12 hours ago, FREEAGENT said:

You never know from game to game with this year's Wildcat team.   A team with a number of injury prone players that has you scratching your head with both the games they win, and the games that they lose.

Which is why you can't feel very good about this team in March. Can they beat anyone? Maybe. Can anyone beat them? Absolutely. That level of inconsistency typically doesn't get it done in the NCAA Tournament.

This game is on the players. I know everyone likes to blame the Coach for everything but missing wide open 3's and a bunch of free throws cost them this game.

 

39 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

This game is on the players. I know everyone likes to blame the Coach for everything but missing wide open 3's and a bunch of free throws cost them this game.

 

What would have been wrong with a little zone defense from time to time, mixing it up with man half court? How about a little full court pressure mixed in with some trapping defense half court? This is the reason Ky is in the current condition with tourney approaching. When players aren’t making shots, good coaches reach into other ways to direct their team toward a win. But guess what, not happening with Cal, and will never happen with Cal, regardless of the athletic talent on any team he is involved with, and I’ll stick with my comment from years ago that Ky will never win another national championship as long as Cal is running the show.

1 minute ago, nikeman49 said:

What would have been wrong with a little zone defense from time to time, mixing it up with man half court? How about a little full court pressure mixed in with some trapping defense half court? This is the reason Ky is in the current condition with tourney approaching. When players aren’t making shots, good coaches reach into other ways to direct their team toward a win. But guess what, not happening with Cal, and will never happen with Cal, regardless of the athletic talent on any team he is involved with, and I’ll stick with my comment from years ago that Ky will never win another national championship as long as Cal is running the show.

Defense wasn't why they lost last night. Vandy shot 40% and UK out rebounded them by 13 and shot 22 more free throws. If UK makes more than 16% of their 3's they win. If they ONLY miss 7 free throws instead of 10 they win. 

Sure if they hold Vandy to less points you win also, but holding Vandy to 68 should equal a win.

UK shot only 32% on what was mostly open/good shots, so the offense was productive in getting them...the players just could not knock them down.

Kentucky's offensive efficiency has been top 20 in the country...but if you're missing shots it doesn't matter.

Being shorthanded at guard there is no way they should have tried to press or trap, especially when Vandy had 3, 4 and at one point 5 guards in. They would have destroyed a press last night.

I'm not saying there aren't things Cal could/should have done...but you can say the same about every coach that loses a game.

10 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Defense wasn't why they lost last night. Vandy shot 40% and UK out rebounded them by 13 and shot 22 more free throws. If UK makes more than 16% of their 3's they win. If they ONLY miss 7 free throws instead of 10 they win. 

Sure if they hold Vandy to less points you win also, but holding Vandy to 68 should equal a win.

UK shot only 32% on what was mostly open/good shots, so the offense was productive in getting them...the players just could not knock them down.

Kentucky's offensive efficiency has been top 20 in the country...but if you're missing shots it doesn't matter.

Being shorthanded at guard there is no way they should have tried to press or trap, especially when Vandy had 3, 4 and at one point 5 guards in. They would have destroyed a press last night.

I'm not saying there aren't things Cal could/should have done...but you can say the same about every coach that loses a game.

All I’m saying is don’t be so predictable, use our long and athletic guys to do different things, especially when shots aren’t falling, when shots are going in everything is easy, reach to different looks and make the opposition feel uncomfortable, we never do those things, can you imagine looking at Toppin on the point of a 1-2-1-1 full court pressure with Livingston and Reeves trapping with him, Cason at mid court reading passes and Oscar just protecting the rim, try some things!!

50 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Defense wasn't why they lost last night. Vandy shot 40% and UK out rebounded them by 13 and shot 22 more free throws. If UK makes more than 16% of their 3's they win. If they ONLY miss 7 free throws instead of 10 they win. 

Sure if they hold Vandy to less points you win also, but holding Vandy to 68 should equal a win.

UK shot only 32% on what was mostly open/good shots, so the offense was productive in getting them...the players just could not knock them down.

Kentucky's offensive efficiency has been top 20 in the country...but if you're missing shots it doesn't matter.

Being shorthanded at guard there is no way they should have tried to press or trap, especially when Vandy had 3, 4 and at one point 5 guards in. They would have destroyed a press last night.

I'm not saying there aren't things Cal could/should have done...but you can say the same about every coach that loses a game.

If the shots aren't dropping,  even more the reason to try a different route.

I really hope all six of the seniors leave this year, so we can lay a new foundation and start over.  I have saw enough of this bunch.  Might add Cal also.

As an outsider, this team is confusing... 

idk....I'm beat down and tired. I'll have someone come back and finish the rest. 

Cason Wallace played 20 minutes in this game. 

I did not see the game but I see from the stats that Thiero only played 8 minutes. There is only one question I have for Cal. It isn't about changing defense, playing zone, offensive plays and strategy. This is very simple. Why did Frederick play 28 minutes and Thiero play 8 minutes? I say if Thiero plays 20 minutes, UK wins.

 

 

34 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I did not see the game but I see from the stats that Thiero only played 8 minutes. There is only one question I have for Cal. It isn't about changing defense, playing zone, offensive plays and strategy. This is very simple. Why did Frederick play 28 minutes and Thiero play 8 minutes? I say if Thiero plays 20 minutes, UK wins.

 

 

Thiero had trouble handling the ball against them, they stripped him a few times and he never looked comfortable when he had the ball.

2 hours ago, 4 Quarters said:

If the shots aren't dropping,  even more the reason to try a different route.

What would you have tried under last night's circumstances?

12 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

What would you have tried under last night's circumstances?

Honestly don't know, didn't waste the evening watching, went to a couple nice HS regional games.  Notice in the prediction thread that I called the winner.

Cal knows this is not a great 3 point shooting team,  and when their really bad he's in trouble.

38 minutes ago, 4 Quarters said:

Honestly don't know, didn't waste the evening watching, went to a couple nice HS regional games.  Notice in the prediction thread that I called the winner.

Cal knows this is not a great 3 point shooting team,  and when their really bad he's in trouble.

2nd highest 3 point percent in the league...was #1 before last night's game. Just had a horrible night shooting...it happens.  As bad as they shot, probably should have lost by double digits.

16 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

I did not see the game but I see from the stats that Thiero only played 8 minutes. There is only one question I have for Cal. It isn't about changing defense, playing zone, offensive plays and strategy. This is very simple. Why did Frederick play 28 minutes and Thiero play 8 minutes? I say if Thiero plays 20 minutes, UK wins.

 

 

Thiero was lost in this game.  They took the ball away from him a couple of times and he fumbled it around a few more.  I like Thiero but this game he must have cost the Cats about 6 points in his limited minutes.