Now Comes The Fun Part.

[joeydupree]

I think Maze has to really look to score more(and be effective in doing so) for our offense to get better.

 

[joeydupree]

Hat, BPV, TennNC, and Cotton... Regardless of your differrent takes, when does it get better? What must be done?
Lack of effort/intensity, or lack of fundamentals/coaching, no punishment, no accountability... What will get better sooner? What will cause an improved defense, or at least an improved defensive mentality?

BPV, Hat, TennNC ?

 

[BigPapaVol]

BPV, Hat, TennNC ?

You're not going to get a definitive answer. Nobody knows. If somebody steps up and leads or Bruce benches fills and let's them earn PT back via defensive intensity, our woes will continue.

I would go back to press, running and halfcourt zone if I were Bruce. It would give us the best chance of winning with our streetball style. We dot have any semblance of halfcourt O or D at this point.

 

[joeydupree]

I know there's no definitive answer, just wanted each of your opinions...
We could sit and go through all kinds of scenarios trying to pin one that would make us better, but it obviously is just going to be too much to overcome during this season...

 

[hatvol96]

Hat, BPV, TennNC, and Cotton... Regardless of your differrent takes, when does it get better? What must be done?
Lack of effort/intensity, or lack of fundamentals/coaching, no punishment, no accountability... What will get better sooner? What will cause an improved defense, or at least an improved defensive mentality?

It only gets better when there is a 180 change in this team/staff's attitude. Until the coaches place real value on defensive performance and dole out playing time accordingly, you'll keep seeing what we have lately. When guys start getting rooted to the bench for defensive indifference, it will get better. Not a moment before.

 

[joeydupree]

So Forbes is gone is what your saying...

 

[TIGER DEN]

For Tatum, Hopson, Woolridge, and Negedu, I don't see any real chance for significant improvement until the offseason. They all have to get stronger, faster, smarter, and sounder.

For Tabb and Maze, I hope there will be some continued gradual improvement throughout the season. If there is, the offense should improve along with the guys who have the ball in their hands most of the time.

For Prince, unless his injury is bothering him more than I know and he can get healthy, I don't think there is a lot of improvement to be made.

I don't think you can fix the team's defensive woes until you fix the individual defenders, and with the group of freshmen getting significant minutes, there will be glaring weaknesses all season. Hat suggested it a few weeks ago, but the best answer at this point might be to try to hide part of the problems in a zone.

That's my take, anyway...

Untill this team plays as one on defense they aren't going to get much better .JMO

 

[dickens821]

So Forbes is gone is what your saying...

:clapping::clapping::clapping:

 

[UK fan in MI]

remind me which of that crew was a defensive mind?

I guarantee you that everyone on that list would tell you that defense is about heart, not about head, even though none every played or coached any to speak of.

Summer camps are about fun time. Team coaching is a different animal, but don't let that shake your belief that defense is Neurosurgery. I'm surprised more schools aren't pulling down Rhodes scholars to teach the theory of the man D. Maybe we should be recruiting guys with pocket protectors with a penchant for fundamentals. They'll defend well.

O.K., I can't take it anymore, I have to step in here. First off, as you can see, I'm a UK fan, I'm not here to troll or flame, just want to join in the conversation.

O.K., TennNC, I knew UK was going to win (I'll get to that in a minute) but you called Jody's night long before the game started, you said he would drop 50 and he did (+4).
You guys are arguing back and forth about defensive issues. Fact is, your all right. It takes so much effort physically and mentally to be a "GOOD" defender. You can't defend JM with a guy who only has heart and no ability, heck, if that was the case, UK would have played three walk ons because they are Kentucky boys who have dreamed about playing for UK, they have more heart than anyone on the team but they can't guard Maze worth a crap. However, you can't put an athletic guard that can jump out of the gym that has no heart (Hopson) on Meeks because he doesn't care about team concept.

Now, lets get back to the reason why I knew UK would win Tuesday night. some of you will get mad but your team consists of a bunch of streetballing "ME" players. There's zero communication and no cohesion. I recognize it because that was UK 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 years ago. You have a freshman that is all about the Bling and getting to the next level, I bet you can guess who that is. The players are only part of the problem though, even though I think Pearl has great qualities, he is a very one dimensional coach, he makes zero adjustments, if you beat the pressure you win, plain and simple. You don't have a deadly 3 point shooter anymore, Hopson's rafter dusting shots are meant for a game of horse. Where are the offensive sets? Wayne Chism and T. Smith have talent, but they need to lose the attitude and work hard to get open so they can make plays. I know UK's defense was very good but UT didn't run anything, they rely on fast breaks, three pointers and pressure defense that requires athletisism, heart and knowledge, you guys have the first part but are missing the other two.
In my opinion, you have very good talent, you can build a team around Smith, Chism and Maze but they are going to have to make a commitment, lose the headbands and play the game like you care about the university that pays your tuition. Here's an example, when the horn sounded to end the game and the announcer dug Jodie Meeks out of the pile, all he wanted to talk about was how bad he wanted the team to win the game, he wanted to do whatever he had to do to win the game. Now if any of the UT guys had a night like that they would stand up on the scorers table in full headband mode with a hat on sideways jabberin' about how good they. If I was Tyler Smith I would get the team in a room, lock the door, no coaches allowed and hash it out, the effort is not there and neither is the heart. Ultimately the coach is responsible though, if you aren't going to play the game right than you need to sit the pine, if not, it's going to get worse.

 

[PandamoniumReigns]

O.K., I can't take it anymore, I have to step in here. First off, as you can see, I'm a UK fan, I'm not here to troll or flame, just want to join in the conversation.

O.K., TennNC, I knew UK was going to win (I'll get to that in a minute) but you called Jody's night long before the game started, you said he would drop 50 and he did (+4).
You guys are arguing back and forth about defensive issues. Fact is, your all right. It takes so much effort physically and mentally to be a "GOOD" defender. You can't defend JM with a guy who only has heart and no ability, heck, if that was the case, UK would have played three walk ons because they are Kentucky boys who have dreamed about playing for UK, they have more heart than anyone on the team but they can't guard Maze worth a crap. However, you can't put an athletic guard that can jump out of the gym that has no heart (Hopson) on Meeks because he doesn't care about team concept.

Now, lets get back to the reason why I knew UK would win Tuesday night. some of you will get mad but your team consists of a bunch of streetballing "ME" players. There's zero communication and no cohesion. I recognize it because that was UK 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 years ago. You have a freshman that is all about the Bling and getting to the next level, I bet you can guess who that is. The players are only part of the problem though, even though I think Pearl has great qualities, he is a very one dimensional coach, he makes zero adjustments, if you beat the pressure you win, plain and simple. You don't have a deadly 3 point shooter anymore, Hopson's rafter dusting shots are meant for a game of horse. Where are the offensive sets? Wayne Chism and T. Smith have talent, but they need to lose the attitude and work hard to get open so they can make plays. I know UK's defense was very good but UT didn't run anything, they rely on fast breaks, three pointers and pressure defense that requires athletisism, heart and knowledge, you guys have the first part but are missing the other two.
In my opinion, you have very good talent, you can build a team around Smith, Chism and Maze but they are going to have to make a commitment, lose the headbands and play the game like you care about the university that pays your tuition. Here's an example, when the horn sounded to end the game and the announcer dug Jodie Meeks out of the pile, all he wanted to talk about was how bad he wanted the team to win the game, he wanted to do whatever he had to do to win the game. Now if any of the UT guys had a night like that they would stand up on the scorers table in full headband mode with a hat on sideways jabberin' about how good they. If I was Tyler Smith I would get the team in a room, lock the door, no coaches allowed and hash it out, the effort is not there and neither is the heart. Ultimately the coach is responsible though, if you aren't going to play the game right than you need to sit the pine, if not, it's going to get worse.

Do you really think he was going to stand up and say "I'm the greatest. I'm the reason we won. I did it for me and my NBA stock, not for my team."??? Meeks is a great talent, but not a team player. He is another Stephon Marbury. He can be dangerous, but can cost the team a win in the tourney with his lack of team ball.

However, good post....spot on with most of it. Welcome to the boards!

 

[Bassmanbruno]

O.K., I can't take it anymore, I have to step in here. First off, as you can see, I'm a UK fan, I'm not here to troll or flame, just want to join in the conversation.

O.K., TennNC, I knew UK was going to win (I'll get to that in a minute) but you called Jody's night long before the game started, you said he would drop 50 and he did (+4).
You guys are arguing back and forth about defensive issues. Fact is, your all right. It takes so much effort physically and mentally to be a "GOOD" defender. You can't defend JM with a guy who only has heart and no ability, heck, if that was the case, UK would have played three walk ons because they are Kentucky boys who have dreamed about playing for UK, they have more heart than anyone on the team but they can't guard Maze worth a crap. However, you can't put an athletic guard that can jump out of the gym that has no heart (Hopson) on Meeks because he doesn't care about team concept.

Now, lets get back to the reason why I knew UK would win Tuesday night. some of you will get mad but your team consists of a bunch of streetballing "ME" players. There's zero communication and no cohesion. I recognize it because that was UK 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 years ago. You have a freshman that is all about the Bling and getting to the next level, I bet you can guess who that is. The players are only part of the problem though, even though I think Pearl has great qualities, he is a very one dimensional coach, he makes zero adjustments, if you beat the pressure you win, plain and simple. You don't have a deadly 3 point shooter anymore, Hopson's rafter dusting shots are meant for a game of horse. Where are the offensive sets? Wayne Chism and T. Smith have talent, but they need to lose the attitude and work hard to get open so they can make plays. I know UK's defense was very good but UT didn't run anything, they rely on fast breaks, three pointers and pressure defense that requires athletisism, heart and knowledge, you guys have the first part but are missing the other two.
In my opinion, you have very good talent, you can build a team around Smith, Chism and Maze but they are going to have to make a commitment, lose the headbands and play the game like you care about the university that pays your tuition. Here's an example, when the horn sounded to end the game and the announcer dug Jodie Meeks out of the pile, all he wanted to talk about was how bad he wanted the team to win the game, he wanted to do whatever he had to do to win the game. Now if any of the UT guys had a night like that they would stand up on the scorers table in full headband mode with a hat on sideways jabberin' about how good they. If I was Tyler Smith I would get the team in a room, lock the door, no coaches allowed and hash it out, the effort is not there and neither is the heart. Ultimately the coach is responsible though, if you aren't going to play the game right than you need to sit the pine, if not, it's going to get worse.

This post is wrong on so many levels. I'll probably come back and edit this post and highlights the retarded points in here when I have time. If you didn't write such a long essay I could do it now.

 

[UK fan in MI]

Do you really think he was going to stand up and say "I'm the greatest. I'm the reason we won. I did it for me and my NBA stock, not for my team."??? Meeks is a great talent, but not a team player. He is another Stephon Marbury. He can be dangerous, but can cost the team a win in the tourney with his lack of team ball.

However, good post....spot on with most of it. Welcome to the boards!

Really, where do you get your information? i assure you, he is a true team player. In interviews with Gillispie and Patterson they say he is very shy and doesn't take credit, even when it's deserved. he is truly a good kid. You are way off. Not all athletes are like UT players. I hate to be blunt but they have that chip on their shoulder, they need to lose it and change their attitudes if they want to win games against good teams, UK is a good team, not a great team. You should do a little research before you judge someone, Meeks is not what you think.
Again, I'm not here to trash UT, I'm just being honest in my assessment of UT's issues.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

Really, where do you get your information? i assure you, he is a true team player. In interviews with Gillispie and Patterson they say he is very shy and doesn't take credit, even when it's deserved. he is truly a good kid. You are way off. Not all athletes are like UT players. I hate to be blunt but they have that chip on their shoulder, they need to lose it and change their attitudes if they want to win games against good teams, UK is a good team, not a great team. You should do a little research before you judge someone, Meeks is not what you think.
Again, I'm not here to trash UT, I'm just being honest in my assessment of UT's issues.

Once again - an idiotic point. You're a troll and nothing more.

I bet you think Hopson is one of these me first players. He's the most quiet and reserved player on our team that gets significant minutes. But I'm sure he's a thug and only cares about himself and getting to the NBA since he snubbed UK right?

 

[UK fan in MI]

Once again - an idiotic point. You're a troll and nothing more.

I bet you think Hopson is one of these me first players. He's the most quiet and reserved player on our team that gets significant minutes. But I'm sure he's a thug and only cares about himself and getting to the NBA since he snubbed UK right?

Again, I'm not flaming, I'm giving you an opinion from the outside. Hopson is better than what he's showing, why is he taking outside shots? he should be driving and creating. You don't see it but everyone else outside your fanbase sees it as clear as day, your players are very selfish, if they ever learn how to play as a team you would see a much better product on the floor. Patrick Patterson was quoted as saying all the UT players were still talking smack in the last minute of the game when they were down by 20, does that tell you anything at all? probably not, take off your orange glasses, you'll see it.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

Again, I'm not flaming, I'm giving you an opinion from the outside. Hopson is better than what he's showing, why is he taking outside shots? he should be driving and creating. You don't see it but everyone else outside your fanbase sees it as clear as day, your players are very selfish, if they ever learn how to play as a team you would see a much better product on the floor. Patrick Patterson was quoted as saying all the UT players were still talking smack in the last minute of the game when they were down by 20, does that tell you anything at all? probably not, take off your orange glasses, you'll see it.

This shows you haven't watched UT games. No ONE has been the guy to step up - even Tyler isn't doing as well as expected (bad outside shooting hurts his game). If anyone is selfish on our team its JP Prince and everyone here knows it... Cameron Tatum is pushing it though.. as was Woolridge and he hasn't seen much PT since the beginning.

It has nothing to do with playing as a team or being selfish. It has everything to do with a coach who does not know how in the heck to coach a half court offense or defense. That's why we always try to push the ball for transition baskets - that's the only way we've been decent on offense.

The past few years in the half court offense have been NO different than this except for one thing - we actually had shooters to make the ridiculous outside shots that were contested or while the clock was winding down. Now that Lofton and Smith are gone - no one can hit that shot. We still run the same lazy offense when we just pass outside the perimeter and half the time a big is outside the 3-point line with the guards passing it back in forth.. just waiting for someone to do something.

Hopson does drive... and he's our best three point shooter so we don't have much of another option. He doesn't take hardly any shots at all per game so it may seem like he settles for a three - he has forced a few threes but most have been acceptable. He's been successful as well getting into the lane.

And if someone is going to put you down on your home court - taking a beating or not - you better stand up for your team. Don't be that naive to believe Tyler Smith just randomly started trash talking as the game was winding down.

You don't know our team. We've watched every game. You've probably seen two or three games so stop acting like an expert. You're making quite a few incorrect statements.

 

[PPPpartsp3]

Now, lets get back to the reason why I knew UK would win Tuesday night. some of you will get mad but your team consists of a bunch of streetballing "ME" players. You have a freshman that is all about the Bling and getting to the next level, I bet you can guess who that is. lose the headbands and play the game like you care about the university that pays your tuition. . Now if any of the UT guys had a night like that they would stand up on the scorers table in full headband mode with a hat on sideways jabberin' about how good they. .

These little pot shots push you right on over to the troll end.

I am glad that we could pull off the amazing feat of winning the SEC last year, dispite those headbands holding us back.

Hopefully our gangsters won't pull their guns out and shoot the saintly boys from Kentucky.

 

[UK fan in MI]

I've watched more UT games thn you think. I'm an SEC fan, I root for all SEC teams when they are playing out of conference games. I was pulling for UT to beat Gonzaga both times, I hate the fame they are getting, I was pulling for UT to beat G-town and Marquette and they did. You guys need to remember that, UT has some very good wins. I said it earlier in this thread, Bruce Pearl is a one dimensional coach, you beat his pressure defense and you beat UT, but in the same breath, i have seen some nice coaching on Pearls end, the players have to execute and UT's players are not. UK's defense took every option away, that's why there was no inside game from UT.
You guys seem to forget where you were before Pearl arrived in K-ville, your basketball program was in the basement.
So let me ask you this, do you honestly believe that UT's players care about the program and their teammates more than themselves? I beg to differ

And to sit there and call Jodie Meeks selfish because he dropped 54 was idiotic. What was he supposed to do? Stop shooting? Why on earth would you not shoot if you were that hot? So, if maze had 6 three pointers in the first half then came out in the second half and turned down wide open shots so he could feed his teammate you wouldn't think that was a bad decision?:crazy:

I understand how you feel, I defend Uk to the hilt, even through the Tubby years when Uk was pretty pathetic by UK standards. Michigan state fans up here used to laugh at me because they knew as long as Tubby Smith was coaching Kentucky they would never sniff another final four. Looking back on it now, I believe they were right.

 

[UK fan in MI]

This post is wrong on so many levels. I'll probably come back and edit this post and highlights the retarded points in here when I have time. If you didn't write such a long essay I could do it now.

Again, take off those orange glasses so you can see what's really going on. It's your choice. Go to the game thread, half the UT fans were wondering what the UT players were doing. The defense got shredded because they refuse to play with heart or a sence of urgency, there were a lot of plays where you have to question their effort level, it just wasn't there. No way Jodie should have been that wide open in transition, nobody in orange was talking.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

I've watched more UT games thn you think. I'm an SEC fan, I root for all SEC teams when they are playing out of conference games. I was pulling for UT to beat Gonzaga both times, I hate the fame they are getting, I was pulling for UT to beat G-town and Marquette and they did. You guys need to remember that, UT has some very good wins. I said it earlier in this thread, Bruce Pearl is a one dimensional coach, you beat his pressure defense and you beat UT, but in the same breath, i have seen some nice coaching on Pearls end, the players have to execute and UT's players are not. UK's defense took every option away, that's why there was no inside game from UT.
You guys seem to forget where you were before Pearl arrived in K-ville, your basketball program was in the basement.
So let me ask you this, do you honestly believe that UT's players care about the program and their teammates more than themselves? I beg to differ

And to sit there and call Jodie Meeks selfish because he dropped 54 was idiotic. What was he supposed to do? Stop shooting? Why on earth would you not shoot if you were that hot? So, if maze had 6 three pointers in the first half then came out in the second half and turned down wide open shots so he could feed his teammate you wouldn't think that was a bad decision?:crazy:

I understand how you feel, I defend Uk to the hilt, even through the Tubby years when Uk was pretty pathetic by UK standards. Michigan state fans up here used to laugh at me because they knew as long as Tubby Smith was coaching Kentucky they would never sniff another final four. Looking back on it now, I believe they were right.

Honestly, all you're doing is saying a bunch of stuff we're already aware of - and then bashing our players and coaches in the next sentence.

UK did NOT take every option away. They played soft on the perimeter and crowded the lane because they knew we sucked at 3-point shooting... thus limiting Tyler Smith and Chism so I'm not sure where you got that.

I guarantee these guys care about their teammates and you aren't watching the same games if you think differently. You're confusing bad decision making (comes from the coach and the green light to let his players shoot whatever and play more freely) lack of hustle and discipline with selfishness. I do not see how you say these guys are selfish - that's just dumb.

At this point only Chism should be looking forward to the NBA. What you're seeing is a lack of discipline (starts from the top) and a lazy style of play in the half court. It all starts with Bruce - if he can't motivate these guys, teach them to play defense, and teach them the simple things he needs to recruit different players - basketball players, not athletes.

I don't know who said Meeks is selfish - I don't blame him for shooting that much Tuesday. But he hasn't exactly been team player of the year in other games I've watched and he's pushed it too far at times causing himself to turn the ball over 5 times a game and hurt his team.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

Again, take off those orange glasses so you can see what's really going on. It's your choice. Go to the game thread, half the UT fans were wondering what the UT players were doing. The defense got shredded because they refuse to play with heart or a sence of urgency, there were a lot of plays where you have to question their effort level, it just wasn't there. No way Jodie should have been that wide open in transition, nobody in orange was talking.

You're freakin' kidding right? I've been as hard on the team or coach than most on this board (save Hatvol and a few others). I'm not a retard. I know whats going on. We flat out suck. I'm sorry but you're just way off base - although you finally said one thing that was on - they aren't bringing the intensity and effort for a full 40 minutes.

The only reason we beat Marquette and Georgetown is because of talent and talent only. Those teams have gelled and progressed since it was early in the season - while we haven't at all.

 

[UK fan in MI]

These little pot shots push you right on over to the troll end.

I am glad that we could pull off the amazing feat of winning the SEC last year, dispite those headbands holding us back.

Hopefully our gangsters won't pull their guns out and shoot the saintly boys from Kentucky.

So are you saying that UT's players are a cohesive unit? Are you saying they are playing for the name on the front of the jersey? I sure didn't think so. You guys lost some scoring from a year ago but you were still the unanimous favorite to win the SEC but you lost both games to a struggling Gonzaga team, you barely squeeked out a road game at Georgia who is going to finish last in the worst of the big conferences and you already have 5 losses. Why is that? You can disagree with me all you want, but until they learn how to play as a team and respect the name on the front of the jersey they are going to continue to get embarrassed. They were talking trash all game long, even when they were down by 15.
On the other hand, UT has some very good players, Tyler Smith, Wayne Chism and Maze have the ability to be very good, but they have to talk during the game, how many times did Meeks come down in transition and nobody was covering him? pretty much every time, nobody was talking. I was waiting for Hopson or Maze to drive the ball into the lane and get fouled, they never did it. Why? They had UK's interior players in foul trouble. I also thought their effort level was at about 80%, they weren't playing hard. It's only one loss, maybe they will learn from it but it's going to take player commitment.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

So are you saying that UT's players are a cohesive unit? Are you saying they are playing for the name on the front of the jersey? I sure didn't think so. You guys lost some scoring from a year ago but you were still the unanimous favorite to win the SEC but you lost both games to a struggling Gonzaga team, you barely squeeked out a road game at Georgia who is going to finish last in the worst of the big conferences and you already have 5 losses. Why is that? You can disagree with me all you want, but until they learn how to play as a team and respect the name on the front of the jersey they are going to continue to get embarrassed. They were talking trash all game long, even when they were down by 15.
On the other hand, UT has some very good players, Tyler Smith, Wayne Chism and Maze have the ability to be very good, but they have to talk during the game, how many times did Meeks come down in transition and nobody was covering him? pretty much every time, nobody was talking. I was waiting for Hopson or Maze to drive the ball into the lane and get fouled, they never did it. Why? They had UK's interior players in foul trouble. I also thought their effort level was at about 80%, they weren't playing hard. It's only one loss, maybe they will learn from it but it's going to take player commitment.

I don't know - maybe because all of the Kentucky guards were slumping 5 feet off our the guys outside the 3-point line since we aren't a threat knock down threes consistently? So the lane was clogged already - just maybe? Maybe that's why Tyler Smith was what? 5/14?

 

[UK fan in MI]

Honestly, all you're doing is saying a bunch of stuff we're already aware of - and then bashing our players and coaches in the next sentence.

UK did NOT take every option away. They played soft on the perimeter and crowded the lane because they knew we sucked at 3-point shooting... thus limiting Tyler Smith and Chism so I'm not sure where you got that.

I guarantee these guys care about their teammates and you aren't watching the same games if you think differently. You're confusing bad decision making (comes from the coach and the green light to let his players shoot whatever and play more freely) lack of hustle and discipline with selfishness. I do not see how you say these guys are selfish - that's just dumb.

At this point only Chism should be looking forward to the NBA. What you're seeing is a lack of discipline (starts from the top) and a lazy style of play in the half court. It all starts with Bruce - if he can't motivate these guys, teach them to play defense, and teach them the simple things he needs to recruit different players - basketball players, not athletes.

I don't know who said Meeks is selfish - I don't blame him for shooting that much Tuesday. But he hasn't exactly been team player of the year in other games I've watched and he's pushed it too far at times causing himself to turn the ball over 5 times a game and hurt his team.

O.K., you say it's not the players fault, it's the coaches lack of discipline. hmmmmm, why was UT so successfull the last two years? it wasn't just Chris Lofton's shooting, those guys were playing hard, the effort level was way off the charts, it wasn't Tuesday night.

jody meeks is doing what he has to do to win games, UK is very short on scorers, after Meeks and PP there isn't anyone. harris, Stevenson and Miller don't take the open shots, somebody has to.

 

[UK fan in MI]

You're freakin' kidding right? I've been as hard on the team or coach than most on this board (save Hatvol and a few others). I'm not a retard. I know whats going on. We flat out suck. I'm sorry but you're just way off base - although you finally said one thing that was on - they aren't bringing the intensity and effort for a full 40 minutes.

The only reason we beat Marquette and Georgetown is because of talent and talent only. Those teams have gelled and progressed since it was early in the season - while we haven't at all.

I disagree, I don't think UT sucks at all, UK disrupted their offensive flow and one of UK's guys had a career night, if Jodie Meeks wasn't on fire it would have been a very tight game. I just think UT's players need to sit in a room and hash some things out, they need to trust each other and play every play like it's the last. They have an incredible defense when they apply it with passion but they don't bring that passion any where near enough.

 

[UK fan in MI]

I don't know - maybe because all of the Kentucky guards were slumping 5 feet off our the guys outside the 3-point line since we aren't a threat knock down threes consistently? So the lane was clogged already - just maybe? Maybe that's why Tyler Smith was what? 5/14?

So, how did they get Stevenson to foul out, Patterson to collect four and Harris to collect four? Those are all interior guys, they were collecting fouls everytime UT got aggressive inside. when you're 5 for 23 from three point range you need to change your strategy, stop settling for the three and drive the ball.