It's pretty simple. UCLA is better than Kentucky right now. They are a veteran team that knows how to play and can shoot. Kentucky is young and inexperienced. The Wildcats lack the level of toughness and defensive ability to beat a team like UCLA right now. This game will help in the future. They will have an idea how to prepare for the next tough game (UNC, Louisville, etc.). PS - Kentucky better come to play Wednesday night. Valpo is a good team and they have a superstar player.

Very impressed with UCLA. They have all the pieces to make a deep tournament run. Wouldn't be surprised to see these two meet in the Final Four.

 

I thought the Cat's youth cost them today. The offense seemed impatient and didn't make UCLA sit down and play defense. Settled for early shots that they could get anytime. I do hope that Killeya-Jones can bring something to the table. We looked small at times today compared to the Bruins!

It's kind of funny to hear a few comments that UK sucks and this guy is terrible, that guy is terrible stuff. This was a very entertaining game to watch. I was disappointed that Briscoe kept trying to take a baseline when it wasn't there. You can do that against weak teams but not one that is apparently well coached. There is a reason that UCLA is undefeated, they are a very good, balanced team that can shoot the rock. I was disappointed in some of the shot attempts that the freshmen took when they got it close with 5 minutes to go. They looked rushed and Ky didn't have anyone to rebound when they missed but I was impressed to see that they didn't quit. This will still be a team that can go deep in the tournament but Cal has work to do with what he says is the last thing to come around, the help defense. They got beat a lot today on wide open shots due to guys switching and not getting help on the open man. They also got beat on the boards but I don't know if they will be a strong rebounding team with 3 guards on the floor, especially against bigger teams. Just gives Cal something else to work on and I look for improvement by conference time. He has some players that can help on the boards if he chooses to go that route and the defense will get better on the help side. The freshmen can come back down to earth now but will be fine.

 

Agree 100%.Great post.:thumb:

Season is over. No way they make the tournament.

 

Thanks...:thumb:

It's pretty simple. UCLA is better than Kentucky right now. They are a veteran team that knows how to play and can shoot. Kentucky is young and inexperienced. The Wildcats lack the level of toughness and defensive ability to beat a team like UCLA right now. This game will help in the future. They will have an idea how to prepare for the next tough game (UNC, Louisville, etc.). PS - Kentucky better come to play Wednesday night. Valpo is a good team and they have a superstar player.

 

Odd that we consider a team where the majority of minutes are played by 2 FR and 2 SR a "veteran team." That is just the state of college basketball.

Just thinking back on the entire game and can't remember one change that Ky. made defensively or on offense??????? Cal just being Cal and praying that talent will pull him out again.....full court pressure, zone trapping to create turnovers, making Ball go yo his left where he made numerous mistakes.....come on Cal, just screaming at young Freshman kids doesn't get it done.....have watched this lack of on court coaching since he has been at UK

UCLA is a very good basketball team. I picked UK to win but I told my clubhouse golfing buddies before the game that it wouldn't surprise me a bit if the Cats took a loss. The few games that I had watched UCLA they had shot the 3 extremely well, and every player on their team can shoot with accuracy. UK is inconsistent in that category. Plus, UCLA likes to run as much as UK does, so they definitely were not going to be inferior in that area.

 

Kentucky also did a lot to shoot themselves in the foot. I saw on twitter where they missed 13 layups or point blank shots. That's terrible. Also Briscoe's 4 baseline turnovers took away a scoring opportunity every time. He's going to have to play smarter than that.

I felt Willis hesitated on too many open trey opportunities. He's got to take those shots. That's probably the best thing he has in his game that can help. It definitely isn't defense.

I also thought they got in too big of a hurry late in the game when they cut the lead to single digits and took some bad and forced shots. Or made a turnover. One that stands out is they were trailing by 8 with a chance to cut it to 6, or 5, and one of the guards made a bad pass that was picked off by Ball and stuffed. So, what could have been an opportunity slice into the lead and get the crowd going even more and put some pressure on the Bruins, simply saw the lead go back to double digits.

 

This loss is a good learning opportunity for the Cats. I'm sure Cal will go over the film with them and point out a ton of fixable stuff. Losses like this don't bother me. It's the losses in March that put me in a one week funk. :depressed::notworthy:

Haven't read through the thread yet, but about to.

 

Hats off to UCLA. They played a great game. Kentucky's defense was awful yesterday and that's why we lost. Glad to see some fight in the players though. Learn from this and move forward.

 

I really like Wenyen Gabriel, like everyone else, but he might be the worst defensive player on the team. His replacement, Derek Willis, is a little better, but not much.

Also - somebody work with Briscoe on knowing where the baseline is. That was horrendous.

 

The last one that he was so upset about, was blatantly OOB.

 

UK will be fine but I'm surprised people were predicting a double digit UK win in the prediction thread. UCLA can score with and run with anyone, including UK.

 

With Fox, Briscoe, and Monk, we all overestimated our defensive ability. Heck, I think Vegas was even at -10.5 at tip FWIW.

Glad I don't see it on here, but getting tired of hearing people Saturday Night hate on Bam. The best of him is still yet to come.

 

Cats need to learn how to also play in a half court set.