Doesn't anyone think this team was eerily similar to what Calipari put together at Memphis where he always fell short? young/great players, a couple of superstars, couldn't shoot free throws in the clutch. also, when the coach looks so nervous & rattled on the sidelines the players tend to react that way also. Huggin's didn't seem to change his demeanor at any point and his team seemed to play just as relaxed.

 

Oh well, the better team definitely lost, but it took the perfect storm...WV played their "A" game while KY played their "D" game.

At points in the second half, it definitely looked like they gave up... I can't count high enough to know how long it would take me to run the 40, but I could've made it to the basket uncontested on more than one occasion.

I think that UK's poor defense for much of the second half was the main reason for the loss. Some of their defensive lapses were mind boggling during one stretch in the second half. I'm not sure what caused it, but it was the worse defense they have played since early in the season.

I believe it had to do with WVU's superior shooting in the first half. They defended tremendously but still gave up 8-15 three pointers and were behind. You could tell by their body language they were dejected going in to break despite only being down a couple points.

I believe it had to do with WVU's superior shooting in the first half. They defended tremendously but still gave up 8-15 three pointers and were behind. You could tell by their body language they were dejected going in to break despite only being down a couple points.

 

I thought I saw the same thing at the half, but I honestly thought that UK was in good shape if they played the same type of defense in the second half. There was virtually no way WVU was going to shoot that way from the outside for the entire game and if UK continued to defend in the paint, I liked their chances.

I believe it had to do with WVU's superior shooting in the first half. They defended tremendously but still gave up 8-15 three pointers and were behind. You could tell by their body language they were dejected going in to break despite only being down a couple points.

 

Pretty much what I was thinking.

 

Remember, that even in their previous two losses, there were stretches where they made enough of a run to get themselves poised to win. This time the shots never fell consistantly enough to make that run that would spur the defense. Psychologically speaking, "What is the use of playing my butt off on defense if we go down and keep laying bricks?"

Pretty much what I was thinking.

 

Remember, that even in their previous two losses, there were stretches where they made enough of a run to get themselves poised to win. This time the shots never fell consistantly enough to make that run that would spur the defense. Psychologically speaking, "What is the use of playing my butt off on defense if we go down and keep laying bricks?"

:thumb: This stuck in their head until they made a three pointer. It was getting to the point they were forcing up shots just so they could get the first make out of the way.

Doesn't anyone think this team was eerily similar to what Calipari put together at Memphis where he always fell short? young/great players, a couple of superstars, couldn't shoot free throws in the clutch. also, when the coach looks so nervous & rattled on the sidelines the players tend to react that way also. Huggin's didn't seem to change his demeanor at any point and his team seemed to play just as relaxed.

 

Oh well, the better team definitely lost, but it took the perfect storm...WV played their "A" game while KY played their "D" game.

 

It crossed my mind.

Doesn't anyone think this team was eerily similar to what Calipari put together at Memphis where he always fell short? young/great players, a couple of superstars, couldn't shoot free throws in the clutch. also, when the coach looks so nervous & rattled on the sidelines the players tend to react that way also. Huggin's didn't seem to change his demeanor at any point and his team seemed to play just as relaxed.

 

Oh well, the better team definitely lost, but it took the perfect storm...WV played their "A" game while KY played their "D" game.

 

As to the first paragraph:

 

I heard this same thing about Pitino's teams at UK from '92 to '95 and then it suddenly all changed in '96. Wonder what happened?

I think that UK's poor defense for much of the second half was the main reason for the loss. Some of their defensive lapses were mind boggling during one stretch in the second half. I'm not sure what caused it, but it was the worse defense they have played since early in the season.

 

:thumb: Very good post. I honestly believe that if UK would have defended like they did in the 1st half and had the rest of the NCAA tournament that they could overcome the bad shooting and win. UK could not overcome bad shooting and bad defense. I think with good defense they either win or the game is decided in the last minute.

I thought Bob Huggins had a tremendous game plan. In an effort to take away is legs at the offensive end, he made John Wall play defense. They were picking for West Virginia guard Joe Mazzulla who continually ran John Wall of the screens and wore him down. Then, later in the game, Mazzulla started taking Wall off the dribble for lay ups.

 

At the defensive end, Huggy conceited that he could not match up with Kentucky with his patented man-to-man defense. He implemented a 1-3-1 zone which they played to perfection. Kentucky's inability to hit the 3 point shot greatly helped West Virginia's cause, but Kentucky's unwillingness to attack the 6'1" player running the kicker position in the back of the zone with Cousins or Patterson really surprised me.'

 

Coach Cal did not make this adjustment to attack West Virginia where we had a huge advantage. I was surprised.

I thought Bob Huggins had a tremendous game plan. In an effort to take away is legs at the offensive end, he made John Wall play defense. They were picking for West Virginia guard Joe Mazzulla who continually ran John Wall of the screens and wore him down. Then, later in the game, Mazzulla started taking Wall off the dribble for lay ups.

 

At the defensive end, Huggy conceited that he could not match up with Kentucky with his patented man-to-man defense. He implemented a 1-3-1 zone which they played to perfection. Kentucky's inability to hit the 3 point shot greatly helped West Virginia's cause, but Kentucky's unwillingness to attack the 6'1" player running the kicker position in the back of the zone with Cousins or Patterson really surprised me.'

 

Coach Cal did not make this adjustment to attack West Virginia where we had a huge advantage. I was surprised.

 

 

I was also surprised Ky didn't press more, especially when Mazzulla was on the bench.

I thought Bob Huggins had a tremendous game plan. In an effort to take away is legs at the offensive end, he made John Wall play defense. They were picking for West Virginia guard Joe Mazzulla who continually ran John Wall of the screens and wore him down. Then, later in the game, Mazzulla started taking Wall off the dribble for lay ups.

 

At the defensive end, Huggy conceited that he could not match up with Kentucky with his patented man-to-man defense. He implemented a 1-3-1 zone which they played to perfection. Kentucky's inability to hit the 3 point shot greatly helped West Virginia's cause, but Kentucky's unwillingness to attack the 6'1" player running the kicker position in the back of the zone with Cousins or Patterson really surprised me.'

 

Coach Cal did not make this adjustment to attack West Virginia where we had a huge advantage. I was surprised.

 

You make a good point about Wall possibly gettin warn down a little bit. Another element to that and IMO the turning point in the game was when Bledsoe got 2 fouls early in the 1st half. Early in the game Bledsoe and Wall were able to really attact the zone and get into gaps and WVU had a hard time guarding them. When Bledsoe went out Wall was the only one attacking gaps. Also they could not give Wall a break without having Bledsoe out there. Then the 2nd half inexplicibly the team quit playing defense.

I was also surprised Ky didn't press more, especially when Mazzulla was on the bench.

Me too!

 

Or pressing them even with Mazzulla in the game.

 

It seemed to me the Coach Cal really felt he did not need to make adjustments to beat West Virginia. Had UK hit a small percentage of the 3 point attempts or even free throws, he was right.

 

The Cats didn't and so we get to go home and watch the Indianapolis games in Lexington.

Hugs out-coached Cal and he had his team better prepared. Congrats to WV, hope they win it all.

Hugs out-coached Cal and he had his team better prepared. Congrats to WV, hope they win it all.

 

Badly. I agree with the rest of your statement as well. West Virginia was just better.