Delaware State @ Kentucky: Post Mortem
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 22, 2008 2:29 PM EST
in Basketball
52 comments
The Kentucky Wildcats picked up their first win of the 2008-09 season today against the Delaware State Hornets. Good effort by an undermanned but hard-fighting Delaware State team. The Hornets showed a lot of heart and demonstrated the kind of effort against overwhelming odds that will hopefully make their fans proud.
For the Wildcats, it was a workmanlike performance that looked very sound overall. Despite having a large physical and talent advantage, the 'Cats did not showboat and did not engage in the kind of casual play that teams who are handily beating an opponent so often do, which I really appreciate. We saw some very decent fundamental basketball today and a very solid defensive effort. On the negative side, Patrick Patterson's effort was uncharacteristically poor in almost every respect, and Perry Stevenson did very little to recommend his play. On the positive side, Darius Miller was extremely impressive, DeAndre Liggins less so but still impressive. Jodie Meeks had a very good game in every respect, although I would like to see him get more rebounds.
Some observations:
- The officiating was completely inconsistent -- touch fouls in the first half and a normal game in the second.
- Kentucky, for having a huge size advantage, was unimpressive on the glass, actually losing the rebounding battle 30-31, by a team that played a lot of zone. Not good.
- Turnovers were significantly reduced, but this team played a lot of zone and very little pressure. Still, 12 turnovers is about as good as this team is capable of, and they clearly have been working on reducing them. That work had a positive result.
- Michael Porter played a good game. If he can every turn in a performance like that against high competition, that would be something. But for now, I remain a Porter skeptic especially at the point, but his shooting form was very good today.
- Darius Miller is going to be a great player at Kentucky. He will be uneven this year, but he sure was good today. 13 points, 0 turnovers, 4 assists. He only had 3 rebounds, though, and that is not in line with my expectations.
- Patrick Patterson gets a pass for this game. He so rarely stinks up the place that when he does, I just look the other way.
- Perry Stevenson was non-existent. He had one block and 4 rebounds and missed a couple of point-blank shots. He never seemed to have his head in this game.
- Ramon Harris turned in his typical solid, workmanlike performance. His stat line will not show the number of deflections and turnovers that he forced or had a hand in.
- DeAndre Liggins only had 2 assists, but he did other things that were helpful. He is developing into a nice player, and by SEC time, should be at or near the starting lineup.
- Harrellson was useful today, although not particularly impressive. He showed some pretty quick feet for a guy his size. He needs a bit more confidence, though.
- What happened to A.J. Stewart? First sub off the bench, and then never saw another minute. Probably the 2 turnovers in 3 minutes that did him in.
- Only 5 blocks against the Hornets. That isn't impressive against a team who's biggest player is 6'7".
The good news -- we won the game by a convincing enough margin that the Big Blue Nation can actually sigh in relief. The bad news is that we still have issues, particularly on offense, but they look rather more manageable now than they did just a few days ago. Gillispie had the team well prepared for this game, and addressed some of the big concerns that Wildcat fans had. There is much left to do, but this game represents a positive step in a game where a positive step was difficult to achieve.
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12-3 OOC, 12-4 SEC
Still 24-7 going into SECT.
Very possible IF.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 22, 2008 2:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree Forty....
…This team “can” win games when they are off a night or two… I think there are two key players that will determine our success this year and they are Liggins & Miller…
Once this two guys get the confidence, that will take a big load off Patterson & Meeks. If Patterson & Meeks start having the same confidence in them, then we should play very well in SEC play…
It’s gonna take time for the young talent to mess with the veterans…
IMHO
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 22, 2008 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Possible...
But those games looming up against Kansas State and then either Iowa or West Virginia will show if we’ve made real progress, or just enough to beat up on the Delaware States of the world.
Miami coming into Rupp on December 6 is a dicey proposition as well.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
by chirop1 on Nov 24, 2008 8:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
HMM
I think it’s still possible if the team continues to improve.
I agree this was step in the right direction but my concerns will not really be addressed until we play some better competition.
I agree about Porter. He did look good today but I seriously doubt his ability to play in the same manner against better foes who pressure him more.
Pat just looks flat to me. I think he is still recovering and I expect to see him playing to form closer to conference play.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
by davw83 on Nov 22, 2008 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Overall good game...
Agree with this post 100% Tru! One thing you didn’t mention though ,was Galloway’s SHORT cameo appearance. He was put in at the point, and misread the defense, went left, when we had a pick setup on the right side. He was quickly yanked, as expected. Hopefully he can pick up on the system, and can contribute by conference time. I’d love to see Liggins, Meeks, Galloway, Miller and Pat on the floor at the same time at some point, of course depending on the opposition’s lineup. Go Cats! On Monday, we’ll be 2-2, and on our way to the 24-7 mark, FORTY. The WV or Iowa game and Kansas State games will be interesting.
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 2:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
when you "yank" a young player so damn quick....
they start thinking too much when they do get in the game… Coach will break the kids confidence if he’s not careful…
Galloway will start thinking, “ok, I can’t make a mistake, I can’t make a mistake”… and he will not be able to get into the flow of the game… Let these young men make mistakes…
I notice that he doesn’t “yank” Porter when he makes a mistake…
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 22, 2008 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Confidence
If G can break their confidence I dont think he wants them on the court in the first tough. You got to be mentally tough to play for him. If Galloway isnt he needs to go somewhere else or enjoy the bench.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
by davw83 on Nov 22, 2008 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Took the words right out of my mouth!
If Galloway is that “fragile” then he is definitely not ready to be on the court. Gillispie is know for being a tough coach – no time or interest in coddling struggling confidences. Galloway needs to man up – learn to read the plays and get out of his own head.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Nov 22, 2008 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i agree to a certain extent...
Keep in mind, Galloway is a two year player… waste a scholarship to set a player on the bench..?
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 22, 2008 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sometimes
that happens. I, personally, think Galloway will get into the swing of things and buckle down in practice and will join the team on the court. He is just not there yet.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Nov 22, 2008 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thing is I think...
Galloway has been making same mistakes in practice. Go to the LHL site and read about Coach’s conference yesterday.
by kykat51 on Nov 22, 2008 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey ky girl...
Did you hit the wine today? Loved the poem, give me something for today…just a one liner or so…..Here’s mine: PPat didn’t have his usual jive, but with the assists, he still had five….
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL
No wine today – a bit early in the day for me! A one-liner? Hmmmmm. How about: Today the Cats knew what to do, they held D-State to forty-two!
by kentuckygirl0724 on Nov 22, 2008 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oklahoma 41 Gardner Webb 37 at the half....
I’d love to see GW pull off this upset….GO GW….
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 2:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Be Glad UK Doesn't Play MERCER
Already beat Bama and Auburn. Beating Ga Tech today.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 22, 2008 2:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Football update...
3rd
Tenn—20
Vandy—10 here come the doors…
4th
WVU—35
’ville—14 The Cards are done..!
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 22, 2008 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
We need the VOLS to win....
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
What was the attendance today?
Seemed like a lot of empty seats….
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think someone said
Almost 22,000…not bad…just not a full house.
by kykat51 on Nov 22, 2008 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hooray for a win...
A sigh of relief, but yes, still some questions to addressed. I think Patterson will come around by SEC time, and Porter will have found himself a nice little role coming off the bench by that time. The key word in the previous statement being little. I had higher hopes for him to be sure.
The win is nice, but there just seems to be something off in the way this team plays. They just seem hesistant at times, like they’re walking on eggshells or something. Stevenson has disappeared, Harrelson seems shell shocked, and Miller seems a little shy to pull the trigger at times. That may just be part of the learning curve though. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s what I got out of the game today.
In any case hooray for a win, and go Big Blue!
by bigbluestu on Nov 22, 2008 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gadrner-Webb Update!
13:25 to go
GW—51
- OK—49
Could it be..???
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 22, 2008 3:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
menat #14, not #1... sorry
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 22, 2008 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sweet! They are 0-2, and OU is 3-0...
This would be awesome baby, as dumb ole Dukey V would say….
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
GW 53- OU 51....11:57 to go
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
GW up 5 with 6min to play..!
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 22, 2008 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I would love to have a rematch at UNC
in the Sweet 16 or Elite 8…
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
UT 20 - Vandy 10 w/6minutes to go....
The SEC East has 5 teams bowl eligible…..Only the Vols won’t be going bowling.
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
hehehehehe.....
sorry, but that makes me giggle….
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 22, 2008 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I'm smiling too! lo
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
VMI is a scoring machine....
Although it was against Stevenson (college or university) not sure, but they won 133-72, and beat the mighty Maryland Bible College Holy Rollers 118-72….
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Isn't this great, that we have other
stuff to talk about today, lol.
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Could you imagine being the coach
in waiting at Penn State (football). You’d probably retire before Jo Pa does, as he said he’s coming back next season. That’s what I want at Kentucky, another Adolph Rup to stick around for quite some time. To become a legend.
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 3:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
80-76 OU wins....Nice try Gardner Webb
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 4:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
OU holds on.....
Gardner-Webb 76, (14) Oklahoma 80
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 22, 2008 4:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
On his nine-point, four rebound performance …
"It’s just one of those days. Coach has been telling me that I’ve been catching with just one hand and finishing with one hand. That played into a lot of my offensive game today. I just need to correct it and finish with two hands above the rim." Patrick Patterson
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Coach ...
… is telling him correctly. That’s exactly what Pat needs to do. Stevenson was suffering from much the same problem.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 22, 2008 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Team Notes........
- After shooting only 21 percent on three-pointers in the first two games, UK connected on 52.9 percent today, making 9 of 17.
- UK also had an outstanding game at the free-throw line, making 85.7 percent (12 of 14).
- After struggling with turnovers the first two games, UK had only 12 miscues today.
Individual game notes - Jodie Meeks tallied a game-high 22 points.
- This was the third straight game that Meeks hit double figures in the first half. He had 20 in the opening stanza vs. Virginia Military, 11 at North Carolina and 12 today.
Meeks tied a career high with five three-pointers. Going back to last season, it is the fourth-straight game in which he has played that he has had at least two three-pointers. - Jodie is averaging 26.6 pts per game this season.
*Freshman Darius Miller was next for UK with 13 points, a high for his young collegiate career. - Perry Stevenson blocked a shot today, his ninth-straight game with at least one rejection.
- Junior Kevin Galloway and freshman Landon Slone got their first official game action as Wildcats.
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It doesn't look good for Jared Carter,
in regards to getting a medical redshirt, as he doesn’t look to get much playing time. I wish the best for Jared after graduation.
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 22, 2008 4:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I was out and couldn't catch the game
So based on looking over the stats and reading the recap here, it sounds like the team played better on offense even accounting for the type of defense being played by Delaware St. On defense it sounds like UK was solid if unspectacular.
It’s good to see someone besides Meeks hit a 3 and it’s good to see 9-17 on threes overall.
All told it sounds like there was definite progress and improvement from the first two games and that’s really what you want to see at this point in the season.
"That's not a Sherman tank, it's Frank Thomas!" - Monkeyball
by JLeverenz on Nov 22, 2008 4:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Our defense ...
… was really very good. Offensively, we were adequate.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 22, 2008 6:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll take 'adequate' as an improvement over 'dismal'
"That's not a Sherman tank, it's Frank Thomas!" - Monkeyball
by JLeverenz on Nov 23, 2008 7:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Indeed.
I would even call it a “major” improvement. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 24, 2008 7:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
UofL/Morehead State
is a real barn burner so far.
by blbskue on Nov 22, 2008 5:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
UL/MSU
score??
" I believe in pipedreams"
by Magnoliacat on Nov 22, 2008 6:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Harris at point????
Couldn’t get the game in Chicago, but I understand he played point for a while? This is bad. For every minute he plays this spot is another minute either Porter or Liggins don’t get to play and learn. It must really be bad for Galloway……
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
by HozeKing on Nov 22, 2008 7:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Kind of offtopic, but ...
…I love the “Related Fanpost” that came up on the right sidebar, talking about Porter at the point:
http://www.aseaofblue.com/2008/5/30/542530/lead-guard-situation-for-0
by EEWildcat on Nov 23, 2008 11:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Heh ...
… yeah, well, that just illustrates the danger of trying to predict the future based on the past.
I’m afraid I will be in similar shape for my prediction that Patterson will likely go pro this year. At this point, I think it will take him most of the year just to get back to where he was last year.
Obviously, the silver lining to the Patterson problem is that with Orton, Pilgrim Hood and Vilarino coming in next year is the kind of basketball team that we have not seen around here in many years, and a genuine threat to go deep into the tournament.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 23, 2008 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Since 2005 Anyway
That team was a genuine threat to go deep into the tournament.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 23, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
For Kentucky fans ...
… five years is definitely “many.”
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 23, 2008 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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