BOZICH | Calipari tops Pitino again -- on scoreboard and in Miss - WDRB 41 Louisville News

 

Man... Just imagine if Jurich didn't have the Louisville media in his back pocket!

I'm neither a UK fan, nor a UL fan, but I will admit that I watched every dribble of that game and was left thinking that UK's ceiling, this year, is much higher.

 

I also was left wondering just where UL would be if they hadn't landed either transfer. I know Lewis had a lot of suitors and was close to pulling the trigger elsewhere, but in hindsight UL was a great place to be in terms of exposure and playing time.

 

If I'm a UL fan, in Rupp, the game being that competitive, I'd be cautiously optimistic about the rest of the season. If I'm a UK fan I'd be concerned I didn't put away that UL team when given the opportunity early in the 2nd half.

 

UK certainly has more horses in the stable, pun intended, than does UL this year. In my opinion.

 

If I'm a UL fan, what concerns me most is that my team has only played two teams that are worth a squirt of pee pee and lost them both. What encourages me is that I have a superstar in Lee & a pretty darn good sidekick in Lewis.

 

If I'm a UK fan (and I obviously am), what concerns me most is that effort and energy seem to come and go. I actually thought effort was there the whole game vs. UL, but most of the time it comes and goes. What encourages me is Tyler Ulis. It's no accident that his two best games of the season were also UK's two best games of the season (UL & Duke).

If I'm a UL fan, what concerns me most is that my team has only played two teams that are worth a squirt of pee pee and lost them both. What encourages me is that I have a superstar in Lee & a pretty darn good sidekick in Lewis..

 

Both UofL losses were on the road, each by less than 5 points to a higher ranked team, with certainly a chance to win each. Agree with the rest!

 

And can I give a shoutout to @Deuce! Love him hanging in there on this thread LOL

Both UofL losses were on the road, each by less than 5 points to a higher ranked team, with certainly a chance to win each.

 

No doubt they were in position to win both, but my overall point is that we're basically halfway through the season and UL doesn't have a single quality win.

And can I give a shoutout to @Deuce! Love him hanging in there on this thread LOL

 

:lol2: Somebody has to fight the good fight.

 

One of these days I'll stop wasting my time.

No doubt they were in position to win both, but my overall point is that we're basically halfway through the season and UL doesn't have a single quality win.

 

Louisville plays in the best conference in the country. They have plenty more opportunities to get quality wins.

Louisville plays in the best conference in the country. They have plenty more opportunities to get quality wins.

 

Agreed. They just need to take advantage of the many opportunities they'll have.

The flipping off the crowd thing isn't a huge deal to me. It's a little odd seeing a grown man act that way.

 

I think the shocking part is Pitino and UL saying absolutely nothing about it. Acting like it never happened.

The flipping off the crowd thing isn't a huge deal to me. It's a little odd seeing a grown man act that way.

 

I think the shocking part is Pitino and UL saying absolutely nothing about it. Acting like it never happened.

 

It never happened. Just like the strippers/prostitution and whatever the FBI is investigating.

I'm neither a UK fan, nor a UL fan, but I will admit that I watched every dribble of that game and was left thinking that UK's ceiling, this year, is much higher.

 

As a UofL fan, I had completely the opposite reaction. Anyone who has watched them much has seen them play better than they did against UK. Admittedly, that has been against lesser competition (other than MSU), but the offensive talent on this squad is remarkably higher than last year's squad which ended up a FT from the Final Four. They will learn Pitino's defensive intensity & principles as the season continues. They are permitted their ridiculously weak DEC schedule because of the stiff ACC schedule that awaits them. Steel sharpens steel.

 

I think Adel will determine the ceiling for this team. If he can come back from injury and contribute on both ends of the court and the glass, they will be a difficult out. This is not only because of his play but because of who doesn't have to play if he contributes. The 1-3 positions have been strong from the outset. Snider, Mitchell, Lee & Lewis can take 95% of the minutes at those positions. The 4-5 positions are troubling. Onuaku can't stay on the floor and only shows glimpses when he is. Mathiang is hurt. Mahmoud is wildly inconsistent and inexperienced. Stockman is fouls & a space taker at the moment. Johnson has not emerged.

 

As to UK, I thought they played much closer to the best they are going to play against UofL. Ulis is a great player, but not a great shooter -- except for last SAT. Poythress performed when on the floor. Hawkins had a career scoring day. Willis drained a 3 or 2 (which is above his water line from what I can see). Skal seemed to perform as he has all year -- soft. At some point, "potential" is just that and you are what your performance says you are. Murray obviously can play much better and Briscoe was hurt.

 

The beauty of college hoops is that we'll be able to see once March comes around and all of these games are just to make sure you get there, grab a reasonable seed so you don't face a horrific matchup and get better.

the offensive talent on this squad is remarkably higher than last year's squad which ended up a FT from the Final Four.

 

I'm not the UL savant that you are, but what is the offensive talent you speak of? Lewis and Lee were great 5th year gets, and both can score the ball to be sure. Beyond those 2, the next four guys with the most minutes are Snider, Onuaku, Mitchell, and Spalding. You feel good about those four guys getting you a bucket this year in a big spot? Admittedly, as you point out, their schedule has been so bad so far (minus the Spartans and UK), it is tough to gauge. And yes, they will get a bevy of chances to prove their worth in the ACC against the top half of the league (the bottom half of the steel on steel conference is BRUTAL), but to date, I think their offensive numbers are a bit of fools' gold due to their opponents. They struggle at the FT line, they aren't a great perimeter shooting team minus the transfers (and maybe Q), but they hit the glass hard and they guard you. They just lack any real experience (in their program) and appear to be struggling with cohesion and flow, but hopefully that comes as the season unfolds.

 

If you made me guess today, I'd expect UK to go deeper in March than UL, but as you said, a lot can happen to impact that in January and February.

 

Good luck to your Cards.

I think UK is more susceptible to an early NCAA exit than UL, but both can make deep runs because of guard play.

No doubt they were in position to win both, but my overall point is that we're basically halfway through the season and UL doesn't have a single quality win.

 

That's no reflection on the team, only on the person who made the schedule.

It never happened. Just like the strippers/prostitution and whatever the FBI is investigating.

 

Except nobody from UL has said that.

Except nobody from UL has said that.

 

Oh..

 

I thought it was mentioned by Pitino that he didn't flip anyone off, he was just saying they were #1.

 

If he or the school can't own up to something as minor as that, then I'm sure your right. They certainly won't own up to anything that the NCAA and FBI is investigating.