Final it wasn't pretty but it is better than a loss.

Not pretty at all. However, games like this are games they lost the last few years. Especially after a team hits a shot to take the lead in the final minute like St. Joseph’s did. This would have been a loss the last couple years. So nice job finding a way to get the win. 

Need to send Bob Huggins a thank you card for letting us have Tre Mitchell. Love him in a pick and pop.

Reed Shepherd is so fundamentally sound and love how pesky he is on defense. Gets his hands on so many balls, often there on the help side disrupting the other team and picking some pockets.

Great shot selection by Reeves.

Glad to see Wagner have a pretty solid game after the first 10 mins and Edwards knocking down some shots and a big put back dunk.

Great call by Cal on the deep ball in OT. Drove me nuts he didn't use a TO to get Reeves back in the game while he just sat there at the table during the waning mins of regulation.

On the other side...

Woof, can we give up anymore offensive rebounds? And our overall D was pretty sorry.

Lucky free throws didn't cost em.

1 minute ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

The weapons are there. We just need to rebound better. But this definitely looks more like your "classic" Calipari team. 

1 hour ago, Kentucky Windage said:

The weapons are there. We just need to rebound better. But this definitely looks more like your "classic" Calipari team. 

It was pretty enjoyable to watch, even with the downsides. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Takeaways:

- Good for DJ Wagner.  He wasn't outstanding, but he played with confidence and did some very nice things.  We will go as far as he takes us IMO.  It's his team.

- Big game by Mitchell.  He can make a living shooting the 3 from the key.

- Perimeter defense and defensive rebounding were awful.

- St. Joe's is fun to watch and I really liked Big Frenchy.

-Sheppard struggled defensively quite a bit, but really stepped up in OT.

- Free throw shooting was forgettable. 

- Cal with a very good, and gutsy, call to go deep on the out of bounds plays.

- Glad we won.  Some very ugly stuff, but they never really seemed rattled. 

Why didn’t they give St Joes the timeout at the end of regulation? It was clear to everyone the player instantly called for one.

If it was the other way around how would’ve we reacted.

16 hours ago, futurecoach said:

Not pretty at all. However, games like this are games they lost the last few years. Especially after a team hits a shot to take the lead in the final minute like St. Joseph’s did. This would have been a loss the last couple years. So nice job finding a way to get the win. 

Agree, last 3-4 years they definitely would’ve lost this game

15 hours ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

On the other side...

Woof, can we give up anymore offensive rebounds? And our overall D was pretty sorry.

Lucky free throws didn't cost em.

Yes, D was absolutely horrible, too much turning their head and losing their man, free throws at the end of game was terrible again, (hurt us against Kansas also)

I still love this team and I think they have a chance to be really good, gotta get our size on the court and work everyday to get better 

Also, really like the way DJ was attacking the lane, needs to do that more and not settle for 3’s, love him but he’s just not a good 3 pt shooter at this stage in his career 

2 hours ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

John Welch

56 minutes ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Also, really like the way DJ was attacking the lane, needs to do that more and not settle for 3’s, love him but he’s just not a good 3 pt shooter at this stage in his career 

Believed I mentioned this in another thread, but once the game slows down DJ will become a better finisher at the rim. He can get by anyone.