Tennessee 89 Kentucky 85
Kentucky once again got too far behind and couldn't stop a Tennessee team who did whatever they wanted to against the Cats. This was maybe the worst defense I have seen Kentucky play since Tubby has been the coach. I can understand a team being able to shoot 3's all night and light up Kentucky, but tonight UT got to the rim at will. A team with a severe size disadvantage made UK look pathetic. While Kentucky was able to make it close and put up a lot of points of their own, they once again couldn't finish down the stretch.
However, this game shouldn't have even been this close. If Kentucky could keep from getting so far behind their opponents, they wouldn't spend so much energy trying to catch up often just to fizzle out at the end. I don't know why they are so unprepared, but I put most of the blame on the coaching staff. I've never been a "fire Tubby" kind of person, and you still can't fire him due to the success of the '03-05' teams, but he isn't putting UK in a position to win every game.
Look at some of the double digit deficits Kentucky has faced this year. This includes the earliest double digit margin, the largest margin, and the result.
vs. Miami (OH): -10 @ 11:39 (1st), -10 @ 6:48 (1st) = W +7
vs. UCLA: -10 @ 12:02 (1st), -17 @ 8:29 (1st) = L -5
vs. Memphis: -11 @ 15:20 (2nd), -23 @ 8:23 (2nd) = L -17
vs. North Carolina: -12 @ 13:11 (2nd), -15 @ 11:04 (2nd) = L -12
@ Arkansas: -10 @ 18:40 (2nd), -14 @ 16:45 (2nd) = W +8
vs. Florida: -11 @ 12:26 (1st), -16 @ 7:38 (1st) = L -3
@ Tennessee: -10 @ 3:31 (1st), -16 @ 16:38 (2nd) = L -4
The 2 teams that Kentucky came back to beat after being down by double digits are the 2 worst teams on that list. Tubby's teams have had a tradition of getting down and coming back, including the 1998 National Champions. This isn't anything new, and it really makes me question what goes on before the game. Why aren't the players fired up to start games?
Many people are saying that the UCLA, UNC, Florida, and even this game could have gone Kentucky's way, but the fact is that it didn't. Sure, I'd rather lose by 4 than get blown out, but a loss is a loss. Poor preparation coupled with poor quality senior and sophomore (actually the only one is hurt) classes is really hurting Kentucky. If Crawford, Morris, and Bradley were surrounded by supporting players like Erik Daniels, Cliff Hawkins, Jules Camara, Heshimu Evans, or Allen Edwards that are not the main go-to guys, but can contribute consistently, then Kentucky would be a top 10 team. Instead, the supporting players can't be counted on to produce.
Look at how much that Bradley, Crawford, and Morris are doing in comparison to the rest of the team.
60% pts
42% reb
46% ast
50% stls
65% made 3's (this is actually just Bradley & Crawford)
46% minutes
58% made FT's
If the rest of the players could step up it would really help out. Meeks is just about the only other player that can be counted on at all. Jasper sometimes has a good game, but hasn't played nearly as well lately as he did in the first 2 months of the season. Perry is actually playing worse than he did last year. Look at his stats from last year compared to this year.
Last year = 7.1 pts, 3.9 reb, 35% 3FG, 43% FG, 82% FT
This year = 7.0 pts, 3.7 reb, 31% 3FG, 39% FG, 78% FT
Those differences in his numbers aren't huge, but is playing 2.2 more minutes a game and was supposed to be counted on as a senior leader. Perry continues to start even with his poor play, and I doubt that will change.
I'm not writing these comments to try to bash any of the players. I know they all work very hard and I would love for them to win. I don't want to wait for a different coach with different players. I want Tubby and all of his players to win. Hopefully they will undergo a serious change and start playing like a basketball powerhouse.
However, this game shouldn't have even been this close. If Kentucky could keep from getting so far behind their opponents, they wouldn't spend so much energy trying to catch up often just to fizzle out at the end. I don't know why they are so unprepared, but I put most of the blame on the coaching staff. I've never been a "fire Tubby" kind of person, and you still can't fire him due to the success of the '03-05' teams, but he isn't putting UK in a position to win every game.
Look at some of the double digit deficits Kentucky has faced this year. This includes the earliest double digit margin, the largest margin, and the result.
vs. Miami (OH): -10 @ 11:39 (1st), -10 @ 6:48 (1st) = W +7
vs. UCLA: -10 @ 12:02 (1st), -17 @ 8:29 (1st) = L -5
vs. Memphis: -11 @ 15:20 (2nd), -23 @ 8:23 (2nd) = L -17
vs. North Carolina: -12 @ 13:11 (2nd), -15 @ 11:04 (2nd) = L -12
@ Arkansas: -10 @ 18:40 (2nd), -14 @ 16:45 (2nd) = W +8
vs. Florida: -11 @ 12:26 (1st), -16 @ 7:38 (1st) = L -3
@ Tennessee: -10 @ 3:31 (1st), -16 @ 16:38 (2nd) = L -4
The 2 teams that Kentucky came back to beat after being down by double digits are the 2 worst teams on that list. Tubby's teams have had a tradition of getting down and coming back, including the 1998 National Champions. This isn't anything new, and it really makes me question what goes on before the game. Why aren't the players fired up to start games?
Many people are saying that the UCLA, UNC, Florida, and even this game could have gone Kentucky's way, but the fact is that it didn't. Sure, I'd rather lose by 4 than get blown out, but a loss is a loss. Poor preparation coupled with poor quality senior and sophomore (actually the only one is hurt) classes is really hurting Kentucky. If Crawford, Morris, and Bradley were surrounded by supporting players like Erik Daniels, Cliff Hawkins, Jules Camara, Heshimu Evans, or Allen Edwards that are not the main go-to guys, but can contribute consistently, then Kentucky would be a top 10 team. Instead, the supporting players can't be counted on to produce.
Look at how much that Bradley, Crawford, and Morris are doing in comparison to the rest of the team.
60% pts
42% reb
46% ast
50% stls
65% made 3's (this is actually just Bradley & Crawford)
46% minutes
58% made FT's
If the rest of the players could step up it would really help out. Meeks is just about the only other player that can be counted on at all. Jasper sometimes has a good game, but hasn't played nearly as well lately as he did in the first 2 months of the season. Perry is actually playing worse than he did last year. Look at his stats from last year compared to this year.
Last year = 7.1 pts, 3.9 reb, 35% 3FG, 43% FG, 82% FT
This year = 7.0 pts, 3.7 reb, 31% 3FG, 39% FG, 78% FT
Those differences in his numbers aren't huge, but is playing 2.2 more minutes a game and was supposed to be counted on as a senior leader. Perry continues to start even with his poor play, and I doubt that will change.
I'm not writing these comments to try to bash any of the players. I know they all work very hard and I would love for them to win. I don't want to wait for a different coach with different players. I want Tubby and all of his players to win. Hopefully they will undergo a serious change and start playing like a basketball powerhouse.
posted by Josh at 8:53 PM
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