Arkansas Razorbacks 63, Kentucky Wildcats 86: Postmortem
by Glenn Logan on Jan 17, 2012 11:41 PM EST
in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
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PrintTonight, a young but talented Arkansas team came in and tried to upset #2 Kentucky with their version of 40 Minutes of Hell. It didn't work.
For Arkansas, they deserve a lot of praise. They are a very tough-minded but young group of players who lack the size they need inside. They work extremely hard on defense and try to stay in your grille the entire game, but tonight, the size and talent deficit, plus the added difficulty of having to try to upset a top two team that hasn't lost at home in 44 games, was just too tall a task for this young, talented, well-coach, but ultimately unsuccessful Arkansas team.
Kentucky took the Arkansas press and made mincemeat of it. When Arkansas threw up a zone, the Wildcats made threes. Anthony Davis' arms seemed 15 feet long as he blocked threes, twos, everything but free throws. He also dunked. He dunked a lot. I don't know how many, but of his ten made field goals, I'd bet seven of them where flushes.
But it wasn't just Davis. It was Terrence Jones, who blocked five shots himself. Darius Miller shot the ball well, Doron Lamb less so but still pretty good. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was everywhere, all the time. Marquis Teague was dropping dimes and making high-percentage shots. Overall, it was just a good old time for the Wildcats, and not so pleasant for the Hogs.
Superlatives:
- You might think Anthony Davis' career high 27 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks would be good enough to win the game ball, wouldn't you? And of course it is, are you kidding?
- But Marquis Teague's 9 assists, to go with 7 points, 4 rebounds and two steals gets him a first-class honorable mention. If Davis' game hadn't been so nearly perfect offensively and defensively, I would have given it to Teague, because he played perhaps his best game of the season. He just got it on the same night as Davis.
- Terrence Jones looked largely like the Jones we remember from earlier this year. He took the ball strong to the hoop and rebounded. He played like a man -- 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks.
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was also excellent. His numbers don't accurately describe how impressive he was. He was a 6'7" ball of screaming energy and skill, and his numbers don't reflect the level he helped his teammates get to.
- Doron Lamb seemed to come out of his slump a bit today. He didn't shoot it great, but he shot it fearlessly, and that's the main thing when you are having some shooting woes -- just keep shooting when you're open and don't force it. For the most part, Lamb did that.
- Darius Miller was wonderful in the first half, back to his complementary self in the second. Miller scored, but didn't rebound that well. 11 points and 2 rebounds. Not bad.
- Kyle Wiltjer played well in his 15 minutes, scoring 4 points and getting 2 rebounds. Kyle is getting tougher on defense, and he is deadly on the pick and pop.
- Overall, the team played very hard, and very successfully. The defense was stifling, and in the first half, it was indomitable.
Not so superlatives
- 3-point shooting was pretty bad -- 3-11 for 27%.
- That is all.
Overall, there just isn't much to criticize. Kentucky controlled this game from tip to horn, and was never in jeopardy of serious competition. When you defeat an opponent that completely, you have done all that anyone could ask as a fan. I'm sure Coach Cal will find plenty of fault with this performance (and there surely is some, despite my unwillingness to be critical), but as a UK partisan, you have to like what the Wildcats brought tonight.
Next up -- the Alabama Crimson Tide. I'd just about guarantee you things will be different against them, but we'll worry about that later. For now, it's an impressive win for the Wildcats.
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I think I enjoyed this game as well as any this season
And what about MKG’s pushing the ball for assists on the break.
Miller was impressive to open each half. Davis was all man and all amazing. Teague was fantastic at the point with only a couple of bad decisions (Cal said out of 32 decisions). Fantastic all around.
same here about it bing a good game to watch.
It appeared from the get go to me that we had the game well in hand, and at some point I sort of expected to get bored of it all, (my husband got up and left midway through the second half) but I never did. Usually blowouts are rather boring even if it’s your team who is winning, but not this one. Minus a few errors which are to be expected, of course, we played great basketball. I absolutely couldn’t get up off the couch for fear of missing some great block on the defensive end or some glorious lob on the other. So much fun to watch.
Davis' best game, Teague's best game, Jones looked like a man possessed
MKG was fast and loose, and Miller was hitting almost everything he threw up……..
Can we start using “scary good” yet?
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Jan 18, 2012 12:08 AM EST reply actions
Where is everyone?
It must be an interesting experience to play on a team that can play at this level and make it look so easy.
The 3pt shooting bothers me a great deal..
Lamb is kicking out the right leg further than he did. Watch the leg kick and guess on the miss or make.
Teague appears to be developing rapidly. How he plays against Bama will be revealing.
by darkandbloody@gmail.com on Jan 18, 2012 12:09 AM EST reply actions
MKG makes the Energizer Bunny look sluggish.
Making waves in a sea of blue.
by kywineman on Jan 18, 2012 12:11 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
yeah, and really slow too.......lol
I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Jan 18, 2012 12:20 AM EST up reply actions
As Good As
they’ve played all season.
Teague is progressing well and TJ is coming back into his own.
What can you say about Davis except….“please, one more year”.
MKG was everywhere and Miller was there to open each half.
Yeah GA——“scary good” (and gettin’ better)
Miller scored the first five points of the 1st half
and the first four points of the 2nd stanza (or maybe those figures should be reversed).
The last few games, capped off by a great performance tonight, seems a little like last year, when the Cats finally started clicking. But I’ll reserve judgment on the potential for the long-term improvement prospects until after Saturday’s Bama game. As I’m sure everyone agrees (or most everyone), the Tide will be much, much tougher defensively than Arkansas and they have the big bodies who like to get physical in the paint, and on the perimeter, Releford and co. give up very few open looks. They are trained to beat teams in the halfcourt, it’s what they do. In my view, the Alabama game will probably provide the best defense UK has faced since at least UofL, maybe all year.
It’ll be a tough, tough game, or, the Cats could win by 20, LOL.
???
he smashed and trashed it, running right past it, and it is just the middle of January!
And it id not appear to me that when they got control they ever let go of it. No, “well this one is over” and letting the hawgs back in, from our guys, they just kept on coming. that is good to see.
After Jones blocked a shot, the shooter got it and put up a 2nd shot and AD came from across the lane to REJECT
it for good, I was impressed. MKG from mid-court to basket on the break is indescribable. I just don’t know how to say how awesome he is. I can only shake my head and be glad that I’m not young enough to play against him, I think I would just have to up and leave the gym.
AD has game and knows it.
This quote taken from the USA Today write-up will be a classic –
Just bring him in here, I’m going to block everythingSimply – WOW!
War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce
After this Arkansas game, ...
you can bet nobody else is going to try and run with us. It’s going to be back to the old ugly bash and grab in the half court. I’m sure Anderson only pressed so much because that was pretty much all he had – for sure the zone didn’t hold.
Uh, I agree TW
as you can see by my frighteningly similar comment I wrote before reading what you wrote.
And maybe that’s what he was thinking (because that was pretty much all he had). Next time, surely he’ll have more :)
Agree completely
The only good thing about that is it will give us great experience for post season games. By the end of the regular season this should be a thoroughly tough group.
by chicagoblues on Jan 18, 2012 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
Yes. UNC is about the only school that might be able to run with us.
For any other team, that route leads to a “L”
LOL, what the heck was Anderson thinking
Trying to run with the Cats, even inviting an up tempo game? I’ll hand it to him, though, he has juevos, but unfortunately for him, they were just handed to him on a big blue platter.
Now no one will even try, with the exception of possibly Florida.
Florida plays in Rupp first.
I can only dream they’d try and run with us in Rupp. Gainsville is a different kettle of fish – maybe there, but I’d bet the anticipation of home baked officiating would tempt Billy to play a rough and tumble half court game, especially with Young down low. Everyone says we’re going to lose a game to one of @Florida, @Nashville or @Starkville – If they try to run with us, I’m not worried.
BTW, we covered the spread.
I just had a thought, and checked Florida's schedule.
When we go into Florida on March 4th, The Gator’s will have had a four day break after playing Vandy on Feb.28. That will allow Billy to make sure his guys legs are fresh – the chance of them running with us in Gainsville just went up, imo!
I saw an article earlier this week that said our Wildcats were covering only around .500
I could care less if they ever did myself, but I guess it could be used as motivator for not letting off the pedal.
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
If we had shot 40% from the three this would have been a 'perfect game' - what a performance from all the men
A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!
I've gotta ask
What is the NCAA Single Season block record? I don’t think he’ll hit it, as teams go away from him, but Jones is gonna start getting his and that will be scary.
Strangness: double foul
Did anyone understand the double foul call in the first half? I know the charge/block call can be one of the most difficult judgment calls. But, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that kind of call before.
by SirTanksAlot on Jan 18, 2012 7:56 AM EST via mobile reply actions
That was really odd
I hope someone can provide an explanation.
Apparently
Two separate officials called a foul – one on each team for the same play. So rather than deciding who was right, they just went with both of them.
Here's a possibility:
One official called a block, the other called a charge, and neither would back down. I’ve seen it before. We had the arrow, so we got possession. It also explains why Arkansas got possession on the next held ball, making it seem like they got possession on two consecutive held balls.
I’m just guessing. The announcers thought maybe Teague directed the ball toward the man on the floor, but that looked completely incidental. Besides, wouldn’t that be a Flagrant 1?
I think that's right.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jan 18, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
What I saw ... in the "for what it's worth" department
At the start of Teague’s shooting motion, there was a reach in foul (he was fouled in the act of shooting) …. called by one referee …. in the next instant Teague collided with the defender (a charging call was made by the other referee) … if the charge had not been committed and the basket was made there would have been and +1 opportunity …..
I think it was a similar situation to how referees used to allow the basket to be counted even though there was a charging call on the shooter … basket good – shooter assessed a foul.
Double foul of this nature-
I can not remember having ever seen before. And, I have watched a lot of college basketball over the years. Strange call indeed…
"You are what you are and you ain't what you ain't"
I think what happened ...
… is that two officials saw the same play differently, and they were both sure. That’s why that happens.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jan 18, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
Unsatisfactory outcome
That’s one of the reasons to have three officials. Decide guys. Calling both fouls is simply suboptimal.
Yeah, it is.
Well, if the other guy was unsighted on the play, which is likely, there’s little else you can do, I guess.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
7 am the next morning and I'm still beaming - what a GREAT game!
Best performance, as has oft been said above, of the season. The most amazing part of it was that they delivered a team. Don’t get me wrong: we had several great and one amazingly awesome performance by individuals. But greatness as a team is what wins you titles.
NOTHING is gonna get me down today, not even the fact it’s one degree outside.
Proud member of the Big Blue Nation - Let's Go Cats!!!
It was really good.
Very pleased, for my part.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jan 18, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
I have something to say (surprised?) ....
Why didn’t Beckham go for the 2 breaks he clearly had in that game? I know players that rarely play don’t want to “hog” the ball, but he should have drove 2 times he had it…..in the first half, the camera panned over to AD talking to Beckham, and it looked like he was telling him the same….
I only say this b/c I want to see some of the bench get aggressive when they are in and get on the board!! :) ….nothing bad about that.
http://www.JohnWallWear.com
Many Thoughts...
but just a few
AD – can never say enough about him. Hard to realize he is basically as tall as Cousins – just does not seem like a “big” but he plays HUGE
Miller – was glad to see him get the team started each half in scoring
MKD – when he dove for a ball late in the 2H and up by 25, i though “what is he doing?” but then i said to myself “being MKD!”
Jones – that was the quietest (and best) almost double double i have seen. he is capable of a triple double as well
Lamb – maybe he is out of his slump
Loved Wiltjer’s bank
Teague – 9 assists – came so easy it seemed
13 team blocks is crazy..
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Jan 18, 2012 8:37 AM EST reply actions
oh no! Jimmy Dykes got to Glenn!
They work extremely hard on defense and try to stay in your grille the entire game,
Statistics is the part of mathematics that God didn't invent. - Ethan Smith
Heh.
Nah, I had that before he did. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jan 18, 2012 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
Jimmy Dykes' new catchphrase is clip the hip apparently
Dayman, Fighter of the Nightman, Champion of the Sun
with continually heavy dose of "Rim Run"
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Jan 18, 2012 9:05 AM EST up reply actions
I wonder if he lies awake at night
trying to come up with those catchphrases? All I know is everytime he is announcing I do a “mute run”.
Making waves in a sea of blue.
did he coach there?
http://www.JohnWallWear.com
by kentuckyrules on Jan 18, 2012 9:31 AM EST up reply actions
I guess so
During the Sutton era I hear. I didn’t know it either. I can just hear him yelling in practice : “Either you clip the hip and rebound that rim run or you will find yourself in the back of the plane!”
by maysvilleblue on Jan 18, 2012 9:38 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
BTW...no Strickland???
Did he leave??? I haven’t seen him in 2012, and according to another site, Kenny Payne replaced him ?? Huh?
http://www.JohnWallWear.com
by kentuckyrules on Jan 18, 2012 9:58 AM EST up reply actions
Strickland
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him. I think he’s in a “special assistant to the coach” role. Basically, Payne is now an assistant coach, and Rod is in a more admin-style role. I think it’s a way to get more talent on the coaching staff while staying within the rules for number of coaches.
by wildcatfaninexile on Jan 18, 2012 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
Assistant Coach + DUI = Director of Basketball Operations
From UK’s official website. “As Director of Basketball Operations, Strickland monitored academics, coordinated recruiting visits and assisted with travel plans.”
He got a DUI in LEX before this season started. So he got the ol sideways demotion to director rather than remaining assistant. People try to test the cops in Lexington with this and lose. They will take anyone and everyone to jail they catch drinking and driving. Big source of income for the county and city. Plus its a bad thing to do.
recd
But what about the nails maysville, what about the NAILS???
Statistics is the part of mathematics that God didn't invent. - Ethan Smith
I think he called it "The SEC Logo" instead ....
http://www.JohnWallWear.com
by kentuckyrules on Jan 18, 2012 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
I felt as if the nails...
had been driven into my brain by the time the game was over.
by maysvilleblue on Jan 18, 2012 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
I may be in the minority here
I really enjoy Brad Nesslar and Jimmy Dikes. They are the #1 team from ESPN. They know their business and call it right. Jimmy was on UK’s staff and did a good job. I’m sure that they could find a few thingd that we do that they don’t like:-)
I like them too.
Theirs is a thankless job if you ask me. Damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Last night in particular — how hard it must be to come up with things to say that are new, clever and interesting to absolutely everyone that might be watching. I’ll keep ’em too.
I don't think that coming up with clever things to say has anything
to do with announcing a ball game. There are times during a game that will set up a clever comment but the game itself should be enough for the announcers to talk about. Caywood did a pretty good job and he wasn’t constantly trying to be cute and clever.
Making waves in a sea of blue.
Cawood was about painting a picture for the BBN
These “big” TV guys don’t care about what we hear, so much. We are watching the TV, or the 3, not the radio.
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
So what you are saying is
turn off the sound and you get just as much usable information from the announcers.
That has been my experience.
Making waves in a sea of blue.
WKU does something interesting.
The TV announcers are also doing the radio broadcast.
It gets a little busy at times, but at least you know who the foul was on, and how many fouls he has.
There's a lot worse
and Dykes isn’t a bad analyst, although I do tire of his catchphrases. Apparently he has rotated guard your yard out for clip the hip nowadays. :) Honeslty that’s not a bad team and for a team that you gotta hear more than occasionally I quite like them. Dickie V would wear out my eardrums pretty quickly. Clark Kellog is fine in small doses etc, All-in-all, Nessler and Dykes is OK.
heres the deal
Cawood spoiled us, no one, I mean no one ! will ever be able to call a game to suit us, or at least me
clip the hip or stay on his hip
i had never heard that expression till last weekend in Columbus at my g-son’s game…BTW…a good point guard and defender in his own rights…had to miss the game at TN, but friend kept me updated via AT&T…
"Every sweet has it's sour, every evil it's good."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
you guys are SO harsh ;)
I like Dykes. No, really, I do! I think I am his one person fan club around here.
by blue kentucky girl on Jan 18, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
Great game both sides of the court
Teague without a doubt played his best game of the year. If he can build off of last night, whoa boy.
Dayman, Fighter of the Nightman, Champion of the Sun
Yeah, if it gets better than this from Teague ...
… we are in good shape.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jan 18, 2012 10:04 AM EST up reply actions
I will go all Jimmy Dykes on you,
Teague just has to “sustain and maintain” that level of performance for the rest of the season.
Making waves in a sea of blue.
Teague
I have been on this site several times questioning Teague’s erratic play and whether he was listening to Cal. After last night’s performance I have to give him credit for improving on every level. He made some great decisions with the ball especially when Arkansas was pressing full court. I’m not quite ready to say that he has “arrived” but count me as leaning towards his elevation into that prestigious club of Cal’s Point Guard Academy (CPGA). Might be some ups and downs from here to the end of the season but I see much improvement and am happy for him and the team.
Many of us have been critical of Teague ...
… including me. Not much to criticize last night. Hope he can keep it up.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jan 18, 2012 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
I haven't seen the stat lines, but I don't think he turned it over a lot, either.
Happy for the kid. Very happy.
Not much left to say
This team was scary good last night. And after sweating through two close road games it was a fun,enjoyable rout.
I agree-
Alabama will not be as easy. Hope we bring the same energy Saturday…
"You are what you are and you ain't what you ain't"
Run all the time?
I hate to bring Rick up…..but. When he had his best teams we would run teams off the floor. We would bait them, trap them and do whatever it took to speed them up. Eventually they would succum to the pressure and run and get blown out. I know we need to be good in the half court. Its just that this game was so fun to watch. I love this team when they get out and run. Im frustrated with them when they dont. Does anyone have a theory as to why we let the opposing team dictate the pace and style of play. Cal said last night that we are ready to run or grind and that it is up to the other team. Why not force a fast run and gun style? I think we would be better if we did that more. Im no coach though.
Freshmen
It’s ok to play that style if you have players who have been around each other for a year or two. With so many new as well as young players this year I’m sure Cal wanted them to get comfortable playing with each other, knowing each other’s moves and cut down on turnovers. Remember he wanted more communication and talking among them something I heard last night, that they seem to be doing better at. I agree, I like the fast pace up and down the floor style but early in the year, I just don’t think they were ready to play that style. But – I think it’s coming!
We are not deep enough to play that type
of game for an entire season. We have played 19 games so far, have 12 league games to go plus potentially three in the SEC tournament and 6 in the NCAA. We have not quite reached the half way point of a season that takes a toll, even on young bodies. It is up to the other team to dictate their pace on offense. If we rush down the court and take quick bad shots, we play into their hands. They will limit the amount of possessions we get and we must value each possession.
Making waves in a sea of blue.
Good Point
About the depth. We basically go 7 deep. Don’t forget about foul trouble. Need Teague and Davis on the floor.
Debth
Pitino’s first team here had zero debth but yet they played that style. I too loved that run and gun style but there were times that RP’s teams really struggled in “grinder” type games. They didn’t adapt very well. I really think this team can play any style which is a big plus. Lack of debth with this team could come into play if there are injuries or if they have a game where they get in serious foul trouble especially early in a game. But there isn’t a team in the country who can match the talent of this team 1-6.
by maysvilleblue on Jan 18, 2012 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
best words yet...
i loved the run and gun, but you are totally correct in saying RPs kids had trouble with adaptating…the skill level here now is far greater…and the coaching!!!…
"Every sweet has it's sour, every evil it's good."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, but ...
… basketball was a lot different then. You can’t do what Rick Pitino did to those kids anymore, and even Pitino will tell you that any fine day.
All the stories about Gillispie’s hard practices probably just made Pelphrey, Farmer, and Mashburn et. al. laugh and scoff. Take the worst practice you ever hear of during Gillispie’s term, double it, and that was what Rock Oliver had them doing for a morning workout — that wasn’t practice.
That team, and subsequent UK teams under Pitino were the best-conditioned college basketball players ever to play at the University of Kentucky by a vast margin, and likely the best conditioned team in NCAA history. No team would even attempt that with so few players again. The times have changed.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
During Pitino's last game as coach at UK...
…he paid a dear price for his unwavering devotion to the full-court press.
I was there, and I won’t soon forget it.
Cal's Post-Game Comments
"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
After Further Review
Perhaps for the first time this season the second viewing didn’t show much that was new, pretty much a confirmation: excellent all around performance by young Cats. Improvement where it was desired: Jones, Teague, Miller and, not so much, Lamb. There is a disclaimer of sorts: consider the opponent. The Hogs weren’t all that difficult to defend especially considering the length differential and that they lacked physicality in their play, relying more on quickness than strength. Right in Cats’ wheelhouse, if you will. Defensively they did what Mike Anderson’s teams always do, but I thought Cats were very well prepared: attack the sidelines vs. the press and then exploit the length differential. Worked quite, quite well.
Stretching to find a fault: Defending the perimeter against quick guards continues to be a problem area even for Teague but especially for Lamb and Miller; and disappointed in Beckham’s few minutes with a couple of total defensive breakdowns and timidity with the ball, plus Vargas hasn’t progressed as had hoped.
On to ‘Bama where things won’t be nearly as easy. Thank goodness it’s in Rupp.
"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
Kentucky also missed a ton of wide-open shots from ... everywhere.
That game could have been an epic beat-down.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
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