeed. My suggestion is take one three a game and if you make it then shoot them until you miss.

I feel like if this team is going to win it all this will need to happen. Willis needs to play more consistent and stronger with the ball. Gabrielle can't break down and have mental lapses on defense(as much). The team needs to get Bam more involved on offense and help defense needs to improve when we do have defensive break downs. I also feel like UK should try to have two of Monk/Willis/Mulder on the floor as much as possible to help with driving lanes.

That being said I've been really impressed with the team. They have exceeded my expectations so far. Briscoe imroved his FT % and FG%. Bam is becoming more consistent and learning to stay out of foul trouble. Monk is playing like Derek Anderson. Fox is an all around great player and probably the most diverse player in UK history. Minus the UCLA loss this team has been the most consistent team through 9 games in UK history. Overall I'm excited to see how this season plays out. One thing I know for sure is that this team is the most exciting team to watch since I've been born 1988. What do you all think about this season so far?

 

[Lempface]

Game over, pack it in, lets go home.

 

[Clive Gollings]

What do you all think about this season so far?

I'm really entertained. Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe was a fun team to watch. As well as Davis, Gilchrist team. Even the loss to UCLA was a fun game to watch.

 

[Mike-D]

Chances are we won't win it all. If we don't, it won't be because we lost at home to UCLA. How many teams have won it all starting 4 Freshman? We could look at random stats all day. When we get to the tournament, we will have a team that has a better chance to win it all than most everyone else. That's all you can hope for. A good chance heading into March.

 

[Clive Gollings]

Chances are we won't win it all. If we don't, it won't be because we lost at home to UCLA. How many teams have won it all starting 4 Freshman? We could look at random stats all day. When we get to the tournament, we will have a team that has a better chance to win it all than most everyone else. That's all you can hope for. A good chance heading into March.

Nailed it.

 

[WildMoon]

ohhh Gabrielle, sounds like a sexy chick.

No picture or it didn't happen!!!!

 

[JerseyCat84_rivals57050]

Going undefeated at home the last few seasons sure helped us with those titles.

 

[Xception]

We had good three point shooters last year , set us up good for the title

 

[ulismyman]

The guy has lost 6 games in 8 years at home...im not gonna ***** about losing a home game

 

[Kewlcats]

I would like to know how many of those national champions played a legit top 10 or top 5 team at home?

 

[docholiday51]

Chances are we won't win it all. If we don't, it won't be because we lost at home to UCLA. How many teams have won it all starting 4 Freshman? We could look at random stats all day. When we get to the tournament, we will have a team that has a better chance to win it all than most everyone else. That's all you can hope for. A good chance heading into March.

Like you said,chances are we won't but we will probably be one of 6 or so teams that have a decent shot to get to the Final Four.When you get past the first weekend it is all about match-ups and a couple of breaks going your way.

This is still a hard team to read,we may be very good or we may be pretty good.I get the feeling that even Cal isn't sure where this team is going. How much better will Fox get,I think it is a matter of him figuring out the college game,where will Bam go from here,I think we haven't seen the best of him yet.Gabriel will do some WOW stuff and some wtf stuff,how he progresses is one of the X factors for this team.I think the other X factors are what do we get from Humphries SKJ and yes, Mulder.We sort of know what to expect from Willis,Monk,Briscoe and Hawkins.

Cal said we may not be as far along as he thought and I think he is right about that.If there is that much getting better to be done it will be fun to watch.

 

[ManitouDan_anon]

Like most my confidence took a hit last weekend . I still dont like our offensive balance . Cal doesnt keep 2 shooters on the floor and while we are insane blast to watch when the game is loose and fast paced the final 4 / Elite 8 tend to more defensive and 1/2 court oriented , harder to turn over teams that have got that far. So without lots of open court buckets I worry about having to beat a team with good 1/2 court O and the ability to control the boards VS the Cats . We dont shoot the 3 consistently , and sadly to say the D by our guards needs to get far far better ( not including Isiah or Hawk' ) And Bam is a beast on the glass but cant do it himself . My opinion is IF .. IF you give Gabriel major minutes with Briscoe we cant guard the paint nor rebound with the best teams out there.

 

[kennywalker34]

This team,like all of Cal's team will improve. We will be in the mix with a handful of other teams to cut down the nets. Takes talent and some luck to win it all.
Every year Cal has been here sans the Noel injury year. I have felt like we have at least had a shot to win it all. That is all you can ask for.

 

[stoneycat_20]

I doubt we win a title this year..I still think Cal will have to have some stars return to go with the top Fr.

 

[fisherscat]

After the 38-1 season ended the way it did, the angst of KY fans went way up and will stay that way. Even more than usual. Cats have been so close to multiple titles and/or an udefeated best team ever seaon that our thirst for another title is at the same level as it was during 2012 season. Thats why every game is a referendum on whether it proves the Cats can win it all or not.

 

[mdlUK.1]

We've had 8 NC's in 100+ years, so odds are against us. Never had a UK fan quit so soon though.smh

 

[jrpross_rivals]

I was surprised at the messy, albeit close loss at home, and I'll admit my confidence level went down a little. But the '12 championship team may have lost at home to UNC had it not been for the very last block by AD. I also know that Cal wants his teams to peak in March, not December. At this point in the season, I am still way more confident in this team than I was in 10-11 or 13-14, when we went to final four's. So yes, this team has some weaknesses, but they have a crazy high ceiling and nobody has shown that they can make a young team improve in a short time more than Cal.

 

[144catfan]

Chances are we won't win it all. If we don't, it won't be because we lost at home to UCLA. How many teams have won it all starting 4 Freshman? We could look at random stats all day. When we get to the tournament, we will have a team that has a better chance to win it all than most everyone else. That's all you can hope for. A good chance heading into March.

Cal's approach to building a team is with 3-4 freshman starters each season so we cannot use that as an excuse. That's how our program is ran. Either we will be good enough or we won't. No excuses.

 

[Xception]

 

[WildcatDJ]

OP you just outlined the impending improvements for this team throughout the remainder of the season.

We're playing a lot of youth. They're not going to play like the finished product you described just yet. I'm just gonna enjoy watching it play out.

 

[Anon1712931820]

Only 2 of the 8 past national championship teams have lost at home.

Just looking at the last 4 years...3 of the NCAA champions lost at home. Might want to check facts guy before you try to post something as one.

Duke 2015
UCONN 2014
Louisville 2013

All lost at home and I didn't even bother going back to see the rest of the 8 years because if you were THAT wrong it isn't worth the time lol.

 

[Aike]

I am also concerned that we won't win it all.

My reasons are Villanova, UNC, Kansas, Duke, UCLA, Virginia, West Virginia, Baylor...

Seems there are other good teams this year who are also trying to win it all. The right people need to hear about this.

 

[SparksCat]

I think we need to work on half court offensive sets for when defenses pack the middle and prevent drives to the basket

 

[Aike]

Just looking at the last 4 years...3 of the NCAA champions lost at home. Might want to check facts guy before you try to post something as one.

Duke 2015
UCONN 2014
Louisville 2013

All lost at home and I didn't even bother going back to see the rest of the 8 years because of you were THAT wrong it isn't worth the time lol.

UCONN lost 4 home games on 2011.

 

[Aike]

I think we need to work on half court offensive sets for when defenses pack the middle and prevent drives to the basket

I feel like we will get 2 months of practice on that in the SEC.

 

[Anon1712931820]

Just for funsies now lol:

Duke 2015
UCONN 2014
Louisville 2013
UCONN 2011
UNC* 2009*

So really 5 out of 8 past champions lost a home game or more.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

Any sort of "model" as far as a formula for winning a title generally isn't going to work for Calipari coached UK teams. We are so heavily dependent on freshmen that a given Cal team in December bears little resemblance to what it looks like in March. Possibly excepting Duke - but not this Duke team - no other program is like that. The only exception for Cal at UK was the '14-'15 team, which had so many second and third year players that you could use normal rules of analysis.

IOW, a December 10 analysis is necessarily limited......

 

[Aike]

Any sort of "model" as far as a formula for winning a title generally isn't going to work for Calipari coached UK teams. We are so heavily dependent on freshmen that a given Cal team in December bears little resemblance to what it looks like in March. Possibly excepting Duke - but not this Duke team - no other program is like that. The only exception for Cal at UK was the '14-'15 team, which had so many second and third year players that you could use normal rules of analysis.

IOW, a December 10 analysis is necessarily limited......

The most reliable measures, imo, are top 20 rankings in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

We are currently top 7 in both. Maintain that level of efficiency, and we will be one of the favorites to cut down the nets.

 

[fatguy87]

Really going out on a limb there, OP. The odds are against any single team winning the championship. Even dominant teams like our 2015 squad are more likely to not win the championship.

 

[Poetax]

Now I'm not going off the deep end and saying that UK is a horrible team and doesn't have a shot of winning it all. However I have my concerns, some legit and some superstitious.

Only 2 of the 8 past national championship teams have lost at home. This team lost at home. 3 point shooting is atrocious and shooting in general isn't great(not including dunks and layups which UK is very good and why we have 48% FG). Coach Cal seems reluctant to play our best 3 point shooter, because he isn't a good defender(the 8 guys that let UCLA score 97 points are CLEARLY much better defenders). Something else that is troublesome is the fact that coach Cal encourages Briscoe and Fox to shoot jumpers(guessing for NBA draft stock and to raise their confidence). Fact is they aren't great shooters, but that's ok. We don't need them to be good shooters. They are really good at other things that help this team be a title contender. They need to understand their role on the team and sacrifice for the greater good of the team to succeed. My suggestion is take one three a game and if you make it then shoot them until you miss.

I feel like if this team is going to win it all this will need to happen. Willis needs to play more consistent and stronger with the ball. Gabrielle can't break down and have mental lapses on defense(as much). The team needs to get Bam more involved on offense and help defense needs to improve when we do have defensive break downs. I also feel like UK should try to have two of Monk/Willis/Mulder on the floor as much as possible to help with driving lanes.

That being said I've been really impressed with the team. They have exceeded my expectations so far. Briscoe imroved his FT % and FG%. Bam is becoming more consistent and learning to stay out of foul trouble. Monk is playing like Derek Anderson. Fox is an all around great player and probably the most diverse player in UK history. Minus the UCLA loss this team has been the most consistent team through 9 games in UK history. Overall I'm excited to see how this season plays out. One thing I know for sure is that this team is the most exciting team to watch since I've been born 1988. What do you all think about this season so far?

You lay awake at night worrying, the rest of us will patiently watch them improve for the next 3+ months.

 

[turkeywildturkey]

Now I'm not going off the deep end and saying that UK is a horrible team and doesn't have a shot of winning it all. However I have my concerns, some legit and some superstitious.


Only 2 of the 8 past national championship teams have lost at home. This team lost at home. 3 point shooting is atrocious and shooting in general isn't great(not including dunks and layups which UK is very good and why we have 48% FG). Coach Cal seems reluctant to play our best 3 point shooter, because he isn't a good defender(the 8 guys that let UCLA score 97 points are CLEARLY much better defenders). Something else that is troublesome is the fact that coach Cal encourages Briscoe and Fox to shoot jumpers(guessing for NBA draft stock and to raise their confidence). Fact is they aren't great shooters, but that's ok. We don't need them to be good shooters. They are really good at other things that help this team be a title contender. They need to understand their role on the team and sacrifice for the greater good of the team to succeed. My suggestion is take one three a game and if you make it then shoot them until you miss.

I feel like if this team is going to win it all this will need to happen. Willis needs to play more consistent and stronger with the ball. Gabrielle can't break down and have mental lapses on defense(as much). The team needs to get Bam more involved on offense and help defense needs to improve when we do have defensive break downs. I also feel like UK should try to have two of Monk/Willis/Mulder on the floor as much as possible to help with driving lanes.

That being said I've been really impressed with the team. They have exceeded my expectations so far. Briscoe imroved his FT % and FG%. Bam is becoming more consistent and learning to stay out of foul trouble. Monk is playing like Derek Anderson. Fox is an all around great player and probably the most diverse player in UK history. Minus the UCLA loss this team has been the most consistent team through 9 games in UK history. Overall I'm excited to see how this season plays out. One thing I know for sure is that this team is the most exciting team to watch since I've been born 1988. What do you all think about this season so far?

Cry yrar.
Derek Anderson never played like Monk. Monks a much better athlete and a much better shooter.

As far as being concerned about winning it all, the sun will still come up, and life will go on. There's always next year.

 

[c0d0r123]

I'm having a hard time understanding where these lofty expectations from the fan base came from. Some of you folks don't have a right to complain about losing confidence in our cats. That **** is toxic to the culture.
We look exactly like what I we expected, a top 10-15 team.
There's more to college ball than youngins with sure fire future NBA talent.

 

[Aike]

Cry yrar.
Derek Anderson never played like Monk. Monks a much better athlete and a much better shooter.

As far as being concerned about winning it all, the sun will still come up, and life will go on. There's always next year.

Anderson was shooting 40% from three on 5 attempts per game when he got hurt.

And I wouldn't say he was on Monk's level athletically, but he wasn't THAT far behind. Monk is just a freak.

 

[c0d0r123]

I think we need to work on half court offensive sets for when defenses pack the middle and prevent drives to the basket

Exactly, which speaks to a broader point on why we will always struggle with a structured and well executed offense: Freshman.

Defensive concepts are easier to adapt with good speed and talent. Cal wants our young guys flying around in transition because it takes advantage of what they excell at. On average we don't have the young guns long enough to learn the more complicated concepts that you see with older teams.

One thing I'm proud of is you will never see Cal have us clog the lane or any other gimmicky "sagging zone" ******** like other coaches because our guys are learning to operate like pros.

This will always be the norm unless they are like Tyler Ulis and play like they're 30 instead of 20.

 

[Aike]

Exactly, which speaks to a broader point on why we will always struggle with a structured and well executed offense: Freshman.

Defensive concepts are easier to adapt with good speed and talent. Cal wants our young guys flying around in transition because it takes advantage of what they excell at. On average we don't have the young guns long enough to learn the more complicated concepts that you see with older teams.

This will always be the norm unless they are like Tyler Ulis and play like they're 30 instead of 20.

Except that this is the first team Cal has had here, other than the first one, that flies around in transistion.

Most of our teams under Cal have been highly efficient, while playing plenty of halfcourt and at an average or slower tempo.

Examples:

2016/5th in offense/220 in tempo

2015/6th offense/271 tempo

2014/14th offense/221 tempo

2012/2nd offense/147 tempo

2011/8th offense/202 tempo

So the truth is typically the opposite of what you say.

So far this year we are 7th in offense and 11th in tempo. A stark contrast.

 

[ashleys handfull]

I don't think we'll win it all because Cal lets his chosen handfull play through mistake after mistake. And they'll still be making those same mistakes in March(playing against better teams/coaches) because that's what the young ones do, especially when a minute or two on bench isn't used as motivator/teaching. Meanwhile other players that should be getting minutes and development will stay at the same level on the bench, not improved for March or the year/s after. Rinse, repeat.

 

[Aike]

I don't think we'll win it all because Cal lets his chosen handfull play through mistake after mistake. And they'll still be making those same mistakes in March(playing against better teams/coaches) because that's what the young ones do, especially when a minute or two on bench isn't used as motivator/teaching. Meanwhile other players that should be getting minutes and development will stay at the same level on the bench, not improved for March or the year/s after. Rinse, repeat.

Elite Eights, Final Fours, National Champs. Rinse and repeat.

 

[c0d0r123]

Except that this is the first team Cal has had here, other than the first one, that flies around in transistion.

Most of our teams under Cal have been highly efficient, while playing plenty of halfcourt and at an average or slower tempo.

Examples:

2016/5th in offense/220 in tempo

2015/6th offense/271 tempo

2014/14th offense/221 tempo

2012/2nd offense/147 tempo

2011/8th offense/202 tempo

So the truth is typically the opposite of what you say.

So far this year we are 7th in offense and 11th in tempo. A stark contrast.

Actually yes you're right, the numbers don't lie. You listen to coach so long about using speed and talent in transition you forget that alot of our teams played inside out.
I do stand by my point of not getting enough time with your guys to really teach a smooth half court offense. This is why I wish folks wouldnt complain about losing confidence in the team. It's like, who sold you a bill of goods? The team or yourself?

 

[ashleys handfull]

Elite Eights, Final Fours, National Champs. Rinse and repeat.

Not the NC. Which is what used to be the goal at this program.

 

[Aike]

Not the NC. Which is what used to be the goal at this program.

We didn't win the NC in 2012?

Have I bumped my head? Alternate universe?

Yes, the National Championship has been the goal as long as I've been watching (1981).

We've even won it THREE TIMES. Three times in 35 years...I'd be pretty miserable if that's all that mattered to me. Maybe as miserable as you.