Kentucky Wildcats (2) 75, Kansas Jayhawks (14) 65: Postmortem
by Glenn Logan on Nov 16, 2011 1:02 AM EST
in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
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The news tonight will be all about Mike Krzyzewski's 903rd win, and well it should be. Congratulations to the Duke Blue Devils and Coach K for the milestone. But for Kentucky fans, there was another game, and a much more important one to Big Blue and Kansas Jayhawk partisans. The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 75-65 in a tough, physical game that introduced the Kentucky freshman to big-time college basketball.
This was a worthy effort by a gritty but slightly under-talented Kansas team that came in an underdog and came out perhaps better for the wear despite the loss. Kansas may sink a bit in the rankings, but they displayed the kind of toughness that teams with experienced players, especially under excellent coaching like Bill Self's, often display in big games like this. Kansas went down, but they went down reluctantly, resisting to the bitter end. The Jayhawks played like they had a chip on their shoulder, and that attitude will serve them well the rest of the season.
But the Wildcats would not be denied. They used some massive runs in the second half to put Kansas in a big hole that proved to be too deep to dig out of. Kansas fought back, but the Wildcats began making threes as well as transition dunks, and the Jayhawks, in the end, bowed to the superior team.
Superlatives:
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Once again, he proved the wisdom of Calipari's declaration that he must start. His intensity, length, and toughness were exactly what Kentucky needed to win. He didn't score a lot, but he rebounded and made great passes, sharing the team lead for both assists and rebounds. 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and a block. He did have 5 turnovers, but he still gets the game ball.
- I loved the emotion Terrence Jones brought, and it mostly served him well, although a few times it seemed to get the better of him. He had 15 points and 7 rebounds to go with 4 blocks.
- Anthony Davis was a matchup nightmare and a blocking machine. Six blocks to go with Jones' 4, along with 12 points and 4 assists, but only 3 rebounds. For a 6'10" player, that's a problem.
- Doron Lamb led all scoring with 17 points, and was very poised, especially in the second half and running the point in relief of Teague. That extra year has really improved him in a lot of ways.
- Darius Miller played better than you might think, with 5 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and only 2 turnovers. He made a dagger three and a huge post-up turn around and-one. If he'd only made that free throw ...
- Marquis Teague struggled the whole first half, but really settled down in the second. He wound up with 12 points and 4 assists, but 6 turnovers and a number of really bad breakdowns marred his effort. He'll get better, playing the point in Calipari's system is a lot harder than it looks.
- Eloy Vargas and Kyle Wiltjer played, but they had no real impact on the game.
This was a solid victory, and the game went pretty much according to how I expected. Both teams started out jittery with the magnitude of the moment, and the entire first half was a grind-it-out, ugly affair. The second half saw Kentucky shoot a great percentage, (not sure what as of this writing) that gave them 55% overall for the night. That will win a lot of ball games, and as we expected, the transition game was just impossible for the Jayhawks to effectively contain.
Calipari has a lot of work yet to do with this team. They played a very undisciplined game in the first half, and won mostly on talent and not on execution, although the offensive and defensive execution were notably better in the second half. Pretty or ugly, this was a big win by Kentucky, and a 47-point outburst in the second half will win you a lot of ball games.
I'll have more to say about this later as I examine the replay, but I think we're all really happy to get a win against a top 25 club this early in the season.
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A Great 2nd Half....
…to balance the sloppy first haf. They were fortunate that the Jayhawks seemed just as nervy in the first half as they dild. Normally, turning the ball over 12 times o the Jayhawks will result in disaster….but the `hawks had almost as many (10).
The `Cat’s will get better. I loved Coach Cal’s comments at the end of the game:
“Alright, guys, just go on aout there and lose this one ,then the next two down the road, and then you’ll be askin’, ‘Coach, what do we gotta’ do to get better?’ And maybe then you’ll start listening to me….”
i was there.....
Got to my hotel at 1 and now sitting on my 6 am plane so not sure hose coherent this woolly be…..
Was prob 50+% UK blue. Seemed to me both duke and UK got the short end of the stick on calls. At one point in 2h our 3 lot % was greatest than ft%. Yes we pretty much made them toward the end but got to get better.
We lost a number of statistical lines lime steals and tos but I think in the 2h we dominated rebounding.
Big blue chant was huge after the step over. Team also came together.
I wanted to see more of wiltzer but he wk not play defense the way cal wants. Imo
Miller showed Jonathan an opportune time but wish it was more often
Door closed so gotta go…
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 16, 2011 5:54 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Sorry for the typos...
was great to be there – defense really won the game in 2H – was suffocating. Wiltjer just will not close out his man. Miller clearly provided a spark but we need him all game.
all along, i have said this class of freshmen is the best Cal has ever had. they might well be but they are not there yet.
they still look out of sync on offense as well.
guess i sound like a picky UK fan, but i also realized i had let my expectations get ahead of themselves. just going to try and enjoy the jounney!!
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 16, 2011 6:32 AM EST up reply actions
Was an all around good game
and Cal saw what he needed to see. That was the important part.
You just HAD to go and mention Duke didn’t you???…..lol……
I was having a wonderful morning and then BLAM!……Duke mention right on the front page!!!
Here’s to an undefeated November!!! Let’s close it out strong and get ready for what will be one tough December!!
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 16, 2011 7:08 AM EST reply actions
BTW, I kinda think we should save that "mean and ugly" Cat pic for the second half threads this season
He kinda looks like the look that Terrence had on his face during the game!!!
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 16, 2011 7:11 AM EST up reply actions
Start of the game
I was taken aback at the nervousness of the freshmen to start the game. In addition to Teague, MKG and Davis looked really shaken by the intense defense KU threw at them. Jones and Lamb both played like they “had been here before” which is what I suppose should happen since they are sophomores. Whatever Cal said to the team at the half I would like to have bottled. No TOs in the second half for Teague was a miracle, and MKG and Davis both settled in and played their games.
I’m not sure what memphis saw in Wiltjer’s poor defense, since I didn’t see enough of him to pick it up in the first half minute he played. I thought Miller was a calming presence for the team, which he should be as a senior. His post up ball fake and score in the paint was textbook.
Glad to get the win. KU is going to be a tough out for someone this year. As a side note, Robinson looked far from 6-10 he is listed. Standing next to Jones, he looked shorter, but he can play in the paint — especially if the refs give him the little foot shuffle he always uses.
Miller and Vargas coming in late in the second half like that may have been on purpose
They came on the floor and all of a sudden, the seas parted…..nice to know that you have subs like that aint it?…..lol
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 16, 2011 7:53 AM EST up reply actions
You betcha
But I wonder how much it was Cal wanting to get Teague and another out of the game versus using Vargas and MIller to settle them.
re wiltjer
I was mainly reading the body language of cal when he took him out. It was typically when wiltjer let his guy have on open 12-15 ft shot. He would immediately send someone to the scored’s table and when he came out show him how to hold a hand up in the ku players face.
I also think he really wants to get a tight 6-7 MBA rotation set and then go from there.
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 16, 2011 9:05 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Pretty evident that we are going to go as Teague goes...
He had ~33% of total TO’s, mostly in the first half and we saw how that went.
I really wonder why Cal didn’t play Darius more in the game, only had 20 minutes worth? Is he trying to send a message??
Gonna be an interesting year!
#rollercoasterride
If your wings don't sweep....
I think he did it on purpose Eagle.
Teague needed this game more than any other player. Davis is always going to block shots. Terrence is always going to get inside and bang, Darius and Lamb are always going to hit from the wings. But Teague had to learn what it is like when he gets his driving lanes cut off. He had to learn how to find an open man when he couldnt move a muscle. And he needed to learn the “see the whole court” concept that Cal is so big on. We could afford to get beat by Kansas at this point, but we couldn’t afford to lose to teams like Louisville or Alabama where they are going to play swarming defenses. We need that floor general up to speed and running the show on this level right away. Teague learned some valuable lessons last night, and we still got the W.
Ball handling is an art form. Point guards are the one position on the floor that are more about brains than build. A good point guard can be 5’10" or 6’9". Height is great to have, but not 100% necessary like it is inside the paint or on the wing where you are shooting over other players. Teague needed to have this kind of a game early, so he knows what to do when UNC knocks on the door.
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 16, 2011 7:51 AM EST up reply actions
You might be right GAE...
Understand letting Teague play through his miscues, certainly agree with “it’s better now than later” in regards to his learning curve. He’s gotta be halfway there by Jan (SEC games) and mostly there by March (Tourney games). So I really don’t have a problem with Teague…
My problem is Miller… He had 4 big rebounds, a big trey and a huge effort bucket in the lane. Also 4 assists, one of which was off an Off Reb tip where he pushed it to another Cat (dang, can’t remember who) which resulted in a bucket. Will await JL’s DSS but his D looked good too. In a big game like this, you need his steady, calming influence on the floor and Cal choose to go with MKG. Was that too a learning thing?? Kind of a head-scratcher there…
All things said and done, I’ll take the W. But if we play a half against UNC like we did last night, they’ll have us for lunch!
If your wings don't sweep....
But remember this:
We beat this SAME UNC team, late into the season, with freshmen, high-stakes win. We only lost by 1 @ UNC, same time of the year. I think we will get the best of them at RUPP.
http://www.JohnWallWear.com
by kentuckyrules on Nov 16, 2011 8:37 AM EST up reply actions
Sure hope so!
I think UNC is too good to overcome a shakey first half like we had last night. We’re gonna have to bring it both 20 minute periods. And that game is only two weeks away, so… Guess we’ll see what kind of coaching Cal can do over that time span.
If your wings don't sweep....
I agree with you :)
…plus it would be nice to blow them out! (we’d have to play tough all 40 mins to do that).
http://www.JohnWallWear.com
by kentuckyrules on Nov 16, 2011 9:05 AM EST up reply actions
Things I learned from being there
*That opening game took FOREVER
*We have a ton of talent, but the setting overwhelmed them at first
*MKG is a ridiculously huge individual. There’s just something about him that makes him appear bigger than he is
*Davis just erases things on the defensive end
*I’m going to try to not let our lack of free throw shooting ability concern me. But it’s definitely in the back of my mind
*I think Terrence Jones would just as soon kill you as look at you
*Michigan State brought about 10 fans to the arena
*Kansas fans can’t hold their liquor
Really good lessons
And I’m glad you got to enjoy the experience of being there.
Your first point. I knew it was going to be a lovefest for K. Really ticked me off that they did that, but nothing else should be expected by all the northeast nerds that populate the behind the scenes group at ESPN.
"I think Terrence Jones would just as soon kill you as look at you"
haha, yeah I think that too. No wonder he had to walk away from that auto wreck.
It’s nice to see his intensity, but he needs to be able to bottle it up at will. Letting his emotions run the floor is not what we need from him this year – we need a leader.
I am always concerned
about the lack of free throw shooting ability. This is my biggest pet peeve in all of basketball. They are FREE points. MAKE THEM!
You can put it on the board....YES.
It was a pretty bad first half
Lamb, MKG, and especially Teague really struggled and made bad decisions.
I knew we would come out looking much better in the 2nd half, but I didn’t think it would be that much better. Lamb started to hit, MKG started to make good decisions, and Teague stopped turning it over. I would give game ball to Davis because he played well from beginning to end, and was a serious defensive presence.
I like what Miller did in this game, there just wasn’t enough of it. I think the 1st half would have gone more smoothly if Miller had been getting more playing time and touches. Vitale kept talking about “saying there are 6 starters” but Miller still feeling a little disrespected in the back of his mind. I think it might be a little true.
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
Loads of talent
No question about that but I got a little tired of the posing and that eye three thing. Just play basketball and leave that in the locker room. And if Jones wants to be the vocal guy and a leader I would rather see him do it while playing in the paint instead of jacking 3’s. If I were an opposing coach I would tell my players to leave Jones wide open on the perimeter and pray he hits his frst attempt. There is loads and loads of talent on this team but Cal better get a handle on their emotions right away. And I am confident that he will.
God help everyone else
once this team gels. I thought this was an excellent barometer to gauge the upcoming UNC game, and a superb introduction to the big time for our freshman. I’m sure Cal will be showing lots of game film of the Heels and asking the boys “So you thought Kansas was tough? What if they had Carolina’s talent on top of it? You guys better pull it together.” All in all, this game did precisely what it was supposed to do for all concerned, and the win was a bonus.
I was very encouraged by how well the guys came out in the second half. They appeared to have their heads screwed on straight(er).
Since this team is (drum roll please…) a young one, it’s the bigger picture that should concern us when evaluating them — and the big picture looks very good to me.
We're all just a banana peel away from eternity.
ICQ: 591535544
Yahoo IM: jacksbrain
I just don't think there is a team in the country that can run with us.
Except maybe UNC. But our fast break is really deadly.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Agreed
This is the best fast breaking team I’ve seen in many many years. It reminded me of how Rupp used to drill his teams in passing the ball three abreast full court without the ball hitting the floor and no one traveling. Only better!
We're all just a banana peel away from eternity.
ICQ: 591535544
Yahoo IM: jacksbrain
bench depth
Will we run ourselves out of gas like last year with this rotation? I cautiously optimistic that this would be a much deeper team with guys subbing in and out all the time. If you believed that Hood and Poole were going to contribute then those are significant losses.
I do agree that only UNC can run with UK. I feel like somebody pointed out that unless Vargas is in there all 5 guys are capable of initiating, running and/or finishing the break. Having Davis, Jones, and hopefully Wiltjer gives us an incredible luxury.
2 cents
Hopefully last night was just “big stage jitters”. At one point Teague had 0 points, 0 assists, but 6 turnovers. That will simply NOT do, but if I remember right, Brandon Knight’s first few games weren’t that great, either.
Really, really surprised that Cal didn’t use Wiltjer more. He played very well in both exhibition games. Just hope Cal doesn’t wait too long in getting him off the bench.
Wiltjer just didn't seem into the game
His body language was all wrong, he was a step slow, and just generally looked like a freshman (pre-Cal edition) out there. Not surprised he didn’t see much PT after a short stint in the first half.
Game Ball Disagree
I understand your lovefest for Michael Kidd Gilcrest, and, after seeing the HBO special, recognize him as a special talent with great character. However, Terence Jones literally kept the Cats in the game in he first half, often used as a “point forward” when Teague struggled mightily.
It was also he who encouraged Teague on the court early in the second half. I worry about his emotion occasionally, but mostly it serves him and his teammates well.
If TJ's emotions will work out to where 98% of it is for the good, and 2% is for the bad...
Then I’ll take some of that! We need a warrior on the floor, and that he certainly was last night, no questions asked! He’s only 20, so he’ll learn to bottle that and use it accordingly. Certainly a different kid, emotionally, than he was last year, I think we’ll all admit to that… He shot ~50% from the floor and 3, second on the team in rebounds, hit both his FT’s (note to all the other players), 2 assists and 3 blocks. Gamer…
If your wings don't sweep....
Different strokes.
And it isn’t a “lovefest” for Kidd-Gilchrist. I call them as I see them.
In my opinion, Gilchrist was more valuable than Jones overall, although not by a great deal. I thought he, Jones, and Davis all played particularly well.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Nov 16, 2011 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
what about Lamb?
I would have given him the game ball, as those back-to-back-to-back threes are what took the wind out of Kansas’ sails.
How awesome is it that Kentucky fans can argue about who gets a game ball?
He was great.
Too many defensive breakdowns for me, but that’s just me.
You’re right, this is a great argument to have. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
This sums it up for KU ...
http://www.JohnWallWear.com
by kentuckyrules on Nov 16, 2011 9:17 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
"I'm happy now, but I'll be mad once I watch the tape"
I think Cal’s quote at the end of the game summed it up for me. It was a fun game to watch, with flashes of brilliance (especially in the second half) and LOTS of things to improve on. But if they buy into Cal’s system, I think they’ll be unstoppable come March.
You can put it on the board....YES.
Good game
Internet crapped out on me midway through the 2nd half so I didn’t get to see the end, but a solid win and sounds like they did everything they needed to close the deal.
I would also give the game ball to Terrence – he was very active from the get go and didn’t get taken out of his game by the circumstances the way all the freshmen did at one point or another.
1/x doesn't die, it just fades away.
MKG is a beast
The game changed when Cal switched defensive assignments and put Kidd-Gilchrist on Tyshawn Taylor. It totally disrupted KU’s offense. What an incredible weapon to have a guy that big with arms that long who can lock up the opponents’ point guard.
About Coach K and his wins
According to Wikipedia, Coach K has won 135 post-season games (lost 43), including the conference tournament, NIT (2-2, ha ha) and NCAA. The site does not have Coach Rupp’s post season wins broken out like that, but I’d doubt if UK played 135 post season games while he was coaching us.
No conference tourney, NCAA much shorter; so I'd say no
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
Comparing K's and Rupp's win totals isn't fair
In Rupp’s days, he only had seven seasons (out of 42 total) when UK played as many as 30 games. Duke plays as many as 40 some years and has had many season of 30+. If Rupp’s teams had played as many games as K’s, the Dukie wouldn’t yet be close to Rupp in all-time wins. For that matter, neither Knight nor Smith would have caught him.
For a better comparison, look at the winning percentage. Rupp stands out there.
by jdogblue on Nov 16, 2011 6:12 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
No it should not be
“The news tonight will be all about Mike Krzyzewski’s 903rd win, and well it should be”. No it should not be because ESPN showed that evil shot from 1992. That “perfect game” from 1992 (less the stomp on Aminu), I will never concede that win.
No denying he is a helluva coach and has built a helluva program. But he is a BK disciple and that is as unforgivable as the Unforgetables.
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