Well, a few potential fatal flaws emerged tonight

[STL_Cat]

In either case, Saturday is a must win if we want to salvage no less than a 2 seed.

There’s no doubt about that. I’m just saying to dude, it’s not like we’re trading wins for losses or losses for wins here. Losing tonight doesn’t mean we’re going to beat UT on Saturday. It definitely makes it more important though.

 

[HagginHall1999]

1) Hagans...is he good enough at this stage to be the PG for a team that hopes to contend for a title?

2) 3 pt shooting...do we have enough perimeter firepower? We miss so many wide open looks.

3) Depth...got a little from Q but he shot poorly. We needed other guys to step up.

Hey, good to hear from you...wish I could say I was surprised.

How about they played poorly? Happens...and it was really for a half.

 

[UKGrad93]

Just a thought and not an excuse, however, anyone think they may not have taken LSU as seriously as they should since Tennessee is coming to Rupp Saturday? Really did not play well at all tonight.

I agree. Cal even mentioned UT a few times in his pregame interview. All the jazz about game day and whatnot.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

There’s no doubt about that. I’m just saying to dude, it’s not like we’re trading wins for losses or losses for wins here. Losing tonight doesn’t mean we’re going to beat UT on Saturday. It definitely makes it more important though.

Can't afford another home loss. I had a bad feeling prior to the game tonight that we could be caught in a position where we just came off a tough road win and had to play a really good team in the middle, prior to the UT game. No excuse for the poor performance but we've got to come back strong Saturday.

 

[Bluesnky]

I noticed our guys were having trouble staying in front on their man the last two or three games. Lots of side saddling. It was still working for the most part but it was a breakdown in fundamentals. Tonight when the opponent’s quickness was better, it devolved into blow-bys.

I hope it can be fixed.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

I agree. Cal even mentioned UT a few times in his pregame interview. All the jazz about game day and whatnot.

We're in the middle of a really tough stretch. After watching Missouri tonight, they will be tougher than what we think. No breathers in the SEC this year.

 

[HagginHall1999]

Block out fail all night long...how much more basic can you get?

Yet they outrebounded LSU by 7.

The block attempt at the end was a must.

If you would have said, "got beat off the dribble all night"...I'd say, yep.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

I noticed our guys were having trouble staying in front on their man the last two or three games. Lots of side saddling. It was still working for the most part but it was a breakdown in fundamentals. Tonight when the opponent’s quickness was better, it devolved into blow-bys.

I hope it can be fixed.

I noticed the same thing. Looked as if we lost focus on defense quite a few times tonight.

 

[LadyCaytIL]

Lol okay. I mean at this point I have no choice but to hope you’re right but that’s not really how it works.

so should we lose on saturday that way its traded in for winning out the rest of the way? I mean since magical trading of games is happening now lol

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Yet they outrebounded LSU by 7.

The block attempt at the end was a must.

if you would have said, "got beat off the dribble all night"...I'd say, yep.

That's what was strange about the game. The Cats out rebounded LSU, had less turnovers and only made one less three, but somehow, we managed to lose this one.

 

[CatPhight_rivals65113]

Yet they outrebounded LSU by 7.

The block attempt at the end was a must.

If you would have said, "got beat off the dribble all night"...I'd say, yep.

Reid/Williams had 7 offensive boards and two dozen points...most on put backs...

 

[akaukswoosh]

I actually think if we win tonight, we may have lost Saturday. Winning streak pressure is very real. I'll take the loss tonight and end the weekend with a win over #1 all day long.

Everybody loses. (Duke hasnt yet but are down 17). This loss gives Cal the opportunity to get the attention of the team again.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Reid/Williams had 7 offensive boards and two dozen points...most on put backs...

And no one got a hand in Reid's face the entire night.

 

[fisherscat]

Hey, good to hear from you...wish I could say I was surprised.

How about they played poorly? Happens...and it was really for a half.

Lol I’ve been around plenty. On to the next one.

 

[lisacat27]

Meanwhile, Duke is getting trounced

 

[HagginHall1999]

That's what was strange about the game. The Cats out rebounded LSU, had less turnovers and only made one less three, but somehow, we managed to lose this one.

Agreed.

Free throws. They made 19 on 80 something percent....we were 16 and 65ish percent.

Also, I'd be interested to see points off TOs. LSU had 8 steal and we had 9 total TOs. We only had 3 steals and they had 8 total TOs.

Big difference between a dead ball TO and a steal.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Everybody loses. (Duke hasnt yet but are down 17). This loss gives Cal the opportunity to get the attention of the team again.

As poorly as they played tonight it appeared that they were not focused. However blowing an eight point lead in the second half is not good.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Agreed.

Free throws. They made 19 on 80 something percent....we were 16 and 65ish percent.

Also, I'd be interested to see points off TOs. LSU had 8 steal and we had 9 total TOs. We only had 3 steals and they had 8 total TOs.

Big difference between a dead ball TO and a steal.

LSU had 8 steals. We only

19-22 on FT's while we were 16-23. Not a huge differential but enough to win.

 

[HagginHall1999]

Lol I’ve been around plenty. On to the next one.

Saving up all your comments till we lost...then our fatal flaws are exposed...

 

[Looksbetterinblue]

1) Hagans...is he good enough at this stage to be the PG for a team that hopes to contend for a title?

2) 3 pt shooting...do we have enough perimeter firepower? We miss so many wide open looks.

3) Depth...got a little from Q but he shot poorly. We needed other guys to step up.

Great post. A lot of our new strengths that appeared to be developing disappeared. We still played to a stalemate, but that doesn’t really cut it at home. Let’s hope it was just a trap game and a hiccup and not a trend. That’s the kind of game that ends your season in March.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I will say this.. someone needs to step up. Our offense is pretty limited. No one seems to be able to create separation. No one is a reliable shooter for 40 minutes. We're winning on defense and rebounding. That won't work for 6 straight games.

I think the offense is limited when we don’t pass the ball. When we work the ball and find the shot we play great. We do it about 60% of the time and that’s good enough most nights. We need to get it to about 80% for the Tourney.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

I mean Ashton getting two quick fouls took him out of the game and limited his aggressiveness. He never seemed to get back in rhythm. Also didn't help to have 4 on PJ.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Great post. A lot of our new strengths that appeared to be developing disappeared. We still played to a stalemate, but that doesn’t really cut it at home. Let’s hope it was just a trap game and a hiccup and not a trend. That’s the kind of game that ends your season in March.

I was concerned about this game due to the timing. A couple of tough road wins and a grind it out game against Kansas may have taken something out of us. From watching us play D there didn't seem to be a lot of respect given to their outside shooting, except for Waters. Hope we get it back by Saturday.

 

[Cats192]

I didn't think so much fatal flaws.

Two big mistakes down the stretch. Travis turned the ball over when we could have run out the clock and gotten the last shot. EJ went for the block when he should have been the off-side rebounder. Either one of those 2 done right, and we're celebrating.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

I didn't think so much fatal flaws.

Two big mistakes down the stretch. Travis turned the ball over when we could have run out the clock and gotten the last shot. EJ went for the block when he should have been the off-side rebounder. Either one of those 2 done right, and we're celebrating.

And how in the hell did KJ's shot rim out? Looked as if it was down then just jumped out.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

1) Hagans...is he good enough at this stage to be the PG for a team that hopes to contend for a title?

2) 3 pt shooting...do we have enough perimeter firepower? We miss so many wide open looks.

3) Depth...got a little from Q but he shot poorly. We needed other guys to step up.

Dukes getting blown out by uofl...guess they should cancel the season

 

[Looksbetterinblue]

I think the “fatal” reference was meant more as “season ending” if they appear at the wrong time. Free throws matter. Composure matters. Point guard play matters. I love our guys and Hagans has come on really strong, but this wasn’t his best night and we took some questionable shots at times. We had been doing great in that dept.

 

[CatPhight_rivals65113]

Agreed.

Free throws. They made 19 on 80 something percent....we were 16 and 65ish percent.

Also, I'd be interested to see points off TOs. LSU had 8 steal and we had 9 total TOs. We only had 3 steals and they had 8 total TOs.

Big difference between a dead ball TO and a steal.

And missed the front end at least three times tonight... :/

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Dukes getting blown out by uofl...guess they should cancel the season

Duke is getting manhandled under the rim, plus someone is finally calling fouls on Williamson. Looks as if Duke, with the exception of Zion, doesn't like physical play.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

And missed the front end at least three times tonight... :/

Those were killers.

 

[MychalG]

Well Cawood, sometimes the ball tips your way, sometimes it tips their way. That LSU team, well they are a scrappy bunch. Our youth showed in certain situations during the game. We just gotta put it behind us, lace em up tomorrow and get ready for the Vols on Saturday..

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Well Cawood, sometimes the ball tips your way, sometimes it tips their way. That LSU team, well they are a scrappy bunch. Our youth showed in certain situations during the game. We just gotta put it behind us, lace em up tomorrow and get ready for the Vols on Saturday..

Appeared that LSU wanted it more. They played hard the entire game.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

I think the “fatal” reference was meant more as “season ending” if they appear at the wrong time. Free throws matter. Composure matters. Point guard play matters. I love our guys and Hagans has come on really strong, but this wasn’t his best night and we took some questionable shots at times. We had been doing great in that dept.

I felt as if we rushed a lot of shots tonight.

 

[CatPhight_rivals65113]

Appeared that LSU wanted it more. They played hard the entire game.

LSU backcourt absolutely owned us tonight...

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

More evidence that Baker is an overrated marginal shooter.

So I guess there's that.

 

[CatPhight_rivals65113]

More evidence that Baker is an overrated marginal shooter.

So I guess there's that.

He got absolutely torched on defense - not worth the liability

 

[JC43]

Everybody loses. (Duke hasnt yet but are down 17). This loss gives Cal the opportunity to get the attention of the team again.

I am saying the same thing. Cal has their full attention now for UT...
I predict that we see a new Keldon, how huge was it for him to hit the tying ft after going 3-7 from the line earlier.
Quickley was serviceable and showed he can run the team, hagans was out the first half, we go into halftime up 8....
Hagans needs to just take it hard to rack and get fouled, seems like he is shying away from contact...the SEC now know how to guard him in the halfcourt, been lucky with him hitting the long distant 2's and 3's..
PJ played huge when we were down and hit his ft when it mattered most.
Cal will show them how to value each possession and how to play thru adversity.
Crazy but I feel way more confident about the game this Saturday vs when I woke up this AM.
Cal will have great practices and UT I'll be like wtf? What happened to us when we beat them by double digits

 

[arenk]

This is true; they were 19-22 while we were 16-23. That's only a three point difference but enough to win.

Maybe all this talk that Herro and Hagans are OAD will finally tamp down a bit. Neither is ready yet and both should return. Maybe even KJ should too.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

We made it to the final four as an eight seed before

They did but they were in reality a 6 seed that was given an 8 for tv matchups

 

[dmpatp]

1) Hagans...is he good enough at this stage to be the PG for a team that hopes to contend for a title?

2) 3 pt shooting...do we have enough perimeter firepower? We miss so many wide open looks.

3) Depth...got a little from Q but he shot poorly. We needed other guys to step up.

There he is!!! Welcome back.