Coaching was remarkable

#26
#26
sami said:
I don't disagree that the wealth might be more spread out as we move forward, but with Michigan State and Duke among the final eight and Kentucky as a Sweet 16 team, the blue bloods have been represented. And it's kind of hard not to see Alabama as a blueblood hoops program at this point, and Pearl has Auburn headed there as well. I hate to say it, but if Pope can get a group of players that never laid eyes on each other before this season to the Sweet 16, I'd be highly surprised if Kentucky isn't loaded up again in the next couple of years.
Click to expand...
I think Pope is a good coach and I agree Ky will always have a label of Blueblood. I think Blueblood status rests on the coach. Duke coach K, Ky status is still living off the reputation of coach's and teams in the past.

NC for example is it still a blueblood program or not? Some would say "yes". Mich St is a constant and will remain one because of Izzo. Kansas in the non Nil and Transfer portal era, was a blueblood, got caught cheating and slapped on the hand and kept their NC title.

In today's world the playing field has equaled out and it will rest where it should be on coaching with the legal ability to pay players. Bluebloods will fade away eventually. Less Cinderella's and more talent floating to the top that we would have never been seen.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gainesvol82
#28
#28
sami said:
I don't disagree that the wealth might be more spread out as we move forward, but with Michigan State and Duke among the final eight and Kentucky as a Sweet 16 team, the blue bloods have been represented. And it's kind of hard not to see Alabama as a blueblood hoops program at this point, and Pearl has Auburn headed there as well. I hate to say it, but if Pope can get a group of players that never laid eyes on each other before this season to the Sweet 16, I'd be highly surprised if Kentucky isn't loaded up again in the next couple of years.
Click to expand...
Alabama is and never will be a blue blood in basketball. You have to be pretty dim to say that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volizona, Just a VolinTears, TartanTurff and 1 other person
#29
#29
Barnes used a couple of timeouts to settle the team down, call a play to get a basket and perhaps hydrate and rest the troops in a physical game, the days of playing through a rut are over, given the talent on the floor in the SEC night in and night out, the score can flip 8 - 10 points in a 30 - 45 second stretch and those scenarios have to be avoided, particularly in tournament play
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Just a VolinTears
#32
#32
Sudden Impact said:
NIL and the Transfer Portal is killing off the Blueblood programs.
All the Bluebloods had to do was to recruit and offer.

Now the emphasis is on a Coach's Ability to coach X's and O's.
In the future, less top in recruits will go to Blueblood programs.
Kentucky and Kansas are great examples of this. At times, more so than not, they looked very predestinarian.

CRB is a great coach with good eyes. We are seeing it because of the recruiting, Nil and Transfer Portal because he is now able to get what he needs for his brand and style.

Duke is the only Blueblood I see that may not be hampered by NIL & TP because of the coach.

Ky entered that game flat and remained flat. That is on coaching and staff. Reason, conditioning and defense.
It was a first round TKO. KY got hit in the first minute and never got off the mat.

This game was one of the best officiated games I have seen Doug Shows call.
Click to expand...
Agree with everything except the blue blood statement. Whoever has the largest NIL$ will have the best opportunity to assemble the best roster. Kentucky, Duke, NC, and Kansas are still likely to provide basketball a larger NIL pot than traditional football power schools. JMO
 
  • Like
Reactions: Just a VolinTears and sami
#33
#33
Sudden Impact said:
I think Igor is really growing up and needed to be under CRB for 4 years. So much potential but needed a Coach to push him. He has been pushed and coddled by CRBs at the same time and has had to adjust to it in one year. Not long enough. IGOR will run through a wall for Barnes, but is still wanting to please and fills comfortable doing it his way at times vs CRB's. Another year under Barnes would have been great. Also, there is probably a backstory we are not aware of in the background.
Click to expand...

I've said the same for Chaz. Another year under Barnes would have made him a lock 1st round pick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Just a VolinTears, DuckInAPen and walkenvol
#34
#34
Sudden Impact said:
I think Pope is a good coach and I agree Ky will always have a label of Blueblood. I think Blueblood status rests on the coach. Duke coach K, Ky status is still living off the reputation of coach's and teams in the past.

NC for example is it still a blueblood program or not? Some would say "yes". Mich St is a constant and will remain one because of Izzo. Kansas in the non Nil and Transfer portal era, was a blueblood, got caught cheating and slapped on the hand and kept their NC title.

In today's world the playing field has equaled out and it will rest where it should be on coaching with the legal ability to pay players. Bluebloods will fade away eventually. Less Cinderella's and more talent floating to the top that we would have never been seen.
Click to expand...

UNC is at a tipping point right now with Davis. They would love a favorite son to succeed, but one more off year and he's history. But they have enormous resources for the basketball program, and the next coach is certain to be a major name.

The praise of Scheyer cracks me up. The toughest decisions he has to make is which 5-stars to keep and which to let go each year. With the talent on that team, they should roll to the national title whether Scheyer shows up for the game or not.

Interesting with Kansas and Michigan State - their blueblood status might last as long as Self and Izzo are there. Much like Villanova, when that iconic coach leaves, filling that spot can be close to impossible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Just a VolinTears
#37
#37
sami said:
It might have been irrelevant in the big picture, but I didn't want a letdown in the last two minutes to let KY make the score respectable with a couple of cheap 3's. I loved that the intensity was maintained for 40 minutes. The kids clearly wanted to make a statement, and they resoundingly did that.
Click to expand...

The fact that we weren't even particularly "hot" shooting from the perimeter makes me very excited for the Houston match up. We shot ok from outside against UK but most of our damage was done by getting in the lane and on the offensive boards with around 8-10 transition points added in.

We played one of our smartest and most efficient complete games of the season but nowhere near one of our hotter perimeter games. Shoot a little better but keep the smart intensity and rebounding and we will beat Houston.
 
#39
#39
gainesvol82 said:
The fact that we weren't even particularly "hot" shooting from the perimeter makes me very excited for the Houston match up. We shot ok from outside against UK but most of our damage was done by getting in the lane and on the offensive boards with around 8-10 transition points added in.

We played one of our smartest and most efficient complete games of the season but nowhere near one of our hotter perimeter games. Shoot a little better but keep the smart intensity and rebounding and we will beat Houston.
Click to expand...

Agree. 40 minutes of the same kind of intensity and focus with a better shooting night from Chaz = victory.

In some seasons I might have worried a bit about a letdown after such an emotional win, but not with this group. They have matured and grown incredibly as this season has progressed, and ZZ, Shack, and Jordan don't want their careers here to end with a loss.

One guy who hasn't been mentioned much from yesterday but made some huge plays is D-Stone. Big early 3, that clutch block when it looked like KY might make a run, and a stabilizing factor against the full court pressure with his ball handling. He has come up big in some big spots this year, and is only starting to get comfortable now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ttocswob, Just a VolinTears and gainesvol82
#40
#40
sami said:
Agree. 40 minutes of the same kind of intensity and focus with a better shooting night from Chaz = victory.

In some seasons I might have worried a bit about a letdown after such an emotional win, but not with this group. They have matured and grown incredibly as this season has progressed, and ZZ, Shack, and Jordan don't want their careers here to end with a loss.

One guy who hasn't been mentioned much from yesterday but made some huge plays is D-Stone. Big early 3, that clutch block when it looked like KY might make a run, and a stabilizing factor against the full court pressure with his ball handling. He has come up big in some big spots this year, and is only starting to get comfortable now.
Click to expand...

Totally agree and made similar points about D-Stone in another post/thread. Last night should be what we expect out of him....easily within his capacity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sami
#43
#43
sami said:
I don't disagree that the wealth might be more spread out as we move forward, but with Michigan State and Duke among the final eight and Kentucky as a Sweet 16 team, the blue bloods have been represented. And it's kind of hard not to see Alabama as a blueblood hoops program at this point, and Pearl has Auburn headed there as well. I hate to say it, but if Pope can get a group of players that never laid eyes on each other before this season to the Sweet 16, I'd be highly surprised if Kentucky isn't loaded up again in the next couple of years.
Click to expand...

I think one of the prerequisites for being considered a blueblood is having a national championship. Bama is lacking that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sami
#44
#44
gainesvol82 said:
The fact that we weren't even particularly "hot" shooting from the perimeter makes me very excited for the Houston match up. We shot ok from outside against UK but most of our damage was done by getting in the lane and on the offensive boards with around 8-10 transition points added in.

We played one of our smartest and most efficient complete games of the season but nowhere near one of our hotter perimeter games. Shoot a little better but keep the smart intensity and rebounding and we will beat Houston.
Click to expand...
I'm certain that was by design. Kentucky was very good at defending the 3 and very poor at defending the 2. 1000006724.png
 
#45
#45
Pepe_Silvia said:
I think one of the prerequisites for being considered a blueblood is having a national championship. Bama is lacking that.
Click to expand...

Very good point. And more than one Final Four as well.

If Oats stays, they might get there because the resources will be there.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top