NIT bound. Mark it down.

 

This is a scary prediction, because a Highlands' guy can surely spot an underachieving team this year.

Cal must go!

This is a scary prediction, because a Highlands' guy can surely spot an underachieving team this year.

I'm not so sure they are underachieving. Maybe this is typically what happens when you play with a bunch of true frosh and a couple of sophomores, and then match them up against first-rate competition, like MSU, Baylor and UNC.

This one went just about like I had expected. I believe that I had picked UNC by 6.

As of right now, if UNC is #18 then U.K. is not a top 20 team. (and btw, before today I thought that UNC was way better than #18)

Anyway, there is no doubt that the Cats should have won. UNC is a tough place to play and this kind of scenario, crowd these guys had better get used to bc it's going to be that way every game on the road from here on out, I'll promise that. U.K. gets eveyones best shot, they had better learn that as well.

This game reminded me of the MSU game in that the Cats could have, probably should have won. Turnovers, way too many and most were the kind caused by terrible passing, terrible FT shooting again. To me anyway, both of those are from lack of concentration, focus. Andrew H. looked good again as imo did Young. Randle is steady, one cannot expect him to carry the entire load every night. No one should be expected to do that. They all should be expected to get themselves focused on what they need to do.

Finals this week, only 2 games in the next two weeks and with school on Christmas break then practice time will not be as limited. If people remember, this span of time, the next two weeks, were when the NC Championship team, the Elite 8's and Final Four teams came together, jelled and came back in January, the SEC season and played "Kentucky Basketball". So being honest, should they come out in January making the same mistakes over and over then I will be worried. Not now, I still believe that this team will come together and as Cal says "play for each other" and by March be an excellent basketball team. I do not believe that as I have heard some say, will be another last season. Even with all the mistakes (that imo will get corrected) imo this team has a far better attitude than the "Uncoachable's".

 

Well said,:thumb:

Then you'll just have to be disappointed in me.

 

"I have had it with this team" doesn't mean I've given up. I'm expressing both frustration & disappointment with this team. I still plan to watch them & root for them, but they aren't the priority they were for me when the season started.

 

Did anybody honestly expect this team to have three losses a week-and-a-half before Christmas?

 

Believe expectation for some where too high. Though some games could go either way and they have. Belmount and uofL could too. There will be some road trips that might not fair well for the Cats. My son and I discussed that the National Champion this year could have 5 or more losses. Just have patience with this team....they will get there.

The Fab Five lost 7-8 games as freshmen. It's not that easy to come in and just dominate. It is what it is. If they are playing like this in late January and February, them start worrying. Not now.

The Fab Five lost 7-8 games as freshmen. It's not that easy to come in and just dominate. It is what it is. If they are playing like this in late January and February, them start worrying. Not now.

 

Agree 100%.

These guys are still playing all star game ball in my opinion and the defense looks like o-lay style NBA defense. Charity stripe shooting is poor and you would think it should be a strong suit of a dribble and drive team. Am I wrong in thinking that the National Champ team got away somewhat from that dribble drive offense?

 

Sometimes I think these kids are so focused on themselves, getting to the NBA and doing whatever it takes to ensure first round selection $ that NCAA team ball is an afterthought.

Edited December 15, 201312 yr by OlDog75

He has 1 championship with a team that had LEADERSHIP, this team does not have LEADERSHIP. I'm saying in order to get LEADERSHIP on a team that team is gonna have to have players there for 2-3 years.

 

 

 

For the one's that do go pro, Congrats to them and the best of luck to them. I just don't like the one and done philosophy. If players wanna go to the NBA and not have to wait, then I think the rule should be changed to were kids can go straight to the NBA without going to college first, either that or make kids stay in college at least two years.

 

 

 

Probably not but their's a lot of schools out there that have LEADERSHIP on their teams and that's because they get players to stay more than a year.

You do know the LEADERSHIP on the title team two season's ago was a one-and-done Freshman? MKG. Just because Miller was a senior it doesn't mean he was a leader.

NIT bound. Mark it down.

 

So we can ask you how dumb you feel as they advance each game into the NCAA tournament?

This team REALLY shows how unusual and how good the Wall/Cousins and the MKG/Davis teams were.

This team REALLY shows how unusual and how good the Wall/Cousins and the MKG/Davis teams were.

 

Completely agree, 2012 was an anomaly, led by probably the most dominant player to ever wear blue and white. That team was also patient and coachable.

The Fab Five lost 7-8 games as freshmen. It's not that easy to come in and just dominate. It is what it is. If they are playing like this in late January and February, them start worrying. Not now.

 

They were 25-9. 3rd in Big Ten with 11-7 record.

 

I don't think the beat a ranked team until the Big 10 schedule in January.

 

Losses to: Duke (2x), Minnesota, Purdue, IU, Ohio State (twice), Michigan State, Wisconsin

 

1991-92 Michigan Wolverines Roster and Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

I'm not so sure they are underachieving. Maybe this is typically what happens when you play with a bunch of true frosh and a couple of sophomores, and then match them up against first-rate competition, like MSU, Baylor and UNC.

 

Agreed. A couple of years ago was a fluke that set the expectations way too high. If this is the way the Cats roll year after year, I fear it will be a long time before we see another Final 4 team.

 

On paper it always sounds like they ought to be the greatest, but in reality experience and team chemistry go along way in college ball, and if Kentucky's "wet behind the ears, stars wanting it all now" is going to be their normal approach, you're gonna get this type of disappointment more than not.

 

They shoot themselves in the foot by wanting all the glory all at once. Normally it doesn't work that way, and I equate this with the immaturity of someone wasting their paycheck the same day they cash it.

 

The great players they recruit under these circumstances just develop big heads and forget that they have to back up their hype with work. I used to be a die hard Cats fan, but since Cal has been at the helm they just sicken me. He reminds me of a shady gangster or bookie. Now I just root against them hoping they demonstrate with frequency how dumb and shortsighted their approach is because even if they did manage to grab the ring I'd still feel like they were undeserving of it.

Agreed. A couple of years ago was a fluke that set the expectations way too high. If this is the way the Cats roll year after year, I fear it will be a long time before we see another Final 4 team.

On paper it always sounds like they ought to be the greatest, but in reality experience and team chemistry go along way in college ball, and if Kentucky's "wet behind the ears, stars wanting it all now" is going to be their normal approach, you're gonna get this type of disappointment more than not.

 

They shoot themselves in the foot by wanting all the glory all at once. Normally it doesn't work that way, and I equate this with the immaturity of someone wasting their paycheck the same day they cash it.

 

The great players they recruit under these circumstances just develop big heads and forget that they have to back up their hype with work. I used to be a die hard Cats fan, but since Cal has been at the helm they just sicken me. He reminds me of a shady gangster or bookie. Now I just root against them hoping they demonstrate with frequency how dumb and shortsighted their approach is because even if they did manage to grab the ring I'd still feel like they were undeserving of it.

 

Was it a fluke?

 

The 2010 team was a bad shooting night from being in the Final Four.

 

The 2011 squad overcame a very slow start and caught fire in February and March.

 

2012 wins it all.

 

I think three out of four years is hardly a fluke. And I think the real leader who wanted the ball in crunch time in 2010 was John Wall (Frosh), 2011: Brandon Knight (Frosh) and MKG & Davis were phenoms as freshmen.

 

I think it's just a question of buying in and getting better each month. We are only in mid December. I say, let's wait and see how it plays out further before questioning what has given us a better four years stretch than anytime since the 90's. :thumb: