March 6, 200917 yr Experience is certainly a factor. Your perceived difference in talent is because one team played very well together and the current edition of the Wildcats do not. It is not because of a lack of talent because there is plenty. It is easy for Kentucky fans to look at this team and think they are not talented players, but that is not true. If Michael Porter is your best option at point guard, then use him so as not to expose all his weaknesses. For one, he should never be out top handling the ball against a player with the quickness of Devin Downey. Let one of the other players, Jodie Meeks or Darius Miller, handle it up top against, their man who is certainly not as quick as Downey. I remember Jamal Mashburn handling the ball out front on my occasions because the other team might have a lightning quick defender who our guards might have a problem handling it against. This year's team gives great effort, has plenty of talent, and is very poorly prepared to play against each opponent. When you are playing man-to-man versus a team also playing man-to-man, t is a game of match ups and Billy Clyde never adjusts at either end of the floor. Pound it in to Patterson on the blocks and have Jodie Meeks running himself until his tongue is hanging out freeing himself from men chasing him like a robber. The 86' Team, combined with this years team...Who would start?? I would say Patterson from this years team. That is it. Porter wouldn't sniff the floor. Stevenson would play about a minute, Miller might play about 6 minutes, Harris wouldn't play a minute, Liggins wouldn't be on the team, and Meeks would be first one off the bench. The talent level for both teams is not comparable at all.
March 6, 200917 yr Author The 86' Team, combined with this years team...Who would start?? I would say Patterson from this years team. That is it. Porter wouldn't sniff the floor. Stevenson would play about a minute, Miller might play about 6 minutes, Harris wouldn't play a minute, Liggins wouldn't be on the team, and Meeks would be first one off the bench. The talent level for both teams is not comparable at all. Jodie Meeks would have started for either James Blackmon or Ed Davender, in my mind.
March 6, 200917 yr Experience is certainly a factor. Your perceived difference in talent is because one team played very well together and the current edition of the Wildcats do not. It is not because of a lack of talent because there is plenty. It is easy for Kentucky fans to look at this team and think they are not talented players, but that is not true. If Michael Porter is your best option at point guard, then use him so as not to expose all his weaknesses. For one, he should never be out top handling the ball against a player with the quickness of Devin Downey. Let one of the other players, Jodie Meeks or Darius Miller, handle it up top against, their man who is certainly not as quick as Downey. I remember Jamal Mashburn handling the ball out front on my occasions because the other team might have a lightning quick defender who our guards might have a problem handling it against. This year's team gives great effort, has plenty of talent, and is very poorly prepared to play against each opponent. When you are playing man-to-man versus a team also playing man-to-man, t is a game of match ups and Billy Clyde never adjusts at either end of the floor. Pound it in to Patterson on the blocks and have Jodie Meeks running himself until his tongue is hanging out freeing himself from men chasing him like a robber. No, my perception in difference is based on what the players did, not what they might potentially do. The people on the '86 team were: 2 Time All-American and the #2 top scorer in UK HISTORY - Kenny Walker (Not to mention # 6 All time leader in Rebounds) One of the leading Assist men in UK history in Roger Harden. (#3 All Time) A 1,000 point scorer in Winston Bennett and #11 All Time Rebounder at UK A 1,600 point scorer and the #8 All-Time UK assist guy in Ed Davender. James Blackmon added 866 points in his career. I just don't see this kind of production over a career from the current roster. You can chose to disagree just as I can but the data doesn't support your conclusions.
March 6, 200917 yr Jodie Meeks would have started for either James Blackmon or Ed Davender, in my mind. I could see that. But not if Sutton was the coach. Because the one thing about Sutton was that he did not care at all for one on one offense (ask Chapman).
March 6, 200917 yr The 86' Team, combined with this years team...Who would start?? I would say Patterson from this years team. That is it. Porter wouldn't sniff the floor. Stevenson would play about a minute, Miller might play about 6 minutes, Harris wouldn't play a minute, Liggins wouldn't be on the team, and Meeks would be first one off the bench. The talent level for both teams is not comparable at all. Stevenson would not have played because Cedric Jenkins was better and much of the same mold.
March 6, 200917 yr Sutton's team had more talent IMHO than the 1998 NCAA Championship team. Interesting thought and you might not be too off there.
March 6, 200917 yr Author Sutton's team had more talent IMHO than the 1998 NCAA Championship team. No doubt in my mind. How about this year's team versus that 1998 team in talent? Jeff Sheppard, Nazr Mohammed, Scott Padgett, Allen Edwards, and Wayne Turner.
March 6, 200917 yr No doubt in my mind. How about this year's team versus that 1998 team in talent? Jeff Sheppard, Nazr Mohammed, Scott Padgett, Allen Edwards, and Wayne Turner. In talent and more importantly (tournament) experience, the '98 team was better better no doubt. What makes this team so deficient is the drop off between Player A and Player B. While Allen Edwards was not a world beater, he was a serviceable player... UK does not have many of those. Basically it is 2 really good players, couple of serviceable players with little experience, and about 2 or 3 players that are forced to play that typically should not.
March 6, 200917 yr One of the best point guards to play at UK makes all the differnce in the world. Patterson and Meeks probably would ahve started for that team.
March 6, 200917 yr Author In talent and more importantly (tournament) experience, the '98 team was better better no doubt. What makes this team so deficient is the drop off between Player A and Player B. While Allen Edwards was not a world beater, he was a serviceable player... UK does not have many of those. Basically it is 2 really good players, couple of serviceable players with little experience, and about 2 or 3 players that are forced to play that typically should not. It sounds to me like you are describing the NCAA runner up 1979 Indiana State team: Two really good players: Larry Bird and Carl Nicks A couple of serviceable players with little experience: Alex Gilbert and Brad Miley And two or three players force to play: Steve Reed, etc., etc. Granted, Larry Bird was an all-American and future Hall of Famer, but teams with this make up can win as well. I am not asking for much for this year's Cats to win their own division of the rotten SEC. Success is a lot of chemistry and coaching in life, business, and athletics.
March 6, 200917 yr No doubt in my mind. How about this year's team versus that 1998 team in talent? Jeff Sheppard, Nazr Mohammed, Scott Padgett, Allen Edwards, and Wayne Turner. Don't Forget Magloire coming off the bench as a defensive stopper and the shooting of Cameron off the bench. Heishmu Evans was pretty versatile as well. The depth of the '98 team was much more the longer I think about it.
March 6, 200917 yr Compare the talent on this team to other teams in the SEC and country. I don't know if anyone one in the SEC has a better 1 - 2 combo than UK.
March 7, 200917 yr I dont believe that what a former UK coach could have done with this team is a big factor on what UK fans want in the big picture. Most want NCAA titles and at least final fours. No coach was going to bring either with the two teams BCG has had so far. If this is what you demand out of UK basketball, you have to realize it will take time to get to that status. Love him or hate him, as many of you do, you should realize it takes time to rebuild to that level.
March 7, 200917 yr On this forum I am. My guess would be that some of those disagreeing with my point did not even see the 1986 team play or were too young to remember. You are following my point that a different coach (not only Eddie Sutton) could have had tremendous success with this talent, in this conference, this season. Sure this team has weaknesses. A solid coach masks weaknesses, plays to strengths, and adjusts from there. Seen the 86 team play have also seen every UK team since 58. 86 team had better talent and a great difference in coaching ability. Sutton like him or not was one of the best coaches of his era.
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