1 minute ago, bugatti said:

Again, when Sheppard was starting they were still coming out as dysfunctional and a lot of those losses are with him starting.

I don’t care if Sheppard starts.  Did not say anything about that.  The 5 guys he starts cannot score consistently and it shows.  Always fighting from behind early in games.  Cost them at LSU and again last night.

10 minutes ago, Jack of all Trades said:

I don’t care if Sheppard starts.  Did not say anything about that.  The 5 guys he starts cannot score consistently and it shows.  Always fighting from behind early in games.  Cost them at LSU and again last night.

Fair. But my point remains. No matter the starting lineups (offensively dynamic or not), it has looked rough.

And to zag with all this, I do not see UK's slow starts having to do with a lack of offensive firepower. It is because they can't guard a cardboard cutout of their opponents. The problem is not who starts in the backcourt, it is the Center position being downright putrid in most games at deterring any action toward the rim and getting pushed off the block which leads to putbacks, layups, or open jumpers. Last night being a great example.

2 hours ago, nikeman49 said:

If Reed and Dilly start games, you don’t get off to slow starts at the beginning of both halves as they usually do, two to three minutes of playing time doesn’t allow a player to even get loose so why make this change? Just start the two that should be, another thing Cal refuses to do and why?

I know this will come as a shock to BGPers, but your assertions do not reflect facts that are easy to track down.  Of course, agendas usually do not come paired with facts.

I knew the outcome of the game when I sat down to watch it, so I didn't have nearly the emotion involved that you guys did.  Some thoughts:

* This game felt so much like the Devan Downey game from the Wall/Cousins year, with Josh Hubbard playing the role of Downey.  

* Our guards were fantastic offensively.  Sheppard with a career night and played with incredible composure.  Reeves continues to be our most consistent scoring option.  Wagner finally looked to be closer to full-speed.  Dillingham had the worst game of the bunch, but the kid has no conscience & hit a big 3.  Combined, the four guards were 15-15 from the free throw line.  They recorded all 15 of the team's assists. 

* Love that the team never seemed fazed by double-digit deficits and Mississippi State playing out of their minds, especially with their perimeter shooting.  Once they cooled off, we just kept scoring and it was good to see them keep fighting. 

* It was not Ugo's night at all.  The stupid foul down the stretch, giving State an and-1.  Playing so far back off of Hubbard on the last 3 he hit.  I've really enjoyed his progress this year, but last night was a struggle.

* Building on that...we played with such a lack of intelligence when the game's outcome should have been out of question.  Ugo doing his stuff.  Sheppard playing so far back off of a sizzling-hot shooter.  Our low IQ plus their ridiculous shooting almost cost us.

* There was a recent post someone made, perhaps bugsy, talking about how Reed Sheppard is good for one horrifyingly bad turnover every game.  It's strangely so true.  For all his intelligence, passing ability, knack for getting steals, and running the offense pretty well...one super ugly turnover seems to happen every game.  It's so weird.  I chuckled when it happened last night in the closing seconds, simply because it hadn't happened yet.

* But...Sheppard is so fun to watch.  Makes heady plays, shoots the lights out, and is so active.  Really enjoyed the possessions where he and Reeves were essentially playing a two-man game with each other.  How does a team possibly defend that?  He was cool as a cucumber all night long, even with the dumb turnover.  And I LOVED that he wanted the ball on the last possession.  He was calling for it from the time Hubbard's shot went down.  I also love that Wagner wanted it, but wisely dished to Sheppard when his options weren't positive.  Sheppard draining his toughest shot of the night was a fitting ending to the game of his young career.  Love the kid and I'm so glad we've got an in-state kid that is contributing so much.

3 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

* There was a recent post someone made, perhaps bugsy, talking about how Reed Sheppard is good for one horrifyingly bad turnover every game.  It's strangely so true.  For all his intelligence, passing ability, knack for getting steals, and running the offense pretty well...one super ugly turnover seems to happen every game.  It's so weird.  I chuckled when it happened last night in the closing seconds, simply because it hadn't happened yet.
 

He had another one early on. He was near the top of the key and tried to hit Reeves in the corner. Only problem is there were two guys within five feet of Reeves and it was easily intercepted... my only guess is he thought those were holograms of Mississippi State players. The good part about Sheppard is he has a knack for making up for his mistakes almost instantaneously.

The Hump seems like a dump, but also a cool venue to play a game.

1 minute ago, bugatti said:

The Hump seems like a dump, but also a cool venue to play a game.

Has it always been so bright in that gym?  In my memory, it was always dimly-lit and last night seemed to be the opposite.  

2 minutes ago, bugatti said:

He had another one early on. He was near the top of the key and tried to hit Reeves in the corner. Only problem is there were two guys within five feet of Reeves and it was easily intercepted... my only guess is he thought those were holograms of Mississippi State players. The good part about Sheppard is he has a knack for making up for his mistakes almost instantaneously.

I don't remember that one, but I was paying closer attention to the second half than I was the first.

1 hour ago, Jack of all Trades said:

Because in most games they are trailing and dysfunctional at start of game.  Only guy that can score consistently is Reeves.  I get what you are trying to say, but they have lost 9 games.

They have started slow and dysfunctional when Sheppard has started this year too. Just for whatever reason this team starts slow. So at least they have two guys that come in the game and bring instant energy and scoring off the bench to counter the slow starts. 

2 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

I’’d agree on the first 38 minutes, I’d give him an A, the last 2 minutes, F- maybe.  It was pretty obvious he’s not put 2 minutes on the clock in practice and said, ok guys, let’s work on EOG situations, how we want to handle it with a lead, how we need to guard, where we want to pick them up, gotta go over that in practice, I’ve heard him say we’ll handle that when we get there, uh, no, not good 

Hope he finally sees Z needs to play 25-30 min, Reed was obviously great but they don’t win that game without Big Z playing the minutes he did, changed the whole spacing of MSU defense and opened up the floor

We'll agree to disagree on a chunk of this. Cal doesn't control every play or misplay that his players make.

Ugo's foul is not on Cal.

Sheppard's stupid turnover is not on Cal. Reed needs to break the habit of jumping in the air and passing the ball. He does that far too often and it too often becomes a turnover.

Going into that game Z would be one of the last players anyone expected to be a factor. Way too physical a game and bad matchups. Z got tossed around like a rag doll a half dozen times. But Z showed toughness and that he can contribute in a physical game. I agree with you that Z earned minutes going forward with his play in this game. Kudos to Cal for sticking with him through the misplays and learning Z got last night.

1 hour ago, Jack of all Trades said:

Maybe so, but start of each game is a struggle because of the guys on the floor.  One consistent scorer and the rest are role players.

One consistent scorer and the rest are role players describes the whole roster.

5 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

One consistent scorer and the rest are role players describes the whole roster.

Totally disagree.  Sheppard is best “basketball” player in the team and it is not even close.  Reeves and Dillingham can score night in and night out.  Big Z will be a factor later in the year and one more year of seasoning he is a lottery pick.

Reed isn't a "consistent" scorer because he passes up to many shots. One of his few flaws is he is extremely unselfish. Last night he showed what he can do if he decides to shoot more than four times a game.

23 minutes ago, Jack of all Trades said:

Totally disagree.  Sheppard is best “basketball” player in the team and it is not even close.  Reeves and Dillingham can score night in and night out.  Big Z will be a factor later in the year and one more year of seasoning he is a lottery pick.

What do you disagree with?

I agree with you on Sheppard. He has grown into that status. But he isn't the player you called "consistent scorer", is he? He didn't score in double digits the 3 games prior to last night. I agree he is not a role player at this point in the season. But everyone else is.

 

1 hour ago, Randy Parker said:

Has it always been so bright in that gym?  In my memory, it was always dimly-lit and last night seemed to be the opposite.  

The floor used to have a lot more maroon in the lanes, center circle, etc. I think now that it is just wood (and lightly stained in many parts) it shows up as more bright on television.