Adjustment has been made

[Bill_the_cat]

Yes the last few games have been odd starts. But with the loss of Lowe and waiting on JQ, the team struggled in the early part of the season.
Now Lowe is completely out, MM is coming along (as expected), and JQ is going to game to game with knee swelling ( it is just part of the process).
The team has learned to play with a true PG. It only gets better from here on out.

 

[Trinity45]

Yes the last few games have been odd starts. But with the loss of Lowe and waiting on JQ, the team struggled in the early part of the season.
Now Lowe is completely out, MM is coming along (as expected), and JQ is going to game to game with knee swelling ( it is just part of the process).
The team has learned to play with a true PG. It only gets better from here on out.

Adapt and over come

 

[Old Blue Fart]

Yes the last few games have been odd starts. But with the loss of Lowe and waiting on JQ, the team struggled in the early part of the season.
Now Lowe is completely out, MM is coming along (as expected), and JQ is going to game to game with knee swelling ( it is just part of the process).
The team has learned to play with a true PG. It only gets better from here on out.

Agree but feel JQ will be best as a sub from this point on. No matter how good he could be one day, getting there coming in and out of a lineup that is starting to learn how to play together could cause more harm then good.
Take sub minutes and go from there.

 

[MaysviileKY]

The adjustment is hitting shots! It looks like Pope has simplified the offense some. They are screening out high to create a driving lane and shooters on the perimeter to hit shots.

 

[AJBlue]

The adjustment is hitting shots! It looks like Pope has simplified the offense some. They are screening out high to create a driving lane and shooters on the perimeter to hit shots.

I beat this to death but its the spacing of the floor and Pope alluded to that. That is THE thing that allows all the other ball movement off the dribble to happen, and then ball movement leads to better looks and better rhythm of the offense. The didnt just start shooting better they started getting better shots without hesitation which makes everybody a better shooter. Kudos to coach and the players for making this adjustment. The thing to make that work when spacing the floor and for the most part we have all 5 catching and moving the ball. It gets stuck now and then in one hand but for the most part they've done a much better job just spacing and moving.

 

[Possum]

Defense has intensified too. Pope’s employing different defensive sets. 3/4 trap, 2-3 zone. In game adjustments have been impressive.

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

Aberdeen has either figured out his role, bought into it, and/or adjusted to the transition to Kentucky, but he balled out yesterday. Johnson seems to have relaxed. Moreno is ahead of schedule, IMHO. There is hope. Need to keep moving forward though.

 

[CrimsonCats_rivals]

It’s been a weird couple of games since Lowe was known to be out for good. The second half performances show that they’re capable of adjusting, but the first halves show that they aren’t doing it consistently yet. As encouraging as it is that they never gave up, both of those games could have been and honestly probably should have been losses in the end. We need to find more consistency because it’ll probably catch up to us soon if we keep starting that slowly.

 

[Cats_2010]

Defense has intensified too. Pope’s employing different defensive sets. 3/4 trap, 2-3 zone. In game adjustments have been impressive.

We have to start doing this in the beginning of games, not after we get down double digits. In 5 SEC games we have trailed by minimally 12 points in every game but 1 (Missouri at home by 7).

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I’m just happy we finally look like a legit team again! Now, if we can figure out how to get our to good starts, we can really start cooking! Roles are finally being defined and guys are buying in! Now we just gotta get JQ acclimated when he returns. We are gonna need his inside presence at some point. Yesterday was a good example.

 

[NociHTTP]

Agree but feel JQ will be best as a sub from this point on. No matter how good he could be one day, getting there coming in and out of a lineup that is starting to learn how to play together could cause more harm then good.
Take sub minutes and go from there.

I'd seriously LMAO if he opted out and said he chose team chemistry in favor of healing.

 

[Skyguyb27]

I saw a Jeff Goodman article earlier saying he thinks JQ is done for the year. I didn’t really read it because it’s a Jeff Goodman article but maybe the team is finally able to get some closure on JQ and Lowe and commit to playing differently that works with the personnel we have.

 

[NociHTTP]

It’s been a weird couple of games since Lowe was known to be out for good. The second half performances show that they’re capable of adjusting, but the first halves show that they aren’t doing it consistently yet. As encouraging as it is that they never gave up, both of those games could have been and honestly probably should have been losses in the end. We need to find more consistency because it’ll probably catch up to us soon if we keep starting that slowly.

I disagree. The second halves prove they adapt consistently (analytics and character). The first halves prove their game preparation needs tweaking.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I saw a Jeff Goodman article earlier saying he thinks JQ is done for the year. I didn’t really read it because it’s a Jeff Goodman article but maybe the team is finally able to get some closure on JQ and Lowe and commit to playing differently that works with the personnel we have.

Meh idk about all that. There’s a poster on here that talks to JQ personally. He said he isn’t shutting it down.

 

[Goingfor9]

Yes the last few games have been odd starts. But with the loss of Lowe and waiting on JQ, the team struggled in the early part of the season.
Now Lowe is completely out, MM is coming along (as expected), and JQ is going to game to game with knee swelling ( it is just part of the process).
The team has learned to play with a true PG. It only gets better from here on out.

We have a long way to go. We are going no where having to come back from 18 down. I wouldn’t call those starts odd”. That’s who we’ve been all year. I’m happy we have some wins but alot of things still haven’t occurred. JJ needs to be consistent by now for instance. We are in fine shape to make the tournament but I don’t see a team that can make a run. The frigging expectations were lowered to where it looked like we had never played basketball. So now we come back a couple times no we are still a long way. We have some shape and organization but that is stuff we should have had day 1 Lowe or no Lowe.

And let’s be honest. Winning some to close out the season is not great. We need a definitive on pope. I mention Lowe and I think pope would bring him back. What I’ve seen lately is stressed unhappy pope and unfortunately we are better with a coach like that who demands excellence and commands respect. I would want pope to move on to a stud team next year by letting most of these guys go

 

[theBlues]

I thought about starting a new thread for this but your thread title is perfect for it to go here.

We've made a defensive adjustment that needed to be made and I want to point it out: our pick and roll defense had been terrible until the last couple games and it was outstanding against UT. Instead of going over or under screens they've started using the soft hedge and were executing it perfectly against UT.

There is one more defensive adjustment that I think needs to be made and it involves one player and that is AJ and I'm talking about his post defense. I don't want anybody to think I'm attacking AJ; I'm not, this is about coaching.
AJ comes from a background where power forwards generally play on the perimeter and he came here unprepared to defend guys posting him up. AJ is a willing defender and a good enough athlete and intelligent. He is probably our best perimeter defender of our bigs but he is defending the post the same way he defends the perimeter. He stays between his man and the basket and he holds his position but he is not putting his body into the offensive player and leaning on them. When a 200 lb+ guy is leaning on a player that player has to break free of that weight to jump or make a move. But with a foot of space between the defender and him it's easy to go into that jump hook move and it becomes an easy shot for the offensive player. That's what Huff of Gonzaga did to him and UT was doing the same thing. Both times it just led to AJ going to the bench. He just needs some defensive coaching. The kid is willing and able.

 

[Allcats08]

Just in time to be a 8/9 seed. Love this from of Kentucky basketball

 

[Skyguyb27]

Meh idk about all that. There’s a poster on here that talks to JQ personally. He said he isn’t shutting it down.

And it may be possible he returns. My point was Goodman is starting to make comments. JQ very well need to prove he is healthy before the draft which means he needs to play.

 

[bleedsblue5]

We need to sweep these next 2, can't fall asleep at home.

I think after the LSU miracle this team is starting to believe.
Confidence is a heck of a drug.

 

[CutNets]

Yes the last few games have been odd starts. But with the loss of Lowe and waiting on JQ, the team struggled in the early part of the season.
Now Lowe is completely out, MM is coming along (as expected), and JQ is going to game to game with knee swelling ( it is just part of the process).
The team has learned to play with a true PG. It only gets better from here on out.

Good post. Hope you are right. I think the injuries have forced Pope's hand a bit on shrinking the rotation, which was needed. At most levels of basketball high school and up, you have a starting 5 then you have a guard sub, and a big sub. So typically 7-man rotation, and often times 8. I think the injuries have helped Pope get closer to the number needed for a more traditional rotation.


Jasper is your first guard sub, and Garrison is your first big sub. Let the chips fall where they may. Anything beyond would be based on foul trouble and injuries. Pretty simple. I do think Pope was really struggling with cutting down the rotation; partly because of the potential for hurt feelings, and partly because no one really separated themselves as someone we couldn't live without.

 

[UKGrad24]

Aberdeen has either figured out his role, bought into it, and/or adjusted to the transition to Kentucky, but he balled out yesterday. Johnson seems to have relaxed. Moreno is ahead of schedule, IMHO. There is hope. Need to keep moving forward though.

Been saying since beginning of the year. This team will go as Aberdeen goes. Don’t see how it’s arguable. MM is coming as freshman do, Otega is Otega, he’s going to produce the way he produces. Chandler will come as he does he is who he is. Jasper will come along as freshman do, he’ll be much better end than beginning. Aberdeen is the one that has to be the guy who we need to be elite on this roster. He was brought in to be the guy that steadies the offense and is a reliable stud. The key to this team was always Aberdeen.

 

[kyjeff1]

The adjustment is hitting shots! It looks like Pope has simplified the offense some. They are screening out high to create a driving lane and shooters on the perimeter to hit shots.

100%. We're hitting 3's and it’s opening up lanes for our guys to get to the rim.
Plus, Aberdeen seems to have hit another gear, his iso wasn’t working hefore, but it is now.
But yeah, hitting shots will cover up a lot of flaws.

 

[UKGrad24]

I disagree. The second halves prove they adapt consistently (analytics and character). The first halves prove their game preparation needs tweaking.

Well it needs to be tweaked then. There’s no excuse in coming out at UK getting the doors blown off game after game. Should have been fixed week 2. I’ll just never understand it.

we’re very fortunate to have those 2 SEC wins. Now it’s time to take advantage of it. And later in the season especially in the tournament, there’s no way any elite team is going to get us down 15 and let us crawl back. Neither of those teams were elite defensively. I hope he’s putting a stop on that crap but if they continue to come out sleep walking that’s a coaching problem. Played and coached for years, it’s a coaching problem. It’s a lack of preparation and lack of inspiration. These guys should be coming out ready to eat. If not, it’s coaching, especially game after game.

 

[CFE_]

Yes the last few games have been odd starts. But with the loss of Lowe and waiting on JQ, the team struggled in the early part of the season.
Now Lowe is completely out, MM is coming along (as expected), and JQ is going to game to game with knee swelling ( it is just part of the process).
The team has learned to play with a true PG. It only gets better from here on out.

When they start winning the first half - look out.

until then, I'm on heart attack alert.

 

[Bill_the_cat]

When they start winning the first half - look out.

until then, I'm on heart attack alert.

Pope is going to have to give the halftime speech during warmups.

 

[Bleedin Blue in Ohio]

As goes Denzil Aberdeen as goes this Kentucky team. Oweh needs to play robin to Aberdeen's batman the rest of the way. This team needs to focus on getting better defensively, rebounding, and Chandler and Williams making open 3-point shots to open things up for Aberdeen and Oweh. Then the team just needs to grind out wins. If they stop spotting teams' double digit leads, they could make things much easier on themselves.

Only way to make a March run is Aberdeen to play like his old Florida teammate Walther Clayton. He did that 2nd half vs Tennessee. That is what this team needs to make any kind of run.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

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