Can it be fixed?

[Deep Blue]

In the wake of the Memphis debacle, I think that event the most ardent fan would have to admit that our program has slipped considerably below the admittedly lofty standards that UK basketball has always held itself to. What is the cause? I see threerecurring themes that seem to have defined our program in recent years:

(1) Inconsistent recruiting. One great class followed by one or two mediocre classes;Recruting a bevy of top guards with no real inside talent (Morris and Stevenson being the exceptions); Failing to recruit kids with a "killer instinct."

(2) Terrible offensive execution. With the exception of the team that ran the SEC table a few years ago, our offense has been consistently bad. We generally fail to move without the ball and do not share the ball well. This, in turn, generally causes us to be low scoring and boring to watch, which I believe has a definite influence on potential recruits (See Item #1).

(3) Off the court player issues. I realize that every program deals with this to some extent, but we seem to have more problems than most, especially when it comes to defections / dissention. Every year we either have players trying to leave (Morris, Crawford), or actually leaving (Rekalin Sims, Michael Bradley, etc.). Fortunately, this looks to be less of an issue this year. Nonetheless, the track record is there.

I think that Tubby Smith is a great basketball coach when it comes to Xs and Os, but it has been a long time now since thoseXs and Os yielded a NC or FF. Right now, I am questioning whether or not he is capable of solving the problems that have come to define our program lately. I want to "keep the faith," but in light of the inability to close on Patterson/Lucas in the early signing period, as well as our continued habit of standing around on offense and tending to play selfishly, I just see the same issues recurring. So the question I pose to the WCN is, do you believe that these problems are fixable?If so, tell me what you believe the staff is doing to fix them?

[ukbob]

IMO....

1. Not completely with current staff.

2. Yes, but it will take time. We have already seen glimpses of it.

3. You take each year differently. Not aware of off-court issues with these kids. Don't think there will be either.

[Deep Blue]

Can't really argue with that. I guess the real question is whether Items 2 or 3 evenmatter that much if Item 1 can't be fixed :question:?

ukbob wrote:
IMO....

1. Not completely with current staff.

2. Yes, but it will take time. We have already seen glimpses of it.

3. You take each year differently. Not aware of off-court issues with these kids. Don't think there will be either.

[phoenix]

Deep Blue wrote: In the wake of the Memphis debacle, I think that event the most ardent fan would have to admit that our program has slipped considerably below the admittedly lofty standards that UK basketball has always held itself to. What is the cause? I see threerecurring themes that seem to have defined our program in recent years:

(1) Inconsistent recruiting. One great class followed by one or two mediocre classes;Recruting a bevy of top guards with no real inside talent (Morris and Stevenson being the exceptions); Failing to recruit kids with a "killer instinct."Not really the pattern but unevenand failure of big men to develop, granted. Kids with killer instinct? C'mon, sounds good in a post, but you nor anyone else can really objectively measure such a subjective and whimsical "trait". (2) Terrible offensive execution. With the exception of the team that ran the SEC table a few years ago, our offense has been consistently bad. We generally fail to move without the ball and do not share the ball well. This, in turn, generally causes us to be low scoring and boring to watch, which I believe has a definite influence on potential recruits (See Item #1).Sounds good but an unrealistic appraisal at best. Winning, basketball depends on good offensive execution. We win, we won, we will win, a lot. Think about what you are posting. You need to make an argument and then purport some logical proof that supports your position. You have been reading other posters way too much and not doing enough objective analysis of what really is happening on "da court".U of L, NIT, exciting or boring? All those teams that didNOT make the round of 32, exciting or boring? Winning a well played game, exciting or boring?
(3) Off the court player issues. I realize that every program deals with this to some extent, but we seem to have more problems than most, especially when it comes to defections / dissention. Every year we either have players trying to leave (Morris, Crawford), or actually leaving (Rekalin Sims, Michael Bradley, etc.). Fortunately, this looks to be less of an issue this year. Nonetheless, the track record is there.I don't think your examples hold much water. All teams have players leave. Sims was not a starter and was not earning the minutes. Joe thought he should be earning the minutes and had a grand vision of himself. Izzo blew that boat out of the water. Morris wasalso not in touch with his abilities, and Morris I can forgive because the guy is kind of a dreamer, personality wise. NBA draft brough him religion and a good dose of humility. Bradley, sad loss. Where exactly did his career go anyway? Liar Rick at his worst delved into that particular defection. Thisis another unrealistic argument that soundslike a conviction is near, until you look at it closely. Tubby invited some players to leave, we didn't miss them. Others thought they knew better than the coach what they coulddo, and obviously, they didn't, and this is a reality of ego inflated players coming out of the shoe culture of today's basketball teams. Others just think somewhere else suites them better. Hey, it might. Big deal, we are no different than any other program.
I think that Tubby Smith is a great basketball coach when it comes to Xs and Os, but it has been a long time now since thoseXs and Os yielded a NC or FF. Right now, I am questioning whether or not he is capable of solving the problems that have come to define our program lately. I want to "keep the faith," but in light of the inability to close on Patterson/Lucas in the early signing period, as well as our continued habit of standing around on offense and tending to play selfishly, I just see the same issues recurring. So the question I pose to the WCN is, do you believe that these problems are fixable?If so, tell me what you believe the staff is doing to fix them?You have to start from a realistic position to expect acontinued dialogue and exchange of ideas. Thiswill probably be one of the most interesting and effective offensive units seen atKY for a number of years. They can score well all the way across the court. They will get even better. Talk to some of these guys that have been watching KY for a while, this offense is a good one in progress. Youshould consider if the faithless, ever complaining fans can help fix the overall problem by stopping their griping long enough for recruits to feel the coach is staying in place and will continue to coach, instead ofbringing up some of the rather unsubstantiated points of criticism, such as illustrated in the above post.Standing around and playing selfishly? Never heard that much until last year, and now it is a trademark comment? Want to illustrate that??? Don't think we have seen much of it this year, but maybeit is a longtime trend going back what 2 years to the elite eight team Rondo was a freshman on? C'mon.:rolleyes: