Attitude Check

by jshawn17 on Nov 21, 2011 11:34 AM EST

I think we are starting to see a major issue develop in this team. We think we ought to walk on the court and have every call go our way. The opposing squad should simply roll out the red carpet for our dunks and clap as we posterize them. Attitude is different from confidence. You can walk out on the walk with the swagger and know your going to win. I want that in a team. But what I think is ridiculous is trying to argue with officials, pose for the camera, and get into these scrums we are beginning to see with regularity.

My dad always repeated to me that you can't complain about the officials; just figure out how they are calling the game and adjust accordingly. We are too often complaining about officiating. Remember Chuck Hayes and how when a foul was called he would just hand the ball to the officials and jog to his spot and get in position. What I find interesting about that is usually Chuck would start getting the calls on the other end and get less called on him. Officials subconsciously or consciously call less fouls on people that react positively to those that don't. Or when a call could go either way, say to give someone a technical or not.

It seems when there is a hard foul, we run in and try to break it up by shoving someone. It is like the drunk guy at the end of the night who has drank enough courage to prove he's a man. I don't understand why we think we need to prove we are men, but we need to redirect the anger, frustration, or whatever it is to playing ball. The past incident with Terrence Jones getting the double technical yesterday was ludicrous. The only thing it did was get us off our game and allow ODU back in it. Losing our composure will cost us later in the season, and it was not just in this game. Remember in the Kansas game where Robinson walked over Jones to gain his balance and the whole team wanted to get into a shoving match.

If we become a team that has a short fuse, the conference season is going to be rough. The rest of the league is going to egg our guys on to provoke them. We need some leadership to step in and take the reins. Miller did a good job on the floor yesterday, but he or someone else needs to get the emotions under control as well.

And lastly for the posing after every dunk, as the saying goes act like you've (done it) before.

Stay classy Kentucky

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I mostly agree

I was mostly with you until this, “Remember in the Kansas game where Robinson walked over Jones to gain his balance and the whole team wanted to get into a shoving match.”

Robinson was straight punking Jones by tea-bagging him like that. And on national TV, too. What people need to remember is that there is nothing more important to most of these guys than their reps and cred. Allowing a fellow pre-season AA to tea-bag you on national television means that your friends are going to rip you to shreds. If you show restraint and shake it off, you will have been mature and classy, but your peers will not respect that. It’s an unfortunate thing, but this is reality. This is who the majority of these kids are. And as mature and classy as I like to think I am, if Robinson tea-bags me on national TV, I will most certainly fight back too, consequences be damned. Now, Jones’ double T against ODU… no excuse. Same for Teague.

I agree totally about the posing. These guys are acting so proud of themselves for beating inferior opponents. They SHOULD dunk on these guys. They SHOULD hit open 3s. Beat UNC and then you can celebrate all you want. Anyone else, act like you’ve been there before.

by UKfaninDC on Nov 21, 2011 11:54 AM EST reply actions

Understood

But did the entire team need to jump in on it, or could Jones said his piece and moved on?

by jshawn17 on Nov 21, 2011 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

#LaFamilia

That leads into the team being “family.” Of course you have to have your boy’s back.

Not saying I agree with it, but I think I understand it to some degree. This comes from a lot of pickup ball with thugs…

by UKfaninDC on Nov 21, 2011 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

I can beat the crap out of my brothers if I wish......

they can try to beat the crap out of me…….

Anyone else lays a hand on them that I don’t think is warranted, they get the full brunt of my ability to put a stop to it.

When I was in HS, playing team sports, I felt the exact same way about my teammates.

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 21, 2011 7:16 PM EST up reply actions

I understand your point, but this isn't pickup or even AAU anymore

They are in school, they are also learning how to be “pros”. The guys who will be paying them in a year or two will appreciate their showing maturity and honestly, that should mean more to them than their street cred. That cred won’t pay ’em a dime.

Just like a lot of things, its early in the year and they should be getting better as the year goes on. TJ has had a year to learn some restraint, what he does will be reflected by the freshmen, this is the kind of thing he can be doing as a “leader” on this team..

by sweasyf on Nov 21, 2011 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

The only outburst I am OK with is the teabagging rebuttal. Otherwise, if I were in their shoes, I would just laugh at the instigator and shrug my shoulders. It’s amazing how much that will upset a thug.

On another note, if I’m the coach of another team, I am telling my guys to do all the subtle things I can to piss off Jones, Teague, etc. I would love to get them to shove one of my guys and get T’d up. Eventually a coach will put it into action. Jones doesn’t look like he could handle it very well.

by UKfaninDC on Nov 21, 2011 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

Being on national TV

makes me want them to show even more restraint. While they might be solidifying their “cred” to other players, they are showing other refs and opposing coaches that they need to be watched more carefully. That leads to more fouls being called, and more chances for opposing players to start trying to push buttons.

You can put it on the board....YES.

by twocee on Nov 22, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

Act like you've done it before

That is all you had to say. I do believe that is the major problem with having a young team. They have been told they are so great their whole lives, so they develop an attitude. Playing inferior teams this early in the season only makes it worse. I believe the Coach Cal or UNC will put them in their place. Hopefully it will be Cal.

by ScottWalls on Nov 21, 2011 1:23 PM EST reply actions

Actually...

“Playing inferior teams this early in the season only makes it worse.”

I think this is the exact right approach. Sure, they’ve blown out a couple of teams, but they could have easily lost to ODU. I’m sure the boys thought they’d win easily, by 30+. Getting outmuscled and outhustled should open their eyes to the fact that the games aren’t played on paper.

If they faced a tough battle with another Top 10 team, it wouldn’t have the same impact. I personally kind of wish that ODU had won that game. Talk about an eye opener for the team!

by UKfaninDC on Nov 21, 2011 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

These kids are just that......kids

They are going to get attitudes every now and then, they are going to be “feeling their oats” when they demolish and posterize opponents on a regular basis like they are doing right now. Close games are just going to highlight this kind of behavior and have a finger pointed at them as being part of the reason they are not perfect. Sorry folks, they are not perfect.

They are probably the best there is in the NCAA this year at it, but they are not perfect. They learn, they move on….nothing to see here.

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 21, 2011 2:05 PM EST reply actions

I don't buy this excuse

I am tried of people saying their just kids. No offense. The reason this continues to happen is people continue to tell college students that they can continue to act this way.

by jshawn17 on Nov 21, 2011 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

there is no excuse there at all......just a simple explanation.....

Cal will correct it…..just the same way parents still have to correct kids that age in their own households………………

When you have 3/4 of the press in the United States telling you that you are the best in the country, then you get to figure out if you can handle the ego that comes along with it, until you are old enough to hold it in check

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 21, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

Not an explanation.

A mitigating factor, perhaps, but these kids can and must do better. Cal needs to reign them in a bit.

If somebody gets ejected, this is going to turn from a nuisance to a meme, and we don’t need or deserve that.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Nov 22, 2011 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

I can accept, " mitigating factor" .......but as you pointed out, as of right now

It’s nothing more than a nuisance.

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 22, 2011 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

I think ultimately that is the concern

If it continues, I think we have a problem. Other teams are going to intentionally try to provoke the players into something. I just think we need to curtail this before it costs us.

by jshawn17 on Nov 23, 2011 12:08 AM EST up reply actions