Big Blue Madness 2011: Recap
by Glenn Logan on Oct 14, 2011 9:44 PM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
Email
PrintWell, this BBM will be remembered for a couple of things. First, John Calipari's incredibly naked recruiting pitch that probably could have had North Carolina recruits decommitting to come to Kentucky if they'd heard it. The second was the remarkable basketball performance put on by this team.
There was no defense, of course, but man, these guys were knocking down 25 foot shots, doing bounced-off-backboard dunks, and dropping beautiful dimes. It doesn't mean a lot except as a display of raw basketball ability, of which there was a great deal. It will be even more interesting to watch them when people are actually guarding.
I can honestly say that I am aghast at the overall talent of this team, but a couple of guys really stood out for several reasons. I'll get into that after the jump.
Observations:
- Darius Miller and Doron Lamb look ready to shoot 43%+ from three again this year.
- Twany Beckham really impressed me with his basketball IQ and unselfishness, as well as his athleticism. He is likely to get some minutes, and I really didn't think he would.
- Marquis Teague is a much different player than his brother Jeff. Much more of a distributor.
- Terrence Jones looked fabulous, and made several right-handed plays, something we never saw once last year.
- Kyle Wiltjer is exactly what you think -- a very intelligent player and just a bit more athletic than you think.
- Anthony Davis ought to be outlawed. Nobody will be able to stop him. He runs the floor like a gazelle, handles like a guard, and finishes like a 6'10" Darrell Griffith.
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a true slasher. We are going to love him, but he really needs work on his shooting form, it is ugly.
- Ryan Harrow looked pretty good. Eloy Vargas has improved a little also.
- [UPDATE] I somehow neglected to mention Stacey Poole. He looked radically improved, made at least one three and a terrific dunk in traffic. He is going to have an impact this year. His body looked like it was carved from stone.
Well, that's it. Your comments go below. Hope you enjoyed it, I know I did.
35 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Wow, that was fast!
BBM was awesome. A perfect combo of rah-rah and athletics. If we don’t get some action from our high-potential recruits in the next week, I’m not sure I even want them. (kidding, kidding)
And while I know it sucks for them, let’s be honest: the NBA lockout? Hasn’t exactly hurt the college basketball world, and has been a boon for UK. The last 2 weeks on campus have been insane.
I can’t remember a season that starts with more anticipation, and based on the scrimmage? One more deserving of the hype.
GO CATS!
Proud member of the Big Blue Nation - Let's Go Cats!!!
I feel bad being happy about the lockout
because I know people’s livlihoods are on the line, but I, honestly, as a college basketball partisan who does not care about the pro game, I kind of am. So there.
by blue kentucky girl on Oct 15, 2011 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
From my post in the Open Thread, didn't know you had this up yet...
Length… Check
Shooting… Check
Speed… Check
Defense… Unknown at this time, but Cal’s teams always end up playing good D so I’m pretty confident there.
Rebounding… With the length, we should be OK there
Hmmm… Gonna be an interesting year of Roundball! :-)
If your wings don't sweep....
If you can't go through them
go around or over them.
I woke up feeling BLUE this morning. It's gonna be a great day.
Yeah, blue o, you got a point....
Nothing in the middle other than Vargas, and he really ain’t that big. A big center will give us problems when they have the ball, however, our quickness/speed will cause him problems when we have the ball. Which would you rather have there?? Interesting…
If your wings don't sweep....
Eagle
How about Beckham? I was lucky (from Eugene to see a replay of MNM) I realized I don’t much about Beckham. Is he a banger? Also, it appears we have some numbers this year.
by blue oregon on Oct 15, 2011 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Off topic but
Just was reading CC to see how their team is doing, and people are complaining that it looked empty with less than 5k.
that's gonna hurt ol Billy Boy.....
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 14, 2011 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Tru, I missed the festivities
But it sounds good. If TJ can go to his right and AD should be outlawed, I need to get some more DVD’s and VCR tapes and jump drives and whatever else I can get my hands on. Let’s go Cats!
Impressive. Very impressive. /Vader
I thought the same thing about MKG’s shot – it reminded me a lot of Wayne Turner. Fortunately UK will not be dependent on that jumper this year – there are plenty of other guys who can get it done.
I can’t wait to see this team play defense. They could be super scary.
1/x doesn't die, it just fades away.
Eloy looked improved;
as did Paulson and Poole.
I was thrilled with the speed and athleticism of the team.
It looked like we had one point guard, and a host of 2s and 3s of different heights.
I think I am in love with a bunch of guys in blue shorts......
I guess that makes me strange…..lol
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 14, 2011 11:46 PM EDT reply actions
Completely agree with your accessment
WOW – this team come tournament time will be unbelieavable. What talent. I don’t think we’ll see any team in the country that will give us a contest in March. I bet with all the athleticism and depth our defense will be as well or better than the offensive abilities we witnessed last evening.
A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!
fist time ive missed it in years. stuck in thailand
Were there any special guests?
It`s good for everyone to understand that they are to love their enemies, simply because your enemies show you things about yourself you need to change. So in actuality enemies are friends in reverse.
-gary busy
by cnevius26 on Oct 15, 2011 5:34 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
dude from Montgomery Gentry
big white country boy if that helps ;j
I have kleptomania,
but when it gets bad,
I take something for it.
If there's one thing I learned from watching the ESPNU broadcast
There are a lot of teams that can play. But as Coach Cal says, “I like my team!”
ESPN loves the event.....then says that we cannot win it all this way
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 15, 2011 10:17 AM EDT reply actions
I was delighted
I had hoped to see a preview of the “hook”, but that is generally a shot in response to defense, and defense was nearly non-existent in the paint last night. But everyone on the floor seemed to be able to shoot at will, and score. the exception was Wiltjer, and I am willing to put that down to nerves, given the video I have seen on him.
Given the depth of the bench this year if they just put the pedal to the metal they are going to blow out a lot of teams as they rotate fresh quality players through against the opposition, and
fouls shouldn’t be a problem. Now if Vargas can pull a Bruce Banner transition, like Josh did last year, and solidify the 5 for us.
It’s going to be a very exciting team to watch, on the quest for #8.
Had to check
to see if my impressions last night were just a wishful dream. Sounds like many at ASOB were impressed with lots of talent and speed. I woke this am and donned a Ky shirt again just because. Might be that I have a blue wardrobe right through March. I thought the coverage was positive with the exception of Davis being on the panel and coming across as a homer too many times. Might just have been my “blue ears”. One of my sons once said I get “blue ears” during basketball season.
I would love to know the reaction of the visitors. Those kids had to be impressed by the whole show including the pros who are obviously still supporting Kentucky and Coach Cal.
I was also pleased to have the ASOB family coming back. Proof of “crazy” might be over 400 comments on a pre-pre practice but that can also be used to validate a great fan site.
Most of us
certainly have Blue Eyes.
I woke up feeling BLUE this morning. It's gonna be a great day.
You Blue Tongue Devil you
A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!
by KansasUKCat on Oct 16, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions
I really like the Terrance Jones with the RIGHT hand moves ....
Between Jones and Davis every team we play will have match up problems …. As scary as they looked last night …. this team will be the Nightmare of college basketball by the time the SEC season starts.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
[UPDATED 01/18/2012]
Related FanPosts on A Sea Of Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
