If most teams played like we do, they'd be 3-17. We're so talented and athletic we get away with it.
This team will not win the NCAA
- Thread starter etowncatfan
- Start date
If most teams played like we do, they'd be 3-17. We're so talented and athletic we get away with it.
Let's all calm down....I noticed the sun came up today. Honestly I think this team could lose another game or two in the SEC. Both Georgia and Florida are capable and like everyone else they're sky high when they face us. I agree that this team has to learn to play defense and it's like they're still playing AAU ball. I don't know how to estimate how much we've "under performed" because I don't put a lot of stock in the talent ratings of high school seniors. If you look strictly at recruiting class rankings we should dominate most years and Duke should be dominating this year. Hasn't happened. We can debate the one and done stuff but I still think there's something to be said for upper classmen leadership and developing chemistry over multiple seasons. If this team learns to play defense they have a shot to win it all. If they don't, anyone in the NCAA tournament field could have a larger than life night and beat them. Last night was the first time this season I've sensed some panic and frustration on the court by this years team. Maybe that will carry over into their focus.
Damn you are dense. Dense as hell. Worrying about UK has improved up to this point is irrelevant. Cal will make the adjustments by March. Now are you willing to take my bet or back out like a little girl we all know you are?
I answered your question. In fact, with facts and without name calling. Now you get to answer mine.
Your answer is very important because if they haven't improved on anything or very few things, that's a problem at this point in the season. This isn't November, it's almost February.
Also, Cal can only do so much with what he's got. If he hasn't made improvements up to this point, which you must agree or you'd be able to answer the question, what makes you think he'll be able to do it in March?
I get your point, but I don't know if they would be that bad. However, their record wouldn't be very good.
No, we didn't get stops down the stretch when it mattered most. We also didn't get enough stops during the rest of the game. A short stretch to get back in the game wasn't sufficient, so we lost.
You're right. We don't have that rim protector/shot blocker that we've funneled opposing players to over most of Cal's tenure here. Since we don't have that, we need to employ a different defensive strategy. Trying to do what we previously did without the pieces to do it isn't very smart IMO.
We almost NEVER make defensive adjustments. Cal has always changed up our offense from year to year based on the type of players and team we have. Sometimes it's pick and roll (2011). Sometimes, it's dominant post play (2010). Sometimes it's a mixture and more dribble drive. However, where I fault him is that he NEVER changes up our defensive strategy to fit our personnel. That is just not very smart.
It isn't a problem. It never has been a problem. Now will you take my bet?
Just going to respond with some thoughts:
UCLA beat us by 5. It wasn't a waxing.
UL needed a career game from Snider and 43% 3-point shooting to beat us by 3 in our first true road game.
Kansas just lost by 16. Our three losses this year have been by a combined total of 10 points.
I'm pretty sure being more talented means you are the better team. By your logic you are saying Tenn is less talented but is the better team and you would rather have that squad in March than our squad.
How we've been winning lately is beating Ole Miss by 23, Texas A&M by 42, Arkansas by 26, Vandy (which is always a hard place to play for freshman because of their weird gym) by 6, Auburn by 20, Miss St (in a game where 50 fouls were called) by 7, South Carolina (the second best team in the SEC) by 16, and now lost to Tenn on the road in the worst game we've played all season by 2.
Underperformed last year maybe. 2 years ago we went 38-1 and made another final four. I wouldn't call that underperforming. Not winning the title was disappointing but in a 1 game win or go home format like the NCAA tournament, anything can happen. Best of three style that team wouldn't have lost to anyone.
There are obviously improvements that need to be made and I trust in Cal to make the adjustments and have the team playing at its best come March. But
I never said I would and I never said I wouldn't.
Since you obviously don't have a response to my question, you've already given me your answer.
I did answer you. I'm not concerned about improvements in January. I'm concerned about a young team's improvements in the beginning of March. Now you can let me know before Saturday if you are willing to take my bet.
I want a DoOver. Can we please play the game again, only this time I want UK to win. All this negative talk and vibes is depressing me. I need a Bud or two. I think we should all call a meeting with Cal and tell him about our displeasure with how he and the team are doing. Maybe he will start playing some zone, or make the players play defense after meeting with us. Let me know what you want to do and I'll text Cal.
No, I didn't say that.. of course I think UK has a shot.. he wanted 4 teams that could win 6 straight and those are it to me.. just my opinion.. They keep playing like they are and no, they don't have a shot..
I'll be honest with you, as a premium member I'm not going to throw my money away by making that bet, especially when I hope they win.
So far, I've answered both of your questions and you've dodged mine.
Really, since you are a fortune teller, please give me the numbers for tonight's powerball drawing. You are just like the rest of us, you don't know **** about what the future will bring. Take a chill pill and relax we have almost 2 months to go.
Just what I thought. It has nothing to do with you coming here- just not posting on the basketball board until next season. Post on the premium board all you want.
And I haven't dodged anything.
UVA just beat #15 ND on the road by 17 and UL just destroyed Pitt by 50+ on the road. Donovan Mitchell is starting to shoot really well for the Cards so when Snider comes back...look out.
FSU
Louisville
Arizona
Gonzaga
Oregon
All 6 of these teams defend much better than the Cats, have rim protection and lots of depth on the bench.
None of them will go anywhere in the tournament. Pitino has done nothing in the tournament since he was at UL except the few years he was paying whores to screw players and recruits. Miller can't get past the Elite 8 no matter how talented his team is. FSU? Any team coached by Hamilton has never done anything. Gonzaga and Oregon? Please!
1 of those teams (FSU) is giving up more ppp on defense in conference play than UK is and absolutely none of those teams have offenses anywhere near the level of UK
Well, we're all still waiting on your answer to specifically where this team has improved throughout the season.
Over the years, I've enjoyed reading and responding to a lot of the posters here, including you. Whether or not I'm right shouldn't determine whether or not I post here for a year.
UCLA was up by 14 points at one point. They were up by double digits for most of the 2nd half. We were ranked number 1 and they were ranked number 9. We had way more talent than they did, yet we got beat by decent margin. Just because we made it close at the end, doesnt mean we were 'in it' until the end.
You've chosen to rewrite what actually happened.
I'm not reading all of this. In the Dominican, missed the game last night, and catching up on the expert opinions as best I can.
Here are some universal comments that are true no matter what happened last night...
Some of y'all don't follow college basketball. Championship level teams lose road games to inferior opponents every single year.
We are good enough to win it. As good as anyone, really. But that still only gives us maybe a 20% chance to win it. Maybe as low as 10% depending on our draw. That's if the season ended today.
It's math.
Here are some universal comments that are true no matter what happened last night...
Some of y'all don't follow college basketball. Championship level teams lose road games to inferior opponents every single year.
We are good enough to win it. As good as anyone, really. But that still only gives us maybe a 20% chance to win it. Maybe as low as 10% depending on our draw. That's if the season ended today.
It's math.
Damn, I see that pattern myself now. In every loss the other team outscored us. You do know if we held a team to 40 and we scored 39...Yanking your chain. We do have to improve on D. Can't let guys drive in and score as easily as they do. Against Tenn we were only getting 1 shot on offense, not the good kind of 1 and done. We have many issues but there are a bunch of teams that would love our issues, Tenn being 1 f them
I just simply asked you to put your money where your comments are. You say the defense sucks and the team hasn't improved and they should have by now and they are selfish. Ok fine. Then they should have no shot against a top 5 team like Kansas this Saturday. You should feel comfortable making the bet. I know I do and I am prepared to not comment in this forum until next October if UK loses.
I didn't rewrite anything. I just gave the score, which is a simple fact and not an opinion or interpretation. We lost by 5 points. You called that "getting waxed" and "getting run off the floor". There is no universe in which losing by 5 points amounts to either of those things. The fact that you won't simply say something reasonable like "Yeah, that's right, I was exaggerating" or something like that tells me you're being emotional and now stubborn.
Guess what? This team will lose another road game. It won't be the end of the world, it won't mean we can't win a title or make the final four. It will just mean a young team wasn't able to handle a road environment. Happens all the time. The problem with this board is the emotionally vexed, hand-wringing, overreactions. A loss is never just a loss for some people, it HAS TO MEAN THAT our coach screwed this up and really isn't a very good coach, and we cannot win anything meaningful and if you can't see that you are simply a cheerleader.
This coach is 23-5 in the tournament, which you'd never guess by all the "we'll get beat again in the tournament once...." and "I guess Cal will never learn that....." kind of posts that appear here after every L. You'd think people that lived through the 2011 and 2014 seasons, which ended in Final Four trips after much worse seasons than this one, would learn.
I ask you this, how many times does Cal have to prove himself?
Also, we have, arguably, the best backcourt in the country, and some say, the best freshmen backcourt ever in college.
EVER!
We also have a beast in the paint and a 4 man showing significant progress.
Everyone feels defeated because uk lost a game to a team with a bad record. UT is actually a very good team, with a bad record and it was at their place.
They were jacked up and we weren't. Losses happen.
But again, how many times does Cal have to prove himself before fans like you trust him?
Cal has won a championship. Yes just once in 7 years. Let me lay out UK other blue blood coachs and you tell me how he stacks up
Billy Clyde 0
Tubby 1 in 10 years
Sutton 0
Pitino 1 in 8 years
Joe B 1 in 13 years
Rupp 4 in 42 years
I think his record stacks up very well
False.
We had a loaded team in 13/14, we couldn't win a road game to save our lives. Same with 10/11.
Your statement is false.
Nope this season is over! You do remember how Aaron Harrison after South Carolina...damn, now I am just making your point for you