Kentucky just needs to get healthy. No injuries and they win that game. UNC was missing Seth Trimble but Cats missing more. 

It's tough to quote the injury bug when you knowingly signed a dude who tore his ACL in March. You did it to yourself, at least in one case. And I'm pretty sure Lowe had shoulder issues last year. So that's two. 

1 hour ago, DiamondGator23 said:

Thousand percent, but Mark had similar issues out in Utah at UVU and BYU. This isn't new for him. Multiple chances last night to close the Heels out and they didn't. How long was that scoring drought? 10 minutes or more maybe?

I keep seeing 8.5 minutes but it was way too long. 5 or more scoreless possessions is a real problem. 

3 hours ago, DiamondGator23 said:

Honest question for you Cats fans, Is Mark Pope the guy?

I really like Mark Pope.  By all accounts, he's a first-class man.  

That said, I didn't think he was the man for the job when we hired him.  If you just looked at his coaching resume, and took his name and playing history out of the equation, there's no way he's considered for this job.  So no, I didn't think he was the guy when we hired and I still don't.

I sincerely wish him the absolute best in proving me wrong, though.

Edited December 3, 2025Dec 3 by Randy Parker

I know the Cats had epic wins last year especially against Duke and a Gonzaga, but they were epic because we went on scoring droughts and couldn’t play defense and to stage huge comebacks. We beat Tennessee the 2nd time because they missed like 70% of their open shots. If you’re not going to focus on defense and rebounding you cannot afford to not be able to shoot from outside either.

3 hours ago, okie1 said:

I don't think Pope is adjusting to having more slasher type players instead of spot up shooters...He has to get Oweh down hill...

He is also not adjusting well to a non passing Big guy.  Moreno has a lot of upside, but he is no Williams on the high post.  

I thought last night was Oweh's best performance of the season. Shot 6-for-11, took only one 3-pointer, 16 points and 4 rebounds. He looked a lot like last year, which is a consistently solid player. But he's not, and never should have been considered an All-American. He is what he is.

And I'm with you on Moreno, lots of upside. I think he's looking more comfortable at the high post but he's certainly not Williams at this point. Of course there's a difference between being 18 and 22 years old.

I was enthused by the way Moreno played last night, considering the Cats weren’t running any kind of offense. His presence around the rim on both sides of the court was awesome. 

19 hours ago, Breds82 said:

The most inept, embarrassing display of Kentucky basketball I have ever seen. Over 8 1/2 minutes without a basket while unc was 6 without one. Why not keep chucking 3s when we haven’t made them all year. Why we are at it let’s let UNC get all the offensive boards. Absolutely pathetic, and lazy display. This team would’ve been booed off the floor had Cal still been the coach. The defense is beyond reproach and with no outside or inside shooting game we’ll be lucking the Cats make the NIT. 

It's December 2nd........long way to go!!

 

 

 

10 hours ago, DiamondGator23 said:

Honest question for you Cats fans, Is Mark Pope the guy?

What about are the players as good as the hype?

12 hours ago, 9068 said:

What about are the players as good as the hype?

Asking me, no. When Colin Chandler is your best player so far after 8 games you got bigger fish to fry, nothing against Colin but Oweh, all those "superstars" have been non existent I think their best player is hurt right now but that's just me. 

1 hour ago, DiamondGator23 said:

Asking me, no. When Colin Chandler is your best player so far after 8 games you got bigger fish to fry, nothing against Colin but Oweh, all those "superstars" have been non existent I think their best player is hurt right now but that's just me. 

Colin Chandler had the rock in his hand for scoring drives on a couple of UK's final possessions. A sentence I should never have to type.

19 hours ago, gchs_uk9 said:

I thought last night was Oweh's best performance of the season. Shot 6-for-11, took only one 3-pointer, 16 points and 4 rebounds. He looked a lot like last year, which is a consistently solid player. But he's not, and never should have been considered an All-American. He is what he is.

And I'm with you on Moreno, lots of upside. I think he's looking more comfortable at the high post but he's certainly not Williams at this point. Of course there's a difference between being 18 and 22 years old.

Agree with Oweh's performance...but at no point should UK go on a scoring drought and he doesn't get the ball with the intent on driving.  Not sure how many attempts Oweh had in the scoring drought...but he has to demand the ball when UK has gone 2/3 trips with no basket IMO.

18 hours ago, 9068 said:

What about are the players as good as the hype?

Was the there hype in regards to top talent in these players? I think the hype was more around, they paid a lot of money for solid players, but not truly top players. To be fair though, the two players that probably are the most talented and would be considered possibly top players, are currently not playing, in Love and JQ. With that said, it was known about JQ and his injury when they brought him in. 

I think the biggest issue, is still seeing the same issues that we saw last year. Which is not good on defense, scoring droughts, getting down double digits a lot in games, etc. So unfortunately some of this stuff is starting to become a trend, and that's concerning. 

Missing Lowe has been a killer to the offense.  Brandon Garrison's play has greatly exacerbated Lowe's absence.  He had a few moments last season, but he also had times when he tried to be Williams up top, and he just isn't.  Moreno has been really good as a freshman.  But at this point he isn't a high post player.  He's been better inside than I expected out of him this early.  But, if Kentucky is missing their point guard, they have to have a player in the high post to run the offense through.  Right now they don't have that.  I don't know if you go with a smaller lineup and put someone else up there, but what they are doing now is not working.  I don't think we'll see Lowe back anywhere near 100% this season, and I'm not sure that we see him back at all.  If not, this team is in real trouble.