Total abomination of basketball for the Cats last night. When you can't make a shot and your defense is as porous as it is these games happen. USC was just way more physical and shut down the drives to the hoop. Cats seemingly reverted back to their beginning of the year ways with the "hero ball", but I guess when the going gets tough you naturally fall back on what you do best regardless if it's in the best interest of the team. 23 Minutes for Edwards and only scored two free throws in garbage time with two rebounds, one in the first minute of the game. Yeah no agenda their with Cal and him.

 

I know it's a pipe dream, but maybe throw a zone defense at the opposing team, just a different look once in a while. USC was able to slow down the game (which they came into being one of the slowest teams in the country) and challenge every shot seemingly at the rim. Would've been nice to get some of those calls but in the end USC shot just under 50% from the field and just over 45% from the # point line.

12 minutes ago, mcpapa said:

I thought the recruiting class was ranked first this time around. Is it  a matter of the talent being mor evenly spread out, or just a down year overall?

It is easily first, but a very down year. And yeah, talent is spread. I expect a lot of international flare at the NBA draft. 

No defensive presence, no switching defenses, Edward’s still starting and playing minutes undeserved, subbing in and out with players on eggshells afraid of making a mistake, opponents dunking on out of bounds situations, three 7 footers that aren’t in any form a part of the offense, pick and roll defense horrific, just typical Cal coached Ky teams 18 games into the season, shouldn’t be surprising at all but sickening to watch and experience.

9 hours ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

Sheppard looked extremely bad and almost like a deer in headlights.

Sheppard definitely looked bad. Yet he scored 1 more point and grabbed 1 more rebound in 9 fewer minutes played than Edwards, who was subbed in for Reeves at the 4 minute mark when Kentucky had just cut the lead down to 12~. I just can't figure Edwards out; nor can I figure out why Cal would put him in at a point where you might have had one more chance for a quick offensively explosion while leaving two of your three best shooting guards on the bench.

Edwards is playing because of defense and effort.

Cal tried an offense lineup, a defense lineup, a mixture and none of it worked.

I have more to say later when I have time.

36 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Edwards is playing because of defense and effort.

Cal tried an offense lineup, a defense lineup, a mixture and none of it worked.

I have more to say later when I have time.

That’s just it, start your best five players, adjust to an 8 man rotation when needed and quit trying to please everyone and let’s play basketball!!

49 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Edwards is playing because of defense and effort.

Cal tried an offense lineup, a defense lineup, a mixture and none of it worked.

I have more to say later when I have time.

I think the kid does give a good effort but he’s definitely not playing because of his defense.

I thought Cal's substitutions were bad...I think adding Z to the mix, messed him up.  Dillingham was hot early and he took him out...I thought he was quick to jerk Shep and big Z after mistakes.  

1 hour ago, gchs_uk9 said:

Sheppard definitely looked bad. Yet he scored 1 more point and grabbed 1 more rebound in 9 fewer minutes played than Edwards, who was subbed in for Reeves at the 4 minute mark when Kentucky had just cut the lead down to 12~. I just can't figure Edwards out; nor can I figure out why Cal would put him in at a point where you might have had one more chance for a quick offensively explosion while leaving two of your three best shooting guards on the bench.

I was confused by him subbing out Reaves in that moment as well.

Yeah, I do think Edwards is trying... it just ain't there (yet). I don't care if you cloned five Reed Sheppards and played them 40 minutes last night, the result was going to be the same.

By UK's low standards, their first-shot defense wasn't that bad. But what does it matter if you can't collect a rebound?  

2 hours ago, Breds82 said:

23 Minutes for Edwards and only scored two free throws in garbage time with two rebounds, one in the first minute of the game. Yeah no agenda their with Cal and him.

I know that you really want there to be some type of narrative, which involves promises to get Edwards to the league, but if that's the case, Calipari is really doing Edwards a disservice by running him out there as much as he has when he isn't producing.

I think it probably has more to do with the fact that Edwards is basically the only healthy small forward/true wing on the team right now and has some size to guard other larger wings. Sheppard is more a PG/SG. Reaves is really a SG.

I was really holding out hope that something would click for Edwards but if it didn't last night, I don't know when it will. Last night was his chance while Wagner and Sheppard were playing pretty poorly. It was his chance to show some aggression and bang a little. He just can't find his way with this team.

3 minutes ago, okie1 said:

I thought Cal's substitutions were bad...I think adding Z to the mix, messed him up.  Dillingham was hot early and he took him out...I thought he was quick to jerk Shep and big Z after mistakes.  

I was worried about the Z thing and believe you are right. Lost in his magical debut was how out of place he was and that a ceiling fan could move him off his spot. Cal is grasping trying to find rim protection beyond the Onyenso minutes.

10 minutes ago, okie1 said:

I thought Cal's substitutions were bad...I think adding Z to the mix, messed him up.  Dillingham was hot early and he took him out...I thought he was quick to jerk Shep and big Z after mistakes.  

I agree with you on adding Big Z. It looked great against Georgia but threw things off some last night. I have no clue how big Z played in Croatia but I'm guessing he's probably better as a stretch big, basically like Trey Mitchell. When those two were in the game at the same time last night, it just didn't seem to work. I think they are going to be much better cohesively, if we are going to have two bigs on the floor, to keep those two separate and playing with either Bradshaw or Onyenso.

Anyone remember seeing them switch a potential flagrant to a cylinder foul before?

2 hours ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

I agree with you on adding Big Z. It looked great against Georgia but threw things off some last night. I have no clue how big Z played in Croatia but I'm guessing he's probably better as a stretch big, basically like Trey Mitchell. When those two were in the game at the same time last night, it just didn't seem to work. I think they are going to be much better cohesively, if we are going to have two bigs on the floor, to keep those two separate and playing with either Bradshaw or Onyenso.

I think the rotation needs to be Z for Mitchell and leave Bradshaw and Onyenso alone...Mitchell was giving 35+ minutes, I would think he would be more effective giving 28 minutes and Z getting those other 12.  

Cal had Onyenso and Bradshaw together with Edwards in first half...that looked bad as well.